Targus XL Backpack Designed for 17 Inch Notebooks TXL617 (Black with Blue Accents)
by Targus
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Targus XL Backpack Designed for 17 Inch Notebooks TXL617 (Black with Blue Accents)
Customer Review: Excellent Product, Very Pleased
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this bag for medical school, anticipating that I would be carrying a TON of books, binders, clothes, food, and coffee on a daily basis. I decided to purchase this bag instead of comparable products made by Swissgear mainly due to what I perceived to be an increased utility of this bag, mostly due to its size.
I have owned this bag over 2 months and am VERY pleased with my purchase. The first thing we should get out of the way is it lacks some of the structural flair of the Swissgear bags in the sense that some of the materials come off as being cheaper and there aren't any cool cable loopy things that go through the grab handle. That aside the bag is very solid and shows no signs of wear after the period I have owned it. And it doesn't feel cheap, just not as "cool" as the swissgear.
Some users complained that its too big which is just ridiculous. I wanted a big bag but this one does not feel overly big when it is underfilled. You can easily fit it into small lockers provided it isnt packed out. Unless your very anemic it isnt going to look ridiculous on you either.
More than one user complained that targus does not adequately address rainy weather, with the open flap pocket and lack of zipper flaps. The bag does lack zipper flaps but I have walked through at least three rainstorms for about 15 minutes per walk wearing this bag. My hair was completely soaked but my laptop and other items were COMPLETELY DRY. Not Damp, bone dry. One guy commented that the open flap will allow water in...well...duh, its open. You don't put your laptop in the open flap, you put your dirty gym clothes there. The front closed compartment is great for holding your mouse, powercord, and other paraphenalia.
Also, people complained about the laptop area not having enough padding which is ridiculous as well. It is very well padded and indeed I have dropped/thrown my bag several times without any damage to my laptop.
As you probably can gather from the pictures this bag can hold ALOT of stuff, and I have found it to be very comfortable when maxed out. I have a big frame and the straps do not in any way cut into my shoulders. I carry this bag at a weight of about 30lbs about 40min per day walking between my apartment and medical school and have experienced no discomfort at all. I also took the bag on a couple 3 day trips to various places on weekends and was able to fit the clothes I needed, toiletries, and of course my laptop. It was loaded to approx. 50 pounds). I have never been able to do this with another backpack (except for my italian military field pack which is absolutely HUGE).
All in all this is a
Customer Review: It's gigantic & still in good shape after 4 years of daily use
Summary: 5 Stars
I previously had an Icon bag for my Presario R3030. The computer was at the upper limits of what my old bag would hold. When my TXL617 arrive, I grabbed my notebook and found that this bag could hold a considerably larger laptop. It's gigantic! The physical dimensions of my laptop are: size: 10.96 (l) x14.25 (w)x1.8(h) weight: 7.8 lbs. There is a couple of extra inches side to side, numerous inches up and down extra, and plenty of depth still available.
There are also a ton of pockets on this bag. So many that it is possible to put something in it, and then struggle to find which pocket you put it in! I also like the sleeve for documents in the main part(middle compartment). The water bottle pocket is a huge bonus and I am glad they included it.
Negatives: I like the flip down pocket, but the way it attaches at the top (plastic quick release tabs) causes the top to roll "in" and to pucker which makes for accessing the top small pocket on the flip down annoying. Plus it looks a bit strange when it rolls down. Attaching the straps at the top of the flap would've solved this (they are sewn on an inch down). Also, because of the size of this bag, it is honestly possible to pack it with a crippling amount of weight if you don't pay attention. For me as a Seminary Student that space comes in handy, but not everyone wants a nearly wheel barrow sized backpack! Additionally, with the size of this pack, Targus should have put a couple of internal stays to strengthen the vertical rigidity of the pack, and that would've made carrying larger loads more comfortable. As it is, it is pretty comfortable loaded. It also includes a hip belt that is nice when it is really packed full. You might need help getting it off if you do indeed ever fill it to capacity with books!
Update 1/26/2011:
After 4 years of daily use this backpack is still holding up well. Zippers all still work and all stitching is still intact. I now carry an HP 17 inch laptop in this bag each day, and it easily carries that size as well. I've flown all over the country with this bag and never had a problem. I'll likely buy another if/when this one finally dies.
Customer Review: Used for three years of college to carry 17" laptop & engineering books
Summary: 5 Stars
I highly recommend this backpack, especially for students. As of the time of this review I've owned the backpack for about 4 years. I finally broke one the the zippers where the books are held but the other still works so I can still use it. This is after 3 solid years of carrying on average 15 to 20lbs around campus at least 6 days a week. The weight distributions is actually pretty good in my opinion and though I didn't always use them, on long hauls across campus the chest and waist straps were well placed. Also, the use of space is excellent. Here's a snapshot of my general daily load:
- 1-2 laptop external drives (Side zippered pocket)
- Water bottle
- 2" Notebook (Main compartment)
- 2-3 Heavy Engineering Textbooks (Main compartment)
- 17" HP Pavilion, power cord, mouse, laptop cooler, & lock (Laptop compartment)
- TI-89 calculator, pens, pencils, markers (Small front compartment)
- Cell phone (Pouch on shoulder strap)
Sometimes I'd have more or less than this, but this was the usual load. Also, when traveling for 1-3 days this backpack is perfect for clothes, toiletries, and the laptop.
If you're looking for something negative there's not much but here you go:
- Your back can get a bit sweaty since there's no airflow, but it's a breathable material so it's really no more than any other normal backpack.
- Also the back pouch that's held up with the clips tends to slouch/hang down a bit when filled unlike in the picture .
- The shoulder strap has started to fray where it connects to the backpack (...after better than 3 years of heavy use!)
IMHO these flaws are pretty insignificant and really quite trivial.
I generally don't bother with reviews, but for the use that I got out of this product I would be remiss if I didn't. For any students out I there hope that you find this information helpful. I just purchased a new one for my little brother who's starting college this spring.
Customer Review: 18.4 Toshiba's DO fit in this bag!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just purchased one of the new 18.4" widescreen Toshiba laptops, and I had a really hard time finding a backpack to fit this monster. I read the reviews here, and a few reviewers said that it would fit in this bag. Every other 17" bag I tried, the laptop stuck out the top. So I gambled and ordered this one.
I'm worried about protecting the screen, so while I was at a local computer retailer, I found an 18" Case Logic sleeve that fits this laptop like a glove. When the bag arrived today, the first thing I did was slide the laptop in the sleeve, and then put it into the bag. The 18.4" Toshiba laptop fits in the bag with the sleeve on - but just barely.
The bag seems solidly built, and to me, it doesn't seem too big. I have another laptop bag - a 15" Rack Gear bag, and that one is definately wider and fatter. This one is smaller in every dimension except height. It has plenty of room for a laptop, peripherals, a few books, even a change of clothes. As long as it's not overloaded, it should also make it through airport security without a problem. It probably won't fit under the seat, but it'll definately fit in the overhead compartments on commercial airliners.
Like others, I wasn't sure about the exposed pockets under the flap, but now after seeing it, it actually makes sense to me. It works perfect for a pair of shoes or other item you may want to keep separate from the contents inside the bag. The flap itself has numerous zippered pockets, perfect for smaller items (pens, flash drives, etc).
It's not as solid and padded as my 15" Rack Gear or our 17" Swiss Gear laptop backpacks, but those companies offer "bulletproof" bags, and neither of them offer a bag large enough for the 18.4" laptops. For those of you who are looking for a laptop/overnight bag and own one of the new monster Toshibas, this one is perfect.
Customer Review: Put to the test, and passes with flying colors.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this so I could carry my $1700 Lap top with me to Afganistan, and have it double as my carry-on bag. Well as with all Military movements, it did not go as planned, and I had to check the bag, because they said it would not fit in the overhead storage compartment. For any of you who have ever served in the Military, and participated in a movement with 800 plus people, your checked baggages is not treated very well. Just picture 30, 18 year old kids mad as a hornet because they have to load and unload 2400+ bags on an airplane, many of the bags weighing in excess of 70 pounds, and they have about an hour to accomplish this. I was terrified that my stuff was going to be destroyed and I would be out several thousand dollars.
Upon arriaval at our first stop, I retrieved my bag, and to my amazement, my computer was intact. Not to mention, my PSP, wireless mouse, head phones, and I-Pad were all undamaged. The same was true for the next 2 times that the bag was loaded in with the checked baggage as we continued our trip.
Now for the bag itself.
My 17" HP fit nicely inside, and was held securely in place by the pocket on the inside of the bad. The front pocked has lots of storage space your accessories (mouse, cell phone, whatever)
The bag has mass storage compartment space. Inside I fit, an extra set of cammies (top and bottom) a pair of running shoes, 6 t-shirts, 6 pair of socks, six underware, 2 pair of gym shorts, a towel, a pair of gloves, light weight jacket. 7 computer games, I-Pad, PSP, and all my toilet items. I could have stuffed some more stuff in there, but that is all I needed to travel. LOL
In all an execlent purchase if you want to keep your stuff safe, but do not try and use it as a carry on, as it might not fit in the over head compartments if you have it stuffed full.