The first thing we noticed was that the ColcaSac can be easily compared to the similarly-priced (depending on the exchange rate) Foofbag. Both are simple sleeves for various-sized MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Both are designed to avoid the neoprene “laptop case” look that is common for Mac users these days. Both can be used by themselves, but also work well inside another bag.

That is where the similarities end. The ColcaSac is made of “heavy 18.5 oz basketweave hemp canvas and lined with thick, cream, 100% polyester sherpa fleece”, giving it a durable, yet understated feel. The outer hemp canvas is thick enough to be durable. In fact, according to the manufacturer, hemp is stronger than cotton. Furthermore, it grows faster than cotton and flax. The inner fleece material provides a soft lining to prevent scratches on your computer and provides just enough cushioning for the rigors of daily use. Both the regular (brown) and black versions should be appropriate in all but the most professional settings.

The ColcaSac features a velcro flap to ensure that your computer does not slide out, and there is a small 7″x6″ pocket on the side for a power adapter, mouse, discs, or anything else you can think of. The benefit of the sleeve using velcro over a zipper is that it cannot get hung up on your computer or cause scratches (only some sleeves have the protective inner liner around the zipper).

For those who want to “go green”, the case is made of sustainable materials, and 1% of all purchases goes towards buying land in environmentally sensitive areas. We think this a good added bonus, especially since everyone—including Apple—seems to be pushing environmentally friendly products.

In our use, the case held up well, and worked as expected. The actual styling mat not be for everyone, but for those looking for a natural, earthy, and unique alternative to the standard “laptop sleeves”, the ColcaSac may be a product to check out.

A few years back, we reviewed Griffin’s iCurve and were rather pleased. It raised your Mac in the air for a better work angle (external keyboard and mouse are required) and makes the internal LCD the same height as whatever external display you might be using. The relatively new Mac accessory maker Twelve South has taken a different approach. Rather than using both displays, The BookArc stands your Mac vertically in a closed position. Although some may worry about heat, Apple gives the okay, and the cooling systems on all the various MacBooks do not use the keyboard for ventilation, like on the iBooks.

Why would you want to run your computer without its built-in display? The idea of dual monitors is appealing to any power user, as you get more screen real-estate, and are using everything that your computer has to offer. The idea behind the BookArc is that with the internal display turned off and not in use, your computer can dedicate all of its graphics processing power to the external display. In our tests, this was not noticeable (this was tested with a year-old MacBook Pro), but users of MacBooks with integrated graphics will find this to be helpful. Another reason to use the BookArc is space-saving. If you have your computer open (or closed) and connected to an external display, the footprint is a lot large, rather than the “micro-tower” the BookArc creates.

Getting back to the design, the BookArc is something that is made by people that understand Apple products. It is made out of silver steel that matches Apple’s aluminum portables perfectly. It also is heavy enough that you do not need to worry about your computer falling over. Two other nice touches involve the use of silicone—four big rubber feet are on the bottom to prevent the whole thing from sliding around and the BookArc comes with three silicone inserts to allow for a snug fit, no matter what MacBook you are using.

We tested it with the aforementioned MacBook Pro for a few months and found no issues with heat. Losing the extra screen real-estate was a bit of a bummer early on, but with an already decent-sized LCD on the desk, it became a non-issue over time. For those with really large LCDs, it almost makes sense not to bother with the internal display. Besides that, the 10 inch-by-4 inch footprint the BookArc takes up is small enough to fit behind most LCDs, creating almost a do-it-yourself iMac. The only downside is that the IR receiver for the Apple remote is then moved to the top of the machine, so keep that in mind if you do things with Front Row or iTunes.

In summary, we found the BookArc to be a well-made, well-designed stand for one purpose and one purpose only: turning your MacBook into a desktop. Although at $50, it is quite a bit of cash to spend on something that simply holds your computer in place, the price is in line with many other higher-end stands, including $40 for Griffin’s iCurve, and various models from Belkin for $35. Therefore, if you want something that matches your Apple products, or have a MacBook that can benefit from repurposing the graphics processing, the BookArc may be something to check out.

The Neato consists of two 2-inch square of cloth attached to GeckoPads. The GeckoPads are sticky, removable squares that can be used to attach the cleaning cloths to anything—displays, a desk, your MacBook, or whatever else you can think of. They remove easily and leave no residue. Over time if there’s dust or dirt that gets on them, you can remove the cleaning cloth, rinse the GeckoPad off with water, let it air dry, and it will be as good as new. Our tests indicated that this is the case.

The reason why there are two cloths is that the grey one is for removing dust and large dirt particles. The black one is a bit finer and can be used to remove grease and fingerprints. For stubborn marks, a bit of water on the black cloth can be used. After a few uses, both can be removed from the GeckoPads and washed. An extra set of cloths are included should you want to rotate them.

Obviously convenience with screen cleaning products is one thing, but the effectiveness is another. We tested these on a Samsung LCD display, a prior-generation MacBook Pro (with the plastic LCD), and an iMac (with the glass over the LCD). The iMac was easy to clean with these products, due to the glass being a bit more resistant to dirt in general. On the other two displays, the Neato cloths worked well, but did require some water to get the job done.

The only issue we have is that the cloths are a bit small. If you have a display that is rather dusty (and you may not notice it until you start cleaning), it may take awhile to clean it. For those whose computer area doesn’t have excessive amounts of dust, this product is an inexpensive and easy way to keep displays clean. Although many may argue that the price is a bit high for pieces of cloth, initially, we’d agree. However, if you look at other screen cleaning products, the price is somewhat in line. The only difference is that in some, the cloths are a bit larger, taking us back to the initial complaint. Overall, it works as advertised and makes things easier for those who are always wondering a “safe” way to clean their LCDs.

(Stock photos used due to Clearguard MB blending in with actual MacBook’s keyboard)

Enter Moshi, a “purveyor of electronics fashion”, and its $25 Clearguard MB keyboard protector. While it looks much like any other keyboard protector on the market, the key difference is that the Clearguard is made of ultra-thin urethane rather than silicone. Oh, and the Clearguard is, well, clear. Those of you interested in violently green, pink, blue, or orange keyboards will have to look elsewhere.

The urethane is somewhat stiffer, much less stretchy, and smoother than silicone keyboard protectors such as those from iSkin. Moshi claims this gives superior typing sensitivity. I used an iSkin protector for years on my Aluminum PowerBook G4 and never noticed a lack of sensitivity, but the Clearguard is noticeably more transparent than the silicone protectors I’ve seen.

The clear finish — as opposed to the matte finish of silicone products — shows scuffs, spots, and fingerprints more, so you’re going to have to wash the Clearguard on a regular basis to keep it looking neat and clean. Fortunately, like other keyboard protectors, that’s easy enough to do. Just toss it in a pan of warm, soapy water and rub it around a bit, then rinse and dry.

While I do prefer the transparency, it took a good month or two of serious typing to break in the urethane. This is simply the nature of the material. Urethane is less flexible than silicone, so it feels stiffer at first. Even after a break-in period, the Clearguard still feels more fragile than a silicone protector, and more apt to tear or crack. Time will tell how durable the material is and whether that’s worth the tradeoff.

Initially, the smooth finish of the urethane was mildly slippery, slightly more so than the bare keys on the keyboard. As the urethane wears, though, it gets slightly tackier — though never sticky — and starts to feel more natural. Silicone seems to have sort of the opposite wear pattern: it starts out somewhat tacky and wears smooth, though washing restores its natural tackiness. I prefer the urethane in this regard, though personal preferences will obviously vary, and the best way to determine which you like better is probably to use both.

As with most keyboard protectors, the Clearguard can transfer fingerprints and oils to your laptop’s screen. It’s a good idea to keep a piece of notebook paper or a soft cloth between the keyboard and the screen when you have a keyboard protector installed. I keep a sheet of lens cloth in mine, which doubles as a screen wipe if I get anything on the screen.

The Clearguard MB is five bucks cheaper than the iSkin ProTouch and thus far works just as well, if not better in some ways. It’s cheap insurance and it’s unobtrusive, although if you want loud colors, you’re out of luck. If you prefer form to follow function, the Clearguard is just what you’re looking for.

Normally when one thinks of a briefcase, pictures of leather, aluminum, or your parents come to mind. Instead, the $150 Zephr is much like Tom Bihn’s messenger bags, except that the bag is designed to be carried by the top handles first and foremost, with the ability to add a shoulder strap. Additionally, to access the main compartment, one would just unzip the top of the bag, rather than accessing it under a flap. The bag itself has a bit of a rigid structure, unlike the generally floppy messenger bags. Other than those differences, the bag is similar to other offerings.

The usual Tom Bihn features are here: high-quality construction, support for Brain Cell laptop sleeves, and lots of pockets. The bag is made from 1050 denier ballistic nylon and 500 denier Cordura and features splash-proof zippers in case you get caught in a downpour.

The outer compartment is accessible via a buckled flap. On the flap are two small pockets for things like CDs, phones, iPods, and the like. Under the flap is a large zippered pocket that runs almost the entire width of the bag and about half the height. This would be good for an AC adapter or other cables. The obligatory strap-with-a-clip is there for attaching some of the optional organizational pouches or keys.

The inside of the bag is just an open compartment with 3 plastic dividers for organizing your files. If you want to add laptop capabilities, you’ll have to buy the extra $60 Brain Cell, which can function as a standalone laptop case in its own right. You could also use your favorite sleeve if you’d rather go the cheap route. If you add a Freudian Slip, you can store/organize even more—it’s an insert that features pockets for files, pens, and other small items.

Finally, the back of the bag features a pass-through if you’re the type who has rolling luggage—it zips closed when not in use to become yet another pocket. Besides that, there are 3 other pockets that should be good for stuffing random things away if you’re in a hurry.

If you’d want to carry the Zephyr on your shoulder, an optional shoulder strap clips on to the opposing corners of the bag. Tom Bihn recommends the $30 Absolute Shoulder Strap, which is flexible and makes bags feel lighter and more comfortable—it does. It can also be used with the Brain Cell if you choose to purchase one. Although the ID is still our favorite over-the-shoulder bag, the Zephyr is fairly competent.

The Zephyr, much like many other Tom Bihn products is a bit of an investment, but will likely last you a long time—probably longer than the computer you are carrying in it. Furthermore, it is a good choice if you’re the type who wants a briefcase, but also wants something a bit more modern and adaptable than just a “laptop briefcase”. If you’re looking for similar functionality (but don’t mind less sheer capacity), the slightly-cheaper ID offers similar capabilities with an included shoulder strap.