LAPTOP MESSENGER BAGS

Laptop Messenger Bag

Today, it seems like everyone has a laptop. Years ago, technology was expensive and the so called ‘portable’ machines you could buy still weighed a large amount and were vastly underpowered for business tasks. These days, with groundbreaking laptops like the HP DV2 and the Macbook Air, laptops have hit the big time. Nearly every business professional has a laptop and so do many regular consumers. Some people use their laptops as their primary machine while others use them only when they need to be portable. Some companies have even started getting rid of all their desktop machines and replacing their entire solution with mobile devices like laptops, netbooks, Smartphone’s and PDAs.

With all this new technology being carried around by hundreds of thousands of people every day, it’s important to consider exactly how you’re going to transport your device. For many users, getting a laptop messenger bag is the best option. In terms of carrying your laptop, messenger bags can achieve a perfect balance of comfort, style and durability that you really need when carrying around a piece of hardware that could easily cost hundreds of dollars to repair or replace.

A quick search on the internet will reveal that there’s just as many different types of laptop messenger bag as there are laptops, and it can be difficult to figure out which one is the best for your needs. So what qualities are the most important when looking for a laptop messenger bag and how can you tell which are best for your individual laptop and travel requirements? Here are some things to look out for:

Comfort – Having the most attractive and shock protective laptop messenger bag in the world isn’t going to do you any good if the bag isn’t comfortable to hold. Think about the weight of your laptop and don’t forget to add up the additional weight of all the extra things you might be carrying along with it like peripherals, mice, charging units of batteries. Take a look at how easy is to adjust the laptop messenger bag for people of different heights and weight as this will a major factor in how comfortable you can make the bag. Make sure the bag comes with a padded handle and strap as these can really help when you’re carrying the bag for extended periods of time.

Security – When we talk about security we don’t know mean how well secured the laptop is within the bag, we mean how easy the bag is to get into. One of the best things about choosing a laptop messenger bag over other types of carrying equipment is that many don’t actually look like typical laptop bags at all. When you’re carrying out expensive hardware, the last thing you want to do is advertise it to everybody.

Style – People have differing opinions as to whether style matters from a laptop bag, but even if you aren’t into fashion at all there are plenty of options available when considering laptop messenger bags that combine functionality with great design. There are a number of ‘designer’ ranges available as well as companies happy to customise your bag for you before purchase.
Protection – One of the most important aspects of a laptop messenger bag and the key one that sets it apart from just a regular briefcase or rucksack is its ability to protect your laptop. A good laptop messenger bag will combine a variety of different methods in order to make sure your laptop is kept safe even when you’re on a bumpy train or riding a bike to work. Many will include various straps to keep the laptop itself in place but be careful when dealing with these are they are often designed for one certain size of laptops. While one laptop messenger bag may be fully able to carry a laptop of any size, another may only be designed for one with a 15” screen. As well as protecting your laptop from moving, a good laptop messenger bag will also protect your laptop from the elements and many of the best are completely waterproof.

Extra Features – Some bags come with extra features and compartments as well as the ability to customise the bags design to your needs. Others are made out of special material and some of the most original even come with solar power charging panels to keep your devices charged up when you’re on the go. Make sure the extra features boasted are things that you’ll actually use though, as they often increase the price tag for a laptop messenger bag by a significant amount.

Hopefully using these tips you’ll be able to find a laptop messenger bag that suits your needs and feels comfortable. If you’ve looked around and found a lot of bags with similar features and price and are still unsure about which laptop messenger bag to buy, here’s 3 we’ve found that stand out from the crowd:

3. Recycled Laptop Messenger Bag
http://www.amazon.com/Design-Your-Own-Recycled-Messenger/dp/B0020MUFCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1242934446&sr=1-1
This recycled laptop messenger bag from Amazon might not exactly be suited for business users, but it’s a great bag for kids. The bag is designed for smaller laptops and made out of recycled vinyl. It’s lightweight and has a strap that should be adjustable to fit a child or young teenager easily.

The real draw of this bag for kids is that it comes with pens which can draw pictures onto the vinyl so they essentially get to design their own bag. Once drawn the pictures are permanent and won’t fade away with use. Maybe not one for big business, but it’s unique, environmentally friendly and should put a smile on someone’s face.

2. Voltaic Panel Laptop Messenger Bag
http://www.voltaicsystems.com/bag_messenger.shtml
Designed for 15” laptops, this bag has all the usual features of a laptop messenger bag including a padded, adjustable strap and a laptop sleeve that can also be adjusted to fit in small laptops. It’s a great option for a secure laptop bag that has the space for a phone and other devices, but it’s not the space that’s exciting about Voltaic’s offering, it’s the solar panels.

3 large solar panels at the front allow you to charge portable devices on the go. They aren’t designed to charge laptops but can provide some extra juice for smaller devices such as mobile phones and mp3 players. If you like the idea of giving your phone some extra battery simply by walking around outside with it plugged into this laptop messenger bag, the Voltaic option is one of the best solar panel bags for both style and value.

1. Timbuk2 Laptop Messenger Bag
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/messenger/messenger-classic/
Timbuk2 is one of the biggest names in laptops bags and taking a look at its classic laptop messenger bag design, it’s easy to see why. You can buy the bag in a variety of attractive and stylish designs and if you buy direct from their website, you can even customise the bag so it’s better suited for you. Prices depend on the design and options but generally cost between $70 and $150.

The Timbuk2 bag comes with a full waterproof liner, a removal strap with comfort pads, an adjustable shoulder strap and a padded compartment to keep your laptop secure. There’s also plenty of space for work or textbooks available and plenty of compartments which make organising your stuff really easy.

Hopefully this article will have helped you find exactly the type of laptop messenger bag that you need to keep your laptop safe and secure. It’s time to ditch that cheap bag that came bundled with your laptop and get buy a laptop messenger bag that your hardware truly deserves!