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Pelican ProGear 1070CC HardBack Case: Ultimate protection for your MacBook Air
Pelican has been making amazing hard-side cases for quite a while, creating some of the favorite shipping cases for cameras, firearms, servers and other items that owners want to have softly cradled in foam while protected with a hard shell. Recently, the company launched the ProGear 1070CC HardBack Case (US$85.00) for 13" Ultrabooks, which of course fits the 13" and 11" MacBook Air. Read on for details about this protective case, then enter for a chance to win one courtesy of Pelican Products and TUAW. The ProGear HardBack Case is built tough. The design? Well, it's not going to appeal to everyone. If you're in an executive office, a nice leather case or bag for your MacBook Air is going to do just fine. But if you're the type who needs a laptop case that you can throw into the back of a pickup truck or take on a oceanographic or mountaineering expedition, then this case is perfect for you. The outside of the case is built of the same ultra-tough material that Pelican uses for their other cases, and I know for a fact that this material can hold up. I used to do training for a company that shipped PC projectors in Pelican cases, and I saw these cases get dropped, fall off of baggage carts, even get bumped by cars. The outside of the cases were beat up, but the gear inside was never damaged. The bottom of the case has four non-slip rubber feet to keep it from sliding on hard surfaces like wet boat decks, and there are a pair of hefty hinges on the back that allow the top of the case to lay flat if desired. On the front is a latch that keeps the case closed in transit, and there's even spot to put a padlock if you really want to keep your MacBook Air safe. On the inside of the case is a foam insert that's designed to cradle a 13" (or 11") MacBook Air or other "ultrabook" type computer. To ensure that the MacBook Air doesn't slide around, there are four small foam bumper pads that keep it in place. Like most Pelican cases, the ProGear 1070CC Hardback Case is watertight and crushproof. By watertight, the company states that the contents can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. There's a pressure relief valve built in for equalizing pressure between the inside and outside of the case, which could be useful in aeronautical or extreme mountaineering situations. The case also comes with a rugged, padded shoulder strap for carrying. In terms of dimensions, the outside of the case measures 15.29" x 11.96" x 1.60" (38.8 x 30.4 x 4.1 cm). Inside dimensions are 12.80" x 8.95" x 0.72" (32.5 x 22.7 x 1.8 cm). It's not a lightweight at 2.8 pounds (1.27 kg), but you'll be happy for the protection it offers. Conclusion If you need extreme protection for a MacBook Air, then the Pelican ProGear 1070CC HardBack Case is the ultimate crushproof, watertight, and impact resistant case to get. Pros Incredibly durable Can stay submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes Perfect for both the 13" and 11" MacBook Air models Lifetime guarantee Case can accept a lock for true security Extremely reasonable price for a case you'll never need to replace Cons Rather plain looking, and definitely not stylish Who is it for? Anyone whose workplace is outside an office and who needs complete protection of his or her MacBook Air. Giveaway Some lucky TUAW reader is going to be sliding his or her MacBook Air into this Pelican ProGear 1070CC HardBack Case in a little over a week. 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 October 23, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Pelican ProGear 1070CC HardBack Case for MacBook Air, valued at US$85.00 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Pelican ProGear Vault Series case for iPhone 5
Pelican is well-known by professionals in photography, the military, and government for their incredibly strong carrying cases. Now they've brought their expertise to the iPhone 5 with the new Pelican ProGear Vault Series case (Model CE1180, US$79.95), which appears to be one of the first iPhone cases that could survive being run over by a locomotive. Design All kidding aside, the ProGear Vault Series case is really the first iPhone case that's truly worthy of carrying the Pelican Case name. The case is made of an "engineering grade polymer outer shell with elastomeric liner," which is marketing-speak for "hard, almost-bulletproof case with a soft insert." Four flush-fit hex-head screws hold an aircraft aluminum faceplate in place. There's also a screen guard with a scratch-resistant coating that fits under that faceplate. To install and remove the protective shell, a small hex-head driver is included along with two spare screws if they happen to fall out when you crash your wingsuit into a rock face. You gain access to the external buttons on the iPhone 5 through small metal equivalents on the outside of the case. A small knob is used to flip the mute button; it's actually easier to change through the case knob than by flipping the switch on the iPhone. %Gallery-186522% While the Vault doesn't appear to be completely waterproof, it is designed to defend "against extreme wind-driven snow, rain, and dust." There are water-resistant mic and speaker covers, and optical glass protecting both cameras on the iPhone. Finally, Pelican guarantees the Vault Series case for life. Proving that protection doesn't need to be dull, the Vault Series case comes in a variety of colors. Sure, there's dull old black and white, but you can also get purple, a dark grey/red mixture, and a green case as well. Finally, Pelican wants to make sure that the protection is used wherever you may be, so you can purchase optional accessories including a vehicle phone mount, a bike mount, and a sport armband. Functionality Since TUAW is always happy to give away our review items, I didn't install the screen guard. I did, however, undo the hex-head screws to get a feel for just how easy (or difficult) it is to install the Vault Series. The case appears to use small brass-lined fittings built into the polymer outer shell to insure that you'll be able to remove and re-install the screws easily. This is much better than what I've seen with some other cases that just used a poorly-threaded metal liner or had screws driven into plastic. The nice thing about the Vault case is that it doesn't end up being a bulky Iron Man suit for your iPhone. Instead, it weighs just 2.72 ounces and is only .52" thick. You get top-notch protection without weighing yourself down. Conclusion In a market that's been dominated by two companies -- OtterBox and LifeProof -- for ultra-protective cases, there's a new and credible entry from Pelican. While the Vault Series case for iPhone 5 isn't completely waterproof, the shock, crush and splash protection that it does provide should keep your favorite phone safe from a world of potential disasters. Pros Lightweight and thin while still offering a high level of protection Reasonably priced for a case offering this much protection Easy installation of the tough outer shell Comes in a small but welcome variety of colors Spare hex-head screws are included, along with a small screwdriver for installation Cons Not completely waterproof like some other competing iPhone cases Who is it for? Anyone who wants a slender and lightweight iPhone 5 case but doesn't want to compromise on protection. Giveaway One lucky TUAW reader is going to get a chance to keep his or her iPhone 5 protected from drops and splashes. 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 26, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Pelican ProGear Vault Series iPhone 5 case valued at US$79.95 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
