Franklin Covey Natalie - Dell XPS M1330 - Notebook Bag - Review

Franklin Covey Natalie (720955)

Franklin Covey's Natalie is a unisex notebook messenger bag with a rich grain Napa black leather exterior and a completely lined nylon interior. It has a very stylish look and feel and is smartly designed to be suitable for both formal and informal uses.

Front & Rear View



Left & Right View



Top & Bottom View



The bag is 15 inches wide, 12 inches tall and 3.5 inches deep and the foam padded notebook compartment is 13 inches wide, 9 inches tall and 2 inches deep. The notebook can be up to 10 inches tall to use the provided Velcro strap and 11.5 inches tall to use without it. Dell XPS M1330 notebook fits snugly and slides in and out of it easily even with a 9 cell battery and sleeve. Using the Dell provided sleeve gives additional protection as the sleeve covers top edge of the notebook.

Notebook Compartment, Internal Compartment & Foam Pad View



Velcro Strip Opened & Closed View



Notebook Compartment View with Dell XPS Sleeve & Dell XPS M1330



The internal compartment is 14.5 inches wide, 11.5 inches tall and 1.5 inches deep and is good for notebook power adapter, cables, mouse, USB hub and other such small peripherals but can also be used for a folder, a few books or magazines. The zipper pocket is 13.5 inches wide, 7.5 inches tall and deep enough for a few documents. The steel bolt snap hook is used for attaching a few keys or the provided accessory pouch. The feminine looking nylon accessory pouch with leather patches is 6.5 inches wide at the zipper, 7.5 inches wide at the bottom and almost 5 inches tall and is good for a few notes, coins and cards or for memory cards, ear buds and remote.

Steel Bolt Snap Hook, Internal Zipper Pocket & Accessory Pouch View



Accessory Pouch View



There is a large dual zipper pocket in front of the bag under the flap which is 14.5 inches wide, 11.5 inches tall and an inch deep. Inside there is a zipper pocket which is 12 inches wide and 6.5 inches tall and is good for a few documents. Apart from the zipper pocket, there is a small compartment which is 2 inches wide, 4.5 inches tall and an inch deep and is good for a cellular phone or a USB hub; a large compartment which is 4 inches wide, 4.5 inches tall and an inch deep and is good for a PDA or a mouse or small cables; two loops for writing instruments and three slots for credit, business or ID cards.

Dual Zipper Pocket View



Zipper, Mobile & PDA Pockets, Pen Loop & Card Slot View



There is a small zipper pocket on the left side of the bag which is 3 inches wide and 6 inches tall and is good for a cellular phone or PDA but can also be used for small cables, mouse, USB hub and other such small peripherals. The flap in the front has a concealed zipper pocket which is 9.5 inches wide and 9 inches tall and is good for a few documents or a journal. The external rear pocket is 14 inches wide open and is good for a few newspapers, magazines or books. The pocket is 10.5 inches tall when open and 8.5 inches tall when shut close with the central magnet.

Front Flap Concealed Zipper Pocket View



The bag has a strong, adjustable, nylon shoulder strap, sewn into the bag, which is 52 inches long when fully expanded and 31 inches short when fully contracted. The strap has a sliding foam pad encased in leather which is 6 inches long and 2 inches broad. The strap and the pad allow you carry the bag easily and comfortably. The bag does not have a handle as the flap in the front is closed using two small magnets, one at each corner, and this enhances its aesthetic looks and provides for an easy entry but makes it inconvenient to easily grab the bag.

Shoulder Strap View



Sliding Pad View



The bag sports a small, rectangular, stylish, steel, Franklin Covey badge on bottom right hand side of the flap. The quality of the leather exterior, nylon interior, steel rings and zipper handles, zippers and overall stitching is top notch. It is a perfect bag for your Dell XPS M1330 notebook and similarly sized small form factor notebooks.

Franklin Covey Badge View



A few years back, when it was released Franklin Covey priced this bag at US $220. Currently, Circuit City still has some in stock and you can get it for around US $30. It is a steal when compared to eBay sellers who ask for around US $110. Kenneth Cole designed a similar bag called Reaction Leather Messenger Bag (52323) and you can get it from eBags for around US $90.

My photographs have not been able to do justice to the bag but they look fabulous in person than in photographs.

 

After reading this review, I searched for the same bag at my local Circuit City store and immediately bought one for my brother. He is extremely happy with the bag. He uses an M1330 with a 9 cell battery and this bag is very comfortable for the same.

 

My friend bought the Kenneth Cole Reaction Business and Luggage 4" Single Gusset Full Grain Nappa Leather Messenger Bag/Computer Case from eBags for US $99. I noticed that it is slightly different from the bag you have reviewed. This bag is a little wider and can accomodate a 15.4 inch notebook, has a longer pad, a high quality interior nylon lining, a divider in the internal compartment, a single large pocket instead of two small ones in the dual zipper compartment, pockets made out of leather and no accessory pouch. Also the bag is packed in a nylon sleeve.

eBags also sells the bag you reviewed by the name of FranklinCovey 4-1/2" Single Gusset Top Grain Leather Computer Messenger for US $49.99.

 

Well I got my Franklyn bag today from Circuit City and wow it's
perfect alright!! Thanks!

 

Thanks for the comparision and links.

It is good to know that you liked the bag and is perfect for you.