Reviews!! Booq, Crumpler, Tumi, Maccase, Pics!!

[GilGrissom]

Gil, I would think it would work with a second skin and a 12". You could always return it. Good luck. You can look at crumplers website, which is pretty funny, to look at all of the bags and specs.

http://www.crumplerusa.com

CRD

Ye I'm on it now!! Thanks. So much choice! Ye the site is a hoot! Can't decide which one to go for!!

People think the Considerable Embarrasment one is the best then?

 

[clayj]

Next is the Booq Viper M sleeve. I use this as my primary sleeve. I feel safe enough to carry it by itself or in my school bag.

It is a very sturdy case that fits like a glove around the sides of the pb, but the top and bottom of the case kind of bow out and will only touch the pb if you press down on it. I have not noticed this to be a bad thing, it's just the way it was made. There is good protection around the zippers to prevent scratches, and I think it would provide pretty good protection if the pb was dropped. The viper is a ballistic nylon material that is hard but a bit flexible, a good combo.

Overall, a great sleeve. I will continue to use this quite a bit.

I second this endorsement of the Vyper M... I just got mine last Friday and am very pleased with it so far. The only niggly complaint that I have is that the zippers can get a little tight when zipping around the corners of my PB.

Beyond that, this is a very nice sleeve.

 

[GilGrissom]

These are great reviews, nicely done.

I'm thinking about getting a Crumpler Considerable Embarrassment, but I'm having trouble finding anyone in the UK that sells it. (Or US that will ship at reasonable rate!) Any suggestions? I'm looking into the PowerMax link you gave me CRD. Suprisingly Amazon UK has no considerable embarrasments. Amazon and other UK sites I've found mainly have the McBain Love Chilld bag.

Also, being as I have a 12" PB, would I still be better off with the 15" crumpler, for books etc? Or do you think the 12" will be enough?

Thanks.

 

[Marneus]

I went into a store here to pick up a 12" Vyper for my iminent iBook (Today, hopefully) and they were out of 12" so I asked the guy if they were gonna get any more in and he said "Probably not...they don't actually protect the laptop very well". Sounds like him or a customer had a bad experiance.

So i'm looking at either getting a School Hymn or an STM sleeve (the new one with the wierd neoprene/gel thing happening) to throw into my kathmandu satchel.

 

[nomad01]

I'm thinking about getting a Crumpler Considerable Embarrassment, but I'm having trouble finding anyone in the UK that sells it.

I haven't checked but have a look at Wiggle (http://www.wiggle.co.uk). They're really a bike shop but cater for laptop using cyclists! I bought my Crumpler Gimp sleeve from them.

I think they do free shipping too.

Steve

 

[nomad01]

So i'm looking at either getting a School Hymn or an STM sleeve (the new one with the wierd neoprene/gel thing happening) to throw into my kathmandu satchel.

I bought a school hymn and sold it for a gimp. The Gimp is just a neoprene sleeve similar to the Vyper so no, they don't do much else other than stop it from scratching and provide a little padding.

The School Hymn is harder but there was about an inch gap round the 12inch powerbook so it rattles around a lot. The Gimp isn't really the ideal size either.

I've just ordered a Vyper as it looks like a slightly tighter fit and a bit tougher.

 

[GilGrissom]

I haven't checked but have a look at Wiggle (http://www.wiggle.co.uk). They're really a bike shop but cater for laptop using cyclists! I bought my Crumpler Gimp sleeve from them.

I think they do free shipping too.

Steve

Thanks for the link. Had a gander and it looks like they do everything but the considerable embarrasment! Is this a fairly new bag guys?
Good site though Steve, ta!

 

[spongefran]

How much room is there for books/notebooks in the Considerable Embassment with the Powerbook in it?

 

[crdean1]

How much room is there for books/notebooks in the Considerable Embassment with the Powerbook in it?

I think there is enough room for a textbook and a thin notepad or folder, but I will check when mine comes today and post pics of my pb, note taking pad, and large textbook in the bag....so check back later.

Gil - I don't know about the other bags. They do make some bigger than the Considerable Embarrassment, but I don't know the names. I think Crumpler has a 1-800 number, but I could be wrong.

 

[michaelrjohnson]

I second this endorsement of the Vyper M... I just got mine last Friday and am very pleased with it so far. The only niggly complaint that I have is that the zippers can get a little tight when zipping around the corners of my PB.

Beyond that, this is a very nice sleeve.

I'm very interested in this sleeve.

How well does the "SOFT INSIDE: SUPER NON-SCRATCH INTERIOR LINING" act to prevent scratching? I would like to purchase one, but It would get a lot of use in/out of the sleeve, stored in a college student's backpack. I just want to be sure of it's safety before I invest in the sleeve!

 

[madmaxmedia]

The McBain bag might be the older version of the Embarassment, they look similar IIRC...

 

[Roy Hobbs]

Crumpler Ebarassment Bag

Are you sure the 15 inch PB fits in the 15 inch crumpler???

The dimensions for the crumpler laptop compartment is:
Laptop compartment: 13"W x 9"H x 1.5"D

The 15 inch pb is:
Height: 1.1 inches (2.8 cm)
Width: 13.7 inches (34.8 cm)
Depth: 9.5 inches (24.1 cm)

Seems to be too wide for the crumpler?Please respond ASAP I really want this bag if it will fit my 15 inch PB

 

[crdean1]

Are you sure the 15 inch PB fits in the 15 inch crumpler???

The dimensions for the crumpler laptop compartment is:
Laptop compartment: 13"W x 9"H x 1.5"D

The 15 inch pb is:
Height: 1.1 inches (2.8 cm)
Width: 13.7 inches (34.8 cm)
Depth: 9.5 inches (24.1 cm)

Seems to be too wide for the crumpler?Please respond ASAP I really want this bag if it will fit my 15 inch PB

Yes, I am sure it will fit in the considerable embarrassment. Please see pics in earlier post of pb in the bag (that is a 15" 1.67 pb). Fits better than last years (another model name) bag, which was a big snug for the powerbook. I think it was made for the 15" Tibook and was named the Crumpler Wack-o-phone.

 

[Roy Hobbs]

Yes, I am sure it will fit in the considerable embarrassment. Please see pics in earlier post of pb in the bag (that is a 15" 1.67 pb). Fits better than last years (another model name) bag, which was a big snug for the powerbook. I think it was made for the 15" Tibook and was named the Crumpler Wack-o-phone.

Thanks I just wanted to be sure before I ordered, the specs gave me a scare.

 

[crdean1]

Thanks I just wanted to be sure before I ordered, the specs gave me a scare.

That was my friend's pb. I will be putting mine in my bag and taking some pics in a couple of hours and post here if you want to be absolutely sure, but I ordered the same bag as his in black, so it should work.

 

[crdean1]

I'm very interested in this sleeve.

How well does the "SOFT INSIDE: SUPER NON-SCRATCH INTERIOR LINING" act to prevent scratching? I would like to purchase one, but It would get a lot of use in/out of the sleeve, stored in a college student's backpack. I just want to be sure of it's safety before I invest in the sleeve!

Michael,

Here are some pics of the inside of the booq sleeve.. hope this helps. It is kind of lika a thin felt coating, so it is softer than the outside ballistic nylon. My pb has not been scratched yet. I use it daily.

CRD

 

[PaRaGoNViCtiM]

Thank god for these reviews crdean. Now, I don't know what to do. I need to sell my Crumpler School Hymn, but I want to get something without zippers. Any recommendations??!!!

 

[crdean1]

Thank god for these reviews crdean. Now, I don't know what to do. I need to sell my Crumpler School Hymn, but I want to get something without zippers. Any recommendations??!!!

The only sleeve I know of that doesn't have zippers is the maccase and the foof??. Advantage maccase because it covers the pb on all sides whereas the foof is open at one end. I'm not sure what else is out there in terms of a sleeve. maybe a Waterfield Designs??
Waterfield:
http://www.sfbags.com/products/sleevecases/sleevecases.htm

 

[michaelrjohnson]

Michael,

Here are some pics of the inside of the booq sleeve.. hope this helps. It is kind of lika a thin felt coating, so it is softer than the outside ballistic nylon. My pb has not been scratched yet. I use it daily.

CRD

Thanks, that really does help.

I appreciate the effort!

 

[crdean1]

Last Review: Crumpler Considerable Embarrassment

O.K. so I got my bag in the mail today. I am a little dissapointed. The laptop fits in pretty tight. You have to really push to get the pb in its slot, and pull on each side to get it out. I think it is too tight, but hopefully it will loosen up a little with a little wear and be just right, like my powersleevz from radtech did.

Overall, the workmanship of the bag is great and I think I will keep it. I am able to comfortably fit my pb, a text book, study guide and notepad in the main compartment, and I will still have room for chords etc. I don't know if I would use it for more than 1 or two textbooks though.

Anyway here are some pics....

 

[GilGrissom]

Fantastic review crdean1, really helpful. Thanks.

Does anyone know what colour the inside of the blue one is? (Are they all yellow?) I'm not sure which colour to go for! (Or size! I'm so confused!! ) I'm thinking mainly black or blue at this stage. If there was a nice brown one then I'll consider that!

Also depicting whether or not to get the 12" or 15" embarrasement bag for my 12" PB (It sounds stupid I know!) But it's for Uni so I want to be able to hold enough books etc. I'm thinking the 12" in the 15" bag would give a little more space or slack for books etc, but don't know whether to keep it simple and small in the bag, losing a bit of width for style! (Sorry guys, the GF demands I look good!! hehe! )

Thanks again.

 

[crdean1]

Gil, I would get the 15". You may only be able to fit two textbooks max in the bag with the pb though.

 

[GilGrissom]

Gil, I would get the 15". You may only be able to fit two textbooks max in the bag with the pb though.

Thanks. Can you not stack those books the other way and get another one in down the side?! lol! (just looking at the photos). I may be ok with that space you've shown, with the books n all, after all I will have my car on site so can use the boot and back seat and always run to the carpark if I need anything! Maybe I'm too picky!

Thanks again!. Now, which colour? And where from?! lol!

 

[spongefran]

crdean1,

Do you have any idea where I can get a Considerable Embarassment in that orange/green combo color from the first set of pictures you posted of it? That looked absolutely awesome.

 

[jaseone]

I was actually bored at LAX between flights just recently and finally completed my quest to find a new bag when I was browsing through one of the stores there:

It is the Navy, SI Vertical Bag from Oakley of all places, the whole thing just screams hard core. It has a separate removable egg shell style sleeve that fits the 15 inch powerbook snugly and plenty of other compartments to store your bits & pieces. It is one of those bags that will server to just lug your PB and charger around but is also up to the task when you do those round the world trips and want to take everything you can with you on those nightmare 14 hour flights.

The buckles on this thing seriously look like they came straight out of a parachute pack, there ain't no way they are going to break like my old bag did, strangely enough I think on my last trip that last bag broke just outside of the shop I got the Oakley from this time, must be fate!