Targus - CVR217 Neoprene 17" Slip Case Review

If you've ever bought a personal computer - be it a desktop model or a laptop/notebook - you know as well as anyone that no matter how good the basic price is, if you need accessories or peripheral devices along the lines of optical mice, web cams and nice printers that aren't the ones stores "push" on you to buy in a "package deal," you have to buy them separately.

You'd think, for instance, that Hewlett-Packard would have deigned to include a carrying bag or slip case for their laptops.  After all, the chief draw of laptops is portability, but while it's not uncommon for us to lug them from the computer room/home office carefully cradled in our arms, it's not practical or beneficial to take them on a plane, train or automobile without a specifically designed sllp case along the lines of a Targus CVR217 Neoprene Slipcase.

But, sadly, like most companies that make and sell personal computers, Hewlett Packard prefers to sell its hardware with as few accessories as possible, knowing that consumers will often have to order them from the manufacturer as soon as they realize that Hey! I need one of those things!

On the same day I ordered my Compaq Presario laptop from Amazon, I browsed in the Computer Accessories department until I found the Targus CVR217 Neoprene Slip Case, which is intended for a 17" notebook computer, which is a bit larger than my 15.6" model but perfectly suitable for my needs.

Interestingly, this slip case (which weighs one pound empty) is made of the same water-resistant material as a fly fisherman's waders: neoprene. It's a synthetic rubber material that has various protective properties, including insulation against cold, some fire retardation and limited waterproofing.

What It Is: The Targus CVR217 Neoprene Slip Case is a toploading slipcover which accomodates the larger varieties of laptop computers easily.  It has a zippered main compartment in which the computer fits snugly, with additional pockets for such things as business cards, notepads, and even keys.

For convenient handling, the Targus CVR217 Neoprene Slip Case comes with both briefcase-like handles and a shock-absorbing shoulder strap called the EqualizerStrap, which is intended to distribute weight evenly when you sling it on one shoulder. 


Features:

Device compatibility: notebooks measuring up to 41.9 x 33 x 5.7 cm

Exterior dimensions: 44.5 x 35 x 6.4 cm

Material: neoprene

Weight: 450g (1 pound)

Warranty: Limited Lifetime

My Viewpoint: Due to the vagaries of Amazon's warehouse locations and the shipping method used, I actually found myself receiving this before the laptop.  Not exactly what I would have wanted, but it actually proved to be a good thing, since I would not have been able to confidently carry my new notebook up and down the stairs of my house when I needed to show it off to my mom. 

I also did not want to have my new laptop out where dust and sunlight could get at it, so the fact that the Targus CVR217 Neoprene Slip Case arrived first was actually a Godsend rather than a deplorable circumstance.

The Targus CVR217 Neoprene Slip Case is not an unattractive accessory; it's not flashy in any way but its simplicity of design makes it a combination of utility and elegance. Though mine is black, Targus also offers the CVR217 in blue.

Although I plan to use my new laptop at home, the fact that I may eventually go on a vacation was another reason why I purchased this product.  I'm not, by nature, a workaholic, but I don't like being in a situation where I'm going to have to use someone else's computer in order to write a review or even send someone an e-mail or simply surf the Web in a moment of solitude. 

And even if I don't get to go on vacation, the facts that my house has two stories and that sometimes I need the laptop's portability made the purchase of this Targus CVR217 Neoprene Slip Case mandatory.