This is not a Zip-Thru like the case Liz looked at. There are pros and cons to that. The con, of course, is it's not as easy for airport security to x-ray, so the laptop needs to be removed to go through the zapper. That, alone, might make the case for her bag.

But the advantage of my bag is that there are a lot more pockets and spots to stick stuff. There some nice see-through mesh areas, a velcro divider, and even a removable mesh bag shaped like a kidney where you could keep a power strip, as you can see in Figure E.

FIGURE E


This bag has lots of nooks and crannies. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Here's a travel hint from Computing Unplugged: always take a power strip. I can't tell you how many hotel rooms I've been in where there's no free plug for the laptop, phone charger, shaver, PSP charger, camera charger, and all the other crap I carry around on trips.

What Joe didn't like
After a month lugging this bag, I have to admit I don't like how heavy it is. It's twice the weight of the bag Liz reviewed and even though it's made of genuine leather, I can't see how it needs to be so much heavier.

It's made of leather, which might not appeal to some of the vegans and animal-rights people out there, but it's nice. I wouldn't call it ugly. I also wouldn't call those T-shirts I've had for 10 years ugly, but my girlfriend hates them. So use your own judgment.

It's a laptop case that looks like a laptop case. I don't see a problem here. But I could see how someone more fussy about style and looks might like something that doesn't look like laptop cases have looked for as long as there've been laptop cases.

Oh, there was one other minor nit I didn't like. My case also had a strap to attach the case to a luggage carrier. But my strap is sewn onto the front pocket. I'm just not sure how sturdy it's going to be. I wouldn't want to test it with my smokin' rig.

Joe's conclusion
Over all, it's a laptop bag. There's nothing new here that we haven't seen a billion times before, but this one's the biggest laptop bag I've ever owned. It's solid and works.

OUR RATING: 4 of 5

But she's right in that these bags are pretty much indistinguishable from bags we've all had before. We like and strongly recommend Targus products for their solid construction and overall value, but like to see more innovation and, yes, even some style.

Jorge Sosa is a writer/photographer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached via e-mail at jsosa1234@yahoo.com or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jsosa1234.