I receive this bag from Text100 Malaysia that were looking for Mobile Warriors. Targus wanted to know opinion on their latest product so here I am, offering myself to take part of it. My first laptop backpack is Golla, the older model that is side-load type. I always love backpack type rather than sling type. It is a good bag indeed for having slim-type cutting. It will be frequently mentioned too in this review because that is my baseline standard.

The Type & Size

Targus Spruce is a Backpack type. As a backpack type, back-support is important for your spine. Targus Spruce indeed have a good back-support and I’ve tested it by wearing it while on motorcycle and also, bicycle. Yeah I do cycling to nearest cafe, which is Old Town Ampang Waterfront and Coffee Sugar & Spice, Ampang Waterfront 2. I was surprised with the comfort provided. I’ve yet to test Golla when cycling. But when I’m on motorcycle, I did felt back-pain because Golla doesn’t have that proper back support. As for shoulder straps, Targus Spruce has a thicker padded support to compare with Golla so it is much more comfortable. Targus Spruce is a bit bulky for me ( or my eyes did deceive me ). The reason I pick Golla at first is the slimness and the cut. Both of the bags can fit 15″ laptop and from what I stumbled on the net previously, Targus Spruce was built specifically for MacBook Pro.

(front pocket)

The Compartment

Targus Spruce have a lot of compartment. The standard type of backpack usually have 3 compartment. The most front is usually stationery. The middle compartment is used to put documents and the last compartment is for laptop. Additionally, Targus Spruce has a compartment for MP3 players at your right and water bottle holder at the left, to which Golla didn’t have. The most front compartment have an outer-inside pocket (the one near the label ‘Targus’) and pretty small for me to stow all my Apple VGA Adapter, Nokia Video Out Adapter, a PSP lanyard. The net-pocket inside stationery compartment is a bit smaller so it’s a bit cramp. In that pocket I usually put one or two blank CD/DVDs because I do burning on the go (mobileoffice For The Win!). Golla pockets is a bit larger compared to Targus. Then, Targus Spruce has a lot of net-pockets. The second compartment sports a bigger area and a net-pocket also available. It is much bigger than Golla and the net-pocket inside the document compartment is an advantage. One thing that I notice here is that the material in between stationery and document compartment seems thin and filmsy to me to compare with Golla, but I’m unsure of the real sturdiness. Maybe it was build using stronger but thinner polimer, I didn’t know. The laptop compartment is a top-load type. Heavily padded to protect your precious laptop.

(Front compartment)

The Others

Targus Spruce has a resizable water bottle holder. This is beneficial for me since for my Golla, I have to hung my Ruby a.k.a Rubbermaid Water Bottle using hook. And it was left hanging behind. Totally uncool. With Spruce I able to put water bottle and yeah, a lot cooler. Their MP3 compartment, I’ve yet to utilize it since I’m using iPod Shuffle that I can clip where I want haha. One thing weird with Targus Spruce is at the end of their shoulder strap, is somewhat like a clip. It is a nice finishing indeed but with that shape, I figured out I could clip it to what other thing god knows hahah. Fun Fact: Targus Spruce is an EcoSmart bags that designed with environmental conservation in mind. To put it simpler, they used recyclable materials for this bag. HOOOHAH! The fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles and all plastic components are recyclable. All zips are nickel-free. Surely contribute to greener earth.

The Price

From what I ask Eevon, Text100 representative, Targus Spruce priced at RM398. OMG! That is, for me, is kinda expensive but to think of how my back felt nowadays, it may deserve it. With rich features and the build quality, it totally deserve that price.

The Conclusion

For me, Targus Spruce is an extremely good laptop backpack. I’ve wear it on bicycle and motorcycle and I felt not a single uneasiness even I’ve just tested it. The bulkiness of the bag sometimes can be easily forgotten just because the comfort provided. Even they have smaller stationery compartment, their document compartment is much bigger to fit anything else.  This is definitely a luxury item and perfect for an expensive gift to mobilewarriors

Rating: 4.4 out of 5. Yeah, freaking high. Golla scores at 4 for me.

Where you can get this bag at Malaysia? I’m a bit unsure bout that, but you may want to look further info about Targus Spruce EcoSmart here.

Location: Jalan Permaisuri 3, Bandar Sri Permaisuri

WiFi/SSID: hailam kopitiam

Plugs: 10-12

Toilet: inside restaurant

Category/Halal:Kopitiam/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: 200m is a mosque. direction ask from cashier

Nearest alternatives: Starbucks Borders

Amenities:Within 100 meters, there is Paparich, Q’ Bistro,Kelok Cafe … all WiFi friendly

Review:Hailam Kopitiam is located in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, whichneighbors Bandar Tun Razak. Like other koptiams mushrooming in Malaysia, they offer a variety ofHainanese dishes. Place is cosy and comfortable for road warriors touse as their next mobile office. Food and service is good. For thetime being, there is ample parking space.

Nasi Kandar Line Clear has opened shop opposite of Hailam Kopitiam andonce they start operations, it’ll be interesting to see how HailamKopitiam fares. Right now, its a good place to lepaks

Review thanks to Sam, and yeah follow him on this twitter too  !

Location: 2nd Floor, Gardens Midvalley

WiFi/SSID: lightspeed@austinchase

Plugs: 8-10

Toilet: 20 metres away

Category/Halal:Cafe/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Inside the shopping center

Nearest alternatives: Starbucks Borders

Amenities: Gardens is a Shopping Mall

Review: Another cosy place to do work while sipping coffee. Located atthe 2nd floor of Gardens, MidValley. A floor up is Borders Bookstorewhere Starbucks is located and GSC Signatures, 2 floors up to catch amovie. In Austin Chase, there’s a glass room that you can also bookfor meetings. Just make sure you buy drinks and food. Nothing is freeand neither is the room Call 603-22820512 to book. There is also alot of free magazines to read when tired typing your life away on yourMacBook

Review thanks to Sam, and yeah follow him on this twitter too  !

Location: Restoran Siang Malam (Seremban 2), Negeri Sembilan

WiFi/SSID: – (yeah dash)

Plugs: A lot.

Toilet: Inside.

Category/Halal:Mamak/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Unknown

Nearest alternatives: jusco Shopping Complex

Amenities: Unknown

Review: -

Thanks to Shamhardy for this review.

Location: Jaya One

WiFi/SSID: Old Town

Plugs:8 inside. assuming 6 also outside

Toilet: Inside

Category/Halal: Kopitiam/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Make sure Oldtow on your left. Surau located near the parking lot lifts.

Nearest alternatives: Coffee Bean, Starbucks.

Amenities: 7-Eleven nearby., Cold Storage

Review: This is one of the huge Old Town but always jampacked with people almost all time. They’re not just filled with worker, but with students from nearby university.

Location: Metropoint Kajang

WiFi/SSID: Starbucks

Plugs: 8-10

Toilet: 2 at the Metropoint shopping center.

Category/Halal:Cafe/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Inside the shopping center

Nearest alternatives: Secret Recipe & Old Town inside the mall.

Amenities: Metropoint is a Shopping Mall

Review: Place is quite cosy. Parking inside Metropoint is currentlyfree. Parking outside of Metropoint is also free at the moment due tothe the parking meters not working for some time.

Review thanks to Sam, and yeah follow him on this twitter too !

Location: Seksyen 13, Extreme Park, Shah Alam.

WiFi/SSID: Burger King

Plugs: A lot. maybe 10++

Toilet: Inside.

Category/Halal:Burger/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Unsure within the same building. But just in front of the parking of Burger king, there’s Futsal Center. Inside there is a surau available.

Nearest alternatives: The restaurant inside Futsal Arena have a Wifi

Amenities: Unknown

Review: I was here to meet one of Weddingkami clients that run the futsal arena. The futsal area at that Extreme Park has a WiFi. But it’s closed for renovation. Then I come to do work for a bit at Burger King. It was pretty packed for a Saturday when I came, and some other people also using their WiFi, beside munching their burgers. This is a nice place because the chair is padded, and provide good support for your back.

Location: Bangsar Sphere

WiFi/SSID: San Francisco Coffee. Locked.

Plugs: 8

Toilet: Outside, behind the cafe.

Category/Halal: Cafe Joints/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Ground Floor. In front Carrefour there’s a toilet. It’s near with that.

Nearest alternatives: Their foodcourt is WiFi-ed

Amenities: Near with Carrefour. I think I saw a post-office too. And just in front of this cafe are a convenience shop a-la 7-Eleven.

Review: This Bangsar Sphere is a new place. It is nearby with residency area like Pantai Hillpark, Pantai Dalam, and such. I think this is a nice place to took detour in the evening rather than stuck in traffic jams, in both ways. Whether you’re going to Klang or inside KL, this could be nice place for a slight detour. Don’t forget their Buy-One-Free-One deal

Location: Danau Kota, Setapak

WiFi/SSID: Pak Li. Locked.

Plugs: Assuming 5

Toilet: Inside.

Category/Halal:Kopitiam/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Unsure. Petronas could be

Nearest alternatives: Unknown

Amenities: Located in shop lot area.

Review: Since I was high on fever when I came here, I failed to give a detailed and accurate review of the place.

Location: Ground Floor IOI Mall ( Old Wing )

WiFi/SSID: OldTownWhiteCoffee

Plugs: 2 inside, 1 outside

Toilet: 3 minutes walk inside the mall.

Category/Halal:Kopitiam/Halal

Surau/Mosque/Prayer Rooms: Go inside IOI Mall

Nearest alternatives: Starbucks, San Francisco Coffee in the new wing.

Amenities: This shopping mall has a Jusco

Review: I’ve come at this place in early morning. It opens at 930. The layout pretty small and cramped. It is located at the sideways of IOI Mall and you could see it if you park outside. Toilet is located inside mall and pretty far and remember don’t ever leave your laptop unattended.