I may, in the near future, want to transport my Macbook Pro in a regular backpack or in a carry-on size suitcase.
What is the best type of sleeve to use for this purpose? Hard or soft? My main concern is making sure it’s padded enough to not get knocked about too severely, and I obviously don’t want to depend on packing stuff around it.
Every laptop bag I’ve used is quite soft. However, armor with padding on the inside does seem to be more effective at preventing damage, as no one seems to offer a bag as being protective.
I’ve only seen (so far) soft and hard. Nothing combining the two. But that’s only at one store. What should I be looking for?
If it’s only for a single trip, what about making yourself a bubblewrap sleeve?
For the past few years, the TSA has required that notebook computers be placed by themselves in the bin when you go through the security checkpoint. That’s a pain, of course. So if you buy a “checkpoint friendly” laptop bag, you don’t have to remove the computer from the bag when you go through the checkpoint.
I think you’d be happy with a sleeve from SFBags.com. They’re heavy nylon with a good hard/soft balance. Expensive but outstanding quality.
I carry mine around in my backpack all the time with no special sleeve/padding (aside from whatever other books or clothes I have in there), and it still works.