Laptop bags: netbooks and tablets

Be CAREFUL with your treatment of your chosen bag

GODS!

A few months ago, I just got a new Gateway/Acer lappy. Put it into my NEW ful bag. Extracted my lappy, and the frackin CD caddy SNAGGED on the bag, breakiing or damaging a clip. Almost tore it of. I was crestfallen. Somehow, on inserting it into the bag, it ejected, so that on extraction of the laptop, the snag was inevitable unless I took it out slooooowwwwly.

Now, with the caddy facing UP, it's all to easy to apply too much grip pressure to lift the think. I don't want messenger-type of bags as I prefer a backpack so I can distribute the load over two padded straps, not ONE strap that digs into my shoulder.

Also, get a bag that can take the shackle/loop of a TSA or country-approved/domestically-sold lock of your choice, AND a laptop that if it has 3 pairs of zippers, that has zippers that can be bunched in adjacent pairs of your choosing so you only need two locks, not 3.

Also, avoid backpacs that have a center thread commond to both shoulder sttraps. My recent Ogio, which I liked VERY much, began tearing at the center thread because I carelessly ran too much (chasing buses and trains) with my prior 8.5 lbs laptop AND because on the train (where I couldn't hog two seats) I placed the shoulder straps over my knees (becasue I am *not* one who will set my belongings on a filthy vehicle floor). That strain accelerated the tearing of the threads, the canvas/plastic backing, and then....

Suddenly, a side zipper decided to snag. I thought I was smart by clipping the thread, but that degraded it to a ravel that began undoing. Within two weeks -- after having the bag since ~ Jan or so of 2011, it turned into an embarrassement and eyesore and heart-breaker when I became too hyperconscious that people could look at it.

Plus, I got SICK and tired of the volume of that bag allowing me to over stuff it and end up looking like a consummate hiker or some sort of "backpack bomber" I HATE walking past a store window and glancing at my profile and seeing this unfahionable, horrid, hideous "lump" or "cyst-like" "thing" falling from my shoulders. The tighter, slimmer bags are TOO tight, or too tight and too expensive.

Now, whereas my former 17"-capable Targus bag from Jan 2010 cost ~ USD $50, that frackker now is $100. Exploitative buyers/sellers ramped up the price, and it began to hurt hunting for a bag for my 17-incher that has a 5-minute battery, a stupidly-designed straight-out-from-the right- power pin (yes, an HP Pavillion), and NOISY cooling fans. So, that began the end of the love affair with the Pavillion and the quest to find a slipper, lighter, quieter laptop with a potential to have long batter life, AND that would not need a bag costing over $55. Hence, ful. I would have gone for an InCase, from Korea, but I didn't leave myself time, and perceived that I'd have to order from Korea, incurring shipping costs, time lags, and no hands-on-before-buying.

When you buy a bag, take your intended laptop and existing bag with you. Move your typical contents INTO that bag and put it on your shoulder/s. If you cannot bring a laptop, then if that store selling bags also sells laptops identical to or size-wise match your lappy, get the sales staff to allow you to fit-test them.

These bags SHOULD last 3+ years if treated well. Chasing transit vehicles will tear them up if saddled with more than the bare laptop.

Oh, also, find one with a reinforced carry handle. If you have good/full range of motion in your arms and neck, try lifting the bag one-handed, carefully rotate your wrist, and move the bag as if removing a jet pack or napalm rig. Or, find a table or temporary platform that'll let you lean some, offload the weight, and re-position it withough straining the shoulder strap threads. That is how I tore up my Ogio, carelessly and vigrously slinging it on and off, single-strap. Now, I want my ful to last better than 2 years. So, I'll try to be less of a fool and take care of my ful.

There is one

Maybe not as thin but...

http://www.thinplug.com/thinplug/thinplug_shop