How Do I Know if a Laptop Bag Fits?

It seems simple enough: how do you measure a laptop computer to see if it fits in a specific laptop bag? It doesn't make sense when you see that 14" or 17" size and then neither the length nor the width is equal to that number. Still scratching your head? Here's how it works.

The measurement that all laptop manufacturers use is the diagonal of the screen. Check out the above image. The diagonal is the measurement that goes from the upper corner to the opposite lower corner. Now that you've revisited high school geometry, how does that relate to knowing if your laptop fits in a specific laptop bag?

Here's the big news: it is a guide, but every laptop in a specific size has different dimensions because of the design of the plastic and screen dimensions. So, if you want to know if your laptop will really fit in that laptop sleeve, you need to measure the length, the width and the depth, just like a box, and then compare those measurements to the size of the bag. Maybe now it makes sense why a 15.4" Mac fits different bags than a 15.4" Dell or a 15.4" Toshiba.

Cool Computer Cases for Back-to-School

Back-to-school is always about finding a cool look. When your laptop needs to go in tow for school, it needs a cool laptop case to go with it. And this year with folks trying to stretch their budgets even further, laptop bag prices need to be cool, too.

Laptop backpacks can have style and a reasonable price. High Sierra's swerve laptop backpack will fit a 15.4" laptop and comes in stylish colors like pink, leaf green, and amethyst purple. If you have a smaller frame and a laptop weighs down your posture (translation: tweens or petite co-eds), check out the rolling laptop backpacks from J Sport World. Patterns with flowers and targets come in a variety of colors, and then, of course, there is basic black. One more for the gals: the Ogio shifter laptop backpack. It has rounded edges, satin accents, and tons of pockets. All of these styles are $60 or less.

Not everyone wants a backpack, so don't ignore the laptop messengers. High Sierra's chip laptop messenger features bright colors, plenty of pockets, and a price that is less than $45. If you have a little more to spend and like a European flair, the Tucano motion messengeris worth a look and is still less than $80. Our favorite features include the ultra-padded shoulder strap and the interior drawstring top, that keeps everything safe from the weather as you trek around campus.