Experts suggest taking these factors into account when choosing a laptop bag:

  • Make sure your laptop will fit. This seems obvious, but manufacturers and retailers vary in the way they describe sizes, and a 15-inch widescreen may not fit a bag that holds a regular 15-inch laptop. Compare the actual measurements of your laptop to the laptop compartment.
  • Look for full-coverage padding. Owners say they worry about laptop bags with thin padding, or that pad only on the bottom. Suspending the laptop compartment well above the bottom of the bag can also help protect it. A hard outer shell also helps, but can be less comfortable to carry.
  • Brands identified with laptops alert thieves and reduce security. Quite a few owners suggest using a padded laptop sleeve in a bag that doesn't advertise the presence of a notebook computer.
  • Organization makes a big difference. Little things like a key ring clip and a pocket for the laptop cord are conveniences that owners say really count in the long run.
  • Quick removal speeds airport security. Owners who travel a lot look for laptop bags that let them easily remove the laptop for inspection at airport security, or for the new laptop bags that (theoretically at least) don't require you to remove your laptop.

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