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Recommend a Tech Toys Bag?
SuperMallen asks: "With the recent purchase of an iPod and iPod-capable car radio, I am realizing that I have reached maximum capacity in terms of what can go in my pants pockets. Given that I want to take both the iPod and my radio face with me wherever I go (along with my cellphone, Bluetooth headset, wallet, keys, and possibly a laptop with mouse, power supply, and whatever reading material I'm carting around), I'm thinking that what I need is a medium sized bag or backpack with pockets dedicated for this sort thing. What does the Slashdot community do for things like this? Any brands or models you have found work for you?"
The obvious solution is to emulate Techno Bill
When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
Find someone with a vagina. It won't hold your geek crap, but suddenly you will notice you won't have such geek-ass problems. Short of that, try a big paper sack.
I picked up one of these so I could take my laptop to school and with me on my sports bike.
It works great. I think that mine is a little larger though.
Those who know, do not speak. Those who speak, do not know. ~Lao Tzu
Drop some of your needs!
Here's an idea - don't carry so much crap around.
Don't think that a small group of dedicated individuals can't change the world. It's the only thing that ever has.
Check out the whatsinmybag tag on Flickr. Lots of ideas for different bags there. Even though the focus is more on the contents, people do talk about and show their bags there as well.
Also there's the whatsinyourbag tag, but it's pretty much the same thing.
Sounds like you need a "European Carry-all"
"It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance." - Thomas Sowell
I've bought one of those lately too, and I'm pretty happy with it.
I wish there was some kind of hybrid between this and a mini trekker backpack (for photo gear). This bag isn't good for photo gear, but the trekker isn't good for carrying a laptop, and carrying 2 backpacks isn't an option...
///<sig
You have 2 options:
1) Not carry as much crap
or
2) get a pretty purse
Winter's fast approaching. Wear a jacket with a few pockets for the next few months (not as much of a gadget geek here, but I carry darts, cigarettes, wallet, cell phone, etc without issue between my pants and jacket pockets), and do some research on good laptop bags in the meantime.
Timbuk2 and Targus both have bags that have satisfied my needs in the past and currently (laptop messenger and sport deluxe bags, respectively). I still currently use the Targus backpack, as I tend to carry more books around, and it has plenty of pockets and elastic straps to carry all of my random junk, but I'm sure there are fancier models out nowadays.
You're not being serious, right? Have you ran out of ideas to fit the word "iPod" on the frontpage that you have to post "I need a backpack, please help!"
iPodiPodiPodiPodiPodiPodiPodiPodiPodiPodiPod
You know those nifty little bags they give you at the Apple Stores when you buy stuff. Yeah, those are both trendy, hip, fashinable and are a nice size.
Microsoft is like...no, it's much worse.
MMales in the US are too self conscious to carry around hand bags, because they resemble womens' purses http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~creswell/manpurse.html I used to carry a fanny/belt pack whenever I was travelling, but my wife finally refused to go places with me if I wore it. The only workable suggestion I can give is some sort of a manly camera bag with lots of pockets and straps, such as something from http://lowepro.com/
I have used a Maxpedition Fatboy Versipack daily for about six months, and have grown to really like it.
http://www.maxpedition.com/product/product_vp_fatb oy.htm/
http://www.maxpedition.com/product/catalog_versipa ck.htm/
Spire has some awesome and comfortable bags... I have the Volt XL and love it, it has lasted me for a couple of years so far through college and will probably last a lot longer...
http://www.spireusa.com/
"I am realizing that I have reached maximum capacity in terms of what can go in my pants pockets."
sound like a personal problem to me.
I've tried everything short of going out and buying a compartmentalized purse. I've used a laptop-bag, a briefcase, several standard backpacks, a cd player case, a couple different camera bags, a zippered binder with extra pockets sewn in, a zippered business card folder with extra pockets sewn in, a crown royal bag (hey it was halloween), a jacket with extra pockets sewn in. Nothing is overly comfortable for numerous pieces of gadgetry... though stooping to wearing a backpack is often the easiest solution and what I do now is carry my backpack as well as be sure that I'm wearing a good belt and that I have one of the smaller cases IN the backpack in case I want to ditch the big bag someplace safe and go lighter for a while. All that said, you and I are both not approaching the problem from the BEST angle. It'd be better to reduce the load by seeing what gadgets and property you REALLY need to bring with you, and then getting a gadget that does the job of most or all of the remaining units. For example, I gave up an mp3 player and big clunky pda for a smaller sleeker pda that plays mp3s. Love that cell phone? Want a camera handy all the time? Carry a camera phone? Do you REALLY need to bring that microcassette recorder with you to the mall? Is there ANY logical reason for dragging that PDA keyboard with you when you know damned well you're going to be too busy to touch it all day?
on both sides exactly fitting the stuff like cellphones and iPods these days, I can see no problem here. But have you considered swapping iPod+cellphone for mp3-capable cellphone, or iPod+cellphone+laptop for communicator?
Get some Propper's BDUs
I prefer the 50-50 twill in Khaki. You can never have too many pockets.
-- "Bother," said Pooh, as he chambered another round.
While not large enough for a laptop, these shoulder holsters are great for the smaller gear: Civilian Labs Holster and e-Holster
Get cargo pants, then you can tell your boss you don't need a desk any more either, thereby saving the company money, getting yourself a raise, and still having room for all of your gadgets.
Personally, I'd start committing gadgetcide before I worried about carrying another bag around.
the more accurate the calculations became, the more the concepts tended to vanish into thin air. R. S. Mulliken
seriously..e x.html
THG has an article
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041207/ind
Since I have a couple different laptops I drag around, and a plethora of task-specific widgets, I prefer using a "European Class Bag, available at most seedy Army/Navy Surplus stores along with equipment-specific sleeves. These bags are tough, versatile and nondescript -- making them ideal for "carrying my expensive geek crap without asking for a mugging."
I consider the lack of specialized pockets and padding to be a bonus -- a laptop sleeve is better protection against the usual bashing involved in putting a laptop on your shoulder and walking around than badly fitted foam batting, and the pockets are never precisely what is needed. There are a couple bulked out pockets that provide plenty of space for extra cables, AC adapters and secondary gizmos.
The canvas is tough, sheds water well, and wears well.
Weapons of Mass Analysis
Does that car stereo faceplate really need to go everywhere with you? Why not keep it in your glove compartment or your trunk?
Same for the iPod - do you _really_ need to take it everywhere? It's a music player, not a binkie.
The Bluetooth headset can definitely stay in the car. That or just leave it on your ear rather than trying to find pocket space. If you're going to try to walk around like a wannabe Borg, you might as well look the part.
You do _not_ need to bring the mouse everywhere. $5 says your computer has a touchpad or one of those nipple things.
Not saying you have to get rid of all of this stuff, just saying it sounds like you're carrying around more crap than you actually need.
Anyway, if you are going to carry that much weight, I would strongly push you toward getting a small padded case for your laptop and then throw it into a backpack designed for backpacking. Most of the laptop and courier bags out there weren't designed with your body in mind. I switched to an innerframe day pack from REI for days when I'm schlepping myself around the city on my feet or my bike, and my back and shoulders have thanked me a thousand times over.
as for the panel, just lock it in your glove box
security through obscurity
unless you're parking in harlem
...and that's all there is to it.
http://www.boblbee.com/
They have hard shells with special pocketed inserts for all of your goodies. I use my for my laptop and its accessories. Plus the straps and back of the bag are very comfortable. And they fit nicely under the seat in most airplanes.
This is approximately the one I have. I think they discontinued my particular finish.
vk.
Oh, and I've had my messenger bag for eight years and use it daily. It's just now starting to have some of the cloth rip on it so I'll replace it soon. These things really take a beating and last for a long time.
Slashdot: Failed Car Analogies. Amateur Lawyering. Anecdote Battles.
then pimp it out.
Ask me about my vow of silence!
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 does a rectangle become a line?
http://www.scottevest.com/
Up to 52 hidden pockets and allowances for a personal area network!
It may not be the most stylish coat in the world, but well, it's geeky and it will keep you warm in the winter.
And as you tread the halls of sanity, You feel so glad to be, Unable to go beyond. I have a message, From another time..
I reached that stage with ashma inhaler and cell phone. I must have more in my groin to start with.
Elivs
I, for one, am a minimalist. I hate taking a bunch of crap with me when I'm not certain to use it. That being said, I'm a grunt, too, so I have to carry a craptastic amount of items that I _might_ want/need. I honestly like the feel of cargo pants made from a khaki material. You can pick them up cheap at a lot of stores. Heck, my last pair I got at JC Penney's on clearance in the fatty kid's section.
If you want to have a "cool" solution, buy an assault pack. If you have a friend in the military, he/she can take you on post to get a really nice high-speed pack for about $140. If you get one from CamelBak (example), it will also have an embedded hydration pack (2 or 3 liters) so that you can stay hydrated. Yes, it's cool to drink water.
Long, cute, or funny Sigs are just another form of over compensation, used by geeks, nerdz, etc.
The versipaks are the bee knees. I wish they had one big enough for my laptop.
No sig for you!!
For all of those that wear fanny packs, this one's commin' atcha!
t he-hipster-pda/) and of course a broad selection of pens. And all in a cute little bag! So, red-blooded american mostly-males: Are you ready to hack gender normativity? Or are you TOO GIRLY to put up with some funny stares and SUFFER, like the 50's housewives whose conformity you ape?
(w/ apologies to Ben Folds)
Seriously, though.
In Germany, where I lived for a spell, it was permissible for us young males to wear a small shoulder bag. Well, hell, I happen to be gay, right, but the straights were doing it too. It was INFINITELY more efficient than this pockets business every guy in America puts up with. (Or at least the guys here in Chicago.) I had my 'handy' (=cell), my keys, my iPod, my headphones, hipster PDA (http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/03/introducing-
Go to that store. Buy something cute. Put the iPod in it. No need to ask slashdot for silly permission or reassurance. GET A PURSE.
- undoware.ca
Ask Slashdot: Recommend a Tech Toys Bag?
what I need is a medium sized bag or backpack with pockets
Here you go.
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.
My first recommendation is to only carry small and where possibile, hybrid gear.
Secondly purge your bag weekly.
Thirdly, a small bag with a well padded single shoulder strap seems to put less pressure on joints, nerves, etc. The older you get the more you will appreciate this. It is counter-intuitive but backpacks easily cause me more discomfort, even with a good belt.
I am currently carrying an Eagle Creek Travel Gear shoulder bag. In it I carry:
Sony Clie UX40 in an aluminum case
crap Cell phone (if work didn't pay for this it would be a Treo 650)
Bandana (almost as good as a towel)
2 pens
business cards
Mini flash light
usb ROM stick
mini tape measure
Leatherman Squirt mini-multi-tool
spare stylus
A small Moleskin notebook
earplugs
Sony noise reducing earbuds(passive)
Motorola HS820 BT headset (crap)
2.5 lb convertible Fujitsu Lappy w/extended battery(I fuckin dig this thing!)
Caselogic neoprene DVD Player Case for the laptop.
On the laptop there is easily 500 ebooks including textbooks for school, reference books for work and fiction for downtime. The whole enchilada weighs only 5.5 lbs!
And as soon as I figure out how to get Outlook to wake my laptop out of standby I'll ebay the PDA.
My sister carries a "healthy back bag" from LL Bean that is even more comfortable. I'll try that next.
Take care of your body before it turns on you!
BillyBob
bamph
I haul one of these back and forth to work with laptop, power supply, minidisk, books, USB trackball and USB hub, various cables, toiletries, lunch, etc. http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?p roduct_code=51077312&pfp=srch1
http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review_printerfr iendly1047.html
It's well constructed and I got a before-current model on closeout cheap at CompUSA.
Get a Utilikilt. Versatile and everyone knows you're a real man :D
* "I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer." *
You keep your laptop in your pockets?
Try this Jesus Christ you child of rampant consumerism get a grip. If your pants won't hold any more crap maybe it is time to look at folks around the globe that can barely find water that is drinkable. If you are so lost that you cannot find a bag to hold your toys, perhaps giving to others is needed.
Sera
Slashdot, where armchair scientists get shouted down and armchair theologians get modded up.
Jack Wolfskin Berkeley
Great product. Almost perfect. I even carried my laptop in it, but the fabric/cushion on the bottom of the backpack is a bit thin.
"Have you ever noticed, that your shit is stuff, but that their stuff is shit?"
Maybe some folks carry other items not listed here that *are* important, but aren't necessesarily geek toys. I certainly know some diabetics that can't travel far outside without taking testing equipment and and medicines.
I'll create an amusing sig when I have something meaningful to post.
A company called Axio makes a great range of backpacks... I myself have a Tekno laptop backpack that I use when I'm riding my motorbike (most of the time these days) and having to carry around electronic gear for work.
:)
I recently took a motorcycling vacation in the UK, and I took my Tekno with me along with my laptop, various paper items, mouse, power supply, air/car power adapter, iPod Nano, noise cancelling headphones and all sorts of other equipment. My cellphone clipped nicely to one of the external rings on the straps so I could reach it even when on my bike (but using it with gloves and a helmet proved a bit of a challenge )
Seriously, if you have to carry around electronic gear you could do worse than the Tekno. It looks a little geeky, but the hard shell is waterproof even when riding in driving rain at 50mph or so... I've proven that. It's also very comfortable even over 400 miles of riding in a single day, plus a lot of walking around that I did in the process.
Of course, as many have pointed out you could probably reduce or eliminate most of the electronic gear you carry, but you may be like me and have a desire to have most of your gear with you over extended periods just in case you need it.
So far, the only complaints I've had with the Tekno are (a) scratches appear easily and (b) can get uncomfortable on a motorbike in 100 degree heat with this against your back... but that's true of most backpacks anyway. Oh, and (a) I found I could fix by occasionally taking my car washing buffer to it... works like a champ
Is the obvious answer. Do a google search on this term and find your answer.
I telecommute and don't drive a car. I tend to ride a bicycle year round, (even in places with 1' of snow on the ground in January and December, studded tires are your friend). And I have to say, I technically live out of a Chrome messenger bag. They're waterproof, with a double lining, great single shoulder sling, with excellent center of gravity for weaving in and out of traffic. And they have a kick-ass chrome belt buckle across your chest. The large size expands large enough to carry several days of clothes + laptop, and compacts enough to be smaller than most backpacks. Also the Tucano second skins are vital for laptop protection in any back, has kept my powerbook scratch free even though it is typically in a bag filled with tools, teflon lube, cell phones, keys, extra sticks of ram, and whatnot. YMMV, but between my chrome bag, and the paneers on my touring bike, I can carry nearly all my worldly goods with me :) (I still haven't figured out how to carry the other bicycles with me).
Briefcases can make good gadget storage locations, because unlike most bags, they can absorb an incredible amount of abuse and still protect the delicate instruments inside. YOu can get most briefcases with a sholder strap for prolonged carrying. Plus, they look a lot more manly than a purse, and a nice silver or polished aluminum case even looks decidedly high-tech.
If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/7017/ These work well, it'll hold atleast a 15.4" widescreen notebook without a problem. it has a compartment at the top for an mp3/cd player with a hole through the back for the headphone cord.
Insert head, tie tightly about the neck and breathe deeply repeatedly, the answer will come to you... walk into the light!
Sig Hansen?
Make sure you buy something shiny, trendy, and thaty absolutely shouts 'I have lots of expensive tech in here, please mug me'. Logos would be good. Apple logos even better.
I just have a standard 25-litre rucksack for carrying my tech. I have one of those tiny Sony Vaio laptops and it lives in a padded jiffy bag. I recently bought a new Pentax Digital SLR and I keep it in my old and dirty camera bag. Does the job and doesn't look like I've got a few hundred pounds/dollars worth of kit hanging off my shoulder.
Baz
Dakine makes some really nice student bags, with concealed laptop pockets, cd holders, and even cd sleeves, built right into the bag. Not to mention the lifetime warranty.
A HANDBAG?
(as there isn't an "Edith Evans" format capitals will have to do).
maybe carry less shit ?
---- Put Sig here:
While I can't say I've tried this, it certainly looks interesting:
APC TravelPower Cases
Basically a bag to carry your electronics that has an integrated power system to charge all your electronics - just plug in the whole bag and everything gets charged.
+ microphone + FM radio + auto-switching from music to phone answering ... all in wraparound stereo headphone form factor. Sounds sweet.
t tp%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&sati tle=omiz&category0=
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=h
(Searched Ebay for "Omiz")
http://www.jansport.com/js_product_detail.php?cid= 10&pid=TM76
I have a bag similar to this - it's several years old so they don't make the one I have. It's got a laptop compartment, with a nice padded bottom and fiberglass insert that acts as a shock absorber for a laptop when I carry one. It's got two cell phone pockets on each side (one for personal, one for work).
The inside is nice - place for a pen/pencil (I like nice writing utensils so I carry my own...). Another nice pocket in front of the laptop compartment for files. And a bunch of nice pockets on the inside for miscellaneous stuff.
The top flap is cool as well - it zips open to a cd-player/mp3 player compartment, and has a small slit in the cover for headphones to run through. I love it.
I could reduce what I carry, but don't want to.
I have the essentials:
Wallet
Keys
Sunglasses w/ case
Work Phone
Then, the extras
PDA w/ AvantGo/Games for boring moments during the day
MP3 player for walk to work.
Personal cell phone (it's my only phone...no landline)
I have a man-purse..I admit it.
...god invented cargo pants. seriously. not for the military, it's for guys to carry their other halves purse/phone/keys/crap when you go out.
Get yourself a batbelt.. heh.. most things have a pretty low batman factor these days, apple has come a long way with the new ipod and nano. Get yourself a razr phone, etc etc. That removes most of it.
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:)
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There's my favorite Tilley VOMP (vest of many pockets) that isn't too much of a fashion crime, but you're not going to look very good in the club with it on. The fact you're on here asking that question means that probably isn't relevant.
http://www.tilley.com/detail.asp?catId=13&gender=
Now, I'm surprised that this hasn't come up:
What you are probably looking for is combat webbing. When you find a nice jacket you like, you can have webbing sewn in - talk to a tailor about it, don't attempt yourself. The function of the combat webbing is to distribute the load from the jacket, onto your shoulders - like a gun holster - allowing the jacket to flow freely.
http://www.army-surplus.ca/produits_details.php?p
You just need the "frame" part of the webbing. Even to give a skilled tailor an idea of what you're looking for.
If you're not against the "purse" look, check out the timbuk2 metro bag. After all.. it is 2005, right guys? Nothing wrong with a purse. It is very practical...
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/categories.t2?
Finally, when I have to lug my computer, I got a tool pouch - it looks like an oversized pencil case - at home depot for $5. I stuff gadgets in there and fire it in with my notebook. Works very well.
Hope that helps. When in doubt, ask a female if you look stupid. Perferably one NOT trying to sell you things.. hehe
..don't panic
I've been saying this for years. Have a utility belt! The belt would come with it's own power and local area network infrastructure built in. Take the utility belt off, dock it and everything gets both power for recharging and a WAN connection. Un-dock it and put it on and you're ready in well under a minute. Hell if it's good enough for Han, Luke and Batman it's got to be great!
"Can there be a Klein bottle that is an efficient and effective beer pitcher?"
My husband recently ran into this predicament, but with a different set of daily pocket inhabitants. Anyway, we ended up at the Army/Navy surplus store one day, and he ended up getting a WWII re-creation "Map Case". It holds anything he could possibly want to carry OTHER than his laptop, which lives in a rugged laptop case anyway. Map cases are like mini messenger bags, with a hard back, heavy duty canvas construction, a division in the main pocket and a small pocket on the front for pens and things, and a flap that covers the whole thing. It's also very.. masculine. His is black, but it comes in a few other colors (khaki and olive khaki, I think) and was $10. If you want tons of little pockets its not for you, but if you just want a big exterior pocket, it works really well.
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
(The Beatles)
...one of those nipple things...
I'll never use a Thinkpad the same way again.
This sig rocks the casbah.
http://www.swissarmy.com/TravelGear/Product.htm?ca tegory=backpacksmessengersmessengers&product=30181 &
It's spacious and has pockets for just about everything techy that you'd want to carry. It even has a nifty padded part made especially for laptops :)
If you don't fancy a messenger style bag then check out the rest of their range. Being Victorinox all the bags are sturdy and will last you absolutely ages so the prices aren't bad when you consider the lifespan of the things.
Oh, and they offer global tracking of your bag. Not sure how that works though.
Depending on your style and overall physical stamina (doubtful you have either, being a coder and all) The LL Bean http://llbean.com/ one strap back packs. Do us a favor and pick a subtle color PLEASE... I prefer the Leather Doctors Bag look with a hidden, cushioned, Velcro secured middle section for a full-on 'desktop-replacement' 9lbs (probably puts it at 20kilos or 4kilos, since I am math challenged) including all the legal-sized notepads and various supporting peripheral paraphernalia. I feel like I am in the 70's lugging my suitcase around before it was cool to have wheels on your luggage under the age of 90. But I look great in my Italian suit and a real man's briefcase made of fine Italian Leather. But getting the custom suits to accommodate my 6ft arm is getting expensive. How about a little luggage trolley that all the Metrosexuals are wheeling around town these days? No weight limit, holds everything even a vacuum cleaner to clean the crumbs from lunch
Relax, aren't you lucky that it is only my Opinion?
They only deign to let recent versions of IE or Netscape use their site.
The fact that once I told iCab, the Mac only browser to spoof its identity, the site worked perfectly for me.
So the pricks at Propper lost a sale due to their stupid website developers who can't code for anything other than IE or Netscape.
Fuck 'em!
Guaranteed! This comment 100% Anthrax free!