ic1 said:Although the OP said he was interested in a messenger bag, I will put my 2 cents in for a Brenthaven backpack. Like another poster, I use it not only for my 15" PB but also, with the computer sleeve removed, it is a very handy general purpose backpack and I have used it that way many times. It's now almost 18 months old, has been in about a dozen countries and still looks like new. One of the best things about it is that it doesn't shout, "Laptop inside, please steal!", which is a drawback with some of the gimmick bags earlier posters have touted.
Having said that, my recommendation is qualified. Back in my ThinkPad days I had a Tumi which would carry everything, including my BJC-80 and all associated cables and power supplies and still have room for books and papers. Once, I had to shift stuff to my check-in luggage before BA would let me on a flight - I think the bag weighed around 15 kilos or something equally ridiculous. Still have the BJC-80 and it will go in the Brenthaven but it doesn't have the nice compartments that the Tumi had. Don't think Tumi makes that model any more.
crdean1 said:I posted some reviews of my bag in this thread. Love the Crumpler Considerable embarrassment. It is a little tight on the pb at first, but after a week or so it fits perfect.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/144104/
spencecb said:My boyfriend bought my a TUMI bag, and it is awesome.
http://www.tumi.com/tumi_collection...er_bag/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=11929
Mine is in black, however. It has plenty of storage, and I use it for school everyday, even when not transporting my PowerBook.
crdean1 said:yeah, it still takes a little work, but I do like the snug fit, at least I know it isn't going any where. I only wish they included a sleeve or pocket on outside of the bag (front or back).
CRD
dblissmn said:Waterfield Cargo Bag by SFBags.com
I got the large, which has a semi hard shell around it and healthy side pockets big enough for a few books on the outside of the shell underneath the flap on one side with a magazine/notepad slot on the outside on the other side of the bag (the laptop side, which on this bag goes in toward your body), and a neoprene sleeve for the computer itself which sits inside the appropriate slot in the bag. Advantage is versatility -- computer, some books, a notepad, PDA, cell phone, cables, power adapter, business cards; in short everything a grad student could need for work. Also it is very well made; no fussy stuff, just heavy duty Cordura. And it does not look remotely like any kind of computer bag. Eccentric is one way of describing it.
Disadvantage is weight; the bag alone weighs over four pounds. Also, it is not the most forgiving bag in the world because of the shell.