<p>I bought a laptop sleeve for my laptop for daily use, such as going to class, library, etc. to protect it. I also have a laptop bag that's sort of a briefcase style thing, with the shoulder strap and space for some books. I was thinking of taking that along to college also, like if I have to fly home and put it in that. However, that bag was for my old laptop which was quite a big larger than my new one for college. I was thinking of asking my parents to get me a new bag like that but one that's a little smaller. I have to look around for some yet, so if anyone has any suggestions for a 13inch MacBook Pro bag like I described, I'd take a look. One that I saw that was really cute was this: Laptop</a> Portfolio | Vera Bradley Does anyone have this or have seen it in person? I haven't actually seen it to know what it's like or how well it works, but it's the sort of thing I was describing and this is really cute for my laptop...ideas/opinions?</p>
<p>By a SwissGear bag. They are very durable bags. Personally I will be buying the SwissGear Synergy.</p>
<p>I am planning to carry a regular backpack around campus, with the laptop inside it’s laptop sleeve and in the backpack. The bag I’m talking about here is just when I need one with a shoulder strap, like when I fly home and have to take it through an airport, and things like that, etc…</p>
<p>I have heard about my trash bags yet? I’ll give you a discount for being a fellow Illinoisian.</p>
<p>Or do yourself a favor and go here:</p>
<p>[url="<a href="Are you a human?]Newegg.com[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Search options on your left, so you can narrow down your search. As a technophile I worship newegg, I use them for everything tech related.</p>
<p>I have that Vera Bradley laptop bag that you mention. I’m a HUGE Vera Bradley fan and own many of their bags. But I wouldn’t recommend this laptop bag for a 13" Macbook:</p>
<ol>
<li>The bag is too large for a smaller laptop like yours. (My notebook is a 14" Acer and I NEVER use the Vera Bradley bag for it.) I wish I hadn’t bought it. It’s just sitting here in my office, unused. I probably will never use it. There are velcro dividers that you can reposition inside to make your laptop feel more snug in there, but the bag is rather large considering how much empty space will be left around your computer. It’s 17"x12"x2".</li>
<li>This is a hard shell case, not a soft one. You can’t stuff “fatter” things in here easily and have the bag close properly. Also with it’s size, it’s a little more cumbersome to carry around.</li>
<li>There is no padding on the carry strap. I have no idea why they didn’t include a pad since they have one on many of their other bags. But after hauling this thing around all day, your shoulder is going to kill you as that stray cuts into it.</li>
</ol>
<p>The nice things about the bag are:
- Rolled handles are very nice and comfortable to carry with.
- Hardware on the shoulder strap is very nice and quite easy to clip on and off if you want to.
- Your bag will never get confused with someone else’s.</p>
<p>Good and bad:
I love the cotton fabrics - very comfortable. But since this isn’t a soft bag like Vera’s totes, you can’t wash it if it gets dirty. And you can’t really wipe it off like computer bags and sleeves made out of other materials like nylon mesh and such.</p>
<p>Sorry to be a downer, especially since I love Vera Bradley bags (just got one in the mail today - the Grand Traveler - that I’m going to use as an airline carry-on). But since I was in the same position as you and made the wrong decision, I thought I’d post. Now if you want to buy MY Vera Bradley laptop bag, we can talk! :)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Oops! Just noticed that in a later post, you mentioned you were only looking at this bag for travel. It might be fine for that. However, keep in mind that being a hard shell case with a zipper closure, you can’t over-stuff it like you can with a soft bag. Another bag that I LOVE for travel with a laptop is the Vera Bradley Metropolitan Bag. This is my most used bag. It has a compartment for your laptop (which will fit your Macbook easily) and another large compartment for “purse” items or even computer accessories. There are loads of outside pockets as well, it has a padded detachable shoulder strap and rolled handles, and it’s not SO huge to tote around, though it fits a LOT inside. I am currently using on as my every day primary purse because I always seem to have either my laptop or my Kindle DX (the bigger one) with me. LOVE this bag. It’s one of my very favorites. (and no, I don’t work for Vera Bradley) :)</p>
<p>i just throw mine into my North Face Recon backpack… there’s a separate space in the back that it fits in just perfectly.</p>
<p>Ok, thank you LMUMom! So the Metropolitan Bag, do you know what the diagonal dimension is for the laptop compartment on that bag? I just want to know how much bigger than 13.3 inches it’d be on my Mac.</p>
<p>You really don’t need a special bag for a laptop. Just get a bag that’s big enough for your laptop to fit in.</p>
<p>iluvpiano -
I just measured the laptop compartment of my Metropolitan bag for you. It’s 14.0x10.0x2.5. But it’s pretty soft, so you can put a bit more in there than that. My laptop is 13.5x9.75x1.0" and it has loads of room. In fact, I can stack my laptop and my Kindle DX in there together. Your Macbook will have even more room in there than mine does.</p>
<p>Is there a Vera Bradley store where you live? I’m in Southern California and there is one within 20 minutes of my house and I’m in there all the time :)</p>
<p>– Susan</p>
<p>vera bradley is really “busy”. when i went to visit the college, i didnt really see that many vera bradley bags. i think most people think its more for high school. i would get a tote bag that doesnt look like a laptop bag. look for more longchamp styled totes for laptops. i would get the kenneth cole rock the tote laptop bag. its bigger than the vera bradley bag but you can put all your other stuff and books in it too so that you dont have to bring so many bags. </p>
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<p>here is one that is almost the same size as the vera bradley mentioned above</p>
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<p>Your laptop case does not have to be cute, only functional; people will not judge you based on your laptop case. Do not spend $82 when you can get a perfectly good one for $20-$25 at CompUSA, Newegg, TigerDirect, etc.</p>
<p>I have a neoprene sleeve and then a backpack with a laptop compartment. I have the 13" Macbook Pro as well. I’ve used that bag and taken my laptop and clothes and stuff on trips before so just do that and it’ll work fine. However, I’m not sure if that’s very cute but it’s what I do haha.</p>
<p>I just ordered the Vera Bradley Metropolitan Bag that LMUMom mentioned, for traveling through airports, etc. as I’m flying home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas break. Ordering this kind of got lost in the mess of everything else over the summer getting ready for college, but I’m getting it now!!!</p>
<p>laptops fit nicely into the built-in sleeves of most backpacks, and macbooks are so durable that you don’t really need an additional sleeve, unless you plan on just carrying around your macbook and nothing else.</p>