Commuting with a laptop?
 

The state I work in has decided to give all secondary teachers a new laptop. So here I am typing on it and wondering how I am going to get it back and forth.

I have been looking at a Pelican case, which will certainly look after the laptop, but will cost me some effort to pedal my 24 km round trip. That isnt too bad, as I will probably only take it home on the weekends. But how would I carry the Pelican case? I have racks and use a pannier for my stuff every day, but the top of the pannier is above the rack by about 2 cm (nearly and inch).

Here is the Pelican Case

http://www.marinedirect.com.au/catal...1/product89407

It has to be this one to fit the laptop.

Any suggestions?

a

Do you have enough room in your panniers for the laptop in a slimmer case than the pelican?


I carry a 15" powerbook in a Tomh Bihn braincell http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/300/TB0300 in my timbuktu bag along w/ a change of clothes and lunch. I'm very happy with the Tom Bihn bag. It's relatively slim, yet offers good protection for the laptop. If I had it to do over I'd probably get a darker color though. The "wasabi" color tends to show dirt.


-Trevor

I've always used a cheap close-fitting Eagle Creek padded sleeve, and then just carried it inside a backpack. Panniers (and the padded sleeve) would be safer for the laptop, but a backpack is lighter and more versatile. Don't leave home without it. :)

Arkel makes a laptop pannier. www.arkel-od.com. I don't know if they are sold in Australia, though, but you may be able to buy one off their website. They are based in Quebec.

I use one a Targus Notebook Backpack

I would prefer putting it in my pannier, but it's better isolated from the jarring of the road when it's on my back. The backpack is very well thought out, lots of compartments etc. but is still not to heavy.

I use a messenger bag. No padding, no worries, no problems. I've done that for a couple of years.

edit: Also, I have a two friends that use and swear by Tom Bihn laptop bags, and I have to admit, they are very cool looking and well designed. http://tombihn.com/

I made a close-fitting sleeve out of some very dense foam that was originally a backpacking pad... took ten minutes, a sharp utility knife, some duct tape. I insert it into my backpack when I need to carry laptop. Works great. Costs nothing.

I use a laptop backpack, the Ogio Metro.

http://www.ebags.com/ogio/metro/prod...?modelid=15431

Has a nice padded sleeve for my laptop and keeps it close to me at all times.

I use the Arkel laptop pannier/briefcase. it is great - a suspension system for the laptop in a removable neoprene sleeve protects the laptop from bounces, etc. Lots of extra room for all the commuting essentials, clothing, etc.

I highly recommend it if you want a pannier that looks like a briefcase, and has built-in accommodation for the laptop.

Laptops can take quite a bit of jarring when they are completely off. As long as you don't transport it while it's in low-power mode, and don't have any nasty accidents, it should be cool.

I transport mine daily in a Timbuk2 'commute' bag that has a padded laptop pouch.

Al

I liked the Timbuk2 commute bag, but I found it quite heavy with the laptop in it on my 12-mile commute (I borrowed one from a friend to try). If you are concerned with the weight, a pannier option might be best.

I have a very old Timbuk2 bag, their second largest size. But for my Powerbook 15" I have a Waterfield Design's ( www.sfbags.com ) laptop sleeve case. I really like their sleeves; they have a lot of different sizes for most major laptop brands, it's really high quality construction and thicker padding than most. I usually carry this, along with a Zojirushi Mr. Bento and one of those ridiculously heavy Kryptonite chain locks in my 5 mile NYC commute, and I haven't had any problems so far.

Ortlieb makes a waterproof pannier/laptop case/briefcase if you want it hitched to the bike.

I think a Pelican laptop case would be pretty heavy.