Targus TXL617 17 XL Notebook Backpack Reviews

• Gigantic but in a good way

  
  By A1T96U038U9TM7 on 2006-06-22
  If you are like me, and you have a large amount of books and other stuff to carry around, this bag is perfect. And it has several pockets to store sunglasses, a bag lunch, a nice cell phone pouch that can fit anything from a reasonably sized Nokia to a clamshell phone hanging off of the left shoulder strap, Palm Pilot, iPod - with even a slot to fit your earbuds or headphones through, although that's kind of tricky -- a very well-padded storage area for your Notebook computer, all the connections and wires that accompany it, and, top it all off, a place for your water bottle.
  
  If you are taking a lot of classes with a lot of books, the compartments are very spacious and can hold a lot. Unlike most reviewers here I find it very comfortable when full, and not heavy at all once you are used to a little extra weight.
  
  Overall, I highly recommend this product, especially for the price, since a similarly equipped bag should cost over $[...] or more (but don't tell that to Amazon or the Manufacturer :D )
  
  

• If you are tired of carrying your 17" laptop (Order Now)

  
  By A3A4WRUOSHZ7D1 on 2004-01-26
  I purchased a 17" HP loaded down with features and extra accessories and have been on the lookout for a quality case. I went to a competitor and bought this by trying out several different brands. Targus cases are built to withstand abuse and protect the equipment. The wheels that it uses are in-line skate wheels designed to handle bumpy terrain and the case is soft inside but rigid on the corners to protect the contents. I would highly recommend, the price is higher than the cheaper made brands but it has alot to offer and if you paid over 2k on your laptop it is cheap insurance.
  
  

• XXL

  
  By A2NYTX1RTR8VCY on 2004-10-15
  Its too bad the only alternative Targus has for 17" notebooks is the TXL617 XL Backpack. The height of the bag could have been sized down considerably. Reducing the height by 4" would have still made for a comfortable fit for your notebook since it is extra empty space, and the pack would have been a lot less bulky on your back.
  
  On the plus side, there is TONS of room in this bag for all your accessories: mice, keyboard, hard drive, phone, water bottle, and yes even a portable printer!
  
  

• Roomy, well padded, and comfortable, but not enough small compartments

  
  By A25SDTIJI2EFPG on 2007-02-04
  I purchased this backpack as a replacement for my Kensington 62238 Contour backpack. I travel regularly, and need a single carry-on bag that can fit the essentials, since you are only allowed one carry-on bag on airplanes now. The Kensington is excellent for my 15.4 inch screen laptop and has plenty of small and snug compartments for other small electronic accessories (PDA, iPOD, earbuds, GPS, etc). However, it does not have enough additional room for books/magazines, and emergency change of clothes (in case the luggage is lost).
  
  This Targus TXL617 can accomodate my laptop well, and can handle larger laptops. It is roomy enough to suit my needs with small electronics, change of clothes, and hygiene kit. However, unlike the Kensington, it does not have small compartments to fit small electronics snugly.
  
  

• Big & Plenty

  
  By A2S26YGSVXBCFL on 2005-08-13
  This is really large. I mean, REALLY large. It holds my Dell Inspiron 9300 with plenty of room. I also have room for my camera bag, and much more. It is very comfortable. My only reason for giving it 4 stars is that it has too many openings. It makes it difficult to find things. I wish it came with wheels, because it would be easier to lug around when fully loaded (and believe me, you can really load this bag). I am very happy with this bag, and would like to note that the padding is good....not great, but good, acceptable.
  
  
• Big Problem for Travelers (TXL717XL)
  By AHVI03UBNOYPG on 2005-03-08
  If you are a "road warrior" and need a bag that is your mobile office for to/from the office and on travel, this is NOT the bag for you: IT IS TOO WIDE TO FIT DOWN THE AISLE OF AN AIRPLANE!
  
  The dimensions of this bag are all wrong. It is much wider than similar models, allowing the laptop to go in sideways with extra room on the side for cables, etc. While that is a good feature for the laptop section, it turns out to waste space in the folder section. Once you load all your files in, there is about 6 inches of dead space on the side. What you really need is a bag with less width and more depth so that you can roll it down the aisle of the plane and fit more folders/papers inside.
  
  Overall it is too big and the wrong shape and you'll be very irritated when you end up lugging your wheeled bag through the airplane.
  
  
• Revised - big bag, good warranty
  By A259MPG6SOL02P on 2005-09-20
  Good warranty/RMA. Large. New version more stable. Large.
  
  NOTE: This is a replacement review for my previous one after having service performed.
  
  Overview
  From a features standpoint, this bag is top notch. Telescoping handle, wheels, rip-stop nylon, 2 large pockets, one with segments, one with padding. I have a 17" Fujitsu Lifebook (lifeboat?) (16x12x2) that fits with room in this. The new revision seems substantially lighter than the older, almost identical version.
  
  Wheels
  The wheels are not on the far corners, so it's only slightly more stable than smaller bags. It will still twist and fall if you take a curb at an angle.
  
  It's 18.5 inches wide, so it doesn't generally roll down the aisle in an airplane. You'll pull your second bag off the top and carry them, walking sideways.
  
  The wheels are hard rubber, so it's noisy going over tile. You REALY want soft rubber wheels so it doesn't make alot of noise, or catch on a pebble and pull out of your hand.
  
  Size
  It's about 8.5" stuffed, so most of the time it'll fit under the chair in front of you, namely aisle seats on an MD80. Window Seats on a 757 have the sloped wall, and you have to run it sideways. Goodbye legroom. On some planes, you'll find it SEEMS to fit just fine, but you have to force it, or stow it above, since it will scrape under-seat power boxes.
  
  The bag is 42.5 dimensional inches, so it counts as your carry-on (up to 45 dim. inches), not your personal item (up to 36 dim. inches).
  
  It would really be nice to find one that's 13.5" to 16" wide so you can get it in tight places, and 18-22" tall with top-loading so you don't have to lay it flat to get your system out.
  
  The McKlein R-Series detachable looks pretty good, but this Targus bag has the handle built in. It provides structural support, and gives room for things like power adapters and small notepads in the back pocket.
  
  Pockets
  The bag is really big and has quite a few interior pockets in the accessory pouch on front and the segmented pouch in the back. The padded area is smooth and will protect your laptop until it falls out from under when you're trying to load your machine into the bag. It comes with some velcro inserts and nylon/mesh bags for accessries.
  
  Warranty and Service
  I was originally very displeased because the bag fell over ALL the time.
  
  I contacted targus via web and email. Response time was quick. They replaced the bag quickly. They kept me informed.
  
  The replacement is SLIGHTLY redesigned. Various pockets are easier to use. The feet are a little longer. The bottom plate is more solid.
  
  The bag won't stand up if you strap another on top of it, but by itself, even heavily loaded, handle up or down, the new version of this bag will stay upright, even if you tip the handle by about 25 degrees.
  
  It's definitely more likely to fall forward when loaded (laptop pouch is to the front) and backwards when empty (hard to make this happen).
  
  I was truly impressed with how good the warranty service was by Targus.
  
  Summary
  It's hard to find a bag for the 17" widescreen laptops out there, and this one, is pretty good.
  
  It's a little tippy, but the new design is much better.
  
  It's a little wide, but that's sort of a market condition, I think.
  
  It's lighter than it used to be.
  
  Overall, this is a pretty decent bag, and Targus' warranty and support were surprisingly good.
  
  NOTE: eBags has really good photos of all of the cases, inside and out.
  
  
• It's gigantic!
  By A39JC4OBLTFWYG on 2006-04-07
  I previously had an Icon bag for my Presario R3030. The computer was at the upper limits of what my old bag would hold. When my TXL617 arrive, I grabbed my notebook and found that this bag could hold a considerably larger laptop. It's giganitic! The physical dimensions of my laptop are: size: 10.96 (l) x14.25 (w)x1.8(h) weight: 7.8 lbs. There is a couple of extra inches side to side, numerous inches up and down extra, and plenty of depth still available.
  
  There are also a ton of pockets on this bag. So many that it is possible to put something in it, and then struggle to find which pocket you put it in! I also like the sleeve for documents in the main part(middle compartment). The water bottle pocket is a huge bonus and I am glad they included it.
  
  Negatives: I like the flip down pocket, but the way it attaches at the top (plastic quick release tabs) causes the top to roll "in" and to pucker which makes for accessing the top small pocket on the flip down annoying. Plus it looks a bit strange when it rolls down. Attaching the straps at the top of the flap would've solved this (they are sewn on an inch down). Also, because of the size of this bag, it is honestly possible to pack it with a crippling amount of weight if you don't pay attention. For me as a Seminary Student that space comes in handy, but not everyone wants a nearly wheel barrow sized backpack! Additionally, with the size of this pack, Targus should have put a couple of interal stays to strengthen the vertical rigidity of the pack, and that would've made carrying larger loads more comfortable. As it is, it is pretty comfortable loaded. It also includes a hip belt that is nice when it is really packed full. You might need help getting it off if you do indeed ever fill it to capacity with books!
  
  
• Large Multifaceted Backpack for the Gadget Geek on the Go
  By A200MPEP250OAG on 2006-04-17
  If you're looking for a backpack to lug around your 17" widescreen laptop, plus a multitude of additional gadgets and peripherals, this backpack is an excellent choice.
  
  I purchased this for my recent Dell XPS M170 acquisition to provide a safe, sturdy, and mobile transportation solution when traveling. The large laptop "pocket" and inner sleeve is nicely padded and provides a snug area to prevent the laptop from sliding around much. The additional sections provide ample room for books, peripherals, and/or additional technological necessities (e.g. PDA, PSP, BBQ).
  
  The only real drawback to the backpack is it's rather large. When I have the backpack fully loaded it looks somewhat reminiscent of a stuffed hiking backpack. In addition, due to its ample storage capabilities, it is rather easy to pack quite a heavy load if you're not careful. However, the padded shoulder straps appear to be firmly attached and designed in such a way to disperse the load evenly across your shoulders to minimize fatigue.
  
  The largest load I've carried so far has been my laptop (which is pretty heavy to begin with), a wireless mouse, my iPod (which fits into a nice secure pouch), my PSP with several games in their cases, the laptop's power supply, my cell phone, and a CD wallet for my PC games. This load was rather heavy and certainly seemed to strain the backpack to its limits, but still had nooks and crannies available for additional items and was distributed quite well over my shoulders and back.
  
  This backpack would certainly be overkill for someone needing to carry only a svelte 15" laptop. Understand that if you load this thing down you'll look like you're Airborne preparing for a jump, but if you have the need for a backpack for touting the new larger widescreen laptops and have a plethora of additional electronic goodies needing reliable consolidated transport, the Targus TXL617 17 XL is a perfect solution.
  
  
• Durability Issues
  By A2Y7SD9X8BDWGA on 2007-11-25
  I have used this backpack every day for work, carrying my 17" Dell Precision laptop and associated extras back and forth from home. It has been on over 20 plane flights, and it has lived up to my expectations for capacity and convenience. Overall, I have been pleased. However, I have had the backpack for 18 months and now the zippers are degrading, the seams are fraying, and the adjustment catches are not locking as tightly as I would like. Sometimes a catch will slip and I find myself lopsided as I hoist my pack up, which is very annoying when getting up on a plane.
  
  I am 6', 220#, and this pack fits me very comfortably with plenty of room to spare. However, I have to draw it out to near its limit when I have on my winter coat. If you are much bigger than me, this could be a factor to consider.
  
  If you are a serious road warrior, you might want to find something a little tougher. My previous backpack from another company was used for 7 years and over 100 plane flights with nothing but surface wear, but this vendor did not make a backpack that would fit a 17" screen. I still have my previous backpack, and I would still be using it if I could.
  
  
  
  
• Great if you need a HUGE backpack
  By A3I2EC4DRFWI26 on 2006-12-20
  This thing is a MONSTER! It can hold as big a laptop as you could possibly own, with room to spare. Lots of compartments, almost too many. Bigger, in this case, is not better for me (but I don't have a giant laptop). Two things to keep in mind: 1. It can slip off your shoulders if you are a smaller framed person. My female co-worker tried it and this was a problem for her. 2. It is too big to be considered your "personal item" as an airline carry on. This is the kicker for me, as I travel quite a bit and my laptop backpack has to count as my personal item so that I can also bring my rolling carry-on suitcase. If you only need to bring a single bag on a short trip, this bag has plenty of room for a change of clothes, toiletries, etc., but if you need to bring more, then this bag will count as your big carry-on with most airlines. Just wanted to give people a heads-up!
  
  
• Targus design quality has slipped
  By A2CN1ZZCNQ8RCI on 2007-06-11
  A new 17" laptop forced me to trade my 4-year-old Targus 15.4" for this one. I'm disappointed. My chief complaints:
  
  1. The whole thing feels less substantial that the old one. The shoulder straps are thinner and less comfortable;
  
  2. Some of the pockets that the 15.4" had are now gone. This thing is cavernous and yet has fewer storage pockets than the older, smaller model. This results in a LOT of wasted space!
  
  3. I can't get over the "de-featuring" that has taken place! The front pocket is now missing the little clip I used to use for my car keys; the front flap is now missing the shock cords that secured the sides of the front flap to the bag, so now the items I used to store in that space fall out the sides; even the side pocket is now missing the little sub-pocket that used to be in there.
  
  4. Minor point, but the top carrying handle is secured with thinner nylon, which makes if flop and twist too easily.
  
  I'm returning this bag and buying another brand. This thing just looks and feels cheap, with fewer options for organizing its contents than the older bag. I recommend against it.
  
  
• big, Big, BIG bag
  By A1TDSZD98X5OY2 on 2005-10-08
  I walk about a mile to my job every day, and I bought this bag to carry my 17" laptop to and from work. It is VERY large and fits my laptop well. I also have ample room for everything else I may want to take to/from work, i.e. reports, books, lunch, a jacket - even an extra set of clothes for the gym. I like this bag a lot and enjoy using it; however, it is very easy to overload this pack with too much weight, even for me at 6'4" 230lbs. So keep in mind that even though this bag will hold "everything but the kitchen sink," it may not be prudent to load it so.
  
  
• holds large laptop, but too complicated
  By AH9MF57CNM5S3 on 2006-09-04
  I bought this for a 17" company-issued laptop; the over the shoulder bag was too much for one side. I like it - inexpensive and much nicer than the standard Dell bag.
  
  My critiques:
  - It is much bigger than the laptop, so the bag could have been a bit smaller
  - The cell phone holder hits me in the face when i put the bag on (so i keep my treo in my front pocket).
  - There are 3 pockets that are sewn on the bottom but strapped on the top. this is just stupid, they should have been completely attached and the straps removed (extra doo-dads and gee-gaws are not cool).
  - There are 6 closed pouches with zippers and 4 open ones. Within the closed ones there are many sub-dividers. So you have to come up with a system for where you put your stuff or it will get lost in there. I would prefer 4 closed pouches and 2 open ones.
  
  I still prefer it and use it over the standard bag, but in this case, less would have been more.
  
  
• The biggest laptop backpack that you can find
  By ARFAX6UINE151 on 2005-03-28
  This is a really roomy backpack, it has a place for everything that a laptop might use or not. It can handle a lot of weight!! 26kg or 57 pounds with out giving in to the weight. I find that my laptop is really secure in this backpack. I would recommend this backpack to anybody that carries a lot of peripherals with their laptop, but know that this backpack is on of the biggest that I have seen it almost of the size of a small camping bag.
  
  
• Great Backpack For the College Student
  By A28K0LDTG9XKY6 on 2005-10-10
  I am engineering student at Penn State, and with my hp zd8000 laptop, this backpack works great. I looked around before i bought it, but this seemed to be the best value, and most efficient. It can hold all of my huge physics book with room to spare, and the cd holder pocket in the front doubles nice as an extra battery slot. While i will say that the bag does not stand up level on its own (kinda annoying) the bag itself makes up for it with its capacity. It is well padded inside the laptop compartment, so you don't have to worry about damage to the computer, and it stays dry when it rains. Overall, I'd say that this bag is the best thing out there, unless you want to my big $$$ for something a little fancier that does the exact same thing just as well as this. Ideal for any Student with a heavy course load, and a 17" laptop.
  
  
• The only 17" Laptop bag to own
  By A3HI28XMQE0H76 on 2005-10-21
  First, let me say that this is the first Targus bag I have owned. I have over six other laptop backpacks that I have accumulated over the years and my new laptop sticks out of the top. At nearly 10 lbs the laptop is huge so this bag needed to fill some large demands.
  
  This bag has so many features I was amazed when I received it. An external zipped pouch for sunglasses is perfect for my wireless mouse and the USB adapter.
  
  There are pockets for pens, business cards, and MP3 players, which includes the now de facto headphones slot for the plug. The backpack is well balanced and I can sit it down loaded and it stays upright without falling over.
  
  The laptop slot is thickly padded to withstand shock if needed. There are multiple pockets for folder and agenda binders and a handy large pocket to hold my TechNet/MSDN subscription binder easily.
  
  I have also found the bag useful for when I am traveling, even though it is large, its water bottle holder for the long flights and travel make it ideal and the easy access makes it simple to remove the laptop for security checks.
  
  Overall, I recommend the bag over the others I have found at Best Buy or CompUSA, although they sell this bag at $30 higher.
  
  For a constant traveler I would suggest a bag with wheels like the Targus Messenger bag or the Swiss Army roller, but I am not a roller type of person.
  
  
  
• Poor design.
  By AU39L94O483YY on 2005-11-28
  I had to replace my other Targus Bag, a 15.4 CityGear Chicago due to upgrading to a 17" laptop. This bag "looks" almost the same, but there are a few major let downs. With such a large bag and with the designs of their other bags to go off of, I would have expected more pockets. I has numerous pockets already, but compared to my other bag, it's missing a few that would have been very convienent. The real let down though, is the design or lack of design between the smaller sections and larger section. My previous bag had elastic along between the sections on the sides that kept the smaller section in place, the lack of this on this bag allows the top 1/2 of the section to flop down and fold over even with the straps clipped. I hope they design a larger bag based on the 15.4 Chicago bag, becuase this one has a couple of major weaknesses ruining an otherwise great bag.
  
  
• Extensive, intensive traveler
  By A2C9ZBS7JD38B9 on 2006-06-08
  This bag has been with me from Baghdad, Beirut and beyond. It has carried my 17" notebook and assorted clothing, accessories and the like with comfort and unyeilding endurance. If you are a world traveler, who finds himself in all kinds of interesting conditions, this bag is for you!
  
  
• Roomy, versatile and BIG.
  By A1VKIET46CFXRN on 2007-07-06
  If you have a 17" laptop, then you know your choices for bags are small. I've always had good luck with Targus accessories, and this backpack is no exception. It's well constructed and made of good materials.
  
  The compartments are varied and evenly distributed and (mostly) easy to access. The backpack is very adjustable, from the shoulder straps, to the waist strap, to the pouch straps (which allow you to place bulkier items in the inner pouch). The outer pouch/compartments even flip open with snap-clips for easier access).
  
  There is no "one size fits all" for laptop bags, but this bag seems to have room to spare. I have a Toshiba P105-S9722 17" widescreen laptop that weighs in near 10lbs with the power supply included. The laptop slides effortlessly into the padded compartment (which is at the "bottom" meaning closest to your back when worn as designed). The compartment has a velcro strap to help prevent sliding. The compartment above the laptop has a sturdy base as yet another level of protection to prevent potential damage of your laptop. I find this very useful because I place my powersupply (1lb+ brick), power cord, and other misc. cords in there.
  
  I've used this backpack as carry-on while traveling from NH to CA, and it was packed solid, but everything was very accessible and it still managed to fit under the seat as per airline regulations and JUST met the height/width/depth maximum limits. This may vary from airline to airline though. I had my Toshiba + power supply & cord, iPod, PSP (+ games), a few DVD's, two changes of clothes, a cordless USB mouse in the outer sidepocket, cordless shaver in the inner section, cell phone in the shoulder-strap mounted pouch (which is removable via clip and can be attached to your waist, or anywhere you wish), plus usb cables and various adapters, headphones, etc in various compartments, a couple magazines, a book, and some basic toiletries. It was not lightweight, but properly adjusting the straps helps, and wearing the waist strap for extended use is key!! I walked from one end of O'Hare to the other and although the weight had me winded (as any luggage would), the straps never hurt my shoulders, nor did I feel any discomfort from the laptop being against my back!
  
  I would also like to add that the design of the compartments make it fairly simple to access wha tyou need without a lot of rummaging (provided you don't stuff too much into each one).
  
  For the price, this is an exceptional backpack for those with big laptops that need to carry a lot of accessories, or travel.
  
  Why not 5 stars? For the size, a bit of "modularity" would have been great. When you're not traveling or "packed to the gills" it would be nice to be able to "zip off" or unclip about half of the backpack. This could have been done with the same clips that the outer portion adjusts and opens up with. I would also like to have seen a specifically padded compartment for the laptop power supply, or at least a velcro solution for immobilizing supply & cord. These however, are minor issues, and this backpack is fantastic.
  
  
  
  
• Good Bag
  By A3C05C7A3I5UZ5 on 2006-04-05
  The bag is big and has a lot of compartments. It fits my 17" Alienware, the power supply, wacom tablet all the cords and whatever else I need for a day's work with room left over. the only problem is the padding is a bit thin, but the computer sits right on your back, so unless you plan on jumping high into the air and landing your back directly on a large pointy rock you should be fine. If you are like me and just walk from place to place and the most jostle the computer will get is when you take off and put on the bag, this is the perfect bag
  
  
• For the hardcore student!
  By A3AHTDKQ7XL36A on 2006-04-28
  As another review mentioned, this thing is gigantic. It has roughly 10 small pockets and 3 huge compartments for your books. The internal laptop sling (which is why I brought it) is secure and weight-bearing and has a handy velcro strap. This thing even has a detachable front-mounted cell-phone pocket!
  
  I've been putting this baby through hell. Between the books and the laptop and other crap, I usually pack 60+ pounds around. Not only does the Targus handle it, it's actually comfortable. It stands up well to inclement weather and seems to laugh at rain. It's a tough backpack and can stand up to abuse.
  
  If you need a small backpack, get something else. If you need something you could tote a library in, this is it.
  
  Now for the bad stuff. First, the hanging rear pocket complex can be annoying and can slap against the rest of it when you walk. Second, fully loaded this thing makes you look and feel like a turtle. Turn the wrong way in a room and you're sure to knock things over. Yes, again, it IS that big. One last thing - it comes with a waist strap, but the strap is very short. Unless you're Twiggy, don't bother with it.
  
  Hardily recommended. Better than a trendy Jansport bag any day.
  
  
• good buy
  By A2910ETHVXYMDF on 2006-05-11
  I bought it for my 17 inch notebook and worked fine. Has too many compartments, but is a bit bulky because when empty it will sag a bit and wish it had one of those straps around the bag itself so that it wouldn't sag. Carried a ton of things in it and after my 1st trip thought that some of the stitches would slowly be stretched, or some compartment inside tear a bit, but nope, this product is sturdy enough. Its outer compartment again sags because the strap for it could have probably tightened it a bit more. I carried a projector, my camera bag (which in itself had an slr with lenses, digital camera, card reader, camcorder, tapes etc). All in all it carried a lot of things and still was compact enough for the people at the checkin counter not to bother me with the size or weight.
  The bag sags a little which is why I gave it 4 stars though can't blame it for the fact that it has so much space in it. If you want something really compact then you should chose something smaller.
  
  
• A decent laptop pack, but not perfect
  By AP58E84QFYYVT on 2008-05-14
  I purchased this just this week, and while it holds my HP Pavilion DV9830US 17" Laptop sufficiently, it's not what I hoped for. First off, the padding around the laptop compartment is barely sufficient. I've seen laptop backpacks that provide much more padding. Also, who makes a laptop backpack without CD sleeves?! There is also a front flap that's not sealed, so if you're caught in the rain that compartment will get water in it.
  
  Overall, I wasn't clear on who they designed this for. It was a water bottle holder and some sections that make it seem more like a sport backpack than a student / business travel oriented item, and yet no one is going to go hiking with a 17" laptop... are they? Maybe I'm wrong.
  
  The straps seem solid, though around the shoulders they can dig in a bit. I'm overweight, so perhaps someone who had thinner shoulders would not have this problem. The overall construction seems fine. Zippers are mostly double which is good, although the exception is the phone/music player slot on the side, which unzips in such a way that you have to hold your device in place while you re-zip, or it will simply fall out.
  
  
  
  
• Good Bag, but not for the faint of heart.
  By A2QMJ9V7J1SRZ3 on 2006-01-19
  This is a great bag, the fact that it is water proof is just an added bonus. I would not recomend this bag to anyone that does not have a 17 inch screen notebook, they are going to have a lot of left over space. I do have to agree that this bag is huge and can become heavy really fast. So if you don't have to carry anthing other then your computer, a few files, and maybe your lunch this bag is not for you. On the other hand if you have numourous text books, your computer, and all the added pharphenalla of a college student this bag is great.
  
  
• Truly "Extra Large" for 17" Laptops and more... and more...
  By A2HDSP17V4DY3B on 2006-11-21
  It's hard finding much of a choice in backpacks for a 17" Laptop (Dell Inspiron). This backpack had room for it with a little extra room all the way around. There easily is room for a protective cover muchless if it was any bigger of a screen.
  
  I was able to empty my already overstuffed laptop carry bag in it and had plenty of room for folders or books. There are numerous compartments for organizing different stuff but it just as easy to forget which area you put something. There's even a semi-open netted area which could be used for gym clothes or a pair of shoes. I originally thought the small 'flap pocket' on the end was nearly useless but it's the perfect size to strap a tennis racket on too.
  
  This XL notebook backpack when fully stuffed is almost as big as a travel backpack. I found this out on a weekend trip when in addition to my computer I was able to stuff extra clothes including an extra pair of athletic shoes.
  
  It's a great 17" laptop backpack for someone who has to carry everything but Be Careful of your back because it can get real heavy. I wouldn't recommend it for small framed people or kids.
  
  
  
• Great Backpack
  By AKAXJHVMQ6LMU on 2005-07-28
  This pack has enough room for laptop, books (with divider), cell phone, iPod, PDA, purse, water bottle, and glasses case (and more). The front is also made so that you can roll up a small blanket or coat and it can hang out the sides (great for hiking or camping if you bring a blanket with you). (...)
  
  
• Meets my expectations
  By A2YW3HEFW515MN on 2006-01-31
  I did a lot of research prior to buying this product, including reading reviews of other customers who had purchased this or other similar products. This is the best solution for my 17 inch Powerbook and all the other gear I tend to tote around in my consulting business. The case is very wide, but fits the 17inch like a glove.
  
  
• Protecter against the evil
  By A13W31VNBSV7C9 on 2006-11-10
  I got this backpack due to my Boyfriend needing a protector for his computer and for school. And it has done amazing, even when he fell, causing him to land on his bag his computer is safe! WOW! So highly recomend for those who are in college and have A LOT Of stuff to carry.
  
  
• I like Targus, but XL is too XL
  By AINH3DSY4CUVO on 2007-03-10
  I bought this particular backpack by mistake. I wanted to replace my old Targus backpack, but I did not measure my laptop before I bought it so it is a little too big. Many of my complaints about this backpack are due to the differences between them. With that said, I would probably buy a Targus backpack again, just not this one.
  
  BAD XL:
  My biggest complaint is that it doesn't stand on it's own. It always wants to fall forward. Also many of the smaller pockets and pouches, especially in the front area are too big and don't close. If you're looking for somewhere to put pencils or pens, or maybe a small compartment for your flash drives, good luck. They don't call this the XL for nothing. It is fine if you want to store CDs or zip disks.
  
  BAD GENERAL:
  There are some general design flaws that are typical of Targus backpacks that I would like to complain about here. I think the zippers that go all the way down the sides is kind of a useless feature. I have never really needed to completely open my backpack as it is pictured. I guess it could come in handy if you wanted to get something out that was packed to one side. Also the double clip design that attaches the front of the backpack to the rest of the bag is kind of a hassle. In the XL there is nothing to keep stuff from falling out the sides. Lastly, placing anything in the small zippered pouch just above the Targus logo, weighs down the front flap causing it to flip back and sag, which makes it a pain to get into this pouch.
  
  GOOD XL:
  On the good side, there is plenty of room for your laptop, clothes, etc. if you are planning to travel with just one bag. Also, it is taller than it is wide so even fully packed it doesn't stick out as far as my old pack. The straps connect at the top to provide more support for the backpack and a more comfortable fit when placed on both shoulders.
  
  So there you go. I'm going to keep the backpack, in case I need to travel or want to bring along all my laptop accessories. I really like the Targus brand backpacks, but I would suggest you measure your laptop and/or check out one of these bags in person before you make the purchase.
  
  

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