Got Toy, Need Bag
Posted on Monday, September 26th, 2005 at 10:08 pm under Mac Geekery, On The Road.
The correct title should have been “I got a new Computer”, but since this 12″ Powerbook is so small and so light, I really feel like I have a new toy. After a few weeks of MISERABLY SLOW COMPUTING due to having only half my real RAM, Mosaic was kind enough to hook me up with a new Powerbook (thanks Chad). This will allow me to get back on track with my projects because I was really wasting a lot of my time looking at the Mac OS X spinning beach ball while having my usual(but required) apps opened. My blog posting frequency had even declined cause I didn’t want to deal with even more frustation than the required. So, I have gone from a 17″ Powerbook to a 15″. And now from a 15″ Powerbook to a 12″. Let’s hope they don’t come out with a 10″ cause I really like my menu bar apps and already I’m having issues fitting them all on my new compact screen.
This leads me to my next topic, bags. New computer, new bag, that my motto. Otherwise it’s like giving your new fiancé your old fiancé’s engagement ring. I’ve always had a thing for bags. Through the years I’ve collected some links of bag manufacturers I keep track off in case I nee to get a new bag, like now. So here’s my list. So far I am leaning towards getting the Breakfast Buffet from Crumpler, an Australian company. But, I would LOVE to hear what you think. And I would LOVE it if you introduce me to some new bags too. I’m looking for small, compact, well designed stuff.
Bag Links
Crumpler Bags - really digging the breakfast buffet for my 12″
Incase - interesting bags, very cool new site
Tom Bihn - some hits some misses
Oakley - interesting stuff
Boblbee - hardcore bags
Acme Made - totes for the metro-sexual
demano - very very cool stuff. it’s got european written all over it!
MacCase - androgynous looking bags
Triple Five Soul - some hip hop flavored bags
Booq Bags - very cool (but not cheap) bags for the pocket lover
Messenger Bags - interesting messenger bags but a bit big for a 12″
Ogio - coll sports oriented bags
CamelBak - if u need some water with your laptop
Gravis Footwear - hit or miss bags for the metro-sexual too
Burton Snowboards - cool wearable electronics gear
SFBags - custom made sleeves
Spire USA - so so looking backpacks
Shaun Jackson Design - one side flapping backpack
Timbuk2 - build your own messenger bag
TiBag - one sling bag
Targus - one of the most boring bag design out there
Brenthaven - even worst than targus
Bagreview.com - some really good bags reviewed here
eBags - pretty good selection of bags
Added by User Commments
Koie - hip little bags and totes
Chrome - cool messenger bag but way too big for a 12″
Patagonia - mostly messenger bags
Tumi - need i say more?
RadTech - kinda plain looking bags
Technorati Tags: apple, bags, mac, powerbook
Sep 26th, 2005 at 11:06 pm
I went through the whole “which bag for my powerbook” quest a few months ago and settled on a Tumi. Lifetime warranty, beautiful designs, and very rugged.
If I had a 12″ powerbook, I’d definitely check out the Tumi T3 FLIP Flap Brief (The black with silver inner lining looks really nice and I think the interior screenshot shows a 12″ powerbook). For added protection, the booq sleeves are very nice.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 12:14 am
I’ve just got my new toy on saturday, a mac mini, my first apple mac and I love it, got an apple keyboard and mighty mouse too - works great. They even do bags for these too although I’m not sure where I’d take it. Good news on your 12″ powerbook though, look forward to reading more blogs.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 5:11 am
I’ve used/bought a lot of different “bags” in search of that right one. I’ve used a Targus (you’re right, they are ugly, but I was getting desperate). And I’ve used a Booq bag (was my favorite until my dog chewed the strap) and I have had an Ogiothat the strap just broke one day while walking into work.
So I’ve finally found a bag that I like…a lot. It’s made by RadTech. I opted for the “Loft“. So far it’s been the best investment of them all.
Now I’m beginning to think I have some kind of bag fetish???
Sep 27th, 2005 at 5:38 am
I can’t emphasize enough how much I LOVE my Cobra XM from Booqbags. It’s made with a 15″ PowerBook in mind so it may be a bit big for your tastes. The quality is first rate. Small details are given great care such as the zippers, the clasps on the strap, etc. I have looked at other bags (before and after buying the Cobra) and I am pleased I made the right choice.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 6:07 am
I use a Boblbee backpack, the one with the laptop compartment. It’s ergonomic, it comes in all sorts of sizes and colors, and the PowerBook is really well protected, plus it looks cool. I can recommend it.
Only downside: When it’s hot, your back doesn’t get enough ventilation, and so one tends to get pretty sweaty back there. They do offer an accessory aimed at this problem, but I haven’t tried that yet.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 6:12 am
I too, have always had a thing for bags. I currently have one that I do like a lot, from a small company called Koie, and the bag I have is the Currumbin. It has good protection for laptops, alot of other different sized pockets to put stuff, and it isn’t too large. I also like making the backpack straps disappear, and use it as a sort of brief.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 6:21 am
For my 12″ PB, I did have a Brenthaven bag. I liked it simply because it fit the PB and was extremely light.
I’m going the other way in notebooks and recently purchased a 15″ PB. As for the bag, I went with the Crumpler - Luncheon. It is the same design as the Breakfast Buffet but made for the 15″. I like the bag but would rather have more buckles/zippers than velcro.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 7:55 am
The 12″ Powerbook is a great machine. I’ve had mine for a couple of years now, and she’s still going strong.
And thanks for the bag links. I’m a bit of a bag freak (and shoes for some reason…) and I’m going to love hunting through all those sites.
For my 12″, I went the neoprene slipcover route. With the Powerbook inside, I can throw it into any of my bags and still have plenty of room. The bag then also has the advantage of not screaming “steal this computer,” a nice bonus.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 10:58 am
Mel,
One more for the list:
http://www.chromebags.com/
Jaime
Sep 27th, 2005 at 12:02 pm
Cool! I want one! I mostly use my G5, because my Powerbook is a bit dated… 500mhz TiBook. Today I noticed that Apple has some recalls going on Powerbook batteries. You may want to check the list… https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/index.html?lang=en
Sep 27th, 2005 at 1:08 pm
Spire DOES make pretty god awful looking stuff, but their bags are awesome. I have one for my 15 inch PB, and I love it. Its insanely light, and sturdy as hell, it al so comes with a removeable laptop boot.
Sep 27th, 2005 at 7:46 pm
Creatively I am a huge fan of Crumpler (gotta love a place that sells small bags called scrotties), but I can’t complain about my Targus backpack. I also loved my Kensington with suede on the outside. I guess it all depends on the persona you want to project…
Sep 27th, 2005 at 8:03 pm
The laptop sleeves by Waterfield are really slick - http://www.sfbags.com/
I got one of these for my 12′ PB and first it fits like a glove and allows me to throw my machine in my messenger bag day to day or carry it in my camera pack when travelling. The flexibility is nice!
Some of their other bags look interesting too. I have to say they were great to deal with - great customer service and nice custom made products!
Sep 27th, 2005 at 9:58 pm
My 12″ PowerBook just arrived today along with a Vyper XXS from Booq Bags. I also have the PowerSleeve12 from Booq Bags for my 12″ iBook (now my girlfriends). Being that I just got the Vyper sleeve today I don’t have much experience with it yet. I must say that it has less padding (it really doesn’t have any padding, it’s basically a semi-rigid shell with a soft liner on the inside) than I thought it would, but it seems like it will do a great job of protecting my PowerBook (which really does “fit like a glove” inside of it). I should also say that I will also be caring this inside of my back pack so I didn’t feel that I needed much and I absolutely loved the simplicity of the Vyper sleeve. As for the PowerSleeve I think it is great. It has plenty of padding (in my opinion) to be used alone, but it isn’t bulky so it fit in my backpack (along with other books and such) very nicely. My only complaint was the little “Booq” pin that was on the front flap; it kept getting caught on things so I eventually removed it. When I used it by itself I did wish that it had some extra room, but I was able to fit my power adapter in the front zipper pocket (it just barely fit, but it fit), but alas I mostly threw it in my backpack so space for extras wasn’t too much of an issue. Booq’s customer service is just excellent as well.
That said, I am also looking at the Crumpler bags as I want something less bulky than my backpack and but something that doesn’t look like a computer bag so that I can use it with or without my computer. I like the Breakfast Buffet and the Moderate Embarrassment.
Sep 29th, 2005 at 8:56 am
Hey,
for my 12″ powerbook I bought an crumpler bag about 2 years ago. Looks to be almost exactly the same as the one in your post. It fits the powerbook good but too good. I think the bag is too stiff….kind of dorky in that sense. It can only be worn one way.
So I’ve opted for a Patagonia Half mass bag….with an extra a sleeve inside. Works great and not dorky.
http://www.patagonia.com
Sep 29th, 2005 at 7:52 pm
Love Crumpler Bags. Have two of them now.
Sep 29th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Sfbags.com (waterfield design) has some nice ones. If you’re looking for something that takes up about the same space as the powerbook itself, the Sleeve Case is good. If you need to take peripherals with you, there are some small snap-on pockets that go with it. Nice and compact.
http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm
Sep 30th, 2005 at 2:25 am
I think we have about six Crumpler bags in our house between the two of us. They’re just so well made, durable and protect well.
I’ve got a roll-o-notes for my 15″ powerbook, which I’ve used all day every day for about 18 months. It spends a lot of its time scuffing around on floors under desks and generally being abused. It still looks and feels brand new. I even got it covered in some nasty oily black stuff on the Tube, at that just sponged off with some water. I can’t recommend Crumpler bags enough.
Oct 20th, 2005 at 6:22 pm
Freitag bags!
http://www.freitag.ch
Oct 27th, 2005 at 6:08 pm
So I don’t know if you have decided on a bag yet but I just stumbled upon this site, http://bumbakpaks.com/ which seems to be interesting to say the least. Quick question, how did you like your powerbook 15″? I’m thinking of getting one if I get this new job doing cartography.
Mar 2nd, 2006 at 5:09 pm
CRUMPLER BAG FALSE ADVERTISING SCAM:
Just bought a Crumpler bag, and the one I recieved was different, and of lower quality, than the one advertised on their website! The bag is well designed, but is not what I ordered. Very shady deal.
Mar 21st, 2006 at 5:45 am
I have come across your website while browsing and find the website resource quite interesting and relevant to one of our business partner’s website
Bags from Manhattan Portage
Jun 29th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Pimp your MacBook:
http://www.macbook-case.com