Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

It might not be ostentatious looks that are the problem. Dell used to be big on up selling rucksacks and briefcases. Their bags were never good looking but they did advertise the contents of your bag as likely to contain a Dell laptop - 'please steal me now'.

As for bags as status symbol, men don't go into that but women have these things called handbags. No man in history has been interested in a woman due to her taste in handbags, which is fine since the signalling is only to other women. Compare with cars where a Porsche is only going to be noted down to model number by men, with women not caring about the specification, to them it is just a Porsche with colour being the only noteworthy aspect.

Naturally this does not apply to all men or women, however, there are patterns. Showing off is also about poor utility. A rucksack designed to carry a laptop is far too functional to be high status. However, if you make a handbag and design it so it can barely carry so much as a toothpick, then that is high status, much like how a Porsche car is high status because it is essentially not practical.

A laptop bag designed for the task, much like a Dell laptop bag of old, might stand out as advertising its contents but it is far too well designed for the task in hand to be desirable. Hence the owner won't be a showoff.

I have a big roll of leather ready to make my (laptop) bag. I keep putting it off though because I can't settle on the design... and now I'm wondering again how I would incorporate padding at the bottom of the laptop compartment.

Has anyone else here made their own backpack like that and stumbled into issues and considerations they didn't expect?

I also stay off the branded clothing and I took rock the Casio watch.

But part of me wants to spend at least one day wearing the team outfit for a team on a sport that I know nothing about, for example, rugby or just normal football (not American 'foot ball'). With this outfit would be desirable footwear, maybe with a Nike swoosh, which is something I have never worn.

Maybe add some fake gold jewellery to complete the look. How would my interactions differ with just a simple change of attire? Would I be drinking lots of beer by the end of the day?

I've carried my laptop around in so many different bags over the years ... sling bags, tote bags, waterproof messenger backpacks, IKEA backpacks with laptop sleeve compartment, drawstring bags. I usually pick the bag depending on the occasion ...

bike ride in the rain? -> waterproof messenger backpack

downtown stroll to satisfy my inner hipster? -> tote bag etc ...

All I know is that I'm a "single compartment" person ... I've always found that having a separate compartment for everything just comes at excess weight and loss of flexibility.

I'd give the movie prop a try for sure. Still looking for a decent source of Tyvek to take an attempt at making my own bag (it's not super commonly used where I live).

Depends. Some parts of Berlin can be a bit dodgy. I take the U8 regularly Generally it's safe but stations on that line like Kottbuser Tor have a reputation for theft, pick pocketing, robbery, etc. Lots of people desperate enough in that area that you don't want to tempt them too much by being an obvious target.

I use a weather proof backback (Ortlieb). I got it two years ago and it's great. I walk a lot around town with it and the hip belt is great for offloading most of the weight from my shoulders. I can easily walk for a few hours with this thing. I have the 16" macbook pro, which is not exactly light.