'Book Mystique Review: SLAPPA HardBody PRO Laptop Case with Shoulder Sling
by Charles W. Moore
There are so many excellent choices in computer luggage these days that it takes really distinctive design and features to stand out from the crowd, and the line of products from SLAPPA.com, which this week unveiled a restyled and streamlined online store, definitely has those qualities.
SLAPPA's styling is definitely distinctive; a bit hard to characterize, but it has a definite oriental, and avant-garde, high-tech flavor that you will either like or not, but probably won't be indifferent to.
The subject of this review, SLAPPA's HardBody PRO Laptop Case with Shoulder Sling is, well, a case in point. He has the signature SLAPPA styling and flair described above, but his no slouch in terms of practical design innovation either.
A number of manufacturers offer "convertible" laptop cases that can be carried either shoulder-bag or briefcase style, but SLAPPA's execution of this dual- mode capability is particularly slick and elegant.
The HardBody Pro case itself is a clean-lined attachŽ-type laptop briefcase with a self-retracting hide-away carry handle and made of SLAPPA's tough and impact resistant but soft, flexible, and lightweight x-EVA material that will do a much better job of protecting your laptop from bumps and scratches than a fabric case, but without the weight and coldness of metal. The case features sumptuous padded velvet lining with plenty of "scuba-prene" pockets and pouches to store smaller accessories and peripherals, papers, an iPod, or what have you?
The main laptop compartment is generously padded and has nylon lock down straps with Velcro closure to secure the computer in place, while the double top storage compartment has its own inner double-zip closure which can be separately secured with a small padlock.
On the zip closure divider separating the laptop compartment from the HardBody PRO case's upper compartment, you will find a nearly full-width, flap-closure pocket at the top side of the divider panel. On the inside of the case's lid you will find another wide, but this time shallow flap and elastic closure pocket for things like cables, power adapters, and a mouse. Speaking of which, one really classy touch with this case is the inclusion of a portable mousepad, embossed with the SLAPPA name and logo, which stores away in a dedicated net pocket on the inside of the lid. A second net pocket is perfectly sized for an iPod, cell phone, or PDA. The body of the lid compartment can hold bulkier items.
The HardBody PRO case closes with double zippers, whose generously sized rubbery pull-heads with the SLAPPA logo are another of the little attention-to-detail factors that make this case seem special.
The industrial strength zipper pulls and zipper heads are combination lockable, and the case comes with two SLAPPA combination locks. A 3-D rubber business or ID card holder is included -- another thoughtful touch.
The HardBody Pro's shoulder-bag mode is facilitated by the Shoulder Sling module, and open-topped sheath also made of also made of xEVA, but finished in luxurious looking and feeling z-suede, and affording another tough layer of protection in transit,into which the HardBody Case slips like a hand into a well-fitting glove, and to which is attached a removable strap with a wide, comfortable shoulder pad faced with traction material - instantly adjustable for length thanks to SLAPPA's E.Z. Clip feature. E.Z. Clips are a SLAPPA’s solution to making adjusting your shoulder straps easy. Instead of dealing with hard to adjust metal slide clips, the SLAPPA E.Z. Clips are simple to use while on the run, and enable you to adjust your shoulder strap to nine different lengths.
The SLAPPA HardBody Pro that we tested is the 15-inch model whose internal compartment measures 10 inches x 13 inches and fits my Pismo PowerBook like it was made for it, and which should also comfortably accommodate other 12-inch and 14 inch-iBooks and PowerBooks, and the 13-inch MacBook, which is 12.78" wide. The 15 inch and 17-inch PowerBooks are too wide, but SLAPPA has larger case models that can accommodate them.
HardBody PRO Case Features:
* Molded Duro-Shock xEVA HardBody shell with dual compartments for laptop and accessory storage
* Laptop Compartment: Velvet lined, super padded compartment with laptop stabilization straps for maximum protection
* Accessory Compartment: Zip-down hideaway compartment with Pro-grade Scuba-prene storage sections for papers, cords and mouse. SLAPPA portable mouse pad included.
* Retractable hide-away carry handle
* Dimensions: 15” (w), 13” (h), 4” (d)
* Weight: 3.75 lbs
Shoulder Sling Features:
* xEVA HardBody with z-suede finish
* Removable SLAPPA super comfort shoulder strap featuring e.z. clip system
* 3D Molded Rubber Luggage I.D. tag
* Removable phone/MP3 case with stainless steel belt clip
* Dimensions: 15.75” (w), 13.75” (h), 6” (d)
* Weight: 1.25 lbs
The Duro-Shock xEVA material used for the shells of SLAPPA's HardBody PRO cases provides excellent protection from drops, bumps, heat, and water. SLAPPA says that third-party product review companies have gone so far as to set the SLAPPA cases on fire and have shown xEVA to protect contents under such extreme conditions. xEVA, while rugged, is not rigid and will not crack (like plastic) or bend (like cardboard cases). xEVA is extremely lightweight and is laminated with high-quality upper materials including rubberized PVC and SLAPPA’s z-suede
In summary, this is a very nice laptop case, with a dressed-up appearance while still offering serious protection for your laptop.
Price: US$129.99
For more information, visit:
http://www.slappa.com/site/hardbody.html
One of the key new features on the company's new Web site is the SLAPPA Customer Community section, which provides customers with information regarding special events, contests and giveaways. Also featured prominently in this section is the new VIP program, which rewards SLAPPA' s loyal customers with special discounts and other offerings.
SLAPPA is also gearing up to launch localized sites later in July for their customers in the UK, Canada and the Netherlands in an effort to make their products more easily accessible to their international customers. The company plans to continue to expand to offer localized sites in additional countries as well.
For more information, visit: