- 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.

> 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 different rather than just to move your laptop from one place to another with little ceremony.

> For me, the ultimate laptop bag is one that looks nothing like a laptop bag; it should look like nothing special at all.

Why, exactly? Is the thought that a thief is less likely to steal your laptop if he thinks it's a bag of groceries?

All of the other shortcomings seem to vastly outweigh the gain (lack of bang/bump protection; the fact that you're carrying a laptop in a grocery bag makes it more likely to naturally sway and bang against your leg as you carry it; that if you set it down like a grocery bag it will probably topple over due to lack of structural integrity; that you're leaving it out in the open rather than concealing it in your backpack; etc). And for all that trade-off, I'm not even sure what problem he's trying to solve in the first place that he feels his laptop bag should be inconspicuous above all else.

Slightly related: the ultimate move prop laptop was from "Twister" where they had sgi laptops. Note that sgi never made a laptop.

However what is even cooler is that someone actually circuit bent a sgi O2 into laptop form factor. Unfortunately the link to the project page is dead, my disappointment is immeasurable.

https://www.siliconbunny.com/silicon-graphics-laptops/

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

It's not just for carrying, but protection as well. So to answer the question, no, it's not the ultimate laptop bag.

I really like the idea of making everyday objects into computing devices/holders for computing devices. For example, I have a set of 5 vintage American Tourister suitcases [1] lying around, and I think they would make for awesome suitcase computers.

For this movie bag, it would be cool to see some more modifications. Maybe sew in a laptop sleeve and accessories pouch to make everything fit better?

1. Like this: https://i.etsystatic.com/42664500/r/il/709f97/5624109170/il_...

the ultimate laptop bag is an inflatable orange swimming tow float bag: 1. it looks nothing like a laptop bag 2. it will protect your laptop from water, even completely submerged. 3. it will protect your laptop from falling when side pockets are inflated. 4. you can take your laptop to the beach and not worry about it getting stolen. 5. you can use it as a pillow when hiking or at the beach. 6. much cheaper than a laptop bag.

mine's a Decathlon OWS 500, but i guess that it's as good as any.

I have a laptop bag that's made from tyvek and looks like a wrinkled manilla envelope. Quite strong and durable, although it totally looks like old brown paper.

Any bag you need to actually hold in your hand is not ultimate for anything but short trips.

Reminds me the old ads of Macbook Air, where it was pulled out from a manila envelope.

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.

Forget laptops -- I'd prefer this for my grocery bags. It has a clean, nostalagic look that all my free, loud, branded bags are missing.

Why do almost all laptops not come with a built-in handle? That is the quintessence of a portable item. Forget the bag.

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 not my biggest motivation. I hate ostentation. That's the reason I wear a Casio watch, would never wear clothes with a brand name plastered all over them, and drive a very boring car.

I do have a laptop sleeve that I use to protect the laptop and it slips easily into a bag. Prior to my silent bag purchase I did use random shopping bags (including canvas bags that seem to have sprouted like weeds in my cupboard), but after the board meeting situation mentioned I decided I'd try to find a long-lasting "paper" bag for the hell of it.

And I stumbled upon movie prop bags! Oh, and I hate backpacks.

I like the hipster factor of the fabric grocery bag, but if you are looking for a more standard option, this is just a funny looking cotton tote bag.

This has peak "suburbanite afraid of big cities and crime" energy

You can more easily get strong canvas grocery bags, with and without branding.

Including ones with two sizes of handles (one set of handles for dangling from hands, the others for slinging over shoulder), which I guess you could alternate based on whether you're visible to to muggers.

I even saw a canvas design that had a color and finish to look very reminiscent of grocery store brown paper bags.

The similar bookstore canvas tote bags might be seen as more likely to contain a laptop or tablet (since some people use them just like others do backpacks). So I like the grocery one.

One advantage of the movie prop one -- in the office -- is that I could imagine a stylish designer type carrying it to a conference room table, more easily than a frumpier canvas bag.

Personally, I use a functional plain all-black backpack that looks presentable in the office (including carrying into the conference room, but put on the floor/chair), yet understated on the street.

A made in SF Timbuk2 bag was (and is?) the ultimate laptop bag.

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).

Let's be honest, it's a conversation piece with an extra "gotcha" since it's a move prop. It's pretty cool as that, no doubt, but I can't see it being a practical laptop bag.

The ultimate laptop bag (for my particular life style) is a waterproof backpack. I have a backpack that is a drybag-rollup style. And I've had my laptop in it and had it go underwater (paddleboard flipped while going down a river), and in a rain storm that came out of nowhere. No problems. Also, it's nice to have the peace of mind that if I was out somewhere with my laptop, I wouldn't have to worry about it raining. For me, the primary factor of consideration for a laptop bag is a bag that will protect my laptop.

Author is going to have their mind blown when they find out about tote bags.

counterpoint - a single drop of rain

A diaper bag is better! Nobody will look inside.

(Howerver, you'll need to get a movie prop baby, if you don't want people to think you're a ABDL.)

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?

"For me, the ultimate laptop bag is one that looks nothing like a laptop bag; it should look like nothing special at all."

Not sure what the point is for a laptop but I've been doing this with my cameras for decades. It's the ideal way to carry a camera because it combines quick access with inconspicuousness and theft protection.

No, it is not. Unless you don't care about the laptop.

Unfortunately, backpacks are a better solution due to padding and reinforcements.

Unfortunately because they attract attention by thieves.

Moreover I don't like walking with one hand busy carrying a bag, especially when I bike or commute between public transportation means.

These threads always kinda depress me with the fact that a 300$ device needs to be protected from thieves like this in countries where avg salary can cover it in a day of work. Something is fundamentally broken with society here and maybe these camouflage hack efforts could be spent better.

I will never again carry a laptop in something doesn't have a zipper (or some sort of closeable sides)

Yep, so someone sees a rando paperbag and pays no care to it (containing my pricy macbook pro). Genius!

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.

SFBags.com (redirects) have amazing vertical laptop sleeves. Just add D-rings and a strap and you’re set! I’ve loved mine for over 15 years and counting.

Fits in small and larger bags as needed too.

I've used a 10x13 cardboard envelope a few times. It protects a bit from liquid/dirt and is inconspicuous.

I have a nice laptop sleeve that can hold a charger and cord in a side pocket, I'd use OP's bag.

The title made me want to buy the Pulp Fiction briefcase just so I can carry around my Thinkpad in it

I've been using a cheap folio case (the kind with a pad of paper in it) for my MacBook Pro 14-inch.

Fits great.

I think people who like this kind of style are probably more low key.

I used to take the Montreal metro to work just carrying my laptop. Someone I kmow from a big European city was very surprised and said nobody would do that there, it would make you a target for theft. Here I wouldn't think twice about it.

Why is a grocery bag the "ultimate" laptop bag exactly?

No it is not ultimate it is a sad state of things that one is so worried about laptop bags being stolen that you have to hide it and make it inconspicuous in a paper bag.

It's really sad that SFO is now the car burglary capital of the world.

6F Jiffy Bag. Still the best case for a 13inch MB Air.

Photographers sometimes carry their expensive equipment in diaper bags to avoid unnecessary attention and theft.

just use a backpack and dont leave it in the car

and for god sakes move to nowhere, kansas

Betteridge's law of headlines strikes again.

This passes Betteridge's law [1] just fine, since I guess the answer from those of us who actually have to carry the laptop any distance is a big "no". A backpack or messenger back is way more comfortable, right?

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headline...

Y'all are mean. I think it is fun.

Best bag? No

Fun? Yeah

The answer to the questions is probably no. No it's not.

I just don't understand how people can walk around with anything other than a backpack nowadays :s

if the bag was dropped in a forest would it make a sound? or just void your warranty… what's the sound of one hand clapping? Answer: OP's blog