subject: What To Look For In A Laptop Carrying Case [print this page] First off, its a good thing to actually have a laptop computer before you get a laptop carrying case. Sure, they dont have to always lug about a laptop and can make nice mini-briefcases. But, you are putting yourself at an unnecessary risk from thieves. Thieves target anything that will give them a lot of money like a cell phone or a laptop computer. And the thief will not be too happy with you when they discover that there isnt a laptop in the laptop carrying case.
Who Needs One?
If you do a lot of traveling even just from home to office and back again -- then you need a case or bag for your laptop. If the laptop spends the majority of its life in your home, then a case is not necessary. Cool, but not necessary. Laptops are brilliant devices, but fragile. One good drop-kick in frustration from trying to get something to work and thats it with your laptop, as well as the data inside.
Important Components
Carrying cases usually come in either nylon or leather. There used to be plastic cases, but they usually screamed Im carrying a laptop!!! and are not preferred anymore for this lack of security. Nylon is thinner and less expensive, but is not as sturdy as leather. And, for all of you concerned about the ethics of using real leather, there are man-made leather (pleather) laptop carrying cases that work just as well.
Most laptop cases now do not look like the first generation of laptop cases, which were so visually distinctive everyone that you became an immediate target for thieves. Now, laptop carrying cases look like any average briefcase in order to confuse thieves. There are some cases that contain add-on holders on the outside for mP3 players, cell phones and other hand-held gadgets. Avoid these because they will make you a target for thieves.
Also, you want to be sure your laptop fits in the case! Be sure to measure the dimensions of your laptop and compare them to the dimensions of the prospective laptop carrying case. Odds are, you will add papers or other thin paraphernalia to your case, so it needs a couple inches to spare. If you do wind up buying one thats way too big, be sure your laptop is secure inside. If it slides around, stick a folded newspaper in there to help keep it in place.
