Macvelope, Grantwood Technology's Envelope Case for MacBook Air Review

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If you are looking for a sleek case to fit your MacBook Air, this could be it. If you are looking for an attractive case that resembles a manilla office folder, this doesn't cut it. The yellow vinyl on this evenlope is BRIGHT yellow and resembles a yellow rain jacket, rather than an office envelope. I am returning mine, not because of the product's quality, but because this is not something I want to be seen carrying around.

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In my research for purchasing this item I read quite a few of the written reviews for this product. Many complained of the case's extremely yellow colour and delicate red string, both of which caused me some trepidation. But in the end I decided to purchase it and I am glad I did. The colour is fine not unlike the many (thousands) of paper envelopes I have used in my life. And the string is fine as well. I tend to not be brutish when handling anything (red strings or otherwise) but I think that if you don't handle it as though you're cinching a sack of potatoes then it won't become detached. Besides, it appears to be more of an added design feature to mimic a paper envelope than an intrinsic part of securing the case's closure as the velcro closure more than suffices. In the end, I have no complaints whatsoever.

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I'm going to tell you my initial reaction when I opened the box: "wow, that's really yellow!" I guess I was expecting something more...manila. The color on my monitor and phone led me to believe the tone would be a bit darker; maybe a bit more orange or brown tinting. Admittedly, it does look a little like a raincoat that another reviewer mentioned. Mine also came with a little blemish--some kind of grey spot in the vinyl, but it is not nearly worth the hassle of sending it back (maybe if I had bought it locally in-person). The Macbook Air 11" slips easily in and out of this sleeve. The velcro strip is very secure. I'm not going to hassle with wrapping the string, and by others' accounts, the string will go in a few weeks/months anyway. Ideally, I would like a bit more padding inside, particularly across the bottom edge. I could easily feel the edge of my MBA down there. But to me, this sleeve isn't about drop protection, it's about elemental protection, and that's why I got it. And hey, it's a fun sleeve. Overall, I'm satisfied with my choice. (Just wish the macvelope/briefcase combo deal in another listing was eligible for Amazon Prime...would have paid $9 more and purchased that.)

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My reason for buying this sleeve was to conceal my MacBook Air, not to do the Steve Jobs trick. I think that at first glance, this sleeve probably does well to at least not attract the attention of a potential thief. However, the black rubber Macvelope insignia kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. You don't usually see a black thing on manila envelopes, so I wish Grantwood hadn't put it there. I used a sewing-seam ripper and pulled the thing off. This, and the shiny and too-yellow appearance both make the sleeve look less realistic.

All-in-all, this is a well-made product. If Grantwood had gone a little further toward a realistic appearance, I would give it 4 stars. It seems to me they should have anticipated that concealment would be more important than novelty to some potential buyers.

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I began looking for a case for my 11" MacBook Air shortly after buying it this fall. I knew that I didn't want something that wrapped the Air in a bulky and rigid notebook which seemed to be exactly the opposite thing to do with an elegantly sleek looking product like the Air. I saw the MacVelope on Amazon and knew that it was perfect. At the time, however, MacVelopes were only available for the 13" inch Air's. I bought one anyway, and was immediately impressed with its practicality even if it was larger than I needed. (In point of fact, what I started doing was slipping both my 11" MacBook Air AND my iPad in the 13" MacVelope and they fit great ... but that was just an interim solution while I waited for the 11" MacVelope."

Now that I have used the 11" MacVelope with my 11" inch MacBook Air they're obviously a match made in heaven. From my perspective, the benefits are clear and compelling, and there's one significant benefit I hadn't anticipated. The obvious benefits: well designed; tightly sewn seams; substantial and firmly affixed velcro band does what its supposed to do at the top. Nicely padded. Durable vinyl exterior, which doesn't mar easily The 11" Air slides in/out easily, not too tight, not too loose. (Which contrasts with neoprene covers I have for

an iPad and a Kindle those are both tight "it takes two hands to insert" fits.)

But the unexpected benefit ... it doesn't look like a laptop bag. It looks like a file folder or mailing pouch, or something you'd carry work home in, or a mailer. And because of that ... I feel that it gives me a bit of protection from theft. I assume that someone prowling around looking a quick "grab and run" laptop would be looking for a laptop case, or something in a notebook size sleeve ... not something that looks like some papers being carried home from the office. In any event ... kudos to Grantwood for a fine piece of well-designed, durable, appropriately constructed, and reasonably priced gear.

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