Recommendations for a fashionable laptop bag for school?

My M1330 just shipped, so I can now turn my attention from obsessively checking my email to locating a laptop bag for it. I'm heading back to university in a week, so recommendations that could nudge me in the right direction would really help me make my purchase in time.

I'm looking for something attractive and fashionable with room for my M1330 and a few school books as well. I'm not sure at this point what the best type of bag would be in terms of comfort and ease of use. Backpacks seem like the obvious choice for comfort, but I find backpacks aesthetically unappealing for the most part. How much stress do messenger bags, or totes put on the shoulders when you factor in a laptop, accessories and books?

Right now, I'm considering this bag from Mobile Edge:

Does anyone own this? How is it on your shoulder? The one review says it's quite heavy, but I'd like to hear some other opinions.

Any comments as to preferences for bag types are also appreciated!

 

Some nice options in these two threads...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=245339&highlight=bag

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=207380&highlight=bag

 

Hey,
Per the links Johnny added above, you may want to check out the Maddie Powers Cute Bug Sheba Messenger Bag...for your 1330 (which is contained w/in the 2nd link)..Actually I was looking at getting one of the black totes at one point, from Mobile Edge!

Linky for the Sheba Messenger Bag for the 1330~
http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Edge-M...3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220112629&sr=8-3

I have the Maddie Powers Cutebug Messenger Bag for 15'4" notebooks - I use it for my XPS 1530 and, it's awesome. I have no shoulder discomfort at all with it...The *shoulder straps* are adjustable on both, and there is plenty of room, and it has the *core padding* to protect your lappy even more on the inside! It holds my 9 cell batt, very well

And, I can fit several books/mag's in it if I wanted

For the 15'4" notebooks:
http://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-MPCMB0...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220112629&sr=8-1

Good luck

Cin!

P.S. I like the bag you have pictured by Mobile Edge, as well!

 

I think the strap on the Mobile Edge won't be very comfortable for carrying around the M1330 with other accessories and stuff. I've two 13.3 laptops myself, one the same weight as the M1330 and the other is a bit lighter. For sure it's not a heavy laptop compared to the 14" and 15" ones, but carrying it around is another story. I think you should find something with some better padded straps.

 

Yes...good straps are essential. I have just got back from walking around Ottawa with my 6.1lbs notebook in my messenger bag. I was walking for about an hour and a half. Wasn't the most comfortable last 10 mins also. If I had a bad strap I'd be in alot of pain right now lol...

 

Agreed, the M.E. tote the Poster has pictured doesn't have *padded* shoulder straps. The nice thing about the Maddie Powers Cute Bug Messenger bags, is that the straps are strong/adjustable, and *padded*!

Those, however ~ were just suggestions...As, there are many great fashionable bags out there.

 

Solo is the best, pricy but elegant and durable.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions! I've been looking around and I found a couple of bags I like, however the comments concerning strap padding are making me second-guess myself.

I really liked this Kipling laptop bag:
http://kip.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p4808331v380.jpg

This Puma one's pretty nice also:

 

Wow 2 nice choices...I think I like them both..the Puma is more sportier and the Kipling is just classical. Maybe the Kipling? What one do you lean towards when you look at them both together??? Is there a huge price diff? They are both darker colors so they would blend w/about everything. Are the insides pretty roomy one vs. the other???

In the end its your choice!


Cin

 

Both are very nice bags, the Kipling is more classy. Make sure they have a padded laptop compartment. I noticed the PUMA doesn't have a padded strap, but I saw some other PUMAs have though. You should also check out some of PUMA's crossovers with other designers, like this one, PUMA x Mihara, although the strap is similar to the one you posted. PUMA has a few collections with different fashion designers, such as Neil Barrett and Alexander McQueen, that are quite nice, but you'll have to visit some local brand name stores, cause not all the products are on PUMA's website.