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Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

blog.jgc.org

161–170 of 268 posts

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, yes, but: how much does a Tom Bihn bag go for these days? $300? Maybe also add lower-budget recommendations.

I hate to find out how much that movie prop bag would cost. Labor alone would probably amount to $300

When I need a minimal carry for my laptop I use a regular canvas tote, it’s the right size for 13” with its neoprene sleeve plus power brick and cable and a few other essentials (notebook, pens, maybe a small snack or light jacket) and is fairly unconspicuous. Cheaper than the movie prop heh.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#163
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if it's marginalized, you can still just use it. I think I used to think that way in high school, but it's hard for me to understand functioning adults avoiding a type of bag, otherwise useful, because it's associated with being poor.

Maybe you're used to being around functioning adults who don't need other people's approval, for example because they're rich.

You don't need to be rich to have enough backbone to do your own thing, and not worry what someone else might think.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#164
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if it's marginalized, you can still just use it. I think I used to think that way in high school, but it's hard for me to understand functioning adults avoiding a type of bag, otherwise useful, because it's associated with being poor.

Maybe you're used to being around functioning adults who don't need other people's approval, for example because they're rich.

Maybe... I mean in the sense that the median lifestyle in North America is 90-some percentile in the world. Is that even true?

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#165
post #115

- It has a wide base, so the laptop just swings back and forth while carrying. - Gets the rainwater or any other hazardous material in. - Extremely easy to check out what's inside for a thief. - Can slide out easily and fall when toppled. Terrible overall. Could make it to Top 10 Worst Laptop Bags though. Just use a Tom Bihn that uses a separate, rigid, harder to access sleeve inside your backpack for laptops.

I mean, yes, but: how much does a Tom Bihn bag go for these days? $300? Maybe also add lower-budget recommendations.

You don't need to drop $300+ on a Tom Bihn to have a totally functional backpack with a laptop sleeve, for cryin' out loud. So many backpacks have it, and it's not a premium feature.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#166

Huh. This is back on the front page after a hiatus of many hours. A bunch of people here question why I'd use a paper bag to carry a laptop from one place to another. As I said in the post it is "inconspicuous". That can be interpreted in a couple of ways. One is simply not carrying something obviously containing expensive electronics which might be a target for theft. But having thought about this for a while that's…

ostentatious : "characterized by pretentious or showy display; designed to impress." You think when people see you get your laptop from a "paper bag" that doesn't create an impression? I'd say a regular laptop bag would be far more inconspicuous. Your solution just makes you seem like you go out of your way to be special. Same as if all your colleagues wore suits and you choose to wear cargo pants and a t-shirt. At l…

You think when people see you get your laptop from a "paper bag" that doesn't create an impression?

You think that "creates an impression" is linguistically identical to "designed to impress"?

im·press verb 1. make (someone) feel admiration and respect.

Your solution just makes you seem like you go out of your way to be special.

This is pure projection.

I saw a homeless guy on the sidewalk today. Can you believe that? Such an ostentatious display of freedom from responsibilities.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#167
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More or less any backpack will do. You can even find them for used for for free.

> You can even find them for used for for free. I live in a university town with lots of rich kids, which seems like the kind of place to find good-quality used backpacks if there were one. If there's an easy way to get my hands on free used backpacks that I'd actually want to use, then I certainly don't know about it.

Thriftstores, craigslist, fb marketplace, the facility on/near campus that takes in abandoned/donated items from students, etc.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#168

Reminds me of the uglified camera to deter theft. https://web.archive.org/web/20090521084503/https://blog.jimm...

A common strategy among bicycle messengers too. A high end bike wrapped in electrical tape with a crap paint job doesn't look to appealing and will be a struggle to sell.

My “parts bin bike” has a frame that I suspect got this treatment. Pretty good Giant frame spray painted completely black.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always wonder why no one invented hoodies or jacket with some kind of built in laptop pocket in the back.

Surveyors vests have those. Probably draw a lot of attention to yourself wearing hi viz though.

Field vests for biologists or other folks who work outdoors but not near a highway or construction site have lots of pockets and aren't hi-viz.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#170
post #115

- It has a wide base, so the laptop just swings back and forth while carrying. - Gets the rainwater or any other hazardous material in. - Extremely easy to check out what's inside for a thief. - Can slide out easily and fall when toppled. Terrible overall. Could make it to Top 10 Worst Laptop Bags though. Just use a Tom Bihn that uses a separate, rigid, harder to access sleeve inside your backpack for laptops.

the author linked to a comment where they described primary drivers for this as: disdain for the ostentatious as well as backpacks

personally I use an old shoulder bag, but we've all got our proclivities

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