Briefcases Reporting For Work

History books label him the most charismatic tyrant of the 21st century. Governments revile him; grown men cower in fear of him. To his men, he is an icon who inspires them to new heights of ruthlessness. His name is Adolf Hitler; and at the moment, he is locked in a meeting with his most trusted generals.

Tension is palpable inside the room as each general takes turns speaking. Hitler listens to the reports with brooding eyes. Every now and then, he strokes his mustache. At times, he asks questions. No one notices the briefcase on the floor. It lay there, small, inconspicuous, and black as the circumstances that had led several German military leaders to organize a desperate assassination attempt. Then, suddenly, a deafening sound shatters the silence. The briefcase explodes, and the room becomes eerily quiet, save for the sound of falling debris and the faint cries for help.

Did the assassination succeed? No. Hitler sustained only minor injuries, mostly because the briefcase had been pushed behind a table leg. He died over a year later in an air-raid shelter, while Allied forces pounded Berlin with devastating bombs. Today, very few people remember that assassination attempt and the briefcase's role in it. And what of the briefcase? Though today's briefcases are rarely used to directly affect global events, they continue providing users with world-class service.

Briefcase: A Brief History
Most briefcases are modeled after a 1300s' bag for toting money and prized items. These objects were referred to as a "budget," which originated from the Irish word "bolg" or the Latin term "bulga." Both of these words mean "leather bag." In 1826, Godillot of Paris was the first company to place a hinged iron frame on a carpetbag. The next bags included the Gladstone and the oval-top Rosebery bag. Within time, these items evolved into today's metal frame briefcase. The baggage was named for its function of carrying a lawyer's briefs-the document, not the undergarment.

Ms. Briefcase
In the past, briefcases were almost always associated with cookie-cutter businessmen sporting dark suits. But today's briefcases have changed in an ever-changing world. More women in modern times are shedding their traditional roles as homemakers for a place in the workplace. In 2006, women accounted for 46% of the U.S.'s total labor force. Several briefcases have been designed specifically for the professional female, and include features such as larger handles and more shapely designs. While the function of these attractive bags has not changed from their traditional counterparts, briefcases for ladies prove that women can be professional and feminine at the same time.

Commuting and Computing in Style
Today's workplace does not just include more women. Now, computers are going to the office as well. In 2005, about 51% of computers sold at retail in the United States were laptops. This figure indicates that the trend in computers is a more mobile function. Although laptops' features continue to increase, their prices continue to drop. To cater to this worldwide trend, some briefcases are designed specifically for laptops. With their organized compartments for the machine and its accessories, these bags let you compute in style.

Less Backbreaking Business
While laptops have made computers more mobile, the business world has also taken flight. Granted, the Information Age has created a more efficient era of teleconferencing and e-mails. However, majority of workers still commute to work, and somehow an emoticon can never replace an old-fashioned, eye-to-eye firm handshake when closing a business deal! Briefcases on wheels store all of your business equipment, while making it easier to move through airports and office building hallways. On the other hand, leather backpacks add sophistication to the standard bag mainly used for hiking or schooling.

Briefcases have long been vital tools in doing business. Today, they continue that tradition, and at the same time, mirror the change in times.

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