As I have posted previously, the search for the perfect briefcase is, for me at least, an ongoing one. Back in January of 2007 I first tried switching from a "Guy Stuff" Territory Ahead briefcase to a Levenger "Bomber Jacket" one, and sent the latter back due primarily to problems with its design, explaining why in a detailed post. (Apparently I'm a sucker for branding - can't deny that).
Later in 2007 I added a stablemate to the "Laptop Brief" that beat out the Levenger bag - another "Guy Stuff" product, their "Men's Travel Bag". As I noted in another post, its much smaller size (10 x 7) was to allow me to have a smaller carry-on when I was using a rollaboard (as I almost always do) since my laptop rides in that luggage because it's easier to get out for airport screening. This gives me a smaller bag that's the right size for books, camera, phone, and eventually a netbook. I now use it for most trips where I don't plan to be working in the airport, as well as as a camera bag on vacations. And no, it cannot be a "man purse", or obviously it wouldn't be in the "guy stuff" line, would it?
Then last year I essentially replaced the "Laptop Brief" with yet another "Guy Stuff" product, this time the "Cabin Bag". This bag is similar in style and design, but slightly smaller, the zippers actually work, and it has two (instead of one) outside access pockets which allow me to separate my phone from things like keys, wallets, etc, as well as a better handle. The latter is made possible by replacing the Gladstone-bag type top entry of the old bag with a flapped top opening. The down side (and it's a significant one) is that the bag has basically no structure. It won't stand up, and it takes two hands to coax a laptop into and out of it - you can't open it and insert or remove anything with one hand, so in this characteristic it's definitely a "bag" and not a "case". After several months I realized that this shortcoming was partially overcome by the fact that since it has a sleeve on the back so it can ride on top of my rollaboard, the sleeve give it the needed structure to act as a portable chairside office at an airport restaurant table, so when I really need it to, it can accommodate one-handed retrieval. But it's a good, small, briefbag that's well suited for travel.
But it was still not the bag I wanted for office use. It's very informal, for one thing, and doesn't lend itself well to retrieval of items with one hand in court, or when sitting on a desk. You really need openings on the top and a some structure. So when I saw Levenger had redesigned their "Bomber Jacket" line of briefcases (and their stuff is essentially always 20% off these days) I decided to give their Laptop Briefcase a try. (There's a "slim" version, but I really didn't think that would be a good choice - a laptop and peripherals alone would have crowded the smaller bag).
First of all, it stands up straight on a desk for floor, so you have one-handed access to anything in it. It has one outside zippered pocket, but more importantly, the front unzips to fold out partway and provide very good storage for pens, handhelds, etc. There are lots of padded compartments so that phones, handheld dictation, wallet, money clip, etc. all have their own place. I can unzip this pocket and leave it hanging open for secure access to everything inside, and the bag won't topple over, or fold over the front, like the cabin bag does (when not tethered to the rollaboard). It then has two zippered compartments in the main bag, both of which have a divider, so you essentially have four compartments - one for the laptop, one for wires and cords (compartment #3 has three pockets for peripherals) and two others for papers or notebooks. The bag is not overlarge, but it always has plenty of room for everything I've needed to cram in (although I've getting more and more annoyed with the rat's nest of chargers and cables I have to carry - but that's an argument for a new laptop, so I'll leave that for another day). Finally, the bag has a strap in back for sliding over a rollaboard handle, so it's as convenient as my old Levenger bag was (and not that I'm counting style points but it looks better on top of my Orvis rollaboard and suit luggae than the cabin bag).
I suspect I'll still use the Cabin Bag for traveling, since I don't have to worry about it getting abraded by showing under an airline seat, but for everyday and courtroom use I really like the Levenger bag. The over the shoulder strap is comfortable, and the bag is padded well enough that I don't mind lugging it around when I need to, even with a laptop inside.