HowToFixComputers.com

Paul W Jones · Guest

I've recently purchased an IBM/Lenovo T60 15.4" widescreen, and I'm
trying to find a case for it. It has the extended battery, which adds
maybe an inch to the width. Comes out about: 11" D x 14" W x 1 3/8"
H. I had been using a RoadWired Satchel,

http://www.roadwired.com/store/Product.cfm?Productid=88

but that's not big enough to handle the depth of the computer. I had
it around from a previous laptop, but the dimension on the laptop
depth, 10.375", doesn't quite go far enough, and it stretches and is
close, but the protection of a Roadwired across the top is not all
that good. I had another laptop, a T4x series one, that I had carried
in a generic bag, one I had received as an award ($25 max), but that
didn't fare all that well when the strap unhooked itself.
Consequently, what I'm looking for is:

1. Really, really good protection
2. Some reasonable amount of expansion (big)
3. Light
4. Briefcase form factor (with strap)

The expansion is so that I can get all the various accessories, power-
bricks, etc., in when I travel. Some of the puddle-jumper planes let
you just carry one smallish bag on, your carry-on gets gate checked,
and I've never lost one, but it's been close, so I really want a bag I
can stuff everything into. From what I can tell, the best protection
comes from the various aluminum or ABS hard sided cases, but those
don't expand well (2). Looking around the web, I see several bags
that seem to meet basic requirements, and claim a lot of protection,
mainly from:

* Brenthaven ( http://www.brenthaven.com/catalog-duo-oversize.html )
* Booq ( http://booqbags.com/s.nl/it.A/id.98/.f )
* Codi ( http://www.codidirect.com/store/product.html?product_id=186&type=1
)
* Targus ( http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=TET006US )
* Mobile Edge ( http://www.mobileedge.com//items_him.asp?cid=2&scid=2&pid=28
)

The Mobile Edge seems to use the Roadwired protection system, mostly
fancy air bubbles and consequently very light, but has the protection
also on top of the bag. I don't throw the bag around, but having top
protection is a good idea if the bag goes in an airplane overhead
(they get banged around a bit, although once I caught one as somebody
knock it out of the overhead trying to get their stuff in. But I
won't always be in a position to "catch" it). And there have been
times where I had to juggle too much and things got too dicey, might
be easy enough to drop someting. That's why I'm thinking maximum
protection. I do have a Tumi, and that's an unbelievably well made bag
for day-to-day, but the protection doesn't look as good as some of the
others for travel (although, admittedly, some of the Tumi's come out
well in the drop tests I've seen, so I wouldn't rule one out).
Ideally, the various power bricks and so forth would have some
protection, also, but mostly I'm worried about the laptop itself.

Some drop test results I found:

* Brenthaven ( http://www.brenthaven.com/PDF/Drop%20Tests%20new.pdf )
* Brenthaven ( http://www.brenthaven.com/PDF/Bottom%20Drop%20Tests%20new.pdf
)
* Codi ( http://www.codidirect.com/droptest.pdf )
* Targus ( http://www.targus.com/us/segments/media/droptest_wpaperSafePORT.pdf
)

I figure my situation is not unique, so I'd ask here what other have
done. And I won't say price is no object, but obviously I do also
think it makes some sense to pay more if it means more protection.

Advice?

Paul Jones

Paul W Jones · Guest

The Targus equipment looks nice enough, I have an older one from work,
and they do come with some big enough, but it's not clear to me that
it would be as good as a Brenthaven or some of the others. Could you
comment on the aluminum? How does that work?

Paul Jones.

On May 29, 9:48 pm, PJ <pj5...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Ian Singer · Guest

Paul W Jones wrote:

Paul W Jones · Guest

One reason I shy away from Targus bags is their low abrasion and tear
resistance. See:

http://www.codi-inc.net/codi_case_performance.pdf

The impact protection does seem to be pretty good. The weight does
not.

Paul W Jones

On Jun 2, 12:01 am, Ian Singer <iansin...@sympatico.ca> wrote: