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Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

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Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#221

Post by wiether »

hwc wrote: post #86
IanCal wrote: post #18

> For me, the ultimate laptop bag is one that looks nothing like a laptop bag; it should look like nothing special at all. That sounds like almost any regular backpack then. They can also be pretty weather proof, don't need to be carried in one hand, aren't open topped showing what's inside easily, and padded. Any simple and cheap backpack would solve this exact problem but better surely, unless your desire is to be…

> and padded I prefer to use a laptop sleeve, and then it doesn't matter if it is padded or not.

Laptop sleeve are nice, I used to use them... but they need to be the _perfect_ size for your laptop.

Otherwise they are hard to open/close if they are just a bit too small, or they are floppy if they are too big.

I currently have three laptops, they all have their own dimensions. So I would need three sleeves to carry anyone of them at any given time. For work, I switched between three sizes in the last two years.

Meanwhile, my 5yo hiking backpack with a water pouch dedicated space is able to carry any of those laptops safely.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#222

Post by atbvu »

This kind of laptop bag is understated and practical, and it's fine if you're only carrying a laptop. But once you add things like a charger, cables, or a mouse, the lack of compartments becomes a real issue. Everything gets jumbled together, which not only makes it messy but also risks scratching your laptop. The practicality takes a hit.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#224

Post by schiffern »

atbvu wrote: post #222

This kind of laptop bag is understated and practical, and it's fine if you're only carrying a laptop. But once you add things like a charger, cables, or a mouse, the lack of compartments becomes a real issue. Everything gets jumbled together, which not only makes it messy but also risks scratching your laptop. The practicality takes a hit.

OP uses a laptop sleeve[0] so scratching isn't a worry.

Some people are "pocket for everything" organizers and some just aren't. I throw it all together anyway, and at least this has a modicum of stealth and misdirection. Nice to have extra space to chuck in a few things, too.

For a hacker community (original definition) many seem to dislike actual hacks...

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45338980

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#225

Post by f4c39012 »

hwc wrote: post #86
IanCal wrote: post #18

> For me, the ultimate laptop bag is one that looks nothing like a laptop bag; it should look like nothing special at all. That sounds like almost any regular backpack then. They can also be pretty weather proof, don't need to be carried in one hand, aren't open topped showing what's inside easily, and padded. Any simple and cheap backpack would solve this exact problem but better surely, unless your desire is to be…

> and padded I prefer to use a laptop sleeve, and then it doesn't matter if it is padded or not.

Yup simple laptop sleeve with a good zip and a reliable handle works well for me. In case of inclement weather there's a ziplock bag inside big enough for the laptop.

That goes inside another thin bag for safe carry. If I'm visiting somewhere new and carrying other things, bag-in-bag works well; leave the day bag in the conference room, the thin bag with the laptop comes with me.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#226

Post by jgrahamc »

overfeed wrote: post #215
micromacrofoot wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

> ...disdain for the ostentatious I chuckled when I read that because the post's introduction casually mentions attending Cloudflare's board meeting.

Touché

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#227

Post by celsoazevedo »

wyclif wrote: post #165
loloquwowndueo wrote: post #121

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.

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.

I use a Belkin F8N179[0,1], paid £23/€26/$31 for it ~8 years ago.

It's getting a bit old, so I guess it's time to upgrade... maybe for something a bit smaller, but it has served me well so far.

[0] https://celsoazevedo.com/files/2025/Belkin_F8N179_1.jpg

[1] https://celsoazevedo.com/files/2025/Belkin_F8N179_2.jpg

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#228

Post by [deleted] »

dotancohen wrote: post #128
kragen wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I lived in San Francisco, backpacks were marginalized as being associated with being too poor to own a car. High-school students might carry a backpack, college students might carry a backpack, people on the bus might carry a backpack, but mostly not professionals who drove to work. Maybe that's changed, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zwWpqsI_3s purports to be from 02022, and in its first minute, I cou…

In this millennium humans have not yet begun using five digit years. Otherwise, nice job covering your time travelling tracks.

[deleted]

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#229

Post by _1tem »

Occasionally articles like these remind me how I’ve completely let my guard down after being spoiled living for years in a place where theft and burglary are not a concern. Whenever I go back to a Western metropolis I have to learn to be alert again.

Re: Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

#230

Post by Gud »

_1tem wrote: post #229

Occasionally articles like these remind me how I’ve completely let my guard down after being spoiled living for years in a place where theft and burglary are not a concern. Whenever I go back to a Western metropolis I have to learn to be alert again.

Theft and burglary is a concern everywhere.

I’ve been robbed and assaulted in Zürich, one of the safest cities on earth.

Never let your guard down, be vigilant.

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