Soft, sleeved laptop bags are lightweight but offer little protection.
When you buy a laptop with the intention of carrying it to use in several locations, it is important to buy a case to protect it. Two types of case to consider are hard-sided cases and soft sleeves. Each has benefits and drawbacks, and picking either depends on your lifestyle and use of the laptop.
Hard
The chief benefit to picking a hard laptop case is the superior protection it provides to your computer. Hard laptop cases are available in many styles, but most are rectangular like a briefcase and have a soft, padded interior in which you store the laptop. The downsides to hard laptop cases is that they often cost more money than their soft counterparts and that they're heavier to carry.
Sleeved
A sleeved laptop case is a simple, envelope-shaped structure typically made of rubber or fabric. Some sleeved bags don't have any pockets other than the one for the laptop, while others have pockets for accessories. Instead, it is one sleeve in which the laptop slides and is stored. This style of bag is ideal because it's lightweight and adds little weight over the weight of the laptop. The drawback to a sleeved case is that it offers less protection than a hard case with interior padding.
Handles
Hard and sleeved laptop bags come with several styles of handles. Hard cases often have a briefcase-style handle and a shoulder strap. Sleeved bags often have no handle, as many people carry this style of bag under one arm like a book or a newspaper. Occasionally, however, sleeved bags will have a briefcase-style handle or should strap.
Choosing
The two styles of laptop cases are ideal for different people for different reasons. If you commute to work on public transportation, for example, and carry your laptop with you, a hard case is ideal because of the protection it affords. If you carry a backpack, however, you may be able to slide the laptop in its sleeve into your backpack. If you do not travel with the laptop, the sleeve option is ideal for keeping it protected at home.
Tags: laptop cases, sleeved laptop, briefcase-style handle, hard case, hard laptop, have briefcase-style
