Best backpack/case for a 17"?

Which backpack or notebook case would be best for a 17" screen notebook?

Please don't recommend Targus unless it's the only choice. Because of them, my poor notebook got heavily damaged. It doesn't happen often, but occasionally the shoulder strap will snap. Well, the case went flying into the wall after that happened. If the case were decently padded, there would have been less damage. But nooooo, Targus uses such cheap, thin padding. Luckily this thing is still running although it ripped one side half apart. I must praise Compaq (and HP) on making such a sturdy notebook because it's been half a year, and I haven't seen a SINGLE hardware problem from this even after impact. But since I'm going to college now, that's the reason why I have to look for a new notebook.

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Compaq Presario 2800T
Pentium 4-M 1.6 GHz - 15" UXGA
512 MB RAM - 40 GB (5400 rpm)
ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 64 MB
Pretty good for 2002 isn't it?

 

I haven't noticed any manufacturers offering bags specifically for 17 inch notebooks. I would check out http://www.ebags.com as they have a very nice selection of laptop bags. You could possibly go with a larger knapsack (from someone like Northface) and just buy a hard cover/carrier for your laptop.

I've gone through the shoulder straps breaking and it's a pain. Luckily I've always had good laptop protection and/or fast reflexes. One thing to at is at the end of the shoulder straps. The piece that goes through the buckle should either be looped or somehow misshaped to prevent it from slipping through the buckle. After putting a crack in an older machine, I refuse to buy a bag for a laptop unless the straps are setup that way. This way, should they loosen, the loop at the end or extra material will keep it from slipping through the buckle.

 

When I got my fujitsu n5010, I couldn't find an off the rack bag for it- weird 16" screen. Soo, after not finding any bags that fit and noticing how think the padding was in those bags I did see, I decided to make my own. Go to Walmart or some store like that and buy a thin foam camping pad-mine is 3/8" I, think. Pick up a hot glue gun and glue, if you don't already have them around the house. Go home, measure your notebook, and cut out the foam and glue it together to make your own sturdy laptop sleeve. The hot glue sticks to the foam quite well. Then just use a normal backpack to haul it around. Mine fit in my current backpack. My wife already had the hotglue gun, so I only had to spend the 6 bucks for the foam.

 

I have a kensington that I found at a circuit city says its for 17" monitors and it fits my 15.4" with no problems.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856

 

On the SonyStyle site they have a 17" backpack which I'm probably gonna purchase. Maybe it's something for you as well.

http://shop.sonystyle-europe.com/SonyStyle/b2c/readshop.do;jsessionid=ID4001DB0.8746093309197569End;sapj2ee_*=4001?languageId=EN&nextExecute=/catalog/z_InitShopISAEntry.do&redirected=true&servername=www.sonystyle-europe.com&z_Forward=setDefCatalog2&countryId=NL&SonyForward=DeepLinkQuery&s=external&ss=home&shopId=SST_NL_EN

*excuse for the long link, tags don't seem to work?!

 

I have the Sony bag - i carry my 17" with my extra battery. This does get heavy but does the job very well. If you are not in a great hurry - try eBay. I got mine for 30% less(including shipping).

Love and Peace

 

Took a further look today into what bags were available for my future notebook. Had a friend telling me it was wiser to get a 'disguised' bag so it doesn't scream '$$$$$ inside this bag'.
I think i'm going for the Loop series of STM. It looks very durable and I like the design of it.

http://www.standardtm.com.au/backpacks_loop.cfm

 

I bought a High Sierra AT-242 convertible backpack / brief - only $57 from www.shoebuy.com. I have a 15.4 wide aspect ratio HP in it. The backpack straps zip away, it has the usual cross strap on the back to slip over your roller bag's handle, the shoulder stap is very nicely cushioned, and the hand grip is pretty good as well. It comes with a separate removable padded laptop carrier sleeve; the handles on that aren't as good, but it's for short distance totes. The sleeve has an outside pocket, a top pockst with a few vertical dividers on one side and a full-width mesh sided zippered pocket on the other. The main bag has a pretty good array of pockets under the flap, the usual cell pnone and PDA nooks, etc.; and two water bottle / cell phone pockets on either side of the outside of the bag. All in all seems pretty good, an excellent uy for the money, and so far (no O'Hare intra terminal treks) feels pretty comfy in both shoulder strap and backpack mode.

Stefano
HP zv5000z DP523A: AMD 64 3400 2.2GHz, 2x512MB RAM, 60GB 7200RPM HDD (Hitachi 7K60), 15.4" WUXGA, XP Pro.