Slightly bewildered by sheer choice of Laptop bags/cases, looking for some pointers or advice

Hi everyone,

I am now looking for a good quality bag (or case, whatever is the correct description), NOT a sleeve as I already have one of these.

I have a nice new Samsung R530 15.6" machine and want to get a bag that offers serious protection with the best available quality hd foam padding etc..

I want one that has a carry handle as I never use a shoulder strap, hate straps. A pocket or 2 would be good for power cables and adaptors etc..

I thought it would be a good idea to ask in here as getting an opinion from experienced and enthusiastic laptop owners would be really great and probably better than just the usual reviews on retailers sites, which I'm sure have the odd 'fake' review here & there

Any suggestions??

 

You seem to know what you're looking for, so go to a store and try them. The internet is full of opinions that are not your opinion.

Side note: *snip* dumb question *snip*
As far as density of foam padding goes, unless you're prone to drop/smack your laptop with plenty of force, it won't protect against more than cosmetic damage to the casing. Most laptop damage I've seen in bags is from too much pressure on the screen. Foam padding will not help there.

 

I think you'll need to lead off with budget. Because if you leave it up to me without any other guidance, things can get out of hand.

 

LOL

budget up to appx £50 ($70 or so)

 

a budget would help us.

but if anything if its a carry bag without a strap it'll be below his waist.

i would suggest him find a foam and a good anti-shock bag. if he dropped it there won't be much damage depends how he places the laptop in his sleeve and bag.

facing down is a good way for less damage but i don't know how it is when facing up cause hinges and whatnot when you drop it.

 

budget mentioned above........it's probably just best for me to go and look around as suggested above, I guess I was really wanting to know what brand, if any, had a good reputation for strong protection/toughest cases etc.

 

Forgot to mention, is the brand 'Tech Air' any good?, I understand they use air pockets (similar to bubble wrap stuff I guess) in addition to foam padding

 

Well I would recommend this bag
http://www.roccat.org/Products/Gaming-Accessories/ROCCAT-Tusko/

 

A bit more expensive, but Pelican cases are super awesome, and provide the best protection.

 

As well as super-heavy. A Pelican case that would contain a 15-inch notebook with an actual Pelican-level protection is in excess of 6lbs. The IM2370's I use for laptop portage in less-than-ideal situations and which holds a 15.6-incher comfortably are 3.3Kgs (7.2lbs) all-up. Not to mention they're well over his budget.

I think it's marketing guff to be honest. I've found their bags to be practically no better protected than many others.

I'd go for a 2-layer approach if you're looking for something with 'serious protection' at your spend level. i.e. Pair a 17-inch bag with a snug fitting sleeve.

e.g. Targus|TCG417–Targus 16 - 17.3 inch / 40.6 - 43.9cm XL City.Gear Laptop Case ( £40)
+
Belkin Neoprene Sleeve For Notebooks Up To 15.6-Inch, Jet/cabernet: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

That's what I do with a padded notebook shoulder-bag from Manhattan Portage. However, it would make for a fairly bulky bag for hand-carry. The better bags I see for 15.6" notebooks are typical backpack style, set vertically. This setup doesn't work well with formal wear, though (e.g. suits).

 

One problem with the vertical bags is that there's a much higher chance of banging them on something because of the lower ground -> bag height, if you're carrying them around with a handle all the time. For a shoulder bag I think the vertical aspect makes sense, but not for a slingless bag.

 

Oh, I meant turning the laptop vertically and sticking it into a padded, 2-strap backpack. Personally, I'd never drag a laptop behind me in a roller bag. Vibrations, likelihood of bouncing and getting kicked by other people worry me.. In a shoulder bag, turning vertically makes for an awkwardly tall bag (although they do exist). Mine is set horizontally.