Targus Bex Backpack for 16-Inch Laptops with Dedicated Tablet Compartment, Drawstring Closure and Hood (TSB781US)

Literally ordered the night before and this just showed up at my doorstep.Pros:-The Nylon material is waterproof and looks durable enough to buff through some scrapes.-Laptop compartment is accessible without opening the main pocket and is thickly padded on both sides for protection.-The main area to store your stuff is deep and the backpack is more tall than wide.-It looks cool and shoulder straps are sewn lower on the backpack, so the hood somewhat pops up and gives a vintage-like style.Cons:-The laptop compartment is located right on your back so if you're carrying a laptop in there, it's heat may make your back warm.-Smaller than it looks advertised. The compartment is somewhat narrow and will fit just what you need and your laptop.Overall this is a great backpack, I was just expecting something a tad bigger when seeing the picture.

It is uncomfortable with heavy loads

I'd have given this a 5/5 if I liked the top cover portion more, but i knew i was only ok with it when i ordered and if the laptop padding was a little thicker. It's just thick enough to pad it a little yet give the bag some flexibility if that pocket is empty. I tried slipping my laptop in while in its sleeve, but I barely managed to get it out again. As much as I wish it were as padded as my Lowepro Fastpack 350, I can deal with it as it is.Aside from that, the bag itself is very light, feels durable, and the size is perfect for my needs. It's the best replacement for my usual school bag. Can't wait to start using it.

Flimsy material. There is no padded laptop compartment. There is padding on one side only (the side that rests against your back), so the laptop is pretty loose inside. Mine arrived with a ripped seam, so I doubt it would hold up to any real wear. Don't bother!

This pack is great for the money, I use it for loose headphones, or tripods when mobile, construction is solid, and it is a nice clean, attractive design that will go with most anything.

Just the right size

For the last several years, I've been looking for a solid 15.6"-17" laptop bag for the last several years for myself and my husband, both heavy laptop users in college, and now using them on business trips.Bottom-line: This bag really only looks good in pictures. In practice, it has some solid flaws, like the flimsy straps, weak zipper, and badly-designed drawstring top with a unreliable flap closure. I'm still searching for the perfect bag, not too bulky or awkward, checkpoint-friendly, and durable. I've uploaded some pictures to show some examples of capacity and usage.Pros:- Lightweight- Separate zippered pocket external to the backpack keeps the laptop separate from the pack contents- Good vertical interior spaceCons:- Material feels flimsy (like windbreaker material)- Shoulder straps are flimsy and thin- Separate zippered pocket external to the backpack -- from experience, it is like the zipper on most Targus packs: cheap and prone to breaking, which is bad because the zipper is what is keeping your laptop from falling out the side- Flap top does not close securely over drawstring closure- Difficult to get 15.6" (14 3/4"W x 10 3/8"L x 1 1/2"D) laptop out when bag has other items in itWe previously owned a Jansport classic backpack with a laptop pocket (straps chewed through by pets), a Tumi T-tech essential bag (bulky), and four messenger-style laptop bags (2) by Targus (zippers failed on both), Wenger (nylon pocket ripped from the decorative piping), and an Abbi New York designer bag (attractive, well-made, but no room for anything but the laptop). I'd rank this Targus Bex somewhere near the bottom of the pack (no pun intended).I would not pay more than $18 for this bag on a good day, so if I had to pay the same amount of money, I'd rather put that towards a similar Jansport backpack.

Excellent Quality! I plan to buy again, if the one i have ever dies...(will never die)