Zeroshock sleeve and T42: 14/15", 6/9cell

[Kenn]

Since this post got a bit verbose, here's the executive summary:
The 15" medium sleeve fits the 14" t42 with either battery + some room to spare. The Large sleeve fits the 15" t42 iwith either battery + even more room to spare. Don't bother getting the medium sleeve for the 15" thinkpad - it won't fit. Don't bother getting the large sleeve for the 14" thinkpad - there'll be too much extra space.

If you're really interested in (much) more detail, feel free to keep reading.

---

Finally getting around to posting on fitment of the Zeroshock 15" medium (A4) and large (A4L) laptop sleeves on 14" and 15" T42 notebooks. Note that the site (Shinza.com) sells a 12" sleeve, 15" medium, and 15" large. They don't have a labeled 14" sleeve.

I was going to post some pictures up, but they really don't seem to help in terms of determining fit, so I thought simple text descriptions would do best.

Zeroshock 15" Medium Sleeve:
This is what 14" TP owners should get. A t42 6-cell set with front corner flush to the front corner of the sleeve leaves almost an inch of free space on the back and opposite side, but it doesn't feel too loose. There is enough space to fit an 850pg hardcover book in with the laptop and still smoothly zipper up the sleeve. In fact, I was able to stick a 1500pg hardcover textbook in with the notebook and the "high-resistance polyurethane foam" stretches enough to allow it to close, not that you'd want to be carrying big books in the sleeve along with your computer!

14" + 9-cell fits just as well, with room to spare. Someone earlier said it fit like a glove, I'd say more like a glove a size too large, but again very comfortable and I could call the fit ideal.

Don't bother getting the medium if you have a 15" T42. With no battery or the 6-cell, the foam can stretch enough to close, but in glove-speak, it's definitely an OJ fit. You'll be pulling the sleeve to stretch it and fighting the zipper every time you put the laptop away. With the 9-cell on the 15", I couldn't get the zipper to close fully, and didn't feel like fighting it and scuffing the rubberized coating on the notebook cover.

Zeroshock 15" Large:
First, a note on my individual sleeves: The 12 and Medium sleeves are very soft - They do the whole memory-foam thing quite well, and I can see the "raw egg drop" being done with no ill effects. The 15" large seems to have a firmer foam - it feels a lot like pushing into clay - firmer resistance. I don't know if it's intentional or just random variations in manufacturing, but for the smaller shocks the zeroshock seems to be adept at protecting against, I imagine the 12/Medium does a slightly better job. Also, all the sleeves becomes much more soft/pliant as the temperature increases. If I leave the sleeve next to the t42's side air vent, it gets to an almost gel-wristrest type consistency.

The large sleeve is too big for the 14" notebook. In fact, i can fit a 14" AND 15" t42 into the large sleeve easily (more easily than cramming the 15" notebook into the Medium sleeve). I bet with some shoehorning, it could close around 2 15" T42s Bottom line, the Medium sleeve has more than enough space to spare for the 14".

Technically, this means the large sleeve is also "too big" for the 15" thinkpad, 9-cell or otherwise. It is pretty spacious, when I close the sleeve I can get more than an inch of empty space against the side and back. The 1500pg hardcover textbook also fits in just fine with the computer. I get the feeling this thing was made to be able to fit those enormous HP Pavillion or Toshiba Satellite 15" notebooks. I can't believe IBM had the audacity to make a thin and light 15"!

Still, the large sleeve works just fine for the 15" notebook, and it's the only size that will fit. IMO too big is better than too small anyways. I can still fit the combo into my backpack's laptop sleeve, and the large size makes it easy to zip up when I'm ready to pack up. Still, a size between the medium and large (closer to the medium) would be just perfect for the 15" t42.

[leesiulung]

thanks for the informative review. You mentioned the 12" sleeve, do you have any experience with the 12" sleeve and the thinkpad X31?

[Kenn]

thanks for the informative review. You mentioned the 12" sleeve, do you have any experience with the 12" sleeve and the thinkpad X31?

Only seen the 12" with the Dell 700M, but a friend of mine just got the 12" for the X31 and he's reported no problems with fitment.

[aghusker]

I've got a 15" T42 in a Medium Zeroshock. It is a tight fit, but it can work.
I am glad I don't have the extra slack of a Large Zeroshock because it may not fit in my carry bag.

[Kenn]

I've got a 15" T42 in a Medium Zeroshock. It is a tight fit, but it can work.
I am glad I don't have the extra slack of a Large Zeroshock because it may not fit in my carry bag.

I wonder if they get a bit looser with age, too. Half an inch more room and the 15" would fit perfectly in the Medium. As is, I have to stretch the sleeve across the last corner of the 15".

It can stretch with the 6-cell, but as I occasionally use the 9-cell battery I can't get the medium sleeve to close at all with the extra hump, so that completely takes it out of consideration for me

[MadeInJapan]

Can anyone here post where they bought their ZeroShock and what kind of pricing to expect. Would the 15" medium (or 14") fit my T30?

[lfeagan]

Yeah, just based on your dimensions and their inner dimensions sure seems like it should fit well. But, I will mention that Waterfield Designs bags have a much better fit on notebooks as their range of sizes is far greater than the two choices of medium and large.

[Kenn]

Can anyone here post where they bought their ZeroShock and what kind of pricing to expect. Would the 15" medium (or 14") fit my T30?

Therre's more than enough room for a T40 w/9 cell in the 15" medium, a T30 will fit with no problem.

They're at Shinza.com, I think all the sleeves are $29.

[LaurenceSpiegel]

Thinking of getting one. Does the foam cover each corner? That's where the 1st impact will likely occur when dropped, such as slipping out of one's hand. Is there any risk of scuffing the tpad with this case? There's a z-shock for sale b/c the owner find it can scuff his t42.

[Kenn]

Thinking of getting one. Does the foam cover each corner? That's where the 1st impact will likely occur when dropped, such as slipping out of one's hand. Is there any risk of scuffing the tpad with this case? There's a z-shock for sale b/c the owner find it can scuff his t42.

The memory foam covers the edges, and they even use the same foam for the bumper-ring/zipperguard that goes around the entire perimeter on both halves of the clamshell, so yes there is edge and corner protection, though it would be possible to fall on an edge not covered by the extra bumper ring.

It will not scuff the delicate rubbery layer on the top of the thinkpad any more than any other method of securing the tp. After 5 months of owernship, only about a square mm on each edge of the cover has worn away, the rest of the cover is pristine and well-protected by the ZS. If you try to stuff a 15" into the med-size ZS, you'll probably wear at the corner more quickly due to increased friction, but that's just friction at work.

In short, my laptop is carried around in a backpack all day and is in and out of a zeroshock about 10-12 times a day. I'd say the finish looks better than most thinkpads do after 1-2 weeks.

[MadeInJapan]

Bought a 12" ZeroShock sleeve at Tokyo International Airport (Narita) on my way home to the States this spring from Japan thinking it would fit my 600E but it was to small. I have since purchased a T30 and ordered 2 of the 15" mediums for my new TP and the 600E which I gave my son. The 2 I bought from Shinza were pliable and stretchy and somewhat large for our TP's (a bit to much room) but still nice. I was surprised at their strechability because the 12" ZeroShock was hard and not pliable (same tags and paper/plastic enclosure as the larger ZeroShock). Someone asked if they get softer with age....I think not....I believe the 12" one sat around at the airport gift shop for some time and hardened. It has never softened up since. I ended up giving it away to one of my students who had a small Toshiba Dynabook. It fit it well, but it is still sort of hard. Any ideas on how to soften them up once they harden?

[Kenn]

Bought a 12" ZeroShock sleeve at Tokyo International Airport (Narita) on my way home to the States this spring from Japan thinking it would fit my 600E but it was to small. I have since purchased a T30 and ordered 2 of the 15" mediums for my new TP and the 600E which I gave my son. The 2 I bought from Shinza were pliable and stretchy and somewhat large for our TP's (a bit to much room) but still nice. I was surprised at their strechability because the 12" ZeroShock was hard and not pliable (same tags and paper/plastic enclosure as the larger ZeroShock). Someone asked if they get softer with age....I think not....I believe the 12" one sat around at the airport gift shop for some time and hardened. It has never softened up since. I ended up giving it away to one of my students who had a small Toshiba Dynabook. It fit it well, but it is still sort of hard. Any ideas on how to soften them up once they harden?

I think there is variance in manufacturing at play here. A friend of mine bought the 12" before Shinza ran out. His is very soft and pliable. I pre-ordered a 15" med and 15" large, and got them both witihn the new batch. The large I currently use is very hard, it takes a lot to press it down. The med is in between, but a little softer than the large. I think you could do the "egg drop" on the 12, but it would definitely break on the large.

It does get softer when it's warm though.

[MadeInJapan]

I put my 12" in my bed at the foot which was very warm...in the morning...it was not any softer. Maybe quality control on earlier production wasn't so good.

[Kenn]

I put my 12" in my bed at the foot which was very warm...in the morning...it was not any softer. Maybe quality control on earlier production wasn't so good.

Or the other way around I rest my laptop on the ZS when I work, and right next to where the fan exhaust is, the sleeve gets warm and and pliable.

I feel like the harder variation is good for high drops. The softer ones are better for everyday bumps and bruises.