Most active commenters

    ←back to thread

    Is a movie prop the ultimate laptop bag?

    (blog.jgc.org)
    251 points jgrahamc | 17 comments | 22 Sep 25 11:59 UTC | HN request time: 0.419s | source | bottom
    Show context
    IanCal ◴[22 Sep 25 13:08 UTC] No.45332926[source]▶
    > 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.

    replies(4): >>45333100 #>>45333123 #>>45337521 #>>45339160 #
    1. CBLT ◴[22 Sep 25 13:22 UTC] No.45333100[source]▶
    > regular backpacks look nothing like a laptop bag

    You're missing some context here — this is in San Fransisco.

    replies(3): >>45334856 #>>45339505 #>>45340588 #
    2. ghaff ◴[22 Sep 25 15:32 UTC] No.45334856[source]▶
    I don't even live in SF but I'm a bit skeptical that a lot of people even carry around an obvious dedicated laptop bag at this point. I don't see them.
    replies(1): >>45337575 #
    3. CBLT ◴[22 Sep 25 18:32 UTC] No.45337575[source]▶
    I've had my car burgled twice for them to only steal a backpack with nothing in it. I'm pretty sure the assumption is that backpacks have laptops.
    replies(2): >>45340398 #>>45342868 #
    4. deadbabe ◴[22 Sep 25 21:12 UTC] No.45339505[source]▶
    I always wonder why no one invented hoodies or jacket with some kind of built in laptop pocket in the back.
    replies(4): >>45339591 #>>45339636 #>>45340968 #>>45342093 #
    5. _whiteCaps_ ◴[22 Sep 25 21:20 UTC] No.45339591[source]▶
    Surveyors vests have those. Probably draw a lot of attention to yourself wearing hi viz though.
    replies(3): >>45340702 #>>45341546 #>>45343037 #
    6. teagoat ◴[22 Sep 25 21:24 UTC] No.45339636[source]▶
    Some of scottevest's can apparently fit a laptop in the pocket: https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/6w2p0o/scottevest_o...
    7. red369 ◴[22 Sep 25 22:29 UTC] No.45340398{3}[source]▶
    I really hate this! Long ago, I had a quarterlight window smashed because someone broke into my 20 year old Toyota Corolla to steal a 4L, but half empty bottle of engine oil and a street directory. Obviously the engine oil wasn't expensive, and no-one used street directories anymore, even back then.

    This was in nice suburb in New Zealand, so it was a bit of a surprise. The replacement window cost many times the value of what they took, and I was finding small pieces of glass for a while afterwards despite careful vacuuming.

    Since then I'm more careful that there is nothing removable visible at all through windows. Ideally, anyone looking through the window should think I am the kind of compulsive person that carries every single thing inside each night. Unfortunately, the trick to making that work almost requires it to be true.

    replies(2): >>45343459 #>>45345792 #
    8. 0cf8612b2e1e ◴[22 Sep 25 22:49 UTC] No.45340588[source]▶
    Any city, an office drone carrying a container has good odds of holding a laptop.
    9. wyclif ◴[22 Sep 25 23:02 UTC] No.45340702{3}[source]▶
    Ha! I used to be a land surveyor before I was an engineer. I had one of those vests and yes, I did put a laptop in there a few times during lunch breaks when I didn't want to leave the laptop in the truck.
    10. happyopossum ◴[22 Sep 25 23:35 UTC] No.45340968[source]▶
    Because a) it would be awkward to remove and replace the laptop from a slot on your back, and 2) sitting down in any chair with a back would be uncomfortable at best, and potentially damage your laptop.
    11. jonah ◴[23 Sep 25 00:45 UTC] No.45341546{3}[source]▶
    Field vests for biologists or other folks who work outdoors but not near a highway or construction site have lots of pockets and aren't hi-viz.
    12. lvturner ◴[23 Sep 25 02:17 UTC] No.45342093[source]▶
    They have!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQBKseozuY

    https://www.less-is.jp/products/bagless-shirt_less-is-jp

    13. kmoser ◴[23 Sep 25 04:32 UTC] No.45342868{3}[source]▶
    It's simpler than that: the assumption is that a bag will hold something of value, whether laptop, purse, wallet, cash, or otherwise
    14. EvanAnderson ◴[23 Sep 25 05:09 UTC] No.45343037{3}[source]▶
    I dunno about drawing attention. I've heard enough stories of physical pentesters getting into secure areas using the "wear a hi-viz vest and a hard hat" strategy. The outfit seems a little like Douglas Adams' "Somebody Else's Problem Field". People seem to be blind to the stereotypical "workman" getup.
    15. teruakohatu ◴[23 Sep 25 06:26 UTC] No.45343459{4}[source]▶
    > This was in nice suburb in New Zealand, so it was a bit of a surprise.

    A friend had her ancient Toyota’s back window smashed in and they stole an old dirty blanket lying on the back seat that they could have gotten for free from any number of places (clean and in better condition)

    In a warm climate New Zealand suburb.

    My takeaway at the time was that a subset of thieves will steal anything, with zero rational basis and no regard for consequences.

    A paper bag would be just as enticing.

    replies(1): >>45353138 #
    16. shmeeed ◴[23 Sep 25 12:04 UTC] No.45345792{4}[source]▶
    >no-one used street directories anymore

    I disagree! Out in the woods, a few pages ripped out of an old street directory found in the trunk once saved my ass... quite literally. Couldn't have used a smartphone or GPS for that!

    >Ideally, anyone looking through the window should think I am the kind of compulsive person that carries every single thing inside each night.

    When I have to park my car in a shady-looking spot, I usually open my glove box to reveal nothing but garbage inside, and a note saying "nothing to steal here". I obviously can't prove this works, but I would like to believe it does, because thieves might consider it a courtesy that saves them unnecessary hassle.

    17. whstl ◴[23 Sep 25 21:42 UTC] No.45353138{5}[source]▶
    My guess, from experience: they assumed the blanket was hiding something of value underneath it.

    One thing I learned living in a dangerous area was that you should keep zero visible things inside your car when it's parked, otherwise someone will smash the window. :(