There comes a point in some people's lives where they stand back, take a gaze at the world around them, and say "Been there, done that." And while that may be true for some, I hope that most do not share that outlook, as there is often something lurking out there that will move the bar just a little bit higher and leave us amazed. Today is one of those moments, a chance for computer geeks ... err ... enthusiasts to relish something special. What is this surprise, you may ask, this technical epiphany of sorts? It's a computer case. Yes, a case. But not just any case: a Smooth Creations case. Truth be told, we have a fully operational, custom computer system on hand, but today is just a Preview of the custom case itself. We'll soon follow up with a full review of the whole system, but we felt that a separate preview was necessary in order to fully showcase and appreciate the custom case and artwork itself.

For those of you who may not have heard of Smooth Creations, you have probably seen photos of their work around the Web, particularly in coverage of the various tradeshows and conventions. Founded in 1999 by an automotive finishing expert, Smooth Creations is a company that specializes in custom artwork on computer cases. And when I say artwork, I mean ARTWORK, not the type of bland paint jobs you may see floating around. Their staff are experts at their craft and airbrushes are their weapon of choice. They detail cases just like a hotrod car: all paints used are automotive basecoats/clearcoats that are applied in controlled-atmosphere booths, then sanding, cleaning, basecoating in multiple layers, airbrushing custom designs, and finally clearcoating several times. Smooth Creations will also allow their clients (yes, the refer to you as a client, not a customer) to send in custom artwork to apply onto a case. They'll also let you pick any case you like, and even send one in to customize if you are so inclined. They claim to have never seen a design they couldn't airbrush, and they can usually have your case in your hands within three to four weeks.

With such claims of choice and commitment to service, the only thing that remains to be seen is the product itself. So let's jump right in.