A good notebook backpack

[Tsuroerusu]

I might be getting a laptop either this month or in March, and I've pretty much settled on a Lenovo ThinkPad X41 (Small, long battery-life, good Linux and *BSD compatibility). It's a little older model of ThinkPad, but I explicitly want the older IPW2200 Centrino wireless card, because I don't want to use Intel's proprietary frequency daemon, which you have to on the newer cards such as 3945 and the upcoming 4xxx one.

Since I will be carrying this thing with me to school, I really need a really solid backpack for it, anyone in here have any good recommendations? I need good room for school books and crap like that (A lot of stuff still requires pen+paper), and then like a really robust inlay, or whatever you might call it, for the laptop, because, especially laptop computer are REALLY expensive here in Denmark. I'm gonna be shelling out about 2270.66 USD (Converted from the total pricing in DKK), and would the laptop crack or brave because of some idiot kicking my backpack, I would most likely beat that bastard so hard that I'd be throw in jail, so please, I need some "equipment" to prevent that

I rather play with FreeBSD jails that get bored to death in prison.

[snarkout]

Backpacks tend to be a lot less damage proof than satchels do, FWIW. That being said, I got tired of carrying a both backpack and a satchel a while ago and ordered a Pegasus from Swisstech/Wenger and I love it. I also grabbed a Maxxum from them, too, since there was a special going and I got it dirt cheap. Both are great packs, but I prefer the Pegasus for a few reasons, mostly personal preferences. A friend of mine has an Ogio pack that I really like a lot, too - enough so that I wish I'd taken a look at them when I was shopping - I'm not sure I'd have made a different choice, but it really is a very well designed pack, spacewise.

On another note, you can probably get a very nice sleeve for any x-series to add protection to it, fwiw, since most packs are for 15 or 17 inch lappys. Personally, I love the older t-series thinkpads, and find them to be very easy to port around if you need/want a data point, and you can probably find one for a good deal cheaper than the x series. I know some folks who swear by the x-series, though, so wtf do I know?

There are some really amazing packs that cost $200+ US but they are way outside my budget.

[allix]

i had a http://www.carltontravelgoods.com/colle ... siness.asp

43.6.21
Laptop Backpack
L33 x W17 x H40cm
Weight 0.9 kg.
Volume 19 Lts.

until the strap broke after 3 months so i changed it by adding 5 pounds for this.

http://www.brandcollection.co.uk/

three collection laptop backpack
41 x 31 x 16cm
1.1kg

I did not get them from those stores, i got them from a local luggage shop but its to give you an idea of what the look like. Both backpacks have room for books,pens, pencils, laptop,paper, i even put my power supply and they fit fine in both.

[chuck]

Since I will be carrying this thing with me to school, I really need a really solid backpack for it, anyone in here have any good recommendations? I need good room for school books and crap like that (A lot of stuff still requires pen+paper), and then like a really robust inlay, or whatever you might call it, for the laptop, because, especially laptop computer are REALLY expensive here in Denmark.

The backpack that I use is a previous version of this Targus bag for my traveling purposes. On a daily basis for work I have an older Eastpack that has served me wonderfully for years.

Remember that even if you're going to order the bag online, check them out in the stores to make sure that they fit your laptop to begin with. Check to make sure that the rest of the pockets and space are adequate. Also make sure that it's comfortable to wear.

[NaOH]

Im pretty happy with my Trust back pack -> http://www.trust.com/products/product.aspx?artnr=14035

It holds my Dell inspiron 6000 pretty well.

[TankCatNinjaFish]

I've been eyeing the otterbox laptop briefcase for a while:
http://www.otterbox.com/products/pc_cases/laptop_case/

If you're insisting on a backpack though, I'd say get a decent hiking pack and get a padded/hard shell case for the laptop. I say this b/c all 'laptop backpacks' I've seen are uncomfortable, overpriced and flimsy. I guess someone in marketting thought out that 1) geeks have money and 2) geeks don't know anything about backpacks.

[tom_mc]

I use a Swissgear backpack from Wenger. I love it. My Dell Inspiron 600M fits perfect. I wish I could find the exact link to this product but my wife bought it at Costco.

tom_mc

[snarkout]

I've been eyeing the otterbox laptop briefcase for a while:
http://www.otterbox.com/products/pc_cases/laptop_case/

If you're insisting on a backpack though, I'd say get a decent hiking pack and get a padded/hard shell case for the laptop. I say this b/c all 'laptop backpacks' I've seen are uncomfortable, overpriced and flimsy. I guess someone in marketting thought out that 1) geeks have money and 2) geeks don't know anything about backpacks.

I had a hardcase for a while, and found I didn't like it - the internal size is what you're stuck with. Most backpacks and briefcase/satchel style cases allow for some overstuffing or creative use of space - hardshell's don't. If you have a set number of things you'd ever carry with you, then I imagine they're fine, but if you are constantly being given more shit you *need* to cary with you (cables, boxes, papers, books, optical disks, usb drives, etc) they kind of suck.