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by Doug Landry
PBZone advertiser Booq sent over their latest creation a bit before its launch so we could take a look at it and give our impressions. As luck would have it, the day the bag arrived, we were leaving for a trip (which is why the site wasn't updated on Monday and Tuesday). The bag supplanted our usual carrying gear for the weekend in order to give it a thorough "real world" review.
The Boa.XL is a backpack designed exclusively for the 17" PowerBook. While the 15" would certainly fit perfectly with 2" to spare at the top of the bag, the 17" fits like a glove.
First, we'd like to describe most what we like about the bag, because it's central to the way the bag is designed. With just the 17" PowerBook in it, the bag offers what we'd call a medium to high level of protection while adding a minimum of bulk to the dimensions of the already-large PowerBook. That said, the bag is highly expandable. We fit several peripherals, a novel, and several other items in the bag without any problem. There's a large padded main pocket for the PowerBook and two additional large vertical pockets that run almost the length of the entire bag.
The bag is made almost entirely out of black "high density" nylon. There are several clever design elements. One we liked the best was the iPod (or other music device) pocket at the top of the back lined with a soft material so as not to scratch the device. The pocket has a small headphone pass-through also. There's also a side pocket that's somewhat "hidden" on the side of the bag that we like. There are Booq-logoed accents in several spots on the bag--the zipper pulls, imprinted in the back-support back on the rear of the bag, on two orange tags sewn into the bag, and of course Booq's trademark small metal logo in the front center of the backpack.
As always when we do bag reviews, we'll tell you that this bag is not for everyone. While there's a handle on the top of the bag, it's primarily designed to be carried with the shoulder straps. If you're not looking for a backpack, this bag is certainly not for you. If you're looking for a bare-bones sleeve with no protection or a huge carry-the-kitchen-sink bag like Booq's FoleeMessenger, then this bag isn't for you, it's a happy medium between the two.
Booq started their line with a large backpack and large messenger-style case. Then they went on to develop their own line of PowerSleeves that hold little else than the PowerBook. The Boa.XL is their first foray into medium size bags that are suitable for many needs. Based on our experience with it, we think Booq's done a good job with the durable and versatile Boa.XL.
Booq is offering a 10% discount on this bag for PBZone readers only when it's available on their site. Use code "PBZONE" in their ordering system to receive the discount.
PBZone Bag Review:
Booq's Boa.XL-A Slim Backpack for Your 17" PowerBook
Price:
$149.99
Requirements:
Shoulders and a 17" PowerBook
What's Hot:
Sturdy, slim but expandable
What's Not:
Backpack style isn't for everyone
Published by Doug B. Landry and contributing staff. Trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., and others reserved. ©2003 Delta Design. Publishing headquarters is located in Baton Rouge, LA Index version 1.1.2
