I just bought a Wenger Synergy myself. I'm using it on my current trip and so far I like it a lot. I bought mine at Circuitcity.com and picked it up at my local store a half-hour later. Totally seamless process and I only had to pay about $4 more (over the lowest online price), which I was willing to do to have it for this trip . Glad I bought online...it was about $25 more in the store!

Anyway, while I was at Circuit City, I decided to look at all of the Wenger and Targus backpacks they have, just to see what the differences were. Both of the Targus ones they had in stock just seemed inferior - fewer pockets, the appeared less comfortable, etc.

Among the Wengers, they had three very similar ones
- an entry-level model - $40 in store, I didn't even notice it online - black & blue, few pockets, but otherwise looked functional.
- the heavily-branded "Swiss Army" bright red version a.k.a. the Maxxum - $60 in store, $43 online. Very similar in size to the Synergy, but maybe 1-2 fewer pockets and different handles/padding
- the Synergy - $55 online, $80 in store - gray/black with a small Swiss Army logo. Not so heavily SA-branded that you can see it from across the airport. More pockets than I yet know what to do with. Very comfortable padding/handles. Feels a step up in quality from the other two, at least handling them in the store.

Online, I noticed that Wenger has some big packs for 17" laptops, but this store either didn't have them or I just missed them. I think if you have a standard 15" computer, the Synergy pack is pretty good value for your money. My T42 fits easily with room to spare. (Although if I actually had a 17-inch machine, I'd probably go to the store and try it out first.)

I love the "easy access" pocket at the top - perfect for car keys, phone, MP3 player, etc. The pocket even has a headphone port allowing you to leave you MP3 player inside the pack while you listen (although I'm not sure how much I'll really use that...).

UA fliers will appreciate this: it fits under the seat in F on a 757 as long as it is on its side. (These seats have notoriously little room underneath them - far less than a standard coach seat.)

The only drawback to Wenger is that it definitely isn't the most lightweight choice. The pack itself weighs close to four pounds. But after handling some of the other tiny, light packs in the store, I decided that this is probably the best one overall for what I need.