Empire Builder

The Empire Builder is listed as a laptop bag but from what I can see there is no real laptop pocket unless you also buy a brain cell, is that correct or am I missing something?

Would the three "file dividers" be sufficient to split the main compartment in to sections for one or two laptops?

Chris.

hi ukchris!

while the bottom of the empire builder is padded, i would not recommend that you carry laptop computers inside using the file dividers as protection for your laptops - they were not designed for that purpose.

you can:

• use a horizontal brain cell for each of the two laptops. one brain cell would be attached via annex clips and the other would be free floating.
• use a cache for each of the two laptops.
• use a horizontal brain cell for one laptop and a cache for the other.

let me know if you have any other questions.

thanks!

Thanks Maverick, my concern about the brain cells is the cost and also the size, it looks to me that two brain cells would eat up a lot of space. Right now I carry my laptops in a bag that I'm sure has MUCH less padding than this bag and they have survived - so far!

Would you say the padding in the compartment is comparable to that around a laptop in regular bags? In my current bag it's maybe 1/4" think at most.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ukchris

Thanks Maverick, my concern about the brain cells is the cost and also the size, it looks to me that two brain cells would eat up a lot of space. Right now I carry my laptops in a bag that I'm sure has MUCH less padding than this bag and they have survived - so far!

Would you say the padding in the compartment is comparable to that around a laptop in regular bags? In my current bag it's maybe 1/4" think at most.

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hi ukchris!

two brain cells will take up a bit of space. you may want to consider carrying two caches instead. made with 1/4" thick foam, it protects your laptop but doesn't take up too much space.

the front, back, bottom and sides of your empire builder are padded with 1/4" closed cell foam, but the file dividers are made out of a very stiff plastic and don't have any padding, so they are not designed to provide protection for your laptops.

Sounds like I need some padded file dividers doesn't it! :o)

Personally I think an equivalent to the file divider but with padding would be a big plus for many people, the dividers look as though they "hook" in to the bag, if they were made from 1/4" foam they'd be awesome, especially with a way to hold them in place to form pockets of a set size.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ukchris

Sounds like I need some padded file dividers doesn't it! :o)

Personally I think an equivalent to the file divider but with padding would be a big plus for many people, the dividers look as though they "hook" in to the bag, if they were made from 1/4" foam they'd be awesome, especially with a way to hold them in place to form pockets of a set size.

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padded file dividers are an interesting idea. the difference between file dividers padded with 1/4" foam and a cache is that the cache provides the added padding on the sides of the laptop as well, essentially enveloping the laptop in foam.

if you ever travel by air with a laptop, the other benefit of the cache is that it is a checkpoint friendly case, allowing you to pull the laptop out with the cache to send through security. i feel better placing my laptop enveloped in a cache when i send it through security rather than sending it through bare.

of course, if travel is a big part of your life, you should consider the checkpoint flyer - definitely the safest and most convenient way to got through security with a laptop.

I have flown every week for the last three years with two laptops...

If the brain cell had an option with no cover it might work for me but I don't want to give up that much space or more specifically that much money. One brain cell costs as much as most bags I have owned, needing two of them and then a bag as well just gets way too expensive for me.

One day I'd like to see an open sided brain cell and an open sided double-braincell that would live inside the bag and allow you to take your laptops in and out, the expectation being that it would remain in the bag at all times.

For what it is worth, I've used an EB as my brief case for a few years now. The Brain Cell does take up a lot of room.

I've not hesitated to put my laptop in the bag without the Brain Cell when I need the extra room. Sometimes I'll put the Freudian Slip on one side of the laptop.

One nice thing about the Brain Cell (among many nice things) is that when I need to pack the EB full of other materials, the Brain Cell works nicely as a separate bag to carry just the laptop.

Brian

Would it be possible for someone to tell me the internal dimensions of the rear pocket on the EB? Even better would be a quick picture of the pocket open with a laptop in it (without a brain cell) but the dimensions would be plenty for now...

Thanks!