Netbook chic: 6 new laptop bags for ultraportables

A sampling of six cases that are now available for smaller systems

By Barbara Krasnoff, Framingham | Monday, 17 November 2008
Even a year after the introduction of the Asus Eee PC , netbooks are still something of a novelty. Just a couple of weeks ago, while I was sitting one evening in a hotel lounge with a group of professionals, mine was passed around with enthusiastic curiosity -- they had heard of its easy portability and were eager for some hands-on time before possibily buying one for themselves.
It was then that I realized my netbook wasn't just a nicely lightweight tool for out-of-the-office computing -- it was a statement of my relationship with technology. (A slightly different statement than, say, a MacBook Air , but still. ...) As such, it behooved me to protect my device with something a bit more worthy than the simple black foam sleeve it came with.
But that presented a difficulty -- there aren't that many protective cases out there for notebooks with displays smaller than 12 inches. And you don't want your new netbook to bounce around in a too-large backpack, or get scratched up by the other devices in your messenger bag. You want something that can really protect it -- and show it off at the same time.

What follows is a sampling of six cases that are now available for smaller systems. We've arranged them in price order, from about $25 (for sleeves that offer protection and perhaps some space for a couple of accessories, but not much more) to $120 (for bags that offer space for your netbook, your media player, your wallet, your extra drive, your water bottle and whatever else you need to carry along).

Case Logic 7-10" Laptop Sleeve
Case Logic Inc.
Fits laptops: Up to 10.5 by 7.5 by 1.5 inches
Colors: Blue, black
Price: $24.99

Case Logic's 7-10" Laptop Sleeve is one bag that I immediately decided I wanted. Like many simpler laptop sleeves, it is made of stretchy neoprene, but unlike many of the sleeves, it doesn't leave you wondering what to do with any of the add-ons that you want to carry around with your netbook.

The Laptop Sleeve includes a nicely designed zippered external pocket for the power cord, mouse or other accessories. And inside the pocket is another, tiny pocket for a USB adaptor (so it won't go bouncing around the interior). Finally, it's not only good-looking, but inexpensive. Definitely on my holiday wishlist.

Belkin 7" Laptop Carrying Case
Belkin International Inc.
Fits laptops: Up to 8.8 by 6.3 by 1.2 inches
Colors: Jetset red, techno blue, plum berry, black
Price: $29.99

Belkin has long been known for its variety of computer accessories and add-ons, but it's not exactly famous for its fashion sense. This may be changing; one of the items in its current catalog is a laptop carrying case that is neither traditional nor techie.

The 7" Laptop Carrying Case looks like a high-style polyester tote bag, with electric-bright colors and rectangular handle. A detachable shoulder strap finishes the look and frees up your hands. Somewhere between a sleeve and a full bag, the Carrying Case will not only protect your netbook from accidental scratches, but will call attention to your good taste.

Proporta Gadget Bag
Proporta Ltd.
Fits laptops: Up to 10.6 by 8.7 by 1.6 inches
Colors: Black
Price: $47.95

OK, let's get serious here -- business-level serious, that is. Suppose you're a netbook user and you're on your way to a meeting with the CFO of your corporation. You want to impress him with how industrious yet frugal you are by subtly introducing your tiny-yet-cheap notebook into the conversation. However, you can't do it with a too-colorful bag that looks as if it belongs to a twentysomething tech fanboy. What do you do?

Well, you might want to check out the Proporta Gadget Bag.

This flexible black bag offers several different padded compartments, two of them removable. Each compartment includes a plastic aperture, so you can pull through your media player headphones or your netbook power cord. Why would you want your power cord to be able to run outside the bag? Because then you can open the bag up and use your netbook without having to remove it -- making this a really useful bag for quick computing at the airport.

Acme Made Netbook Sleeve
Acme Made
Fits laptops: Up to 9.5 by 7 by 1 inches
Colors: Massive paisley night, plural fossil, PS stripe reverberating, squares brown
Price: $55

Sometimes all you want is something simple to carry your netbook around in, so when you toss it into your briefcase backpack and then accidentally drop said briefcase onto the sidewalk, you can be reasonably sure your computer will still be in operating condition. But just because you only need protection, it doesn't follow that this protection has to be plain.

Acme Made's soft cases come in a variety of styles and textiles, and will make sure that nobody mistakes you for someone with no fashion sense. The cases feature high-density closed-cell foam padding to make sure your netbook stays safe without adding to its weight. A quilted satin lining makes sure your netbook knows it's loved.

Crumpler Breakfast Buffet
Crumpler
Fits laptops: Up to 12 inches
Colors: Two-toned olive, blue, gray
Price: $90

If you're riding the subways in New York on a daily basis, you'll already be familiar with the Crumpler logo; it's highly popular for its messenger bags and backpacks among the young and fashionable. This snazzy, simple little bag includes padded main and laptop compartments with a small mesh pocket under the flap; the flap is secured by an oblong piece of Velcro.

If you just want to throw your netbook, wallet, and other necessities into a bag and go -- and do it with flair -- this may be what you're looking for. (Note: Crumpler seems addicted to Web sites with so much flash -- and Flash -- that users of netbooks and less powerful systems may want to try the simpler Crumpler Lite Site for shopping and ordering.)
Tom Bihn Buzz
Tom Bihn
Fits laptops: Up to 15 inches
Colors: Black/steel/olive, black/steel/sapphire, black/black/black, black/black/steel, black/steel/crimson
Price: $120

Tom Bihn is one of those companies that caters to the young, fashionable, digital crowd -- and as far as I can tell, it does so very successfully. For example, the Buzz is a smallish and very good-looking sling bag with a strap that fits snugly around your torso -- sort of a half-backpack, but with a lot less chance to crash it into the guy standing next to you on the bus.

It can handle notebooks up to 13 inches (and even, according to the Web site, a few 15-in. models), and also includes a front organizer pocket, a side pocket for your water bottle, and even a pocket on the shoulder strap for your phone or media player. And if you need to access your netbook in a hurry, you can swing the Buzz around to your front. A good bag to grab when you're heading for the nearest wired coffee bar.