17" Laptop Backpack Indeciveness

So I've been looking around for a good laptop bag for the past few days and am not having much luck (even with all the great reviews/sticky/etc available). There are just soo many options/features. So, I was some of you gents might be able to help me accessorize.

Here is what it NEEDS to have/be...
-Sufficent room/protection for a 17" Sager 9262 (Clevo D901C) laptop.
-A built in sleeve (or something similar) to protect the 17" laptop.
-Not super-bulky/large (I am 5"10 and a bit skinny, so I don't want to look ridiculous).
-Not super-heavy (the laptop + power adapater combined are 15lbs on their own).
-Outside compartment for easy access to pens/pencils (only needs to fit 2-3).
-Outside compartment for one jug (a 1.5x larger than a 1/2 litre (16 oz) poland spring water bottle).
-Inide compatment for folders/books (about three slim folders and three standard sized textbooks, is the most I'll ever need).
-Should have a space (or extra compartment) for a 2.5lb power adaptar.
-It should be fairly balanced, in terms of weight proportions.
-It should feel comfortable on my back and not leave me with a sweaty shirt on the back (I don't sweat a lot, luckily).
-At least some water-proofing (even if it is just for the laptop and not the rest of the bags contents).

It would be nice if...
-It could also fit a 15" (Dell Latitude D620) and 12" (OneLaptopForChild XO) laptop, too!
-It shouldn't have a TON of extra straps (unless they are removable). I have no wish to use a chest/stomach strap. I'll only be utilizing the shoulder straps.
-It looked "palatable". I don't want stares for my backpack. It would be nice if it was acceptable in a work-environment, but I'll primarily be using it commuting between classes (15 minute walks between classes).

Things to keep in mind
-I will generally be carrying 2 folders, 2 standard sized textbooks, 12.5lb 17" laptop, 2.5lb adaptar, and a litre sized jug at all times. As such, this is going to be HEAVY, so the bag better stabalize the weight and not weigh a ton itself, either
-If it matters, this laptop will be using SSDs, not HDDs. So, little "bumps" that might affect the HDD need not be a concern.
-I am 5"10 and 140lbs. A little on the skinny side. I am lean/fit (10% body fat, most guys my age are 13-17%), so I can handle some weight. Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with good genetics, so I've got a bad back (I have a 15 degree curvature in my spine) that won't be able to handle lots of movement inside the bag (causing the weight to shift side-to-side).
-The bag shouldn't "dwarf" me. Keep the size reasonable (I don't need any extra compartments beyond what I spoke of above). I might try too squeeze in a power bar, usb key, and a flexible headset occasionally, but I wouldn't care much if these items didn't fit well.

Any suggestions/thoughts? I have to take a bit of extra care given my poor back (ha-ha, no worries, I look perfectly normal with the curvature, it sounds a lot worse than it appears, you'd never know looking at me). So, get to posting!

 

Targus Flare maybe? I THINK it fits all your criteria.

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4022

 

I just bought a mobile edge express backpack on ebay for 25$. It can easily fit my Dell XPS M1710 (huge) in the laptop sleeve even though it is designed for 15.4 inches. It is pretty big and can definitely carry 1-2 textbooks or another notebook (might have to put the notebook in another sleeve to protect from the inner zippers). There are a thousand pockets and things on this backpack, so it's really convenient if you want to put a water bottle, pencils on the outer round pocket..etc, google pictures of it to see what i'm talking about

I'm 5"7 and 130lbs and don't feel dwarfed by it..It's a great backpack for a 17 inch without looking like a rectangle. Tell me if you want any pics up close or stuff, i can take them for you

 

High Sierra makes a good backpack for 17 inch notebooks. I forget the specific name.

 

I previously had a larger Targus XL 17" backpack, but I just downsized to this other Targus model while going through my local Best Buy:

http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=TCG216

I currently use it to transport my Dell XPS M1730, so it has plenty of room for a 17" gaming laptop and its monstrous AC power adapter. However, the extra pockets will help with all the books/folders you mentioned above. Even the zipper grips are soft-rubber strips to reduce weight and avoid accidental scratches on your precious cargo.

The Targus Flare mentioned above also sounds nice. I'd suggest comparing it and the Targus City Gear side-by-side to see which one will fit you best.

 

If I may do a suggestion?

The Ego bag from Tom Bihn. It is smaller the version of their SuperEgo bag; which would work too. I have the SuperEgo , I should probably do a review. But I found one very relevant to you by this guy; is saying he's 5''9' and is loving the Super-Ego version.

I know you want a backpack; but, with their Q-AM Shoulder Strap the Ego should function like a backpack. It is a truly convenient modern design for a carrying-strap. Quickly unlocks at the T when you gotta hug your bag for the people around you.

I would bring up the brain cell option.....but lets just stop here before I sound too much of a fanboy; hehe, lets just say its overkill for protection. ;D


EDIT-: The T is my local subway at Boston, MA, US.

 

I've looked into all your suggestions. They were all great options, thanks guys!

I do wonder whether or not the Targus Flare and Targus 17" City Gear bags can truly secure a 17" laptop. I trust your views on it fitting (obviously, you've had/have them), but if they were DESIGNED for 15.4" laptops, are they truly a secure option? I'm a bit more on the safe side, given this laptop is going to be worth like $4.4k, lol.

In regards to the Targus 17" City Gear bag, I liked it the most so far. I have concerns about it fitting a litre-sized jug, however. In the photos, it seemed just barely able to fit a half-litre bottle of water. At the least, it should be capable of holding this 20oz (600ml) bottle. I don't suppose you could test putting a bottle of similar size to the previous one in your bag for me, lord shar?

Same question to you BattleDuck, would that water bottle truly fit in there and the laptop be truly-secured? The Mobile Edge Express bacpack is certainly a worthy option if it can/does.

Infoseeker, I liked the idea of messenger bags, too. That is, until I bought one. These things not only sway a lot, but put a lot of undue stress on a shoulder when used for prolong periods of time. Your Shoulder strap suggestion was interesting and I was giving it some serious consideration. However, I'd imagine it doesn't "stabilize/center" the weight very well and jostles/moves a lot (and still puts more weigh on one shoulder over the other. If I wasn't concerned about having back problems, I'd prolly give this suggestion a shot. That and I don't want to be the only person at my college who uses a messenger bag (other than a few professors). Good suggestion, though.

In regards to your suggestion, jetstar, about using High Sierra. There are a LOT of bookbags. Lol. I'm also a bit confused on their laptop carrying capacity. For example, their "access" bag claims to hold a 17". Yet, the "reviews" of the bag on NBR claim that a 15.4" actually POPS OUT of the bag, making me skeptical of the companies claims right off the bat.

 

Check Lowepro Tropolis 1300. I have one. Its almost luggage quality. Nice padding and protection. Ive carried 2 notebooks in it before. Plenty of pockets and sections and latches, etc. The best NB Backpack ive ever used.

Heres a link to it:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...etail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0609290

^^^
It does look a little cheap in the pic, but trust me, its an excellent carrying case.

 

Ahl395
The Lowpro Tropolis 1300 looks good. I find myself wondering how heavy it is, especially since I get the feeling look at it that it is deceptively bigger in real life. The reviewer on there also says it is very "hard". Beyond that, the only two things that I can concretely see as being a "turn off" is that it looks like a plain suitcase with straps (no aesthetic appeal in the slightest) and does not appear to have a SINGLE outside compartment for something as small as a usb key or pencil. Given its boxy suitcase like appearance, however, I suspect the weight-stability is right-on and wouldn't cause me a great deal of discomfort, so I won't strike it off the list quite yet.

Everyone
Perhaps some of you have heard-of/tried the Slappa Velocity Spyder/Matrix Pro? Also seen here and here. Both the spyder/matrix are completely identical, except for appearances (I like spyder more, not that it matters, they are bone fine).
+ It looks to hold a 17" good.
+ Puts most of the stuff in a single compartment (which, I like).
+ Has a few (not many, which is good) exterior puches for little things (usb keys, pencils, etc).
+ Has a secondary bag for anything necessary, like most the bags do.
+ It seems well-padded inside, even for scratch-protection (great). It also seems quite water-proof, which I forget to mention earlier is something of an important factor (at least for the laptop compartment), given that rain/downpours sometimes occur at random times where I go to school.
+/- It has an oddly-designed shoulder strap. I'm not sure how secure and stabalizing this bag really is. Any1 have any experiences here?
- It "appears" (at least online) to be a little big, but I don't think it is going to "dwarf" me.
- It is a bit heavy at 4.5lbs (most the bags I was looking at were in the 2.5lb to 3.5lb range, but I saw some 6lb ones, so it's not horrendously heavy).
- It appears to be very insulated inside, which makes me wonder if it is "really" okay to unplug my gaming laptop and shove it in that insulated compartment 30 seconds later (the laptop blows air out at practically boiling-temperatures, so I've read, I've yet to receive it to see for myself, lol).
- Doesn't appear to have rubber "bumpers" on the bottom for dropping the bag too hard (not that I do that very often, anyhow).
- Doesn't appear to have an external beverage holder. However, the 2nd bag compartment does appear to have room to fit 1-2 good sized bottles here. It might not lock in, but provided I don't "jostle" it too much it should stay. Given it's in the second-compartment, should it happen to spring a leak, the laptop should be safe.
-It appears to have a 3rd major compartment here right smack-dab down the middle of the bag. Although the extra space seems good, I have to wonder what the chances are of someone trying to slowly "unzip" it for the contents if I'm on a crowded bus or something, without my noticing.
-Lastly. At $120 before shipping/tax, it is about 2x the price of most of the other bags considered so far. :/ Given it isn't "perfect" compared to many of the other bags, I find myself wondering if really warrants twice the money. However, from reading posts like this one, I might be able to get 10-30% off the price (negotiation skillz run in the family). So, if I could get it down to $100, it could be more appropriate. Still expensive, though.

There is also the Brain Bag. But, at $170 pre-shipping/tax, that just seems ridiculous! At that price, I'd rather not examine it much further, as I don't want to accidentally talk myself into spending upwards of $170 for a bag!

Also seemed as if the Impulse Tech-Town might be up to snuff. Very little info/pics/reviews around, unfortunately.

What else you guys got in mind?

 

The net-mesh on the City Gear stretches out pretty far, but I don't think in can accomodate a wide-rimmed container like the one you linked. I do know that it can hold high-capacity bicycle water bottles and 20oz. soda bottles without any problems. I have a 20oz. 7-Up soda bottle in it now, and it fits like a glove.

 

Yeah, I was afraid you might say that. A lot of the good reusable contaners that are designed to also be shakers (to help even-out protein shakes and such) ae often a bit wider. Makes them easier to clean, too. Try reusing one for more than a week without cleaning it, you'll get mold. Easier to get a slightly wider cup (or buy 2 to 3 and air-dry them well).

 

Why would you not clean it with each use? :O

 

Eh?
That's what I was saying. Ease of cleaning. The "one week" was saying you'd find mold growing if you DIDN'T clean it regularly, lol. You can go more than 1-day, though. I wouldn't wait more than 3-4 days, though. It is the top (where you put your mouth) that will get disgusting, due to the germs from your mouth settling in. It can still get in the container, though. Perhaps we should merge with the forums over at www.bodybuilding.com, eh? Lol. Let's not get off-topic though, ha-ha.

 

jumping in late here, but I would recommend looking at Spire bags for laptops. They have GREAT messenger bags and backpacks.

www.spireusa.com