# Will netbooks and tablets legitimize the man purse? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302 "2010-04-07T18:04:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Evil_Prince_Zorte)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/1 "2010-04-07T18:04:39Z")
Netbooks and tablets look like they would be cool to have out and about for surfing, reading, writing, etc. The small screen size is the price you pay for the extra portability. This is great for women who can keep it in their purse, but what about guys? If I am going to be carrying a messenger bag around, I might as well put a fully capable 13"-15" laptop in it. However it’s not something I would want to lug around all the time- not because of the weight of the laptop, but because a larger bag tends to attract more stuff. Ideally you wouldn’t carry a bag that is much bigger than the gadget. With netbooks, and especially tablets, that brings you into man purse territory. Is it likely that men will start carrying bags not much bigger than a tablet without attracting scorn, or will they only so far as a smallish messenger bag that is still much bigger than necessary? An iPad is certainly suitable for keeping on hand all the time when you are out and about, but I can’t see leaving the house with one, because any bag that would be suitable for carrying it will make me look like [Alan](http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/still/the_hangover15.jpg) from the Hangover. If you are a man, and bought an iPad, are you leaving the house with it? How are you carrying it? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/2 "2010-04-07T19:15:42Z")
The boyfriend carries a WWII-style map case for his Kindle or netbook. It’s a nice little compromise. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/3 "2010-04-07T19:32:12Z")
A small messenger bag or backpack, yes. Full-on man purse? Nothing is _ **ever** _ going to justify that. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/4 "2010-04-07T19:38:28Z")
The murse will never catch on fully in society. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/5 "2010-04-07T19:39:30Z")
The iPad will never catch on fully in society. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/6 "2010-04-07T19:45:04Z")
Get yourself something from [these folks](http://www.saddlebackleather.com/). I have a leather satchel and have received a number of compliments and they are manly enough that I haven’t gotten any crap when I use it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/7 "2010-04-07T19:50:39Z")
Do people still make a big deal over guys with little bags? Wasn’t that episode of Friends like a decade ago? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/8 "2010-04-07T19:58:30Z")
Even Jack Bauer couldn’t make the man-bag acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/9 "2010-04-07T20:17:51Z")
“The bag’s not for what I take; it’s for what I find along the way.” – McGyver Stranger ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/10 "2010-04-07T20:22:15Z")
okay why do you need a bag in the first place? or get a small toughbook with a built in handle. [like this](http://www.toughbookuniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/cf-19_closed_front_lr.jpg) it’s a convertible tablet ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/11 "2010-04-07T21:10:30Z")
Maybe an Indiana Jones gas mask bag. Or something similar in leather. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/12 "2010-04-07T21:16:10Z")
Right now, I just carry my iPad as if it were a book - in hand, or tucked under my arm. It’s in the “official” Apple cover/case, so that’s easy enough. The map cases on Amazon look interesting and cheap, though. [http://www.amazon.com/Canvas-Map-Case-Shoulder-Bag/dp/B000BFJE38/ref=sr\_1\_4?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1270674956&sr=8-4](http://www.amazon.com/Canvas-Map-Case-Shoulder-Bag/dp/B000BFJE38/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1270674956&sr=8-4) ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/13 "2010-04-07T21:18:25Z")
> [@eno801](#): > > okay why do you need a bag in the first place? or get a small toughbook with a built in handle. > > [like this](http://www.toughbookuniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/cf-19_closed_front_lr.jpg) > > it’s a convertible tablet Plus, it means that if someone tries to steal it you can just hit them with it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/14 "2010-04-07T21:57:36Z")
I think guys will only go for it if it’s practical and helps distribute the load. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/15 "2010-04-07T23:26:24Z")
Perhaps bib overalls will come back… a pocket on the back side of the bib would be the perfect size 😉 ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/16 "2010-04-08T03:51:19Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > The iPad will never catch on fully in society. Why not, it blends well [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lAl28d6tbko/maxresdefault.jpg "Will It Blend? - iPad") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAl28d6tbko) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/17 "2010-04-08T04:00:45Z")
A plastic grocery bag. Or get a woman to carry it around for you, if a proper bag with a handle is too gay. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/18 "2010-04-08T04:19:14Z")
[It’s all in the marketing](http://www.snorgtees.com/itsasatchel-p-853.html). ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/19 "2010-04-08T04:33:59Z")
The man purse is already legitimate in most Asian metropolitan cities, and that’s before all these tablets came out. If you need to carry something, what’s the big deal? I have a feeling that most western guys are too caught up in being perceived a certain way for it to catch on in the US, though. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302/20 "2010-04-08T16:23:28Z")
Here’s a tangential question: I’m not male, but I have a guy’s dislike of anything resembling a “purse.” If I’m going to carry something it’s got to be leather or canvas or something else tomboy-looking, but even then I can’t seem to get the habit of carrying a bag. I have a ton of them because I love to buy them, and once my iPad arrives I want to carry it with me. So here’s my problem. Hopefully some of you bag-carrying folks can help me. When I go into work (which I do a couple of days a week) I like to take my technology with me. But I’ve never seen anybody walking around this or any other office with a bag over their shoulder (even a small one). The last thing I want to do is leave my iPad in a drawer somewhere–even if the drawer has a lock, the whole point of bringing it along is to have it with me. So do I just take it out of the bag, stash the bag someplace, and carry it around? What if I have more than one thing I want to carry? I can understand if you carry a purse and keep purse-type things in it (makeup, address book, wallet, keys, etc–things you don’t generally need often during the day). But what if your whole purpose for having a bag is to hold the thing you want to have handy all the time? Will I look like a dork carrying it around? I probably sound like an idiot for asking this, but I genuinely want to know how people deal with this issue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-netbooks-and-tablets-legitimize-the-man-purse/535302.md?page=2)