Recently, I purchased a $25 SFBags Suede Sleeve by WaterField, with the intention of discontinuing a manila envelope that's been a real champ of a sleeve.
The sleeve comes in a simple translucent bag inside an envelope, which is good because it cuts down on shipping costs and waste. However, the simple packaging is quite reflective of the product itself.
I opted for this Suede Sleeve because I wanted something ultra thin and soft to complement the portability factor of the MacBook Air, and it certainly delivers. It's stitched well and has two sewn-on "finger loops" on either corner of one side to facilitate inserting your machine.
However, that's about where the positives end. The fit is snug the first time you put it in, but afterward, if you were to hold the end of the bag upside down, the Air slips out rather effortlessly. To be fair, suede fabric is not exactly elastic material. But I don't think it would necessary be loose, either (I hope not).
My biggest qualm with this sleeve is that it's pretty underwhelming. If I were to show it off to anyone, guaranteed most would be thinking about what a nice grandmother I have to sew me a custom sleeve with material from Fabricland. Craftsmanship is not poor but there is absolutely no sign of effort put into this product, such as extra stitching or detail beyond the basic form. For example, the open end of the sleeve is plain (it's simply the end of the cut fabric) without any sort of "cuff"; look at any shirt, pants, or cloth you own - there is always some sort of detail at the edge, even if it's just a line of stitching. Not on this sleeve. I have no doubt that an experienced seamsperson would be able to complete this product from start to finish (after cutting) in 10 minutes, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
While the Suede Sleeve does the job adequately, there's nothing more beneficial that I can say about it. It protects my Air from minute dangers such as scratches, dust, and airborne particles well enough, but is it really worth $25USD? A very comparable sleeve would sell for $5-10 on eBay or Wal-Mart, or at least that's how much I'd value the SFBags Suede Sleeve looking at it. Maybe WaterField should reconsider manufacturing their products in pricey San Francisco, because this sleeve is definitely not worth the price.
If I had to give a rating, I'd give it 5 out of 10. It's not a bad product, rather it's just at a bad price. Next time, I'm just going to call my grandma for a sleeve.
Note: Pics taken with a BlackBerry, I didn't have a real camera on hand. The colour is typical suede black, not faded black-ish!
The sleeve comes in a simple translucent bag inside an envelope, which is good because it cuts down on shipping costs and waste. However, the simple packaging is quite reflective of the product itself.
I opted for this Suede Sleeve because I wanted something ultra thin and soft to complement the portability factor of the MacBook Air, and it certainly delivers. It's stitched well and has two sewn-on "finger loops" on either corner of one side to facilitate inserting your machine.
However, that's about where the positives end. The fit is snug the first time you put it in, but afterward, if you were to hold the end of the bag upside down, the Air slips out rather effortlessly. To be fair, suede fabric is not exactly elastic material. But I don't think it would necessary be loose, either (I hope not).
My biggest qualm with this sleeve is that it's pretty underwhelming. If I were to show it off to anyone, guaranteed most would be thinking about what a nice grandmother I have to sew me a custom sleeve with material from Fabricland. Craftsmanship is not poor but there is absolutely no sign of effort put into this product, such as extra stitching or detail beyond the basic form. For example, the open end of the sleeve is plain (it's simply the end of the cut fabric) without any sort of "cuff"; look at any shirt, pants, or cloth you own - there is always some sort of detail at the edge, even if it's just a line of stitching. Not on this sleeve. I have no doubt that an experienced seamsperson would be able to complete this product from start to finish (after cutting) in 10 minutes, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
While the Suede Sleeve does the job adequately, there's nothing more beneficial that I can say about it. It protects my Air from minute dangers such as scratches, dust, and airborne particles well enough, but is it really worth $25USD? A very comparable sleeve would sell for $5-10 on eBay or Wal-Mart, or at least that's how much I'd value the SFBags Suede Sleeve looking at it. Maybe WaterField should reconsider manufacturing their products in pricey San Francisco, because this sleeve is definitely not worth the price.
If I had to give a rating, I'd give it 5 out of 10. It's not a bad product, rather it's just at a bad price. Next time, I'm just going to call my grandma for a sleeve.
Note: Pics taken with a BlackBerry, I didn't have a real camera on hand. The colour is typical suede black, not faded black-ish!
