Silva Bamboo MacBook Pro Case: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Laptop

Bamboo has become a nice, sustainable alternative to modern-day plastics. These days you can even find it on some computer accessories like laptop and cell phone cases, keyboards and mice. Silva’s Bamboo MacBook Case is a nice option if you’re looking for a case for your MacBook Pro. The entire case is crafted out of a solid sheet of bamboo.The case features a hand-cut strap made from a full hide, which has been hand-burnished and oiled. The interior of the case is lined with soft wood felt. The bamboo has been hand-rubbed so its finish is as hard and as smooth as possible.Silva uses 100% solid Carmel bamboo that has been CNC machined and hand assembled. It’s definitely an attractive case, and since it’s made out of bamboo, it shouldn’t weigh too much.
While it may be natural and made from sustainable wood, it’s not cheap. The Silva MacBook Case for the MacBook Pro costs $179.99(USD) over on their website. It’s also available in an iPad 2 version for $129.99.The keyboard is held into the case with more magnets, and it can be lifted completely out of the case.  You can use the keyboard up to 10 meters away from the iPad 2, or you can just take the keyboard out to lighten the load if you know you won’t be needing the keyboard for a while.
The keyboard is smaller than a standard keyboard.  Most of the keys are where you’d expect them, but a couple are in unexpected places.  The keys are low-profile and fit flush with the wrist rest.  They are flat, with no dimple for your fingers to fit in.GBK Will Host Its Annual Celebrity Gift Lounge In Honor of the 2012 Academy Awards.The nubs on the home keys (f and j), are so small and flat as to be nearly useless to touch-typers.  I couldn’t tell easily by touch when my hands were in the correct position.  The smaller keyboard meant my wrists were more bent than normal, and I did have a bit of trouble typing on this small keyboard.  That’s true of all these under-sized keyboard cases, though.The keys don’t click when depressed, but you can hear them as you type.  Once your fingers get used to the size and placement, the keys operate well and quietly.
There are some iPad-specific keys that control media playback, volume, and screen brightness.  Other keys perform edit functions: select, copy, cut, and paste.  There’s also a home key, spotlight search key, and a lock (sleep) key.  There’s even a key to launch a photo slideshow and one to bring up the on-screen keyboard when you’re in an app that can use the keyboard.  These keys worked well for me.