College students: how do you carry your laptop?

Title says it all. Do you prefer backpack or slip case + regular backpack, or what? How do you also manage your books, etc?

 

i just throw my laptop in my regular school jansport backpack with my books

its a thinkpad so it's super durable and i don't have to worry about it too much.

i'm not too fond of the man purse satchels and im poor and it's been working fine for a year now so no complaints with my backpack

 

I'm not college but rathere high school. But I carry my laptop in a briefcase type bag. I personally don't like putting shoulder straps on of any kind. But thats just me.

 

wrap in huge fluffy towel

jansport

 

ill be going to college this fall, and i will be putting it in a laptop bookbag

 

I use a Pinder THIN bag. I think it's great. Thin enough to slide into my backpack (which is of high quality, so i'm not throwing it out for another 'notebook' backpack), but has it's own handles and detachable shoulder strap if I want to carry it alone.

Very durable, at least so far. Everything seems to be made with high quality parts. Lifetime guarantee. The inside shock foam is thick enough to give me confidence in using it too. Pretty good looking (although I had only the choice of black or camo). VERY VERY light.

Basically combines all the best features of a bag and a sleeve.

I got a 15in for a Dell e1405 (14 in), for about $30 shipped from their website. They told me a 14in would be too tight. Customer support was very good, they did the research for me, answered my emails within the hour, and then updated their site so other people with my notebook could get the info too.

I know Sumdex has a similar and cheaper model (about 20), but someone here said the protection isn't as good. Also the Pinder comes with the detachable shoulder strap and is water resistant/proof. Sumdex doesn't have a lifetime guarantee either. No brainer in my opinion.

They're getting a new lineup in July however. So if you want the $30 + free shipping price, you should probably order now. Unless you don't mine paying $50? for the new model. It might be better in someway, but the current THIN model is all I could ask for. Perhaps a tighter fit, but meh. $30 man!

 

Just use an over the shoulder messenger bag. I have a "real" laptop bag but it's alot thicker and bulkier. I have a backpack but don't feel safe putting my laptop in it. I tend to throw around my backpack and would forget it is in there. I've done it before with art projects

 

I'm carrying my Thinkpad X60s in a backpack. Shoulder bag should be a big no no because it can be very bad for your shoulder.

I put my laptop in a vertical Waterfield sleeve and put it in my swiss army backpack. The backpack is small and light but can carry so much stuff.

 

i use a sleeve in timbuk2 messenger bag

 

Personally I use a Targus notebook sleeve for my Thinkpad, which i slip into a simple timberland backpack. The notebook sleeve protects the finish on the lid from excess scratches and from anything else that i slip into my bag

 

I have a backpack for my laptop. It is the Targus Rouge. I throw a few books in there.
Tim

 

yo man. the only way to go.
neoprene sleeve inside a timbuk2 messenger.

 

I use a laptop carry pouch (sleeve)
then put it in my bag

 

I have a messenger bag from LL Bean that works nicely. There's very little padding and I carry it alllllll the time, never had a problem. I rarely carry books however, unless I specifically know I'm going to need it.

 

Get a backpack with some padding, then throw your books in there.

 

I have a 15.4" screen and I have the Targus Chicago backpack, however, I'm not sure there's room for 4 classes worth of books in there, plus it's my travel bag for my laptop so I'd rather not beat it up dealing with school books. Any large backpacks out there that look good that'll take my ZV6K (inside a sleeve) and 4 books? Ugh I really don't wanna buy a new bag but I don't wanna have to carry two bags either during the day.

 

check out the booq line of backpacks.

 

I have a Thor Tech Backpack. Its pretty awesome.
Mine is just like this one:
http://www.motoworldracing.com/thor-06-tech-backpack.html

 

Dell XPS backpack! I like it a lot.

 

I'm going to be getting a backpack, and instead of a laptop backpack I was just going to get a regular backpack and a sleeve for my notebook, when I found this
http://www.rei.com/product/47833076.htm . It has a spot for a laptop, looks like a good amount of space, and looks really nice too. I'm going to head over to REI and check it out tonight.

 

the timbuk2's look cool: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/catalog.htm?categoryId=63&skusetId=121

 

I found a cheap briefcase/messenger type bag at target. came with a removable notebook case, holds my 15 inch notebook, cooler, cords, mouse. and one book if i have to.

was like 20 bucks

 

Neoprene Vaio sleeve from Amazon.com for my Vaio SZ-120.
Had to order a book from Amazon anyways.

 

My laptop is encase inside a Shinza Zeroshock sleeve that goes into a padded laptop compartment in the Wenger Swiss Synergy backpack.

 

i use a vaio sleeve for my SZ when i don't need to carry much else (or a smaller bag),but for school i usually bring around a samsonite notebook bag which gives me space for other items.

 

I have a Shinza Zeroshock laptop sleeve which I just slide into my regular school backpack. I also stuck a shirt in the bottom of my backpack to add a little extra cushioning to the bottom.

 

im going to college in the fall and im thinking put it in a sleeve in my regular bookbag...my classes are pretty spaced out in terms of time, so i should never need to carry very many books with me, so i shouldnt run into any space issue

where is everyone going to school? any other penn staters?

 

Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC. Working on transfer status to NC State for Sports Management.

 

Useful feedback--thank you.

 

I usually just put the laptop in my Sumdex ImpactGuard Notebook Sleeves, then into my Kipling bagpack with all the other stuff inside.

 

ETCCU asked what school so I quickly replied. Anyways, anyone else have luck w/ the Shinzas? I was afraid they wouldn't fit my comp...measurements were a bit tighter than I had liked (LT 0.1" larger than the measurement for the inside)...I understand a tight fit, but is tight considered to the exact inch?

 

I carry my laptop in a backpack. It's sooo much more comfortable. This is the one I use.

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/13061669.html

 

i'm down the road at susquehanna U.

 

the north face recon II was too small for my laptop, so I ended up going with http://www.rei.com/product/47780431.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_TRAVEL_TOC. It has tons of room for my laptop, all sorts of acessories, and all my books and notebooks, without being too big and bulky overall. It also had a ton of padding on the bottom, and a great internal organizer, and the laptop sleeve has a good amount of padding in it, so I don't need to buy an extra sleeve for my laptop. It was also only 65 bucks, so it was a great deal.

 

I use a Targus backpack which their website calls the 15" deluxe. Plenty of room for stuff, including those wonderful dictionary sized law-school text books, along with my 14.1" thinkpad.

If you were worried about beating up your laptop bag this might be the bag for you, I've had it for roughly 5 years now, carried it everywhere, lived out of it for a week or so on vacation, and basically beat the hell out of it and the only actual damage I've done is that 3 of the zipper tabs fell off and needed to be replaced with twisty-ties. I'm starting to think the darn thing is indestructible...

 

ThinkPad R50 in a Fellowes Body Glove sleeve in a regular old German military rucksack.
K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid
PMZ

 

In one of them Swiss Army Gear "Wender" backpacks of death. Cost like $80...but I can hold a whole days worth of gear including surge protector (for sharing outlets), food, books and etc.

 

i have a like new targus backpack 4sale if any1 is interested: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=59638

 

i remember i used to put my laptop in a normal backpack, i just put the styro that comes with the notebook as a cushion at the bottom of the bag

 

i use the dell nylon carrying case i bought with my e1505

 

One way or another, I put it in some form of a backpack wheather it's my targus XL laptop backpack or my old Jansport, I always carry it in a backpack. "Everything else would seem...Illogical." (Spock form Star Trek)

ucb9999

 

i keep mine locked to my desk most of the time but for trips to the library it goes in my sumdex sleeve which has much appreciated handles

 

I put mine in inside a t-shirt that I sewed shut..then I just carry it in my backpack...

ghetto? yes..does it work? Absolutely.

 

sweet. what kind of shirt?

 

Just a white undershirt..I should probably cut the sleeves off right beyond the stitching, but I don't want it to fray. it's holding a 14.1 t60, btw.

 

nice. you should layer some more shirts, silk screen che guevarra on it and sell it as a vintage t sleeve

Also, you can cut the stitches themselves and it won't fray

 

I got my mom to make me a slick slip on case then I put it in my backpack

 

dang i wish my mom would do that, i had to buy my sumdex

 

Well I just bought my HP notebook on Wed. and took it to college for a test-drive today (thurs.). I carried it in my new Targus notebook/messenger bag. After walking with the shoulder strap on for a while (like 25-40 mins walk from campus to home), I have to admit I really started to feel a strain on my back/shoulders. So I switched over to the handle and did ok for the most part. Please note: my notebook is 14.1" and weighs approx. 5 lbs. It doesn't sound like a lot of weight, but after a while of walking around, with the shoulder strap on, it can get a bit uncomfortable. I think I'm gonna end up using the handle more frequently. Greg

 

i carry it in a sleeve and then throw it in my jansport backpack. works wonders and i hate wearing those "messenger" bags that people rave about.