Johnston & Murphy Dowel Computer Briefcase

Rating

This is a durable, lightweight, large, leather briefcase that could transport everyday items to and from work, yet is roomy enough to hold a large laptop and books. The exterior grain leather is nice looking, in a warm and neutral mahogany color. There is an exterior compartment in the back for newspapers, and two small pockets in the front. The interior has three large compartments lined with a durable, easy-to-clean fabric. There are several logically-placed pouches in the innermost compartment for Blackberry, cell phone, ipod, and other gadgets. Overall, this was a very good buy for me. The only negative is the leather shoulder strap which is sturdy but seems to need reinforcement at the point where it connects with the dowel rod; however, compared to other briefcases that I have looked at, the leather strap is one of the thickest and sturdiest I found. This briefcase was the first item I bought on Overstock. I was impressed with the service, particularly the low cost of shipping and handling.

• How often do you shop at Overstock.com? First time
• Are you a Club O Member? No

Rating

I went shopping for briefcases at higher-end stores at the mall because I wanted to test them out with my own hands and eyes (something I'd recommend before buying one over the net), and came home with a list of my top five picks, then started searching internet stores for the best deals. Although the Johnston & Murphy Dowel Computer Briefcase wasn't my first pick, it was the best deal I could find and was a lot less than at the mall and I couldn't pass it up! I'm glad that I didn't. This briefcase is very well made; the leather is durable yet as soft as a fine pair of leather shoes. It looks professional, yet not fancy -- I didn't want one of those shiny, lawyer-ish briefcases -- this one is perfect for the businessperson who prefers to be casual and comfortable. I'm a college professor, and there's enough room to lug around all of my books and papers, and there are plenty of small compartments for all your high-tech devices if you have them. Although it's technically a computer briefcase, I don't use it as one, and it works just fine as a regular briefcase: it can go either way, which is one of the great things about it. If I get to the point where I need to carry a laptop, it'll work just fine. I like the variability of it. One warning, though, is that it is quite large; if you're looking for something small, this isn't the one for you. But if you have lots to carry, it's great. The shoulder strap is very padded and comfortable, and something I really like, it has those soles on the bottom of the briefcase for durability: you can just drop it on the ground and it's just fine. The only complaint I have is that the two latches on the front make a slight metallic springy noise when you turn them to open the front flap -- it's not loud, just noticeable. Aside from that, no complaints. A well-made product, and highly recommended!

• How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Few times a year
• Are you a Club O Member? No

Rating

Looks great; very, very well made; plenty of compartments for all my tech gizmos; thick and durable, high quality leather; and finally, looks very good. Perfect for the New York daily schlepping...

• How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Monthly
• Are you a Club O Member? No