HardwareGeeks.com - V7 by Targus Premium Toploader Case

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Posted by: Michael on Mon, Sep 07th, 2009

For those of you who follow this site, you know that I review a lot of laptops and because of this I go through a lot of notebook bags. I also travel a lot so it’s a pain in the ass to travel with a laptop because you have to take it out of your bag when you approach security.

However the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has allowed for companies such as Targus to make notebook bags that allow for traveler’s to keep their notebooks in their bags. They accomplish this by allowing the compartment where your notebook is to be detaches (not completely) from the rest of the notebook. Kind of like a notebook.

The V7 Toploader case is one of these TSA approved bags and I recently used it on a trip to Florida.

First I have to say the bag looks pretty cool, it has a nice design and I think it’s Unisex as any guy or gal wouldn’t mind carrying it. There are more than enough pockets on the bag to accommodate everything you want to stick in it.

So as I said I went to Florida. NYC to Hollywood Florida via JFK to FLL (airport codes). At JFK I had no problem with the bag, I unzipped where the notebook was and placed it on the belt so it could go through the X-Ray. It came out the other side and I had no issues. I was happy I probably got out of security 5 minutes faster than I normally would have if I had to worry about taking the laptop out and putting it back in my bag etc.

How ever in FLL it was another issue. The TSA agent insisted I had to take the notebook out the bag even after I explained to him that it was a TSA approved bag. He claimed he never heard about a TSA approved bag and said if I didn’t want trouble I would take it out the bag I am not one to argue so I just pulled the notebook out the bag.

Unlike TSA approved locks there is no symbol of any kind on TSA approved bags to make TSA agents aware that the bag is approved which kind of sucks, and it also seems a lot of TSA agents are not aware of TSA approved bags.

Overall the bag is a great bag, durable stylish and if all the TSA agents knew about the approved bag policy it would help a lot of us who travel a lot get through security fast.

With an MSRP of $69.95 and can be found for as little as $49.95 you can’t go wrong with this bag, it’s probably built better than some other bags I have paid over $100 for.

The bag is available at major etailers such as buy.com