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Provides: Protection for MacBook Pro
Developer: Speck
Minimum Requirements: Macbook Pro
Price: $49.95
Availability: Now

As we all know, the kind of cover you put on your laptop says a lot about you; everything, in fact. It gives people exactly the kinds of deep insights into your personality that are normally reserved for years of close friendship or Twitter feeds. “Who are you, Mac user? What mysteries does your MacbookPro hold? What kind of screenplay are you tapping away at as you drink your dark mocha latte, soy, no whipped cream?” People are thinking this, I know.

Or maybe not. Maybe they’re just admiring the stylish laptop cover from Speck that snaps on to my 13” Macbook Pro, protecting it from scratches and stains. And they should, because it’s a really stylish cover. Dark but transluscent, the Apple logo gives off a soft glow when illuminated (I have the black model).

Designed to look good while not interfering with usability, the two pieces of the case (top and bottom) snap on easily, allowing the MBP to close fully. It’s a snug fit; I had to work the top and bottom just a little bit to secure them, but once they were on, there was no wiggle between the computer and the case. Both the ports and the optical drive are completely exposed, and there are vent slots on the bottom to allow heat to escape.

The case has a, well, satin feel, a nice textile experience that also makes it easy to pick up without worrying about the plastic slipping. It’s a bit like the brushed metal feel of the Macbook Pro itself, though softer. The rubber feet on the bottom prevent the MPB from sliding around on tables. The only problem with the SeeThru Satin is that it’s difficult to clean: oils from your hands, food, or anything else that get on there tend to smear if you try to wipe them off, even with a cleanser (having tried iKlear, water, and a multi-surface cleaner). And with a cover as attractive as this one, stains are rather noticable.

Given that the ports are exposed, what you’re really protecting here is the laptop case itself. The SeeThur certainly does that, as well as giving it a wraparound look that’s as well-designed and eye catching as the Mac itself. It sets the already-attractive MPB apart with style.