Computer Advice: Opinions Welcomed!

[42_42_42]

Yes, but for $50-150 more, I could get a computer that actually has a better processor (i5) and more memory, and by many accounts from people I trust, of excellent pedigree. (Though to be fair, I have heard from many of those same people that Dell is now a decent buy, whereas years ago it wasn't always the case.)

Well, my husband is in IT and he did the computer shopping for me. Although, his choice may have been somewhat influenced for my desire for a pink lid.

[Jester]

A decision has been reached! And...I need more advice.

First the decision. After much hemming and hawing, and noticing how quickly my trip to Phoenix is coming up (24 days from this morning!), and knowing that I want that damn laptop with me on my trip, I finally have decided to get the Asus.

As I've said previously here, the Asus and the Acer both seemed to fit my needs, and both seemed to be of high quality. Two things swayed me to the Asus. One, it has a warranty, which (at least in the listing I found) the Acer did not. Or at least not as much of one. Secondly, Mr. Anti-Social has told me that, while he has never had an issue with the Acer, some of his computer geek friends recently had some issues with a couple of them. A minor thing, to be sure, but enough to tip the scales to the Asus.

So I don't need any advice about THAT.

What I DO need some advice about is this: for the laptop, I want to get a protective carrying case. I prefer a backpack type, for these reasons:
--I can carry other stuff with it.
--I am used to carrying a backpack already, as I have been doing for work or school for over 30 years.
--I prefer the security in an airport of a backpack as opposed to a more obvious computer bag. Yes, I know, I'll still have to take the laptop out at the security checkpoint, and anyone watching any time I take the laptop out of or put it into the backpack will know it is a laptop and may try to steal it. But in general, walking around, it is less obvious.

So I want a good, sturdy, quality pack/case. I want it to have multiple pockets, so I can carry multiple things, not just my laptop. In other words, I want it to function as both a carrying case AND a backpack. And it's hard to tell online sometimes just how many pockets/compartments such things have. Now, a couple I've found on Amazon seem to have a hard protective shell type thing on part of them, which makes it seem obvious (to me) that it is more than a standard backpack, which kind of defeats part of my purpose of getting such a case. I also want a reasonable price for such a thing ($35-$50?)

And, everything else being equal, I'd prefer it in black, though of course that part is the most negotiable aspect.

So, any suggestions?

Also, while I've got y'all here, should I but the wireless mouse for it now online, or just get one from one of the local stores once it gets here? And any suggestions on THAT? (But right now I am far more interested in the backpack issue....)

EDITED TO ADD: Okay, this may sound stupid, but as I've been shopping online for said backpack, I came across one that was "designed for 15.4" laptops." Does that mean my 15.6" laptop would not fit in it? Or are 15.4" and 15.6" laptops basically the same thing? And am I missing something here, since I have not really seen any 15.4" laptops as I've been computer shopping? Also, same question for packs designed for "16" laptops."

So far, this one seems to be leading the pack. (Pun fully intended.) Comments? Opinions? Free beers?

EDITED TO ADD MORE IDIOCY: Well, crap. My roommate said that laptops usually ship within a week, but according to what I am reading, the laptop I've selected "usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks." Which, 24 days out from my trip, means I very well may NOT have my comp for my trip.

See, kids? THIS is what you get what you're a procrastination whore like I am.

EDITED TO ADD MORE SILLY CRAP: What's this? I can sign up for a trial membership of Amazon Prime to get both the laptop and the backpack (whichever one I get) shipped to me for free, and shipped in 2 days time? And I can cancel Amazon Prime at any time within the next month and not have to pay that $79 annual fee, or any penalty at all? Why, that seems almost too good to be true. And almost sneaky, too. Why, I would never do something that blatantly cheesy, would I?

[tropicsgoddess]

Ebags.com is awesome, there's so many selections and the prices are reasonable. The customer service is awesome too! As for the Amazon prime thing, skip it. Sure you get free priority shipping but then they tack on the fee not long after. Though I have to say that Amazon.com would be another good option for bags too.

[telecom_goddess]

I have a back pack that has a laptop sleeve in it that works pretty well...and it holds many other things. I just picked it up at a suitcase type store in the mall ....but sometimes I think I would like a smaller one...I may look at ebags.com

[Kogarashi]

I'd say to go ahead with the Prime signup if you want, and just make sure to cancel before the fee hits. They give students a free year of Prime (to get them hooked), and then a period of discounted rates afterward to ease them into paying the full fee, so why wouldn't they give non-students a (much shorter, sure) period of trying it out? Prime is awesome when you get it for free.

Since it's back-to-school season, you could also hit local stores that sell backpacks to see what options they have in person, and see if any of them strike your fancy. I can't help much beyond that, if only because I've never had to go laptop bag shopping before.

[Eisa]

Yeah, I would say that if you can hit anywhere in person, go for it--back to school means there are a LOT of cheap-ass backpacks--lot of crappy ones, too, but there are some good ones among the slog....especially if you look at backpacks that are more aimed at college students because they take into account needing to stuff in your laptop, school books, and notebooks.

[Jester]

As for the Amazon prime thing, skip it. Sure you get free priority shipping but then they tack on the fee not long after.

I have a month to cancel it. Anyone want to guess at what point I might be canceling it?

....but sometimes I think I would like a smaller one...

Anyone who's ever seen my backpacks knows that I generally don't go for the smaller ones. My current pack has three main compartments of varying sizes, plus a mesh pocket on the outsize, plus a small zip pocket that's good for holding a couple small things, plus two size pockets that are good for holding a bunch of small things (like, in my case, decks of cards and other magical doo-dads).

Besides, I am not going to be the guy that says "sometimes I think I would like a smaller one."

Since it's back-to-school season, you could also hit local stores that sell backpacks to see what options they have in person, and see if any of them strike your fancy.

This is Key West. Local options are, to put it kindly, limited. Just finding a regular backpack that meets my needs has, at times, presented a challenge.

[Kogarashi]

This is Key West. Local options are, to put it kindly, limited. Just finding a regular backpack that meets my needs has, at times, presented a challenge.

Fair enough. I am quite unfamiliar with what sort of stores are in your neck of the woods. If there aren't any good big box stores or office stores, I'm out of local ideas.

[Sonoma]

I did the Amazon Prime free trial - just set a reminder up to cancel it well before they assessed the fee. Worked out great, and I loved the free 2nd day shipping.

Enjoy the new laptop! My new one's a month old, and I'm still loving it.

The 15.4 vs 15.6 is a minor detail. There may be some backpacks where it's an issue, but if they have relatively open laptop area, you should be fine. My first one was a 15.4. When I got my 2nd laptop, it had a 16" screen, so I had one laptop bag (not backpack) that wouldn't fit it. My Lowepro Fastpack 250 camera/laptop bag would fit the computer, but the larger
12V battery had to be removed. It was geared for a 15.4, but my new one's a 15.6, and it fits great. That bag has a designated computer area, so it's more restrictive on computer size than my other laptop backpacks that have a more open computer area.

[Jester]

Fair enough. I am quite unfamiliar with what sort of stores are in your neck of the woods. If there aren't any good big box stores or office stores, I'm out of local ideas.

Office Max. Sears. K-Mart. Those are the big box stores here. Period.

And generally speaking, their selection of backpacks is...iffy. Except for Office Max, which has great backpacks, that are all priced through the roof.

And....I am one click away from purchasing both the laptop and the carrying pack. I don't "squee," ever, but if ever I was going to do such a thing, this would be one of those moments. I'll just leave it as a shit-eating grin moment.

And, it's done. Something amusing about making such a major purchase from my chair. :cool"

And....according to Amazon, the pack should be here by August 26th, and the laptop, despite that whole Prime thing, should be delivered sometime between September 14th and September 22nd. I get on a plane early on the morning of September 16th. Once again, a reminder not to procrastinate like Uncle Jester.

Although I am optimistic, as every time I've purchased something from Amazon, the delivery date has been closer to the front end than the back end. My Kindle, for example, showed up on the first day of the suggested delivery window. Which was cool.

But yeah, this is gonna be close.

[telecom_goddess]

I wanna see photos when it arrives

[Jester]

You can see photos now. They have lovely ones at Amazon, where I ordered it.

[Jester]

The backpack arrived yesterday.

Now I'm just waiting on the laptop to fill it. *sigh*

To add insult to injury, on top of the money I laid out for the laptop and backpack, my mechanic just told me what is wrong with the Jestermobile. See, it was heating up very quickly, getting to 3/4 of the temp gauge in the 3 miles from home to work, which is way too hot way too fast, so I had him take a look at it. What is wrong is that the radiator cracked. I'll say that again...the radiator freakin' cracked.

The only real good news is that my mechanic doesn't work for a shop, so doesn't charge me shop prices. He charges me for the part (of course) and a fair price for labor. All told, he said he should have my beloved Jestermobile back to me today (which is good), and my total cost will be $300. Which is both good and bad. Good, because it's cheaper than what the damage could have been, or what I would have paid at a shop for this fix, but bad because, well, it's three freakin' bills of my vacation money. Which has me tempted to see if I can return the laptop, get my money back, and re-purchase it after my vacay. I probably won't do that, of course, but it has me thinking about it.

It also has me really thinking about my friend who owes me money, but I can't really do much about that, as while she really, really wants to pay me back, at the moment she is just struggling to get by. But man oh man, could I use that money she owes me, which is more than the laptop and radiator combined.

But at least I have had no earthquakes or hurricanes here!

Now, back to my special project that will net me a lot of free beer. Time to hunker down, because I really should have had this done yesterday, and I did exactly nothing yesterday but lay around watching tv. If I can finish it today, it will be done a week early, and I will be looking like a star.

[telecom_goddess]

maybe it's me but I would consider the laptop way more important than a car

But then I've never owned a car so....and haven't really been on a vacation for over 10 years.

I need to get out more.

[Jester]

I need and require the truck. I neither need nor require the laptop.

And the laptop, which was estimated to arrive sometime between September 13th and 22nd....

arrived yesterday.

Gotta love Amazon!

Sadly, I won't have time to set it up or play with it until at least Sunday. But at least it's here, and I'll have it for my vacay.

It's so PRETTY.....