Hard Case for Old 13" Macbook: My Review of iPearl

Don't worry, it comes in other colors than purple. In fact, it comes in most of the classic old iMac colors -- remember original iMacs that started the whole i-whatsit craze?

My photo doesn't really show the fact that the white lit-up Apple stands out nicely through the transparent colored plastic case.

A little less than 2mm thick, the plastic case is hard but slightly flexible, not brittle. It seems more rugged and capable of withstanding impacts than the Macbook's case. It doesn't seem particularly scratch-proof, but not scratch-prone either.

Clips along the sides of the case clamp snugly to the edges of the Macbook screen and bottom. The case can be peeled off once you clip it on, but it takes a little effort; it stays put.

Cutouts on the sides and back allow access to ports, CD slot, fan vents and hinge.



The bottom has vents to let heat escape, but protects the battery (except for the battery test button) and that belly button screw which fell off my Macbook five seconds after I started using it.

The front two corners rest on sturdy rubber feet; the back two have optional legs that flip open to lift the Macbook up at a slight tilt for ergonomics and to allow air circulation underneath. The latter may actually prolong the Macbook's life.

Bottom Line: I like it! I'm glad I didn't shell out $40 for a more expensive Macbook cover that probably wouldn't have been any better. (Of course, this cover was originally $40; it's been marked down.)

Buy On Amazon:

Hard Shell Case for MacBook 13.3

The iPearl Case seems to be quite popular; all the different versions (colors) have 20-30 reviews. Naturally, there is a newer edition available for newer Macs.

Get the mCover® Hard Shell Cover Case for MacBook 2009 and later (Unibody Model)