What's the best Thinkpad Sleeve/Case?

Message

doylnea · #61 Post by **doylnea** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:29 pm

Jeffats wrote:I bought the travelpro sleeve and it seems to work great and cost me only $29.

Where did you buy your travelpro sleeve? Travelpro makes great luggage correct - I would presume that their laptop sleeves are just as nice.

ajminn · #62 Post by **ajminn** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:56 pm

anyone use timbuk2 messenger bags with the laptop sleeve? That's probably what I'll end up doing.

doylnea · #63 Post by **doylnea** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:16 pm

ajminn wrote:anyone use timbuk2 messenger bags with the laptop sleeve? That's probably what I'll end up doing.

I've seen the more recent versions of those bags - but since I shelled out the cash for a Timbuk2 years ago, and it's still in great shape, it's hard for me to buy another Timbuk2, just to have a sleeve built-in.

ajminn · #64 Post by **ajminn** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:19 pm

i don't think the sleeve is built in? i think you can buy the sleeve seperate from the bag and just use them in conjunction? but then again, i maybe wrong? do you just through your laptop into your old timbuk2 bag then?

doylnea · #65 Post by **doylnea** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:32 pm

ajminn wrote:i don't think the sleeve is built in? i think you can buy the sleeve seperate from the bag and just use them in conjunction? but then again, i maybe wrong? do you just through your laptop into your old timbuk2 bag then?

They make at least one bag that has a built in padded pocket. My GF were both a little jealous of the folks getting to buy a new TimBuk2, since mine is 9 years old, or so , and hers is 7 y.o. and both look brand new, despite being used nearly every day.

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/cate ... tegoryId=9

doylnea · #66 Post by **doylnea** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:36 pm

Does the Waterfield Design sleeve really provide protection? It looks like it's just cloth/nylon.

How does that compare to the Shinza for laptop protection?

Of course, as I wrote before, I have a 14.1" T41 with a 6 cell battery that I'd like to be snug in the case. Since the Shinza doesn't appear to come in a size medium anymore, and the small appears to be too small, looks like if I were to buy a Shinza, I'd be looking at a large which might be a little too big.

Can someone with a T41 and a Large Shinza take out their 9 cell battery for a second and snap a photo or measure the gaps between the case and laptop?

Thanks much. I'll post pictures of mine once I decide.

brewt · #67 Post by **brewt** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:52 pm

doylnea wrote:Does the Waterfield Design sleeve really provide protection? It looks like it's just cloth/nylon.

How does that compare to the Shinza for laptop protection?

The Waterfield case uses thick neoprene (wetsuit material), which should protect against a small drop (I'm not going to test how much of a drop

). I think the Shinza would be slightly less effective in that regard (ie. being dropped), but would provide better protection if something was dropped onto the notebook whilst in the sleeve.

I'm not sure how the Shinza fits, but it doesn't look like it's a glove fit unlike the Waterfield SleeveCase. Also, I don't really like zippers since they're clumsier to manage (open/put notebook in/etc) and the possibility of scratching. The Waterfield SleeveCase also looks nicer

doylnea · #68 Post by **doylnea** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:59 pm

brewt wrote:
doylnea wrote:Does the Waterfield Design sleeve really provide protection? It looks like it's just cloth/nylon.

How does that compare to the Shinza for laptop protection?
The Waterfield case uses thick neoprene (wetsuit material), which should protect against a small drop (I'm not going to test how much of a drop ). I think the Shinza would be slightly less effective in that regard (ie. being dropped), but would provide better protection if something was dropped onto the notebook whilst in the sleeve.

Thanks much. I think that it's more likely of the two that the laptop will be dropped or bumped, as opposed to having something dropped on it.

doylnea · #69 Post by **doylnea** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:01 pm

Also, for anyone looking for a Timbuk2 bag size medium

REI-outlet.com has it as their deal of the day

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/47844 ... TLET_HP_LD

for $27.93 that about 50% or more off regular price.

Plinkerton · #70 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:15 am

That's rockin' dude. I've been wanting a Timbuk2 bag for a long time, but I don't really need one. I've never been able to justify the price for something i don't really need, but now I just ordered one!

Sweet!

silentpc · #71 Post by **silentpc** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:02 am

Looks like no-one has yet noticed this:

http://www.booqbags.com/Detail.bok?no=98

Ballistic shell, separate handle, and 2 inches thick - not bad considering it's a hard-sided case. I've already pre-ordered mine!

doylnea · #72 Post by **doylnea** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:09 pm

Plinkerton wrote:That's rockin' dude. I've been wanting a Timbuk2 bag for a long time, but I don't really need one. I've never been able to justify the price for something i don't really need, but now I just ordered one!

Sweet!

kind of looks like it was a psuedo price mistake. REI-Outlet usually has one day deals, but that one has been up for 2 days now, but at twice the price today, as it was yesterday, I've never seen them do that before.

Plinkerton · #73 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 7:17 pm

That's weird. Now it's 44 dollars. When I ordered it, it was still 30. It went thru as 30 plus shipping, for a total of 35-36 or so. I guess I hit the last few hours of that price.

Interesting that it's gone up, but not all the way.

That new Booq bag looks interesting. I have the powersleeve and it's great. This one looks promising.

doylnea · #74 Post by **doylnea** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 3:34 pm

Plinkerton wrote:I have the powersleeve and it's great.

Dang it, now you've got me looking at the Powersleeve as well. I presume that a 14.1" T41 would fit nicely in the Powersleeve 14? The appeal of the powersleeve, (assuming that it's some sort of neoprene/nylon combo) is that the shoulder strap and pocket are included, not $30 upcharges, yet it still looks slim enough (and is decribed on the website) as being thin enough to fit in another bag, like my Medium Timbuk2.

Plinkerton · #75 Post by **Plinkerton** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:42 pm

Well, I'll tell ya about the PowerSleeve 14. I have a 14.1 inch T42, and it fits quite well. It's not snug, persay, but it fits just fine. It's a good fit.

I carry it in my standard size backpack all the time, and it slides in just fine. I carry the AC brick in the front pocket, and it fits fine also. It bulges a bit, but it doesn't put any bad strain on the zipper, so I'm not worried.

Overall, it's a VERY well built sleeve. The padding is on all 6 sides, and it feels thick and burly. Feels very tough.

The D rings are metal, and the shoulder strap is great quality. The front clip on it is very solid, and the overall feel is great.

I would definitely take it over the Vyper, though the Vyper looks great.

The slim back pocket is quite helpful also. It keeps extra papers, and CDs in there no problem.

I'd buy it again. It's the best I've found so far.

doylnea · #76 Post by **doylnea** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 2:29 am

Plinkerton wrote:I'd buy it again. It's the best I've found so far

Did you compare the PowerSleeve to the the Waterfield SleeveCases, or the Shinzas when you purchased?

Mofo Jones · #77 Post by **Mofo Jones** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:05 am

I just bought a Shinza 15" medium ZeroShock for my 14.1" T42. Yes, it's a little big, but it's a second layer of protection in my book bag for school. The material is soft and springy, has just enough "give" to distribute weight. Those of you who want form fitting primary protection should probably pass on the Shinza. But if you are carrying your TP in a bag with other items, even if the TP is in a padded laptop sleeve in the bag, the Shinza would be an excellent secondary protection.

Hybrid88 · #78 Post by **Hybrid88** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:13 pm

I was hoping a leather case/body was made for the thinkpads.. see link

http://www1.vajacases.com/images/notebo ... _tr2a.html

ThinkPad · #79 Post by **ThinkPad** » Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:21 pm

I love my tumi sleeve

Plinkerton · #80 Post by **Plinkerton** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:00 am

Nope. I didn't compare it to those two. In specs I did, but not in person. In person, I compared it to a few run of the mill cases. Spec wise, the Powersleeve gives me what I need, and some of the others don't seem to fill that order.

Champ · #81 Post by **Champ** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:13 am

bought a powersleeve 14 =)

#82 Post by **aamsel** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:54 am

I am deciding between the 14" Booq Powersleeve and the Brain Cell, at:
http://www.tombihn.com/Merchant2/mercha ... ct_Count=0

Both have their pros and cons (and following, it seems).

Andrew
Austin, TX

maqo · #83 Post by **maqo** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:45 pm

FWIW, the Powersleeves are great (although the laptop sits in it vertically, not horizontally, if that matters to you). I've found the perspective on the website pictures to be a bit misleading.

#84 Post by **aamsel** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 7:08 pm

Thanks.
Anyone actually ever compare the Powersleeve to the Brain Cell??
I have not ever heard from anyone that has actually seen both.
There seem to just be Powersleeve people, Brain Cell people, and a mixed-bag of everything else. Anyone seen both???

(and NO, the "mixed-bag" reference was not intended as a bad pun, just worked out that way!)

Thanks!
Andrew
Austin, TX

maqo wrote:FWIW, the Powersleeves are great (although the laptop sits in it vertically, not horizontally, if that matters to you). I've found the perspective on the website pictures to be a bit misleading.

maqo · #85 Post by **maqo** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 7:15 pm

I have. They're both adequately padded so it's really just a matter of aesthetics; I happen to think the Powersleeves use higher quality and better-looking materials (ie Brain Cells look like something I would have expected to see 10 years ago, Powersleeves look much more fashion-forward), but that's just personal preference.

krosenstein · #86 Post by **krosenstein** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 7:45 pm

I did too. The best thing the Brain Cell has going for its is the corrugated plastic liner. The worst thing is that the sleeve is too big for a T41, particularly one with the 6-cell battery. In the end, I got a Powersleeve 14, which works with both the 6- and 9-cell batteries. Besides its lack of the plastic liner, the only other thing I don't like about the PS is its portrait orientation. Neither really bothers me that much since I'm using the PS inside a briefcase or backpack. (I might fabricate my own liner.)

I just bought a Targus Matrix backpack, which I can't wait to use on trip.

#87 Post by **aamsel** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:32 pm

Thanks,
I guess I will settle on a Powersleeve as well.

Andrew
Austin, TX

maqo · #88 Post by **maqo** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:16 pm

Andrew, you're not settling...it's a nice sleeve!

#89 Post by **aamsel** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:28 pm

Sorry, didn't mean to make it sound like a comprimise.
I am sure I will be happy with it.

Andrew
Austin, TX

maqo wrote:Andrew, you're not settling...it's a nice sleeve!

etherealtml · #90 Post by **etherealtml** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:30 am

I found THE sleeve!!!! Mobile Edge TechStyle Portfolio:

http://www.mobileedge.com/items.asp?cid=5&scid=5&pid=10

I been looking everywhere for something small enough that would fit inside my backpack. Looks like this thing will hold just the notebook, and has a removeable pouch for the power supply. Perfect for a a 14" T42, maybe not for a 15" though...

You can tell it was designed for Thinkpads because they have one in the picture

OH, and if you don't already have one, pick up the Mobile Edge WIFI signal locater, works great!

What's the best Thinkpad Sleeve/Case?

Re: Sleeve for 15 in T42p

Booqbags Vyper - I think so

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