Customer Reviews

Targus TED001 17 Aluminum Attach Notebook Case

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own two other Targus cases, a car carrier for my portable DVD player and another backpack-style notebook case.

The backback case is sturdy, well-designed and something that I would highly recommend to anyone, especially given it's affordable low price. The DVD car case, on the other hand, is average at best. It manages to get the job done, but just barely.

While I absolutely love my backback notebook case, it's not something that I feel is appropriate to take on customer calls, even if it is extremely comfortable to carry around and has plenty of room for everything but the proverbial kitchen sink. Unfortunately, backbacks do have a tendency to clash with pinstripe suits and gray hair, darn it.

Which led me to recently purchase the TED001 "Aluminum" notebook case. While it may very well include *some* aluminum in its construction, that material is limited to the trim along the edges and perhaps the protective corners. The walls of the case are actually made of fiberboard, which immediately brings into doubt the feasibility and protective functionality of the combination locks.

This black and gun-metal gray case certainly scores points for looking sleek and stylish, but the reality is that there isn't much room inside for more than a notebook computer (the slimmer the better), a power cord, a pen or two and some business cards. Even attempting to slip a small file inside will make it difficult to close and even -- in my own experience -- force the fiberboard walls to pop out of the edging when the lid is shut. Not good.

I'm glad I was able to expense this case because it's not something that I would want to pay for out of my own pocket. For now I'll be putting it under the desk ... at least until the next customer call.

When I bought my 15.4" widescreen laptop, my father told me to be sure to get a sturdy case with it, since most people don't realize how fragile notebook PCs really are. So I got what I thought was the best protection possible... this Targus case.

Pros: My notebook pc fits in it just fine, and this thing has 2 combination locks that I really like for security reasons. I give it an easy 5 stars.

Cons: My friends do give me a hard time, though, because it looks like I'm either carrying a bomb when I walk around with this, or like I have $1,000,000 in cash with me.

This case is the sturdiest one I've ever seen. After looking at several aluminum cases in office supply stores I decided to pony up the additional $30 for this one from Targus. With today's laptops built thinner and thinner, this leaves the monitor vulnerable. These LCD panels will fail if bent. The old nylon bags are not enough. Two people I know of have had repeated failures of their laptops and they are sticking with the nylon bags---not a good idea.

Here are the positives on this case:

1. Solid, inflexible (relatively) aluminum shell bonded to a rhino skin of plastic;
2. An inch of medium-soft padding on the inside;
3. Steel combination locks for security;
4. A firm, solid strap for carrying (just like a nylon bag); and
5. Targus's good name (They've been building laptop cases for 20 years.).

There are a few negatives:

1. With a 15 inch Latitude (the Attache model fits a 17 inch screen) there is barely room for the laptop and charger (Watch the wires on your charger or it won't last long --- the less twisting the better for the copper leads.);
2. The smell of polymer is very strong--may cause an allergic reaction to some; and
3. The weight --- all that protection comes with a price.

I give the case 5 stars because it is the sturdy case I feel I need with today's thin laptops.

11/25/07:

After several months of use, I have a few comments on the Targas case:

1. The strap stitching has stripped. Considering that I never used the case every day, more like 2-3 times a week, this was disappointing.

2. The polymer smell disappeared. I kept the case open constantly and the smell disipated in about 3 months.

Am I happy with the case, certainly. A month after buying the case, I dropped it from a kitchen counter to the ground. My laptop performed perfectly. If I had dropped it by itself, it was have been destroyed. Think about that. The same outcome would have occured with a nylon case.

If this review was helpful, please add your vote.

I used this item for about a year, carrying it to work every day. It deteriorated in stages and eventually just fell apart. I'll tell you how it's constructed: Nice enough extruded aluminum frame members, with sides and end panels consisting of CARDBOARD laminated to very thin sheets of black textured plastic, and all held together with cheap pop rivets and wishful thinking. In short, a piece of junk.

Here's what I WOULD recommend: Samsonite aluminum briefcases or Zero Halliburton, the older the better, as newer items tend to exhibit a propensity for exceptionally rapid disintegration. :-) IMHO

Good luck!

This case is sturdy and it will protect your laptop, but if you are like me and want to cary power adapters, I-Pod, external backup hard Drive and couple of network cables this case does not have enough room and is not expending well.

This case is awesome! Whether you use your laptop for business and are very concerned that it stays locked up in its case, or if you just want something to tote your $expensive$ laptop around without it being damaged, this is the RIGHT case! Everything about it is very strong and sturdy.

Targus.com lists the device compatibility dimensions as: 16.13" x 2.5" x 11.6". These measurements are dead on, as my Dell Inspiron 1720 is just under those numbers and fits with just enough room to still get your fingers in and get it out easily.

Great handle. It's very strong, even though it's plastic, but that's nice because it keeps the weight down.

Great velcro dividers (2 included) for the inside. Though in my case I don't use them because my 17" takes up the whole case. If you have a 15" or smaller they will work excellent.

Four rubber feet on the underside for laying the case flat, and also four on the bottom edge so you can stand the case up.

Great combo locks. Two locks with 3 digit combos each. Very secure.

ONLY bad thing - with the size of my 17" (and most, for that matter) there's really hardly any room left in the case to store anything other than some paper documents. My idea is to get some velcro or zipper pouches for the outer front side, and somehow attach them (maybe glue). We'll see how that pans out, and if I do it, I'll be sure to put the pics here.

So overall, everything is great about this case! The only thing it didn't come with was the handcuffs to attach it to your wrist so you can look like a secret agent walking through the airport!

Targus TED001 is a great case! It holds my puter, portable HD, mouse and all accompanying wires, cords & adapters. Great Product for protection and convenience.

Excellent tough case, Professional Looks, easy to set your own locking code

Nice interior with pockets and space for documents protects very well

and the hardshell is a plus when travelling