“The name, of course, sprang from the sound of safely jamming the slipcase into your pack with only millimeters to spare, and the lighter, protective ‘whumph’ of the iBook sliding into the slipcase’s protective interior,” Peck said. “It just took a group of friends, and a touch of week’s end libation, to accurately pinpoint the sounds.”
The US$60 slipcase offers protection through a half inch soft open cell foam backed up by the protective rigidity of corrugated plastic on the case outside. Both the foam and plastic are tightly fitted to maximize protection, Peck said.
To ensure that the slipcase is comfortable to carry on its own, the Whumph! features a removable foam padded wrap handle around the web handle that’s riveted through a high density polyethylene backing plate for extra security, Peck said. Each slipcase comes with a foam padded, contoured shoulder strap that has a “sticky” bottom to keep it on your shoulder.
The Whumph! is more than just an iBook tote for students, though. It has an outer front organizer panel with pockets for business cards, pens, as well as an elasticized pocket for the Apple power supply plus room for the power cord and an ethernet cable. A flat external rear pocket is designed to hold magazines, newspapers, and maps.