Carrying a laptop can be a real burden - forget the weight, it's the fact the cases come in boring blacks and blues.
But now, fashion- conscious road warriors and trendy students alike can get their hands on bags of style.
From floral-patterned laptop cases, uber-chic sleek pieces with stencilled designs to rugged camouflage totes, there are plenty of styles available to suit everyone.
'A lot of people are tired of sporting boring, corporate looks,' says Paul Khor, owner of Actually in Seah Street, which carries a variety of funky-looking laptop bags from Switzerland and France.
'Some people want their laptop cases to reflect their individual styles and others just want something a little more colourful and less boring.'
And it isn't just kids who are looking for a fresh look for their laptop bags.
Charmaine Tan, co-owner of Bag Age at Far East Plaza, which sells laptop cases designed by herself and her partner, says: 'Our customers range from students to working adults. They come in looking for something different that will set them apart from everyone else'. They manufacture only 10 pieces of each design.
The new bags aren't just upping the style stakes, they are also light and easy to use.
While in the past, laptop bags were mostly made of cloth, leather or PVC, all kinds of materials are being used now, says Seng Chek Guan, sales and marketing associate of Bridgemen in Tannery Road which brings in laptop bags from Japanese brand Sanwa Supply and American brand Acme Made.
They include nylon from parachutes, sponge, foam and even aluminium, he adds.
While bags made of unusual materials may appeal to some, others simply want softer materials.
Bag Age's Tan says: 'There are a lot of black canvas laptop bags in the market, but a lot of my customers immediately opt for soft materials like silk bags with some foam padding inside to keep the laptop protected.'
And it seems like customers can't get enough.
'There could be more options available,' says Brandon Ong, 27, a business developer manager.
'A lot of the bags are conventionally shaped and they're usually backpacks or simple rectangular pieces. I've seen some really unusual pieces shaped like turtles with hard cases,' he adds.
'We need more unusual designs that shouldn't compromise on functionality so you can carry more than just your laptops in these bags.'
