How to protect laptop screen in backpack?

So the HP DV8 18'4" laptop wont fit in my laptop sleeve, so I'll be putting it bare in my backpack. There is an unpadded laptop compartment at the back, next to the straps, facing my spine when I put on the backpack.

Should the laptop lid be facing towards my spine (so as to avoid the battery charger etc), or should the lid be facing away from my spine ( so as to avoid the additional weight of the laptop itself when I bend down etc)?


Any other tips to protect the laptop while in the backpack?

 

I always put my laptop into my backpack with the bottom of the machine closer to my back than the lid, but that's just a matter of habit. I don't think you can really do any harm to it unless you drop the backpack.

 

My tip would be to get a backpack that suited the laptop. I wouldn't use any sort of bag without a padded laptop compartment or without a separate padded sleeve.

But, I would agree with Althernai and put the bottom of the laptop against you back. While I don't think your bending would be enough to flex the lid and damage the screen, it is a simple precaution.

 

Why not buy a laptop backpack. In this case, your laptop will be prevented from scratches.

 

we dont care as much about scratches as we do cracks in the LCD.

Even laptop backpacks aren't hard enough to protect screens in my opinion, because when people look at a bag they dont consider whats in it. Dropping is one thing, but someone laying or sitting on a backpack who weighs a little more than 150 or so will completely crack some screens with plastic lids.

Worse is if you fall backwards and land on your backpack.

 

Fill your backpack with packaging peanuts. A whole crap ton.

On another note, I would get a dedicated notebook carrying bag. They tend to be more secure as you don't have a 30 pound textbook smooshing the screen and possibly cracking it.

 

A dedicated notebook bag is too much hassle; as I'm walking 30+ mins each day with the 18.3" laptop to commute, sometimes it rains etc.

Plus, this laptop belongs to my workplace, so I'm not too keen on spending my money to get a seperate bag. Plus, I'm in europe which mean expensive backpacks/bags.

 

I would not worry so much about protecting a workplace notebook as much as be worrying about protecting the health of my back/spine.

Get the best backpack that allows you to precisely and comfortably distribute the weight of the stuff you must carry.

You're not doing this for the notebook - you're doing this for you.

Cost? What is your health worth?

 

If the laptop lid is like 1/4 inch thin you should add a pink padding sheet the size of your laptop in between the keyboard and the screen to prevent the keys from rubbing against the screen. Some screens specially LED do flex inwards when you handle the laptop and start to touch Spacebar and other keys. I always use one in between because my screen is very flexible. Actually I use the pink sleeve that came with the laptop when it was new in box. If you find one that just slides over the laptop lid that's even better. It protects both sides against scratches.

 

Oh, the current back I have does that , its just that it doesnt provide protection TO the laptop.

I have been using the backpack to carry a dell 17 incher put inside a thick sleeve. But the 18.4" new laptop wont fit into the sleeve.

 

Tom Bihn Brain Bag with the Brain Cell.

 

Yea looked that up, sounds good. The Vertical Brain Cell Laptop Bag by: TOM BIHN

Mainly the words "corrugated plastic"

However I'm not sure if it would fit 18.4".

If it were me I would just get a piece of corrugated plastic that was a little bigger than the laptop. Then I would put screws or something thicker than the laptop on the edges. This way you will actually be leaving space in front of the screen, whereas absolutely everything else will be putting pressure on it with enough weight. Foam does not help this.

Just look at the construction of actual LCDs. They dont use any of that foam wrapped in metal tape to protec the edges. They all have very good plastic assemblies that have been developed to shockmount the glass, which essentially leaves a lot of space for it to move in the case where it would need to absorb a lot of shock.

 

Good to see you already have that (proper load balancing backpack).

Let the work machine get some scratches - it'll have some character.

The sleeve won't protect it in any other way anyway and it will be a little lighter load for you each day.

 

Blasphemy!

You're absolutely right. That's why it's imperative that you don't let it out of your sight or anyone else handle it.

I actually had someone think they were doing me a favor by moving my pack one day and dumped it like a sack of potatoes. Luckily, I had added a folded towel along bottom and it absorbed the shock. Now, I mostly use my laptop case to carry it, but I still watch it like a hawk. If it's a backpack, people won't realize it contains something fragile.

The bottom is the bottom. It's the side that contacts the surface. That would be your back or the table.

This can't be said enough. Any other makeshift solution is only asking for trouble.

 

Krane,

Is the character or the scratches 'blasphemy'?

 

Really large screens are more fragile in my experience... do yourself a favor and invest in a slip for it.

 

How will a 'slip' be an investment other than scratches?

Unless it is a hard case, it won't offer any meaningful 'protection'.