Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags

Since August 16, 2008, the TSA has allowed certain checkpoint friendly laptop bags to speed through airport security without the hassle of removing the laptop from the bag. For the frequent flyer, this new development has created quite a buzz. For a laptop bag to be checkpoint friendly, the bag must fit these guidelines:

1. There must be a laptop only section of the bag that can be put through an x-ray machine.

2. There can be no metal parts underneath or on top of the laptop only section. This includes zippers, snaps, buckles, etc.

3. There can be no pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop only section.

As long as the laptop bag meets these requirements, the laptop can remain inside the bag while being screened. Luggage companies have been fervently churning out new checkpoint friendly bags to accommodate the new requirements.

Aerovation currently has seven new checkpoint friendly laptop bags available for purchase, ranging in cost from &75 to $199. Their 15.4 inch Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag fits all the TSA guidelines, allowing passengers to speed through airport security without worrying if their bag will make the cut. Aerovation designed their new line with the TSA and all TSA security screeners have been trained so they recognize the Aeorvation bags and let them through the x-ray machine without any hastle.

Mobile Edge has the new ScanFast collection, consisting of eight bags that are checkpoint friendly, and cost $99 for whichever ScanFast bag you purchase. This collection includes messenger bags, backpacks, briefcases and two suede bags, one pink suede and one green suede. A nice feminine laptop bag is the ScanFast Onyx Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase. This bag has some nice faux leather finishing on the outside, giving it a stylish shimmer, plus it has the added advantage of zipping the carrier right through airport security. The storage areas inside leave a lot of room for such things like books, magazines, files, etc, plus it even comes with a removable accessories pouch. For the men, try the ScanFast Briefcase, which holds up to a 15.4 inch laptop, and still leaves plenty of space for smaller electronic devices such as an Ipod or PDA, and storage for files or magazines. The shoulder strap is padded for comfort. The ScanFast Backpack accommodates up to a 17 inch laptop, and the messenger bag holds up to a 15.4 inch laptop.

Another company to check out is Skooba, who has the new Checkthrough line of checkpoint friendly laptop bags and sleeves. The sleeves range in price from $30 to $40, and the laptop bags range from $130 to $190. The Checkthrough backpack holds up to a 17 inch laptop and has lots of space for carrying all of your accessories, and is waterproof. Skooba even provides a clear zippered pouch that can hold all of the bottles of liquids for added ease at airport security.

There are many different checkpoint friendly laptop bags to choose from. Now, with the new mini laptops available, plus the ease of scanning the laptop in these new bags, there is no reason why not to take along a laptop on your travels.

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Mini Laptop Bags

The mini laptop is the new trend in personal computing. To be able to travel anywhere in the world and yet still have all of your music, movies and games with you, and also still be able to communicate with the world at the push of a few buttons is such an amazing advancement for humanity. The mini laptop is also environmentally friendly because it means no more need for creating millions of CDs and DVDs of music and games. Instead, everyone can just download the content needed without any extra resources being used. Now what about protecting the mini laptop while traveling? That question is often a neglected one, with most of the energy and time put into researching the computer itself and not the laptop bag. It is very important to make sure your new mini laptop is properly protected from bumps and bruises, as well as spills and inclement weather.

Most padded laptop bags are meant for full size laptops up to either 15.4 inches or even up to 17 inches in some cases. Now putting a 13 inch mini into a laptop bag meant for a 15.4 inch laptop might be ok, but the 8.9 inch mini won’t be so lucky. There are specially designed laptop bags that are meant for the new mini laptops up to 13 inches. These mini laptop bags come in a variety of styles, such as the messenger bag, a backpack or a mini sleeve.

Some laptop bags are more stylish, while others are more functional. The Belkin 7 inch quilted carrying case is a stylish way to carry around the smaller mini laptops in. The Belkin comes in a variety of colors, and is a cross between a laptop sleeve and laptop bag. With no extra room for accessories, this bag carries the mini laptop snugly inside, and has a shoulder strap for portability. Belkin also offers a neoprene sleeve that is without a shoulder strap. This sleeve is meant to protect the mini in a bag that is not originally meant for a laptop. The sleeve offers padded protection around the mini and lets you put it in any bag you choose.

Timbuk2 offers a messenger bag that is great for students, who often carry many bulky items as well as their laptop. The messenger bag has room for textbooks, notebooks, folders and accessories, and also has a padded space for the mini. This Timbuk2 laptop bag is waterproof, with a padded shoulder strap, which is very comfortable on the shoulder. There are pockets for organizing accessories and even a key ring. The messenger laptop bag fits up to 12 inch laptop in the padded section.

If you prefer a backpack, try the Booq BOA XS, perfect for a mini laptop and still has room for some accessories. The BOA XS fits up to a 12 inch laptop, plus all the wires associated with it, and still has room for some cds, a couple of magazines and some small electronic devices such as an Ipod or PDA. This laptop bag is perfect for the commuter who doesn’t want something too bulky, but a laptop bag that has enough room for some entertainment while protecting their laptop.

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