Commuting - Commuting with a laptop - Good or Bad idea?

Just got a new laptop and I love it. :)

I am leary of carrying it on my bicycle when I commute. I intend to get the best laptop cell (http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0300) I can get.

Commuting with my laptop is not a neccessity. It would just be for stopping at the coffeehouse to surf the internet. Is there any danger of damaging the laptop through road vibration? Has anyone else damaged their laptop becase of carrying it on your commute?

Is their reason to be concerned?

Not unless you're prone to accidents!!

Just get a laptop sleeve and throw it into your backpack/messenger bag. It'll be fine. I do it all the time.

I've never had problems. Go for it, but accidents can be... what can I say? Ouchies for the computer :)

Not unless you're prone to accidents!!.

Accidents. Hmmmm.

I generally carry my other stuff in a pannier, but I think the laptop should be on your body to cushion it from road vibrations.

However...

I'm typing this on my lap, on a laptop that could fail anytime. The case is badly cracked and seems to be gradually separating more. Both hinges are damaged and the lid falls closed if I jiggle too much. Why? Because it flew out of my backpack and onto the concrete as I was swinging the pack off my back and the clasp holding the outer flap closed failed.

Be careful out there.

Just don't fall down or get hit and you'll be fine. I've been lugging my Powerbook around the city for over two years. Aside from a little dirt and some scratches, I haven't had any trouble.

The laptop sleeve is great. That's the route I take. I wish there were more wifi hot spots where I am, besides people's unsecured wireless. I carry mine to work in a backpack, but I'll switch to panniers again once I get my bike.

I've never liked carrying my laptop in a messenger bag or traditional backpack. I used to carry it in my panniers until I tried one of these bumpacks http://bbpbags.com/

I would like to say it is a bad idea. Not for any reason relating to carrying it but for the fact that since I have a laptop I work longer hours. :p
I can not escape work even at home!
j/k
It is very useful and gives me more flexibility to my working hours. Not to mention that hanging out at work watching long running ETL jobs would drive me nuts.

I carried my laptop (Dell Inspiron 9400) on my bike for months with no problems whatsoever. Including the one time I crashed during that time. I was carrying it in a decent laptop backpack (I think I picked it up at Target), with a piece of thick foam tucked into the normal laptop sleeve in the backpack, and then the laptop in the next spot, right beside that. The foam was shipping foam that came in a shipping container to ship my other laptop back for warranty repairs.

I wore it like a backpack for the first couple months, then started strapping the backpack to the side of my rear rack.

The only worry I had with strapping it to the rack was making sure all the loose straps were secured, and keeping the lower rear corner out of my wheel.

JHas anyone else damaged their laptop becase of carrying it on your commute?


Try to assess your frequency of falls. I might fall in a serious fashion once per year. If I carried a laptop, I'd presumably damage it every few serious falls, i.e. once every few years. Given the cost and hassle tied to the damage, this gets serious. Whether you can absorb it depends on your circumstances. E.g. you might have a warranty covering physical damage.

While I do not commute with a laptop, I've encountered the laptop damage in falls twice. Once a friend commuting with a laptop crashed the screen in a fall. The second time, I carried an operating laptop, doing measurements on my bike, and fell just crushing the case's corner. The last damage I could live with until the end of my laptop due to age.

I've commuted with my laptop in an Arkel Commuter pannier for the past 3 months & had absolutely no problem. Padded sleeve inside that is free-hanging within the pannier. Strap to keep it from moving around. Pannier holds very tightly onto rear rack then unclips to go into the building with me. Attachment system well-designed.

The Arkel is expensive but has served admirably. I do not like carrying a messenger bag or backpack while riding altho I'll occasionally wear a Camelback on a longer ride (i.e. not commuting).

I carry my Mac to work in a backpack almost every day. It never occured to me NOT to. If it gets hurt I think I'll be hurt so much more I won't be thinking about the computer at all.
I do back it up every weekend. You should do the same.

The big thing, especially if you're carrying a laptop like a Mac with tight tolerances, is to get a piece of foam or fabric to stick in before you close it to keep the keys from rubbing on the screen. Stick it in a good sleeve, and make sure it's positioned in your bag so that nothing's squishing the screen down too much- make sure the screen side is pointing inward to your bag and put all of your flat items like files, magazines, big books against it. BF and I have been carrying some fancypants laptops around like this for years and have never damaged one. Added security is in using a bag with a waterproof liner and nice flap over the top like a Timbuk2, since backpacks tend to have zippers right where water can most easily pool and seep in (since your back is bent over on the bike and the bags are made to repel water when you're standing up).

Just don't fall down or get hit and you'll be fine. I've been lugging my Powerbook around the city for over two years. Aside from a little dirt and some scratches, I haven't had any trouble.

+1 except a differ brand of 'puter.

I've not had any problems with my iBook. Just beware of puddles during the wet season.

I think it is a wise idea to protect it from shock as much as possible. That's why carrying it on your body is generally the most protective.

Decades ago, I used to use my bicycle to deliver chips and circuit boards to different locations within Hughes Aircraft. I never had a chip failure after carrying it in my backpack, though I did when it was strapped to the bicycle rack.

I've carried my laptops in panniers and in a backpack. The backpack becomes uncomfortable. A sleeve is essential... I made one out of bubblewrap. I have also used the softsided computer packs that fit inside the pannier. I've knocked the pannier against barriers and the like without any effect.

I think the biggest risk is dropping, scratching or knocking it while you pack it up before the trip, or unload it afterwards. But much does depend on how riskily you ride.

Not so good of an idea. Also with the newer remoting technologies, maybe you can leave the machine at work and work remotely.

Around here...Laptops going home seems to be loosing popularity Stolen/damaged laptops freak out employers. Directors seem to view managers as ineficient when they can't run a dpt without their workers working 50+/wk or more.

I just leave mine at home. A secondary duty of mine is the backup IT person. If I have a problem with it I just take whatever I need home to fix it. That and my laptop is a POS with a nonfunctioning battery. It stays on my desk effectively making it about as useful as a desktop in terms of mobility. Someday I may actually have a decent laptop. someday...

Not so good of an idea. Also with the newer remoting technologies, maybe you can leave the machine at work and work remotely.

Around here...Laptops going home seems to be loosing popularity Stolen/damaged laptops freak out employers. Directors seem to view managers as ineficient when they can't run a dpt without their workers working 50+/wk or more.

You must work for an enlightened company.

Some also don't have the luxury of high-speed mega-memory home computers (believe it or not to the computer savvy people). The OP did say it was for just surfing the net, rather than taking home work. And he might be self-employed...

I take my personal laptop to and from work (new Black MacBook Core2Duo 2.0GHz yummy!)

I use a Kensington Contour backpack, which is comfortable to ride with, has shock absorbent straps, a shock absorbent built-in laptop cell that uses elastic to grip to the proper size of your laptop. It also has a nice lumbar support, a ventilated back, and plenty of room for me to carry my work clothes. It's basically a sport backpack that was purpose built for road warriors.

I haven't had a problem yet, and the MacBooks do have really tight tolerances.

I commute daily 15.8 miles each way in Silicon Valley California. I carry my company-issue MacBook Pro (15", 5.6lb) in a pannier. I would prefer something smaller and lighter like my old IBM X30 sub-notebook (12.1", 3.6lb) so I'll switch to a MacBook (13.3", 5.2lb) when my company adds it to their officially supported list. Not much weight savings, but at least it will fit more conveniently in my pannier.

When it rains I wrap it in three layers of plastic grocery bags. I should probably get around to buying a sleeve for padding and scratch protection.

Once I went over a bump and that pannier came unattached. It hit the ground, tumbled, and slid. Traffic behind me swerved so they didn't run over it. Some of the pannier's fabric was abraded around the laptop's corners. The laptop continues to work just fine, though I should probably get a sleeve because I won't be as lucky next time.

Bob, what company if you don't mind me asking? I worked for a little startup software company that did Macs for all desktop stuff (and OpenBSD for most server stuff). Tech companies using macs are a few and far between.

Well you got a laptop so you could move around with it so not taking it anywhere kind of defeats its purpose :)

Besides always putting it into a secure protective case also make sure that it is always off or in sleep mode before transporting it. Doing so will "park" the heads on the hard drive so it won't get damaged it if the laptop is jostled too hard.

Periodically I'm required to take my laptop home for work, and I've been fine with putting it in my messenger bag (Timbuk2 bag with a laptop compartment). I was concerned initially that it might get too cold on extreme winter days, but it tends to be rather warm from sitting right on my back for 12 miles :)

The only thing I would be concerned with is accidents or rain. Any decent shoulder bag should be capable of protecting it against anything else. You could always put it in a big ziplock if you're commuting in the wet but if you take a spill all bets are off and you're on your own. I guess you just need to figure out if the risk to your computer is worth it to you.

Some also don't have the luxury of high-speed mega-memory home computers (believe it or not to the computer savvy people). The OP did say it was for just surfing the net, rather than taking home work. And he might be self-employed...

Well they *think* they're enlightened. And if we were caught taking a machine home just for surfing (risking infecting the machine)...there'd be heck to pay.

The OP also didn't say it was a "work" laptop. I take my personal laptop to work so I can listen to my tunes, surf @ the coffee shop before I go to work, have a remote access platform to my home, bluetooth-connect to the Internet to check my e-mail, etc.

Also, I'm one of the most computer-savvy people you'd run across, and this MacBook is the first "new" computer I've had since 1995. Since most of what I do is manage servers, check e-mail, read and post on forums, listen to music, and occasionally hop on AIM to talk to friends who have moved away, I really don't need impressive computing power. Believe it or not, my main desktop system at home is an eight-year-old Sun Ultra 5, 400MHz. Until I got this MacBook, I had a 400MHz Compaq laptop and a 266MHz G3 PowerBook that were my main portable systems.

I know modern hardware, I just don't need that much processing power. I built my wife a nice gaming rig, but I never use it. She's a WoW addict.

I would refrain from jumping to conclusions as to what he's doing with the laptop. It's a silly and moot point. All he wants to know is if there is a safe way to tote it on the bike. I think most of us have assured him that there are several ways to get 'er done.

Also, I'm one of the most computer-savvy people you'd run across, and this MacBook is the first "new" computer I've had since 1995. Since most of what I do is manage servers, check e-mail, read and post on forums, listen to music, and occasionally hop on AIM to talk to friends who have moved away, I really don't need impressive computing power. Believe it or not, my main desktop system at home is an eight-year-old Sun Ultra 5, 400MHz. Until I got this MacBook, I had a 400MHz Compaq laptop and a 266MHz G3 PowerBook that were my main portable systems.

I know modern hardware, I just don't need that much processing power. I built my wife a nice gaming rig, but I never use it. She's a WoW addict.

I hope you don't think I was swiping at you personally on this... you posted after me, anyway. I was thinking more website designers... ;) -- which has now probably landed me in more hot water.

Anyway, on topic, there are several solutions, but it seems the consensus is that toting a laptop safely and securely on a bicycle is entirely possible.

Meh, I do website designs too. I've built a few sites myself.

Anyhow, no biggie. I prefer the backpack method because I feel that it puts less shock on the laptop being on me instead of on a rigid hybrid or even on the back of a hardtail MTB. I don't particularly like wearing a backpack, but it works and I feel it's the safest of the options. It also leaves my rear rack and trunk free for other things.

Maybe Axon and you other computer types can answer me this. What happened to the "hardened" laptop?
The nearly military grade laptops meant for field service. The ones I saw ads for being knocked onto the floor from desk tops while being open? Would seem to have enough vibration resistance to survive being in a padded protective bag in you pannier. My only experience even remotely in that area was learning to put some potting compound into the circuit board of a xenon strobe I use.

Didn't Apple do their stress testing on laptops by using them as frisbees?

Bob, what company if you don't mind me asking?Have you noticed the provider of the maps I post?


Besides always putting it into a secure protective case also make sure that it is always off or in sleep mode before transporting it. Doing so will "park" the heads on the hard drive so it won't get damaged it if the laptop is jostled too hard.The MacBook Pro runs hot enough to scorch your thighs. The fans keep running after the lid closes, until the guts cool down enough. I have occasionally put the laptop into my pannier too quickly. In the enclosed space with no air to circulate, the fans ran (creating more heat to get rid of) until the battery ran down.

From some friends of mine (we has some discussion some time ago about death of laptops) who've owned laptops for about 15yrs now the bumping motion will work on the HD. If you like to hibernate the laptop so you don't have to wait for the long restart time then the bumping of the laptop apparently in my friends case killed a number of HD's because HD's have moving parts.

Then again they always used the shoulder bags when waking around so you have the "butt bounce" all the time. I would think if you used a laptop (what I use for my laptop) you will have no problems as the laptop is on your back and anchored in by two shoulder straps to stablize it. Tho the back will get a bit warm so you may want to look into a Deuter backpack with the mesh back and use a laptop sleeve in the bag that way you'll have a cool back and anchored down laptop.

For the curious, I use a Targus Pulse backpack which is slim yet has enough room for pants, shirt, jacket shell, side pocket for h20 bottle, and magazine/folders.


Zero_Enigma

I have used a Spire laptop backpack (http://www.spireusa.com/products/backpacks.htm) for years with no problems. Recently I decided I was tired of the back sweat and wanted a pannier, so I bought the Arkel commuter (http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/commuter/overview.asp), since it had the free-hanging laptop bag. I am still a little nervous going over bumps with it, not being able yet to shake the feeling that it would probably be better cushioned by my body. The "bum bag" suggested by ChipCom, which I didn't know about at the time, seems a promising compromise.

Recently I decided I was tired of the back sweat and wanted a pannier, so I bought the Arkel commuter (http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/commuter/overview.asp), since it had the free-hanging laptop bag. I am still a little nervous going over bumps with it, not being able yet to shake the feeling that it would probably be better cushioned by my body.

I've been using an Arkel Briefcase (http://www.arkel-od.com/panniers/briefcase/overview.asp?fl=1&site=) for about a year and a half now, without any trouble. I was a bit nervous too, but the Arkel stuff actually does a very good job of protecting the notebook. :)

I take my personal laptop to and from work (new Black MacBook Core2Duo 2.0GHz yummy!)

I use a Kensington Contour backpack, which is comfortable to ride with, has shock absorbent straps, a shock absorbent built-in laptop cell that uses elastic to grip to the proper size of your laptop. It also has a nice lumbar support, a ventilated back, and plenty of room for me to carry my work clothes. It's basically a sport backpack that was purpose built for road warriors.

I haven't had a problem yet, and the MacBooks do have really tight tolerances.

My new laptop is a macbook as well. I just ordered a cell to fit the 13" size. Should be a snug fit. I will check out the backpack you mentioned.

Well you got a laptop so you could move around with it so not taking it anywhere kind of defeats its purpose :)

Besides always putting it into a secure protective case also make sure that it is always off or in sleep mode before transporting it. Doing so will "park" the heads on the hard drive so it won't get damaged it if the laptop is jostled too hard.

You are right. Having a laptop and being mobile is what it's all about.

I have seen many suggestions for the Arkel commuter. And they are wonderful panniers.

But, I already have the Mini-Mountain panniers from Jandd. I will use the new laptop cell I bought and some extra padding and carry my laptop in the pannier.

No one posted an experience of damaging their laptop. I guess that goes to being sensible and packing if safely.

Didn't Apple do their stress testing on laptops by using them as frisbees?

Not sure about apple but we used to, when I was working for an offshore equipment supply company to the oil industry, I remember in 1984 the first toshiba rep coming into the ware house watching our GM go up a floor and dropping the laptop onto the concrete. Teling the guy to pick up all the bits and come back when it doesnt explode on impact, the rep was nearly in tears......

I still find it a very funny memory.

I used to commute by motorcycle with a laptop in my backback.
A car pulled out infront of me, I went over the top and landed on my back.
I took the laptop out and it looked fine.
I opened it and all the keys poped out and the screen was wrecked.
Still, the disk still worked so I didn't lose any data, and it was a work laptop so they just shipped me a new one while I was at home recovering from the injury.

Not entirely relevant but I'm in a sharing mood and it's the only story I have.

ooh, not true, I have another story following on from Obelix67

I did some work for a uk drinks producer working on a mobile device for their engineers.
There test plan for this device included things like:
'spill cola syrup on the device'
'drop a standard screwdriver onto the device from a standing height'
'drop the device from a height of 4ft to mimic it being knocked off a bar'

um, actually I should probably have kept that to myself it wasn't relevant or funny.

hahahahaha morning Steve

What were you riding with 2 wheels and an engine, when I was working in London I used a GSX1100F for my commuting.... 28 RTA's in 7 years driving in london - only 1 since leaving in 1998, and that was due to a road being 2 inches thick in mud from road works and the goldwings tyres not coping, I had a choice of spill it or hit the concrete barriers head on, twas a b*gger to lift up though in mud and pouring rain......

Ah well

I went from a CBR600 after 6 incident free years, to a KLR650 which is a big green off road thing. Although, obviously not big and green enough for the vauxhall vectra driver to see.

I used to commute down the M4 from Reading to Canary Wharf no problem, the one time I decide to take the train and I hit a car riding to the train station. He told the police his foot slipped off the clutch which is why he pulled out of a side street into me.

The worst bit about it was I was lying there in a puddle checking all my limbs still worked, then when I went to crawl to the side of the road passers by tried to get me to stay lying on the ground. I almost had to wrestle them before they'd let me out of the puddle.

I read a great quote somewhere that said:
"it went road, sky, road, sky, road, sky, ambulance"

I ride to work with laptop in tow about once a week. It is not a small one, either. It is fine. I mount it like a pannier to my rack, and use bungies to secure it. It is no big deal.

Reading this thread has me worried...I've been commuting for a year with my laptop; I just toss it in a backpack ostensibly "designed" for a laptop, with a lightly padded sleeve inside...but my laptop doesn't fit in the sleeve, so I have to turn it on end and can't close the sleeve. Thus it's both loose, and not fully covered by the minimal padding.

The backpack goes on my rear rack, with the straps looped tightly around the seatpost. My ride sometimes includes 1-2 miles on a bumpy, rutted gravel-sand-mud "MUP", and I've had one spill, but so far no ill effects on the laptop.

I have 2 dakine bags

the heli pak when I dont want to take my laptop

the Pro II when I do want to take my laptop, I have a 17inch Toshiba Satellite, and if I take my employers IBM Thinkpad where there is enough room inside for both, and my PSP ... :) also there are pockets to organise other stuff as well

I commute with my laptop 2-3 times per week, I carry it in an Arkel Briefcase, which seems to provede plenty of protection - I generally hang the briefcase on the right hand side of the bike, and have had one fall with the briefcase, and I fell on that side - it was a slow motion fall which happened when I was going up a hill and hit a patch of ice which resulted in a loss of traction - no damage to the laptop, no damage to the bike, minimal damage to my body - much damage to my ego :).

I am a big Arkel fan, I hang a T-42 pannier on the left side of the bike every day. Great products, great service.

The worst bit about it was I was lying there in a puddle checking all my limbs still worked, then when I went to crawl to the side of the road passers by tried to get me to stay lying on the ground. I almost had to wrestle them before they'd let me out of the puddle.

I read a great quote somewhere that said:
"it went road, sky, road, sky, road, sky, ambulance"

My first bad crash, the guy tried to do a U turn on a busy road, saturday lunchtime traffic, broadsided me.

I remember flying through the air with his headlight ( damn those frech cars break easy) then the next thing, there is a guy above me trying to drag me off the road by my collar and an arm. Then apparently a nurse stopped him and we waited for the ambulance, not that I remember any of it. I have vague memories of the police asking how old I was and had I been unconcious.... I was convinced I was 12, but I was 20.....then ambulance, then hospital. Hip and ankle so I was quite lucky....

I've done it lots of times with no problems. I think they are usually kind of heavy for backpacks or messenger bags. Also, I think in a crash, it is more likely to get broken if it's on your back. I know a guy who did an endo with his computer in his backpack. He did a front flip over the bars and landed on his back. Shattered the computer to bits. Maybe it saved his life? :)

I used to bungee cord my nylon brief case on top of my rear rack. That solution never seemed good to me. The only shock absorption between the rack and computer was a 3/8 inch piece of foam. I was worried about shock and vibration.

I bought some pannier mounting hardware from Arkel and attached them to my nylon briefcase. I have a piece of plexiglass in the foam padding slot that anchors the bolts. It works great. I'm very happy with this solution. I think the vertically mounted nylon bag provides a lot of cushioning for the computer. Arkel makes a ready made bag similar to the one I have cobbled together. It mounts on the side of a rack like a pannier. Theirs is pretty expensive, though.