Introduction
In an age of mobile computing there is no room for compromise when it comes to comfort and reliability. The business person on the go knows all too well that cutting corners and saving a few dollars doesn't pay dividends when you are left stranded while on a business trip. Targus has a long-standing history of insuring the corporate traveler a safe and reliable storage solution for laptops, and now Benchmark Reviews has the opportunity to examine the 15.4-inch Notebook Case CUCT02A to see how well it performs under pressure.
The Targus Corporate Traveler CUCT02A toploading case is designed to fit notebooks with up to 15.4" screens. This case includes the patented SafePort Air Cushion System which features adjustable cushions inside of the case to protect your notebook from drop damage while providing a snug fit for smaller sized notebooks. The Corporate Traveler also features a removable notebook sleeve which allows for easy transport between meetings and provides additional protection inside of the case. To keep you organized on the road, this case features a zip-down workstation with business card holder, three pen loops, key clip, multiple accessory compartments, five scratch resistant CD/DVD sleeves and an expandable file section to keep your documents organized during travel. For added comfort, the case includes a padded ergonomic shoulder strap with a non-slip coating on the pad to keep the pad in place on your shoulder. Constructed of durable ballistic nylon, this case is built to withstand the wear and tear of everyday business travel.
About the company: Targus
Targus is universally recognized as the world's best selling notebook carrying case brand, and the leading provider of accessory products for the mobile lifestyle. Targus offers a complete range of mobile accessory products to enhance the mobile computing experience, and continues to set the standards in excellence for protection, craftsmanship, and functionality in portable carrying cases and accessories for notebooks and other portable electronics.
A truly global enterprise, Targus has 45 offices worldwide and direct distribution in over 145 countries. Corporate customers enjoy product delivery to any location in the world, and Targus' distribution channels and customers include major retailers, corporations, government and educational institutions, 90% of Fortune 1000 companies, and custom OEM for eight of the world's top ten notebook computer manufacturers.
To complement its distribution and product development capabilities, Targus houses a proprietary product design center. Designers blend Targus' tradition of quality workmanship and feature innovation with smart design, creating appropriate portable solutions for each and every customer.
Features
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Screen Size - Designed to fit notebooks with up to 15.4" screens
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Protection - Features the patented SafePort Air Cushion System for maximum notebook protection; case also includes removable notebook sleeve to help protect against scratches and scuffs during transport
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Organization - Case features a zip-down workstation with business card holder, three pen loops, key clip, multiple accessory compartments, five scratch resistant CD/DVD sleeves and a zippered mesh pocket. Also includes an expandable file section to keep your documents organized and safe during travel
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Ergonomics - Includes leather wrapped nylon handles for added comfort and a padded ergonomic shoulder strap with nonslip coating on the pad to keep the strap in place on your shoulder
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Material - Constructed of durable ballistic 1680 denier nylon
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Limited Lifetime Warranty - Defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty lasts as long as the original purchaser owns the product.
Specifications
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Color: Black
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Device Compatibility: 14.33" x 11.81" x 1.69"
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Exterior Dimensions: 17" x 14.50" x 7"
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Exterior Material: Durable ballistic 1680 denier nylon
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Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
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Weight: 3.88 lbs
Visit the Corporate Traveler Microsite for additional information information on Targus products for the mobile traveler.
Closer Look
Over the years, I have learned many lessons from the experiences of my customers. Most consumers are easily satisfied with a budget-priced notebook carry-case, often times supplied by the same OEM that produces and manufactures the hardware. Unfortunately, it doesn't take very long to discover that saving a few dollars usually results in watching your chump change investment either fall apart or look worn well ahead of its time. This was the basis of planning when Targus set out to design the 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case model CUCT02A.
Targus began building the CUCT02A with a solid framework using ballistic nylon. With experience designing notebook cases since 1983, Targus has heard a few stories, and while we don't encourage you to surf down the stairs on your case and hope you never have your case crushed in the back of a car, a handful of Targus customers have been there. And, they have survived to tell us about their stories and their resulting commitment to Targus products. For the Corporate Traveler line, Targus rested on a special blend of 1680 Denier Ballistic Nylon, knowing that when push comes to shove, these cases will hold together and continue to deliver the same exceptional performance when appearances matter the most.
The first point of contact with a carry-case is usually the handle and shoulder strap. Targus uses the Equalizer II Ergonomic Shoulder Strap feature in the 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler. While waiting for hours in line or dashing to a connecting flight, the Targus commitment to mobility becomes clear. In the Equalizer II, Targus realized the remarkable accomplishment of creating a strap that evenly distributes weight thanks to a flexible neoprene material and cross-stitched technique that allows the material to stretch freely without compromising strength or becoming rigid and uncomfortable. Are you always on the go? Recognizing a great opportunity to protect from damage on the front lines, Targus included a non-slip texture to avoid accidental spills, especially when rushing through those long security lines before safely storing your notebook.
Targus offers the standard features you would want in any laptop case, beginning with the business card holder. It is said that you have 30-seconds to make a lasting impression. For many, the business card has become a quintessential display of credibility. This is why the Corporate Traveler line comes equipped with a separate card holder, designed to protect your cards from creasing and bending. Targus knows that most new business occurs outside of the office, so it's a good idea to be prepared for opportunity.
The Corporate Traveler Laptop Case CUCT02A also offers a convenient key clip. The weathered traveler is all too familiar with the scratches and marks left by a set of keys let lose in your case. This is why the Corporate Traveler line offers an easily-accessible key holder that keeps keys safely away from other accessories and loose items thrown into your bag between flights or on the go.
Additionally, Targus maintains the tradition of the pen loop. Sometimes the most simple concept can evolve to truly enhance the user experience. Placed towards the center of the bag and positioned vertically, the Corporate Traveler line Pen Loops provides quick and easy access to one of man's greatest inventions. Sitting on the floor, or strapped to your shoulder, just a partial unzip and presto! You won't miss a beat, forget an idea or mistake that important number.
Detailed Features
If you are not already convinced the extra attention to detail is enough to sway your opinion away from the house-brand junk that is peddled to you by inexperienced computer manufacturers, then the rest of this review will certainly seal the deal. Targus has really held that saying "it's what you have on the inside that counts" because the 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler CUCT02A laptop case offers even more once you grab ahold of that zipper.
The CUCT02A offers something new to the world of laptop cases: a removable pouch. Inside the mind of every business-person is a tangled expanse of new ideas, projects and daily reminders. With removable mesh pouches, the Corporate Traveler line offers a new way to keep all of your gadgets and accessories neatly stored within a removable, mesh pouch; making your mobile life easier and more organized.
Inside the Targus 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case is an extremely convenient rear compartment. On the go, there is little time to properly wrap that last-minute snack, put away your in-flight magazine without wrinkling important papers, or completely dry your umbrella after running between terminals. The Corporate Traveler line offers a separate rear compartment - away from important documents and electronics located in the workspace area.
But that's not all. In addition to a rear compartment, the Targus CUCT02A has several accessory compartments. Whether reaching for your favorite hand-held gadget or for an old-fashioned pad of paper, the Corporate Traveler line includes special compartments that keep your devices and supplies within short reach of your pens and other mobile necessities.
But still, that's not all ... because Targus still has a few more hidden caveats inside this 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler laptop case. Let's assume you have already packed this case with your cellular phone and digital music player, and just don't care to pack away an external hard drive. Let's say you are not completely moved into the digital age and your backups are still stored on optical media. Well, the CUCT02A has you covered and offers a safe place to store CD and DVD media.
As technology continues to advance and mobile computing increasingly occupies a smaller and smaller footprint, external storage devices remain a necessary component of our mobile lives. With a dedicated CD/DVD sleeve, the Corporate Traveler line helps to keep your data safe and neatly tucked away.
Seriously, Targus still has more. There's a file compartment neatly tucked into the CUCT02A. Sure, we all dream of a paper-less work environment, where one device can wirelessly transfer documentation and credentials to another .... Until then, documents are the de facto medium for legal agreements and other sensitive communications. To help keep your documents in pristine condition, the Corporate Traveler line offers a dedicated filing area, separated from other bulky items that might crease or damage an important photo or the carbon-copy of a contract.
Every Corporate traveler notebook case includes the patented SafePORT Air Cushion System, which combines vented air cushioning and high-density foam padding.
  
Specially engineered cushions line the bottom and sides of the Targus CUCT02A compartment to protect the notebook from side and vertical impact. These cushions absorb shock and slowly force air out of the vents upon impact, then return to their full protective strength in a split second. To protect against damage due to shifting, the cushions also adjust to fit different sized notebooks.
Protecting the Targus 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case CUCT02A and its data is the most important element in the performance of a notebook case. Every day, notebooks are subjected to shock and vibration, which could lead to substantial damage to the hard-drive and screen. The best cases prevent potential damage by reducing impact to the notebook. A five-sided drop test measures the G force (a force resulting from acceleration such as gravity) that is experienced when a computer is dropped from five different angles: bottom, left side, right side, back, front. The lower the Gs, the less impact or damage to the notebook.
Final Thoughts
As I prepared my final remarks surrounding the Targus 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case (SKU CUCT02A), I thought to myself what might be the most important points to cover for the readers. Considering that I am now on my fifth notebook case, I believe myself to be experienced enough to advise the benefits and point out the drawbacks to particular products. Even if my own personal experience wasn't enough, the company which I operate has sold nearly one hundred notebook cases over the past seven years of business. Either way, I have had dozens of makes and models pass through my own two hands.
Certain consumers will never bend their preferences. For example, the tech savvy shopper will absolutely love the myriad of features tucked into the CUCT02A, but the more fashion-conscious consumer may never buy anything that's not leather or designer-branded (although Targus does offer excellent leather options as well). While the Targus 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case is no Louis Vuitton or Armani, it is really not that far off from keeping pace despite the durable ballistic 1680 denier nylon construction. Still, some people are bent on paying too much for a branded designer product, and I won't try to stop them. The rest of us can take this much into consideration: the CUCT02A is by far the very best notebook case I have ever used, both personally and professionally, in my entire life.
Conclusion
I received the Targus 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case in a brown box which appeared to be better suited for shipping than it was for retail shelves. This is great for those of us who have learned that the discounts of shopping online are well worth the price of shipping. However, I must admit that the box was not what you would call attractive nor was it informative. At it's best, it told you what was inside, but not much more.
Once you take the CUCT02A out of the box, the story changes. I decided to grab the shoulder strap when I first opened the package, and I was pleasantly surprised by the very soft and supple feel of the Equalizer II ergonomic shoulder strap, and the nice clean shine of the ballistic nylon. The overall appearance of the 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler was very impressive, so long as you are not stuck on leather.
If you have actually read through this entire review, and not just simply skipped to the end, you would know that trying to list the construction summary would create a very long list. Targus is a primary leader in the notebook accessory industry, and has been for many years. The entire Corporate Traveler line of laptop cases are all extraordinary, and the CUCT02A stands out to me as a product capable of being the last you will ever need.
In general the functionality was among the highest ever tested. The SafePORT Air Cushion System is an industry-leading impact protection solution with very little competition. The zippers and seams are all industrial grade and show no signs of weakness. Although there are some complaints. I would have liked some way of seeing the contents of my inner pouches. My past favorite notebook case used mesh which would often snag so I'm not suggesting that, but Targus is the innovator of such areas and I would expect a solid solution from them in the future.
Most often times laptop manufacturers offer their basic notebook solutions for $40-60 over the cost of the computer. Consider the value of the 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case CUCT02A when a retailer like NewEgg sells the CUCT02A for a mere $74.99. With a little more searching you can find this nylon Corporate Traveler for even less.
In conclusion, if you are shopping for a better carry-case solution for your notebook, or you have just bought a new computer and want to give it the very best protection, the Targus 15.4-Inch Corporate Traveler series has you covered. While I was completely surprised at how well the CUCT02A model for notebooks up to 15.4" performed, I cannot help but wonder why Targus is so far ahead of the pack. Whenever I order Dell notebook computers for my clients I see the Targus products listed as an option, but from this point forward I will begin pointing out how it should be standard equipment for anyone who requires convenience and safety from their notebook case. I highly recommend the Corporate Traveler notebook case above all others!
Pros:
+ SafePort Air Cushion System
+ Limited Lifetime Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship
+ Equalizer II ergonomic shoulder strap
+ 1680 Denier Ballistic Nylon construction
+ Multiple storage locations and pockets
+ Expandable case width
+ Very affordable
+ Extremely comfortable and convenient
Cons:
- Easy to lose track of items in the many compartments
- Almost four pounds total weight
Ratings:
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Presentation: 7.25
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Appearance: 9.25
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Construction: 10.0
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Functionality: 9.5
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Value: 9.0
Final Score: 9.0 out of 10.
Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.
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