Web site sizing suggestion

[cfurby]

First of all, i need to admit I'm a recent Tom Bihn convert--an addict. In the process of searching for the perfect bag, I've scoured many a "bag" company Web sites. And, one of the features I found most useful among all sites was a "input laptop dimensions" tool that then shows you the available bags to fit your specific laptop--without having to search for the specific make and model.

In my case, the IT department ordered an extended battery for my Dell laptop--which was not listed on the Tom Bihn Web site and made the laptop dimensions all wonky. Thankfully to Tom Bihn customer service I had a response to my e-mail sizing suggestion within 24 hours--thus starting the addiction.

All to say, for those that might be scouring the Web and debating which bag to choose, this type of tool might be helpful. That said, if folks just tried a Tom Bihn product they would be hooked. The company practices are amazing. The design and construction are impeccable. And, the customer service is enviable.

[maverick]

it would be pretty easy to engineer such a tool.

create a simple database:

table name: laptops
-------------------------------
manufacturer: varchar
model: varchar
submodel: varchar
width: numeric
length: numeric
height: numeric

table name: bags
------------------------------
model: varchar
laptop_fit_width: numeric
laptop_fit_length: numeric
laptop_fit_height: numeric

your sql would be something like this to determine which bags can hold a given laptop:

select model from bags where
laptops.manufacturer=$manufacturer_specified and
laptops.model=$model_specified and
laptops.submodel=$submodel_specified and
laptops.width <= bags.laptop_fit_width and
(
(laptops.length <= bags.laptop_fit_length and
laptops.height <= bags.laptop_fit_height)
or
(laptops.length <=bags.laptop_fit_height and
laptops.height <= bags.laptop_fit_length)
)


you would specify your laptop manufacturer.
that would populate a list of models, and you would choose the appropriate model.
that would populate a list of submodels (this is also where you specify things like extended battery).

you would alternatively enter the length, width and height of your laptop if your laptop was unlisted. you could provide the manufacturer/model/submodel in a text entry field so that the tom bihn staff could follow up to add it to their database.

when you clicked submit, the search would return a list of bags that would hold your laptop.

[moriond]

Brain Cell Sizes and Extended Batteries

The extended life batteries do make Brain Cell size selection more problematic. After the Tom Bihn folks added new sizes to better fit ThinkPads I've mostly been carrying the Brain Cell for the T60p laptop with regular size battery. This size of Brain Cell fits into the Western Flyer

In my case, the IT department ordered an extended battery for my Dell laptop--which was not listed on the Tom Bihn Web site and made the laptop dimensions all wonky. Thankfully to Tom Bihn customer service I had a response to my e-mail sizing suggestion within 24 hours--thus starting the addiction.

Admittedly, I've mostly been carrying a MacBook now when I fly, but what are people's experiences using the extended batteries in the Checkpoint Flyer and its laptop cases? Is this something we should be thinking about for the new travel bags that are in the design pipe?