Laptop Bags and Accessories » Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags

The Right Laptop Bag for a 17 inch Laptop

admin — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 09:28:40 +0000

When looking for laptops we tend to look to buy the biggest, fastest and the most memory that our dollar can afford and so the biggest is usually the 17 inch laptop. This size of screen is almost the same as using a full computer monitor and makes the reading of your documents, spreadsheets, power point slides and viewing the Internet easy and comfortable with no adjusting screen size or zooming in and out.

Now that we have our super size and yet lightweight laptop we usually want to do what a laptop is designed to do and that is travel with it whether it is from bedroom to living room or from home to office. Or some people even travel to other countries for work or play with their laptop in tow and for that kind of travel you want to be sure that your laptop is going to be in good working condition when you arrive.

There are a variety of laptop bags to choose from but when looking at them you have to make sure that they say for 17 inch because many of them are designed for the smaller and more common sizes of laptop. With due diligence you will be able to find a good 17 inch laptop bag that suits your needs. Your local office supply store has a huge selection and each line of store carries something just a little bit different so if you like to shop you can have a blast find the right bag with a design that suits you whether it be very professional and business like or more trendy with zebra stripes.

The laptop bags of all sizes have a variety of pockets to store all the accessories that are needed to make your laptop function. And if you’ve never traveled with your laptop you will find that it needs just a bit more accessories than they show on the television commercials. For example you will want to be sure to have your charger, if you have an external hard drive, if you have an additional fan for your laptop all of those things you will want to take with you for you are going further than the next room. So when shopping for laptop bags be sure that it’s not only big enough for your laptop but all of the essentials that you will need to make it worthwhile to take your laptop with you because if you can’t charge it while you’re gone then it just becomes a rather large book weight.

If you already have a great messenger bag or briefcase that you absolutely love to travel with and it already has the additional room needed for your laptop and accessories then all you will need to look at getting to protect your laptop is a laptop sleeve. Again these are carried almost everywhere and you will need to ensure that you get one that is the right size for your laptop and even though it may look like your laptop won’t fit the sleeve is supposed to be snug to your laptop so with a little gentle pressure you will the sleeve keeps your laptop snug and tight and will protect it from scratches, dings and a reasonable amount of bumping around. A sleeve that is going to go inside your other bag or case you can really have a good time with colors and designs or if your bag is already colorful then wow people when you pull out a very traditional looking sleeve.

If you can’t find the laptop bag that is just right for you then don’t write off a great messenger bag. Any type of bag or briefcase can be beefed up with foam padding cut to cradle your laptop. So if grandma’s antique carpetbag speaks to you as no other bag does and it makes a statement about you then add some foam padding from the local fabric store, its very economical and you can have the old and the new together.

A good laptop bags doesn’t only have to be functional but it can be fun just as your computer can be full of surprises and reflects who you are and what you do the bag you carry it in can be fun and full of surprises to or conservative. The key is getting a bag that fits our laptop and suits your needs with basic transportation such as a sleeve or something with a lot more room for all the necessary accessories there is the right bag for any need and any size of laptop.

Laptop Cases That Keep Your Laptop Safe

admin — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:52:23 +0000

You laptop is an absolute essential part of your life and you would face a lot of hassles if anything were to happen to it. People nowadays are so enveloped with technology that they cannot think about working without computers, netbooks or iPads. In such an age, the protection of your precious electronic gear is essential and for that reason you need to purchase a really great laptop case. The sole purpose of cases is to protect your laptop and keep it safe from any jerks or any falls and to keep your laptop cushioned inside from all sorts of harmful interventions or accidents.
Laptop bags with good cushioning can in fact increase the life of your laptop and prevent it from regular wear and tear. There are several types of laptop bags available in the market and you may either purchase top loading laptop bags, totes or sleeves. You may also try out the messenger style bags or rolling bags. For women and men there are different styles of bags available and you may choose bags that suit your needs. The material used in these carriers is also important and you may find varieties of bags made of different materials such as nylon, polyester, denim, koskin, suede or vinyl.
Another aspect while buying laptop cases would be to check the weight of the case. You must never buy a case that is heavier than the laptop and it must be spacious enough to hold other accessories such as your mobile phone, laptop charger and headphones. Look for cases that have option to keep your CDs/DVDs safely as well as separate space for pen drives, your mouse and other essential accessories. Some cases also provide space to keep magazines and maps and if you are into traveling then you must definitely opt for cases that has all these facilities.
Laptop bags that offer better padding are more secure and you must check if the bag has sturdy straps and shoulder straps to withhold the weight of the laptop. Protection of your laptop from thefts is another issue that you must consider before buying the case for your laptop. You must check if the case has locking system and whether the bag could be protected from unauthorized interventions. Check for sturdy and robust cases because they are more secure than the regular laptop bags and you can carry your laptop without any tension of losing the valuable information stored inside your laptop.
You should also check whether your computer case is waterproof or not and whether it provides shock protection features. Your laptop is an electrical gadget and if water somehow gets inside your bag then it may destroy it in no time. If you are going to be in a demanding environment then you really need to look at something like a hard Pelican case that is completely waterproof and dustproof. You can find different styles of cheap laptop bags but you must always opt for the best because it would be a foolish economy to save a few dollars on the bag but end up replacing the computer.
There are many different styles and colours available in the market but the most popular colors are brown and black. Black cases offer an elegant, corporate look and can go along with any kind of clothes that you wear. Some also have hard shells and wheels to help you travel easily with the bag. If you are a frequent traveler then you must opt for something such as a rolling laptop bag or laptop trolley bag because they can really make your life easier, especially if you spend a lot it crossing from one airport terminal to another. Frequent fliers may also want to look into the range of TSA checkpoint friendly laptop bags and backpacks that is available. These provide all the protection of traditional laptop bags but also open up quickly and easily to allow you to go through the security checkpoint without having to remove your computer from its carrier.

TSA Approved Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:28:19 +0000

When travelling a lot one of the biggest wastes of time and irritations is having to remove your laptop from its laptop bag, place it in a tray for the x-ray machine, and then reverse the whole process on the other end. It may not seem much effort. But doing it while trying not to lose your phone, juggle everything while putting your shoes back on and still trying to look dignified can be quite a challenge.

For the past couple of years, at least one small part of this little dance has been made easier. In 2008 the Transport Security Administration (TSA) set out some guidelines on a new group of laptop bags that were exempt from the normal rules. For those lucky enough to have a checkpoint friendly laptop bag, the bag need only be opened and put through the x-ray machine without having the laptop itself removed.

What makes a laptop bag checkpoint friendly?

The basic idea is that the bag has to be designed in such as way that the operators of the x-ray machines have a totally clear and unobstructed view of the laptop. They don’t want things like power cords and accessories obscuring the view. Nor do they want parts of the bag causing confusion, such as metal zippers or buckles or the like. A couple of examples are simple laptop sleeves, butterfly style bags that open up in two halves and so-called trifold bags that also unfold into a flat configuration.

To meet the requirements there should be nothing on the laptop section such as pockets or bits of metal that would interfere with the operators getting a clear look at the inside of your laptop.

Who makes checkpoint friendly laptop bags?

There is a long list of manufacturers that makes these bags. The TSA itself doesn’t actually approve any. It has just set out the guidelines that manufacturers follow. Quite a large number claim that their laptop bags are checkpoint friendly, but there is no independent verification of this. This is why it is essential that if you buy one, that you check that it really meets the requirements.

Some checkpoint friendly laptop bag reviews

Here are the names of a couple of bags that claim to meet the requirements.

Skooba R101-101 Checkthrough Checkpoint-Friendly Laptop Bag: The Skooba is a really well priced bag that is designed to hold 15 inch laptops. It has a dedicated laptop compartment that folds flat and is see-through so that the security officers can clearly see there is nothing else in the compartment. It also has 20 other pockets and compartments scattered about including one that is accessible and designed to hold your tickets and passport. A lot of the internal pockets are made of mesh, so you can see at a glance what you’ve stowed in them (USB cable, flash drive, whatever). The downside is that it doesn’t have a huge amount of padding to protect your laptop and it is too big for everyday use.
Targus Zip Through Corporate Traveller Case: This is a bag made by a really reputable laptop bag manufacturer. Who hasn’t had a Targus at least once in their lives? It also has a dedicated laptop area and the whole bag butterflies out for security. Its list price is lower than that of the Skooba, but depending on when you look it actually comes out more expensive sometimes because of the great deals that Amazon has on the Skooba. It also has a bunch of compartments but they aren’t mesh, so if you are looking for something small then you’ll have to open each one.

Checkpoint friendly backpacks

There are also a couple of checkpoint friendly backpacks out there such as the Case Logic Security Friendly Backpack. It also has a zipper that allows you to butterfly the backpack for security. The rest is pretty much a normal backpack, but it has given up some functionality to incorporate the security-friendly features so it probably has fewer usable internal compartments and dividers than you are used to.

What it looks like to the security operator