How to....Series

Now that you have selected the perfect laptop, it is time to find the perfect laptop bag. I have heard so many stories from people who say that they have spent hours online searching for a laptop case that suits their needs, some have spent months, and others years! It should not be so difficult, but somehow it is. Hence the reason to put pen to paper (or shall I say finger to keypad) to provide information that will hopefully expedite the search process significantly on how to pick a laptop bag that is right for you.

When it comes to laptop bags, one of the reasons it takes so long to find a bag is that there are so many bags to choose from, so many websites that carry all kinds of styles that the problem becomes an abundance of choice. It does come down to personal taste, style, budget, and patience level, and frankly where you prefer to shop. But also, considering that your laptop bag is entrusted to carry one of your most valued personal possessions, it also carries a lot of responsibility. It becomes more than a bag, but a trusted companion, a life partner would not be too elevated a moniker (until you’re ready to get a new one)!

In terms of choosing the laptop bag that will meet your needs, you have to take some time and focus on what your objectives are. I always recommend that you treat this process as an engaging exercise where you get out a sheet of paper and write down what is meaningful to you. Once you understand what matters to you, it becomes easier to find what you want. This is the same advice I shared in How to Buy a Laptop – it starts with you.

The two principal considerations in picking a laptop case are: 1) the functionality you seek, and 2) how happy you want to be.

Function - all good laptop bags should have the following basic functional requirements:

1)      Protection – This is the first order of business. Protect your laptop with a padded case. Please do not carry it around in your hand with no case, at the very least get a padded sleeve. (Later on in this discussion I will highlight some of the laptop bag styles).  Another thing to realize is that a laptop bag is not armor (unless of course that is what it purports to be).  The user must still exercise common sense and care in the handling of the laptop. Just like you would not go around asking about drop tests for babies, the drop test for a laptop is somewhat equally absurd. But with a well-padded case, you should be in good shape.

2)      Water-resistant – You definitely want a bag that will resist water. There is a distinction between water-resistant and water-proof.  As the description denotes, a material that is water-resistant “resists” water, meaning that water will not get through the material. Water-proof generally means that an item can withstand being submerged in water. Most laptop bags are water-resistant and not water-proof. Again, caution and common sense must come into play. Keep your laptop away from water.  Do not take it out in the rain if you can avoid it but if you have to, make sure it is in a water-resistant case and use an umbrella as well. Take all precautions to keep it dry regardless of what laptop carrying case you use. Now if you’re involved in some type of aquatic expedition that requires a laptop, usually it will be a special type of laptop made for that use.  But the average laptops that the majority of people use are not compatible with H2O.  Tip: Don’t even keep a glass of water, or any liquid for that fact, near your laptop in the event it could fall over and spill. Prevention is always better than cure, especially when hundreds or thousands of dollars could be involved.

3)      Lightweight – There is no reason to carry a heavy laptop bag. I mean really, unless of course you enjoy lifting weights. Laptops are heavy enough, why add to the weight with a clunky, heavy bag?! Mercifully, there are many choices when it comes to laptop bags made from a variety of materials so that you can get a durable bag that is still lightweight.  In the past, many laptop bags were made from leather or ballistic nylon, plus lots of other contraptions which added to the weight. Today, you can still get leather and ballistic nylon that are much lighter, also, bags made from polyester, micro fiber, and canvas (preferably coated to be water-resistant).

4)      Comfort – It is important that your laptop case be comfortable for you to carry. A well-padded shoulder strap helps to distribute the weight of the bag. Your bag should not be clumsy and inconvenient, but instead a sleek and welcome partner that accompanies you throughout your day and life.

Happiness – Yes, it is imperative that your laptop bag make you happy. If it doesn’t, you have the wrong bag. This is about your personal style and feeling confident.  A happy person tends to be more productive, hence a laptop bag that makes you happy could enhance your productivity. Assess what fits your style and activities:

1)      Contents – This represents all the items you plan to carry in your laptop bag. Do you want a bag just for your laptop alone, for your laptop and the adapter (aka peripherals), for the laptop, adapter, and some files, or for that proverbial kitchen sink? Ask yourself, as this will determine what style laptop bag will be appropriate for you. This is the first question I ask my customers who are not sure which bag to get – what do you plan to carry in the bag along with your laptop?  Also, some people need to have more than one bag to suit how they use their laptop on a given day. So the right answer may be two bags. No law that says you can only have one. Tip: keep away items that could scratch your laptop or leak – like pens, put them in a separate pocket away from your laptop.

2)      Size – Regarding the laptop itself, you need a case that will fit your laptop well so that the laptop is secure within the bag and not sliding around. In order to determine the size bag to fit your laptop, measure the diagonal LCD screen (without the border). If you have a 13” screen, you need a bag that fits 13” laptops and so on. It’s all about proportion.  In terms of your laptop and you.  What is your height? Depending on the answer, you may want to consider whether your bag will over power you or complement your style.  Carry a bag that is comfortable and proportional to you.

3)      Style – There are many styles of laptop bags, here are some of the most popular styles:  a) Sleeves – designed just for the laptop, usually without handles; b) Envelopes – like a sleeve but with a handle and usually a removable shoulder strap, with room for the laptop and a pocket for peripherals; c) Portfolio/Briefs – these have extra room for some files and other items along with the laptop and the peripherals; d) Backpacks – usually come with a padded compartment for the laptop that is separate from the rest of the bag, plus lots of pockets; and e) Messengers – these have a shoulder strap and usually no handle and have a large flap in front and a compartment for the laptop. Which of these laptop bags you select is a question of personal taste and how you plan to use your laptop. Once you determine the use, you will be able to decide quickly on the style.  Tip: A great aspect of many laptop bag styles is that the bag no longer overtly looks like a laptop bag in the old sense, so it is less of a target.

4)      Color – Thank God you now have a choice in this area! Not too long ago, the only choice was black, now you can almost pick a color from the rainbow. When it comes to color, it is a decision mainly dependent on your personality. You have to decide what makes you happy – will a pink, blue, green or striped laptop bag brighten your day? This is not the time to be shy, be bold and let the true you shine through.  The way we use laptops have evolved so much today that the use can vary from casual to more formal settings. So the style and color of the bag can vary based on how you will use the bag.   Get a color that will complement your outfits and make you feel your best. Also, you will be amazed at how colors that you may not have thought would work interact perfectly once next to each other.

5)      Patterns – Bold patterns offer an extra dimension of self expression, plus they have some special benefits. Patterns wear really well as they camouflage dirt. They stand out and let the world know you are unique and confident in who you are.  Another benefit of a patterned bag whether floral, stripes, or abstracts, is that the colors in the pattern can blend in such a way to increase the versatility of what the item can match.

6)      Price – What will give you the best value for your money? There are many economical choices available to you, so the laptop bag should not break the bank. You’ve just spent anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for your laptop, this is not the time to skimp on the bag and cut off your nose to spite your face. You do not have to spend a fortune to get a quality bag, but please do not buy the cheapest thing you can find just because it’s cheap.  Invest in a reasonably priced laptop bag that will not only meet your functional needs, but will make you happy, look good, and feel good.

With the above areas covered, you should be able to find the laptop bag that will work best for you.  Let me know if you have any questions and we’ll be happy to help. To your continued mobility – happy travels!!

Buying a laptop can get complicated quickly, but not if you know the basics and understand how you plan to use the laptop. Once you know your priorities you can decide what trade-offs you are re willing to make and what features are essential to have.

This is an investment that is made on average every three years and the decision can impact your life in profound ways that are not always obvious when you first embark on the process.  This device is not only a technology product, but contains data that are critical to how you function and run your life. As important a decision as it is, there is no need to over analyze, just lay out the facts.

It all starts with you – before shopping for a laptop, do some soul searching. Get a sheet of paper and make a chart to track what is important to you so that you have a benchmark for comparison.  Make headings based on the questions below.  Ask yourself the following questions to help determine the laptop most appropriate for your use:

1)      What category of laptop user are you? This can be determined by assessing the primary purpose and use of the laptop. There are many categories of laptop users, however they can be divided into three main groups:  1. Basic – web surfing, email, and word processing; 2. Moderate – all of the above, plus multiple programs, video downloads, some graphic work; 3. Road Warrior/Hard Core Gamer – all of the above, plus graphic intensive, heavy duty spreadsheets.  Keep in mind that your use may evolve over time as new technologies come to the fore so leave some room to grow. Meaning if you have to choose between getting more memory and speed, try to get more instead of less (more on this later). Now you have an idea of how you plan to use your laptop, we can look at features that matter to you personally.

2)      What functions are most important to you:  1. Weight - How lightweight do you need the laptop to be? 2. Size – this depends in large part on your eyesight and the type of work you are doing. Size mainly refers to the laptop LCD screen size, which is measured diagonally. This can be a point of confusion for many as a laptop that measures 12” width may have a screen size of 14” which is the diagonal measurement, not the actual width of the screen. 3. Portability – Will you be traveling a lot with your laptop, the weight and size becomes more of a factor. In a perfect world, we would have the most powerful laptop that weighed a pound or less. However, oftentimes the thinner the device, usually the less power and the more devices to attach, such as a CD drive. There are streamlined powerhouses, but they tend to make up for it in density, weight.  A useful to tip to keep in mind is that if you are trying to decide between a smaller device and a larger one, there are certain attachments that are worth attaching and can offer an economical solution. For example an extension to the USB ports. If the machine comes with one or two USB ports, you can insert an extension that will add several more ports.

3)      What is your personal style and preference? 1. Color - Do you want a pink, red, or blue laptop? 2. Design – Do you want the laptop sleek and slim, or does it not really matter that much to you? 3.  Sound – Speaker quality can be a big deal if you plan to use your laptop as a media center, which is more the norm than not.

4)      What can you afford?  Last but certainly not least is the consideration of price and value. This is based on your budget and how much of an investment you may need to make to achieve the functionality you seek. If you need a more powerful laptop but your budget does not allow it, then it might be prudent to wait and save enough to get the right laptop for you. If you are able to make certain trade-offs, then you will be able to find a laptop to fit almost any budget. My mother always says, “the cheapest becomes the dearest”, when it comes to a laptop, it is better to spend a little more to get what you need. But do not spend more than you have to for what you won’t need.

Once you have identified the functional and design aspects you require from your laptop, it is time to understand the technology that will enable your laptop to perform to your desired levels.

Speed and Memory determine your laptop’s abilities.   These are also the two most important factors in the price you pay for your laptop. There is a strong correlation between, faster speed, more memory, and a higher price. So consider what it will be worth to you not only today, but one, two, or three years from now.

The processor is what gives the laptop speed measured in gigaherz (GHz). This is important because the more speed your laptop has the more quickly it can load programs and the more efficient you can be.  Who wants to spend time waiting for a computer to load all day? Speed is to a laptop what horse power is to a car. Obviously the more horse power the better, but if you do not need it, then it can be overkill. Conversely, if you don’t have enough then you will be too slow.  For example, I would classify myself as a moderate user bordering on road warrior. So I have a 2.4 GHz Duo core processor, which provides me with more than adequate speed for anything I could hope to do in the near future (three years).  Since technology moves so fast, it is better to give yourself some room to grow with your laptop. Processor speeds can range from less than 1GHz up to 3GHz+.

Memory is what determines how much data and how many programs your laptop can run effectively. There are three types of memory:  1) ROM – Random Operating Memory, this is the amount of data and program storage that your laptop will allow.  ROM represents the permanent memory (permanent does not mean cannot be erased) or hard drive disc space to store the programs you need to operate your laptop, the operating system, and the files that you store.  This is one feature that you can upgrade later on if you find you need more memory, but better to get enough upfront. Memory is measured in Gigabites (GB), 1GB = 1000 Megabites (MB). ROM can range from around 80GB to over 300 GB. Again which ROM you need depends on your use. As you narrow down your laptop selection, it will become clearer what numbers you need.  2) RAM – Random Access Memory, this is the amount of memory that your laptop stores temporarily, e.g., cached files. The range for RAM can be any where from 512MB to 8GB+. It would be advisable to have at least 1GB of RAM.  3) VRAM - Video Random Access Memory – usually ranges between 128MB to 4GB+. This is more of a factor for heavy gaming and intensive interactive video use.

Now that you have the basics and understand the jargon used in referring to laptops, you are ready to make a more informed decision on the laptop that is right for you. Once you choose a laptop, you will need to select a laptop bag, which can also be a challenge.  It won't be a challenge for long once you read how to pick a laptop bag that is right for you.