Not that long ago, it was difficult to find a laptop bag that didn't look like a briefcase or a student's backpack. With my first two or three laptops, my desire for something a little different lead me to try several bags that were designed specifically for women, but not -- as it turned out -- specifically for comfort. They were pretty on the outside, but turned out to have functional flaws that were hard to overcome, like hard handles that dug paiinfully into my shoulder or stiff openings that made it difficult to slide the computer in and out. Never a complete slave to fashion, I always reverted back to my old standby -- a manly-looking black nylon briefcase. Things have changed in the last few years, and we now have more choices and don't necessarily have to compromise comfort and functionality for a bit of style.

Mobile Edge stands out for their line of fashionable and sophisticated women's laptop bags. Their new Monaco Notebook Case, which fits a 15.4" notebook computer, takes its styling from those quilted handbags that are in vogue now (again). (Many of their women's computer bags look to be inspired by modern handbag design.) The sleek, minimalist exterior, made of microfiber, makes this a bag you can take to any business meeting, without getting it mixed up with the ones the boys are carrying, but it's lightweight, sturdy and fairly inexpensive ($99.99) -- which means it's not so precious that you couldn't use it every day.