Empire Builder

[ukchris]

The Empire Builder is listed as a laptop bag but from what I can see there is no real laptop pocket unless you also buy a brain cell, is that correct or am I missing something?

Would the three "file dividers" be sufficient to split the main compartment in to sections for one or two laptops?

Chris.

[maverick]

hi ukchris!

while the bottom of the empire builder is padded, i would not recommend that you carry laptop computers inside using the file dividers as protection for your laptops - they were not designed for that purpose.

you can:

• use a horizontal brain cell for each of the two laptops. one brain cell would be attached via annex clips and the other would be free floating.
• use a cache for each of the two laptops.
• use a horizontal brain cell for one laptop and a cache for the other.

let me know if you have any other questions.

thanks!

[ukchris]

Thanks Maverick, my concern about the brain cells is the cost and also the size, it looks to me that two brain cells would eat up a lot of space. Right now I carry my laptops in a bag that I'm sure has MUCH less padding than this bag and they have survived - so far!

Would you say the padding in the compartment is comparable to that around a laptop in regular bags? In my current bag it's maybe 1/4" think at most.

[maverick]

Thanks Maverick, my concern about the brain cells is the cost and also the size, it looks to me that two brain cells would eat up a lot of space. Right now I carry my laptops in a bag that I'm sure has MUCH less padding than this bag and they have survived - so far!

Would you say the padding in the compartment is comparable to that around a laptop in regular bags? In my current bag it's maybe 1/4" think at most.

hi ukchris!

two brain cells will take up a bit of space. you may want to consider carrying two caches instead. made with 1/4" thick foam, it protects your laptop but doesn't take up too much space.

the front, back, bottom and sides of your empire builder are padded with 1/4" closed cell foam, but the file dividers are made out of a very stiff plastic and don't have any padding, so they are not designed to provide protection for your laptops.

[ukchris]

Sounds like I need some padded file dividers doesn't it! )

Personally I think an equivalent to the file divider but with padding would be a big plus for many people, the dividers look as though they "hook" in to the bag, if they were made from 1/4" foam they'd be awesome, especially with a way to hold them in place to form pockets of a set size.

[maverick]

Sounds like I need some padded file dividers doesn't it! )

Personally I think an equivalent to the file divider but with padding would be a big plus for many people, the dividers look as though they "hook" in to the bag, if they were made from 1/4" foam they'd be awesome, especially with a way to hold them in place to form pockets of a set size.

padded file dividers are an interesting idea. the difference between file dividers padded with 1/4" foam and a cache is that the cache provides the added padding on the sides of the laptop as well, essentially enveloping the laptop in foam.

if you ever travel by air with a laptop, the other benefit of the cache is that it is a checkpoint friendly case, allowing you to pull the laptop out with the cache to send through security. i feel better placing my laptop enveloped in a cache when i send it through security rather than sending it through bare.

of course, if travel is a big part of your life, you should consider the checkpoint flyer - definitely the safest and most convenient way to got through security with a laptop.

[ukchris]

I have flown every week for the last three years with two laptops...

If the brain cell had an option with no cover it might work for me but I don't want to give up that much space or more specifically that much money. One brain cell costs as much as most bags I have owned, needing two of them and then a bag as well just gets way too expensive for me.

One day I'd like to see an open sided brain cell and an open sided double-braincell that would live inside the bag and allow you to take your laptops in and out, the expectation being that it would remain in the bag at all times.

[bnett]

For what it is worth, I've used an EB as my brief case for a few years now. The Brain Cell does take up a lot of room.

I've not hesitated to put my laptop in the bag without the Brain Cell when I need the extra room. Sometimes I'll put the Freudian Slip on one side of the laptop.

One nice thing about the Brain Cell (among many nice things) is that when I need to pack the EB full of other materials, the Brain Cell works nicely as a separate bag to carry just the laptop.

Brian

[ukchris]

Would it be possible for someone to tell me the internal dimensions of the rear pocket on the EB? Even better would be a quick picture of the pocket open with a laptop in it (without a brain cell) but the dimensions would be plenty for now...

Thanks!