leather

When the iPad was first announced, a lot of accessory makers quickly revealed cases within hours of the launch. Not surprisingly, most of the cases were simply Amazon Kindle DX or Netbook cases masquerading as iPad cases, which is all well and good, but we're now seeing more stuff that was designed from the ground up for the iPad.

Case in point: Tuff-Luv's leather Napa iPad case, which is due to hit Amazon in mid-April with a $49.99 price tag (it comes in multiple colors). We're not sure what protective case will work best for the … Read more

Earlier this week, I posted a video featuring an SUV, the T-98 Kombat, as made by Russian manufacturer Dartz (whose $1.5M Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition extravagantly decked out in whale penis leather--how high-brow is that--even got lip service recently on "The Colbert Report"). Anyhoo, this particular blog (located here for your convenience) garnered the snide comment of "It looks like a Hummer...big deal." Well, funny that you should say that, sir, as today's video features the Dartz Kombat one-on-one against the Hummer H1. Let's get ready to rumble!

The Dartz … Read more

Did you know that Louis Vuitton, French manufacturer of leather "luxury" goods, will make you a special one-off case for anything you ask for if you can throw down the cash to pay for the work? Apparently this isn't a new service, but I'd never heard of it until today, when I stumbled upon the most ridiculous tech accessory I've ever seen. It's an iPod carrying trunk made of black Taiga leather with brass embellishments and a red microfiber interior made to spec for Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld. Don't believe me? Peep old … Read more

If you're still chuckling over Steve Jobs' manila-envelope trick during the Macworld 2008 keynote, this one's for you.

The white Italian leather of the Inter-departmental Mail Computer Sleeve from Kena Kai is embossed with the address blocks found on a typical interoffice envelope. For thorough verisimilitude, the sleeve also incorporates a button-and-string closure.

One way the Inter-department Mail Computer Sleeve stands out among its many competitors: it's available in two sizes.

The larger size ($79) accommodates ultrathin 13-inch laptops, such as the Apple MacBook Air and the Lenovo ThinkPad X301, as expected. But Kena Kai also sells … Read more

We first heard about this bamboo-covered laptop from Asus several months ago, and with that company's history of leather wrist rests and automotive-branded lids, it certainly fits right in with the creative Asus designs we're used to seeing. Now, at long last, we've finally gotten a chance to get a look in person, as Asus was in New York last week, showing off a handful of new systems (including the N10 "high-end" Netbook).

The bamboo laptops are built around two existing Asus models, the 12-inch U6S (which we reviewed very positively earlier in the year), and the 11-inch U2E. … Read more

Of all the computer gear that seems destined to be made of natural materials, the keyboard is first on the list. Versions in ivory, gold, and several models in wood are only a few examples.

But here's one that tops all of those, at least in its weirdness quotient: It's made of leather. Japanese artist Kazuharu Sakura has tried his hand at other unconventional designs, but those were made of more or less standard materials. This bovine version appears to be one of those art pieces created primarily for shock value--it's about as unattractive as it is … Read more

Of all the copycat accessories that can be produced, the "AirMail" case for the MacBook Air has some unfathomable popularity. Started almost on a whim, it was followed by the higher-end "Air Manila" in hand-stiched leather, and now there's yet another pretender to the envelope throne.

Japan's curiously named Bird Electron, which has long been known for its odd products, apparently decided to take a safer route in this case and follow what appears to be a popular design. (The original version has been sold out for months.)

This one is leather too and, … Read more

If you're in the market for a MacBook Air case and aren't thrilled with the interoffice-envelope look--of either the vinyl or leather variety--there's another way to tote your precious cargo in style.

Orbino, which has brought the art of Italian design to Apple products before, has created an ultra-slim shoulder bag for the ultra-slim laptop. Called the "Arista," this handmade case comes in a variety of leather finishes ranging from "Burnished Whiskey" to "Deep Red Tuscan" (pictured).

These anorexic Italian models don't come cheap, of course--they start at $349. So … Read more

Thank goodness some people finally came to their senses. The "AirMail" manila sleeve for the MacBook Air was cute when it came out, but please--it's actually sold out?

The "Air Manila" from Civilian Lab is a much more sophisticated version, dressing up the envelope concept with hand-stitched leather, Tech Digest says, as well as a padded interior and air vents. That should help keep it from getting mixed in with interoffice mail, which is important because the anorexic laptop is accident-prone enough as it is.