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Then you go to the store, realizing how much stuff you would buy that comes from factories in China.

Stop buying it.

You're right. I'm an hypocrite who wants to buy that stuff. However, I don't want it from china. I want it manufactured here. While we have our share of shit product, a lot of the best stuff I own comes from America (note: I'm not an american citizen, though I live there. It's a recent thing. So there's no patriotism involved). It's more expensive for sure, but over the long term, I end up spending less money because Its not made to be replaced every 2 months to make money on volume from razor thin margins.

My backpack is from http://www.tombihn.com/FAQS.ht... and it's fantastic.

My dining table isn't from Ikea. It's from GeekChic, and it's fucking awesome. http://geekchichq.com/#categor...

I have a Subzero fridge (though I wouldn't have paid for that, condo came with it). They last quite a bit longer than the shit alternatives. A lot of cheaper brands made in the west do too.

And so on and so forth. A lot of those things are expensive, but you can give them to your children once you die so they don't have to spend 3 times the amount of money over their lives to buy the same shit.

I buy a lot of board games. Those are often manufactured in China. It sucks. They're poorly made, just to cut cost. I wish I could buy premium versions, that are more expensive, made here, but that will actually last. That I won't have to be afraid of dropping one of the plastic components and have it break.

But nope. The McDonald generation wants cheap shit everything. And because of scale, I don't even have the OPTION to buy the premium stuff that doesn't come from China. When I do, I pick that.

In the meantime:
Call us 1-800-729-9607 (if we don't answer, all lines are busy so leave a message - we will call you back today.)
Send us an email: customerservice@tombihn.com
Read our blog: http://www.tombihn.com/blog
Visit our forums: http://www.tombihn.com/forums

Or, if you're in Seattle, visit our store (we're here until 5 today): 2203 1st Ave S. Second Floor Seattle, WA 98134

Thanks to everyone who emailed us to let us know that our site was down.

In the meantime:
Call us 1-800-729-9607 (if we don't answer, all lines are busy so leave a message - we will call you back today.)
Send us an email: customerservice@tombihn.com
Read our blog: http://www.tombihn.com/blog
Visit our forums: http://www.tombihn.com/forums

Or, if you're in Seattle, visit our store (we're here until 5 today): 2203 1st Ave S. Second Floor Seattle, WA 98134

Thanks to everyone who emailed us to let us know that our site was down.

In the meantime:
Call us 1-800-729-9607 (if we don't answer, all lines are busy so leave a message - we will call you back today.)
Send us an email: customerservice@tombihn.com
Read our blog: http://www.tombihn.com/blog
Visit our forums: http://www.tombihn.com/forums

Or, if you're in Seattle, visit our store (we're here until 5 today): 2203 1st Ave S. Second Floor Seattle, WA 98134

Thanks to everyone who emailed us to let us know that our site was down.

A soft bag from here http://www.tombihn.com/ and a brain cell http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre en=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=TB0300

Beats about everything out there.

A soft bag from here http://www.tombihn.com/ and a brain cell http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre en=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=TB0300

Beats about everything out there.

Digital lifestyle or no, that site sucks. What is it that online retailers can't get through their heads about making it easy for people to see their stuff, and to give them money for it? As someone else already suggested, I'll be sticking with Tom Bihn.

This is what I use:

Tom Bihn Super Ego

It holds my 17" Powerbook in a Brain Cell insert, file folders, PDA, Cellphone, PDA (I know, I should just get a smart phone), and iPod with room for 4 large O'Reilly books to boot.

He also makes some smaller ones that might better fir your needs. And backbacks if you want to avoid medical problems hauling all that stuff around

This is what I use:

Tom Bihn Super Ego

It holds my 17" Powerbook in a Brain Cell insert, file folders, PDA, Cellphone, PDA (I know, I should just get a smart phone), and iPod with room for 4 large O'Reilly books to boot.

He also makes some smaller ones that might better fir your needs. And backbacks if you want to avoid medical problems hauling all that stuff around

Get a Bihn Brain Cell. Then get the Brain Bag to put it in:
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0104

Need more organization? Add a Freudian Slip and a Snake Charmer.

I've been carrying this combo for years. All the pockets I need, tough, doesn't scream 'STEAL ME' like some of the bags mentioned here do. Fits under an airline seat. Has a chest and waist strap for long hikes through airports.

Not cheap, but what's your gear worth? And made in the USA.

I've got a Tom Binh brain cell http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0300

Its a minimalist messenger affair, and a crumpler new school hymn for when I need to bring more than the bare essentials -

http://www.crumpler.com.au/cartIndex.php?prodId=23 6&prodType=Bag&catId=5

Its just a sleeve, it fits in my messenger bag and my backpack... The thing about most bags is that they are jus bags, these two have a hard plastic shell along with the foam - real support and protection. The only real problem is the Crumpler will not fit a macbook, only the powerbooks, so now I have to wait for them to make a macbook sized case.

I you live in a city (New York esp) and commute by train or on foot - carrying a briefcase sucks and carrying a hard case, backpack or attache suck - they're too heavy. The Binh is light as a feather and the crumpler on its own is closer to a protective "coating" and is an ultimate "stealth" option. Both have saved my 15" PB on more occasions than I care to remember.

For small collections of things: The Roadwired Pod
Bigger items: Roadwired Podzilla
Laptop joins the party? Tom Bihn Brain Bag

Or just wear all your gear in a Tilley VOMP

I've used all of the above and they are well made and functional.

These guys make great bags (mainly with laptops in mind) so have a look around and see if there's something that suits you: http://www.tombihn.com/

When I bought my first laptop, a GRiDCase III Plus, it was ten and a half pounds, and was a featherweight compared to the ~30lb. luggables then available (Compaq, Otrona, &c.)

Apple even had a carrying case for the 128K Mac when it first came out, which tradition is carried on in:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/LTA%20Projects/ILUG GERBLK/

And there's even one for the Mac Mini:

http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre en=PROD&Product_Code=TB0351

The thing I'm faintly surprised / disappointed at is that no one has mad a combination carrying case and battery pack for a Mac Mini _and_ Wacom Cintiq (LCD integrated w/ a graphics tablet) which would get one a Tablet Mac w/o waiting for Apple to build one.

William

It ends up being nearly $300 for everything, but it protects your equipment well and it makes it possible to carry everything you need in relative comfort. The bag is made of very high quality materials and has proven to be quite durable, even though I fly around 3,000 miles a week and take my backpack with me as carry-on luggage every time. It just manages to fit under most seats, but it might not fit in some cases if you have two full-size laptops in it.

my EZPass that lets me pay tolls without stopping is an RFID tag and it came with bag that looks like the shinier sort of anti-static bag in which we get computer peripheral boards & such. I slip the EZPass into the bag and the readers can't see it anymore. How hard would it be for me to sew or glue such a liner into the compartment in my Tom Binh bag where I keep my passport?

http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/CTGY/100

I have a Tom Bihn Brain Bag for my PowerBook. When I bought it I had a 14" G3, now I have a 17" G4. When I got the larger machine, I just bought a different inner pocket that carries the laptop vertically instead of horizontally.

With the Brain Cell (padded pocket), it's pushing $200, but well worth it. Mine is about 4 years old, and shows no wear at all. They are built to take a beating, and are actually comfortable to wear for extended periods.

I travel every day with a laptop. This is the best laptop bag I have found after going through a few. It has room for 2 laptops if you choose to carry more. The second slot could be a protable printer. The manufacuturer has other accessories that work with the bag that hold cables etc. The thing I like most about the bag is its durability and warrenty. http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre en=PROD&Product_Code=TB0104&Category_Code=300&Prod uct_Count=2/

makes the most durable, intelligently-designed bags I have ever owned. These things are hand-made and take a righteous beating. Worth every penny. Check out the accessories, such as the Snake Charmer for containing cables and such, cushioned non-slip shoulder straps and, for the luddites, a paper organizing insert called the "Freudian Slip". http://www.tombihn.com/

Sales Skyrocket After Media Expose' on Bag Labels.

Tom Bihn designs T-shirts based on labels; all proceeds to go to homeless veterans's charity.

PORT ANGELES, WA: Tom Bihn, a Port Angeles-based company that designs, manufactures and sells laptop bags, messenger bags, backpacks and briefcases, has garnered worldwide media attention this week after a Web blog posted the contents of the label sewn into most bags.

The inside label carries instructions on washing and caring for the bags. Because the bags are sold in Canada, the instructions are also printed in French. The French version, however, contains an additional phrase: "NOUS SOMMES DESOLES QUE NOTRE PRESIDENT SOIT UN IDIOT. NOUS N'AVONS PAS VOTE POUR LUI."

Translated to English, the phrase reads, "We are sorry that our President is an idiot. We did not vote for him."

This week, reports have aired on Seattle, Chicago and California NBC affiliates, on Seattle's KOMO radio and the nationally syndicated Paul Harvey radio show, on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann", and on the Port Angeles cable station PNN. Bihn has fielded inquiries from German, Irish and other international media outlets.

The company has recorded record sales this week -- with sales more than double all previous weeks in the company's history. Customers have flocked to the Seattle and Port Angeles stores to scoop up the bags with the now infamous label. E-mails and calls have poured into the store, with many customers ordering directly from the company's Web site at www.tombihn.com.

The "secret" message began as an inside joke among seamstresses and staff at the Tom Bihn factory, and was apparently intended to poke fun at company's founder and president, Tom Bihn.

Bihn has created a t-shirt featuring the label, and will donate all proceeds of the sale of the shirts to the Seattle Vet Center, specifically towards its Homeless Vet Program. The t-shirt is available for purchase on its Web site and at its Seattle retail store.

Tom Bihn products are proudly made in its Port Angeles, Washington, factory.

Supplies are limited. Be controversial. Place your order today.

Note: Feelings run strong on this issue. If you have something to say, we want to hear it. Please post in our forums.

Sales Skyrocket After Media Expose' on Bag Labels.

Tom Bihn designs T-shirts based on labels; all proceeds to go to homeless veterans's charity.

PORT ANGELES, WA: Tom Bihn, a Port Angeles-based company that designs, manufactures and sells laptop bags, messenger bags, backpacks and briefcases, has garnered worldwide media attention this week after a Web blog posted the contents of the label sewn into most bags.

The inside label carries instructions on washing and caring for the bags. Because the bags are sold in Canada, the instructions are also printed in French. The French version, however, contains an additional phrase: "NOUS SOMMES DESOLES QUE NOTRE PRESIDENT SOIT UN IDIOT. NOUS N'AVONS PAS VOTE POUR LUI."

Translated to English, the phrase reads, "We are sorry that our President is an idiot. We did not vote for him."

This week, reports have aired on Seattle, Chicago and California NBC affiliates, on Seattle's KOMO radio and the nationally syndicated Paul Harvey radio show, on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann", and on the Port Angeles cable station PNN. Bihn has fielded inquiries from German, Irish and other international media outlets.

The company has recorded record sales this week -- with sales more than double all previous weeks in the company's history. Customers have flocked to the Seattle and Port Angeles stores to scoop up the bags with the now infamous label. E-mails and calls have poured into the store, with many customers ordering directly from the company's Web site at www.tombihn.com.

The "secret" message began as an inside joke among seamstresses and staff at the Tom Bihn factory, and was apparently intended to poke fun at company's founder and president, Tom Bihn.

Bihn has created a t-shirt featuring the label, and will donate all proceeds of the sale of the shirts to the Seattle Vet Center, specifically towards its Homeless Vet Program. The t-shirt is available for purchase on its Web site and at its Seattle retail store.

Tom Bihn products are proudly made in its Port Angeles, Washington, factory.

Supplies are limited. Be controversial. Place your order today.

Note: Feelings run strong on this issue. If you have something to say, we want to hear it. Please post in our forums.

It's huge and tough and build like a tank: It's got an enormous padded main compartment, a secondary full sized compartment big enough for another computer, a third full sized compartment with pockets for accessories, and a big zippered pocket on the outside.

After 8 years of constant abuse: All the seams are still well sewn and sealed on the inside and outside, so there are no loose threads or freys, like most backpacks develop. The fabric hasn't torn, the zippers have never broken or jammed. All top quality material and workmanship!

It's so well made, that it's still in excellent condition after 8 years. I would definitely get another one, but my old one still has years of use left in it.

Here's an article reviewing Tom Bihn's "Smart Alec" and "Monolith" bags. He has many models specifically designed for laptops, that you can order on his web site, and the prices are quite reasonable!

His web site says: "Tom Bihn has been designing and making bags for well over 20 years. The daypacks he made when he was 13 years old are still in use. And in Santa Cruz, California, where Tom grew up, his laptop cases and book bags are almost legendary."

-Don

It's huge and tough and build like a tank: It's got an enormous padded main compartment, a secondary full sized compartment big enough for another computer, a third full sized compartment with pockets for accessories, and a big zippered pocket on the outside.

After 8 years of constant abuse: All the seams are still well sewn and sealed on the inside and outside, so there are no loose threads or freys, like most backpacks develop. The fabric hasn't torn, the zippers have never broken or jammed. All top quality material and workmanship!

It's so well made, that it's still in excellent condition after 8 years. I would definitely get another one, but my old one still has years of use left in it.

Here's an article reviewing Tom Bihn's "Smart Alec" and "Monolith" bags. He has many models specifically designed for laptops, that you can order on his web site, and the prices are quite reasonable!

His web site says: "Tom Bihn has been designing and making bags for well over 20 years. The daypacks he made when he was 13 years old are still in use. And in Santa Cruz, California, where Tom grew up, his laptop cases and book bags are almost legendary."

-Don

The best laptop I've ever owned was by Tom Bihn. Get the Brain Bag with the padded laptop sleeve -- no one's ever suspected I've had a laptop in there, it looks just like a big travelling pack with a belt to distribute the weight, lots of pockets, tightening straps on the sides, and you can beat the hell out of it.

http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scre en=PROD&Product_Code=TB0104&Category_Code=TBP&Prod uct_Count=5

Additionally, the Snake Charmer is great for keeping your cables together and fits neatly in the space above the laptop in the rear zipper pocket.

(I don't work for these people, but I bought a bag at their Santa Cruz store before they moved up north -- I've had it for five years, taken it trans-Atlantic more than that number of times, and never had a problem with it.)

I've been tempted by Tom Bihn's laptop bags. Has anyone used them?

ObTangent - Tom Binh's bags got some press because of their French instructions.

These bags are more expensive than you specified in your criteria, but they are great bags. I have the Brain bag, and it the best backpack I've had. It is really comfortable on your back, and the shoulder straps are padded so you can wear the backpack for a long time.

These bags are more expensive than you specified in your criteria, but they are great bags. I have the Brain bag, and it the best backpack I've had. It is really comfortable on your back, and the shoulder straps are padded so you can wear the backpack for a long time.

-- Dan

Bullshit! The Label said: "We are sorry that our President is an idiot. We didn't vote for him." There's a Discussion on the mfg's website.

I also recommend Tom Bihn bags. Well constructed, strong, and well designed for laptops.

Fairly recently I ended up with the Toshiba P-25 17-inch monster "laptop". Toshiba itself had no bags for it. They offered a rather dreary looking Targus, but attempts to order it always dead-ended at 'not yet available' messages (or something like that). A friend has mentioned Tom Bihn many times (actually, he raved about'em. One of the reasons I never looked, having already enough raving in my life, heh). So, I went off and found tombihn.com. At that time they didn't offer a bag for the new P-25 form factor lap busters, so I ordered a Brain Cell for an Apple 17-inch. That's an internal sleeve type bag with handles and straps like a briefcase. It can be used alone, or as an internal protector for use in a larger bag.

Well, the Brain Cell arrived. It looked great. Too bad, it was just a bit too small for the P-25. Called Tom Bihn, and they apologized, and cheerfully told me how to return the bag. IIRC, the return label was even included with the bag, so it was easy, really easy, to return. My credit card was credited for the purchase amount pretty fast too. And, they again apologized in email for not having a bag for me, and said that they were looking into making a bag for the new form factor.

After reading this /. thing today, I went and looked, and sure enough Tom Bihn now has a Brain Cell bag for the P-25! . He doesn't yet have an outer carrying bag, but if you just need a protective briefcase-like sleeve, this is good. If you have one of the big ones, it's worth checking out.

I also recommend Tom Bihn bags. Well constructed, strong, and well designed for laptops.

Fairly recently I ended up with the Toshiba P-25 17-inch monster "laptop". Toshiba itself had no bags for it. They offered a rather dreary looking Targus, but attempts to order it always dead-ended at 'not yet available' messages (or something like that). A friend has mentioned Tom Bihn many times (actually, he raved about'em. One of the reasons I never looked, having already enough raving in my life, heh). So, I went off and found tombihn.com. At that time they didn't offer a bag for the new P-25 form factor lap busters, so I ordered a Brain Cell for an Apple 17-inch. That's an internal sleeve type bag with handles and straps like a briefcase. It can be used alone, or as an internal protector for use in a larger bag.

Well, the Brain Cell arrived. It looked great. Too bad, it was just a bit too small for the P-25. Called Tom Bihn, and they apologized, and cheerfully told me how to return the bag. IIRC, the return label was even included with the bag, so it was easy, really easy, to return. My credit card was credited for the purchase amount pretty fast too. And, they again apologized in email for not having a bag for me, and said that they were looking into making a bag for the new form factor.

After reading this /. thing today, I went and looked, and sure enough Tom Bihn now has a Brain Cell bag for the P-25! . He doesn't yet have an outer carrying bag, but if you just need a protective briefcase-like sleeve, this is good. If you have one of the big ones, it's worth checking out.

I haven't tried Tom Bihn out, but I've heard this is quality stuff, and would like one day to try it out.

I have owned quite a few laptop bags over the years. I used to only recommend Tom Bihn bags, but recently I've switches to Brenthaven. When I first got my 15" TiBook I bought a Willow Design bag. The bag was very protective, but I was alway afraid that the internal zippers would scratch the outer case of the TiBook. I then purchased a TiBag, which I found to be too small, and because of my (xxl) size, the messenger strap kept coming loose, and the TiBook took quite a few tumbles, and the TiBag did not protect the powerbook at all. I was lucky enough to have Apple provide a Titanium 1 bag for my TiBook when I had some problems with a repair issue. These bags are the best I have ever used. When I recently replaced the TiBook w/ a 17" AlBook, I ordered the 17" shoulder case without a second thought.

I have to agree. Tom Bihn makes a very high quality bag. I have been using their backpack-type "Brain Bag" every day for over 2 years now to carry my large & heavy Inspiron 8000. The removeable "Brain Cell" laptop sleeve is sold separately and can be used in other Tom Bihn bags as well. It is padded and additionally suspends the laptop in a sleeve so a drop from any angle is pretty safe (check out their cutaway cross-section view). The sleeve can also be used separately from the bag if you don't need to carry all of your gear. They aren't cheap but I would buy another one without thinking twice. Made in the USA too.

I'm a student, so I need to carry more than just my powerbook. I usually carry everything in a Timbuk2 bag and my powerbook inside of that in a sleeve made by Tom Bihn. I've never had any problems and the Timbuk2 bag has room and pockets enough for books, the powerbook, power adapter, a mouse, pens and pencils, headphones, my HP-48GX and more. I really recommend this combo as it has performed very well for me through weather and beatings.

I use the Brain Cell and Brain Bag, a small solid laptop case and high end backpack by Tom Bihn.

Extremely durable, and the absolute best combination I've seen for students. The site has a wide variety of different bags in many different styles though. Has a guide for which size case will fit which laptop.

Check out Tom Bihn bags. Very well made. They have many options for laptops, including a padded sleeve that will fit inside other bags.

Tom Bihn makes and sells backpacks and shoulder bags for all kinds of laptops. They're made in the USA of nice materials.

Many of the bags that don't have built-in laptop support have snaps that can be used to hold a ``Brain Bag'' (available in various sizes) for a laptop. The Brain Bags suspend the laptop in a cradle inside a box with hardish sides.

Nice bags. Nice people.

i never liked those backpacks with the builtin laptop thing. i got a case from tom bihn to hold my inspiron 5000 with a 15 inch display. it's a big laptop and i already have a large backpack that holds it fine but the laptop needed some extra protection. this worked great for me and i didn't have to carry a backpack that obviously has a laptop in it (so it's less likely to be stolen).