Matthew Olivolo July 18th, 2011

By Kate Trgovac, Fashionable Laptop Bag editor
As I’ve mentioned before, TSA regulations allow for laptops to remain in their sleeves if the bag meets TSA guidelines. If you’re looking for a laptop briefcase that get you through that (sometimes terrible) line-up at airport security a little faster, then it’s worth checking out the ScanFast Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase 2.0 by Mobile Edge.

Black and sleek, this bag is function, function, function all the way. The front of the bag has four zippered pockets. There are two pockets shaped and sized for cords and power-bricks, and there is a large flat, zippered pocket for reading materials. The fourth pocket is a smaller zippered pocket for quick access. I’m stashing my airline ticket and identification in there.

The briefcase opens clamshell-style. One side has a built-in slot for my laptop, and the other has storage for documents and accessories. The laptop pocket is made to fit laptops with up to 16″ screens. It easily fits my MacBook Pro, and it will definitely fit a PC as well. The elastic and Velcro strap firmly secured my laptop. The “Checkpoint Friendly” label on the pocket will remind TSA agents that bag is cool to go through the X-ray. It’s ALL COOL, TSA.

The front storage area of the bag holds all the usual “briefcase” contents that you may need. There is a handy series of multi-purpose pockets for my iPod and cell phone, pens, business cards, and a sturdy clip for my keys. And, as with Mobile Edge’s other security-friendly bags, there is a designated memory storage section, perfect for memory cards and thumb drives. For those of us who need to travel with data, thank goodness for that design feature – there’s a spot for my house keys AND my USB keys. There is also a zippered, netted pocket for other items.

Other nice features of this bag include the adjustable shoulder strap – it extends up to approx. 57″ hardware to hardware, which is longer than many other manufacturers. The shoulder pad is slim-lined, built-in, and extremely comfortable. The back of the bag has a pass-through so I can tote it along with my rolling luggage – always a nice feature.

To read the full review click here.

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Matthew Olivolo July 8th, 2011

By Shama Kabani, Portfolio.com

Shama Kabani, CEO Marketing Zen, international speaker, and traveler, shares her best-kept travel secrets.

Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from experience. Just these past six months alone have seen me in more than seven countries—from Hong Kong to Egypt. I travel mostly for business, and here are my best-kept secrets.

What to Pack: Anyone who has ever seen my closet will tell you I am not a minimalist. My luggage tells a different story. Convenience trumps choices when I travel more than 18 hours. If traveling overnight or for less than two days, I recommend only a carry-on. If you check a bag and it gets lost, the chances are you won’t have it back until your trip is over.

In my carry-on, I have my iPad 2 (I leave the Kindle at home since the iPad has a Kindle app), my laptop (only if I am giving a presentation, otherwise the iPad works), a sleeping kit (eye cover, socks, and a mini toothbrush), quality headphones, sunglasses, a packet of gum, and an extra shirt just in case. If the carry-on is my only luggage, I add a suit and a mini makeup and medicine bag. I stick to only one pair of shoes in which I can walk and present. Want to get through security faster? Use a TSA compliant, checkpoint friendly laptop bag. You can keep the laptop in its case. Mobile Edge makes a few good ones.

To read her full article click here.

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Matthew Olivolo June 30th, 2011

This year’s trend in stylish laptop backpacks seems to be thin and light backpacks. The Sumo Travel Pack by Mobile Edge is in fact lean, light yet super durable and stylish all at the same time. In fact, in the July Edition of Laptop Magazine, Managing Editor Anna Attkisson reviews seven laptop backpacks and of course features the Sumo Backpack front and center. Read her review below.

Travel Light: Slim Laptop Backpacks

By Anna Attkisson, Managing Editor Laptop Magazine

For jaunting around town, commuting to and from work or school, and anytime you don’t need to take more than the essentials with you, a small backpack is the perfect traveling companion.

These slim day packs can go from subway to conference room or classroom with ease, and our top picks offer individual style along with lightweight functionality.

Though this case’s corduroy-lined laptop compartment can fit up to 17-inch notebooks, the Sumo Computer Travel Pack is still easy to tote. The durable and water-resistant ballistic nylon exterior is topped off with faux-leather accents underneath and subtle white quilting up top.

Inside you’ll find an easy-access front pocket with an organizer for wallet, pens, and your Smartphone. The ventilated back panel also conceals a handy roller board strap.
$99.99 – www.mobileedge.com

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Matthew Olivolo June 7th, 2011

In an independent and not so scientific test from tech enthusiasts from Electronics Break conducted a drop test. From waist height, they dropped a new iPad 2, a Motorola Xoom, and a Samsung Galaxy tablet directly onto the cement sidewalk.

All three Tablets broke, with the Samsung Galaxy fairing the best. However, all three glass covers broke causing significant damage. All of this could have been avoided simply by using a Mobile Edge Sleeve or Case to protect it. Click here to see Tablet case offerings form Mobile Edge and Sumo.

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Matthew Olivolo June 1st, 2011

The super popular Alienware M14x was given a four star rating from Technology Editor Dan Ackerman, from CNET. This hot laptop has been reviewed by editors across the globe and all have reported back with favorable reviews.

If you own a new Alienware laptop, you have to get an Alienware laptop bag to protect it. Mobile Edge manufactures the Alienware line of laptop cases and offers them online here. Whether you own the M11x, the M14x, the M17x or the new M18x, we have you covered. We offer portfolios, sleeves, messenger bags and backpacks all designed with the distinct Alienware head prominently displayed.

Here is a brief recap of the review from CNET regarding the M14x. To read the full review, click on the link at the end of this page.

By Dan Ackerman,
CNET Technology Editor

The Alienware M14x, Dell’s latest Alienware laptop, manages to pack amazing performance into a smaller-than-expected body with plenty of configuration options.

Typically, the difference between a 14-inch laptop and a 15-inch one is very slight, although we generally prefer the smaller of these two options for the sake of portability. When it comes to chunky gaming laptops, however, the difference can be more pronounced. While we wouldn’t consider taking Alienware’s 15-inch M15x laptop on the road, the new 14-inch version, unsurprisingly named the M14x, looks and feels a good deal smaller–even if it’s still a beast compared with other 14-inch laptops.

For truly portable gaming, you’d want to stick with the popular 11-inch M11x, pretty much the only gaming ultraportable you’ll find. But this new in-between size is enticing for those who want to take their games on a family vacation or business trip and still enjoy a reasonable screen size and generous 1,600×900-pixel screen resolution.

All this doesn’t come cheap, and our review unit of the M14x costs $2,198, which includes a high-end Intel Core i7 2820QM CPU, an Nvidia GeForce GT555M GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 750GB hard drive. Fortunately, more realistic configurations start at $1,199.

It’s been a few years since Dell gave its Alienware lineup a makeover, and it’s starting to show. Like the recent M11x, the new M14x has the same angular, almost automotive design as the 15- and 17-inch models of a few years ago. When we first saw it we thought it was a good step toward a more upscale feel, but since then we’ve seen a lot of sharp laptop designs that go even further toward a modern, minimalist look.
To read the full review click here.

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Matthew Olivolo April 29th, 2011

I visited the BuyTV studio yesterday to shoot a Product Spotlight Video on our new Mobile Edge ScanFast 2.0 Collection. As usual, I had a great time with the staff and was able to successfully articulate all of the key attributes of each laptop case. (Thanks to the teleprompter)

Erica Sizle, BuyTV videographer is a true professional to work with and always edits each video perfectly helping to demonstrate key selling points for each product.

I’ve been going to BuyTV for several years now, talking about Mobile Edge and Sumo laptop bags helping customers understand all of the cool features we integrate into each and every laptop bag we design. Check out BuyTV by clicking here to see Mobile Edge product videos.

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Matthew Olivolo April 20th, 2011

Here’s another happy Mobile Edge customer, this time carrying a new Eco-Friendly Messenger Bag in black.

John from West Lafayette, Indiana sent in his picture after speaking with me via Twitter. He said he loves this messenger bag and is happy to show it off, perfect timing during Earth Week.

Thanks John for sending this photo in. You can expect to receive your FREE Mobile Edge SWAG I’ll be sending to you.

Send in your pictures of you and your Mobile Edge laptop bag and I’ll post them up. I’ll send you FREE Mobile Edge gifts as our way of saying thanks. Send the pictures to me at mo@mobileedge.com.

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Matthew Olivolo February 18th, 2011

Justine Bieber fever is alive and well, well at least it was on the last episode of Glee. The whole show was dedicated to the Biebs as the male actors thought it would be a great way to win the hearts of their girlfriends by forming the Bieber Fever Tribute Band.

Lead actor Chord Overstreet or “Chad Evans” as he is called on the show, forms the all Bieber all the time Band and later his fellow classmates join him in the band all to woo their girlfriends.

Chad is seen in several scenes during the episode carrying a stylish Mobile Edge Backpack. He specifically is carrying the Maddie Powers Backpack Mobile Edge formerly made. Although this is one of the backpacks we no longer produce, it is one of many Mobile Edge laptop bags used on the show.

Make sure to watch for stylish Mobile Edge Backpacks on Glee, along with several Messenger Bags, Briefcases and Totes all used in various scenes and actors. If you do spot a Mobile Edge laptop bag, e-mail me at mo@mobileedge.com and tell me what laptop case you saw. For your efforts, I will send you a FREE Mobile Edge gift as our way of thanking you for being a Mobile Edge customer.

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Matthew Olivolo February 11th, 2011

By Angie Kibiloski, Technology Editor, Computer Times

Mobile Edge has always made quality laptop bags, so it’s no surprise that their new lines for 2011, which offer something for every taste, continue to meet that high standard. First, and in my opinion most impressive, is the ScanFast™ 2.0 line (Retail $99.99), a checkpoint friendly and Eco-friendly series that is made of a new corn based material called Sorona®. Not only have they created a bag that is comfortable to use, keeps your laptop and accessories well protected, and eases your way through airport security, it’s also green. This material contains 37% renewable resources, and requires 30% less energy to produce than other fabrics, resulting in 63% less green house emissions. Who wouldn’t want to help keep our planet healthy while being stylish at the same time?

The laptop pocket is well padded and folds out completely flat, with a clear pouch to make your laptop visible to airport security. This eliminates the need to remove your laptop for the scanner. The other interior compartments have many convenient little pockets for all of your accessories and office materials. The ScanFast 2.0 line comes in a messenger bag, briefcase, or backpack style. Another ScanFast™ series is the Alienware line (Retail $99.99), for all the hardcore gamers to protect their awesome Alienware super gaming laptops. And, I particularly love the gorgeous ScanFast models designed especially for women. The ScanFast Onyx Briefcase and backpack (Retail $99.99) are black and very chic, and the ScanFast Element (Retail $99.99) is so pretty and feminine, in faux leather and suede. It comes in brown, green, or pink, with a cool striped interior, perfectly suited for making a girl feel a bit more girly when toting her big ole laptop around. All of these models have the dedicated laptop compartment as well, which folds out flat for security screening.

Checkpoint Friendly laptop bags are not the only great lines from Mobile Edge this year. There are several lines that really pop with personality and color, and are sure to turn some heads. The Sumo Sleeves (Retail $19.99), which are designed to fit Netbooks, iPads, and MacBooks, are made from water resistant neoprene, to sleekly cushion your device. They come in multiple colors of a Camo or graffiti pattern. The Maddie Powers limited edition line (Retail $59.99-$99.99) is very unique, featuring bags with pulp magazine images from the 1940’s and 1950’s. These bags come in various styles, all with excellent protective padding, and some have matching removable neoprene sleeves, for when you only need to carry your laptop. Most of the Maddie Powers models are for women, but there are a few for men as well.

They also have a very pretty selection of Eco-Friendly Totes (Retail $69.99-$79.99), in interesting colors like polka dots and spring pastels. This model has a removable laptop section so it can double as a purse, complete with removable cell phone case and hide-away water bottle holder. They are eco-friendly due to the natural cotton canvas exterior.

I’m all about keeping our planet healthy, so the ScanFast™ 2.0 and Eco-Friendly Tote series are top of my list. But, I also love to stand out from the crowd, so I’m excited about the ScanFast Element and Maddie Powers collections too.

To read the full review click here.

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Matthew Olivolo December 9th, 2010

Sending Your Kid’s Computer Packing

Laptops and school mean rethinking your high school or college bound kid’

By Sean Gallagher, Technology Editor, Tech Goes Strong

Before you know it, the summer will be over. And your kid will be headed back to school—probably with a laptop computer. But are you really going to let them haul that $1500 computer around in that backpack designed for textbooks?

More colleges are making laptops part of the classroom experience, with texts in electronic form and lecture halls equipped with WiFi. Many high schools are also making computers part of the curriculum. So backpacks don’t just hold notebooks, textbooks and pencils anymore—and they shouldn’t be built like they do.

I recently got my hands on a pack that’s the answer to the modern classroom—the EVO Backpack from Mobile Edge. Instead of just sporting the standard gaping catch-all compartment of most backpacks, the EVO has a pocket for just about everything. While my sons have both been eyeing the pack for their own laptops, they may have to fight me for it at this point.

A padded compartment can protectively cradle laptops with screens up to 16 inches, as well as many 17-inch models (including MacBook Pros and others with the wide-screen format). My 17-inch Toshiba laptop was easily accommodated, though about an inch of it jutted above the protective padding of the pocket; my 10-inch Toshiba Netbook had plenty of room, even when packed with an extra sleeve on it. A Velcro flap secures the pocket so the laptop won’t eject when the bag is opened.

There are 16 internal and external pockets, as well as a “workstation” area with holders for pens and pencils, USB ‘flash’ drives, and memory cards. There are mesh pockets on the straps that are ideal for stuffing a cell phone into, and an internal pocket for an MP3 player, complete with wire management ports to snake headphone wires through—perfect for keeping your student plugged into tunes while sprinting (or skateboarding) to make that next class across campus.

The pack also has a padded back panel with breathable mesh covers that molds to the back and distributes weight in a way that may not make your kid look like Quasimodo by the end of the day.

To read to full review click here.

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