Editor’s note: This is an ongoing series of Speck reviews by our Apple Aficionado, Dan Ballecer.

Kindle 2nd Gen DustJacket (Retail: $34.95)

Speck doesn’t reserve their love for Apple alone. Truth be told, Speck does provide accessories for certain PC laptops, blackberries, etc. The Kindle DustJacket is an accessory for a non-Apple device and, again, I love it. I have a Kindle, a device to which I’ve grown attached. It’s magnificently thin. It’s also a bit awkward to use it to read (not very book-like).

The DustJacket solves both of those problems in its typical obvious and simple way. The DustJacket is “leatherette” with a surprisingly plush feel that opens and closes like a typical book. Inside the “book” the Kindle easily snaps in and out (again, only if you want it to detach, will it detach). Now, I can hold the Kindle like I would hold any book. The texture of the cover, leather-like and plush, makes it easy to hold whether I’m standing up, sitting or lying down.

The DustJacket also opens up whereby you can use the inside of the front cover as a stand for hands-free reading. I haven’t really found the need to use this feature yet, but it’s cool that I can, if I want to.

If you want to see the other parts of Dan’s Speck Experience, check out his review of the Speck iPhone Case, the SeeThru Satin MacBook Cover, the Speakeasy Grey Pinstripe CorePack Fly Messenger Bag, and the Kindle 2nd Gen DustJacket.

Editor’s note: This is an ongoing series of Speck reviews by our Apple Aficionado, Dan Ballecer.

Speakeasy Grey Pinstripe CorePack Fly Messenger Bag (Retail: $89.95)

I’m an attorney. (Editor’s note: Yes, Dan is an attorney… but we swear that he’s one of those rare GOOD attorneys) Consequently, I need a case for files and I sometimes bring a laptop to court. While I was a bit skeptical at first, due to its size, I have quickly grown to love this product as well.

First of all, the stereotype of the briefcase wielding trial attorney still exists, somewhere, but that attorney is not me. The briefcase model is not practical for me unless it’s one of those thick expando size briefcases (I have one of those, just in case). Too often, my files are too numerous, or too thick to carry in a sleek case. Add to the equation, a laptop and its necessary protective qualities, the old fashioned brief case is truly a thing of the past.

The CorePack has proven itself to be quite the workhorse for me. It has an enormous front case. It has a separate rear case which is lined with fabric and protective material for the laptop. It’s required, for me, to have a case that separates accessories like power cords and such from the laptop itself. This case does that.

More after the Jump »

Editor’s note: This is a continuation of an ongoing Speck review series by our Apple aficionado, Dan Ballecer.

SeeThru Satin MacBook Cover (Retail: $49.95)

A far better experience than the candyshell feel, is the Satin feel. Speck advertises this as a “Soft Touch on a Hard Shell”. I have the Cranberry color (essentially a maroon color: Hello AZ Cardinals…again, the snickering…) on my 13” Aluminum Unibody MacBook. I have nothing negative to say about it. It’s crazy light. I wonder if it actually weighs anything…I love the color and I love the feel of it. In typical vain fashion, it’s see through so the illuminated Apple Logo is still visible through its casing.

The case is solid and so, I would imagine that it would be quite protective in the event of a fall (something I don’t want to test). The cover comes on and off easy enough for you not to have to go pull out some tools in order to do it, but difficult enough such that it will not come out unless you purposefully intend for it to do so. I bought the Candyshell Red cover for it prior to this model. I loved that cover, but, like my current iPhone case, it tended to be a bit slippery. The satin finish on this case makes it feel almost fabric-like which is decidedly non-slippery. I love it. The perfect MacBook case.

If you want to see the other parts of Dan’s Speck Experience, check out his review of the Speck iPhone Case, the SeeThru Satin MacBook Cover, the Speakeasy Grey Pinstripe CorePack Fly Messenger Bag, and the Kindle 2nd Gen DustJacket.

Other than Apple itself, it’s tough to imagine a better gift for an Apple Fanboy than a Speck accessory product. Don’t get me wrong, Speck will outfit non-Apple products like Blackberries and Kindles (more on this later). However, clearly Speck more than any other accessory company somehow manages to individualize and protect your Apple product while enhancing, not taking away, from its brilliant industrial design. As an Apple Fanboy, I immediately open myself to criticism that I am too concerned with advertising to the world that, yes, I use Apple products. Form over Substance is a common phrase. While I would disagree with the point that Apple provides no actual value above its looks, one thing is for certain, no consumer electronic company makes better looking stuff.

This inevitable conclusion leads to two problems. One, a beautiful device, especially a mobile one, must be protected. Two, if it will be protected, which must be of primary importance, then the protection must serve the vanity of one who chooses to buy the beautiful device in the first place. I suppose wrapping a Macbook in bubble wrap will serve to protect it, but you’ll look ridiculous. (again the vanity, see how we think?).

Enter Speck. More so than any other accessory company that I know of, Speck provides intuitive and beautiful design which serves not to replace the aesthetics of the product it’s protecting, but to enhance it, to individualize it. I’ll show you what I mean.

More after the Jump »