SwissGear Carbon backpack
This backpack is made specifically for Apple's MacBook Pro computers in
15 inches and 17 inches. I love the SwissGear brand for laptop bags and
decided to go with this one as it would hold my MacBook Pro in a snug
and secure way. It has a nice utilitarian look to it and holds more
than it would appear from the picture. Behind the Carbon is my
SwissGear Synergy which holds my Compaq Presario r3000z laptop.
This is a view of the pocket in the back for holding the MacBook Pro.
It's held in the back underneath the large flap. On the front side is a
small zippered pouch and below that another pouch that can be used for
holding papers. This pocket is quite wide and there's enough room for a
big textbook in there. I don't know if I'd put one there for fear of
pressure on the MacBook Pro but there certainly is a lot of room.
Here's a 15 inch MacBook Pro in the laptop compartment. The 17 inch
MacBook Pro is 1.3 inches wider so it should make for a snug fit. I
imagine other brands might fit if they have similar dimensions to the
MacBook Pro.
This is the middle comparment and there's good space here for a big
textbook. The small pouches shown here are padded and one has a flap.
Another shot of the middle compartment onthe other side where you can see the room and the mesh, zippered pocket.
This is the front compartment and where you'd put keys (note the
detachable key-holder on the right), pens, business cards, checkbook,
PDA, knife and flashlight. The organizer is similar to the one in the
Synergy but this compartment is much taller than the compartment in the
Synergy. I actually prefer the design in the Synergy as access to the
organizer is better but this design will hold more.
A better shot of the organizer (upside-down) in the front compartment.
This is similar to the CD-player compartment in the Synergy though the
Carbon has a little pouch for an iPod. I haven't actually tried to put
an iPod in there. There's a way to route the earphones to the outside
of the backpack.
The backpack includes this multi-compartment mesh pouch that can be placed in the two large compartments for separated storage.
This picture shows the straps. The main carrying strap is braided metal
(steel I think) that's encased in polyurethane and anchored to the top
of the backpack. The steel cord is surrounded by a soft rubber/plastic
handle that feels pretty comfortable. I prefer the fabric handle in the
Synergy but this one looks comfortable too. There's the
additional trademark cloth handle at the back too. I sometimes carry my
Synergy using both handles when the bag is very heavy.
Here's a side view where you can see the water-bottle pocket and a
zippered pouch behind the water pocket. The other side is similar.
Here's the back and you can see the shock-absorbing system, waist strap and back cushioning.
The 17 inch MacBook Pro finally arrived and here are the pictures with the 17 inch MacBook Pro.
Updated March 12, 2008. For comments and questions, send email to Vector.x64 @ gmail.com
(without the spaces).
