Which laptop/notebook sleeve offers 6-side protection?

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namezero · #1 Post by **namezero** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:39 pm

Greetings to all in Thinkpads.com (yes, recently I fell prey into the notebook phenomenon, despite of being a long time gaming desktop supporter. Oh and some friends keep saying Thinkpad rocks).

I've read the detail reviews of various sleeves in this forum, like Zeroshock, Powersleeve14, Waterfield, etc.

However none of them provides 6 size (top/bottom and 4 sides) protection. Most of them lack padding/foam at the opening (e.g. the top slap or the zipper region).

Maybe Powersleeve14 has padding even on the top opening. Can anyone verify this?

Or any other sleeves that offer padding on all sides? Thank you.

P.S. I've a friend who needs to refresh a Thinkpad i1500 without battery installed--- he lost the battery. Any hints to bypass the battery check, or which sub-forum I should post my BIOS question? Thanks)

Plinkerton · #2 Post by **Plinkerton** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:59 pm

I have a Powersleeve14, and it does indeed have the same amount of padding all over. The top has a padded flap that goes over the top, and then buckles.

I like have one and I like it.

k3vb0t · #3 Post by **k3vb0t** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:19 pm

Plinkerton wrote:I have a Powersleeve14, and it does indeed have the same amount of padding all over. The top has a padded flap that goes over the top, and then buckles.

I like have one and I like it.

Same here. Got the Powersleeve 14 because of what people said here. Padded all over. The zippered pocket on the front isn't as roomy as I thought it was, and its a bit of a push to get the AC adapter and cord into it, but it does fit and close without straining the zipper.

rhema83 · #4 Post by **rhema83** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:28 pm

I second the PowerSleeve 14. I have it and it's absolutely great! Recommended!

dpb · #5 Post by **dpb** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 3:51 pm

The Tenba Computer Safe also looks like it has excellent 6-sided protection.

Go to http://www.tenba.com/computer/protects.htm.

namezero · #6 Post by **namezero** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:20 am

Ouch thanks dpb on the Tenba Computer Safe Insert. Do you own that product or you came across it on the web?

Too bad I jumped the gun on PowerSleeve. Or I might consider your suggestion.

From the picture it does seem that Tenba Computer Safe Insert has more padding then the PowerSleeve14. However the graph at that page can be misleading since it's testing the Insert combining with another Tenba bag.

Plinkerton · #7 Post by **Plinkerton** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:15 am

When you get the powersleeve, you won't feel bad that you jumped the gun...

Skywing · #8 Post by **Skywing** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:04 pm

you can get a waterfield w/ ballistc flap that covers everything

admsteiner · #9 Post by **admsteiner** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 6:49 pm

I have the waterfield bag with the flap.
Love it.

It's light, put together very well and offers great protection

namezero · #10 Post by **namezero** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:42 pm

Huh so the extra ballistc flap of that Waterfield bag as padding?

admsteiner · #11 Post by **admsteiner** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:31 pm

The bag itself doesn't have a flap, but you can get a configuration with a flap. without the flap it's 5 sides of protection, with the flap 6.
--adam

lfeagan · #12 Post by **lfeagan** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:39 pm

I might change Adam's statement to read "The bag in its default configuration does not have a flap, but one of the available variations includes a flap as an integral part of the bag." The translation being that Adam's somewhat sounds like the flap is not attached or is an add-on that isn't somehow well-secured. I am likely reading things into what he said that aren't there, but English is notorious for having subtly to the meaning that obfuscates the true intentions and causes many blunders (I am an engineer so these issues are important to me). So, I just thought I should clarify that the flap is, as with all the "options", really a listing of unique configurations that really are unique entities as you couldn't add-on a flap easily after you had purchased the bag.

I have a Waterfield and really like it. If I didin't have a kick [censored] Marmot backpack I would have also gotten one of their should bags.

admsteiner · #13 Post by **admsteiner** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:53 pm

Good call. After a full day of law school my brain is just fried

Yes, it is an integral part of the bag.
--Adam

namezero · #14 Post by **namezero** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 10:38 pm

Oh my.

Man you guys are making me regretting my choice, which... is too late to change now.

Assuming both PowerSleeve14 and Waterfield Sleeve offers the same level of protection, I prefer the Waterfield design more.

Reasons:
1. Waterfield can be lighter in weight... Powersleeve14 is 1.5 pound.

2. Design... I prefer cloth design more... like throwing the whole thing into washing machine.

Oh to owners of Powersleeve14, how can you clean it?????? Thanks.

#15 Post by **aamsel** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 11:16 pm

So, you folks are emphatic that the Powersleeve 14 is a better overall bag than the Tom Bihn Brain Cell??

I ask, because in past discussions of cases/sleeves, I have always heard a few people chime in for the Brain Cell.

If you have seen both of them, could you say why the Powersleeve is better???

Thanks,

Andrew
Austin, TX

krosenstein · #16 Post by **krosenstein** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 1:52 am

I have a T41 and it fits well in the Powersleeve with the regular and the hi-cap battery. The T41 with the regular battery swims in the size of the Brain Cell you have to buy to fit the hi-cap battery. I liked the stiffer sides of the BC, but the fit sucked.

#17 Post by **aamsel** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:07 am

So, I assume that you went with the 14" Powersleeve??

Andrew
Austin, TX

krosenstein wrote:I have a T41 and it fits well in the Powersleeve with the regular and the hi-cap battery. The T41 with the regular battery swims in the size of the Brain Cell you have to buy to fit the hi-cap battery. I liked the stiffer sides of the BC, but the fit sucked.

namezero · #18 Post by **namezero** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:18 am

Yeah, if you're a Powersleever now, may I wonder how you clean it? I doubt throwing it into a washing machine is a good idea.

Oh and to Waterfielders, can you throw a Waterfield bag into washing machine? If not, how do you guys clean it?

aamsel wrote:So, I assume that you went with the 14" Powersleeve??

Andrew
Austin, TX

krosenstein wrote:I have a T41 and it fits well in the Powersleeve with the regular and the hi-cap battery. The T41 with the regular battery swims in the size of the Brain Cell you have to buy to fit the hi-cap battery. I liked the stiffer sides of the BC, but the fit sucked.

brewt · #19 Post by **brewt** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:49 am

With a Waterfield SleeveCase, I'd just throw it into the wash, though I haven't had to do so with my 2 year old one (still looks like new). It's just neoprene with a thick ballistic fabric around it, so I doubt there'd be any problems washing it. Just to be sure, you can always ask Gary at sfbags about it.

With the Waterfield SleeveCase, the protection it gives sort of depends on which orientation you get and the size you get. With my vertical SleeveCase w/o flap and my Fujitsu S6010 notebook, it fits like a glove, but the top doesn't quite wrap around the top of the notebook to give it enough protection if it got dropped top down (though it's unlikely to happen). However, if I had the flap, or if the top extended a few more centimetres, it'd probably have enough protection.

If you're thinking about carrying your notebook around by itself without anything else, the Powersleeve would probably be better (since it's more of a bag than a sleeve), but if you're going to be carrying it in your backpack with other stuff, then the Waterfield SleeveCase is probably better since it's smaller and will fit in pretty much any bag. I was thinking about getting the Powersleeve for the T42 I'm getting, but it's too big to fit in my backpack.

For 14" T42 sizing in the vertical orientation, go with the size 6. It fits like a glove, but I can't comment on the fit at the opening (my brother in Colorado has my T42). However, if you're getting the 9-cell battery, the size 6 is too small and the next vertical orientation sleeve is the size 8. However, this size is a little loose (about an inch of slack) but should be okay when it's in a backpack.

admsteiner · #20 Post by **admsteiner** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:12 pm

I have the waterfield and the binh brain cell.

The brain cell is bulkier and heavier, but affords better protection (it's much harder too). I like the waterfield much better though.

If I had to ship my laptop somewhere I'd probably use the Binh. But for everyday use, I prefer the waterfield

krosenstein · #21 Post by **krosenstein** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:52 pm

Yes, I got the Powersleeve, and I'm satisfied. My only criticism is the orientation, since I also use it as an insert in a larger case. But it's a minor point. I do wish it had the additional protection of the BC.

Plinkerton · #22 Post by **Plinkerton** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:18 pm

I actually use my Powersleeve in my standard size backpack many times a week. It fits fine in there with room to spare, and the vertical orientation makes it perfect. So, it will fit great in a regular backpack.

namezero · #23 Post by **namezero** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 1:05 am

I received the Powersleeve14 today for a T23.

The laptop fits nicely in the sleeve, although it seems like it has another 1/2" inch left in the top opening area.

The top open flapping has a small bag, which I can barely fit the power supply and cable in it.

I tried putting the Powersleeve14 into a normal no padding school backpack. Don't know about level of protection (and I doubt I'll try to test it), but it feels comfortable.

I think I'll often use the Powersleeve with a normal backpack.

Thanks for all the recommendation!

Which laptop/notebook sleeve offers 6-side protection?

Which laptop/notebook sleeve offers 6-side protection?

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