Pad & Quill Cartella Case for MacBook Air Falls Short
by MattD on November 15, 2011 · 0 comments
Designed to look like a hardcover book, the Pad & Quill Cartella case seemed the perfect match for my Fieldfolio iPad2 case. However, the implementation of the idea leaves much to be desired in a laptop format.
The case is made of high quality materials but there are several factors that result in this case just not hitting the mark.
It feels bulky. Because of the wood frame required to add the required protection, the case makes the 11″ Air feel like a 13″ MacBook Pro. Given that your laptop stays in this case by design, it makes the laptop feel much larger.
Accommodating the hinge on a laptop makes the case less form fitting. Unlike an iPad, the Air actually needs to open via hinge, so the case must accommodate that which is does with an open channel carved into the wood in the back.
It doesn’t close quite right. I would have forgone the built in paper slot on the front cover to minimize bulk and make the case close square against the frame. Right now, it has a slight bulge. Small detail but noticeable.
Creaks like a wood floor. The wood in this case creaks too much. Perhaps that will dissipate with time, but creaking makes me think the case is stressing under the fit of the laptop.
If you don’t mind increasing the bulk of your laptop or the physical constraints associated with an “always on” case, this is not a bad case. Using this case has taught me that I prefer to use a case that protects the laptop, but is fully removed with the laptop is in use.
Pen & Quill Cartella Case
