Another Bag Topic! Bag, laptop, Books

[anshu]

So Ive done some searching both here, cambags, and various on the web. I need a bag that can do many things. First of all it needs to be able to hold my laptop. Its a 15" wide screen(e1505):Width: 14" (356 mm)
Depth: 10.45" (265.5 mm)
Secondy it needs to be able to hold my books, so relativly large, but then at cetain points, I want to be able to take the books out and throw the camera in. Crumplers December Quarter looked just a little to big, but on the right track. I would consider almost any regualr bag and then I could just put some camera holder thing(velome?) to hold the camera. I was also thinking about the timbuk2 laptop messenger(http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm?categoryId=0&skusetId=86)
which looks cool, and i know people have had good experience with them.
Any input is appreciated.
Cheers

Edit- Never minnd the computer messenger is too small, mabye the commute x-large. But thats a little much for a bag i think(120usd)
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm?sizeId=7&skusetId=29&categoryId=7

[Coco-Puffs]

Here's a Timbuk2 thread I started.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=190229

I thought about getting one of these....then I realized how much weight will be on my shoulders and I decided not to get one. I think im just gonna get a Gregory (the Rolls Royce of backpacks :p) Day-and-Half backpack and put some Domke inserts.

[anshu]

got a link to that bag? couldnt find that on their site. How much more importantly?

[Coco-Puffs]

got a link to that bag? couldnt find that on their site. How much more importantly?

the Gregory Day and Half? Its pretty big for daily use and it has no inner pockets so it might not be what you want. I have a few domke-like inserts and other inserts for my books and whatnot so I'll probably just put those in for school/camera/laptop/1-2 day trips. You'd be amazed by the attention to detail, fabric, stitching, and construction.

Price is about 230bucks in Japan. There is a smaller Day backpack which is about 190.

[Coco-Puffs]

odd...i cant find it on the US site.
goto http://www.gregory.gr.jp/ -> product, 30-40l -> and its the brown one on the second row.

[anshu]

ouch. well sounds a little rich for my blood. but got a link just for kicks? I was leaning towards a messenger bag anyways

[Coco-Puffs]

just google "gregory day half" and it should pop up something like this
http://www.epinions.com/otdr-Backpacks-All-Gregory_FD_Day___A_Half_Pack/display_~reviews

its a little too expensive for my blood too. but im probably going to sell my Crumpler that I hardly use and my Boblbee backpack thats turning into an interior decoration.

[anshu]

right. ugh being students on low budgets sucks!

[SuzyView]

I bought a bag for my college son 4 years ago at Best Buy, don't remember which brand, but it has lasted 4 years and still going strong. I paid $100 and it fits his 17in Dell, books and even his portable WD hard drive with fold up stand for ventilation. It's heavy, but he's a tall strong young man and he never goes anywhere without his laptop. Now he has my 10D with 28-135 IS and he is wanting another bag to both. I told him it's not worth it. Too heavy. So, I am giving him a holster bag. He doesn't need his camera all the time. Splitting the gear is actually a good thing, distributes the load in case he has a friend. :)

[anshu]

bag meaning messengere bag or packpack Suzy? any pictures?

[anshu]

any other thoughts. seems that the timbuk is the way to go aside from the high cost. Seems a little crazy to buy a pack for the same cost as a lens!

[misskitty5077]

right. ugh being students on low budgets sucks!

But it sure does make you appreciate things more! :lol:

[misskitty5077]

I have an Eastpack backpack for my laptop and books. Camera is in another bag.

I picked the Eastpack up for like $20 shipped at eBags.com because it was a discountinued color. It is red but I would have picked red out of all the colors they had to offer as it is one of my favorites!

The Eastpack is a tad too small for my current laptop. By like half an inch! But I still love it for my older lappy.

I have a Lowepro bag that holds all gear and laptop but damn, is that sucker heavy and hard to carry. No way you could manage it all day long every day. And it has no room for books outside of a few paperbacks or thin hardbacks.

[anshu]

did the east pack have a special place for your laptop?
Im still leaning towards a messenger style bag because i want it to be able to double as a stealth camera bag. But I guess I could fly that way as a result of cost.

thanks for the input keep it comin!

[misskitty5077]

Yeah, it is in a seperate zippered compartment. Inside it is a sleeve with a velcro tab to lock it down in there. Then it is held up some so if I was to drop it straight down, it would be cushioned.

Another compartment has space for discs, cable lock and other things.

I have seriously considered "making" my current lappy fit but I want an ibook instead of this monster lappy next time and I am afraid if I "make" this one fit, the bag will be ruint for later use with a smaller lappy. NOBODY needs a 17" screen on a lappy...

[neil_g]

i can highly recommend crumpler's brians hot tub, its got room for my mahoosive Dell laptop and a removable section for loads of camera kit (currently holding my 300D and sigma 70-200, kit lens all my batteries and crap with loads of space left over). and its amazingly comfortable, my last backpack used to give me all sorts of trouble but ive worn the hot tub all day with no problem. yes its a little bit on the porky side but imho its worth it.

[tellingthm]

i can highly recommend crumpler's brians hot tub, its got room for my mahoosive Dell laptop and a removable section for loads of camera kit (currently holding my 300D and sigma 70-200, kit lens all my batteries and crap with loads of space left over). and its amazingly comfortable, my last backpack used to give me all sorts of trouble but ive worn the hot tub all day with no problem. yes its a little bit on the porky side but imho its worth it.

i'll second that. the bag can hold a 17" laptop, so if you think the bag's too big for you then there is a a smaller model that's perfect for a 15" (the name of the bag escapes me). i use mine at school; it's perfect for books and a laptop. then when you want to swap out the books for the gear, you can just pop in the whole photo insert- it's all velcro. the ONLY thing i don't like about the bag is that there's no waist-strap and the tripod strap is a big odd. other than that, the bag is amazing. incredibly well-built and extremely comfortable.
also, if you ever want to carry a laptop, photo gear, AND some books, check out the lowepro stealth aw backpack.