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Booqpad gains iPad Air 2 compatibility, still has a magnetic personality
Last April, TUAW reviews a very unique iPad Air case - the Booq Booqpad - that melded a magnetically-attached agenda case with a paper notepad. At the time it garnered a 4-star rating thanks to its flexibility and that paper notepad. Today I'm looking at the BooqPad for iPad Air 2 (US$60.00) and we'll see if that changed. Specifications Exterior dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches (178 x 242 x 24 mm) Weight: 0.88 lbs (0.4 kg) Compatible with: iPad Air 2 only Color: Gray only Comes with removable/replaceable 50-sheet paper notepad Design Like the previous iteration of the Booqpad, the new version consists of a slim folio that, when opened, features a paper notepad on the left side and a magnetically-attached tray for the iPad on the right side. A slender magnetic catch keeps the cover closed while you're in transit. Around the outside of the paper notepad side are slots for business cards, and you can get refills for your notepad in blank, lined, or graph paper formats ($10 for 3 pads). That catch is different from the one on original iPad Air version of the Booqpad, which was rather wide and could actually hold a Pencil by FiftyThree stylus. The case also acts as a stand, with the section of the folio that the polycarbonate iPad tray attaches to folding to accommodate a variety of angles. Should you decide that you'd like to use the iPad Air 2 on its own without the folio, just give it a pull and the tray/iPad combo comes out. Just bring that tray back to the folio and hold it near, and it snaps right back into place. Functionality While I still like the idea of the Booqpad, I'm not sure that I'm quite as enthusiastic about it as I was last year after seeing dozens of other iPad case/stands. It definitely fills a specific niche, but it doesn't have the adjustability of some competing folio-type cases. In addition, Booq used to include a screen protector with each Booqpad. That's no longer the case, which is a little odd - perhaps the company found that nobody was using the screen protectors? Maybe the idea of having a paper notepad alongside your iPad excites you, and if it does, then the Booqpad is just the case for you. Otherwise, it might be worth your while to just grab any old folio type case and slap in a Post-it® 5 x 8 inch notebook pad. Conclusion About a year after the first Booqpad arrived on the scene, we're seeing the new model for iPad Air 2. Booqpad is still unique, but we're wondering if that's because no other manufacturer really thinks a combo paper notepad/iPad case is worthwhile. It's a well-done case; it's just that the idea seems a bit less exciting than it did a year ago. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway OK, if you're just dying for a Booqpad, hold onto your hats because we're giving one away. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 16, 2015 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booq Booqpad for iPad Air 2 valued at $60. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Booq Cobra Brief offers space, protection and good looks
Booq makes a lot of really beautiful high-end bags for a variety of Apple products, many of which I've had the pleasure to review over the past few years. Today I'm taking a look at the Booq Cobra brief (US$295), a sweet-looking laptop bag with the MacBook Pro-toting frequent traveler in mind. Check out the review, and then enter to win this briefcase that will be your constant companion on the road. Specifications Exterior Dimensions: 17.3 x 13 x 4.9 inches (440 x 330 x 125 mm) Interior Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.4 inches (400 x 300 x 35 mm) Weight: 3.4 pounds (1.54 kg) Fits: 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display Materials: Exterior is 1680 denier nylon with water-repellent coating, Interior is 420 denier nylon twill, genuine leather trim, YKK waterproof zippers Design The Cobra brief has very clean lines, with very few protuberances to catch on things as you're running through the airport. The bottom is trimmed with leather backed by waterproof ballistic nylon so it's not an issue if you accidentally set the case down in a puddle. The main compartment zipper wraps all the way around the case, making it simple to open and find what you're looking for. There's a separate compartment for your MacBook Pro, then a big lined compartment with pockets for chargers, your iPhone, your wallet, and pens. Seriously, there's a lot of room in here for anything you may want to carry. You can also choose to put your iPad and iPhone in the open exterior pocket for fast access. What's nice about this case is that while it's good looking, it's not ostentatious. Sure, there are a lot of really high-end cases that are probably even more good-looking, but that could act as an attractant for thieves. The materials are top-notch. I've had several bags (not made by Booq) that use the same ballistic nylon and they are impressively tough. Functionality Among the functional features of the Booq Cobra brief that I like the most are the following: Those YKK zippers are wonderful and smooth-running Leather zipper pulls on all of those zippers Leather grips on the carry handles Detachable keychain inside Foam padding in the MacBook pocket Terralinq Serial Number for return in case of loss or theft Removable shoulder strap with a removable pad A tube of zipper wax is included. Zipper wax. Think about it. There's a loop for attaching the Cobra brief to the handle of a roller bag Other than that, the Cobra brief does what it's supposed to do - carry your laptop and a pile of accessories while you're traveling. It may be expensive at $295, but it's probably the last laptop case you'll need for a long time thanks to the quality of the build. Conclusion Booq has created a wonderful laptop bag for the road warrior in the Cobra brief. It holds a surprising amount of stuff, with more pockets and places to stow gear than you can imagine. The old adage "you get what you pay for" is certainly apt here, as the high price may put off some potential buyers. Those who are willing to open their wallets will have a laptop bog that will last a long, long time. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway For one TUAW reader, the Booq Cobra brief is closer than you think. TUAW and Booq are giving one away, and all you need to do is enter for a chance to win this amazing laptop bag. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before September 28, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booq Cobra brief laptop bag valued at $295 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Booq Cobra pack: The ultimate lightweight laptop backpack
Whether you're a college student lugging around a MacBook Air and some books or a creative professional with a MacBook Pro who travels constantly on the job, you probably like the hands-free convenience of a backpack for your laptop. Booq's Cobra pack (US$295) is a lightweight, roomy, and streamlined laptop backpack that will hold up to years of use and abuse. Take a look at our review, then take a chance at winning a Booq Cobra pack in our giveaway. Specifications Exterior Dimensions: 14 x 18 x 9 inches (356 x 457 x 229 mm) Interior Dimensions: 10.6 x 15.5 x 1.5 inches (269 x 294 x 38 mm) Weight 3.57 pounds (1.62 kilograms) Compability: 13- to 17-inch MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Lining: Copper (reddish-orange) nylon, exterior 1680D black nylon Design Highlights The Cobra pack looks more like a futuristic astronaut backpack than what you'd normally see in your local office supply or big box store. It has a very streamlined and square shape, designed to let you hold up to a 17-inch MacBook Pro comfortably inside. Your laptop sits in a protectively padded compartment complete with a water-resistant zipper, and the entire backpack is covered with waterproofed ballistic nylon. There are two zippered side pockets that open and expand to hold a water bottle or umbrella, a front zipper pocket with an open-top phone pocket, two zippered back pockets for an iPad or other goodies, and two shoulder strap pockets for your iPhone or iPod touch. The strap system on the shoulder straps has three adjustment points, meaning that you can configure the pack for ultimate comfort. The back padding of the Cobra is breathable so you won't end up with a sweaty back carrying this backpack in warm, humid weather. Each Cobra pack comes with a Terralinq serial number and bar code so your bag can be returned to you if you're ever parted from it accidentally. Finally, the zippers used by Booq on the Cobra pack are all YKK originals, which means that they're going to work without issues for years. Functionality Highlights Besides looking good, the Cobra pack is designed to hold a lot of stuff! The copper (reddish-orange) interior lining is very useful for ensuring that you'll be able to find things in the bag. That's quite different from the usual black backpack interiors that make it virtually impossible to see inside the dark packs. The strap system is very comfortable, and I like the padded top handle that makes it easy to "one hand" the backpack if you need to carry it to put it into a security scanner. The side water bottle pockets expand to fit even large water bottles, making the Cobra pack perfect for carrying your favorite hydration beverages with you everywhere. I compared the weight of the Cobra pack to that of a few laptop backpacks I have around the office, and though it's much larger, the weight is actually less than those other packs. While the Booq Cobra isn't exactly an inexpensive backpack, it's going to last for years. Why swap out cheap backpacks every year when you can buy one more expensive backpack that will stay with you through college and beyond? That being said, I do wish that Booq would consider bringing the Cobra pack more into the realm of reality with pricing. $300 for a laptop backpack is kinda crazy, folks. To quote two TUAW bloggers, "For $300 it better reply to email for me" (Dave Caolo) and "The only way I'm paying $300 for a backpack is if it's actually a jetpack" (Mike Wehner). Conclusion The Booq Cobra pack is a sleek, futuristic looking laptop backpack that can hold any Apple MacBook and all the rest of your gear and accessories as well. It's lightweight, built to last, water-resistant, and well-padded. But the price tag is so out of line with reality that I'm taking a full star away on my rating. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway OK, if you're like me, Dave, and Mike, you're not going to shell out three Benjamins for the Booq Cobra pack, but that doesn't mean that you can't be the proud owner of one of these premium laptop backpacks. Thanks to Booq Bags, we're giving one away. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before August 9, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booq Bags Cobra pack valued at $295 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Booqpad: Combining iPad tech with good old paper
Booq makes some nice products for Apple fans, and one of the more recent announcements from the company was for the Booqpad for iPad Air (US$60 for grey, $95 for black/stone). While it looks like just a plain-Jane folio case for the newest iPad, it actually has some more tricks hidden inside. Let's take a look: Specifications Dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches (178 x 242 x 24 mm) Weight: 1.19 lbs (.54 kg) Materials: Nubuck lining, polyurethane exterior Paper: 50-sheet A5-format pad Design Highlights So what's the difference with the Booqpad compared to all of the bazillions of other folios for iPad Air? For one, when you open it up there's a good old paper notebook on one side of the folio with your iPad Air on the other. This is great for those of us who -- despite years of using our iPads -- still sketch or take notes with pen and paper. The outside of the Booqpad has a nice soft finish to it, and in either grey or black it's at home in the executive boardroom. The grey version has a wide magnetic latch that keeps everything closed when you're on the move, while the black/stone version appears to have a single snap button. What's wonderful about this design is that it's completely symmetrical, meaning that it can be set up for right-handed users (iPad on the left, notepad on the right) or left-handed users (notepad on the left, iPad on the right). It's all done with magnets. The tray that holds the iPad can be lifted off of the folio, turned 180°, and then slapped into place. There are slits on the paper side of the Booqpad that can hold the pad in two positions as well. When in use as a stand, the Booqpad is quite the contortionist! It can be set up to hold your iPad in a number of positions: Functionality Highlights I have to admit that I like the Booqpad a lot. It offers solid protection, a flexible stand, and the ability to take notes on paper (or at least make paper airplanes if you're bored in a meeting). There's no cheesy Velcro holding things in place, or complex pivot mechanisms that have a tendency to break or jam. Using strong magnets in strategic positions allows the Booqpad to be set up to be comfortable for you. Booq provides a screen protector with the Booqpad as well to keep your iPad Air looking new as long as possible. Sure, the Booqpad doesn't have a built-in battery pack or keyboard, nor is it made of exotic materials. But if you're looking for a reasonably-priced, solid iPad Air case that can be used in a number of orientations, you've come to the right place. Conclusion Booq hit the sweet spot of iPad case design with the Booqpad. While many iPad Air cases only seem to hit two of the three criteria for a really good case -- those being flexibility, looks, and price -- the Booqpad wins the trifecta. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway Someone out there is going to give our review sample a good home. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before April 22, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Booqpad for iPad Air valued at US$60. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Booq Boa shift backpack: Sleek and roomy MacBook companion
If you've been looking for a way to carry that 15-inch MacBook Pro of yours hands-free, then you're reading the right accessory review. Booq's Boa shift backpack (US$150) is an modern-looking, sleek bag that provides a huge amount of room for your MBP and accessories. Specifications Designed for 13-inch MacBook Air,13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro Exterior Dimensions: 13.5 x 18 x 8 inches (343 x 457 x 203 mm) Weight: 3 lbs. (1.4 kg) Materials: Herringbone nylon lining, 1680 Denier nylon exterior Equipped with Terralinq Lost and Found Serial Number Design Highlights The Boa shift is surprisingly futuristic looking, but it's not the good looks that are the big feature here. It has two side quick-access pockets for things like plane tickets, phones and pens; a top-front zipper pocket for storing things you want to have fast access to; and two elastic pockets on the shoulder straps for phones or MP3 players. On the inside, you'll find a really large main zippered compartment that's perfect for documents, power adaptors, external mice and other accessories. There's also a document slip pocket, five lining slip pockets, a large mesh pocket, four pen slots and a heavily padded laptop compartment with a separate zipper. Booq made sure that the lining is made of soft Nylex to avoid scratching your gear, added an air-mesh back padding so your back doesn't sweat while you're carrying the Boa shift and then added water-repellent coatings to both the exterior nylon and interior lining. Functionality Highlights I loaded the Boa shift with my 15-inch MacBook Pro (Retina display, naturally) and a pile of accessories, and I found I still had room to spare. I love the fact that the MBP was sitting in its own nicely padded pouch, and that, if I wanted to remove just the laptop, I didn't have to worry about it getting scratched by other "stuff." It's the main pocket of the Boa shift that's amazing. It has a huge amount of room available for everything you might want to carry on a daily commute. What's really nice is the fact that the backpack is designed in such a way that it is "stiff," making it easy to load and unload without the bag collapsing onto whatever you're trying to dig out or put in. I'm a huge fan of backpacks (don't judge me, but I own three different ones for various purposes), but the ones that I currently own drive me bonkers when I'm trying to find stuff and they're collapsing. One other feature of this bag that's worth mentioning is the Terralinq Lost and Found Serial Number. If you ever lose the bag, someone can use that number to return the bag to you. That's a feature that only Booq provides, as far as I know. Finally, the construction of Booq bags is unparalleled in the business. They really make durable products, and the Boa shift is no exception. Sure, you could be like me and buy a cheaper backpack, but your $150 investment in the Boa shift will last a lot longer. Conclusion For laptop users who are looking for a backpack that's tops in functionality, capacity and looks, the Boa shift backpack is definitely worth putting at the top of your list. It will last for years, protects your MacBook with thick padding and has style to spare. Rating: 4 out of 4 stars possible Giveaway You've seen the bag; now win it! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 27, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Booq Boa shift (Graphite) backpack valued at $150 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
It's a bag, it's a sleeve, it's the Booq Viper courier
The bag-making pros at Booq are back at it again. Just in time for back-to-school, they've introduced two new bags that are really a hybrid of the traditional computer bag and a stiff sleeve. The Booq Viper courier comes in both 13-inch (US$99.95) and 15-inch ($109.95) flavors, and we'll be giving away one of the 15-inch models later ... so stay tuned. Design It's the design of this bag that makes it different from all the rest. Most computer bags are like the one I got from the company when I hired on: they have a shoulder strap, a padded pocket for the computer (with the requisite Velcro strap to hold it in place), a couple of other pockets for papers and accessories, and the ever-popular slots for pens. For those who love lightweight and compact protection for their laptops, there are a number of manufacturers who make sleeves. Booq's contribution to the laptop sleeve market has been the Viper series, made up of the case (starting at $44.95), the hardcase (starting at $49.95), and the sleeve (starting at $39.95). This series has a semi-rigid exterior with a cloth finish, and provides extra protection for your laptop. Now the Booq folks have created a mashup of the Viper semi-rigid cases and sleeves and a more traditional MacBook bag with these two Booq Viper courier bags. The exterior of the Booq Viper courier is covered in a waterproof and organically dyed natural fibre fabric in a neutral grey color. It has a nice feel and looks quite classy. Hiding inside the Viper courier are a variety of pockets into which you can slide a surprising amount of gear. Rather than describe the functions of all of these pockets, check out the following short video from Booq: Functionality OK, so you can fit a lot of gear into the Booq Viper courier. I think that the high points of this bag are the padding around the laptop pocket and the internal iPad pocket. One other feature that Booq provides with many of its products is a serialized TerraLinq tag that is unique to your bag. If you lose the bag, the tag provides a way for the finder to hopefully get it back to you. The shoulder strap was very comfortable, even when I weighed down the bag with my 13" MacBook Pro with Retina display, a full-sized iPad, an iPad mini, charging cables, my iPhone, and some assorted papers and magazines from my desk. The other main selling point of the Booq Viper courier is how it looks; it's one of the more classy laptop bags I've seen in the recent past. I love the small touches that really add to the usability of the bag -- the cloth zipper pulls that make it easy to open the bag, the handles that tuck away if you're not using them, and the easy-to-remove shoulder strap. The Viper courier is a bag that would look equally at home on the shoulder of a college student or in an executive boardroom. It's not flashy; instead, it's understated and professional. Although the Booq Viper courier can hold a surprising amount of gear, you might need a bag that has a bit more space in it. Booq recently announced a new member of the family: the Booq Boa brief ($149.95). I personally don't think it's as nice-looking as the Viper courier, but your tastes may be different from mine. Conclusion For the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro user with a 13-inch or 15-inch model, the Booq Viper courier provides top-notch protection to your gear while looking good at the same time. Pros Comfortable removable shoulder strap Surprising amount of storage space in a relatively slim bag TerraLinq service can help you be reunited with a lost or stolen bag Fabric material is waterproof Zipper pulls provide ease of entry Special interior pocket for iPad Cons None to speak of Who is it for? Anyone who wants a classy-looking, relatively inexpensive, and well-constructed laptop case for their MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. Giveaway And now it's time for someone with a nice MacBook to win this lovely bag! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before August 27, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Booq Viper courier bag worth $109.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Booq announces the Fibre snapcase for iPhone 5
When I think of accessory manufacturer Booq, I normally think of high-quality computer bags and backpacks. Well, the company has just announced the new Fibre snapcase (US$29.95), a stylish line of iPhone 5 cases that bring the soft touch of cloth to your favorite phone. The back of each Fibre snapcase is covered with the same material found in the company's Mamba line of laptop bags, giving your iPhone protection while adding a classy look and an extra bit of grip to keep the phone from sliding out of your hand. The sides of the case are made of a matching polycarbonate plastic for protection just in case it does happen to be the victim of a fumble. The Fibre snapcase is available for order today on the Booq website and will be arriving at selected retailers shortly.
Booqpad mini combines paper and iPad mini into an effective package
A paperless office is king or should be as fellow TUAW editor Steve Sande would say. But in a word where you're as likely to find iPads in a classroom or office as you would printed materials, many people prefer to jot down handwritten notes. Count me among them. I handwrite about half of my comic scripts in a Moleskine notebook before transcribing them into Scrivener. Case makers and software developers are latching onto this hybrid. Last fall, Evernote introduced a smart notebook with special lines and tags that help integrate the handwritten pages with its service once they're captured by Evernote's page camera in iOS. You don't even need to shell out the money for one of the smart notebooks. It works just as well with a regular one. Now, Booq has introduced its hybrid solution, the US$39.95 Booqpad mini case for iPad mini. I've been testing it for the past couple of weeks, and for the most part, I do like it. Design Available in black and grey, the Booqpad mini combines an iPad mini case with a thin notepad so you can have the best of both worlds. On the left side is the iPad mini, and the case fits the mini securely. A pen loop next to it can hold a pen or stylus. The right side has a lined notepad and pockets to store business cards. It's about the size of an average day planner and looks very swank in any office setting. The exterior is made from jute, a natural fiber that's mainly produced and sold in Bangladesh and India. The case had that "new car" smell for several days once I got the review sample, and it took a day before I could even handle the case for more than a few minutes. I'm hoping this isn't the issue with most of the other cases and assume I got one of the initial production batches. Functionality This is where the Booqpad mini faltered for me. I use my iPad mini either as a second screen while working with my laptop or a primary screen when writing in my Moleskine and use my built-in stand constantly on my normal case. However, with the Booqpad mini, because you have the writing pad, there's no real way to have the case also function as a stand. If you don't use your iPad in this manner, the Booqpad mini is great to use. I had no issues writing when I folded the case just to show the writing side, and it was great to use at meetings when I had the iPad mini laying on the table. The case is billed for left-handed or right-handed use, just flip the case and reposition the iPad and notepad to suit your needs. All of the ports on the iPad mini are easily accessible. It's not much thicker in my bag as my standard Belkin case is. The included lined notepad has 50 pages, and three-pack refills are $9.99. Booq has a variety of notepads to fit certain situations. Some might find the price a bit steep for 150 sheets of paper, but the pads are at least 30 percent recycled material and are printed with soy ink. Conclusion The Booqpad mini does a good job at combining the best of the iPad mini world with a basic notepad. The price is extremely good as well, especially given the environmentally friendly materials that have gone into the Booqpad mini. If you're in a business setting and don't need a stand, I'd suggest looking at the Booqpad mini before going for the overpriced Apple Smart Cover. We'll be giving away the Booqpad mini during our TUAW meetup at Macworld/iWorld next week. We'll share the details as soon as we finalize them!
Booq Viper sleeve: A sleek way to protect your MacBook Air
Booq makes a lot of great cases and sleeves for Apple products, like the Python Courier bag and the Booq Folio for iPad 2. They're well-designed and built to last. The company has come out with a new and thin sleeve for the 11" and 13" MacBook Air that provides protection while leaving out the bulk. Take a look at the Booq Viper sleeve (US$39.95 for 11", $49.94 for 13"), and enter to win one just in time for the start of the school year. Design and Functionality What makes the Booq Viper sleeve so different? It uses a semi-rigid design with three "ridges" on each side. They make the thing more durable and look good, too. The design is incredibly simple -- there are no zippers, pulls, or anything else to keep you from grabbing your MacBook Air when you need it. The top of the sleeve has a magnetic closure that pops open when you pull it apart. Usually, the sleeve top is in the closed position. The inside of the sleeve is lined with nylon, while the outside is molded from a natural fiber -- jute. %Gallery-162634% The resulting sleeve offers a lot of protection without being heavy or bulky. On the other hand, if you need to carry other items -- an AC adapter, a dongle for connecting to a projector, and so on -- you'll need another bag. My take on the Viper sleeve is that it works well to protect your MacBook Air from scratches and bumps while it's in a larger bag like a backpack. Conclusion It's thin. It's lightweight. It has a good feel to it. It protects your MacBook Air. It's also just different enough that people are going to say "Where'd you get that sleeve?" Pros Extremely thin and lightweight Attractive design Jute material on exterior provides good grip, looks classy Magnetic closure keeps the MacBook Air securely tucked away Cons A bit pricey for a sleeve, especially the 13" model Who is it for? Owners of the MacBook Air who are looking for minimalist protection, or who have an existing bag and want to keep the MBA free from scratches. Giveaway Have a 13" MacBook Air? Then enter to win the Viper sleeve seen in the pictures in this review. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before August 20, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Booq Viper sleeve for a 13" MacBook Air in the Sand finish (value of US$49.99) Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Booq Python courier bag protects your DSLR, lenses and iPad in style: Enter to win
Booq makes some amazing bags for laptops, iPads, and the like. Now the accessory manufacturer has introduced the Python courier bag ($179.95), a fine-looking bag for photographers who want to also have room to slide in an iPad. Read on for a review of the Python courier and enter for a chance to win this sweet piece of equipment. Design Booq's bags and cases have always had a sleek, modern look to them, and the Python courier is no exception. The exterior of the bag is made of a gray water-repellent 1680 denier ballistic nylon that should hold up to healthy abuse. On the top of the case is a well-padded handle, but the real attraction for photographers will be the wide shoulder strap. That strap comes with a removable pad to keep your shoulder unbruised when you're lugging a DSLR body and a couple of big lenses. %Gallery-150443% The Python courier features a flap that can be used to secure the case to the handle of a rolling suitcase. But it's "what's inside that counts" with this bag. To protect your delicate camera equipment and lenses from the rigors of travel, the Python courier has a removable padded camera compartment surrounded by two contoured dividers. Booq refers to this compartment as being "densely padded," and that's an understatement. The bag itself has good padding in the front and back walls; the camera compartment adds even more protection to the mix. If you're wondering what you can carry in terms of camera equipment, Booq says that a DSLR and 2 to 4 lenses can fit into the Python courier. Now remember, the bag also has room for an iPad -- or a laptop with dimensions up to 10" x 7.5" x .5". A quick look at the specs for the MacBook Air shows that even the 11" model isn't going to fit, so you'll have to look at another of Booq's bags if you want to carry a laptop with you. The zippered iPad pocket doesn't provide as much protection as the cameras get, but of course you're getting AppleCare+ for your new baby, aren't you? Like many of the Booq products, the Python courier has a Terralinq serial number tag affixed to it. Should you lose your bag and have registered the serial number, the Terralinq service might help you get that valuable stuff back to you. By the way, if you don't have a DSLR or have suddenly decided that all of your future photography will be done with your iPhone, iPad, and Lytro, you can pull the camera compartment out to turn the Python courier into one big messenger bag. There are a number of other little pockets here and there on the Python; I leave it to our giveaway winner to count them for us. Functionality The Booq Python courier has room to spare. As you can see from the gallery images, I was able to stuff two Canon PowerShot IS cameras (sorry, I don't own a DSLR) into the camera compartment and had plenty of room to spare on top. My iPad 2 slid into the back pocket with ease and I filled the interior pockets with all manner of electronic gadgetry. With the shoulder pad attached and the bag slung across my body as all good courier bags should be, I was impressed with how comfortable the Python courier was even when fully loaded. It's also damned good looking, nice whether you're outfitted in a three-piece tailored suit or wearing jeans and a photographer's vest. Conclusion and Giveaway Booq did good work on the design and construction of the Python courier. For digital photographers who want to protect their equipment and take along an iPad for note-taking or editing work, the bag is perfect. A quick look at several photographic equipment store websites shows that the bag price is right in line with or actually lower than a number of camera-only shoulder bags by Billingham, Arri, Crumpler, Domke, and other camera accessory manufacturers. We'd like to give this bag away to a loyal TUAW reader. To win, check out the rules and then fill in all the blanks on the entry form below. The rules are as follows: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, click fill out the form below completely and click the submit button. The entry must be made before Monday, March 12, 2012, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: A new Booq Python courier bag worth $179.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Good luck! Thank you for your entries - this giveaway is now closed. A winner will be named soon!
iPad 2 accessories: The flood begins
No sooner had Steve Jobs bid farewell to the crowd at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco yesterday than the TUAW inbox began filling with news of iPad 2 accessories. While many of the accessories aren't as snazzy as the bath tub lid-inspired Smart Covers, I thought you might like to take a peek at what manufacturers have been working on under NDA. Booq is coming out with a nice looking folio case for the iPad 2 that includes a non-digital component -- a built-in and replaceable paper notepad. The Booqpad for iPad 2 (below) starts at US$49.95, with a "luxury option" available at $99.95. The notepad sheets are the same size as an iPad 2 screen and are perforated for easy removal. Knowing Dave Caolo's penchant for cool notebooks, I've been asked by his wife Mia to tell him to not buy one of these.
TUAW review and giveaway: Booq Boa push bag for iPad
As my partner in crime here at TUAW, Kelly Guimont, will vouch, I have a bit of a bag addiction. It started back in the Newton MessagePad days when I carried an Eagle Creek "man bag" complete with Newton, folding keyboard, and other accessories. It got worse when I started using laptop cases, since that pointed me in the direction of Tom Bihn's line of awesome bags. With the advent of the iPad, I've been trying my best to avoid buying a bag -- in fact, I should be getting a DODOcase today or tomorrow. So what happened? The folks at Booq sent me a Boa push for iPad. Now, Booq bags are really addictive. They're extremely well-made, stylish, and amazingly functional. Fortunately, we give away everything we review, so I'm not tempted to keep this bag. Read on for a short review and find out how you can win this bag from TUAW. %Gallery-102044%
