lap tops on bikes

[tris]

So am I best to carry the laptop

a) flat in the top box
b) on its edge in a pannier
c) either is good

Cheers

[dlapierre]

My laptop is an 11". I've carried it on several trips flat in the tank bag on top of a piece of foam. |No problems.

[Wayne Orwig]

So am I best to carry the laptop

a) flat in the top box
b) on its edge in a pannier
c) either is good

Cheers

Get something with a solid state drive. Protect it from bending or such that might crack the screen. I use a neoprene case to make it a bit water proof.
I've carried my Surface Pro like that with no issue. Handy at rallies when someone wants to work on their fuel injection.

[sib]

My MacBook Pro goes wherever I go, in a soft-sided attache case, which is then stuffed into a H&B Junior hard side case.  My previous laptop had a mechanical HD and my current one has a SSHD.  Never had any problem with either.  But then, I don't do much off-road riding and try not to crash.  But I have dropped the bike, again without harm to the laptop, or the hard case, for that matter.

[Yukonica]

Get something with a solid state drive. Protect it from bending or such that might crack the screen. I use a neoprene case to make it a bit water proof.
I've carried my Surface Pro like that with no issue. Handy at rallies when someone wants to work on their fuel injection.

How do you like the Surface? I'm tinkering with one at work and am thinking it might be good enough to ditch the tower at my desk.
~ Mostly email and heavy petting with Excel across a couple of screens. Haven't tried dual monitors yet.

[Wayne Orwig]

How do you like the Surface? I'm tinkering with one at work and am thinking it might be good enough to ditch the tower at my desk.
~ Mostly email and heavy petting with Excel across a couple of screens. Haven't tried dual monitors yet.

It does all of my office tools. The only thing is that I got a 128GB and wish for a 256Gb.
The keyboard is OK for portability but you need a real keyboard when working.

[lorazepam]

If I feel the need to have a computer like device when I am riding, I have a 10.5" tablet that will handle any needs I might have.

[jas67]

My MacBook Pro goes wherever I go, in a soft-sided attache case, which is then stuffed into a H&B Junior hard side case.  My previous laptop had a mechanical HD and my current one has a SSHD.  Never had any problem with either.  But then, I don't do much off-road riding and try not to crash.

 :1:

I carried a 2011 MacBook pro (Mechanical HD) daily on various bikes for 3 1/2 years, usually in a top case, sometimes in a side case.
I keep it in a neopreme sleeve to minimize the space it takes.     Last Oct. I got a new Macbook Pro with solid state drive, and am doing the same.

No problems ever with either.

If you want to make it more crash resistant, Pelican makes fine laptop cases with die-cut foam inserts.    Put a C-bow (Krauser K-Wing is the same) mount on it, and put it on as a top or side case.

[atavar]

To answer the original question the laptop is best carried on edge with the long side down.  Treat it like you would an LED flat panel TV.
I carry a 17" Alienware laptop, yes I know, ridiculous overkill.
My solution is a Pelican case.  This is a mil-spec rugged laptop case, waterproof to 10 meters, with a barometric pressure vent to deal with altitude changes and rated for a 10+foot drop on to concrete.  Expensive but worth every penny.  I can tie this on the bike externally and not worry about weather. In the heaviest rain the laptop stays dry.   It can secure to the bike with a cable lock.
This case is more than adequate for checking on airflights if desired.  It will handle the baggage mishandling with ease.

[dilligaf]

My small Dell was in a  soft-sided attaché case in the tank bag when this happen.  Still working. 
Matt

[Kev m]

Atavar, educate me please, "long side down"?

[atavar]

Laptops are rectangular..  there is a long side and a short side.  Putting the long side down (front to back)  minimizes stress on the laptop from vertical g-forces (like from bumps in the road). 
In other words the laptop should be wider than tall when stowed in a vehicle.
Flat horizontally is the worst way to stow the laptop, the display is weakest from front to back. 

Maybe length and width would be better. 

[flangeman_70]

I work on this a lot!
My advice is and as mentioned before, there is no substitute for a SSHD.
Mount them vertically on the back of the hinge, as Avatar mentioned.
Also, remember, these items are thin and flexible, I see many with screen damage as a result of keyboard keys rubbing on the screen, so put a soft cloth in between.

Adam

[fotoguzzi]

I'm on my first trip ever without it and what a mistake. I thought the iPhone would be good enough r but I can't find the embed codes on Flickr app to post pics from the mm rally. Weather is spectacular!

[charlie b]

I have carried a laptop commuting for a few years now.

At first I just carried it in the tank bag and carried the tank bag like a briefcase.

I have also put the laptop in a padded sleeve and put it in the side case.

Now days I put it in a padded sleeve and put it in the top case, on top of all the other stuff I have in there).

On trips I used to carry it in the top case, but, since have gone to a table or just carrying the phone on motorcycle trips.

End result, just about any method works, unless you pack it so it gets 'bent', or hard objects are pressing against the screen.

Last thought.  If you have a std hard drive in it make sure it is shut off.  Some laptops can be left running with the screen shut.  And the hard drive might go active when on the road, not good.

[Kev m]

Laptops are rectangular..  there is a long side and a short side.  Putting the long side down (front to back)  minimizes stress on the laptop from vertical g-forces (like from bumps in the road). 
In other words the laptop should be wider than tall when stowed in a vehicle.
Flat horizontally is the worst way to stow the laptop, the display is weakest from front to back. 

Maybe length and width would be better. 

I thought that if what you meant, but wasn't sure.

And unless I missed it you didn't say, but hinges downward?

[canuguzzi]

I tote around one of two Panasonic Toughbooks. It doesn't matter how you stash them, if they get water splashed on them or they get bounced around.

Solid State drives are good to have but they are useless if the rest of the laptop come apart. They make nice padded cases but then you end up carrying what amounts to be luggage. You can find used Toughbooks very reasonable. For the price of a used laptop you can find a great Toughbook. They have models that are thin and light yet are as rugged as a brick.

A Toughbook with a standard drive is more rugged that anything else with a solid state drive.

Toughbooks often feature an internal GPS, BT, WiFi, Touchscreen, DVD Writer, lighted keyboard, SD card slot, a couple PC Card slots plus 3 or more USB slots, the works. They are also readable in direct sunlight.

There is nothing better.

[beetle]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


The voice of reason.

Crikey you blokes are panic merchants. If it's a normal 'laptop', chuck it in any old way. Upside down, arse-backwards,  long or short side in any direction. Tank, saddle or seat bag. It will travel the same. Don't worry about crash protection for it, worry about crash protection for you.

Have you seen how couriers handle computers when they're being delivered?  Way worse than any motorcycle trip.

Just switch it off.

[rodekyll]

I tote around one of two Panasonic Toughbooks. It doesn't matter how you stash them, if they get water splashed on them or they get bounced around.

Solid State drives are good to have but they are useless if the rest of the laptop come apart. They make nice padded cases but then you end up carrying what amounts to be luggage. You can find used Toughbooks very reasonable. For the price of a used laptop you can find a great Toughbook. They have models that are thin and light yet are as rugged as a brick.

A Toughbook with a standard drive is more rugged that anything else with a solid state drive.

Toughbooks often feature an internal GPS, BT, WiFi, Touchscreen, DVD Writer, lighted keyboard, SD card slot, a couple PC Card slots plus 3 or more USB slots, the works. They are also readable in direct sunlight.

There is nothing better.

I carry a Toughbook CF19 -- the little one with the tablet/touchscreen.  It has built in GPS bluetooth and G3 and a SSHD.  It does whatever I need wherever I need it under any conditions.

I would not recommend a laptop loose in a fabric soft bag.  I had a Toshiba melt down (literarily melted it) when the bags got wet and sagged onto the mufflers. 

[atavar]

I thought that if what you meant, but wasn't sure.

And unless I missed it you didn't say, but hinges downward?

I don't know that the hinge position matters, just so the screen is vertical so it's strongest axis is in line with the predominant shock plane. 
Realize that this is overboard anal and in no way a guarantee of survivability. 

[Kev m]

Ha ha, that's fine, I can relate to overboard and anal... 

[tris]

Cheers everyone

Its my work Dell Latitude E7240 and I want ride to work and not trash it.

We've enough problems after being migrated without killing my laptop as well - at least I can function off the C drive at the moment

Thanks

[canuguzzi]

Cheers everyone

Its my work Dell Latitude E7240 and I want ride to work and not trash it.

We've enough problems after being migrated without killing my laptop as well - at least I can function off the C drive at the moment

Thanks

If you are really worried about it, which is understandable, do like so many others I see around here and put it into a backpack. There are made laptop specific backpacks that should meet your needs and then when you get to work, no fumbling with taking it out of another case which is stuffed into side bags or anything like that.

It's going to get bounced around far less in a backpack than stored anywhere else on your bike. Properly fitted, you won't even notice the backpack unless you've got a very long commute. Put your diddy together and you have a one stop storage solution that makes it easy to ride to work and take your laptop along.