Looking for something ginormous

[webw]

Looking for the biggest bag you carry. It appears from the pix that the Courier's main pocket fits the Transporter only. What I'd like is something which has enough space for the transporter (12" iBook to be replaced with a 12" PB at some point) and

--the 3 or 4 paper files I grab every night
--about 1/2 dozen cords I carry in addition to power block (USB, phone line, cellphone/usb modem cord, camera, Ethernet and video adapter cable
--PDA
--cellphone (sometimes).
--wireless mouse
--a handful of pens that don't work.
--something that may once have been a granola bar.
--I think you get the idea.

This bag will replace a circa 1990 Eddie Bauer briefcase. While the courier looks big, the Transcontinental looks bigger. Will I loose space to the backpack straps when zipped away? Also, are interior phots of that bag available? I'd like to see the inside.

Thanks.

[Darcy]

You'll have room for everything you mentioned and more inside the Courier - I'd actually recommend it over the Transcontinental.

The Transporter is the standard case that comes with the Courier, but you can select a size of our laptop case, the Brain Cell, instead for $5.00 extra. In this case, I'd strongly suggest you choose the Size 5 Brain Cell instead of the Transporter. The Size 5 Brain Cell was designed specifically for the 12" Powerbook/iBook and thus is a much better fit for your laptop than the Transporter. It will also take up less space inside the bag.

We don't have any interior photos of the Courier - sorry! But there are tons of pockets, organizers, etc inside. It's a very nice bag.

I know what you mean about the granola bar. I finally threw mine away. I really did intend to eat it when I was feeling healthy and granola-ish, but, somehow I never got there...

[webw]

Question for you ... do you know anything about Trager's Seattle Messenger Bag? Is it larger/more pocketed? Can you order it? Does Tom Bihn still make a decent cut? I'd lovge to buy a Tom Bihn-branded bag (I like your co.'s style) but it appears that Trager's got the bigger bags.

[Darcy]

Theres a Tom Bihn bag thats even bigger than the courier:
The Empire Builder

but it's much more of a briefcase than a messenger bag.

We can order the Seattle Messenger for you, but I don't know much about it.

[webw]

Not a prob that its more briefcase ... and sorry for all the questions ... the retailers here in Nashville carry a pretty limited stock.

How does the offset shoulder strap thing work for your users? Do they seem pleased with the set-up? (as opposed to strap that mounts on both ends.)

I use a transporter inside my current bag which serves double purpose of helping the brief stand up AND protecting the computer. If I read correctly, I would need to add a #5 Brain Cell for the comp. to live in, correct?

Finally, it appears that the stabilizer stap on the back of the courier is a permanent fixture ... doesn't snap/buckle on/off of the back, correct?

Finally, can I get the Empire with some assurance that the Empire Max isn't going to drop Jan. 1 (Our best bag, only bigger!!)

Thaks for your patience.

EDIT: Is the strap mounting hardware metal or plastic?

[Darcy]

Questions are good - that's what these forums are for.

I've never heard any complaints about the shoulder strap. And the Absolute Shoulder Strap is seriously the best strap we've used, and the best strap a lot of people have ever used, judging from what they say about it.

The Courier won't stand up by itself, whether or not there is a laptop case inside. The Empire Builder will - whether or not you have a Brain Cell in there. For the best protection for your laptop, we recommend getting the case that fits your laptop the best - which would be the Size 5 Brain Cell.

The waist strap on the back of the Courier actually does snap off, so you can remove it.

There are currently no plans to make a bigger Empire Builder. If anything we'd make a smaller briefcase.

[webw]

't'would appear the Empire Builder wins. Have forwarded the page with add-ons on to Spousal Claus who should be in contact shortly. Thanks and to quote Dieter from Schprockets, "I'm a giddy as a school guuuurl."

[Tom Bihn]

The Empire Builder does stand up as Darcy said, though I can imagine a situation in which it might not, like a very heavy laptop inside its Brain Cell inside the EB with nothing else to balast the load.
Maybe in that extreme event it fall over .