Hard Shell Notebook Sleeve

Well I am now after a hard shell notebook sleeve that I can put my Vaio TT into. I currently run a Shinza Zeroshock sleeve in combination with a Knomo Vichy bag - perfect for work and travel, NO good for Uni and large Programming text books!

Basically I need something that is a hard shell so I can safely put my notebook inside a backpack without fear of it being crushed by a couple of rather heavy text books and some lecture pads (The Zeroshock is a good sleeve for everyday use but I will not be pressing my text books against it or my Vaio TT anytime soon as it does not offer the protection I am after - I am really against the idea of having heavy objects resting on my expensive laptop lol)

I have had a look at the Axio Hard Sleeve range, and the Crumpler School Hymm ranges - both talk about using 'plastic' however I would be MOST appreciative if anyone out there has some real world experiences either with these two or recommend me any others

Booq Vipers are not what I am looking for either - might as well stick to the Zeroshock - I want real protection!

And how big is a Pelican hardshell notebook case? Would it fit inside a bog-standard 20-30 litre backpack? This is the most appealing to me at the moment.

Oh and I am in Australia so anywhere that ships to Australia would be the best and I am not concerned about budget - but nothing ridiculous like a $1000AUD sleeve either thanks!

Thanks so much in advance if you can offer any suggestions!

 

I would like to know this question as well. Ill need a good hard case for my MS-1651 when I get it because of my big programming and database books.

 

The exterior case dimensions for the pelican:
http://pelican.com/cases_detail_specs.php?Case=1080

EDIT: i would also love a minimal hardcase for a 17" to be put into a backpack.
The pelican ones are too big for backpacks.

 

mezzi has hard cases in all sizes. They all look like suitcases though.

Here a relatively protective sleeve from Samsonite I found though:

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/en_US/images/global/360/360pop.html?sku=7704772

I forget what its called though. Should be on Best Buy somewhere.

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far

I think for myself the front runner is definately the Pelican (the 1080 will fit inside my backpack I have here given the website specs) - just wondered if anyone else was using/had used a Pelican case for that 'real world' review/opinion?

Slappa do not seem to make any hardshell sleeves - I am not after reinforced fabric which is what the Booq and Zeroshock sleeves are as well as the Slappa range - I want a proper hardshell similar to the Pelican, but as someone else has said are there any other suggestions in a slimmer line or is the Pelican it?


Thanks again

 

http://www.slappa.com/hardbody-laptop-case?sc=2&category=133

 

Reviews:
http://www.pbcentral.com/columns/hildreth_moore/hb.shtml
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3197583

 

Ah that Slappa you refer to is a bag in its own right - not a sleeve, which is what I am after as I want to use this inside a standard 30 litre backpack I already have.

My original post about Slappa not having any hard case SLEEVES still stands lol

I am going to have a look at the Pelican case tommorrow as I found a local retailer. Hopefully it isnt too big as not to be practical - otherwise the Axio looks like it is coming second.

 

Something like the Booq viper would be nice if they only made them a little bigger. It has a semi-hard shell and is not too expensive. It is only 1" thick on the inside, made mainly for macbooks.

 

This one might work for a female. Its supposedly unisex, but I dont know of too many guys who would be okay with the studs:

http://www.zattache.com/

Also, if you have some time on your hands, here's something else for all your notebook bag needs.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=50734

 

The Slappa sleeves are just like the Zeroshock and their hardbody case is not a sleeve but a briefcase would not fit inside a backpack.

 

The slappa is bigger. The width for the smallest case is 14" which wont fit in a backpack.
The pelican is 11" wide, giving it a shot at fitting in a large panel loading backpack (I dont think it will fit in a top loading backpack)

 

The Slappa is a briefcase in its own right - not what I am after, and the Slappa does not offer hard plastic, waterproof protection (important since it tends to get rather monsoonal up here) I am after a 'sleeve' in the sense that it will be used to protect my TT inside another bag and I want it to protect my notebook from the crushing effect of two heavy Uni textbooks whilst in the backpack...

I am considering the Axio as it has a hard plastic outer (I am after CRUSHproof more than anything ) I dont care that I have to unzip it to open it - just like the Zeroshock then isnt it? lol

Zeroshocks are good but DO NOT offer any protection from 2 heavy programming text books bouncing around in a backpack possibly putting way too much weight against the lid of my TT, which is rather thin and not exactly rigid!

Exactly - that and Slappa products are extremely hard to get here in Australia - no point in suggesting products I am going to have a hard time getting shipped over here at a reasonable price

The Slappa is a BAG in its own right - *sigh*, I have plenty of bags, Oxio Style, Knomo, Timbuk2, Maxpedition etc etc I am not after a bag, just some lower profile casing, preferably something made of polycarbonite or aluminium not reinforced fabric.

No idea what gender has to do with it - again I am not after a bag - I have more than enough of those, something that would fit inside a bag with a couple of text books is what I am after, oh and already read that NBR link - I always do my research- just wondering if there were any alternatives in what I had narrowed down my selection too, but thanks for mentioning it it all helps

Thanks for the discussion everyone and special mention to the Slappa fanbois
lol

+rep for anyone that has helped - guess I havent really gotten across what it is that I am really after. - Oh checked out the Pelican - its a nice case, not really that big either, trouble is they didnt have the pluck n pick foam version in store only the 'laptop liner' which is too big for my Vaio!

(ok it seems I have used my rep quota for this 24 hours lol)