I am not talking about shopping trolleys but bags designed to hold notebooks securely and to protect them if dropped. Some smaller models are designed only to be carried here I am looking at two that can either be carried or wheeled. The first from a company that makes bags and the second marketed by a computer company.

Port Phoenix Trolley II

Port offer free insurance against screen damage to your notebook when using one of their bags. They do a whole range of bags, backpacks and the trolley bag I am looking at here.

It is 45x16x37cm when empty, it will of course expand slightly when full. It is a fairly conventional black colour and could pass for a large carry bag. There are two separate notched grab handles that neatly mesh together for added strength. The front has a document case with a Velcro fastening and a zip each side to give full access to an elasticised half height pocket as well as three pen/pencil holders a card holder and a clip for a bunch of keys.

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The first full pocket in the main unit is 6cm wide but will expand to 12cm and this holds a hefty shoulder strap with anchor points near this pocket. The second pocket is somewhat larger with the zip opening going down to the base it can open to 20cm width. There are two document pocks within this and two zip round pouches for things like power supplies and a mouse etc. The mechanism for the retractable pulling handle is behind a blanket like cloth.

The base has a pair of wheels on the rear with a couple of blocks on the front so it will stand straight. The back top has a short zip to hide the handle that expands in three sections to 60cm. Pulling the unit is simple and easy even when it has a reasonable amount of weight inside. The weight of the bag empty is a tad over four kilos.

Details from http://www.port-able.com/accueil.cfm?langue=2 click on products, executive design and then Phoenix Trolley II. A list of stockists are shown under where to buy. Likely price around £70.

Acer Notebook Trolley  

This unit is slightly heavier when empty at close to 4.5kilos. It is mainly in black fabric but the half height front pocket is grey. It is 40x18x35cm.

The close to full height zipped pocket has numerous small pockets for you to lose thing in as well as the three pen/pencil holders a set of card holders. Next a full size full sides zip pocket that can expand to 25cm this includes a heavily padded part height inner pocket. The other internal full height pocket again opens to 25cm at the top. The outer side has two full height Velcro pockets with the handle mechanism in between and this is padded, the inner side has a close to full height fold over Velcro pocket.

The trolley handle is collapsed but still visible when the bag is carried, there is a single well padded carry handle. Inside there is a substantial shoulder strap. The trolley handle expands in two to 40cm. The unit is easy to pull.

This is described as a Prestige line product. The zips are of the two zip type meaning it can be zipped to or from either side. Details from www.acer-euro.com then click on United Kingdom. Still very new and not listed on the site at the time of writing.