I put up a hand-on of these two bags a few months ago, but I have to repost it. Not only in the spirit of Bag Week, mainly because I’ve found after using both bags over the last few months, my initial conclusion was dead on: These bags are rad.

Features:

• Cordura outer shell with a 18oz weatherproof tarp liner behind
• Seatbelt webbing strap
• Technically utility bags so no padding to protect your computer
• Made in the US and guaranteed for life
• Both have an $80 MSRP

Pros

• Lightweight but still durable
• Tarp liner makes them very weatherproof
• The Vega is a perfect size for an 11-inch notebook

Cons

• Straps get bunched up on the buckle

So what makes these bags so good? Well, for one, they are extremely well made with quality material. The Cordura fabric seems like it will last forever. The straps are lightweight, but also wide enough that they shouldn’t dig into your shoulder even when loaded down.

What I like the best about both of them is that they are lined with a rubber material which should keep the bag’s contents safe from weather. Now, the bags aren’t sealed up as the top is held on with just two straps, but I wouldn’t expect rain or snow to seep through this layer.

Neither bag is very large. Don’t expect to put more than two text books in either. The Vega is really more of a man purse than anything else. It could probably hold your Franklin Covey planner, Kindle DX, and a magazine alright, but don’t expect anything else to fit comfortable. The Corsair is a tad larger, but not much.

Chrome markets these as utility bags and not notebook bags. That’s doesn’t mean you could use them as such. Just be careful. The bags do not have any type of padding. I found that a 13-inch iBook fit in the Vega and the Corsair held a 15.6-inch Asus just fine. I would recommend some sort of notebook sleeve though.

As with any quality item, these come with a price – a high one. But if you need a solid, weather-resistant utility bag, you probably will not mind spending $80 on the Corsair or Vega. I wouldn’t.

Read more Bag Week reviews here.

By Andrew Liszewski

What’s the point of having an external drive for backing up your files if it’s prone to data loss after a tiny fall off your desk or a tumble down a flight of stairs? The PQI H560 is another shock proof hard drive in a long line of rugged data storage solutions designed to protect your files no matter how clumsy you are. Available in 320, 500 and 640GB capacities, the drive features a special rubber material used for the housing as well as shock-absorption suspension technology on the inside allowing it to pass the U.S. Military’s MIL-STD-810F 516.5 procedure IV transit drop test. It’s also got a built in USB cable, a SATA interface if you prefer to connect that way, and a dedicated one-touch backup button.

[ PQI H560 Shock Proof Portable Hard Drive ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]

Now that many gamers are ditching the traditional bulky desktops for powerhouse notebooks, companies are stepping up their portable accessories. Razer is one such company and just outed the Razer Orochi Bluetooth mouse and Razer Kabuto mousepad that can also double as a notebook screen protector.

The Orochi seems to be a worthy little brother to the fantastic Mamba. The new portable mouse can either be used via Bluetooth or with a USB cord. Plus, it packs a 4000dpi laser sensor and the sensitivity can be adjusted on the fly.

The Kaputo mouse pad seems like an interesting product. It’s not only a cloth top mousepad with a rubber bottom, but it can also double as a screen protector. The cloth and rubber material allows it to be stored in between a notebook’s screen and keyboard. Razer says that the microfiber surface also works great for mouse tracking.

The Orochi mouse and Kaputo mousepad will ship out in 3-4 weeks at $79.99 and $19.99 respectively.

Short Version: Friends, this is the nerdiest and coolest Nintendo DS Lite case that a Transformers fan could ask for. What kid (12-year-old or 35-year-old) wouldn’t want their DS to look like Bumblebee or Megatron? Do you see the stylus that each set comes with? Pick one up for your kid or yourself. They’re only $20.

Long Version: I’m not entirely sure what to tell you in the long version of this review, but I’ll give it a shot.

The case is made of a rubber material ensuring any bumps on the top case are absorbed by Bumblebee’s armor. The bottom case includes a slide-out game cartridge drawer made of a heavier plastic so you’re covered where it matters most. But the hinge can be vulnerable to scratches or a drop.

My particular review unit was the Bumblebee kit that includes the portly stylus. The DS Lite recognizes it as if it was any other stylus, but it’s a little too big for my tastes. If I could hook it onto the case itself for transport than I might feel differently.

Again, for only $20 (the stylus or case alone retails for $13) the Transformers themed case from PDP is a welcome addition to my Transformers collection. The stylus is big, sure, but it looks cool and I never really just carry my DS Lite anywhere.

Product Page [PDP]

We jumped on the chance to take a look at two of Chrome’s newest bags: the Corsair and Vega. As Peter Ha told me, Chrome is one of the last true makers of messenger bags. He is rarely right about anything, but this time he was dead-on. These bags are rad.

So what makes these bags so good? Well, for one, they are extremely well made with quality material. The Cordura fabric seems like it will last forever. The straps are lightweight, but also wide enough that they shouldn’t dig into your shoulder even when loaded down.

What I like the best about both of them is that they are lined with a rubber material which should keep the bag’s contents safe from weather. Now, the bags aren’t sealed up as the top is held on with just two straps, but I wouldn’t expect rain or snow to seep through this layer.

Neither bag is very large. Don’t expect to put more than two text books in either. The Vega is really more of a man purse than anything else. It could probably hold your Franklin Covey planner, Kindle DX, and a magazine okay, but don’t expect anything else to fit comfortable. The Corsair is a tad larger, but not much.

Chrome markets these as utility bags and not notebook bags. That’s doesn’t mean you could use them as such. Just be careful. The bags do not have any type of padding. I found that a 13-inch iBook fit in the Vega and the Corsair held a 15.6-inch Asus just fine. I would recommend some sort of notebook sleeve though.

As with any quality item, these come with a price – a high one. But if you need a solid, weather-resistant utility bag, you probably will not mind spending $80 on the Corsair or Vega. I wouldn’t.