From: dlb5404@tamsun.tamu.edu (Daryl Biberdorf)
Subject: Re: Powerbook Carrying Cases
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 16:01:43 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.151707.25243@netcom.com> metlay@netcom.com (metlay) writes:
>Sorry, John, I can't accommodate you. I consider such posts to be throwaway
>code, and never save them once they've been posted. I can only hope that
>someone on this group saved a copy and can repost it. (I should talk to
>Nick Rothwell-- he saves embarrassing posts of mine all the way back to 1987,
>the bum. |-> )

Here it is again:
=========================================================================

Thanks to everyone who was kind enough to respond via Email to my request
for data on PowerBook 100 cases, and to the Net for being patient while
I compiled this summary. Here's what people sent me:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: baron@insane.sanders.lockheed.com (Robert P. Baron)

The September issue of Macworld has an article starting on page 327 all 
about cases for the Powerbooks and has a nice table on page 328 comparing 
the features.
I bought a case at Macworld Boston from an outfit called Microstore (at 
least on the credit card slip they use that name). It fits the Powerbook 100 
perfectly and has all the features you asked for. The only problem is that 
the shoulder strap broke after 1 week of use and I can't seem to contact the 
company (the only slip I got was from the credit card and I tried to find a 
phone number for them through information in St Peter MN and they don't have 
a listing for them). 
It looks like I'm out my $45.00 for this case. I think I'll order the TARGUS 
notepac case from MacZone ($69.00). This unit is highly rated in the article 
and comes with a lifetime garanty.

Bob Baron


From: Bruce.Horn@N3.SP.CS.CMU.EDU

I like the T/Maker case, which you can get for around $60.  It holds
the PB100, disk drive, adapter, and papers, and is probably reasonably
water resistant.  I got mine at MacConnection.

The Kensington case is about $20 more, and holds only the PB (not the
charger or floppy).  It is very nice, though.  MacConnection has them
as well.

[this is the Compact case: the Deluxe case holds all the accessories--metlay]

	Bruce

From: Robert Rumpf <rrumpf@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>

The main compartment of the Kensington Deluxe (not the plain Kensington) case 
has two sections split off by a sort of soft wall which has velcro connectors 
(so you can move it about).  One compartment will easily hold a PB100 or other 
PowerBook; the other will hold my external floppy and power adapter nestled 
into one another.  There are pouches on the inside and outside which will hold 
legal-sized pads and envelopes.  It's a great case.  I even put books in it 
when I have to.

Bob

From: amanda@intercon.com (Amanda Walker)

I'm using a Kensington case for my 100, and it seems to work just fine.
The divider between the big & little compartments is attached with velcro, so 
you can move it over a bit to make it nice and snug.  It carries a PB100, 
extra battery, charger, AC adaptor, & floppy drive, with enough room for a
handful of disks, papers, etc.  It's a bit of a close fit, especially with 
the floppy, extra battery, charger, and AC adaptor all over on one side, but 
it works.

Amanda Walker <amanda@intercon.com>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there you have it: a vote for the T/Maker case and two for the Kensington
Deluxe.

Now, I read through the article in MacWorld mentioned above, and noted
that three cases stood out as better than others: the Targus Notepac,
the Madson Line PowerBook case, and (for those in need of more room)
the I/O Designs Ultimate EX (their deep case, as opposed to the slimline
SL). I also looked at photos and drawings in ads and called around, and
learned some interesting things that I'll pass along now:

1. A lot of the cases you can buy are intended for the 140 and 170, so
they have no room for a floppy drive. The ones I mention are for the 100.

2. Not all of the cases surveyed have lifetime warranties, but enough do
so that you can thin down your choices a bit that way. Among the cases
that don't: The T/Maker case (which I avoided because it was too fiddly
with all those zippers and flaps) and the Magenta case. 

3. The West Ridge case doesn't zip open all the way-- you have to lift
the PB out of a deep compartment, which can be a bit of a pain.

4. The Kensington Deluxe case, reviewed above by several folx, was
actually the FLIMSIEST of all cases tested, and rated as not giving
much protection to the PowerBook. Your mileage may vary.

It was impossible for me to find a Madson Line case, so I bought one
each of the I/O Ultimate EX and the Targus Notepac from MacConnection
and compared them head to head. I put my PB100 with floppy drive and
adapter in them, added papers and so on, and examined how they'd
handle under normal use. My results were surprising, at least to me.
(For those of you who are wondering: I did not have an extra battery 
or charger to stuff inside as well.)

MacConn sells the EX for $69 with a 30-day money back guarantee. It's
a slightly bulky small case that is deeper than what you might expect; 
it holds the PB strapped down to a floating plate in the center of the
case that hinges up at the back to expose a lower compartment with two
movable padded dividers. It's roomy and sturdily built, with a locking 
zipper, a quick-release shoulder strap and a gusseted outer pocket as
well as three disk pockets, three pen loops and a business card pocket
inside the lid. In theory, it's a roomy, handy little case for people
who need to carry a lot of stuff with their PB. In practice, I found it 
quite frustrating to set up and use. The dividers are not sized properly
for fitting in the lower compartment, and the result is a "lumpy", 
"Forced-fit" sort of feel. The case has rubber "feet", but they're so
flat that the base of the case touches the ground anyway if there's
anything in it. The outer pocket is gussetted at a narrow width, which
looks sexy but prevents anything more than a few sheets of paper being
put into it. The locking zipper looks flimsy enough to break with one
good tug, and the keys are tiny and easily lost. I sent it back that night.

The Targus Notepac, on the other hand, was a very pleasant surprise, 
considering that I don't make using the PB in its case to be a strong
requirement. It's sized such that in its one inner compartment (it's
much slimmer than the EX, closer to the Kensington Deluxe in shape
but a hair smaller) is just big enough to fit a PB100 in SIDEWAYS!
That means that the PB100 tucks in very snugly and won't move, there
is one divider that can be fitted to hold it in place at one end of
the case, and on the other side of the divider there is EXACTLY enough
room for a floppy drive and AC adapter. The fit is snug without being
forced (though I will admit to fiddling with it a bit to find the best
orientation), and when the case zips shut NOTHING moves. There is one
strap that holds the PB snugly in place as well. The case has the
same pockets as the EX inside the lid, EXCEPT that the disk pockets have
velcro flaps so the disks don't slide out and there's an extra pocket
inside the lid that's as large as the cross section of the whole case--
it will easily hold your standard letter-sized manila folder or two.
The case has TWO outer pockets: a gussetted one with a full-width gusset
so that thick piles of 8.5x11 paper can be put inside without difficulty
and held in place with the padded velcroed flap, and a flat one on the 
other side that is large enough for a slim legal folder and closes with
velcro. (No pocket on either case could hold a spiral notebook, alas.)
The unit has rubber feet that hold the case above any gunk you might 
set it in, and has a removable shoulder strap. Its one disadvantage
with respect to the EX is that it's not quite stable if set down on end.
It's attractively styled and very sturdy, has a lifetime guarantee, and
--get this!-- costs $35 from MacConnection. That's HALF the cost of all
other cases in the major Mac catalogs. It gets my vote as a best buy, 
and if you don't like it, there's a SIXTY day money back guarantee on it
if it hasn't been munged or mangled.

There's my summary of other folx' experiences, and my own little test,
for you. I kept the Targus Notepac, and plan to buy another for my
wife when (IF!) I can find her a PB100 of her own.

-- 
metlay                    | 
                          | General MIDI is God's way of saying "Duh."
                          | 
metlay@netcom.netcom.com  | 


-- 
Daryl Biberdorf  N5GJM    d-biberdorf@tamu.edu or  dlb5404@tamsun.tamu.edu