Choosing The Best 17 Inch Laptop Bag That Fills Your Needs

A 17 inch laptop bag provides is a quick and effective way to not only protect your laptop computer, but to also carry it around anywhere you go. With the prices for laptops it makes good sense to want to protect it as best you can. But one thing that a lot of people never realize until they get a laptop bag, is how handy they are for storing more than just your laptop.

Without having a laptop or notebook case your computer can easily get scratched up, or even dropped very easily. A good friend of mine did just that. She was carrying it and it slipped right out of her hand and fell to the floor. I don't need to even mention what happened next.

This is why a laptop bag for your 17 inch computer is so good to have. It is well cushioned to protect it, and it makes it so much easier to take with you.

So, what should you look for when shopping for a bag for your laptop? There are of course several factors, but the most important include: cost, carrying strap, storage space, and overall reputation of the bag.

Cost

Bags for laptops really have a wide price range, from very inexpensive at a starting point of around $20, to somewhat more costly at up to $250 or more for unique designer laptop bags. Generally speaking, you can find a good quality bag in the $30-$80 range.

As with most any product, the old saying of you get what you pay for is just as true with a 17 inch laptop bag. Take your time and spend enough to get a good quality bag so that you are not having to go back and purchase another one 5 months down the line because it fell apart on you.

Strap

Other than the actual storage area for your laptop, the strap is arguably the second most important thing to look at. Look for a wider strap, which makes it easier on your shoulders to carry around than one that has a thin strap that "digs" in. A little extra padding on the strap is also nice as well. Finally, look for solid connections on the ends of the straps and not ones that will tear apart quickly.

Storage

The amount of storage capacity is where most people either lover or hate their laptop carrying case. The bag may look fantastic, but if you don't have enough room to store things from your mouse to papers, folders, and MP3 and other accessories, you'll be very disappointed. Having zippered pouches and well cushioned padding for your laptop is also something to look for. Some models will even let you unzip the bag and use your computer while it is still in the bag.

Reputation 

Once you have a list of laptop bags you're looking at, buying the one with the best reputation is a good rule to go by. This is where the Internet can be a huge help. You can search for a laptop bag and read reviews from other users that have the bag you're considering. It won't take long to get a good idea of which bag is the best for your particular needs. Sites such as Amazon have every make, model and style of 17 inch laptop bag on the market today, along with hundreds of user reviews.

Here's a helpful video on the TSA procedures for traveling with your laptop: