Like most people, I need a handy laptop computer carrying case when traveling. Unlike others, however, I've also craved a case that would allow me to work anywhere in my house and yard with ease. The Back Office from Shaun Jackson Design in Ann Arbor, Mich., takes care of both of those needs.
Don't get me wrong; I love my home office. From the second floor, I've got a bird's eye view of a lovely ash tree and my yard. But who wants to spend over eight hours in one room day after day after day, especially when the weather is lovely, or my aching back longs for my recliner?
I've tried taking my notebook PC to the back 40, but I just can't get comfortable. My lawn table is too high for keyboarding, and my computer slides around on my lap. If I have any documents or business cards to refer to while writing, I don't have a good place to put them. I've chased papers around the yard when the wind has blown them off the table. I run into a similar scenario, minus the wind, when trying to work in the comfy chairs in my living room or den.
The Back Office is a cleverly-designed 15-in. by 17-in. backpack that lets me work anywhere in my home (or outside of it) easily. I can pop my notebook into it, stick some documents, pens and notepad into the two side pockets that hang like saddlebags on either side of the computer compartment, and head downstairs or outside.
When I open the PC compartment, its lid (and the CD compartment on the inside of it) doesn't flop down on my legs; it's held up by elastic bands. The zipper-topped saddlebags and CDs are easily accessible. The bag is sturdily constructed underneath, so that the notebook is sitting on a solid surface. That sturdiness also protects my lap and the PC from heat build up. That's a good thing because, after a couple of hours, a notebook PC can get surprisingly warm.
My favorite feature in The Back Office is something I'll call grip-ability. The surface that sits on one's legs when using a computer is rubberized, so the PC isn't slipping and sliding. I can take my hands off the notebook without fear of dropping it. The surface the PC is sitting on has rubberized gripping pads (with a registered trademark handle of Gripdeck).
For travelers, The Back Office can be carried briefcase- or backpack-style. The backstrap straps are padded and well-positioned, and a cell phone case is attached to one strap. There are plenty of pockets. In fact, there's a large, padded rear pocket that could hold a second laptop (or portable DVD player).
I'm writing this review on the wicker loveseat in my yard. My feet are on the hassock. The Back Office is holding my notebook PC comfortably on my lap. My paperwork isn't blowing in the gentle breeze. All is right with this home office worker's world.
