Funchico.com - Funky, Chic & Cool Laptop Bag News

Win a One-of-a-Kind Laptop Bag from Skooba Design

I just got word of this VERY COOL contest from Skooba Design. They are looking for the Master of the Digital Universe. And when they find her (or him) they want to design a one-of-a-kind laptop bag for them.

I know - awesome, right?!

Here are the deets ...

We are on the hunt for the Master of the Digital Universe, the gadget freak to end all gadget freaks. The Master might have the most gadgets, or the coolest gadgets, or both. The Master might rack up 200,000 frequent flier miles a year and do business in 25 countries, while traveling with an extraordinary tech arsenal. The Master might have drawers and closets full of more retired gadgets than anyone else. The Master might have all of the above.

If you think you deserve to be named Master of the Digital Universe, we want to hear from you. We want your story. It's not necessarily just about a laundry list of all the stuff you own (although if that's what you want to send, that's OK too). It's about the big picture. This is a subjective contest, to be judged by the product designers, marketing and management team at Skooba Design. So if you think you've got a story, sell it. Tell us what you've got, what you carry, how you travel, how you use your tech, why you're always 2 steps ahead of every technology development, whatever it may be. The better picture you paint, with words, images or video (more info on entry page), the better we can judge your story.

They are encouraging really great stories and not just a picture of your gear which I think is smart. You can also submit a video regaling the judges with your digital gear mastery.

Deadline for entry is Friday, November 20, 2009 at 11PM Eastern time. 

Get eco-chic with the laptop T.O.T.E. from Urban Junket

I just posted a review of the fun and fresh Laptop T.O.T.E. bags from Urban Junket (T.O.T.E. = "to observe the earth"). There are two great things about these bags: the amazing colour palette and the very smart functional design - Tracey Dyer, the designer, has fashioned one bag with three ways to carry it: over the shoulder (tote-style), across the body (messenger-style) and on the back (backpack-style).

You can read the full review of the T.O.T.E. from Urban Junket over on my lens; here's an excerpt:

Maybe I'm just feeling a little nostalgic for John Hughes this days - but I have to say that my journey with my review copy of the Urban Junket T.O.T.E. reminded me of the teen romance films of my youth.

You know the ones I mean. Those teen movies where the female protaganist is a bit of a tomboy who maybe wears glasses and she's desperately in love with the male protaganist, but he doesn't even see her! But then at the end of the film, he suddenly realizes that the perfect woman was right in front of him the whole time! Well...that's kind of how it was with me and the Urban Junket T.O.T.E.

I confess that when I first received the Urban Junket T.O.T.E., it was summer and I thought it was nice. It wasn't until the days started to get a little darker and the leaves turned that I really started to notice it - arrestingly colourful, slick and chic. How had I not seen it before? And how soon could I come up with an excuse to take it out somewhere??

The Urban Junket T.O.T.E. ("Tote" stands for "To Observe the Earth") comes in two sizes, the 15.4" and the 17", which is the one I have. Its glossy exterior is eco-friendly coated canvas made from non-toxic dyes - a definite plus in my book.

The glossy material is also water resistant - another plus in rainy Vancouver - although there is a little gap between the zipper and the edge of the bag, so you know - don't toss it in the pool or anything.

Plus, there is a great video from Tracey showing how to configure the bag in each of its three styles.  You can also skip the review and go straight to the Urban Junket T.O.T.E. over at CareerBags.com.

Love these bright coloured totes from Tepper Jackson at CareerBags.com

I just saw these on CareerBags.com - totes and carryalls from Tepper Jackson. Do you love the colours? I LOVE the colours!  This Kashmir patterned weekender/carry-all tote is my favourite. LOVE it.

Not strictly for laptops - but you could pair it with one of these crazy sleeves from Isis Dei (also at CareerBags).  I think this green polka-dot sleeve would be perfect.

New Netbook Sleeves from Melissa Beth Designs

One of my favourite laptop bag designers, Melissa Beth Designs, has started making netbook size sleeves. Yay! She's got a fresh new set of patterns for the fall (my fav is the "Hot to Trot Pink Peacock), and they come perfectly sized to cosset your bundle of netbook joy. They retail for $29.50 USD.

Handmade Neck and Wrist Straps for Your DSLR Camera

I have been spending WAY too much time on Etsy lately. Way. Too. Much. Time.

I can't help myself though - people are so crafty and make such pretty things!

One of my recent discoveries is rhembein's shop.  She is a photographer AND a crafty-type - she makes these really bright and delightful neck and wrist straps for your DSLR camera.  All her fabrics are fresh and funky!  These are two of my favourites:

 

Her straps retail for $25.00 USD.  Ooo .. and she's Canadian :)

A Field Guide to Laptop Bags for Journalists

Earlier this summer, I was contacted by Benét Wilson - the Online Managing Editor for Business Aviation (and on Twitter as @AvWeekBenet). Last year Benét interviewed me about check-point friendly laptop bags for her column "Towers and Tarmac". This year, Benét moderated a panel on "Becoming a Multimedia Journalist" at the annual conference of The National Association of Black Journalists. She asked me if I would send her some thoughts on what laptop bags would be good for journalists.

The following piece is what I came up with.

Journalists are a varied species – and the tools of the trade they carry are just as varied.  So when Benét asked me to put together some recommendations for bags for journalists, I got a little concerned.  But after some field research, I’ve been able to identify four sub-species of journalists and the bags that would be appropriate for each.

First up, Journalist Maximus, or the “I carry everything with me at all times” journalist. These folks were likely Boy (or Girl) Scouts and want to always be prepared – so they bring all their reporting tools with them.  And the best bags for these folks: backpacks.  Now, the type of backpack bag best for Journalist Maximus depends upon species variation:

Some JM’s are a little clumsy and need to protect their most sacred of tools – the laptop.  But they also want plenty of room for their other gear plus easy access to recorders, notebooks, granola bars, etc.  For the JM whose laptop is primary and perhaps prone to bashing themselves and their bags around, I recommend the Smart Alec backpack and Brain Cell from Tom Bihn.  I have fallen over backwards while wearing my Tom Bihn with Brain Cell, landed square on my Macbook Pro, and it emerged totally unscathed.

Say you’re the type of Journalist Maximus for whom the camera is the thing.  And your backup camera.  And your backup backup camera.  Plus tripod.  And some other gear that you like to have with you “just in case”. And that laptop you have to carry so you can file the story.  Well, the Aura Backpack from Slappa is a good choice. Slappa has a long history of making awesome bags for the toughest of gearheads – DJ’s.  They’ve now translated that expertise into bags that are perfect for camera-ladden journos on the go.  They’ve included lots of padded pockets for cameras and lenses as well as straps for tying on tripods and other misc gear.  Plus you can slide a laptop in.

Finally, there are some Journalist Maximus (Maximi?!) who are, well, a little girly – and don’t want to carry around a big, bad backpack.  These ladies are possibly a little in denial about how much they carry.  Luckily, they have a hero in Melissa Beth Designs.  Melissa Beth has created a startlingly roomy backpack, called the Piggy Back, for a laptop and other gear that has a very slim silhouette and sits well on a smaller frame that often comes with this variation of the JM sub-species.

 

Help Lexie Barnes Get to Fashion Week

One of my fav laptop bag designers, Lexie Barnes, has a vision - to move knitting from the "craft" world to the "fashion world".  And she wants to go all the way to Bryant Park to do it. Lexie writes ...

I'm hosting a Knitting Lounge and Media Center at the Bryant Park Hotel during Fashion Week to merge the craft of knitting and art of fashion. I'm here on Kickstarter.com raising money to put the event together!

I'm an indie accessories designer and entrepreneur with a hip line of knitting bags. As I cross over from the craft industry into fashion with handbags and travel accessories at Fashion Week New York, I want to take knitting across the line with me.

Even with the recent knitting renaissance, knitters still bear the stigma of the spinster or lonely housewife. The reality couldn't be farther from the truth. Knitting crosses all borders - age, race, sex, religion, culture, and occupation. Knitters are everywhere. They are social by nature and creative by design. There is a gaping chasm between crafty knitting and designer knitwear and I'm out to bridge that gap.

To help Lexie get to Bryant Park, read more about her project on kickstarter.com or click through the widget to make a pledge.

Update: If you do make a pledge, please leave a comment on her kickstarter.com page saying that you got the info about her project here on Funchico.  She's having a contest giving away a $100 gift certificate to lexiebarnes.com.