<p>We bought my daughter a MacBook Pro and are now looking for a protective sleeve. She will be carrying the Mac - and sleeve - in a backpack that has a sleeve. I have been reading that the aluminum can get scratched by the zipper and the edges can get dented if not protected well. We are looking for a strong sleeve and are looking for recommendations from other Mac users. Thank you.</p>
<p>I bet you have plastic on your living room furniture.</p>
<p>Not sure if it’s considered a sleeve or a case, but we bought it at the Apple Store when we bought the laptop. Soft, bright green, zipper. Not sure of the price. This was a year ago.</p>
<p>She doesn’t need an additional padded sleeve if her backpack already has a built in padded sleeve.</p>
<p>parent1986 - agree I am being anal. However, no plastic on furniture.</p>
<p>I bought a backpack designed for the MacBook Pro 17 inch 3.5 years ago and it works well. I believe that Swissgear does custom backpacks for Apple’s MacBook Pro products and I wouldn’t be surprised if other backpack companies do this too. There’s a special pouch for the MacBook Pro - no zippers.</p>
<p>If you want a cheap sleeve for a laptop backpack that already has a cushioned laptop compartment, use a bubblewrap shipping envelope. They are typically pretty thin and cheap, and have no zippers and you should be able to put a laptop in and get it out fairly quickly if it is sized correctly.</p>
<p>One thing to check in a backpack with a laptop area is that the bottom edge is padded. Many have a lot of padding between your back and the laptop, and the laptop and where you put your books, but little or no padding in the bottom, where you laptop will hit if you set the bag down hard. You can add a little foam padding down there if your bag doesn’t have any.</p>
<p>I really prefer having a laptop sleeve, even if you have a padded backpack. College students don’t take their backpacks everywhere. She may want to slip her computer into a tote bag, large purse, or just carry it on its own, without the extra backpack baggage. Having a sleeve means that it’s always protected, and she can transfer it between bags without risking damage to the computer. </p>
<p>I used throughout college and still use today the InCase neoprene sleeve that you can buy in the Apple store. They’re not too bulky, they’re protective and waterproof, and again, they allow you to carry your computer in a variety of bags and conveyances.</p>
<p>This is not a sleeve, but if you want something that basically feels like nothing there and unnoticeable then take a look at bestskinever. (bestskinever.com)</p>
<p>I’ve been carrying a 15" MacBookPro to and from work daily and on occasional business travel for over six years using nothing more than a softsided padded briefcase with a built-inpadded laptop area. That’s worked fine for me.</p>
<p>Both of my kids have hard covers that you snap onto the Mac Book Pro. They are hard clear-colored plastic and have a top and bottom so the computer still opens and closes easily. They both really like them. We found the covers, I believe made by InCase, at the Apple store. (My younger daughter bought her own computer-at 13- and doesn’t want a single scratch on her hard earned computer)</p>
<p>One of the guys that I work with has a leather case for his that’s always on his MBP (BTW, this is a plastic MBP; not Aluminum). I don’t know how it stays on but the outer surface is fairly hard with a layer of softer stuff on the inside. I don’t think that this would work well with the Aluminum MBPs because the Aluminum is designed to dissipate heat.</p>
<p>Apple is supposed to be coming out with the MacBook Air 15s and 17s late this year. I’d just use a FedEx bubblewrap mailer with those.</p>
<p>Not sure if this is a consideration…but certain cases aren’t allowed on airplanes. Including mine.</p>
<p>I like my macbook pro but it scratched almost as soon as I bought it!
Then I bought a hardshell case for it- more convenient for me than a slip on.</p>
<p>What kinds of MacBook cases aren’t allowed on airplanes? Do you mean that you have to take it out of the case when going through security?</p>
<p>My kids are getting MacBook Pros for college and I wouldn’t dream of not protecting that investment with a cover. Theirs is similar to the InCase. I think a bubblewrap cover looks pretty cheesy, to behonest.</p>
<p>^Yes that looks to be the case, I must have misread initially.</p>
<p>My kids have MBPs - scratches and dings are part of using equipment - cars, electronics, etc.</p>
<p>My kids have MBPs - scratches and dings are part of using equipment - cars, electronics, etc.</p>
<p>I admit that I drove a mini van for years that had been through the wars- but except for antique furniture which has a * patina*, I like my shiny toys to stay shiny as long as possible!</p>
<p>You have made a significant investment for your daughter. Get her the Incase Macbook Pro hardshell (goincase.com) - this fits perfectly and stays on the laptop as protection for the soft aluminum body (I am replacing one now. My Pro got dropped and the Incase corner was the only damage!). Then also look for a slim neoprene sleeve. I have one with outside pockets for cord, headphones, Itouch, etc., I love this sleeve - can use in a larger backpack or briefcase, but don’t always need to lug all that around, the sleeve itself is sufficient protection for a quick trip to the library, etc. I have taken all of this on several plane trips - no problem. Lucky girl!</p>
<p>Both of my kids have used Tom Bihn Vertical Brain Cells for their Macs, and they have worked very well.</p>
<p>[The</a> Vertical Brain Cell Laptop Bag by: TOM BIHN](<a href=“http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0390]The”>Brain Cell - Laptop Accessories) </p>
<p>It slips inside the backpack, almost like another book. They just open the velcro top and take the laptop out when they need it, usually just leaving the “brain cell” inside their backpack.</p>