“The Contour was a particularly satisfying case for us,” he added. “Its curved lines were inspired by the stylish lines of the iMac and its contoured shape allowed the entire iMac system to fit into the most compact sized case possible. Even so, the Contour features padded separate pockets for the keyboard, speakers and the mouse as well as flat outer pockets for manuals or paperwork. Carrying the system is a breeze; though not to be confused with Willow’s Seabreeze Flat Panel iMac dust cover.”
The contour was also inspired by the goal of making the case more affordable for international customers. By leaving the final 10 minutes of assembly to the purchaser, Willow was able to reduce the shipping cost to European and Asian purchasers to $80, Peck said.
Loading and unloading of the entire system takes well under a minute with the added benefit that the iMac fits vertically into and out of the case for less strained back muscles, he added. The Contour is, as is the iMac itself, too big for carry-on airline status, and is designed to transport your iMac in an automobile.
Meanwhile, Willow Design will continue to offer its $207 Wedge carry case for the iMac. The second case was designed due to several requests from overseas iMac users who wanted the original Wedges. However, because of its size, the cost of shipping it by courier (and it was too big for the mail services) would have been $500 and up, which was “completely unworkable,” Peck said.
“We were trying to figure out a case design that would allow us to flatten the case for shipping, still allow it be easy for an end user to set up, and after assembly be a solid, protective case for the iMac,” he said. “The end result was the Contour, different and we thought, neat in its curved lines which complemented the iMac. For me, this was one of the most enjoyable and satisfying cases to design in years.”
As for the Wedge is available, it’s more appropriate for institution use where the iMac will be moved by different people, he added. Its more rigid compartmentalization makes for a bigger case, but does make it more foolproof for packing and unpacking, he added.