Top 5 Cases for MacBook Pro

So you've finally brought home that shiny new MacBook Pro from the Apple Store, and as you open the box and begin to take it out, your dog/child/spouse nearly knocks it off the table! Your heart skips a beat as the horrifying visual runs through your mind of your brand new laptop hitting the ground and scratching the beautiful aluminum finish, or worse. You suddenly decide that a bit of extra protection wouldn't hurt.

Since the same story has run through the minds of millions of Apple fans over the years, the market for MacBook Pro cases is rife with choices. It seems like everyone and his brother is making cases for MacBook Pro these days. How do you choose among all the manufacturers and options available?

Enter the Top 5 Cases for MacBook Pro list! You can't go wrong with any of these excellent cases -- they are all high-quality, stylish, and well-liked by MacBook Pro owners. Without further ado, here's the list:

Speck has a long history of creating spectacular cases for Apple products, and the See-Thru Satin line truly lives up to that legacy. The case fits beautifully on all sizes of MacBook Pro, both the current generation and the previous generation of unibody designs. Fit and finish are superb, and the materials quality is excellent. The outer surface of the case has a silky-soft feel similar to a satin-finished guitar while providing a grip that holds it in place on your desk or in your bag, and your outer ports remain completely unobstructed so you can easily connect and disconnect peripherals. Finally, the translucent see-through design lets the lighted Apple logo shine through the back of the case, highlighting the unique MacBook Pro look. 

Great quality, excellent protection, and fantastic aesthetics make the Speck See-Thru Satin case a top choice for your new MacBook Pro.

Neoprene sleeves have been popular for years as a convenient solution for protecting MacBook Pro laptops without buying a dedicated laptop bag. They provide scratch protection and a little impact resistance at a low-cost and with a slim form factor great for carrying or putting in your regular outer bag or backpack. Caselogic, a well-known and respected maker of cases for many electronic devices, has a fantastic offering in their PLS series of neoprene sleeves. While Caselogic's sleeves fit most laptops, they are particularly well suited to the slim, even lines of the MacBook Pro, and they come with a convenient pocket for storing your power adapter and other accessories. 

The slim form factor, flexibility, and power pocket make the Caselogic PLS series an excellent choice for protecting your MacBook Pro when transporting it in another bag or by hand.

Similar in design to the Speck See-Thru series, the mCover hard shell case by iPearl Inc. is another great case for MacBook Pro. While it lacks a smooth Satin finish, it has an ergonomic touch that Speck overlooked in their offering. The mCover provides retractable "feet" that slightly elevate the back of the laptop for more comfortable typing, the same way the props on the bottom of a standard keyboard do. The translucent back of the mCover also includes a stylish rounded square outline around the Apple logo for additional flair.

Incorporating durable construction and stylish design, the mCover won't disappoint as a 24/7 protective case for your MacBook Pro.

Most Apple fans are familiar with the phenomenal protective offerings from manufacturer Marware. Well known for quality and style in their Apple product cases, Marware delivers the goods when it comes to high value for the money. The Sportfolio neoprene sleeve is certainly no exception. With its very attractive, sporty outer appearance comes a soft, plush fabric lining and, as a nice touch, a fully lined zipper to protect your MacBook Pro from scratches. Like the Caselogic sleeves, the Sportfolio includes a built-in storage pocket for accessories like an iPod, mouse, or digital camera.

The Marware Sportfolio provides amazing value for its price, with quality craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal like no other neoprene sleeve case. Without a doubt, it is a superb case for MacBook Pro.

Last but certainly not least, we have a truly unique product from a fairly new contender in the market for cases for MacBook Pro -- be.ez. The interestingly-named LA robe is shaped similarly to the other sleeves, but it's made of a unique, thin memory foam material called low resistance polyurethane (LRPu). Providing excellent protection with a streamlined form factor, the LA robe is tailor made for slim laptops like the MacBook Pro. The most striking appeal of the LA robe, though, would have to be the stylish, trendy bright color choices -- from black with a neon lining (shown) to various combinations of hot pink -- the be.ez LA robe is sure to make a fashion statement while protecting your laptop from mishaps.

A fantastic melding of form and function from an up-and-coming brand, the be.ez LA robe is a true winner in the MacBook Pro case market.

While there are many protective offerings available for Apple's premier laptop line, these five excellent contenders stand out among the rest as high quality, high value cases for MacBook Pro. You can't go wrong with any of them -- they will all protect your valuable electronics admirably and, for their price, provide superior craftsmanship and design aesthetics that will last the lifetime of your MacBook Pro. Which one you choose is best decided by your needs and your personal preference.

The next time you have a close call with your MacBook Pro, do yourself a favor -- invest in a quality case! The peace of mind alone is worth it, and with such an expensive investment, it really pays to spend just a few dollars on protecting it from the occasional mishap.