Targus XL Backpack Designed for 17 Inch Notebooks TXL617 (Black with Blue Accents)

• Separate, Padded Notebook Compartment Compatible with Most Notebooks with 17-inch Screens
• Main Compartment for File Storage Includes Soft Organizational Shelf
• Extra File and Accessory Storage Throughout The Backpack
• Side Water Bottle Pocket and Side Pocket Lined with Protective Material for Safe Sunglass Storage
• Audio Player Sleeve with Line-Out Porthole for Headphones

Targus TXL617 17″ XL Notebook Backpack

Rating: (out of 390 reviews)

List Price: $ 69.99

Price: $ 44.30

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By Andrew Liszewski

Besides convenience, the reason a lot of people buy bottled water is because they’re leery of the extra ingredients that might be lurking in regular tap water. And while re-usable water bottles with built-in filters do already exist, none of them look quite as slick as the 321 Water from a company called Half a Teaspoon. Once you fill the BPA-free 321 with water, you insert the alien-looking plunger mechanism into the bottle and then push it all the way down to the bottom. A carbon block filter removes any chlorine and unpleasant tastes or odors, leaving you with clean filtered water.

The carbon block filter lasts for about 100 uses, or about 50 liters, and a 3-pack of replacement filters will set you back $12.50, so while it’s not a one-time investment, it will easily end up being cheaper than buying bottled water in the long run. The 321 Water Bottle itself is available for pre-order for $44.60, but the company apparently needs 10,000 commitments in order to start production and hopefully deliver the bottles by the end of June.

[ 321 Water Bottle ] VIA [ Design Milk ]

Well, I hate to be the one to break this news to y’all, but here we are. You know the “green” movement, where companies try to say things like, “Oh, our products are more safe for the environment than our competitors’ products”? I don’t want to say it’s complete nonsense, but the scientist who devised the Gaia theory—our planet is an organism, and we should do our best to ensure its survival—has just said that there’s no chance in hell that we’re going to save the planet. His advice? “Enjoy life while you can.” So, so amazing.

The scientist, Professor James Lovelock, told a UK news program that he now believes whatever damage human beings have done to the planet throughout history, from the very first day that Man stood upright and began to fan out from Africa to today’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final in London between Arsenal and Barcelona, cannot be undone by buying green USB drives. We can sit here and try to come clever little ways to save the planet—water bottle that use 8 percent less plastic than previous bottles, laptops that use less harmful metals, you name it—but the damage has been done.

The best we can do now is hope that Earth is as dynamic as we think it is, and that it can take care of itself in spite of all the damage we’ve done to it.

That does mean, of course, the “green” movement is complete a waste of everybody’s time.

Lovelock also brings up the topic of climate change: just forget it. The planet has a mind of its own, so to speak, so it could be freezing this winter and incredibly hot this summer, and the next year we’ll have a warm winter and cool summer. We have no idea how this planet works, other than the fact that we’re now realizing there’s very little we can to do affect it in any meaningful manner.

In other words, just follow Lovelock’s advice: live your life, enjoy it while you can, and don’t necessarily go out of the way to find green products. Don’t all rush to buy Hummers (yes, I know they shut down), but don’t your Prius will prevent what was put in motion long before you were even born.

It’s hopeless, which is awesome.

Short version: Scott Jordan understands geeks. Or at least, he understands what geeks want in clothing. The Evolution Travel Jacket takes the same basic concept as the other Scottevest products, and refines it. The Evolution is a jacket with more pockets then most people will ever need, and could quite easily replace a backpack or messenger bag when traveling.

Pros:

• 25 pockets
• Personal Area Network wiring system
• Adaptable to warmer weather
• Ideal for layering

Cons:

• Sometimes it feels like too many pockets

Scottevest Evolution Travel Jacket

I like Scott’s clothing line. I dig the cotton hoodie, and I really like the Evolution Travel jacket. It’s lightweight enough that it’s a great spring/early summer jacket, and it’s cut it such a way that it’s ideal for layering as well. I hate to sound like too much of a fanboi, but the TEC clothing line really speaks to me and the way I live. In addition to being a blogger, I’m also a photographer, so I usually have at least one camera with me as well as other gear. I recently went out to shoot at a historical site, and let me give you an idea of exactly how much stuff I carried inside my jacket.

• Cell phone
• iPod
• 50mm lens
• 35mm lens
• external flash with wireless trigger
• 6ft flash cable
• extra battery pack
• 10 inch netbook
• Gorillapod
• wool gloves
• beanie hat
• water bottle
• first aid kit
• notebook and pen
• wallet

Normally to carry this much stuff you’d need backpack, and if you tried to put that much stuff in your pockets with a normal coat you’d bulge oddly in places. That’s not the case with the Evolution Travel. The pockets are there, you’ll know you’re carrying stuff, but you won’t look like a fool doing it (that’s why I refuse to wear a photography vest). If anything, until you work out a system of always putting things in one place, you might have difficulty with all the pockets. Another thing I noticed with the jacket as compared to the cotton hoodie, the jacket feels more refined. It’s not anything you’d notice unless you’ve worn both, but the way the pockets are put together feel more thought out. For example, in the jacket, the cell phone pocket closes with both a zipper on the side and velcro at the top. This is really convenient, since a phone is something that you need to get in and out of your pocket quickly. The way the wires for your headphones work better as well; it’s like the jacket is just slightly higher quality, but it definitely makes a difference.

I really don’t have any complaints with the Evolution Travel jacket. I did try to find something I didn’t like, since for a review we always try to find at least one point to complain about. I was even thought the price was quite reasonable. If you compare the Evolution to other jackets in this market segment (like Columbia for example) $150 isn’t out of line. It’s designed to be part of a system of course, so don’t go skiing and expect to be able to wear just the one jacket and not freeze, it’s not intended to be worn by itself during colder weather. The jacket is also adaptable to warmer weather, as the sleeves zip off to turn the jacket into a vest.

I do recommend the Evolution Travel, it’s a great jacket. It looks good, fits comfortably, and definitely holds all your gadgets and gear. MSRP is $150, but Scott frequently runs deals on his clothing so make sure you friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.

By Andrew Liszewski

Is there some obvious downside to this stackable water bottle concept that I’m missing? Because I’m wondering why these bottles weren’t designed like this in the first place? Created by Yujin Kim, the 5-gallon bottles have an indent on the underside allowing them to be easily stacked on top of each other, freeing up space in your office. And when placed inverted into a water cooler, the indent can also be used as a flower vase, so you know, it’s got that going for it too.

[ Yanko Design - Stackable Bottle ]