I am awaiting a T410s, which will be carried between the US, Europe, and Africa (various airports, airlines, security checks, etc.). Once it arrives anywhere, it is usually stationary on my desk. I have several questions about the best travel bag for it and my other carry-on stuff:

Does anyone have a bag/brand recommendation for the 410s?
Does anyone have experience with Timbuk2 bags for Thinkpads?
Also, can someone verify the 410s dimensions for me before mine gets here, please?
Any thoughts on backpacks as opposed to shoulder bags/messengers?

I have spent a lot on luggage in the past few years and am willing to spend more on the right bag, as I have lugged around several mistakes.

Thanks.

I just got a T400s, very close in size according to the Lenovo website.

13 1/4" x 9 1/2" and it tapers from the front (less than an inch) to the back (slightly more than an inch).

I ordered a Timbuk2 bag, ( http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/lap ... zip-sleeve ).

The small should have worked but it was, uh, to small. So they sent a medium no charge and it works but the padding is minimal.

I have two other laptop bags by Timbuk2 and they offer a fair amount of protection, the new design will keep the scuffs off your machine but thats it. I travel for a living so maximum protection is key, sad to se they went away from that.

The older bags are still out there heavily discounted.

Good luck.

Yossarian1,

Thanks very much. My Mac fanatic buddy said that with any brand backpack (just about), get a separate sleeve like the one you got. So that's what I'll likely do. But you said earlier sleeves had more body?

Went to the mall while waiting for my car to be fixed, but the bags there were not an encouragement. Some things on the Internet I just wish were "tactile" not just digital. Maybe one day.....

I was a bit unclear on one thing; did you just get the Timbuk2 sleeve or also one of the full bags, such as the Swig, to put it all in?

Thanks again

What's your budget?

I used to do the whole sleeve-and-backpack thing but I didn't like it much. I got extremely lucky and picked up a medium-size Timbuk2 bag for ~$15, brand new. These usually go for $150. I wouldn't have paid that much, but I would be tempted at $75. It fits tabloid-size paper (11"x17") the long way almost exactly, so it should fit a 14" laptop fine.

It's seriously the best bag I've had: it's big enough for all my stuff, but not unwieldy, it's got all the pockets I could want (including pockets within pockets), it's comfortable to carry all day, and it's quite durable. You know when you're packing a big bag and it just flops around everywhere? The Timbuk2 bag has got some structure to it, so you can pack it easily, you can dig through it while wearing it, pack stuff in while walking, etc. The only thing not to my liking is the looks.

I got a sleeve, and the older ones had more padding.

I slip mine in and out of a suitcase when traveling.

I've used San Francisco Bags (actually a heavy sleeve) for the past 15 years on 3 different Thinkpads, and could not be happier with this sleeve. They have a heavy weave outer cover over great padding, a velcro closure on the flap, and surprisingly my oldest one that I travel with a lot shows no wear. When I get another Thinkpad, I'll get another one of these heavy sleeves. They run around $60 as I recall.

http://www.sfbags.com

Thanks for all your input. The T410s is here today (finally). I think I'm in love.

SFBags sleeves very impressive looking; pricey, but essentially custom fitted, and there are reviews/videos out there for those who need that level of proof.

Considering whether to get the sleeve alone (with just the closing strap) or the whole thing with cover and shoulder strap so I can leave the outer bag home most times (leaning toward backpack as the outer container for flight carry-on).

@wiltyb123: My advice is to buy a cheap neoprene sleeve from eBay and then chuck the sleeved T410 into any old bag you have that doesn't look like an expensive piece of kit. That way you won't get some dip thieving it.

Camouflage is best in a world full of pilferers. Make your bag look as if it contains soiled undies and Bob's your uncle ... nobody would nick that.

On the other hand, you could buy an expensive Lenovo case and it (and contents) would disappear in front of your eyes.

You pay your money and take your choice.

You have a valid point. On a recent flight of mine, someone almost walked off with a young lady's nearly identical carry-on backpack. Accidental? Mmmm....

Good thing for her she was NOT a shy one and spoke up quickly and loudly.

This is a real concern of mine. My bag looks like there's something expensive in it, and I walk past the PJ's every night.

The funny thing is that I rarely carry anything besides books and papers, so anyone who robbed me wouldn't get much out of it. I could carry a computer in a nondescript backpack and nobody would bat an eyelash, or I could carry my flashy messenger bag with nothing in it and brave the wilds. Hmm...

That's what I use. I have a nice padded sleeve (sfbag) for my TP, and it goes in an old worn out backpack that even the dog has chewed on. While my backpack is still has all of it's structural integrity, it looks like heck and only a fool would think about stealing it.

This is exactly what I have done for my T400s; found a cheap but just fine Chinese neoprene sleeve, and I can use whichever bag, case or backpack I happen to need given length of the trip, and it's less obvious. It goes right through security inside the neoprene.

Mike