Mach 3 Composites Z Caron Fiber Case Impressions

FedEx brought me my glossy carbon fiber case from Mach 3 Composites a day early today. I preordered this case back in November on the first day it was available after they've redesigned the interior to fit the VPC-Z series (and maybe VGN-Z but I'm not sure). Here's the manufacturer's link to the case: Mach 3 Composites: Mach 3 Composites - 12" Carbon Fiber Laptop Case

My communication with M3C has been very good over the last three months, and the replies have always been very professional and timely. I did not like, however, how my string of questions were avoided by "M3C" on the threads and sleeves thread where I asked about the interior material and if a group discount is applicable. I've noticed that the latter question has been ignored completely on this forum. I don't mind it if he says they can't offer a group discount, but don't avoid the question.

The box the case came in is slightly bigger than the case itself. You change the box's orientation and feel and hear the case sliding around inside- there weren't any packing peanuts or filler. But this did not matter since the case is very durable and protected by an included velcro bag.





Inside the velcro bag was the case which was wrapped in pink tissue paper.



My case does not have any scratches and appears factory fresh, despite hearing another user's experience, I'm very happy with the condition of my case.

Here's a few shots of it:





The exterior finish on mine is glossy. When shining a light at an extreme angle to it, I can tell the case isn't perfectly flat. I can see some waves and some concentric circles. I suppose this is just part of the manufacturing process, and it doesn't bother me that much.

The interior of the case is fitted in a diamond stitch patterned black cloth. There is some padding under the cloth squares. The stitching is finished in black. There are also two small wires that form an "x" inside the case on the top and bottom under the cloth which I suppose provides rigidity to the case from flexing inwards on the center. The case can also be opened 180 degrees.





The latch mechanisms also don't slide into the groove on the first try when closing. I have to use two hands to get the holes to line up so it can be latched. It's a minor inconvenience, but I can live with it. The latches and hinges are made of metal and appear to be very durable.

Here are some shots with my Vaio Z13 in it:







When the case is closed with my computer in it, and I slide the case around, I can feel the computer moving, but only a marginal amount. I would not worry about my computer sliding too much in the case.

When the computer is in the case and the case is open, the screen can only be opened 90 degrees, otherwise the bottom of the screen hits the back of the padding and the rear of the computer will lift up if you want to turn the screen further back. I would not recommend using the computer while in the case anyway since the exhaust port is blocked and there's hardly any air circulation under the computer when it is in there. This case is strictly a carrying case- not an in use case like those Sony leather "notebook" style ones.





Here's a few shots of my Z13 on top of the case so you can see the size of the case in relation to the computer. I also threw in a few shots with my P. Please note: in the following three shots, I've lined up my computers directly in line with the back plane of the case and the right plane of the case.







The case in general feels kind of heavy, I suspect it's mostly due to the metal hardware (hinges and locks) and it also feels very sturdy. Unfortunately I don't have a scale here, so I can't give an exact weight spec. When holding the Z in one hand and the case in the other, they felt about the same weight, so I'm thinking it's ~3 pounds. The case itself is very strong, I applied some downward pressure on the case with my hands when closed and it has essentially zero flex on the edges and a little flex in the center. I would not worry about my computer being crushed if it were in my backpack with some books (which would be my main use for this case). It is a little awkward to get the computer out of the case since the foam perfectly surrounds all four edges of the computer. You do have to push into the foam edge a little to get it out (my instinct has been to reach for the barrel of my computer) so we'll see how well that foam holds up over time or if it's going to get deformed.

The case certainly is on the expensive side at $163 before shipping, but I can feel confident that my Z will be secure inside of it and not have to worry about the screen getting damaged or pushing into my keyboard when in it. I don't mind spending a little money to protect my computer since it was expensive to begin with, and I need/want this computer to last me four years.

I hope this thread can be found informative in case if anyone was considering this case but wanted a "guinea pig" first. Please feel free to ask any questions. I'll update this thread in the future if I hit any snags with this case, and some general comments after some real world usage.

I'll be taking this case sometime next week to the tint shop to get the top and bottom invisible shielded since I don't want to carbon fiber to scratch. You can look for that in a future thread about Invisible Shielding my computer.

 

Many thanks for the comprehensive review and photos.

I'm still waiting on my glossy cabon case for my Z12.

However, I've got the older 12" model with a foam DIY insert bar to help with the spacing - crude but works. I plan to use the older CF case as a folio of sorts at work when the new one arrives.

Overall, it has held up to daily use. I'm not fussed with scratches but would be interested to know where you get the invisible shield covers for the case from.

The newer case apparently has additional carbon fibre layers cf. older case.

Looking forward to seeing other people's impressions.The case as you say isn't cheap!

 

Everything the same except mine has comsetic defects. Wish my experience turned out like yours Generic! Glad your happy with it.

 

Thanks for your straight forward review! In the past I have had to limit my responses on here at the request of the moderator because we are not a paid advertiser on this site. Specific questions can sent to us on our contact form and you will always get a timely direct response. Please check our "News" section for a new "Sure Fit Kit" that we will send/or be including in future cases help every customer get the ideal fit. If anyone purchases a case our policy has always been to work with our customers and either refund or replace the case and make sure the conclusion is satisfactory. Antec87 your experience with us could still be a good one but we do need to talk to you directly to correct the issue. Many thanks to everyone for your business and e-mailed support.

Kevin

 

Thanks for the reply Kevin.

I actually received a phone call from M3C the day after my case arrived to see if everything was satisfactory. I am so impressed with their customer service that I would not hesitate to order something from them again in the future, or recommend their products to my friends.


@M3C, would you consider using Alcantara to upholster the inside of these cases? Alcantara is a high end synthetic suede material commonly used in high performance cars for their dashboards, steering wheels, seats, and headliners and feels quite nice.

 

Thanks. I will have to look into cost. As previously mentioned these cases are not inexpensive. We put quite a bit of CF and hours into each case. Many CF products on the market might only be a layer of carbon over glass. Our cases are carbon fiber all the way through (5 Layers) which provides many challenges to mold. But I will look into potential suppliers for a possible option in the future. We appreciate feedback and try to keep evolving our cases. As some may be aware this case evolved from just our standard 12" netbook case. Through the request of members of this forum we were asked if we could modify the case to be a better fit for the Z. You are part of the first group to get this modified case. As we move forward your input will always play a vital role in refining the case.

Best Regards,
Kevin