Need carrying case advice please

So, today I just bought my first notebook -- a Dell 700m with the extended battery. Woo hoo!

I've never had to buy a carrying case before, and the plethora of options is making my head spin!

I'm a student, and whenever I'll be carrying my 700m, I'll also be carrying a textbook or two, as well as some spiral paper notebooks, as well as other random stuff.

I already have a nice LL Bean backpack, and I had originally thought I could just put the 700m in the middle compartment. Of course, upon further inspection, there's really no padding in there, so that wouldn't work out at all.

Would y'all recommend me getting a sleeve of some sort to put into the LL Bean backpack? Or should I just start over and get a all new backpack specifically designed to hold a notebook?

(On a side note... as a student, my budget is on the smaller side... just like my 700m )

 

The crumpler bags are nice- durable/well-built and attractive. Their backpacks are nice, and the Embarrassment messenger bag series (I am not sure what the small sized one is called) is a nicely padded but still very lightweight bag; their backpacks are relatively lightweight too, with a built-in removeable sleeve.
The cheapest solution would be just to get a sleeve, although I personally think that's annoying.
If you're interested in the Crumpler line- Photococan is a great source on Ebay- really nice to deal with and great savings.
btw- the messenger bag series I referred to is very nice and durable, but for someone who is not going to fling the case and machine- if you are rough, then opt for one of the more padded, albeit heavier, bags they offer, that will withstand abuse.

 

Getting a sleeve like the Sumdex or Shinza is a good idea, pop the laptop into the soft sleeve and put it in your backpack, it works great.

If your budget isn't alot, just get the sleeve for $25~ or so from eBags, and use it with your current bag - it should work fine