For me, it's about usability. This is something I use virtually every single day. At least 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year, if not more. A good bag, well designed and efficient and a pleasure to use will simply make my life better, more productive and more enjoyable. I enjoy using well made, well designed things. They don't have to be expensive, but they need to be RIGHT.

This Tumi briefcase? in my opinion, it's one of the great designs in this category. It's unfortunate that the build quality doesn't match up. When it's held up, it's been a pleasure to use.

So all that to say, I'll gladly pay $280 for a computer backpack that I'll use every day, and enjoy reaching for. But if I can get the same experience, efficiency and productivity for a third of that? Awesome.

My initial impressions of the bags?

The Brenthaven looks too busy. The Briggs, too plain. The ebags model looks like it could have a cheap 'got it at target' look to it, and I like the look of the Victorinox the best of the bunch.

But we'll see how they look in my hands, and how they fit my stuff.

Main reason I wanted to try a Victorinox, I've got one of their toiletry bags. Shoot, I bought this thing in probably 1998. I've used the heck out of it. Probably 200-300 trips with the thing, and it's held up remarkably well. Good design, good design.

Looking forward to taking these bags for a test drive.