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Targus adds eco-friendly bags and green philosophy

September 10th, 2007, 4:00 am by

Targus was the biggest pusher of black leather laptop bags in the 1990s. The Anaheim laptop-case maker has since added color, sporty materials and a women’s line. Now, the company tells me, it’s going green.

The Anaheim laptop-case maker plans to unveil the EcoSmart series of bags tomorrow — but it gave me the scoop today.

Targus adds eco-friendly bags and green philosophy

How green are the bags?

  • They’re made of PVC-free material
  • The plastics used on the cases are recyclable
  • All metal hardware is nickel-free.
  • And EcoSmart bags are in the signature shade of hippie hemp, which any granola-minded user should appreciate.

While Targus’ shift to environment-friendly materials may seem like a marketing ploy, the company says it has also launched a company-wide initiative to reuse and recycle. It started a paper-recycling program, it uses recycled consumables and it is looking into more eco-friendly ways to package its products. The new EcoSmart philosophy is being applied to Targus’ design, sourcing, operations and manufacturing.

Targus’ EcoSmart laptop cases“Our EcoSmart initiative demonstrates our dedication to reducing the negative impact on natural resources by not only providing environmentally-friendly products, but also by incorporating eco-friendly practices company-wide to help preserve our natural resources,” said Al Giazzon, vice president of marketing at Targus.

The new line of EcoSmart bags includes a sling (pictured above), messenger bag, convertible messenger/backpack (on right) and a top-loading case. All fit a 15.4-inch laptop and include a padded notebook sleeve plus lots of pockets. Expect them to show up in stores by the holidays.

Read about other OC companies going green: Western Digital’s GreenPower

Sporty new laptop bags from Targus

August 21st, 2007, 12:21 pm by

Targus radius convertable backpackThe computer bag mecca in OC has some brand new offerings from Anaheim’s Targus.

Dubbed the ‘radius’ line (note the lower case ‘r’), the new bags look pretty solid. Plus, it’s Targus so I know the bags are durable else they risk tarnishing their rep as a solid computer bag maker.

Check out the orange and charcoal gray radius bags at the end of this post. I haven’t poked and prodded these bags, which target the Mac crowd. But I think I can fit my Dell in one.

Here’s a few that caught my eye:

Targus radius convertible messenger/backpack (pictured above): The black/olive bag (Model # TSB07701US) fits a 15-inch MacBook Pro and features a molded compartment for added protection. Special compartments for stashing an Apple Mighty Mouse, MacSafe Power Adapter, Apple Remote and iPod. Targus radius messengerAnd, of course, the bag converts from backpack to messenger. Price: $100 (Amazon has it for $69) and weighs 4.18 pounds.

Targus radius messenger: Fits 15-inch MacBook Pro. Nice touch: A locking zipper to secure the special laptop compartment. Targus radius vertical messengerThe case (Model # TSM040US) is pictured on right. Price: $90 and weighs 3.08 pounds.

Targus radius vertical messenger: Lots of pockets to fit Apple-related products. The case (Model # TSM043US) is also water-resistant polyester material in olive and black. Click picture on left for a larger view. Price: $60 and weighs 2.2 pounds.

All bags available at Amazon, for now.

Other bags I liked on Targus’ site:

Targus radius backpackTargus radius backpackThe Targus radius backpack: Fits a 15-inch Apple notebook. It includes a removable Orange padded notebook compartment and lots of pockets for accessories and other electronic junk. There’s even a special iPod pocket. Price: $70 at Targus and a mere $24.99 at Amazon.

Targus radius messengerTargus radius messenger The Targus Radius Messenger: Fits a 15-inch MacBook Pro and includes lots of pockets to store files and other gadgets. Nice touch: The zipper for the notebook compartment locks. Price: $60 at Targus.

Gina B’s new laptop bags

July 27th, 2007, 1:33 pm by

gina b. international, the Riley

As she promised us last week, Gina McGrath, owner and designer of the gina b. international laptop bag company in Irvine, sent me images of her new lineup. Five bags in all!

The Riley, $130
I’m most curious about this one, pictured above. It can carry a 17-inch laptop but Gina says it’s not as bulky as comparable 17-inch laptop bags. It’s 30 percent smaller. Technical measurements: 13 ¼” height by 15.5-inch wide by 2.75-inch deep. Available in black or brown and made from nylon fabric, cotton lining and synthetic leather trim.

gina b. international, the Riley

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