Laptop Chic

How about a faux fur, black-and white spotted laptop case? Or maybe one made of rainbow colored fleece? Or perhaps a pink case made of high-tech nylon? They’re all out there, for anyone looking to chuck that old black padded utilitarian case for something a little more over-the-top.To be fair, the original laptop cases do their job, sort of. They protect laptops well enough, but they’re too heavy, and never have enough room for other stuff, like paper, pens, phone, or files. They’re too big to fit into other bags, but too small to serve as briefcases unto themselves. Thieves love those standard bags. The black-with-red-trim laptop case has become so common they practically scream: “I am a valuable piece of electronics!” Consider this old chestnut of a scam: Three people stand on the security line at the airport, waiting to have their carry-ons scanned. The first two are thieves who spotted the unwary traveler in the main concourse. The first thief goes right through the system. The second watches the traveler, who is standing behind him, put the laptop on the scanner, and then makes a fuss at the individual scanner, blocking the line as he takes off metal-laden boots, belt, watches, and whatnot. Meanwhile, Thief One snags the laptop coming off the conveyer and disappears into the crowd. Sayonara business presentation, goodbye digital photos.Ditching those standard laptop cases is the first step to protecting your machine. If the bad guys don’t know you have it, they’re less likely to try and steal it. But stowing a $2,000 machine in a backpack unprotected seems equally unwise. Dust can get into the keyboard, contents shift in transit, the outer shell gets scratched up. A few companies have started producing laptop backpacks, like Belkin’s $69.99 Freeport II, which has enough room for other supplies, and is easier to carry. But they’re often made by companies that insist on announcing the carriers as electronics storage containers. I had to take a knife to the logo on my pack, to create some anonymity for my machine.This is where Foofbags come in. For the fabulous among us, the Australian company hand-makes a simple, unlabeled case for $35 in fantastically bright colors and fluffy fabrics. The manufacturers don’t like zippers, snaps, or Velcro, since they add weight and are prone to breaking. Instead, the top flap tucks neatly into the case around the computer, like a fuzzy envelope. Throw the whole thing in a backpack, and no one is the wiser until you slide it out. Foofbags makes iPod cases too, for $24.Another company, Acme Made, takes laptop cases to the next level, with high-tech bags that are water resistant, padded, and still sleek and light. They have several original patterns, and come in both pastels and primary colors. The heaviest bag is just 2 pounds, about half the weight of the standard Dell laptop case, and at 2 inches thick is slim enough to slip into another bag, though it also has handles and a shoulder strap for independent carrying. The extra features come at a price though: The bags start at $79.99. Acme Made also produces a thin protector for $24.99 designed to slip over the screen of the laptop to protect it from keyboard indentations, dust, or scratches.

Laptop Chic

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