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SKB Cases for Mac Pro

D

DeeEss

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 17, 2011
644
182
Hi, I'm thinking about getting one of these to cart my Mac Pro around. As it is mobile with me a few times of week.

http://www.skbcases.com/industrial/news/news-detail.php?id=27

I was wondering if anyone here has one and would they recommend it?

While it looks amazingly well shock absorbed, by the looks of the photo there doesn't seem to be a great amount, if any, of padding between the Mac Pro Case and the internal rack mount and it looks as though it may be susceptible to scratching and damage when you put it in and out of the case. Also the clamping system looks as though it may be brutal if it doesn't have some kind of padding.

It's hard to find any info on this case and while I've asked customer service (and I did get a very quick response) I wasn't entirely convinced with the " we've not had problems before" answer I got.

It's either this or a Pelican 1640, but the problem with that case is having to get it in and out all the the time and then possibly damaging the case from picking it up and putting it down constantly.

Any real world feedback on this one?

Thanks in advance,
 
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It looks as though that case has the same opening at both back and front. Although I do not have any real information to help you with, wouldn't you just leave it in the case and therefore it wouldn't get scratched? I know that it looks fugly in the case, but I think the function of the case is for ongoing travel and portability.

Wouldn't you hate to see the ground crew of an airline chucking that case into the cargo hold of an aircraft...shudder...
 
AlphaDogg said:
That looks like a pretty solid case. But my advice to you: get a MacBook Pro ;).
Click to expand...

I have one, it's not enough for what I do.


Rapscallion said:
It looks as though that case has the same opening at both back and front. Although I do not have any real information to help you with, wouldn't you just leave it in the case and therefore it wouldn't get scratched? I know that it looks fugly in the case, but I think the function of the case is for ongoing travel and portability.

Wouldn't you hate to see the ground crew of an airline chucking that case into the cargo hold of an aircraft...shudder...
Click to expand...

Yeah, the reason I want to use that one is becuase it has the front and rear doors so you don't have to take it out on a job. But I fear the damage is going to happen in the times you need to put it in (initially) and take it out for what ever reasons. I don't mind, and actually like the fugly looks (ha) but I would hate to spend all that money on case which actually scratches the machine when you slide it in and out. And the clamping system will do the same too I fear... But maybe it's padded???
 
Although the clamps don't appear to be padded, I'm sure they will have some pads to protect the case.

If not (which I can't imagine), you could easily DIY some foam rubber pads. Shouldn't take really long and definitely better than taking it out of the Pelican box every time.
 
Transporteur said:
Although the clamps don't appear to be padded, I'm sure they will have some pads to protect the case.

If not (which I can't imagine), you could easily DIY some foam rubber pads. Shouldn't take really long and definitely better than taking it out of the Pelican box every time.
Click to expand...

Hey, yeah that's what I was thinking, putting some kind of foam on the rack (I'm think there's already padding on the clamps), but then if there isn't enough clearance for the case to get in, it's quite an expensive DIY excerise that didn't work.

Just thought: Maybe some of those adhesive rubber feet might work...

Ah well, hopefully someone here may have some experience with case, I'll wait and see. Thanks for your responses though.
 
I think that if you got that case you could order up some clear plastic vinyl, like what they do clear bra on a car and cut it to fit on the corners where it comes in contact with the black box. I would hate to see it scratched up and that is better than rubber or anything else that will change the fit of the computer in the box as well as the ease of inserting it!
 
I don't want to put the OP off this case, but I had ordered the very same case last summer and was not very happy with it when it arrived. The actual cage that holds the Mac Pro wasn't square, so I wasn't prepared to fit my computer into it, as I feared that the cage would warp the computer and maybe wreck the m/board or some internal parts.

And thus just had a nightmare from there on, the supplier ordered me a replacement, and they shipped on from the States, I'm in the UK and the replacement went to SKB in Holland and apparently that one too was warped, so eventually the just shipped the actual cage without asking me, expecting me to remove faulty one and install new one. WTF!! I was to do what the manufacturer couldn't do!!??? I asked if they would carry the warranty of the box to include the computer having just got me to rectify their faults!!??

Anyway, returned the case back before Xmas and still waiting for my refund!!! Personally, I'd stay clear!! Get a MBP or a proper flight case!!

Oh and the SKB case is HUGE!!!! Not a easy fit to a normal car!!
 
DigitalVT said:
I don't want to put the OP off this case, but I had ordered the very same case last summer and was not very happy with it when it arrived. The actual cage that holds the Mac Pro wasn't square, so I wasn't prepared to fit my computer into it, as I feared that the cage would warp the computer and maybe wreck the m/board or some internal parts.

And thus just had a nightmare from there on, the supplier ordered me a replacement, and they shipped on from the States, I'm in the UK and the replacement went to SKB in Holland and apparently that one too was warped, so eventually the just shipped the actual cage without asking me, expecting me to remove faulty one and install new one. WTF!! I was to do what the manufacturer couldn't do!!??? I asked if they would carry the warranty of the box to include the computer having just got me to rectify their faults!!??

Anyway, returned the case back before Xmas and still waiting for my refund!!! Personally, I'd stay clear!! Get a MBP or a proper flight case!!

Oh and the SKB case is HUGE!!!! Not a easy fit to a normal car!!
Click to expand...

THANKYOU that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Thanks alot, i appreciate it! I'm going to steer clear for sure now.
 
DeeEss said:
THANKYOU that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Thanks alot, i appreciate it! I'm going to steer clear for sure now.
Click to expand...

Well that was a bit definite decision.

Apologies for the typo's!! I would be interested in what route you go if still interested in "touring" your system! Interestingly, I have been in conversation with a "bespoke flight case" manufacturer with regards to options. He did think that "suspension systems" like the one in the SKB case needs quite a weight for the "suspension" to take affect, and I thought the MP at about 20Kg was heavy, but maybe not. And also being on wheels and "fairly" portable, it can be at risk of being thrown about about by third parties!

Am personally verging on the decision for a dual mac pro set up with a case that houses them both in foam lined sleeve which has then suspension system in a flight case on wheels!!

:)
 
Ha, yeah I just worry about that cage and the way it is so close to the computer without any padding (did it have any?) and then well I don't have time to be sending things back to the States for replacement and then refund with warped cages. All that and it isn't the exactly a cheap item is it? Spend alot of money on a case that could possibly dammage the computer itself just seems ridiculous!

It's good to hear your experiences with it, thanks!

So I'm thinking of this one:
http://www.flightcasewarehouse.co.u...asp?case=apple-apple-mac-pro-flight-case-7165

They seem super helpful here and willing to help. The prices are quite good too. They can customize it with additional compartments too and seem really eager to keep the customer happy there too. I'm also in London so they are UK based too which is good. Apparently about 16kgs so decent weight too.

I love the Pelican Case 1640 http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail_specs.php?Case=1640 but the thought of getting it out of the case every time makes me think there's a good chance it will get dammaged with long term use as it gets picked up put down scuffs etc. Also I have assistants which when under the pump can be a bit rough with gear! Maybe some rubber feet might help? Nice to have a case where it doesn't need to come out of though, right? Just eliminates that possibility.

I have a lot of other gear in Pelican Cases and it really keeps them flawless though. They are close to indestructible.

Which way do you think you will go? If you know of any other options let me know!
 
Well I got a list of UK resellers from SKB Europe and the one I picked (in Manchester) hasn't been very helpful, although apparently pride themselves on their QOS (???), in fairness they did offer to provide a third complete replacement, but wanted me to return the SKB case and spare cage, the case is 20Kg and the cage is 6Kg and they wanted me to cover the cost of returning before they shipped the replacement. So by the time we argued to death this I realised that their service wasn't worth depending on, and preferred not to have it! Thus been traveling around with the MP in it's original box!!

Am sure a SKB case that isn't warped would be fine!!????

Ah yes, I saw that trolley flight case prior but as a chap said to me, it only takes an unwanted large drop off a step that could damage the computer, dunno!???

I am now thinking of this dual case, pictured, from 5 Star cases, maybe have the two macs fitted in a wooden foam padded sleeve as it is shown here but then in a shock mounted case for more durability!!!??
 

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DigitalVT said:
Well I got a list of UK resellers from SKB Europe and the one I picked (in Manchester) hasn't been very helpful, although apparently pride themselves on their QOS (???), in fairness they did offer to provide a third complete replacement, but wanted me to return the SKB case and spare cage, the case is 20Kg and the cage is 6Kg and they wanted me to cover the cost of returning before they shipped the replacement. So by the time we argued to death this I realised that their service wasn't worth depending on, and preferred not to have it! Thus been traveling around with the MP in it's original box!!

Am sure a SKB case that isn't warped would be fine!!????

Ah yes, I saw that trolley flight case prior but as a chap said to me, it only takes an unwanted large drop off a step that could damage the computer, dunno!???

I am now thinking of this dual case, pictured, from 5 Star cases, maybe have the two macs fitted in a wooden foam padded sleeve as it is shown here but then in a shock mounted case for more durability!!!??
Click to expand...

God, sounds like a nightmare. I'm glad I've read this as I was close to buying one. If one cage was warped, and they sent you another, which was warped, then there's a good chace you'll get another that is warped too. Who needs that hassle in their life? Asking you to pay for the shipping is madness.

Goodluck what ever decision you make. I think I'm leaning more towards the Pelican Case at this stage...
 
Well the design is very manly and it seems to be a good case for protection if it is really the purpose for you to buy it.
 
I have had custom built cases built in the past.

You bring them the item, in this case a Mac Pro, and they measure it and make the case and line it with foam.

They are basically roadie cases. Ugly. Tough as all get out. They can install wheels and pull handles.

Not that expensive.

http://www.georgiacase.com/
 
So I ended up going with Pelican Case 1640. The SKB case while it looks like a good option, I just think getting it in and out in such close proximity to it's internal cage could be brutal to the aluminum case of the mac Pro.

While it's not a small case I'm uber happy with it and would definitely recommend it.

At least I know if a truck drives over it, if I drop it in the river, if it's subjected to chemical spills, hand grenade explosions or even worse my 3 year old boy, then it will be good as new :):rolleyes:
 
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