Dec 4 2005
Marware Protection Pack for PowerBooks
Have you ever been to a Mac store and had people admire your gear? Pretty sweet experience. Last month, I brought my PowerBook in for a screen replacement (yes, white spots) and the people behind me in line at the service counter asked me about my Tom Bihn ID Bag. "Yeah, those are cool." said the salesman, "We sell those over there." Then when I got to the counter to show the tech guy my spotty screen, I got another "Ooh, niiiiice." This time from the tech guy and for the product I’m about to review–the Marware Protection Pack.
For about as long as finger grease and dirt has been transferring from PowerBook keyboards to PowerBook screens, there have been these little keyboard covering protector cloths. They all do about the same job just about as well. Most are machine washable and can be used to safely clean the screen without scratching. The keyboard cover that comes with the Marware Protection Pack lives up to all these expectations. It is made of a soft microfiber and is built with a slightly different texture on the top than on the bottom. This allows you to clean the screen with the soft underside and then display the clean satiny top. A nice touch.
The keyboard cover is not where the Marware Protection Pack excels. In fact, without the cloth, it would still come highly recommended for the other item that comes in the slim packaging–the hand rest. It is made of a spongy PVC "leather" that fits the PowerBook wrist rest area perfectly. If you’re like me, you tend to damage keyboards and desk surfaces with your watch. Truth be told, I also damage my watches with keyboards and desk surfaces, so the hatred is mutual. The Marware hand rest provides a comfortable, restickable buffer between my PowerBook and my James Bond Swatch.
The hand rest also allows me to give in to my other addiction: writing myself little reminders of Post-its. I used to worry that my pen would leak through the Post-it and stain my PowerBook or that using a ballpoint would transfer scratches to the aluminum casing. With the Marware hand rest in place, I can jot down notes to myself as inspiration strikes without worrying for my ‘Book’s safety. Marware has my wrist rest covered–literally.
If I had to think of something I didn’t like about the Marware protection pack I’d say it was only lacking in that it didn’t come with an isopropyl alcohol pad to clean your wrist rest area before applying the hand rest. I also think that the fact that the hand rest is removable and restickable is not as useful as it could be if there were something to stick it to while it isn’t attached to the PowerBook. The adhesive on the hand rest is sticky and if it isn’t hanging on to your PowerBook it is free to hang on to any crumbs, dust or hair that float by and the sticky surface is not easy to clean. I think it is a plus that the hand rest can be removed without residue, but unless you are prepared to stick it to some other clean smooth surface while it is away from your PowerBook, I think you’ll be looking for a replacement. Not a big deal, but it bears mentioning.
The other beef I have is that Marware does not make a Protection Pack for iBooks.
In the end, I think the Marware Protection Pack is an excellent accessory for the Apple PowerBook line (available for USD$19.95 in sizes to fit 12, 15 and 17 inch PowerBooks) and if you upgrade your laptop a lot, I can envision people making this product one of those accessory purchases they make when they pick up their new PowerBook. It is one of those "must-have" things like a sleeve or a case.
