Finally someone has released a high quality neoprene laptop sleeve and better yet, it’s got style.

The Look:
When I first saw the Built NY Laptop sleeve I didn’t actually immediately think of a laptop sleeve. It didn’t have a conventional blocky shape like other laptop sleeves and it had an hourglass shape and shark like gills on the two sides! It was very interesting so I took a closer look and I was further impressed when I found that there were pragmatic reasons for the design and it wasn’t just a way to make it look interesting.

Built NY laptop sleeves are available in blue, black and multi-stripe.

The Built NY laptop sleeve has convenient dual zipper access. The zip has large plastic teeth, this means that my laptop won’t get scratched on the way in or out of the laptop sleeve. Large teeth also means that the zip is stronger and at the end of the day, it gives the sleeve a nice finish.

The inside of the laptop sleeve has a soft fleece lining - I have yet to see another neoprene laptop sleeve with fleece lining or any sort of lining for that matter.

The Wear:
This Built NY laptop sleeve acts like a laptop glove. The shark gills pull the side of the laptop sleeve towards the center, so when I inserted my laptop, it actually hugged it. So I can also use it with a smaller laptop because it will hug it nicely anyway! Now that explains the shark gills and the hourglass shape.

The laptop sleeve has visible zig-zag stitching with high quality thread along its perimeter to reinforce the straight stitching. Again it’s pragmatic but adds to the overall aesthetics of the laptop sleeve.

The Laptop Protection:
The Built NY laptop sleeves are made of 5mm Wetsuit Grade Neoprene. Please note that the neoprene grade is a very important factor when selecting a neoprene sleeve, not all neoprene laptop sleeves available in the market are of the same quality. Most of the other neoprene sleeves use a cheaper, thinner and non-wetsuit grade neoprene material - which means the laptop gets less protection and that’s why you pay less for them. But if you think about it, the whole reason for getting a laptop sleeve is to protect your laptop - so why skimp on the quality of the sleeve, I wouldn’t.

I could definitely feel the quality of the Built NY laptop sleeve with my PowerBook inside, there is a BIG difference from other neoprene laptop sleeves. That’s why Rushfaster recommends the Built NY neoprene laptop sleeve as one of the best available.

I hate cables, it’s such a battle to keep them tidy. The sooner we can get everything onto wireless technology the better but in the mean time I guess I’ll just have to put up with them. The good news is that even though I can’t get rid of the cables, I can put them in their place.

Who would have thought that such a simple contraption as a Cable Turtle could make such a difference. Once I discovered these little things I went crazy with them… Kowabunga! I turtled everything.

I was going to take a photo of everything I used it for around the office and house but it would just take me too long, so here’s a list of some of the things I’ve used it for..

- My mouse cord (that was the first thing!)
- Voip headset cable
- Laptop power cable
- Laptop extension power cable
- Monitor cables
- Electric toothbrush power cable
- Hair dryer cable
- iPod earphones
- Digital camera data cable
- Nokia mobile phone data cable

If you take a look at the picture above (the ‘before’ photo), you’ll see some of the cables that I have to deal with. I actually tried to arrange them neatly so that you know I’m not just dramatising the situation. I have to carry some of those items in a bag and usually when I take them out I have to untangle them - pain.

Now if you look at the picture below (the ‘after’ photo) you’ll know why I love these things so much.

See the Cable Turtles

Just to demonstrate how easy they are to use:

And finally here is a quick guide to what size Cable Turtles you need for different types of cables:

We’re excited to announce that we’ve just launched Mandarina Duck MD20 on Rushfaster. The MD20 range of handbags is one of the biggest success stories in the history of Mandarina Duck.

Mixing fresh colours, european design and non-standard materials, MD20 sets itself apart from other bags. Their specially developed fabric ‘Mitrix’ is an iridescent fabric made by combining three different coloured threads to create a truely unique style.

Take a look at Mandarina Duck MD20 Handbags

Yeah we know we’ve added a lot of Mandarina Duck this week… But can you blame us!?!! We’re so in love with Mandarina Duck bags that we can’t stop. The new batch of bags just added include 12 new styles of wallet from the ‘File’ and ‘Workbag’ ranges, a few new handbags from the ‘Sweet’ line and a few other bags here and there.

Mandarina Duck wallets now start from $85.

It is very important to ensure that you pick the right laptop bag for you, here are 3 simple reasons:

1. Vanity: Just because you have a mobile computer it doesn’t mean that you have to look like a mobile geek.
2. Ergonomics: If you’re carrying the wrong type of bag for the job, you could injure your back and end up looking like quasi-modo.
3. Functionality: Make sure the laptop bag you are using meets your needs for protection and storage.

So, what do you need to consider:

1. Where Should You Shop For A Laptop Bag?
2. What Laptop Bag Style Do You Need?
3. Will Your Laptop Fit In The Laptop Bag?
4. Does It Look Like A Laptop Bag?
5. Does the Laptop Bag Have Adequate Laptop Protection?
6. Finally, What About The Price?

1. Where Should You Shop For A Laptop Bag?

To find the right laptop bag, the first thing is to make sure you’re looking in the right store. Here’s how you can tell if it is a good store:

• They should have a big range of laptop bags for you to choose from - this will save you a lot of time going from store to store.
• Their customer service staff should have good product knowledge of the laptop bags so they can offer opinions and suggestions to you.
• They should have an easy exchange and return policy so that you’re not at risk of being stuck with a bag you don’t like or have to pay a pricey restocking fee.

2. What Laptop Bag Style Do You Need?
(Laptop Backpack vs Shoulder Bag vs Rolling Laptop Bag)

Once you’ve found a good store, the second question to ask yourself is what will you be using the bag for and what will you be carrying in it. If you’re carrying just a laptop and some files, then a shoulder bag may suffice. If you go to the gym after work, you may consider a roomy backpack so that you can put your laptop, files, and gym gear into one bag. If you need to carry a laptop and lots of files and books, a trolley bag will help you ease the load off your shoulders.

3. Will Your Laptop Fit In The Laptop Bag?

One of the most important things about selecting the right laptop bag for you is to make sure your laptop will fit into the bag. Whether you’re buying it online or in a shop you will still need to know your laptop size.

Rushfaster has actually made it much easier for you in this case, you can simply select your laptop brand and model from our laptop bag search to list all the bags that fit your laptop. You also have the option of specifying the type of bag and a price range. You can then simply browse that list knowing that all of the bags you’re looking at will safely fit your laptop. If your laptop dimensions are not listed in the laptop bag search , simply measure your laptop and enter in the 3 dimensions (length, depth, height) on this laptop bag search page. It would be a huge hassle to do this in a shop.

Note: Screen sizes are measured diagonally across the screen as shown in the diagram. Although you can sometimes tell whether a laptop will fit in your bag by the screen size, it is not the best way to ensure your laptop will fit. The reason is because different brands make different sized laptops, even though their screen size is the same. The best way to ensure your laptop will fit is to know the three dimensions of your laptop and compare this to the laptop compartment of the bag.

4. Does It Look Like A Laptop Bag?

Let’s face it, if it looks like a laptop bag then you’re going to look like a geek. Or worse, you could look like a good target for muggers. In the interest of vanity and safety, don’t buy a laptop bag that looks like a laptop bag. This is why Rushfaster has laptop bags that look like stylish handbags, messenger bags and sports backpacks for you to choose from.

5. Does the Laptop Bag Have Adequate Laptop Protection?

It’s important that the laptop bag you have selected has a well padded laptop section that provides good protection for the laptop. Some good things to know about the protection is:

• Does the laptop section fully cover the laptop?
• Is the laptop section suspended off the base of the bag?
• Is there a latch at the top of the laptop section to prevent the laptop from inadvertently sliding out?

What you also need to consider is the exterior of the bag. For instance, if you ride a motorbike then you may want to consider getting a Boblbe-e or Axio hardpack because they have a hard shell and would most likely protect your contents more than a nylon bag in heavy rain and in the event of a fall.

6. Finally, What About The Price?

The thing about price is that at the end of the day you get what you pay for. A good stylish bag with good laptop protection is obviously going to cost more than a standard issue bag with some padding in it. It would be worth paying a bit extra to ensure that you get a nice bag that you look forward to carrying and also has good protection for your laptop. You’ll also want to know what sort of warranty is covered by the price and if you’re shopping online, find out the delivery costs. Some online stores may appear to be cheaper but once you go through the checkout process, you might get a nasty surprise with the delivery fee and credit card surcharges. Rushfaster has free delivery on all orders over $50 and no extra fees or charges.

There you go, 6 simple tips you can follow to finding the right laptop bag. If you have more questions just give us a buzz on 1800 065 665 or send us an email.

J Mag, the magazine behind national Australian youth broadcaster Triple J, recommends popular Rushfaster products such as Booq iPod cases and J Fold messenger bags as perfect accessories to keep cool this summer. Thanks J Mag, we’re glad you like ‘em as much as we do!

J Fold messenger bags are the envy of New York City’s students, London’s urbanites and Sydney’s young professionals. J Fold bags are super 100% stylish and will give you years of pleasure as only leather can do. To protect your iPod this summer add a Booq iPod mini case. Booq Venom iPod mini cases are a great accessory for old-school iPod icon ‘iPod mini’. If you don’t have an iPod mini, check out the other iPod cases here.

As featured in Men’s Health, the Boblbee Megalopolis Laptop Backpack is one of the most adaptable backpacks on the market. Designed and developed in Sweden by Jonas Blanking, a Swedish industrial designer, Boblbee products are totally adaptable to your work and personal life with a great range of optional accessories such as the cargo bridge for your skateboard or snowboard. See all Boblbee accessories and Boblbee Backpacks here.

We think it’s great too! Why? Well, the ACME Made iPod Wallet for 5G iPods (30g, 60g & 80g) is one of the only iPod cases to include credit card slots so that you can use it as a wallet replacement as well. Sweet huh!

Looking for a gift for the guy who has everything? What’s the bet they don’t have a messenger bag with a genuine aeroplane seatbelt?? I’d say close to 99% (unless they’re a frequent Rushfaster customer that is). See the All The Kings Men messenger bags here

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether orders will arrive before Christmas or not. The good news is our shipping times within Australia and New Zealand are generally 1-2 business days (sweet huh!). So if you order on Friday you’ll get it Monday/Tuesday or if you order Monday you’ll get your bag Tuesday/Wednesday, and so on. And, as a special treat, all Australian orders over $50 ship for FREE!

If you’re in Sydney, delivery usually takes 1 day (usually) and pickup is available until Friday 22nd December. Our bags are selling out so please get your orders in now to avoid missing out.