Suggestions for laptop bags and wireless routers?

As some of you may recall, myself and my partner have just received the first of two funky new laptops from Dell. However, what use is a laptop without a means to take it places, and to get it online in bed? :P

Rather than ordering bags from dell when we got the systems, we decided to get them from somewhere where we could look at the bags first. Although laptop backpacks are a good idea, most of them reek of "I'm a laptop carrier!", as do most traditional laptop carrying solutions.

Can anyone recommend us 15.4" laptop carrying bags that do not look like they hold a laptop, and ideally are reasonably comfy to carry?

Secondly, we now have a cat5 cable running up the side of our bed, but that's not a sensible solution at all :P What's the currently recommended affordable wireless router?

Thanks for all your help!

for the carrying bags, i am not sure...most of them looks like they carry laptops because they were built like that unfortunately...!

as for router, get a netgear/speedtouch with 802.11g and that should be fine!

Check these bags out i bought one when i got my laptop, they are great.

http://www.pakuma.co.uk/

I have this one in brown.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=247947

Yea and a speedtouch router would be a good investment.

Hate to say it but PC World are well worth a look for laptop bags, they are often on offer. Last time I visited my local they were doing money off the Pakuma bags.

really pleased with my swissgear rucksack
Tesco have similar http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.202-1119.aspx - but mine was black / grey rather than red!

comfortable loads of space for overnight stay.
laptop stays in well padded area - flew weekly with mine for a couple of years - it works

really pleased with my swissgear rucksack
Tesco have similar http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.202-1119.aspx - but mine was black / grey rather than red!

comfortable loads of space for overnight stay.
laptop stays in well padded area - flew weekly with mine for a couple of years - it works

Crumpler bags also have a very good reputation, not the cheapest, but definitely do not look like traditional laptop bags and come in lots of different styles.

http://we-sell-crumpler.co.uk/Type.a...eID=4&offset=0

If you don't want to look like you're carrying a laptop in any shape or form, find a nice leather messenger bag that you like the look of, then slip the laptop inside in a foam/neoprene sleeve-type-thing. That's what I do - MacBook in a Beez LaRobe sleeve in a Visconti messenger bag.

I’m at Dell Headquarters in Austin, Texas and I just came across this thread. I've always gone with lost eden's approach but would reinforce that it's definitely important to use a laptop sleeve. I've damaged a few by banging them into things while it was loose in my bag.


Neil
Dell, Inc.

I just use a normal shoulder bag. Looks like the type of bag most students have over their shoulder to carry books etc, but theyre the perfect size for a laptop.

You just have to be careful it doesnt get scratched as they're not padded.

i use one of the pakuma ones and it's great. however i got the larger rucksack one and it is a bit massive i wish i'd got the smaller one!

Simple Linksys wireless router is what I'd say, something like THIS would work well. :)

I've used Crumpler and Pakuma, both very good - I'd go Crumpler for quality (just!) and Pakuma for price.

Personally I'd stay away from Swissgear, to me it screams "businessman with laptop", and I'm not a laptop thief, so I guess they'd be even more attuned ;)

Thanks guys!

I really should find myself some time (and drag myself away from the orange box and, worse, civ 4 :P) and go over your suggestions properly...

Once I've done that, I'll probably drop a few links in here with respect to routers to get some more specific comments.

But for now, anyone know a good bag shop in the midlands area? :P

I got that same router that Rishi recommended and it's been good to me. Also when I've had a few questions Linksys Email support has been excellent.