Should I get a Laptop Backpack?

I have a regular backpack that I got a couple years ago for high school; now I'm going to college and will be needing a backpack to carry my laptop to and from classes. Should I get a cheap but decent laptop backpack, or should I stick with my current backpack? Thanks in advance!

 

I'd get a backpack with a dedicated laptop compartment or a sleeve for the laptop to replace said compartment. Either way, i'd get something to protect that notebook.

 

In looking for the same! Let me know what backpack you get.

 

my personal theory is:

1. Dont get a backpack that looks from the outside like it's designed to carry laptops. This means avoid brands like targus and other well-known laptop accessory companies. You're just asking for theft.

2. Backpacks designed to carry laptops tend to be more expensive. A simple notebook sleeve is fine for me, i just slip my laptop into that, and then slip that into my regular old backpack.

 

I like the idea of a sleeve. however, if you have a large laptop, it might not be possible. Not many backpacks van fit my G73 for example.

 

I have a 15" laptop that I carry around using a sleeve for protection. This has worked out great so far, especially because I can put my laptop in many different bags.
This works fine for 15" and below, but anything larger than that and you will likely want a bag with a dedicated compartment, because it will be difficult to get it to fit into a regular backpack, especially if you carry more than just your laptop. Though to be honest, I sometimes have trouble closing my backpack even with my 15". Also, having a well-made laptop backpack will help make your laptop much more comfortable to carry.

So I guess bottom line: if your laptop isn't too large or heavy, a sleeve+any other bag combo is perfect, no need for a special backpack.

 

Personally, i use an Everki beacon and even then the G73 is a tight fit. The neat thing though is that i can carry a ridiculous amount of stuff inside it including a game console for LANs for 360 system link games.

 

I got the HP Select 120 Backpack for a really good price (usually around $90 when including tax and shipping, got it for $32 including tax and shipping) through HP Academy (their student buying program) and using a 15% off coupon. I'll be receiving it next week, I'll let you know how it is when I get it.

 

if it has a visible HP logo, i would advise against it. Everyone will know there's a laptop in there, which makes you a theft target. You appear to be a college student, and laptop theft is very common at most colleges.

 

What kind of colleges are you talking about? Unless there is some actual study or news report that you know and can provide a link to this "most" colleges claim is a vast exaggeration.

 

I agree with anotherusername; I HIGHLY doubt that the instance of laptop theft is greater at college than it is anywhere else; regardless, I'm not going to be leaving my laptop, in it's bag, anywhere that isn't within hand's reach, so the chances of my laptop specifically getting stolen because it has an HP logo on its bag aren't very high. And in the case that my laptop is stolen, I have LoJack installed, so I'm pretty sure I'm safe. I think your reasoning is verging on paranoia to be perfectly honest...

 

I did undergrad in montreal and took summer courses in ottawa, toronto, and boston. My personal experience says ~10% of students will have a laptop stolen. Most common case is they put their bag down, look down a minute later and it's gone, but in boston i had a friend carrying a targus case actually get mugged/cornered for it.

Dont ever look like you're carrying a laptop. It's stupid.

 

+1 on avoiding any backpack with overt "this bag carries a laptop" messaging.

My current laptop backpack is a Deuter Giga. I used it for a couple of years before I ever got a laptop, but it always had a zippered laptop compartment that'll swallow any notebook up to 15.2". From the outside, you could pass it off as a typical college student's rucksack with mesh bottle pockets on the sides - which is what I like about it.

Here's the exact color of my Giga.


Deuter sells other variants of the classic Giga design - there's a Giga Office and a Giga Flat, for instance. Mine takes care of my HP dv4 pretty nicely.

There's a waist belt and a sternum strap for those of you who like the hiking backpack kind of feel. They're both held on by snap buckles. I took off the waist belt on mine.

 

I'll be attending college in a wealthy suburb of Miami. I HIGHLY doubt that I'll be cornered/mugged for a bag that may or may not have a laptop in it. I'm still saying your reasoning is paranoid.

 

The other poster is just trying to keep you safe. I also agree that you should be fine, provided that you keep an eye on the bag and don't go anywhere weird while wearing it (ghetto, etc.)

-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

 

Things like Targus should be fine. Just don't go overboard with something super branded like Slappa/Alienware/Razer type bags that just yell out that you have some tech on you. I would not say about 10% of laptops are stolen, maybe 3-4% and most are the user's fault for not keeping an eye on their stuff.

I use a High Sierra Stretch.

 

I see that people are just trying to keep you safe and yes it's likely that people tend to target bags that look like it's carrying a laptop such as Alienware bags. But I've used my Alienware bag to carry my Asus G73 for a year around school and nothing has been stolen from it. I'm a forgetful type. I've left my bag on a table at the library and outside on a chair and it has been fine. My school isn't the safest school and stuff has been stolen before.

But don't let brand or look of the laptop bag affect your choice. If you really want a alienware go for it. Just you know. Keep it in reach and don't be forget like me

 

And we're still saying theft can happen. Anywhere. You can't account for other people's behavior, so might as well control what you can.

It's your laptop, your backpack, your money, your call. All we're doing is provide you choices and explaining why we chose them.

Enjoy yours.