5. Solo NY10 Laptop Messenger Bag

Once your student is equipped with a notebook PC, the need for a good carrying bag will make itself felt more or less immediately thereafter. A great option is the Solo Laptop Messenger Bag, also known as Model NY10-10. It's built to cradle laptops with screens up to 15.4" in size, and includes all kinds of pockets and storage space.

The messenger bag includes storage organizers galore inside, as well as in the fold-over flap that closes the bag.

There's a zip-down organizer pocket under the front flap that includes a personal music player pocket, along with an opening for a headphone or headset cord. This lets you situate your player inside your bag, throw it over your shoulder using the handy ergonomic shoulder strap with non-slip pad, and still stay connected to your tunes. On the back side of this bag, you'll find a handy ticket pocket, plus a slip-through vent from top-to-bottom that's designed to let you park it on the pull-up handles included on typical rollaboard style, wheeled overnight bags.

The notebook PC rides in its own separate compartment in this bag, within a cushioned sling that not only makes it easy to insert and remove as circumstances dictate, but that also provides plenty of padding when suspended from your shoulder, under a seat, or in an overhead bin on a bus or a plane. In short, the Solo NY10 is a pretty practical way to take a notebook with you on the go.

The front compartment will accommodate a notebook or 3-ring binder, and perhaps as many as four textbooks, but this is not a big volume bag for carrying lots of books along with a PC. This is a better bag for commuters or travelers who want to take a notebook PC and only a few books or personal electronics along with them.

The Solo Laptop Messenger bag retails for $22 to $30, and comes in black (as shown in the photo), grey or light blue. For more information on this nice little notebook bag, and pictures of the interior and other colors available.