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Laptop Carrying Solutions?

Nemo Brinker

Nemo Brinker

Tonight we ride
Joined
May 30, 2006
Location
OAKLAND.
Moto(s)
'04 919, '04 DR650
Name
Legion
I'm a Luddite who's about to break down and get a laptop (a whole other issue which I'll have to research before I buy. Sadly, the place I work requires that I use Windows XP Pro if I want to work remotely). Point is, I want a sturdy carrying solution. And since I've crashed wearing a courier bag, I'll only carry either small or soft items in it--and I want a bag/case that will protect my future laptop in the unlikely event of a crash.

What do you folks think of these carrying options:
1. a freakazoid Boblbee backpack (expensive ~$190, doesn't fit laptops larger than 14", but acts as an EU-standard compliant back protector)
boblbee_megalopolis.jpg

boblbee_back.jpg


2. A sleek little hardcase Axio backpack (unknown back safety factor, ~$120, fits laptops to 15", but I'd want an additional neoprene sleeve)
AXIO-swift.jpg


3. A Pelican 1495 case (~$130, f'in indestructible + waterproof, fits to 17" laptops)
Pelican1490.jpg

and optional backpack for carrying it ($50, unknown back safety factor)
nrs-paragon_wpelican.jpg

A Pelican case could also be bungeed to my Ventura rack, or dropped in the large Ventura soft bag for greater safety.
 
I just throw mine in my backpack, and away I go! Although, I do do HD backups to an external about once a month...
 
I'm always leery of carrying a laptop in a backpack. Even in a minor off, it could get pretty badly damaged.

I have a Cortech Sport tailbag that expands to laptop-carrying size. I figure that's the safest place for electronics. I put my dSLR there, too, during roadtrips.
 
Ebay has a zillion packs built for comps for $30. I have one. It works. If you are worried about a get off, slow down. Don't go playing boy racer with a laptop and you are fine.
 
I have the Pegasus backpack made by Swiss Gear. They make a bunch of soft computer backpacks. I love mine b/c it clips the shoulder straps together across my chest, so there's no worries about it slipping off. The padding is nice, too.

I didn't put too much thought into getting a hard case.... I'd rather smash my computer to pieces than have a big, yellow brick tied to my back as I tumble down the road.

Something to ponder: You can pull out the hard drive and retrieve your data from a smashed computer, but if your spine gets crushed you're f00ked. You can get insurance to cover your personal belongings in accidents (renters/homeowners insurance) and always replace them. You can't replace your spine (yet).
 
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afm199 said:
Don't go playing boy racer
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Not physically possible for myself or the OP. ;)

Yep, that's true; if you never crash, you don't need to worry about what your laptop is in, and you don't need a helmet, either. I just would hate to lose the lappy in a minor off when I don't see any downsides to putting it in a tail bag.
 
Padded tank bag? That way it may fly off but you won't be landing on it.
 
I've tried tank bags, backpacks, and messenger bags. Mess bags are the worst. I don't like the tankbag either, and I'd be hesitant to use a magnetic tank bag with a laptop.
So I vote backpack. Although if I had a tailbag, that might be nice too.
My favorite laptop carrying device is this the Mobile Edge SecurePack http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/mobile-edge-laptop-backpack/
It's unobtrusive and can fit wide screen laptops.
 
I got a magnetic laptop case that sticks to the tank just like a tankbag it came with a rain cover and security straps also. works great. Wahts wrong with XP? you arent a Vista Nazi are you?
 
Since I'm an IT tech and I ride all over the bay area (yup, I use a bike to go to my appointments instead of a car :)), I thought I'd offer my $.02

I'd be a little cautious about wearing anything that is hard shelled and "bubbled" on your back to allow for a notebook. A notebook can be replaced a spinal injury can't be repaired as easily. There are several solutions actually. I use just a regular targus backpack for my standard 15" notebook IF I ever have to carry it which has pretty much become obsolete for me. Keep in mind, I'm a tech so I know all kinds of tricks with gadgets. :)

Like the new Asus EEE PC. It's a SMALL notebook and all solid state so it won't damage your hard drive in a minor spill. There are 2, 4 and 8 gig versions out and they do support Windows XP although they come preloaded with Linux. It's a whole 2lbs in weight and has MicroSD slots as well as USB ports to add storage space through external media. For me, this solution works fabulously. It's small enough I can toss it in a padded bag and fit in my trunk or saddlebags right along with the extra diagnostic equipment I have to carry and with the add-on space I can do what I need while onsite just by plugging in an extra card or flash drive. The downside of this device is it is small. The keyboard is a bit tight but you can also get a roll-out keyboard that's more like a standard 104 key keyboard if you need/want it. On top of that, the 4gig model is only about $400 ($550 if you have to buy XP pro to go along with it) and the 8gig is $550.

But if you have to use a standard notebook for whatever reason I would just use a regular backpack. Like in a car you want a bit of a crumple zone if you do go down simply because it's your spine. At least that's my take on it. Just do a backup once a week or so and you should be fine. I wouldn't recommend attaching the notebook to the motorcycle either as it vibrates and disk drives don't take too kindly to vibrations for too long. The head is less than a hair's width away from the platters that stores your data and the wrong kind of shock will toss that head right into the platter causing a "bad spot" that will only grow.
 
I use Axio everyday.
Very nicely built. Pockets inside were specifically made to take laptops.
 
Ozymandias said:
Like the new Asus EEE PC....The downside of this device is it is small. The keyboard is a bit tight but you can also get a roll-out keyboard that's more like a standard 104 key keyboard if you need/want it...
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That sounds cool, but this sucker is going to be my only computer, not a support for a desktop--so I want something at least 15" in screen size for my eyes and wrists, and lotsa memory. Wish I could run Linux, but I'm stuck with XP Pro for work.

But if you have to use a standard notebook for whatever reason I would just use a regular backpack. Like in a car you want a bit of a crumple zone if you do go down simply because it's your spine. At least that's my take on it.
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I'd disagree on this--all the info I'm finding is that having a hard object strapped on without a back protector of some kind is a bad idea. When I went down with a messenger bag, I had some nasty bruises on my lower back from the objects in the bag--right through my hard foam back protector. I was lucky it wasn't worse. A guy in another forum actually went down wearing a Boblbee, and his laptop and body fared very well. That's a pretty good recommendation, I think, even if the damn thing looks like something a huge manta ray might hatch from.

I wouldn't recommend attaching the notebook to the motorcycle either as it vibrates and disk drives don't take too kindly to vibrations for too long. The head is less than a hair's width away from the platters that stores your data and the wrong kind of shock will toss that head right into the platter causing a "bad spot" that will only grow.
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That's why I'd want a hard case with lots of foam in it (like the Pelican case) if I decide to carry the thing in a tank bag, a tail bag, or in the Ventura tailbag I've already got. No need to risk damage to either the screen or disk drives from vibration. Thanks, that's great info, though!
 
I don't put anything on my back that I don't want to land on at 80mph... which means I rarely wear a backpack or messenger bag when riding. In my mind, you're just asking for a spinal injury in the event of a get-off and most of them won't protect their contents worth a damn anyway.

My advice? Put your laptop in a tank bag or strap it to a luggage rack. If you get a magnetic tank bag, make sure the magnets are "capped" so they don't screw up your hard disk. Despite what Ozymandias would have you believe, I commuted for years with a laptop in a tank bag and never had a problem. Perhaps this is because laptop drive manufacturers know their drives will be subject to vibration and "park" the heads when the drive is powered down? I dunno, but I just threw my laptop in the tank bag and it did fine. No padding, no neoprene sleeve, no nothing. That said, I never crashed while carrying the laptop. Did drop the bike in a parking lot once; no problems.
 
i JUST got a no drag from getabag.com
i'll let you know how it is after i try it out :)
 
Roadstergal said:
I'm more concerned about the screen in a minor spill - unwarranted concern?
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You have a point there. There's really not a lot you can do to prevent that other than just padding around the notebook. Screens are actually fairly resilient as long as they don't get hit on the corners or buy a fairly small object with a decent amount of force.

That's part of why I'm recommending something like the Asus EEE PC. It's cheap and will get the job done :) If something gets broken it should be a fairly cheap fix or just replace it. But, it's also only a 7inch screen so... there's that to worry about as well. Resolution is 800x480.
 
fubar929 said:
I don't put anything on my back that I don't want to land on at 80mph... which means I rarely wear a backpack or messenger bag when riding. In my mind, you're just asking for a spinal injury in the event of a get-off and most of them won't protect their contents worth a damn anyway.

My advice? Put your laptop in a tank bag or strap it to a luggage rack. If you get a magnetic tank bag, make sure the magnets are "capped" so they don't screw up your hard disk. Despite what Ozymandias would have you believe, I commuted for years with a laptop in a tank bag and never had a problem. Perhaps this is because laptop drive manufacturers know their drives will be subject to vibration and "park" the heads when the drive is powered down? I dunno, but I just threw my laptop in the tank bag and it did fine. No padding, no neoprene sleeve, no nothing. That said, I never crashed while carrying the laptop. Did drop the bike in a parking lot once; no problems.
Click to expand...

I see the damage from them being tossed around, dropped, put in saddle bags, strapped to seats, even mounted on dashes. It's possible your tank bag has enough padding and/or your bikes don't vibrate like some. However the concern is a very real one. I am also glad to see that you did mention the magnets being capped as that can wipe a drive if you don't. The reason I mention the use of something like the Asus EEE PC is because it's solid state, neither of those things are a real concern. It's one of the first of it's kind and it's inexpensive that in the event of a spill it can be easily replaced/repaired. It can also be put it anywhere that you would feel safe putting your cell phone.
 
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