I’ve found an excellent contender with the MegaMedia Bag from Roadwired (www.roadwired.com/store/ Product.cfm?categoryid=1& Productid=6). Where many of the ho-hum computer bags today provide a slot for your laptop and a few other zippered pockets, the MegaMedia Bag offers 36 compartments and pockets in a very efficient layout. The bag I received was manufactured out of waterproof Ballistic Nylon, but RoadWired also offers the bag in Nappa leather for the consummate professional (see www.roadwired.com/ store/ Product.cfm?categoryid= 1&Productid=49).

The inner compartment of the MegaMedia Bag is very functional. A center divider and extra pads are all adjustable through the miracle of Velcro. This allows you to create a perfectly snug slot for your laptop.

On the finicky side, I really liked the zipper handles on the MegaMedia Bag. They are expertly contoured for the proper thumb and fingers and this allows for nice, smooth, effortless zipping action.

One of my favorite parts of MegaMedia Bag is the handle. A nylon strap is wrapped around what feels like a small pipe. The underside of the handle has a sort of “rubbery” material which can help keep the bag from slipping out of a sweaty palm. It’s just an all-around solid, firm, comfortable grip.

The MegaMedia Bag has two main pockets in the front. Both can be unzipped to flap down, but small nylon straps help to keep them from flying all the way open. Inside both pockets are sewn some stretchy bands of fabric which provide excellent spaces for a cell phone, PDA, Gameboy, MP3 Player, digital camera, floppy disks, CDs, you name it.

The only caution with the MegaMedia Bag is that it weighs 5 pounds on its own, which is an obvious consideration when you’re planning to lug around your 9-pound laptop. On the other hand, I used the MegaMedia Bag on my last trip to New York and I was able to stuff everything I needed for the trip in the bag without feeling weighed down. The clips and squarish design of the bag made it easy to pull out the laptop for the necessary security checks, and the removable ticket/passport organizer in the front pocket came in handy as well.

If you need a fully functional and feature-laden computer bag, the MegaMedia Bag from RoadWired is definitely a winner.

MegaMedia Bag from RoadWired

$179.95

www.roadwired.com
Order straight from RoadWired or check for places to purchase at www.roadwired.com/ index.cfm?ip=dealers%2Ecfm.

THE POD FROM ROADWIRED

If the MegaMedia Bag is a little more than what you need, then consider the Pod from RoadWired (www.roadwired.com/store/ Product.cfm?categoryid= 1&Productid=57). This is a brand-new product and it promises to be a big seller for big (and small) reasons — it’s compact, convenient and very functional.

The Pod is 7 inches tall, 6 inches wide and only 4 inches deep. It’s made of the same Ballistic Nylon as the MegaMedia Bag, which means it’s still water-repellant and built solidly. You can think of the Pod as a sort of tech-friendly camera bag — not only because you can carry your digital camera and all necessary accessories, but because the Pod is perfect to hold your PDA or MP3 player, and all the extra batteries, memory cards and other gadgets that you might need.

The Pod can either be looped on to your belt, or carried by the top handle, or slung over your shoulder with the included strap. The top of the Pod flips up, revealing an interior section that includes a “hammock,” which is adjustable, thanks again to Velcro. This helps to keep your camera or PDA from sliding or banging around inside. The Pod’s lid also features a “Hide and Go Home�” secret compartment that will fit a credit card or some extra cash.

The most interesting feature of the Pod are the three “winged” pockets on the sides. Each pocket can be zipped open to reveal inner pockets and various elastic bands and straps that can hold batteries, keys, extra memory cards, PC cards, cables or whatever. It’s a compact solution to your everyday need for pockets and places to fit your various pieces of technology.

The Pod from RoadWired

$49.95

www.roadwired.com

Order straight from RoadWired or check for places to purchase at www.roadwired.com/ index.cfm?ip=dealers%2Ecfm.

DOCKERS MOBILE PANT