There are a lot of things to consider when you’re looking for a computer case. Everything from the size, physical appearance, and even the amount of noise it puts off go into your decision. You might not think that last item is all that important, but there are plenty of situations where a noisy computer can be a nuisance. Sure, you can drown out loud fans with music, but you shouldn’t need to do that. Instead, you can get a silent case, such as the NZXT H2.

This chassis has more to offer than just sound-dampening foam to keep it quiet. Extra features such as USB 3.0 support and a a built-in hard drive dock make this one worth a second look. But do these features make this case stand out enough to make it a must-buy for your next PC? Check out the full review over at GamerFront to find out.

[ NZXT H2 Review @ GamerFront ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I’m not under any delusions here, the reason this sling-type camera bag caught my attention was for the simple fact that Blackstone Bags refers to it as their ‘Urban Quiver’ design. And as a result I had images of myself swinging through trees downtown, whipping out my camera to snap photos of the rich and give them to the poor, in a misguided attempt to bring myself some Robin Hood-esque notoriety. But it turns out the Urban Quiver has some nice features, particularly for those who’ve chosen a life less suburb.

Most notably, the 21-inch long bag has a big flap on top that opens to reveal its entire contents which makes packing away and keeping track of what gear you’ve got stashed a lot easier than with an endless collection of pockets. But when worn that top flap is actually pressed against your back, meaning it’s next to impossible for someone in a crowd to open and abscond with your gear. A large buckle in the middle of the strap allows you to easily remove and clip-on the bag, and there’s a couple of thin accessory pockets on there too allowing you to store phones or other devices you need to access more frequently. At $125 it’s admittedly expensive, but they are designed and manufactured in Portland, if buying locally made products is important to you.

[ Urban Quiver Camera Bag ] VIA [ Apartment Therapy Uplggd ]

By Andrew Liszewski

At first glance I thought this armor-like housing for the Xbox 360 Slim was a clever way to ‘lock-down’ your console and prevent it from getting easily pinched should someone break into your home looking for an easy score. But it turns out the Base Vault from Calibur11 is about as effective at preventing your console from being stolen as a decorative case would be to the iPhone. In other words, save for the slightly annoying feet sticking out at the bottom, thieves still won’t think twice about snatching it.

So what’s the point of using it? Well in this case it gives the Slim a bright, red finish (Vampire Red to be exact) and it provides it a little bit of extra protection, though from what I’m not sure. Those feet also make it a bit more stable if you prefer to use it standing on edge, plus there’s a handy molded hook on the side for hanging a controller. And since the 360 Slim doesn’t feature swappable faceplates like the original 360, it conveniently turns out that the company behind the Base Vault, Calibur11, happens to sell a similar line of customizable options compatible with the case. $59.95, available in a handful of different colors.

[ Calibur11 Base Vault ] VIA [ Ubergizmo ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The demise of the Flip is proof once again that smartphones are doing their part when it comes to minimizing the number of things we have to carry around. But we still haven’t reached the day when we can leave the house with just a single item in hand. In addition to a smartphone we usually need to bring along a wallet or a handbag for carrying debit cards and ID, but thanks to Speck, even requiring those items could be a thing of the past.

We had a chance to try out their new CandyShell Card Case which was first shown at CES 2011 back in January, and as long as you’ve already put your wallet on a bit of a diet, it’s a handy way to reduce the number of things you have to cram in your pockets. More impressions, photos and our complete review after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

I’m a devout iPhone minimalist when it comes to cases. I don’t even like using the notorious bumper, even if it means a diminished signal. But at the same time I would never stick a bare, unprotected iPhone in my pocket. Since day one I’ve relied on microfiber or suede sleeves to protect it from scratches, but sometimes you want to class things up a bit. And XtremeMac’s leather sleeve for the iPhone 4 does just that. I really hate to review a product without finding some critique on how it can be improved, but this is one of those rare times when I’m hard-pressed to find anything to complain about. More after the jump.

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By Andrew Liszewski

At first glance CleverWraps is the kind of product that seems completely unnecessary. I mean who wants to spend money on a disposable plastic bag for your phone or tablet when you can pick up a reusable case instead for just a few bucks more? But being disposable is the CleverWraps biggest strength.

A run-of-the-mill case might protect it from daily wear and tear, but with something like the iPad that’s become a handy kitchen accessory, you’ll be paying quite a bit of money for a high-end case that’s able to stop liquids from getting to your $500+ cookbook in the event of a spill. But the CleverWraps sleeves, for the iPad at least, cost around $5 a pop, and pretty much guarantee a toppled bottle of olive oil isn’t going to incapacitate your toy thanks to an interlocking Ziploc-like seal and a fold-over adhesive flap. And if that does happen, cleanup is as easy as removing your iPad from the plastic sleeve and tossing it. (The sleeve that is.)

The CleverWraps are also available in custom sizes for cellphones (5 for $9.99) whether it’s a bar, sliding or flip model, as well ebook readers (3 for $14.99) for keeping them sand, pina colada and suntan lotion-free while on vacation.

[ CleverWraps ]

By Andrew Liszewski

The most annoying part about Wednesday’s new iPad announcement is that from that day forth I have to now append the term ‘original’ anytime I refer to the first generation model. It’s an inconvenience that gobbles up precious seconds of my day, but please don’t let this rare insight into the perils and hardships of a gadget blogger’s life depress you too much. Somehow we manage to muster the strength to carry on our responsibilities of bringing you all the latest toys in a cynical and sarcastic manner.

So today we want to bring you a quick look at another case solution for the iPhone 4 and the ORIGINAL iPad (sigh…) that will no doubt soon be updated to support the new iPad 2 as well. The iChair takes a simple but tried-and-true approach that’s been holding up picture frames for years now. Instead of transforming or flipping around to turn into a stand, the case simply has a flip-out kickstand-like support built into the back which comes in handy when you need it, but stays unobtrusive when you don’t. More after the jump.

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By Caitlyn Muncy

With so many iPad cases on the market, it can be a little confusing about what kind will be the most efficient. There are a lot of them out there that have a lot of fluff written about them and don’t live up to par when in practical use. Thankfully there are some out there that will keep you iPad safe, and look stylish while doing so. The iSkin Duo case is the perfect fit for the iPad and is extremely comfortable for those of us that love this Apple product, and want to keep it safe.

This iSkin is made out of premium Japanese silicon, which means your iPad will be safe from dings and scratches. Unlike some cases I’ve run across in the past, this case actually fits perfectly on the first try. There wasn’t and still aren’t any weird creases or bumps that you would normally hope will “stretch out” in time. The silicon the case is made out of has antimicrobial protection, which will inhibit grow of odor, mold, or stains.

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By Andrew Liszewski

Unless we’ve been completely misled by Apple’s PR minions and the invite they sent out for tomorrow’s event, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll be getting our first look at the next generation iPad on Wednesday. Which of course means that Craigslist will soon be flooded with a never-ending supply of used first generation iPads, priced to move to help pay for someone’s new toy. So if you’re lucky enough to score a real deal from someone desperate to unload theirs, why not splurge and pick up a nice case?

Speck is well known for their extensive lineup of cases for almost every gadget you can think of, but today we’re going to take a look at two of their offerings for the current generation Apple iPad, the CandyShell Wrap and the DustJacket. Both provide a considerable more amount of protection for your tablet than Apple’s own case offers, and at least in my opinion, they both look a lot nicer too. More after the jump.

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