The Pros

The very first, and most important for many, is the price.  An laptop case sold at your local retailer will typically be a higher price than that same item online.  Not only are there many sellers online that constantly try to compete for customers, and therefore mark down prices, but also there are also numerous case brands.  Not including knock off brand items, which are typically poor quality, there are many brands that are good substitutes for more expensive brands.  These might be similar in design to more expensive brands, but they are still made with good materials.

The large number of online brands of laptop cases not only provides low prices, but also a great selection that will be sure to suite anyone’s individual style.  If you really want a red messenger bag with designs on the outside, odds are you can find it online.  If you were to try to find that same bag in a retail store, you would probably have to search a lot harder…and even then may not find it.  This gives you the flexibility to find the case that suites your style at a price that makes your wallet happy too.

The Cons

The main con with shopping for a laptop case online is that you cannot see or touch the item in person.  If you purchase this from a reputable online seller then you should be able to make a good decision, but there are a lot of online sellers who are misleading or downright dishonest.

While there are cons to shopping online, it is pretty easy to overcome these cons.  Follow the steps below, and you will be able to find the bag you want online pretty easily.

Step 1: Determine the type and material of case you want
Step 2: Determine the size you need, both for the laptop and other compartments
Step 3: Search online for laptop cases (or laptop messenger bags, laptop briefcases, etc) until you find 3 web retailers that have a website that gives clear pictures, good information, and reviews.
Step 4: Compare cases between the 3 retailers for the best price and case for your needs.

For laptop case sizing, you will want to measure the length, width and depth of your laptop.  Don’t confuse your screen size with any of these dimensions.  Screen sizes are diagonal measurements, and are not useful here (there is one exception which you will see in the next paragraph).  Make sure you get a good measurement of the depth of your laptop.  Depth varies greatly from laptop to laptop, and many cases are made specifically for thin or thick laptops.  Write down all three measurements to ensure you have them correct when you start searching for your case.

Laptop sleeves typically give measurements by screen size.  While this goes against what is above, for this one item it is correct.  Laptop sleeves, both hard and soft, can be found in specific brands and models, as well as generic versions.  If you are unsure if you laptop will fit well, order one for your specific computer.  Loose fitting sleeves are not as protective or secure as snug fitting ones.

For cases that are not fit to a specific laptop or specific dimensions, these can vary a lot.  Generally speaking, for cases such as laptop bags, briefcases and wheeled bags, the laptop compartment is typically made to be compatible with the normal large laptop.  These built in compartments or cases will fit up to a 17″ laptop (sometimes even bigger), but are rarely size adjustable.  This means that if you have a smaller laptop (such as the small ones verizon wireless offers for web surfing) then it might shift around a lot.  This shifting can reduce the case’s effectiveness at protecting the laptop.  The best way to solve this is to get a laptop sleeve in addition to the bag, briefcase, wheeled bag or similar case. The laptop sleeve will keep the laptop protected in the even of moving around, and the bag it is in will keep it completely covered and secure.  The laptop sleeve will also give you the added flexibility of using it by itself for low hassle laptop mobility.

After you have figured out the size of your computer, you can proceed on choosing the right type and material.  There is another blog here that can help you with that, so check it out!

Figuring Out Your Case Needs

The most important thing you need to determine when figuring out what you need your case to do is how are you going to be using your laptop.  Not as in what programs will you use, but instead how often and in what location will you be moving and using your laptop.  The more mobile you are, and the wider variety of locations you will be in, the more protective you need your case to be.  If you are a casual laptop user, and work mostly at home, then a light duty case will work.

The next thing to determine is what will you need to carry with your laptop, and what do you normally carry with you from day to day.  It is best to consolidate into one bag if possible.  If you are a student, and need to carry your pens, pencils, notebooks, books, and other electronic items, then you need a bag with internal compartents to accomodate those items.  If you need changes of clothes, such as for the gym or athletic activity, then a bag with a large compartment to hold clothes is ideal.

The last thing you need to figure out is what conditions you will expose your laptop to.  If you carry it with you at all times, rain, snow, sleet or shine, then you want a case that will protect it from the elements.  If you are a casual user, and would only take your laptop with you if the weather was clear, then you have fewer requirements there.  Thinking about where you will set up your laptop is also important.  Being able to use your laptop case as a barrier from a dirty table top or bench seat will keep your laptop clean and happy (if laptops could be happy)

The Kinds of Cases Available

There are litereally hundreds of variations of cases available.  To simplify, they can be broken down into types and materials.

Types:
Soft Sleeve – A soft material that fits just over you laptop, typically with snap, velcro, or zipper closure
Hard Sleeve – A hard material that fits over your laptop, frequently lined for support and protection
Soft Briefcase – A briefcase shaped item in soft material with handles and sometimes a shoulder strap
Hard Briefcase – A briefcase shaped item in a rigid material with handles and sometimes a shoulder strap
Handbag – A small to medium sized bag in a soft material with handles and sometimes a shoulder strap
Shoulder Bag – Similar to handbag, but can range from small to large and is intended to be worn on shoulder
Messenger Bag – Similar to shoulder bag, but intended to be worn diagonally over shoulder to reduce pressure
Backpack – Worn over both shoulders, soft material, good for heavy loads
Wheeled Case – Frequently briefcase shaped, soft or hard, with wheels and extending handle for ease of use

Materials:
Soft Sleeve – Neoprene, Canvas, Cotton, Leather, Vinyl
Hard Sleeve – Fiberglass, Plastic, Metal, Leather Wrapped Leather/Plastic, Vinyl Wrapped Leather/Plastic
Soft Briefcase – Vinyl, Canvas, Cotton, Neoprene, Leather
Hard Briefcase – Leather Wrapped Leather/Plastic, Vinyl Wrapped Leather/Plastic, Fiberglass, Plastic, Metal
Handbag – Vinyl, Leather, Canvas, Cotton
Shoulder Bag – Vinyl, Leather, Canvas, Cotton
Messenger Bag – Vinyl, Leather, Canvas, Cotton
Backpack – Vinyl, Leather, Canvas, Cotton
Wheeled Case – Rigid Wood or Plastic Wrapped in Leather or Vinyl, Metal

Neoprene – Wet suit material, resists water and grime, slight impact protection
Canvas/Cotton – Natural fiber, can be lightly water resistant with coating, no impact protection without padding
Vinyl – Plastic based material, resists water and grime, no impact protection without padding
Leather – Commonly cow hide, resists water and grime but can soak through, minimal impact protection, last longest
Fiberglass – Cured material that is very hard, resists water and grime, good impact protection
Plastic – Hard material, resists water and grime, decent impact protection, can be scratched
Metal – Very Hard material, resists water and grime, great impact protection, last longest
Vinyl/Leather Wrapped Plastic/Wood – Great for hard case applications, good impact protection, variable water resistant, resists grime well

Determining Which One Fits Your Needs

After determining what you will use your laptop for most, you should be able to figure out which material and type of case you should be searching for.  At that point, all that is left is searching online.

Polyester is typically used in fabric form for cases in the form of bags.  Polyester is a manufactured material, and it has some redeeming qualities.  It has decent water repellency, and most polyester bags have a water-repelling finish on them as well.  It is a very light material, and bags made out of it are typically not heavy.  Polyester is not very rugged, and does not take a lot of wear and tear without showing it.

Hard plastic cases are the most durable option for keeping just the laptop safe.  They are molded plastic designed to keep your laptop very secure.  Many have liners that provide protection from shock and impact.  They are waterproof, but if they don’t have seals on the edges then they are only water resistant (very resistant though).

Cloth bags are typically made out of cotton, or another natural fiber, such as cotton canvas.  These are typically a thicker material than polyester, and are considerably more abrasion resistant.  They are not very water resistant, unless the bag has been waxed.  Waxed canvas bags are fairly popular, but are still only marginally water resistant.  Cloth is typically very light as well, adding minimal weight to the bag.

Neoprene is commonly seen in laptop sleeves.  It is one of the material components to many wetsuits.  It is great at keeping moisture off the laptop, as well as providing some padding against light impacts.  It is very light, and usually can be found in the perfect size for your laptop.

Fake leather products, also known as pleather, are a plastic based material that imitates real leather.  It is typically completely water resistant except for at the seams.  Most often it is used to make bags, and can be fashioned to look very similar to real leather.  It is a fairly light material, and bags made from it are usually not too heavy.  It varies in levels of durability, all depending on its thickness and type of plastic used.

Leather is one of the best choices for a laptop bag as it is the most durable and natural materials.  It can still vary in durability, all depending on the thickness of the leather and quality of its manufacturing.  Generally, it is a long lasting material, and provides good water resistance.  Typically, it is seen in messenger bag, shoulder bag, and briefcase form, although it can be found in the less common backpack form.  The weight of leather can vary due to thickness, but it is a heavier material than other options.

In order to determine what material would be best for your use, you need to figure out what you will need your case to do.  There are two main options, a case just for the laptop and a bag that will hold the laptop and other things.

If you need just a case for the laptop, then you are probably looking at either a neoprene case or hard plastic case.  The neoprene is great if you have a limited budget, or if you only need minimal protection for your laptop.  Alternatively, a neoprene case can be great to keep your laptop secure and protected if you carry it in a bag that does not have a dedicated space for your laptop.  If you need more protection for your laptop, then a hard plastic case is necessary.  It will keep it secure through almost anything.

If you want a bag that will hold your laptop, then you have more options.  Leather, fake leather, cloth, and polyester all are made into bags.  They come in backpack, messenger bag, shoulder bag, and briefcase versions.  The deciding factor here will be price, and what qualities you need in your bag.

A big enemy of a laptop is foreign matter getting inside the computer.  This will happen some, as ambient dust in the air will settle in between the keys of the keyboard.  During transport, say to the local coffee shop, your laptop will be exposed to a great number more things than it would at home.  Dirt in the air, rain, snow, sleet, mud, and other grime.  These items can find their way into your laptop, and potentially harm it, if you leave it exposed.

Carrying a laptop in your hand may not be the hardest thing to do by itself, but if you have other items to take then it can be difficult.  If you are a studnet, for example, then you might be using your laptop for school work.  You will need your power cord, maybe a mouse, your books, notebooks, pens, pencils, and a calculator.  You could also desire to car your cell phone, some food or drink, and other items with you as well.  Buying a case designed to carry all your items, including your laptop, can solve all your needs.

If you were to carry your laptop around without a case, you would also make yourself a prime target to theft.  Snatching a bare laptop out of your hands is pretty easy, but not if it is tucked nicely inside a backpack, which in turn is attached firmly to your shoulders.  This security can ensure that you will be able to enjoy your laptop for a long time.

A laptop case should be a priority laptop accessory.  They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and styles.  It is relatively easy to find one, as most stores sell them.  You can also find a huge number of websites that sell them, some of them for greatly reduced prices (off in store prices).  You should make sure you find one that suites your daily needs and storage requirements.

To sum it up, a laptop case will keep your laptop clean, keep all your items in one bundle, and keep your laptop from getting stolen easily.