What makes an ideal laptop bag? Claire Halliday asks people on the go to nominate their favourites.
Ravi Avasti, 34, is principal designer for Avasti Design and bought his Crumpler Wack-O-Phone in 2004 for about $170. It houses his 15-inch PowerBook G4 and has even withstood an aioli spill in a Fitzroy bar.
"It's a laptop/messenger bag. Navy blue and oatmeal with a lairy orange interior and a velcro-fastening flap. Four years later, it's as good as the day I bought it.
"When I moved from the UK, I needed a new laptop bag and had seen a few people with Crumpler bags in Melbourne. I can cart around my laptop, notebooks and pens/pencils and still have room for a couple of magazines. Everything has its own compartment, so I can fish things out while on the move.
"I spend half the week in the workshop making furniture. Life is a lot easier when I can review and edit designs on the laptop while at the workshop, and my Crumpler really protects it from the dust."
Beth MacLean, 23, is a senior consultant with Ernst & Young and bought her JAG bag about three years ago, shortly after she finished university. It cost about $150.
"My bag is black and I bought it in a set with a matching suitcase. It has curved corners and a front pocket and inside pockets. Our team at work is spread across Sydney and Melbourne, so I am frequently travelling.
"It's very sturdy, which is what I need when I am travelling - it is not only my laptop bag but my carry-on bag when I fly. It fits all my essentials, magazines, laptop. I like the JAG brand and I need something practical, black and airline-compatible.
"The bag itself can be a little bit heavy - even more so when I put everything else into it. I have had it for almost three years but I don't think you can tell; it hasn't worn at all."
Andrew Zingler, 24, is in his final year of a laws/arts (media and communication) degree at Melbourne University. He was given his kikki.K laptop sleeve as a present. It sells for $39.95.
"I was worried about my laptop getting knocked around. The laptop sleeve seemed like the right option, since it takes up very little extra room in the bag, but does give that extra protection. It's a grey, felt sleeve with a fold-over, button-up flap. It buttons up at the front, so when it's inside a bag it can be a bit difficult to access my laptop.
"The bag was a present, so I didn't choose it. I think it portrayed the image my girlfriend wants for me.
"I travel constantly with it. It has protected my laptop - a small, ultra-light, Dell XPS m1330 - pretty well, but it wouldn't work without a bag to go inside."
The Sunday Age