Laptop Case Descriptions

It seems that a lot of people are looking for laptop cases recently so I’m going to try and help a bunch of people at one time from what I’ve gathered.

There about five major types of laptop cases: Hard Briefcase like apparatus, Soft shoulder bag, Back pack, Roller board suitcase, and there is a purse like option for the females. Each one has its pros and cons

(There are always exceptions to these types and are always cases that will be made

Hard Briefcase: This case is generally the smallest of them and is most portable. More often than not this case only has enough room for your laptop and a few accessories i.e. Mouse, Power cable. Consequently another bag would probably have to accompany this if one were to be traveling long distances or with many accoutrements. Also there is usually no shoulder strap or other way to carry it except as a briefcase which can get tiring for long periods of time. These cases can also have less padding than the other cases as they are the smallest. They do offer quite a bit of protection as they are made usually out of aluminum or a hard metal. Many of these cases come with combination locks installed so there is a degree of security not found in many of the other types. There is a large price range for this type with cheaper ones coming in at around $20 and the more expensive ones well into the $100 range. Bottom Line:these cases offer a lot of protection from drops and bumps but they sacrifice storage space and do come at generally higher price.

Soft Shoulder bag: These bags are usually made for comfort for the user. They normally come with a good amount of accessory storage and they are easy to carry. They may have more padding than the Briefcase but would not protect from drops as well because they have a soft exterior. Because they are made out of soft material it would have a lower degree of security. When traveling in third world countries and other places of high theft, thieves sometimes will cut the straps on a bag and take the whole thing in one motion. This type of bag is more susceptible to that. They are usually clasped by a zipper or buttons which do not have a very safe locking system. Bottom Line: These cases are going to be comfortable for most trips and they will provide enough carrying capacity for most of your gear, they sacrifice security and protection from drops, and they are generally larger and more bulky to carry around.

Back Pack: The backpack is very similar to the Soft Shoulder Bag. The Back Pack does offer a more comfortable means for carrying a heavy laptop. It would be less likely to drop a back pack but in the case it was dropped it would have minimal protection from the impact. Security is lacking as with the Soft Shoulder bag. Bottom Line: the Back Pack offers increased comfort for transport but lacks in security and protection about the same as the Shoulder Bag.

Roller Board Suitcase: This case is made for the frequent traveler. This type of case generally has an extendable handle with wheels on the bottom so it can be dragged along the ground. This case offers a high degree of security in the form of lockable zippers and occasionally combination locks on the bag. These bags are generally well protected with padding and hard surfaces. These bags are able to carry a large amount of accessories because of the fact that you don’t need to support the weight of the bag. This bag is very useful in traveling for long periods of time. Bottom Line: This bag is very portable for lots of items and does not require strength to carry for periods of time, good security usually and good protection.

Purse: The purse is made purely for looks and style and has minimal carrying capacity for other accessories. This provides little or no protection from drops due to a lack of padding. They provide very minimal security as they usually do not seal completely and have no locking systems. These bags are designed for fashion and normally do not have protection for the laptop in mind. Bottom Line: This bag doesn’t offer very good security or protection but you will look good carrying it.

I have compiled some sites that may be of assistance to those in search of the right bag.

http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/laptopcasereviews/

http://zdreviews.search.com.com/search?qt=laptop+cases&tag=srch

http://www.brenthaven.com/recent-reviews.html

I hope this is helpful to some of you in your search. Please remember that this information is not all proven and there will be exceptions to all the cases and types that I explained. If I forgot something or put some wrong information down I’m sorry and I hope that it doesn’t cause anyone any trouble.

 

i think i've already posted this somewhere but i came across this thread in a mac forum of bag companies laptop sleeve master list

 

These lists are comprehensive, but alas, I still don’t see anything I’d be interested in.
All I want is a notebook sleeve that’s protective, light, and svelte. Is this combination really so outlandish? I’m kinda frustrated to find that the only truly protective cases out there are heavy aluminum. I already have a nice messenger bag and I really just need a sleeve to carry inside of it. Why can’t there be a sleeve with good external resistance? Any sleeve I’ve seen seems to offer a level of protection equal to a zip lock bag. I don’t need any thing capable of withstanding an elephant stampede, but I’d sure like to be able stick my lappy in a bag with out having to worry about the screen being crushed by 3lb. text books.