Customer Reviews

Targus TSB07701US Radius Convertible Messenger/Backpack Fits up to 15.4-Inch Screen (Black)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My requirements were simple:

I wanted a bag that could

1. Convert between a backpack and shoulder strap

2. Look absolutely professional (e.g. not stick out while carrying with a suit)

3. Hold up to daily wear, rain, etc. No babysitting nice leather, etc.

Reasons: Well, sometimes I carry a big musical instrument around the cities I live in, on public transportation. So I can't use a shoulder strap bag in this case, I have to use a backpack bag. But on the flip side, sometime I find myself in situations where a backpack just doesn't look very professional. (presenting in a board room, meeting high profile private donors, that cute girl who is looking for a sugar daddy business man but will fall for the musician once she meets him. anyway.) I needed a cross between a leather brief that would pass in the board room, and a bag that I could put on my back and forget about.

The Targus Radius Convertible Messenger/Backpack TSB07701US is perfect. (check out the Sumdex Impulse for a smaller version)

The metal zippers, fasteners, and rings all have a very classy finish and look to them.

I could do w/o the olive-colored side trim (prefer all black), but the bag still looks great.

I've carried it with a suit and it looks great.

Back pack straps zip away seamlessly, are easy to get out, and are a lifesaver when carrying an old, heavy POS laptop!

It has a side pocket with breathable mesh that is PERFECT for a small fold-up umbrella. You can stick your wet umbrella in there while riding the Metro, and the mesh will dry out during the day. This sounds like a small detail but it's REALLY nice to have a place to stick your wet umbrella when negotiating commuters, doors, your lunchbox, whatever.

Somebody complained about the metal zippers clinking while walking. .... huh? Not a problem, here. Perhaps not a good bag for ninjas?

Lots of sub-organizing pockets and mesh zipups on the outer compartment - it was the perfect air travel carry on, actually, to keep earplugs, airborne, travel itinerary, book, snacks, etc, all organized and within quick reach under the seat.

It's designed for Apple crap: macbook, ipod, etc. It even has little cute pictures of your apple accessories on designated pockets. But it's not a walking apple advertisement, and it's great for all the non apple gear that I carry around. It's not the slightest annoyance, just funny to see the pictures ("Your ipod goes here. Your apple mouse goes here.")

It's not ideal for holding larger, single items, most of the space is divided up to facillitate organization and to keep the shape of the bag.

As far as looks, it will never pass for a black leather brief. I had to get used to the "vertical orientation" look. BUT, it looks just fine with a suit. So you can be functional, and a step ahead with the look. I feel kind of girly, paying so much attention to 'looks', but the fact is, you are judged on that stuff in the business world, even in a biz casual world, where messenger bags abound.

Bravo to Targus for the attention and craftsmanship put into this bag.

The amazon-ported retailer that I purchased from, Down Home Deals, gave me a complete run-around on the shipping. They had a crazy low price, but I paid for it in time and energy lost dealing with their shipping mistakes, and unapologetic, brusk communications. I gave a fair, non-inflamatory review (with low stars, of course) on Amazon, stating the simple facts, and then they came back to trash me in the response. I was surprised. Anyway. Moral of the story, I got a good product, but had to deal with a bad seller in the process, so buyer beware. I wouldn't take the chance if this item was a gift or needed in a hurry. (Btw, this bag is a great graduation gift, IMHO)

For exhaustive researchers like myself, here are the options that I considerd. Prices will be out of date, surely:

Sumdex Impulse Convertible Laptop Backpack

Looks nice. Very sleek, business appropriate.

zips closed at top

Targus Radius Convertible Messenger/Backpack TSB07701US

$90

Perfect, except doesn't look quite as good as the Sumdex impulse. But bigger.

Alti-pac 35 deg (sumdex)

$72

DOES NOT ZIP CLOSED AT TOP!

Targus Element Convertible Notebook TBB001US

$40

Grey, respectable.

Top opening looks exposed to rain from sides??

Eagle Creek

Convertabrief

$125 msrp

a little frumpy

Day Timer

Convertible Backpack

$75

Tumi Convertible 15" Computer Messenger Backpack

$225

Trager USA

$110

Looks bulky (just like a backpack)

Stm

$60

too Thin looking

Eddie Bauer® Timberwood Convertible Bag - Palm Green b

$40

After my last bag fell to pieces (while I was carrying it up stairs, no less), I needed to find a new one. My main requirements were that it be vertical, have a shoulder strap, and be rugged enough to survive my use of it. I found all of that with this Targus bag. It has plenty of space, so I can carry my laptop, papers, books, and accessories, all without overloading the bag and stretching the zippers. At the same time, the bag is large but not overwhelming, in large part because it only contains padding where it's needed: around the laptop. Elsewhere the bag is much thinner (but still thicker than the average bag), so you don't end up adding bulk where you don't need it. It's convertible, and the way it's done is great, so I actually use the backpack straps when the bag gets heavy so I won't damage myself or put too much strain on the shoulder strap.

If you have a Mac, this bag is extra nice because it fits the MacBook 15" and its accessories perfectly. The front pouch even includes labeled and perfectly sized pockets to put the power brick, Apple remote, iPod, and a mouse if you choose to use one. I've yet to find a single thing I don't like about this bag, other than that maybe I can put more stuff in it than my doctor would like me carrying on my back.

I received my Targus Radius Convertible a few days ago, and all I can say is "WOW"!!! I have owned a Targus brand bag in the past, and I must say I was never too terribly impressed with the quality. I purchased this bag based on other reviews I have read, and am glad I did. This bag certainly changed my view of Targus products. Not only is the bag made of really durable material, it looks even BETTER than any of the pictures I found on the internet!! Everything fits very nicely, and even with the bag "loaded", it does not appear bloated or lose its' shape. The material is rigid, yet expandable. I can't say enough good things about it! I own a MacBook Pro, and this is going to do just the trick for me! Great for the office, traveling, and even throwing on my back on occasion when I have a long walk in the airport and have bags hanging from my shoulders and need to throw the laptop on my back. Great move to "penetrate" the Apple market, Targus! People who purchase Apple products usually expect more, and you certainly delivered!!

What can I say, it's the perfect bag for me. I was looking for something with at least a little style that could carry everything I need with me on the go and switch from backpack to should strap when I am headed for that business meeting and didn't want the college kid look. This bag does it all and is very durable to boot. I don't have a Mac so don't let it's focus on Apple products turn you off. Fits my 15" Dell just fine and I have more places to put things than I need. Easy access to stuff and places to put your most frequently used things. There's a section good for filing over night work and there's a roomy section next to the laptop I store my hub and other gear when I am on the road for longer. I was going to go the leather satchel route, but this one is more affordable and better navigates that space between function and form. Very happy with it and have had it for about 6 months. I am hard on gear. This thing is tough and looks good.

I've used many different bags for my laptops and this is by far one of the best. There are more than enough pockets and space and the laptop section is well protected. I also own a Kensington 62237 Contour Pro Genuine Leather 15-Inch Notebook Carrying Case and it is a wonderfully well organized, sturdy and beautiful case, but it's very heavy. I wanted something that wouldn't break my back when I didn't need heavy duty protection. I've found that using this as a backpack is much easier on my back, especially with all the stuff I tend to carry in it. I've had this bag since early November 2007 and take it everywhere when I travel (because leaving your laptop in a hotel or a car is a bad idea!) even on long walks, and it's quite comfortable. I also have a bad habit of slinging the pack on my back by only one strap and I keep expecting the small clips on the straps to break. But they don't! Targus has made some great laptop bags, and this is no exception.

I'd have preferred the clip for the front flap to be centered, and would like to see the backpack straps go a bit smaller for petite people like me. But those are very minor details.

Before I found this, I was considering a pricey Booq backpack. But this one has exceeded all my expectations, so my search is over! I've even had people ask me where I got it so they can buy one too!

It is well built and nice but it doesn't fit 15" laptop in the padded compartment. My 15.4" laptop is few years old and it not one of those wide screen. Maybe a 15" mac would fit. The bag needed to have been at least 1" wider for my laptop. However, you can put the laptop in another compartment which is not padded, in which case I am not sure what you would use the padded compartment for!

What can I say, this bag is all the description said it would be. My wife wants one for her MAC

This is a great backpack even if you don't own a MAC. I love the idea of convert it between Messenger and Backpack.

It's practical and compact for a 15" laptop, but the zipper handlers hit each other creating a lot of noise when you walk around. Other brands offer plastic covers for them.