Pad & Quill’s Cartella Linen Case For The MacBook Air Is A Modern Classic [Review]

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cartella-linen-1
Cartella Linen by Pad & Quill
Category: Cases
Works With:MacBook Air
Price: $99

The Cartella Linen is Pad & Quill’s bookbindery case for the MacBook Air. I’ve been using the 13-inch version for a few weeks now and it’s great, if a little big. If you’re looking for a handsome, tough case that you can leave on all the time, which you can use on your lap and which you can carry under your arm down the street, then this is it.

Let’s take a closer look.

What It Is

Every hole is left bare.
Every hole is left bare.

The Cartella is just like P&Q’s iPhone and iPad cases in that it consists of a Baltic Birch frame with a cover made of the same cardboard as a book cover, and this is itself covered in tough linen. The whole case is kept closed by an elastic band, and there are cutouts in the sides of the frame to let you get at the ports on both sides. This means you never need to remove the case if you don’t want to.

The inside has four extra circular sections in the corners to accommodate the MacBook’s feet. The two at the back are indented, and the two at the front are raised, which makes the top lid of the computer parallel to the back of the case when closed, canceling out the computer’s wedge shape.

There’s also a pocket inside the front cover, perfect for papers or DVDs – not that you’ll be able to use them in the MBA.

The Good

The case is light and sturdy, and looks amazing. I have a feeling the 11-inch version is even better, as it would look a little less huge (the 13-inch is a perfect size for a case, but looks a little large as a book).

Snug.
Snug.

But it’s in use that the Cartella really shines. You can fold the front cover around the back and the whole thing sits on your lap without scorching your thighs. Better still, the interior feet and the gaps in the sides mean that the MacBook within also stays cool. I often see people sitting their MacBooks on top of their neoprene cases in the library or in bars, and I shudder at the overheating that they’re causing. No such problem with the Cartella.

The Bad

The giant size of the 13-inch case introduces a little flex (although way less than you’d expect), which means that the thin front edges of the MBA can ride up a little. In practice this makes little difference, as the computer is held tight inside, but you mat get annoyed that the front of the case doesn’t close properly flat onto the rear section.

Otherwise there’s little to complain about.

The Verdict

If you like the look of the linen bookbindery Cartella and you have an 11-inch MBA, then you should probably just go and buy one. The 13-inch model is also very good, with the caveats outlined above.

If you like the look of the linen bookbindery Cartella and you have an 11-inch MBA, then you should probably just go and buy one.

If I ever took my MBA out as a carry-around computer, I’d totally consider the Cartella. As it is I just take my iPad mini unless I’m actually going to be away for more than a few days, so I only need a case to protect my MBA in transit. The Cartella actually does this very well, but it’s probably overkill.

This one will be totally subjective, then. But if you are looking to buy one, then I can say that you will be impressed with the build quality, and it looks and feels very nice indeed.

02-cartellalinentypeangle_1Product Name: : Cartella Linen

The Good: Handsome, classic looks. Tough and light. Can be left on all the time.

The Bad: The 11-inch looks better.

The Verdict If you like the look of it, buy it. You’ll probably love it.

Buy from: Pad & Quill

[rating=good]

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