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Apple Computer's customer base can be described, at least generally, as more style-conscious than other computer users out there. After all, in the current desktop market, you can buy a Dell for $450 shipped to your door with a 15" LCD monitor, or you can pay more for the value Apple adds in better style, function, and reliability.

Because you're reading this site, we can fairly assume that you've been sucked into buying what is really among the world's most expensive personal computers, the Apple PowerBook. Despite the downward pressure on component prices, and the ever-decreasing prices of "competing" models from PC manufacturers, Apple steadfastly refuses to let PowerBooks out the door for less than around $1,500. For the mid-range model, Apple has invariably set the customer back two grand for the last few years.

Our point here is that of all of Apple's customers, PowerBook users are among the most willing to pay a large premium for better style and function. They're not likely to throw their carved chunk of titanium, aluminum, or--for you diehard Pismo, Lombard, and Wallstreet users-- curvy plastic into a generic $40 black canvas Targus briefcase, or some logoed handout from a tradeshow.

More likely is that they have their own bag from the various unique bag makers we link to on our bags page, or something custom-made in their hometown. For lots of reasons--style, camouflage of the valuable contents, or comfort, users carry their PowerBooks today in bags that weren't necessarily designed for a multi-thousand dollar piece of electronic hardware.

Enter the "sleeve" industry. The original sleeve products available to PowerBook users were the old neoprene "wetsuits," that for a time were only able via import from Japan. In the last few years, there've been lots of "sleeves" available from a variety of manufacturers, coming in sizes for the iPod on up to the 17" Aluminum PowerBook. These cases allow your PowerBook some modest protection while being carried in a bag that doesn't offer much cushion for the unexpected impact.

And now, a few hundreds words into this review, we'll mention the product we took a look at over the last two weeks. The Booq Vyper is a new kind of sleeve--it's more of a semi-rigid shell that is perfectly molded to the various sizes of PowerBook currently available.

First, a little disclosure; Booq is, and has been in the past, a PowerBook Zone advertiser. We often review products from our advertisers; sometimes we aren't crazy about them, and sometimes like them quite a bit. In the case of the Vyper, it looked cool on their website, and having put it into use, we find ourselves to be pretty big fans.

The Vyper is like an oyster shell for your PowerBook. Its exterior is exclusively black nylon, and the inside surfaces are moderately padded. Overall, it weighs very little and adds very little width to the naked PowerBook. That said, it does include three raised ridges on each side to provide some crush protection to the PowerBook. A zipper with Booq-logoed pulls extends around 80% of the edges of the shell.

As with many Mac-centric products made by dedicated, small companies that focus on selling just a few well-thought-out items, it's hard to find faults to balance a raving review. In the case of the Vyper, we could only add that it could use a bit more of the padding it has on the sides of the case on the corners that are most vulnerable.

The highlights of the bag are its unadorned exterior--there are no extraneous handles, pockets, labels, or really anything. Even the "Vyper" logo is a small, muted grey-on-black text print on one side. The only small splash of color on the whole shell is the trademark rubber Booq "B" tab sewn into the back edge of the shell. The minimalist design appeals to us greatly.

The Booq Vyper provides a medium level of protection for PowerBook users that want to shield their PowerBooks from scratches, dings, or drops in the style of a non-traditional bag. It retails for $39.95 for the 15" Aluminum PowerBook, and models are available for the 12" Al PB, 17" Al PB and 15" Titanium PowerBook as well, at prices ranging from $39.95 to $49.95.