Kensington Contour backpack for Dell XPS M1210 (12" widescreen)?

Anybody have any experience with the Kensington Contour backpack and 12-inch widescreen laptops?

It looks like the most ergonomical choice for the money, but I'm thinking it might be a little bit too big for a 12-inch widescreen laptop like the XPS M1210 to fit comfortably and snugly. The M1210 is rather massive for a 12-inch laptop (very thick and slightly bigger than usual), but it's still smaller than the usual 14"-15" - will this be a problem, or will it be a good fit?

Thanks for your help!

(if you don't think the Contour would be good for the M1210, alternative backpack suggestions would also be appreciated)

 

I don't know if you're interested in cases, but I highly recommend the Case Logic Student Laptop Shuttle for 13" Laptop, it fits my m1210 perfectly(with the 85WHr battery).

I got mine from academicsuperstore.com for 15.95 shipped

I also bought the Wenger Synergy notebook backpack to put the case in, and I'm happy with it, but I'm sure any other backpack would do just as good a job at carrying the case.

 

The M1210 is about 12 to 13 inches.

The bag you're looking at is going to be much bigger.

I have this problem with 99% of the bags out there. Ultraportables simply do not have much offerings when it comes to bags and cases. (You're often stuck with the manufacturer's options which are typically overpriced and under featured.)

The Fujitsu P series ultraportables are B sized and you can just about fit two fo them into a bag designed for 14" - 15".

Have you seen TUMI's or Victorinox's offerings?

 

Thanks for the info YellowJacket, but I'm definitely not interested in a carrying case.

whwtan, I appreciate your info as well - I realize that I'll be wasting a certain amount of space by going with this backpack, but are there any better options for a full-sized backpack given the small size of the laptop? I looked at TUMI and Victorinox but didn't see anything suitable - I have an ultraportable laptop, but I don't need an ultraportable backpack! It's on my back, after all, no hassle to sling around as long as it's ergonomic, as the Contour apparently is (extremely so).

I do appreciate the warning, though - what I really want to know is if I'm risking my laptop's safety by putting it in an enclosure where it may not be such a snug fit, like in the Kensington Contour backpack.

 

Hi Rellik,

You do expose your computer to a higher amount of risk when the fit isn't as snug, but there are ways around it. You could always put light cushioning to help things out. Alternatively, you could get a cushioned sleeve for your ultraportable and you could chuck the whole thing into your backpack. (There are plenty of nice sleeves out there for ultraportables.)

You have a good idea of what you're looking for...so I wish you the best of luck in getting it.

 

My bad, the 13" Student Laptop Shuttle is a sleeve, not a case. I guess the manufacturers name threw me off.

Anyway here's some pics of it.

http://www.caselogic.com/13_student_laptop_shuttle/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=70111

 

I reviewed the Kensington Contour backpack more than a year ago, you can find the review here: http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2425

It's a pretty large back, especially for a 12" notebook. If you have a ton of books, or other heavy items, it *may* be a good choice as it's really good at handling weight. You will most likely need something to make the m1210 fit snugly. One downside that I realized after I did the review is that, fully loaded, the bag will sometimes not fit under an airplane seat. The plastic lumbar support makes that bag just a little bit too wide to fit easily.

 

It arrived

Thanks for the info - it turns out, though, that the XPS M1210 with extended battery fits PERFECTLY in it - not so tight that it's difficult to get out, but it definitely stays in place. It literally can't move side to side at all within the enclosure, and if I try to take it out, I end up lifting the whole backpack (if the backpack is empty) - a moderate amount of force is required to get it moving.

This is unexpected, but I'm definitely finding it hard to believe that the Kensington Contour isn't specifically designed for a laptop of this size - the laptop sits only a few inches from the top, which seems perfect.

 

Hi Rellik,

That's pleasing news to hear although I have to admit that I'm might surprised by this.

I am aware the the M1210 is extremely thick, (I call it the ultrafat ultraportable) but to have it fit snugly into a compartment meant for 15" is still surprising.

Can you help us by measuring the size of the enclosure and the M1210 with the extended battery?

I would be very interested in the dimensions.