[ricacu]

my powersleeve 14' arrived for my 15'al

the 14powersleeve has a more tight fit on the 15'al than the 15powersleeve . Thats all i wanted, good protection, that feels tight, and good looking. Can post pics of the fit if you guys want to.

[nick_coday]

Yes, please do!

[shreddog]

Has anyone used this sleeve? This thread way to large to search the whole thing. Sorry if this is a repeat question.

http://shinza.com/product_info.php?c...products_id=45

I'm skeptical of "generic" sleeves. I want it to fit my 12" PB snugly.

Thanks!

[ero2]

hey all, I have pretty much read all 13 pages, I am ordering a 15in powerbook tomorrow, and am pretty sure I am going to get the timbuk2 commute. Do I need, or would it be a good idea to get a sleeve to go in this case as well, or is it well enough padded? I also like the crumpler bags but they appear to be less pdded and more money, no?

Are there any really padded backpack style that anyone can recommend? I have a targus and my ibook flopped around back and forth cause there was nothing to hold it in place. I like this type of style http://www.booqbags.com/Detail.bok?no=82 but it would not work with the 15in PB correct?

[d.fine]

I got me one of these from Axio and it's awesome. Very spacious, very protective, good padding, and well-sized pockets for PS and mouse, and a pocket for iPod with an exit for the headphones. And very important : very comfy, sits great!

Recommend it!

[d.fine]

oops

[teknopimp]

Originally posted by d.fine:
I got me one of these from Axio and it's awesome. Very spacious, very protective, good padding, and well-sized pockets for PS and mouse, and a pocket for iPod with an exit for the headphones. And very important : very comfy, sits great!

Recommend it!

that looks killer! i wish i didn't see that, cause now i want one

[Lattimer]

FWIW - The 15 AL fits perfectly into the Timbuk2 Commute...no sleeve needed. It works very well.

[ero2]

what backpack style case would hold a notebook, a school book or two, and have good thick padding?

[waterbuck]

Hi
I was using, and have not been so impressed with, a Tom Bihn Brain Cell (it has somewhat hard walls and padding, and advertises itself
http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/mer...roduct_Count=0 with a picture of a "drop test"

Anyway, what was very good about the Brain Cell is that it had a shoulder strap and could be used as an independent little sack, and it also could be tucked inside a larger backpack or sidebag.
What was not so good is that it failed in a few ways. First the metal hasp that holds the shoulder strap just gave out and broke. Oh-oh. The bag didn't hit the ground at full force because I jerked up on the remaining intact side of the shoulder strap. That struck me as a sign of not-so-good workmanship. Second, the bag actually did drop when the zipper on my backpack gave way. When the Tom Bihn Brain Cell hit the ground, my laptop case sustained significant damage, although to be fair, the computer did start up afterward.

Anyway,I'm getting a new 15" AlBook. I think I liked having a sturdy brief-sleeve like the Tom Bihn to put in more than one larger bag (sometimes a brief/messenger sac and sometimes a backpack). I am quite interested in learning if anything is built tougher. I am indeed considering the MacTruck but it seems just too heavy and too expensive. The Shinza Zero-shock 15-inch version looked pretty good, but may be no stronger than the Brain Cell.

What makes the grade for sturdy?
Should I actually be looking at Messenger bags with padded sections in them?

[ero2]

do the crumpler backpacks hold books as well? I am curious cause from the site it looks like they only hold the powerbook and like a ipod or cell phone. Anyone have any pics of any of the backpack style crumplers (base toucher, etc), and do they hold more than just the comp?

[audvidsvs]

Waterbuck

I too have a Brain Cell and I know what you mean. The problem is that even though the quality may not be the best,I think the protection of the sling has to be the best.
I have a couple of Waterfield sleeves for the 15" and they seem much higher quality to me.
Everything about them is well done except that they are just a sleeve cover with no additional protection. I have used them inside a messenger bag and been happy but also very leary of ever dropping it. With the Brain Cell in the same bag I feel more confident that a drop would be survivable.

I have looked at the MacTruck and just want one for style alone. Sure they are scratch resistent but I think they are much less protective than a sleeve which provides some active padding. The Truck would make things worse I think in a fall as the weight would work against you. It can me used as a weapon though(always a consideration).

I have a older Port laptop briefcase that I use for my PC that has a compartment of little air filled rubber pillows that seems like the best protection I have ever seen. These wre standard issue with Thinkpads a while back. Very nice construction and quality throughout and lots of storage and organization. Also just looks like a briefcase and my 12"PB gets lost in it.

Waterfield does have the Racer-X which apparantly has a Brain Bag like sling inside a small case. It looks great and I almost got one but they don't seem to hold much in the way of accessories and books/paper and are pricey for that.
I may end up trying one though.

Seems like a never-ending quest.

[waterbuck]

What do people like for big, laptop protected sacks?

Jansport has a medium-sized backpack with a very good-looking "Shockshield" technology. Play their little video and you'll be converted: jansport optimizer bag

Still it is under 2000 cubic inches. I tend to be a packrat. So I want something safe for my computer and all my stuff.

I could see myself putting a sleeve on my 15" AlBook and putting into a sack but if there is a backpack designed to be big and to really protect the laptop computer, that would be of great interest.

[jmagic]

sorry about posting another bag thread, but i have looked through the long sticky thread, and still cannot decide.

i have a 15" sleeve, and the incase laptop bag, but i am looking for something that will hold my laptop without a sleeve, the charger, and have room for about 2-3 3 subject notebooks. this will allow me to carry just one bag to class for everything.

i dont really like the sleeve in backpack, because its kind of a hassle to take a sleeve out, then unzip it, before i can get a hold of my laptop.

i have been looking at crumpler and timbuk2 (messenger bags), both of which look really cool, but i am am unsure on the spacing. i know which ones fit the 15" powerbook, but i NEED some extra space to bring notebooks to class too.

can anyone give me some advice please!!

thanks in advance
jonathan

[ar1550]

Does anyone have a Radtech Loop? I'm looking at it for my new 17" when it arrives. I need to go with a backpack of some sort because I need to carry 1 or 2 text books around. The Loop looks like it is one of the best in terms of bang for the buck, which is an important factor as Mr. Jobs took most of my money. I'm wondering if it will fit Lapzilla in addition to a sleeve, as I'm thinking I'll want a Booq Powersleeve17 or something similar so I can leave the bag (& books) somewhere and just carry the computer in the sleeve (and provide uber protection). I guess if the Loop won't accomodate Lapzilla + sleeve then I'll just go with the Booq Boa.xl system, though I'd prefer to just start out with the Loop and get a sleeve later if I decide I do indeed want to.

[ero2]

okay so BASE TOUCHER or go bigger for a TEAM PLAYER both from crumpler.
I have a 15" I just picked up today and need a case

[pearle]

I ordered the Waterfield Racer-X from sfbags.com yesterday for my new 17" PowerBook. I'll post some comments on it once I receive it and use it for a bit.

[ero2]

well, I went ahead and ordered a base toucher, so if anyone wants a review or anything when I get it, just ask.

[waterbuck]

(accidentally posted it elsewhere, but it should be in this forum)...

Okay-I have it down to 3 laptop backpack choices. I will have (soon) at 15" AlBook. I expect to carry this to work and as the "extra carryon bag" on the airplane, ie the one that goes under the seat. I also may want to use it without the laptop sometimes.

Option 1: Crumpler Team Player ($100-125, likely)
Crumpler Team Player

This bag is large, probably 2500 cubic inches.
Pros:
Build quality is good, waterproof
Looks cool
Large
Thief-proof zipper (hidden closer to the wearer's back)

Cons:
No external strap/buckles that would allow you to cinch it flatter, Removable laptop sleeve is likely a little loose for independently carrying the 15" AlBook around.



Option 2: RadTech Sports ($75)

Radtech Sports
This is a more traditional looking multicompartmented bag that hangs the laptop in one section, and has about 2100 cubic inch capacity.
Pros:
More compartments & less expensive
Cons:
Not waterproof like the Crumpler
Slightly smaller.

Option 3: Spire USA Volt XL

URL=http://www.spireusa.com/products/VX4.html]Spire Volt XL[/url]

This is also traditional-looking, with what I suspect would be thicker/heavier nylon/denier and beefier notebook protection
Pros:
Build quality
Very beefy bottom padding to protect the notebook if the pack is dropped
Entirely removable notebook holding section, e.g fully convertible.
Removable notebook sleeve can be used independently

Cons:
Costlier than the others
Not as cool looking as the Crumpler.


Anyway--I wish I could see these live but I live in a town that doesn't have anyone selling this stuff. If anyone out there has held, used or tested these 3 packs let me know.

waterbuck

[elise]

I use a Tom Bihn Brain Cell and messenger bag.

I had the same problem with my shoulder strap that someone else posted about. The strap breaking pissed me off, but to be fair they told me the shoulder strap isn't something they themselves manufacture and they sent me a new strap and a wallet to make up for it.

I looked at different bags for my Powerbook but I couldn't find any with better protection than the Binh cases, so I ended up with theirs and I've been very happy with them. I like the fact that their bags are "Made In The U.S.A.", in Port Angeles. My fiance has family who live there. I got him a Jack Spade bag because he wanted a leather bag.

[mcapple]

All,

I find this to be the best. I did not see this one listed in that last thread. Only downside to this is that they are out of stock for 12" and 15" sleeves. However they are shipping on April 15 this year.

http://www.booqbags.com/Detail.bok?no=96