12-29-2008, 09:36 PM
I am not a "pristine" kind of person. I've used laptops almost exclusively for 8 years and one and off before that. Reckon to get 3.5 good years from a laptop before it is ready for a decent burial. It will hit the ground a few times. "Normal" falls give you a fright and maybe a small dent or crack in the case but you pick it up and just keep working. The magsafe connector will reduce the number of falls.
The most economical method if you are methodical about it would probably be to get a recent model refurb and keep it for about 18 months and then sell it and repeat the process. Take out your hard drive when you replace it and and give the new guy a fresh hard drive. You get a full back up and the buyer is happy with a fresh hard drive. If it is a model where replacing drives are easy this far simpler than copying all your data and doing a secure erase on the hard drive before you sell it on.
For a bag - rucksack is the best option or a bag on wheels. Sooner or later a regular bag is going to give you back/shoulder pains. A cheap rucksack with a bit of recycled foam works fine. It doesn't have to be a fashion statement. Dell's rucksacks are quite OK.
The most economical method if you are methodical about it would probably be to get a recent model refurb and keep it for about 18 months and then sell it and repeat the process. Take out your hard drive when you replace it and and give the new guy a fresh hard drive. You get a full back up and the buyer is happy with a fresh hard drive. If it is a model where replacing drives are easy this far simpler than copying all your data and doing a secure erase on the hard drive before you sell it on.
For a bag - rucksack is the best option or a bag on wheels. Sooner or later a regular bag is going to give you back/shoulder pains. A cheap rucksack with a bit of recycled foam works fine. It doesn't have to be a fashion statement. Dell's rucksacks are quite OK.