WaterField Designs, a young
design firm based in San Francisco, has released new
products for the Apple community. For the
distinctive-looking Titanium G4 and the long-awaited
iBook, WaterField created the SleeveCase and the
RacerX.
For the minimalist look, the
SleeveCase resembles a portfolio and is made of
form-hugging neoprene encapsulated by abrasive-resistant
Ballistic nylon. The thick neoprene provides shock
absorption, while the Ballistic keeps the SleeveCase
looking like new for many years. The SleeveCase hugs the
iBook or G4, providing it with a protective shell. The
SleeveCase can be inserted into existing briefcases,
backpacks, or any other general purpose bag. However, for
making heads turn, it can also be inserted into a
WaterField Cargo bag which sports an airline seat belt
buckle for one-hand easy access and multiple pockets for
organizing practically everything.
For those wanting to take along
power cords, cables, adapters, and other bulky items,
WaterField designed the RacerX to carry all this
paraphernalia while sticking to a streamlined look. The
black Ballistic exterior adds a splash of color with the
signature WaterField Indium highlight. The neoprene
interior provides a snug fit for the G4 or the iBook,
engulfing casing as it slides into the bag. The handle is
a mountain bike grip so that it provides a sturdy, solid
hold.
We try to design products that
not only look great, but also feel great, said Gary
Waterfield, founder and CEO. I came from the bike
industry where feel was an important part of the riding
experience. You'll notice that when you hold the RacerX,
the mountain bike grip cushions the weight of the
computer, rather than add to it. With our Cargo bags,
when you only have one hand available, you'll feel how
much easier and faster it is to undo an airline seat belt
buckle than it is to undo an ordinary one.
The G4 and iBook SleeveCases $39
and the RacerX $139 are available today from
WaterField
Designs
About WaterField
Designs
Founded by Gary
Waterfield, a former bike messenger in Boston, the
company's first product was the Cargo bag, a
messenger-like bag for business users. Using personal
experience to gauge market needs, the product line
expanded to include the Vertigo, a light, yet sturdy
travel bag; the Wallets which don't bulk up when placed
in the back pocket; and Gear Pouches for toiletries and
incidentals. The computer cases were added when the
company issued laptops to its employees.
Because WaterField
products are designed and produced using personal and
customer experience as benchmarks, all the details and
features exist for a purpose. To accommodate customer
design suggestions, the bags are made in San Francisco
where it is easier to control quality and faster to make
adjustments. As a result, customers often have positive
comments for the products and customer service. It is
this kind of feedback that compels WaterField Designs to
create products that customers will find useful for a
very long time, not just to put another product on the
market.
