Bag for MBP 15"

Is there a case or bag any of you would suggest for the 15" MBP that is less than $50? I would prefer something like a backpack as I am a University student and it would be convenient if I could keep my notebooks in it as well. Have any of you tried just keeping it in a backpack that was not made for notebooks (I assume it is not sturdy enough to take the abuse that a regular backpack would encumber on it)?

 

If you already have a backpack, check out the Vertical Brain Cell from Tom Bihn:

http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=TB0390

Absolutely amazing protection, and if you slide it in your backpack, it opens from the top so you can take out your MBP without taking the whole thing out of your backpack.

-Zadillo

 

Brain Bag or Brenthaven Pro 15/17? Which one gives better protection?

 

I recommend the Marware Sportfolio for MacBook Pro, currently at $39.95 US on the Apple Online Store. Keep in mind its not a backpack, but a messenger bag.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=9B636354&nplm=TK044LL/A

I'm using this notebook case for my MacBook (I found the MacBook case too small), and it works very well. The padding is nice, the "crucial" areas are nicely protected and the inside is soft and divided into two parts so the end of your MagSafe adapter won't scratch your laptop.

 

yeah thanks for the responses, the messenger bag looks like it would work but I feel like the only person who pulls off the messenger bag is Jack Bauer... besides I often ride my bike to class and those types of bags can be cumbersome while riding a bike.
I'm going to see if I can try to get the brain cell cheap on ebay unless anyone else has some other suggestions.

 

I bought STM's Wave today. I might draft a review of it sometime this week, but I like it for the most part. Again, its a messenger bag.

 

Please do, I like the look of this bag

 

This is the one I use for my Thinkpad and other laptops I am carrying around. Nicely padded all around, and is small enough to work inside my backpack.

http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=CVR200

 

Just wondering, I'm also considering getting a sleeve that COULD be used standalone. Two current options are running around and I'm wondering if anyone had input. One is the sleevecase from sfbags:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm

and the other is the vertical brain cell from tom bihn:
http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=TB0390

Can anyone do a comparison or post experiences?

 

just in case any of you are wondering, I ended up basically disregarding all your good advice and ended up getting that case in the link below due to price considerations and other recommendations on the internet (I bought it from newegg, not amazon i'm just too lazy to find that link, the amazon link was still in one of my tabs from my quick price comparison research) http://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-SN...6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1181369709&sr=8-1

 

Can't talk about the sleevecase, but I do own the Vertical Brain Cell (which I normally use with the Smart Alec backpack, but sometimes use by itself).

The Brain Cell offers absolutely amazing protection; you can see the explanation on their page for it, but suffice to say, once you have the MBP in there, it is just incredibly protected; hard protection on all sides, and it's well protected inside.

It can definitely be used standalone, although one thing about the vertical one is that it is kind of awkward to carry on a strap (not uncomfortable, just sort of weird I guess because it is vertically oriented instead of horizontally, like the Horizontal Brain Cell).

The big perk of the Vertical Brain Cell is that when you do put it in a backpack, it opens from the top like a cereal box, so you can remove the laptop without taking the case out of your backpack.

If you want to use it just solo, the Horizontal Brain Cell would be better, since it is horizontally oriented.
-Zadillo

 

Hey zadillo, how was the overall size of the brain bag on your back? From the description (being able to hold two full 17" laptops, in brain cells, and then some, the thing must be HUUUUUGe). Was it mountain-pack size? School-backpack size? U.S. Army everything-plus-kitchen-sink-fits size?

And have you ever taken a look at the Brenthaven Pro?

 

Don't have the Brain Bag. Have the Smart Alec:

http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/100/TB0103

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/tom_bihn_smart_alec_day_pack_review

Haven't looked too closely at the Branthaven Pro, but I've heard great things about it.

The other big one I looked at was the Booq Bags backpacks and cases. I just love the look of them.

-Zadillo