iSkin/Marware MacBook Unibody Keyboard Protector Review

Today I have something for you that is not iPhone related but is still within the Apple family! Today I have keyboard protectors for your Unibody MacBook!

If you have a MacBook (not the plastic one), MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, then you will know how dirty or dusty the keyboard can get after a few weeks of use. To prevent and protect your keyboard, I have two silicone keyboard protectors; the ProTouch from iSkin and the Keyboard Protector from Marware.

Since both items are solutions for keyboard protection, I thought to do a small one on one with them.

ProTouch by iSkin

The ProTouch is a silicone protector that lays on top of your MacBook keyboard. The silicone is fairly thin and molds nicely in between the key grooves of the keyboard which makes the ProTouch fit very nicely. The silicone also features Microban protection, which inhibits the growth of bacteria and odors.

Once applied, the silicone is very soft and easy to type on. One thing I did notice right away is there is no keystroke sound, which is great for when I use my MacBook Air in places that promote silence such as lecture halls and libraries, as many students will understand.

After you are finished with your MacBook, the ProTouch comes off the keyboard very easily and because it is a thin silicone, you can roll it up or bend it however you want. Cleaning the ProTouch is as easy as running it under a water tap.

The ProTouch comes in five colors: Arctic (Looks like your MacBook), Sonic (Blue), Blush (Pink), Lava (Orange), Kiwi (Green). Of all the colors, I prefer Arctic as it is exactly the same look as the keyboard on the MacBook now, so you cannot really tell there is even a keyboard protector on the keyboard. However, I do like that iSkin provides a variety of colors.

The iSkin ProTouch is available from the iSkin online store for $29.99.

Keyboard Protector by Marware

The Keyboard Protector from Marware is a silicone protector that lays on top of your MacBook keyboard. This silicone is really thin, much more so than the iSkin one but still molds nicely in between the key grooves of the keyboard.

This silicone does not feature Microban protection, as did the iSkin protector, which can cause issues in the future. However, as long as you keep the keyboard protector clean, there will not be any problems.

Once applied, the silicone is very soft and easy to type on. I prefer the feel of the Marware protector because it is much softer than the iSkin one. As with the iSkin, there is no keystroke sound, which is a great bonus feature for those quiet environments.

After you are finished with your MacBook, the Keyboard Protector comes off the keyboard very easily and can be rolled up or bent however you want. Cleaning the Keyboard Protector is done with water and you also get a microfiber cloth that is used to clean your MacBook screen.

The Keyboard Protector comes in three colors: Black, Clear, White. Of the colors, I prefer Black because I can imagine the Clear or White colors becoming very dirty, very fast. Although the Clear color would be neat because it would practically camouflage the silicone protector. However, I like that Marware offers at least a small range of choices.

The Marware Keyboard Protector is available from the Marware online store for $24.99.

The Verdict

So which keyboard protection solution is the better choice.

The iSkin ProTouch offers a soft silicone that fits nicely and includes Microban protection for bacteria and odors. The silicone eliminates the keystroke sound and is easy to clean under water. You also get a choice of five different vibrant colors and the price is $29.99.

The iSkin ProTouch is scored a 4.5 out of 5.

The Marware Keyboard Protector offers a very soft silicone, more so than the iSkin one, that also fits very nicely. However, the Marware protector does not include Microban protection, so washing it under water will become extra important. As with the iSkin, the Marware protector also eliminates the keystroke sound. You also get a choice of three colors and a bonus microfiber cloth and the price is $24.99.

The Marware Keyboard Protector is scored a 4 out of 5.

Overall, I found the iSkin ProTouch to be the superior protection solution. I prefer the Microban protection and the larger choice of colors, both which were not present from Marware. Both are comfortable and easy to clean, but I definitely get more variety from iSkin. However, Marware is definitely a worthy contender.

The Give-Away!!!

Today I am going to give away BOTH of the above keyboard protectors. The iSkin ProTouch in Arctic and the Marware Keyboard Protector in Black!

To win yourself one of the keyboard protectors, post a comment below answering the following:

1.) Why you need a keyboard protector for your MacBook?

2.) Which one do you want? (iSkin Arctic or Marware Black)

Enjoy!

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Winners chosen at random; Contest ends July 29, 2009 at 11:59PM