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Laptop Protection

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Old 06-05-17 | 08:18 AM
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Laptop Protection

Right now I've got a Macbook in an Amazon Basics sleeve inside an Ortlieb pannier with some clothes. How are other riders commuting with laptops? I suppose good laptop backpack would better - but I can't do backpack in the summer.
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Old 06-05-17 | 09:53 AM
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See this recent post w/ links on different thread for some ortlieb products. I most often carry my laptop in sleeve or wrapped in one of my ortlieb front or back roller classics. I also have nice laptop/office panniers from Racktime and Ortlieb that wife and I used when both teaching school.

https://www.bikeforums.net/19626827-post8.html
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Old 06-05-17 | 10:37 AM
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I don't use any protection at all. I'm carrying a Macbook Pro. I usually toss it in my pannier. It rattles around. So far, so good.
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Old 06-07-17 | 12:27 PM
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I wrap my laptop in an old towel, and then put that in one end of my garment pannier. Anything heavy (laptop power supply, dress shoes, toolbag, apples for lunch, etc.) goes in the other end of the pannier. Loading it that way balances out the weight nicely.

https://try.twowheelgear.com/
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Old 06-07-17 | 12:39 PM
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Brompton has a pocket for them in my O bag, made by Ortlieb,

but a thumb drive by now should be all you need to transfer stuff to your bosses computer .

you expected to put out, work from everywhere all the time?
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Old 06-07-17 | 12:44 PM
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I carry my work-issued laptop on the off chance I have to work on something from home in an emergency. I've only had to do it two or three times in the 2-1/2 years on this job, but I work in the IT department, so we have to keep things running.
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Old 06-07-17 | 12:48 PM
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I'm just a Mechanic, now, part time.





..

Last edited by fietsbob; 06-07-17 at 01:04 PM.
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Old 06-07-17 | 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by hexron
Right now I've got a Macbook in an Amazon Basics sleeve inside an Ortlieb pannier with some clothes. How are other riders commuting with laptops? I suppose good laptop backpack would better - but I can't do backpack in the summer.
Thule makes "Gauntlet" cases that offer a hard, but lightweight shell. I put the sleeve inside that.
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Old 06-07-17 | 01:03 PM
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Pelican cases , they're even airtight, & immersion waterproof.
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Old 06-07-17 | 02:38 PM
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In a sleeve in a pannier works for me. I am currently using a laptop w/ solid-state drive but I have had a hard drive laptop in a sleeve in the pannier and the pannier launched and rolled around the street just missing getting flattened by a bus and the laptop worked just fine when I got it back.
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Old 06-07-17 | 04:02 PM
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Both of my approaches don't really solve your problem, but I'll mention them anyway. The first is to have a computer at each end of your trip, and just carry data back and forth, or put it in the cloud.

What I did, to have a computer "on the go," was to get an utterly dirt cheap notebook that comes apart and doubles as a tablet. The low cost is my insurance policy -- if it gets damaged, I can replace it for less than what a service plan for a full blown computer would cost. Then I just put it in a padded sleeve and throw it into the bike basket.

Naturally, if you're transporting a computer or data, make sure everything is encrypted, in case of loss or theft.
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Old 06-07-17 | 04:36 PM
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Bubble wrap is great for adding extra protection to cameras and computers on a bike. It wears out, but can't beat the weight.
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Old 06-15-17 | 11:14 AM
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I would suggest foam wrap that comes in many packages. Works great for me
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Old 06-15-17 | 11:15 AM
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And it doesn't wear out like the bubble wrap. You can get it at any UPS store
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Old 06-15-17 | 02:56 PM
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I have a slim upholstered bag (not sleeve) for my 14" laptop which I carry in my Ortlieb pannier. Have been doing this for the past 2 years. No issues.
Office clothes and shoes go in the other pannier.
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Old 06-16-17 | 11:27 AM
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I use a thin "incase" bag rather than just a sleeve. It has a removable shoulder strap and a few pockets. I carry it in a waterproof backpack now but I've used the same kind of set up in pannier.



I work relatively often at home or away from the office. As a software developer working on a variety of stuff, it's easier to have one machine that has all my dev environments set up the way I want rather than to try to keep two machines in sync. A lot of our source code is kept in the cloud so that's not the issue so much.

Modern laptops are pretty light and compact so carrying one on a bike isn't a big deal. If you've got an SSD you're not at much risk for HD damage related to shock or vibration.

Last edited by tjspiel; 06-16-17 at 11:35 AM.
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Old 06-16-17 | 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by hexron
Right now I've got a Macbook in an Amazon Basics sleeve inside an Ortlieb pannier with some clothes. How are other riders commuting with laptops? I suppose good laptop backpack would better - but I can't do backpack in the summer.
What's wrong with that? The sleeve will protect against most things, and the clothes provide padding if the bike tips over.
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Old 06-16-17 | 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I carry my work-issued laptop on the off chance I have to work on something from home in an emergency. I've only had to do it two or three times in the 2-1/2 years on this job, but I work in the IT department, so we have to keep things running.
Can't you remote in from your home computer? Seems like if you need to fix stuff from a computer at home, and connecting to the system at work, they ought to provide a tunnel the rest of the way.

Maybe I'm just spoiled by having this ability.
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Old 06-16-17 | 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Can't you remote in from your home computer? Seems like if you need to fix stuff from a computer at home, and connecting to the system at work, they ought to provide a tunnel the rest of the way.

Maybe I'm just spoiled by having this ability.
Yes, if I had a home computer. We have a VPN. Mine died, and I don't care, since I like the work-issued computer so much, and I'd rather not spend the money.
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Old 06-16-17 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
Yes, if I had a home computer. We have a VPN. Mine died, and I don't care, since I like the work-issued computer so much, and I'd rather not spend the money.
Ah, 10-4.
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