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Top Ten Coolest Laptop Cases

coverlim writes "The finishing touch for any uber geek is a cool laptop bag, even if that means duct tape. For some rather more fetching, stylish choices, check out productdose's Top Ten Coolest Laptop Cases . Im particularly keen on the haliburton for moonlighting at CTU, or the Knomo Frinton for hanging out. Im betting slashdotters will prefer the on with solar panels?"

25 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Crumpler by ExE122 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not bad, but the coolest bags I've seen (I don't actually own any) are the Crumpler bags. I'm surprised they didn't get a nod. Their site is also pretty funny. Clay kitten shooting and the like. I think some of the posts below the article mention them (RTFPBTA?).

    Now that I've promoted it on Slashdot, I'll sit back and watch my stocks soar!

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    Then Bites Self"

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    1. Re:Crumpler by Jetekus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If by "funny" you mean "impossible to navigate due to random icons and no labels", then yes, I agree.

  2. I like my laptop case by liliafan · · Score: 4, Funny

    I find my walmart plastic bag to be perfectly suitable to carry around my old crappy dell :p On second thoughts perhaps I should transfer it to trashbag :)

    --
    GeekServ Unix Consulting Services (http://www.geekserv.com)
    1. Re:I like my laptop case by EtherAlchemist · · Score: 2, Interesting



      I'd take a Walmart bag any day over the "fine" veneer craftsmanship of Peter Kinne.

      --
      R(k)
    2. Re:I like my laptop case by Alex+P+Keaton+in+da · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My laptop bag is the standard black fare-
      If I want something cooler I will make it myself (90% because I am cheap, 10% because I enjoy making stuff)
      The coolest "bag" on there in my opinion is the halliburton, but for almost $400, I would just buy a small stainless briefcase or suitcase (maybe even used) (thanks to the internet, finding a funny size suitcase/briefcase is fairly easy) and then hit up the craft/hobby store and get foam padding. Heck, I might even buy a cheap laptop bag from walmart, and cut out the pen holders and all and affix them to the inside of my homemade "bag."
      The wood case is cool though- but A: My laptop is a tool, and as such "fine wood" really isn't an option and
      B: I can't see spending thousands for a nice wooden custom case for a tool I replace every couple years....

      --
      And All I Ask is a Tall Ship And a Star to Steer Her By
    3. Re:I like my laptop case by Thud457 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      I wanted something that didn't say "HEY, I'M AN EXPENSIVE LAPTOP COMPUTER, STEAL ME !"

      So I bought a Danish school bag at the local amy surplus. I got a sleeve for the laptop, which all fits in the bag. Then I grunged it up with some paint and iron-on patches to make it look like nothing nobody would want to steal. For extra padding, I can put my towel in it.

      About the only thing less likely to get stolen would be a diaper bag with Barney all over it.

      --

      the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  3. Uber Geeks care about style? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm not sure uber geeks have the *coolest* laptop bags...

    My operating systems professor often wore black with a brown belt/shoes.

  4. stylish not cool by martin · · Score: 4, Funny

    darn, there was me thinking I'd actually be able to get a laptop on my lap again - these things are HOT!

    A well at least I'll look nice even with a burn on my lap ;-)

  5. Don't use a bag that clearly has a laptop in.... by internewt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ....unless you want to be mugged!

    --
    Car analogies break down.
  6. I want the bulletproof one by MECC · · Score: 2, Funny

    For when I buy a laptop without an operating system, so I can deflect bullets from MS 'security auditors'.

    --
    "We are all geniuses when we dream"
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  7. foofpod by demon411 · · Score: 5, Informative

    got my gf a foofbag (aka foofpod) case. They have some cool designs, use nice material, and are hand made. she's gotten lots of compliments on the case ;0 they've gotten good reviews, made in australia

  8. Backpack + padded shell by spooky_nerd · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I put a padded shell inside a slightly battered back pack. The shell does a great job of protecting the backpack. I can take the shell out when I'm using the backpack for something else. And, it doesn't look like there's anything valuable in the backpack. I've heard stories of people smashing car windows and grabbing shoulder bags, because they look like they probably have a laptop inside them. My bag looks like it's used by a student to carry text books.

  9. Too Pricey! by 955301 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Personally, I bought a case similiar to the haliburton from Office Depot for $100 then packed the other $282.50 around the computer for protection and $.50 coffees.

    I subscribe to two financial rules: 1)Don't spend the seed money. 2) It's all seed money.

    Buy a cheaper case, find a simple padding solution and go save an entire african family for a year with the rest of the money.

    --
    You are checking your backups, aren't you?
  10. booq by darkitecture · · Score: 3, Informative

    I always thought Booq made some fantastic laptop bags and accessories. Although it's predominantly aimed at Mac owners, the bags are obviously suited to other models as well. I have a Toshiba Portege which just loves the Booq bag it calls a cozy home.

    Check them out at http://www.booqbags.com/

  11. Missing from the list by Billosaur · · Score: 4, Funny

    The FedEx box, seams carefully reinforced with duct tape, which includes a bubble wrap lining to protect your laptop from even the most rude of shocks.

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    GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
  12. I have one of the solar-powered ones by who+what+why · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have a Voltaic solar-panel bag. It definitely gets a lot of attention. People often ask me (usually on the way out of a room/office/store) what the solar panels are for. I'm not sure how useful the solar panels are though - I live in New York and got the bag as a xmas present so it hasn't really seen much sunshine yet!

    I use it to charge my PDA, mp3 player and crappy cell phone which runs out of batteries after an hour because it can't get a signal in Manhattan. So far I've been plugging the bag in at the office, then using the built in batteries to charge the gadgets in emergencies.

    Basically, it's a nice idea, and a good conversation piece, but it's not really all that useful (well, it does a great job of carrying my laptop and papers around at least!)

  13. No Medium either by EtherAlchemist · · Score: 2, Informative


    Medium Design Group has some really cool bags, too.

    --
    R(k)
  14. Re:Don't use a bag that clearly has a laptop in... by visgoth · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Would this be low profile enough?

    --
    My patience is infinite, my time is not.
  15. Boblbee by Kulilin · · Score: 2, Informative

    I thought they would mention Boblbee's hardshell backpacks. They are incredibly tough and have an interesting design, both in the technical and the looks departments.

  16. Heys ePac by iamnotaclown · · Score: 2, Informative
    The Crumpler bags mentioned somewhere above are very nice, but way overpriced for what is essentially a backpack with a padded compartment.

    I grabbed a Heys ePac for my new MacBook Pro and love it. Almost as snazzy as a Crumpler, but for a fraction of the price.

  17. Is it just me... by aafiske · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or are their tastes a little backwards?

    I mean, the Haliburton case looks like something that's filled with toy-tools for your 6 year old nephew. And the Oakley? Mad max? Nothing says post-apocalyptic to me than 'Oakley'. And the 'level 4 restricted'? I see we have moved on from the 6 year olds to the 14 year old marketing category.

    Finally... the number one spot. A case that looks like a reject from a 70s design company. Who would walk around like that? Can you picture someone on the street carrying one of those? Exactly what suit or outfit would one be wearing to match a cedar briefcase? As much as I love wood-paneled station wagons, I never wanted to _look_ like one.

    Don't get me wrong, the padded-grey-yawn that most laptop cases could do with a lot of improvement. But these aren't it.

  18. I can't believe no one mentioned Brenthaven by pillohead · · Score: 4, Informative

    First of all this is based on the knowledge I obtained while selling luggage about 7-8 years ago, so as per usual YMMV. Back in those days Brenthaven made the best bags to offer drop protection to your laptop. The owner or president or whatever Harvey Stone would come into our shop and demonstrate by dropping his bag with his laptop in it and then pulling it out and booting it up to show there was no damage. If the cases are too expensive, then check out the laptop sleeves, they have decent 20 dollar jobbys that will really work. I got a hundred dollar http://www.brenthaven.com/catalog-glove.htmllaptop glove for my bro in the army back in 2000 and he still has it. They're made with great materials up in Bellingham Washington and their warranty is phenomenal. They used to be fanatical about customer service, I bet they still are.

    Also I have an older Halliburton 5" case and by itself that thing weighs a pretty good amount. If I throw in my latitude c800 with a 15" screen with both batteries and charger it's ridiculously heavy. The Halliburtons look cool but if you have to do any walking further than from your car to the client then forget it. They're damned impressive in interviews, that first impression with that bad boy and you'll be sure they won't forget you.

  19. Watch the people who get on the plane first by Dr.+Brad · · Score: 3, Informative

    Have a look at what the hard-core road warriors carry -- the folks with airline status that lets them get on the plane first. You'll see one briefcase/backpack brand more than any other: Tumi. Yeah, they're expensive -- $150-600 and they never discount 'em, but they're guaranteed for life.

    It will take killer abuse, protect the contents, and stay good looking doing it. I've destroyed TravelPro stuff without ever checking it. My Tumi just gets that happy 50-mission look.

    They also have ones that are more suitable for the civilized gender.

    The best part is that it comes witht the little talked-about Tumi SpaceWarp(TM) technology. Somehow these suckers are smaller on the outside and larger on the inside than anything else I've used. I can't believe they don't mention this in the brochures.

    Take care,
    brad

  20. Re:Don't use a bag that clearly has a laptop in... by legirons · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Start by getting a properly small laptop, rather then the "luggable" computers Dell make, then you can put it in a normal bag with room to spare...

  21. Re:Don't use a bag that clearly has a laptop in... by Captain+DaFt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hmm, how about a bag that'd scare muggers away? (Genuine faux human skin!)

    http://www.skinbag.net/skinbag-gb/fiches/F-compute r.php
    http://www.skinbag.net/skinbag-gb/fiches/F-urban.p hp

    Tres cool, in a disgusting sort of way.

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