carrying your notebook

[maverick]

hi folks,

i'm curious how everyone carries their notebook in their favorite tom bihn bag.

do you use a brain cell / monolith?
is a soft cell / mitre more your prefernce?
do you use the built in protection, like in the buzz and archetype?
do you use some other form of protection?
or do you not use any protective case?

i've used a brain cell - horizontal in the id messenger and vertical in the smart alec.

i've used a monolith in the smart alec.

i've actually carried 2 monoliths in my smart alec - one for the 17" powerbook and one for the 15".

when i have to carry two notebooks, i currently put one in a vertical brain cell and one in a soft case (like a soft cell).

i don't recommend the last 2 options. these notebooks get very heavy .

my favorite solution is presently the vertical brain cell in the smart alec.

i am looking forward to trying the new buzz to hold my 15" macbook pro.

maverick

[AVService]

I use a Brain Cell in the Empire Builder for my 12" Powerbook most of the time.
Because the Brain Cell is so much smaller than the E.B. I have to slide it over to one side and then a Snake Charmer fits between it and the side of the bag.
Due to this I wish there were Brain Cell attachnents offset in the bag so it could be secured against the side even without the Snake Charmer in there.

Overall though it works well.

[backpack]

I use a Monolith for my bigger iBook and a Soft Cell for the smaller one.

[Shamrock]

What a good idea

AVService ~ I like your idea of sliding the Brain Cell to one end of the EB and using the created cavity to store the snake charmer. I am getting ready to come off sabbatical and will start logging plenty of miles with my EB (yes, I have the tippy version) and have been wondering where I'd stow to snake charmer. I wasn't excited about placing it in the pouch as it may make it pooch more and increase the tip over frequency.

I have a 15" PB so it may be a tight fit. I assume that you don't clip the Brain Cell into the EB Loops. Correct? Any drawbacks to this? I'll let you know how it works out.

[Darcy]

I've used a Brain Cell since I got my Powerbook a few years ago. Now I sometimes use the Archetype (cork is so cool), and when I use a Smart Alec I use a Vertical Brain Cell.

I think I'd use a Soft Cell if I had a 13" MacBook so I could fit it inside of an Imago.

[maverick]

The Brain Cell / Monolith is clearly the choice amongst those who responded.

Darcy,

Does this parallel what you see in terms of sales?

maverick

[AVService]

Shamrock....I wish I could clip the Brain Cell in off center in the bag but it is not to be.

Not too much movement takes place though with the Snake Charmer crammed in beside the Brain Cell.I can vary the load of the Snake Charmer too and get other stuff in there but mostly it is the pair in there.

I sometimes stick a water bottle beside the computer also but I am very careful and have never had any leaks.
I can usually slide the Snake Charmer in one of the front pockets if I need to,the E.B is a lot larger inside than it looks!

[thax]

I have a Super ego that I use a Size 1 soft cell (Dell D820) in because it gives me more room for the second laptop in a Spire sleeve (macbook) from my old Icon backpack. I can also get my multimeter and other stuff in there too. A Brain Cell is the king of protection but too bulky for all the stuff I jam in the SE. I use the Spire sleeve in the Large Cafe bag too, never enough Tom Bihn bags. =)

[maverick]

I have a Super ego that I use a Size 1 soft cell (Dell D820) in because it gives me more room for the second laptop in a Spire sleeve (macbook) from my old Icon backpack. I can also get my multimeter and other stuff in there too. A Brain Cell is the king of protection but too bulky for all the stuff I jam in the SE. I use the Spire sleeve in the Large Cafe bag too, never enough Tom Bihn bags. =)

yes, you have to manage space considerations and consider the level of protection you are comfortable with.

i still remember dropping my smart alec with monolith inside from the back of my jeep to the ground and feeling relieved to find that my powerbook was not damaged.

maverick

[renegadeot]

I use a soft cell for my macbook that goes in an Imago bag. When I get my next bag that has the suspension clips I'll get a brain cell.

[grumpy3b]

my HBC has become my "grab it and go" bag for my HP NX9420. I can attach the 2nd battery, put it in the bag and just go w/o much worry as to protecting the laptop. Of course the Absolute Shoulder strap really makes the thing complete.