During the CE Week 2016 industry trade show taking place in New York City, accessory maker Targus set up a booth to showcase its latest Mobile ViP line of cases for carting laptops and related goods safely through airports. There are four cases in all spanning price points between $70 to $130, with the most expensive model serving as an overnight roller so customers can drag their hardware from terminal to terminal with ease.
According to Targus representative Carolyn Perrier, the new Mobile ViP line is designed for the modern professional. In addition to the convenient roller model, the Mobile ViP portfolio consists of a checkpoint-friendly backpack, a briefcase-style model, and a slim “topload” version that allows users to shove it through the TSA scanner like an open book without having to pull out the precious hardware.
Parrier admitted during our brief interview that the backpack model is actually the Mobile ViP flagship product, stuffing everything customers need in a big bulky backpack. However, this accessory sports a clean, professional-looking, modern design so that customers don’t look like big kids in suits lugging around a bunch of toys and gadgets on their back.
In addition to the travel cases, Targus also had on display its handy smartphone-sized VersaLink Universal Dual Video Travel Dock, which complemented the four travel bags the company had on display. Costing $80, this compact device aims at mobile professionals packing one VGA port, one HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The specs add that the device can crank out a resolution of 2,048 x 1,152p at 60Hz via the VGA port, and 2,560 x 1,440p at 50Hz via the HDMI port.
However, here’s the thing: this handy expansion device comes packed with a built-in USB 3.0 cable, meaning customers will need a free USB 3.0 port capable of charging a device on their laptop if one is available (it doesn’t appear to have an external power supply). While laptops have offered USB 3.0 ports in recent years by default, customers with older models featuring only USB 2.0 ports won’t be able to take full advantage of this device, if it can be used at all. The product page really doesn’t make this system requirement perfectly clear.
Regardless, all products covered in our CE Week video interview with Targus are available to purchase directly from the company and its partners.
