Cider Press Reviews - Want To Protect Your PowerBook In Style? Toss It In A Bihn! A Review Tom Bihn's Brain Cell And ID PowerBook Bags
June 4, 2004
Don Engstrom
We generally don't do reviews of laptop bags. After all, most stores will throw one in for free with a laptop purchase so why would anyone shell out extra cash for a seemingly redundant case? This was our thinking when we were offered our choice of Tom Bihn bags for review, but once the bags arrived the reason for spending a little extra became clear. The Bihn bags are superior in just about every department: style, construction and, most importantly, protection.
Let's See Some ID
We opted to review the ID bag (top right) as it was closest in size to the laptop bags we are used to toting around. The ID is intended to work in tandem with the Brain Cell bag (middle & bottom pics) which we will cover later in this review. In short, the ID bag holds the Brain Cell bag and the Brain Cell holds your laptop. Awkward as this may sound at first, this setup makes sense and gives the user added flexibility.
The ID is a "messenger style" bag designed to serve the active user. The bag is constructed of heavy grade Codura and has a wide shoulder strap that is comfortable even under heavy load. The back of the bag has a waist strap, presumably to help secure the bag as you ride your mountain bike on that bumpy mountain track to work. Fortunately for us couch slouch types the strap is removable. As an added perk for cyclists, there is a space to clip on a Cat Eye reflector or flasher for improved visibility.
The outer flap on the ID has a flat pocket with a zipper that looks like it would keep out a heavy downpour of rain. The pocket itself is large enough to hold a wallet, a standard paperback book or perhaps your less delicate PowerBook accessories. The Tom Bihn site mentions cell phones and MP3 players as likely cargo, but I would recommend against this for the simple fact that there is no padding on the flap and it is the location most likely to take abuse during transit.
Under the flap is an open pouch with the usual array of pockets for PDAs, cell phones, pens etc. We were a little surprised and disappointed to see that there wasn't a space to store business cards, but perhaps this was not in keeping with the bag's hip and active target audience.
The main zippered compartment under the flap is strictly no frills. There are no extra pockets and no padding to protect your PowerBook. It serves one purpose and that is to hold the Brain Cell bag.
Thhe Brains of the Outfit
The Brain Cell provides the real protection for your laptop. The bag has hard sides with a padded interior sleeve that cradles your laptop and, thanks to a small measure of elasticity, absorbs impact should it be dropped. The bag comes in six sizes to accommodate a variety of laptops including all of Apple's current models and several older ones as well. The Brain Cell I received for review fit my 15" PowerBook like the proverbial glove and inspired confidence in its ability to keep my 'Book safe.
The Brain Cell clips into the ID bag's main compartment via a hinged buckle, a process that initially feels a little awkward but quickly becomes natural. There are a couple of advantages to this modular setup. First the Brain Cell can be used with several different Tom Bihn bags in addition to the ID. Using the Brain Cell on its own is also a great option for short outings where you don't need the capacity or storm proof features of the ID bag.
Summary
Priced at $90 and $50 respectively, the ID and Brain Cell don't come cheap, but you get quality and peace of mind for the money you spend. View the purchase as insurance policy on your laptop. The ID & Brain Cell combination provides excellent protection in a sturdy and stylish package.
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