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Sometimes laptop is more than just a device. Using laptops over years, some of us tend to develop a genuine affection toward their little (or not so little) companions. We take care of them, putting them in a nice hand-made fabric, spicing them up with some fancy outfit and providing them with a personality using laptop skins. That’s not as bad as it sounds, and there are many ways to use laptop decoration (or laptops decorated by other people) as a source of inspiration. In some way you may also call it laptop art.

In this issue of monday inspiration series we provide you with some fresh ideas to spice up your environment with laptop skins, engravings, sleeves, cases and stickers. In the end of this post you’ll also find some experimental ideas for laptop decoration — caution, you don’t really want to replicate them at home or at office — well, at least if you care about your laptop.

Apparently, Apple geeks are far more emotional when it comes to accessories for their laptops — although we’ve tried to cover as many different ideas as possible, in the selection below many of the presented ideas are used on Macs. There is nothing we can do about it, really.

[Offtopic: by the way, did you know that Smashing Magazine has one of the most influential and popular Twitter accounts? Join our discussions and get updates about useful tools and resources — follow us on Twitter.]

Laptop Skins and Engravings

Shalgo Laptop Designs
This Dutch company offers a number of the so-called mozaikits which you can place not only on your laptop, but also, for instance, on walls. Stylish.

Awesome Designer Laptops
Well, these are indeed… unusual. And it is damn hard to make something like this on your own.

HP Pavilion dv2800t Artist Edition
An artsy laptop manufactured by Hewlett-Packard.

Computerlicious Designer Laptops
Engadget shows off some pretty beautiful designer laptops, decorated with fabric and leather.

MacBook skin
In most cases you can use your own skin designs and let some skin printing store print them out for you. That was the case here.

Apple Art
Stylish. And pretty cool.

GelaSkins
Here you’ll find some artistic laptop skins (art, design, typography etc.)…

Schtickers.com
…even more various laptop skins.

Laptop Decoration
Laptops can also be decorated with a… well, simple pen.

Finnish Black/White Macbook
Engravings seem to gain on popularity nowadays.

Powerbook, engraved
Ode to the Apple. You can also watch the video of how it’s been done.

Laser engraved Black MacBook
A masterpiece by EngraveYourTech.

Rhinestoning a laptop
Have you ever thought about rhinestoning your laptop?

Laptop Bags and Sleeves

Designer’s Bag Case
This is sexy. A notebook-bag case for “thin” laptops.

E.square 60s-style laptop bags
Laptop bags weren’t around in the 1960s, but if they were, they would possibly look like these E.square 60s-style laptop bags. Price: $54.95. [via retrotogo]

Velvet Idole cases
Velvet Idole’s “Pinguins” Print. Computercase in white calf leather. Lining in black cotton. Price: 75€ [via Cool Hunting]

Thorn Berry’s Laptop Sleeve
A hand-made laptop sleeve with a layer of wadding between the outer fabric and the lining. And with the designer’s name on it. Gorgeous!

Terry Laptop Case
A juicy laptop case for geeky girls out there. Price: $125.

Vinyl Laptop Sleeve
Aren’t they sweet? And yeah, this is a laptop sleeve.

Pinguins Leather MacBook Sleeve
Folds around the laptop. Unfolded it functions as workspace with an integrated mousepad.

Seejanework Cases
Looks like a CD-storage, but it is a pretty cozy laptop sleeve.

Giles Miller’s corrugated cardboard laptop case
Sturdy, stylish, and sustainable. This cardboard is 100% recycled. You can also personalize it with custom designs such as one’s initials (or an apple logo — as shown here).

Eoin McNally’s Packaging Case
The idea is people should recycle the cardboard that their laptops arrive in by reshaping them it into a protective carrying sleeve. The cardboard casing your computer ships in is treated with natural wax to protect it from spills and as an alternative to the usual polystyrene foam peanuts. We’re not sure we would actually use the handle to carry the laptop in one of these things.

Laptopwallet
Laptopwallet is designed to hold the laptop really snug. The slim design keeps a laptop safe and enables you to carry it, either using the wrist-strap, in your hands or in a bag without being bulky. Currently sold out. [via Thisnext]

Laptop Decoration: Sweeties and Cuties

Sometimes simple decoration isn’t enough. In fact, you can not just put a skin on your laptop or engrave it, or even use some fancy sleeve to give it a new outfit. No, you can go far further, use spray paints, decals and feather boas. You can also simply get some sweet accessoires for your old friend as well.

Monster Laptop Sleeve
“Handmade and available in four different colors, the case reminds us of a fanged cousin of cookie monster. Plus, it looks more like something that would hold a Fisher-Price computer, as opposed to a Sony or Apple — keeping would-be thieves guessing.” Price: $65. [via Uncrate]

Pink Hello Kitty Laptop
“How to make a PHKL (watch out the pronunciation!) — ‘Pink Hello Kitty Laptop’. This is a project for two people, you and a friend, with notable guest appearances by your meddling boyfriend. Boyfriend is optional. “

*Craser’s laptop cover
“It’s a simple furry cover, first time I sew something that big. spend the whole afternoon hand sewn and it fits perfectly!”

Hard Drive
Karim Rashid’s portable hard drive. Currently unavailable.

Getting ready for OSX Leopard
Leopard patterned (furry) plush. If you have an external hard drive lying around, such a plush will cost you around $10.

Macbook Sleeve
Fabric patterns, hand-made.

Laptop Cozy
A new home for the beloved one.

Laptop Cozy
Well, now it feels cozy.

Laptop In Fabric
Soft and nice.

MacBook laptop sleeve
“I sewed my new Macbook a laptop sleeve! No pattern, just a zippered pouch. Starting fabric size 14.5″ by 10.5″. Fabrics are Denyse Schmidt quilting cotton, pink silk Dupioni for the lining, unknown cotton blend for the pocket, and wool felt (2 layers on each side) for the padding.”

Stickers

Stickers are always extremely subjective and that’s why also very personal. If you’d like your laptop to reflect the unique personality of its owner, stickers might probably be the easiest way to go and therefore a first option to consider. Besides, often they are simply cool and it’s a lot of fun to observe strangers reading them. You’ll find many more stickers in the Laptop Stickers Flickr Pool.

Jedibook w/ Technorati sticker
Unfortunately, Smashing magazine isn’t sticked here.

Powerbook stickers
In most cases stickers are pretty unusual; however, often personal music preferences are combined with the stickers of web-services the laptop owner uses.

Laptop stickers
Interesting idea: Bruce Sterlings puts his flight tickets on the top of his laptop.

The first sticker on my new mac
Well, that’s a good start.

Robogames
Often stickers are messages the owners send to everybody who will have the luck (or misfortune) to meet the owner of the laptop.

Stickered iBook
Christopher Phin is a car fan.

Tantek Çelik’s stickers
Tantek Çelik is XFN-friendly and enjoys playing games.

Stickered iBook
Caution: robots! Cute!

Notebook V1.1
Karin Lizana is a code poet, uses Ubuntu and loves Berlin.

Patrick Crowley’s stickers
Oh-oh. We have a tough guy here.

Experimental ideas (Don’t try this at home!)

Datamancer’s Steampunk Victorian Laptop
This may look like a Victorian music box, but inside this intricately hand-crafted wooden case lives a Hewlett-Packard ZT1000 laptop that runs both Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. It features an elaborate display of clockworks under glass, engraved brass accents, claw feet, an antiqued copper keyboard and mouse, leather wrist pads, and customized wireless network card. The machine turns on with an antique clock-winding key by way of a custom-built ratcheting switch made from old clock parts. Video is included.

Dave Veloz’s Steampunk Monitor & Keyboard Remake
This is a wedding gift. The intersection of technology and romance is possible. Dave Veloz created this beauty for his soon to be wife in time for their recent wedding. [via Cool Hunting]

SattaMac – 1991 PowerBook 100
No, this Powebook doesn’t work any longer. But it looks pretty fancy. Painted Apple machinery.

Xbox 360 Laptops
These posts also include a video of laptops in use.

Steampunk Monitor For Chic Geeks
Steampunk one more time.

Atari 800 XE Laptop
Designed by Ben Heck.

Duke Nukem Laptop
This one is kind of freaky, but pretty unusual. It used to be a NEC.

Last Click

Cassette Tape Tote Bag
OK, this one is not for laptops. But it looks pretty amazing.

Digg Case Mod
For Digg lovers.

Chocolate Laptop
Mmmm, tasty. Ok, it’s time for a coffee break.

What’s in there for your laptop?