Take Your MacBook Down The Silk Road
UNIEA OmniVerse Universal Totes Review
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
by Charles W. Moore
UNEIA OmniVerse Universal Totes Review
Silk is a luxury textile fabric based on a natural protein fiber, the most common variant being the type obtained from larvae cocoons of domestically cultivated mulberry silkworms (Bombyx mori). Silk’s characteristic shimmering appearance derives from the fibers’ triangular prism-like structure which makes silk cloth refract incoming light at different angles.
One of the oldest textile fabrics, Silk was first developed in ancient China, possibly as early as 6000 BC and definitely by 3000 BC, and became a much-prized commodity of pre-industrial international trade from ancient times through the Middle Ages. The Silk trade became extensive that the various trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, including North Africa and Europe between Europe and Asia collectively became known as “the Silk Road,” along which not only silk, but many other trade commodities, as well as merchants, pilgrims, missionaries, soldiers, nomads and urban dwellers journeyed among China, India, Persia, Europe, and Mediterranean countries for almost 3,000 years.
I’m a longtime silk fan, and have a modest collection of silk underwear -- boxers and L.L. Bean long-johns, which are extremely comfortable. Silk bed-sheets would be cool (literally in summer) too, but I’ve never indulged in those as yet.
Silk products still make their way from the Far East to Europe, as well as North America, but these days the “Silk Road” is more likely to be the cargo hold of an aircraft.
Now you can even treat your MacBook, iPhone, iPod, digital camera, external hard drives, or other small devices to a silk case, thanks to Hong Kong-based Uniea which recently expanded its Omniverse series of cases for 10- and 13-inch laptops and a variety of smaller electronic gadgets and accessories to include silk models as well as more traditional (at least for laptop cases) nylon versions.
Aside from silk’s sumptuous look, the thing that impresses most about these Omniverse cases upon close examination is how uncannily light they are in weight. I checked the test units out on my postage scale, and found that the laptop case weighed in at 390 g, and the two smaller cases at 60 g and 50 g respectively — the latter about the same as a fat first-class letter. Suffice to say that these cases are not going to add to your burden to any significant degree.
A very neat feature of the Omniverse laptop tote is that its briefcase handles completely and securely hide away in snap-closure pockets flanking the opening aperture, converting the unit into a tidy sleeve.
The front of the Omniverse Universal Tote also has a full-width pocket large enough to accommodate 8 1/2” x 11” papers and standard-sized magazines. Undoing the twin zipper closures, which have nifty soft rubber-like pulls emblazoned with the Uniea name in white block capitals, the back panel swings open like a laptop screen lid, revealing an “egg-crate” textures memory foam liner designed to dissipate heat and cradle your MacBook gently.
Both the top and bottom panels have triangular elasticized fabric gussets in their top and front corners respectively to hold the MacBook securely in place. You can use the computer in situ, which is convenient if you’re just grabbing a few moments of keyboard time during waits and delays when you’re in transit. The case also insulates your thighs from heat in literal laptop mode.
The Omniverse Universal Tote fits my 13 inch unibody MacBook like it was made for it (which it was), and the retainer gussets don’t obscure the computer screen or obstruct access to the keyboard and trackpad, however it also works with the white or black 13" MacBook and with small PC laptops.
Despite its feather-light weight and compact dimensions, the Omniverse 13.3 Inch Universal Tote case is quite robust, with semi-rigid reinforcement around the periphery of both the bottom and the lid/back panels, and that, combined with the foam padding, should protect your pride and joy from bumps and abrasions.
These cases appear to be very well constructed, with neat, even stitching, no loose or rough edges, the zippers operate smoothly, and of course the silk cladding makes them look and feel like a million dollars.
My only complaint about the silk is that it picks up and shows dust, but dust also seems to easily brush off. Another observation - not really a criticism - is that aside from the big front pocket, which is best suited to flat items, there is no place for carrying peripherals and other bits such as USB wireless receiver dongle, cables, and so forth.
Of course that’s what the smaller Omniverse cases are in aid of, being styled and constructed to match the Universal Tote case perfectly right down to full-width front zipper pockets. Inside they share the same egg-crate pattern memory foam padding, and both also have aluminum quick-release rings on the back for attaching them to a belt loop or whatever else is handy.
The Omniverse cases are also water-resistant, with the middle component of their five-layer shell being a water-resistant membrane. The five layers are, working from the outside in, the silk outer skin, a layer of cotton padding, the water-resistant layer, the memory foam padding, and an inner soft fabric contact lining.
The two smaller cases are identical in width and depth, varying only in thickness.
Omniverse Universal Tote Features:
Silk Fiber / Nylon external material is lightweight, soft, and durable
Interior is both shock- and heat-absorbent for total protection of your laptop
Bottom wave-shaped cushion absorbs and dissipates heat from the bottom of your computer
Heat sink allows your laptop’s fan to dissipate heat
Case can remain on without removing the sleeve
Full access to ports for easy recharging and data transfer
Price: $39.95
Omniverse Universal Sleeve 2.5” Silk Fiber Features:
Size and dimensions are perfect for 2.5 Hard Drive, iPod,
iPhone and similar size devices
Inner material is shock absorbent for total protection.
Stylish silk fiber material is light and adds little weight to
your hard drive.
Front pocket is large enough to hold a long USB or
FireWire cable.
Belt loop and aluminum, carabiner-style ring for maxi-
mum
Omniverse Universal Sleeve (Small size) Silk Fiber Features:
Size and dimensions are perfect for small digital cameras,
iPod, iPhone and similar size devices.
Unique, stylish silk fiber material is incredibly lightweight.
Inner material is shock absorbent for total protection.
Front pocket easily accommodates ear buds, cables, and
other small accessories.
Belt loop and aluminum, carabiner-style ring for maximum portability.
Aside from the silk or nylon skin, features of the Omniverse laptop and other cases include unique interior memory form material that conforms to the shape of the computer and effectively dissipates heat, lightweight construction, and impact-resistant protection, and and stylish, comfortable feel (especially the silk versions).
For more information, visit:
http://www.uniea.com/universal/for-universal.html
Note: Letters to PowerBook Mystique Mailbag may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context.
Opinions expressed in postings to PowerBook Mystique MailBag are owned by the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or PowerBook Central management.
If you would prefer that your message not appear in PowerBook Mystique Mailbag, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published.
CM