From: Randal Whittle (rwhittle_at_usa.net)
Date: Tue May 04 1999 - 13:47:55 EDT
At 03:00 AM 5/5/99 -0800, you wrote:
>I need a case that will protect the TP very well. Will handle the following
>accessories that I must keep with me:
You make quite a list there. :-)
3 options that I personally have been very pleased with--and each depends
on your needs.
Option 1: The Ultralight Approach
Eagle Creek (outdoor backpack & camping manufacturer) makes a really nice
padded "envelope" of sorts that a notebook computer goes into quite nicely
It protects it well and has a couple of pockets on it to put some CD's &
floppies in (or small cords). This is really the minimalist approach as
there's really no room for anything else, but its ideal if that's what
you're after--or if you need to put the computer in some other bag where
its not very well-protected.
I got mine (along with a really *great* airline carryon bag that turns
into a backpack--the "Switchback Plus") at www.walkabouttravelgear.com and
I *highly* recommend these folks. They were *very* courteous, responsive,
knowledgeable, etc.
Option 2: The Caddillac of Standard Computer Cases
Port. www.port.com. Back when I first got my TP 750C, it came with a
bunch of coupons, one of which was $100 off a case made by Port. It was
(is still) an expensive option, but a *very* good one (good enough that IBM
had them making many bags to put the IBM label on--and you know IBM used to
be a lot pickier about such things than they are today). I got a nice
leather one that is as nice as or nicer than any briefcase I've ever seen.
The beauty of most of the Port cases is that they cradle your notebook in
a "sling" with dead air underneath. This allows a *lot* more leeway when
or if you should drop the thing, as foam pads compress and don't allow as
much "give" to protect the computer.
Option 3: The Carryon Suitcase that Carries the Rest of your Luggage.
Do you travel by air much? Or have to carry lots of things at once? I
do. I do presentations and exhibit software products, which puts me in a
position of having to carry a laptop, a data projector, printed samples,
order forms, and usually at least 1 box full of product all the time.
I found the perfect solution. Check out www.portercase.com (though I got
mine from 1-800-batteries, as that was the cheapest price I could find on
it). Its a 22x14x8 hard-shell case (well within standard airline & FAA
rules limiting the size of a carryon bag) that not only has a telescoping
handle & wheels, but also flips over and turns into a cart--a cart that you
can stack other boxes & luggage onto to carry through the airport.
They offer many flavors of it (you'll see on the website) designed to
carry or protect various items (I got the one for laptops--but actually use
that space to protect my data projector while I use the Eagle Creek
envelope in Option 1 to protect my TP 600 stashed right next to it).
I've been using it for a couple weeks now and it got its first real test a
few days ago--worked marvelously carrying 2 heavy boxes on top of it. I
have to go to New Orleans tomorrow and it will come in very handy then too,
addtionally carrying another couple of luggage items. Really--its fabulous.
At any rate, those are the routes I most recommend, all from personal
experience and depending on your own needs. Unfortunately, the only one
that is cheap is the first one. The last two are rather expensive, but
believe me--its a case of "you get what you pay for" and both of them are
simply *great*.
- Randy Whittle
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