{"id":1269,"date":"2013-02-08T13:00:46","date_gmt":"2013-02-08T19:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/?p=1269"},"modified":"2013-03-08T13:16:42","modified_gmt":"2013-03-08T19:16:42","slug":"my-ideal-laptop-case-is-a-laptop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/?p=1269","title":{"rendered":"My ideal laptop case is\u2026 a Laptop?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a continual quest for the every elusive increase in productivity, I\u2019ve taken to creating my own laptop cases for my use during the business day.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m on the road, I\u2019ve yet to find anything that offers the durability, portability and ease of use of my Tom Bihn Buzz Bag<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I have both sizes of the Tom Bihn Buzz Bag and I have traveled the world entrusting my electronic equipment to these bags.\u00a0 It has a main compartment for a laptop, a secondary compartment for an iPad, Kindle, backup laptop, A\/C adapters, cables and a zippered outer compartment for pens, pencils, keys, passport, as well as one across the chest and over the shoulder strap that has a pocket for my iPhone right over my heart.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, unless I\u2019m looking for the Josh Liberman (a character from West Wing who lived carried suited up for work complete with his back pack), I\u2019ve not found the backpack as compatible with the style of my day to day work.<\/p>\n

Although briefcases are nice, I find I have a bad habit of just loading them down with stuff I don\u2019t need, so my ideal solution was something that wrapped my laptop, and allowed me to hold everything I needed in one hand, something that was transportable enough to walk through a property tour and toss down on a table ready to go.<\/p>\n

My solution has evolved over the three iterations of laptops \u2013 my first the MacBook Pro (now up for sale), my MacBook Air and my new favorite machine, the MacBookPro 13\u201d retina.<\/p>\n

My ideal setup includes the ability to carry the following:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 iPhone (sometimes its my main iPhone, and on some cases it\u2019s the backup iPhone which doubles as an Internet wifi access point)<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 iPad or iPad mini<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Echo or Sky Smart Pen<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Smart Pen Pad<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Regular pen<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A number of USB keys<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Apple headset\/headphones<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Microsoft\u2019s flat mouse + Apple charging adapter or Kensington\u2019s portable trackball<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1.5 terrabyte harddrive (holds iTunes music, movie and TV Collection)<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 USB micro cable, USB mini cable, USB to iPod cables for charging and syching<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Business Cards<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To accomplish this, I\u2019ve either purchased Speck or (Leather case brand) cases both of which have a nice feel and a tight fit to the laptops.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I then modify the upper case (the one that attaches to the screen) \u2013 carefully laying out the cases to hold all of the items I need then super gluing them directly to the case (its highly recommend you not superglue them when the laptop is attached).<\/p>\n

Round I modifications<\/b><\/p>\n

My original guinea pig for laptop case design was the MacBookPro, a machine I had already customized by dumping its \u201csuper\u201d optical drive for a 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0terabyte of storage.\u00a0 To this machine I added a Logitech iPad 1 case that was super glued to the Speck case allowing for easy access to my iPad.\u00a0 I also added a slide in case holder for my iPhone 4s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"MacBook<\/a><\/p>\n

MacBook Pro Custom Case<\/p>\n

\"ToddsMacBookProCustomCase1<\/a><\/p>\n

\"ToddsMacBookProCustomCase1<\/a><\/p>\n

Although the case that I mounted on my MacBookPro was for the 1st generation iPad, as you can see here, the 2nd\/3rd generation iPad fits in just fine.<\/p>\n

\"ToddsPortableOfifceSetup<\/a><\/p>\n

This is what it looks like with\u00a0everything\u00a0on:<\/p>\n

\"ToddsPortableOfifceSetup<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Round II modifications<\/b><\/p>\n

For my MacBook air, I used the (leather case) and found the exterior portion of that case allows for easy modification and the ability to run cables underneath the leather exterior.\u00a0 This has allowed me to hookup a USB hub that runs the iPhone and a cordless trackball from one USB port.<\/p>\n

This version was the 2nd iteration for my MacbookAir.\u00a0 Noticed the streamlined setup made possible by one large pocket that zips.\u00a0 This iPad case swings out when the laptop is open allowing the iPad to be run as a 2nd monitor (using MaxiVista<\/a> or iDisplay<\/a>) for the laptop.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This photo shows what it looks like in use (happens to be from our Europe trip so its a good shot of my mobile office).<\/p>\n

\"Europe-Paris-MercureHotel-example-MicroApt-112012<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Round III modifications<\/b><\/p>\n

My latest modification is the MacBook Pro 13\u201d with Retina display.\u00a0 I have added a number of features over previous modifications including the ability to \u201cattach\u201d an iPad and an iPad Mini to either side.\u00a0 So if my desk on the road is big enough, I can run iDisplay (or MaxiVista) and have the iPad\u00a0 double as a 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0screen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Notice how the \u201csmart cases\u201d have been modified to hold an iPad?<\/td>\nUSB and cable storage happens here<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A discard in the Staples discounted bin turned into a cool looking business card holder<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

While the new case increase the weight of the MacBookPro by just over 1 pound, and adds another 1\u201d to the overall thickness of the svelte machine.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure the ever astute design guru, Steve Jobs, would turn over in his grave to see what I\u2019ve done to his prized machine, I personally find my new office setup makes me extremely efficient and effective in any meeting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is the latest version of what is mounted on my new 13″ new Macbook Retina laptop. \u00a0It has room for my iPad mini, my trackball, business cards, harddrive, iPhone 5, headphones, USB keys, and\u00a0miscellaneous\u00a0cables and cords.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"ToddMofMacBookProCasewLabels\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

and this is what it looks like with out the labeling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a continual quest for the every elusive increase in productivity, I\u2019ve taken to creating my own laptop cases for my use during the business day. When I\u2019m on the road, I\u2019ve yet to find anything that offers the durability, portability and ease of use of my Tom Bihn Buzz Bag. I have both sizes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1269"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1358,"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269\/revisions\/1358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.canteraconsultants.com\/tech\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}