What is a good laptop case for carrying, not a backpack

I think that depends somewhat on your personal style and what else you want to carry with it. To carry a laptop, you really don't need all that much of a case. All you need to carry a laptop is a place to put it and a power supply. A basic bag can accomplish this.

After that, you have to decide what you want it to look like, canvas, cordura, leather (light/dark).

Your question, without more detail, is very similar to asking, "What's a good car?"

One that matches that Man purse you carry...

Thanks. Have a Samsonite Aramon case made out of neoprene. Wish I could just get another one for the new laptop but Samsonite discontinued them.

I eventually switched to a backpack but I was a briefcase purist for a long time - some thoughts:

Saddleback - Heirloom quality, pretty impractical. I never use mine, but it's cool.

Filson - They're nice and get compliments. They're usable and high quality. But they're not too structured and less practical. I used one daily for a couple of years.

Hartmann/Tumi/Briggs - These will be good utilitarian, business-friendly cases. Safe pick.

Tom Bihn - I used a Tom Bihn for a long time too. They have a few different ones, I think I have a pilot or copilot. I think Tom Bihn is probably the highest quality US bag maker. The aesthetic is casual but not out of place in business settings depending on what you do and the fabric you get. I have a bunch of TB bags at this point. Made in the USA. I'd say they're a slightly less polished, higher quality, less mass produced version of Bellroy.