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17" MacBook Pro backpack and accessories?

LeahM

LeahM

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 18, 2008
877
0
Ok, so I am completely new to Mac. I was lucky enough to get a MBP for my birthday a little while back.

I've been looking for a good backpack for my Mac but am having some troubles because its quite large. At the moment I am using a borrowed Camera bag, which makes the bag way bigger then needed. I don't have any books to carry around, except for my "Switching to Macs for Dummies" guide.
Any suggestions?

Also, should I get any other accessories? I've seen alot of sleeves, but does that mean a sleeve when its off? because it gets kinda hot when its been on for a while.

Thanks in advance!
 
The Incase Nylon Slim Backpack is fairly compact, and will fit a 17" MacBook Pro. It gets my vote.
nyln_slmbkpck_blk2.jpg
 
I use this backpack

Love it, has a hard protective bottom at the laptop bottom, and is discreet

And i use the popular Incase sleeve.

Neither of my computers get hotter in the neoprene cases because they go into sleep when shut.

I also use the Speck Clear Case, all of this fits inside the STM bag and offers a lot of protection. However, I would wait and recommend getting the Incase hard case, I have one on the Macbook and absolutely love it.
 
I use the Targus for my 17" penryn:

http://www.amazon.com/Targus-TXL617...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1206667809&sr=8-2

The MBP fits great, even with the incase sleeve. It is bigger than the ones mentioned above, but if you want something with lots of extra space, it's perfect - I carry around all my accessories, books, a change of clothes - no problem.

If you are a smaller person, this may be too big for you (I'm 6'4")
 
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chinarider said:
I use the Targus for my 17" penryn:

http://www.amazon.com/Targus-TXL617...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1206667809&sr=8-2

The MBP fits great, even with the incase sleeve. It is bigger than the ones mentioned above, but if you want something with lots of extra space, it's perfect - I carry around all my accessories, books, a change of clothes - no problem.

If you are a smaller person, this may be too big for you (I'm 6'4")
Click to expand...

I selected my STM bag over this for a couple of reasons.

They offer equal storage space, but the STM looks better IMO and has a waterproof laptop pocket with the hard bottom, that's what sold me.
 
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thegoldenmackid said:
I selected my STM bag over this for a couple of reasons.

They offer equal storage space, but the STM looks better IMO and has a waterproof laptop pocket with the hard bottom, that's what sold me.
Click to expand...

I was carrying around a borrowed Camera/Laptop bag because I got my MBP unexpectedly and I liked the fact that it stood on its own when I put it down, so I think thats another factor I would like to include.

Does the STM stay standing when you put it down?
 
LeahM said:
I was carrying around a borrowed Camera/Laptop bag because I got my MBP unexpectedly and I liked the fact that it stood on its own when I put it down, so I think thats another factor I would like to include.

Does the STM stay standing when you put it down?
Click to expand...

It depends:

With Nothing in it - No
With Just the MacBook Pro - Yes

Depending on what you put in the other pockets...

I normally have a HP mobile printer with me to add some weight...
 
renault4 said:
I use the North Face "Surge" backpack. It has a specifc comparment for a laptop, that will hold a 17in. It also has a pocket on the bottom that is great for holding the power brick. REI sells them if there is one near you.

http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=NA&model=AE5T&language=en
Click to expand...

I'm looking at this one (Surge) on eBags. They have it for $90. Does it really hold a 17" MBP? The listing only says up to 15", but some of the reviews say it's OK with 17" notebooks (and others say it's too small). So I'm a little confused. I'm getting a 17" MBP next week and need to get a bigger bag to hold it.

http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/surge_special_buy/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=107264

How much additional room does it have for other stuff? I tend to carry a lot with me, sometimes even two laptops and a lot of papers, etc. How has it held up for you? Is it sturdy enough to carry a lot of weight?

Thanks for any thoughts on this. :) :D
 
bobbleheadbob said:
I'm looking at this one (Surge) on eBags. They have it for $90. Does it really hold a 17" MBP? The listing only says up to 15", but some of the reviews say it's OK with 17" notebooks (and others say it's too small). So I'm a little confused. I'm getting a 17" MBP next week and need to get a bigger bag to hold it.

http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/surge_special_buy/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=107264

How much additional room does it have for other stuff? I tend to carry a lot with me, sometimes even two laptops and a lot of papers, etc. How has it held up for you? Is it sturdy enough to carry a lot of weight?

Thanks for any thoughts on this. :) :D
Click to expand...

The STM is an alternative, I bought it because of more space.

I can carry 3 textbooks, a mobile printer, all my cables, and thats jst in the big pocket, the outside pocket probably has more
 
bobbleheadbob said:
I'm looking at this one (Surge) on eBags. They have it for $90. Does it really hold a 17" MBP? The listing only says up to 15", but some of the reviews say it's OK with 17" notebooks (and others say it's too small). So I'm a little confused. I'm getting a 17" MBP next week and need to get a bigger bag to hold it.

http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/surge_special_buy/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=107264

How much additional room does it have for other stuff? I tend to carry a lot with me, sometimes even two laptops and a lot of papers, etc. How has it held up for you? Is it sturdy enough to carry a lot of weight?

Thanks for any thoughts on this. :) :D
Click to expand...

I cannot vouch for this personally (I have a 15in MBP), however this was discussed in groups here some time back. There is plenty of head room once the 15in is in the sleeve. Perhaps someone else uses the surge with a 17in?
 
bobbleheadbob said:
I'm looking at this one (Surge) on eBags. They have it for $90. Does it really hold a 17" MBP? The listing only says up to 15", but some of the reviews say it's OK with 17" notebooks (and others say it's too small). So I'm a little confused. I'm getting a 17" MBP next week and need to get a bigger bag to hold it.

http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/surge_special_buy/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=107264

How much additional room does it have for other stuff? I tend to carry a lot with me, sometimes even two laptops and a lot of papers, etc. How has it held up for you? Is it sturdy enough to carry a lot of weight?

Thanks for any thoughts on this. :) :D
Click to expand...

FWIW, here's a photo of the bag with the 15" loaded. If I get a chance, I'll find someone with a 17" and try it out.
 

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bobbleheadbob said:
http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/surge_special_buy/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=107264

How much additional room does it have for other stuff? I tend to carry a lot with me, sometimes even two laptops and a lot of papers, etc. How has it held up for you? Is it sturdy enough to carry a lot of weight?

Thanks for any thoughts on this. :) :D
Click to expand...

I never answered this.

I have found this bag to be cavernous in it's capacity. I travel a fair bit and on a short trip one to two days, I can pack the necessary clothes along with everything else. Including books, extra battery, pouch with additional accessories, etc. The bag is pretty comfortable, and has a stout waist belt which I rarely use and can be tucked away. My wife just bought one and uses it as a tennis bag!
 
Excited!!

I ended up buying the DC skatebag, should arrive by Friday (hopefully!). I've heard alot of good feedback on it. It was just one of those things that stayed in the back of my head, so I had to get it. Plus the people at incase answered all my questions, the guy I talked to, his son owned the same bag, so he was very helpful.
 
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