Where should it be stowed?

[GUNTER1100]

Co-pilot/navigator is in love with her new laptop. We are not planning a trip this year, but hope to go on a long one late next summer/fall if the new house is finished (and assuming we have any money or credit left). If she takes her laptop along would it be stowed best in the trunk, side bag, or in a tank bag. Was worried about heat build up as well as vibration. Anybody have any thoughts or experience in this area? Would appreciate the imput.
Thanx

[KMC1]

My advice is that when you go on vacation, you leave the stupid laptop, blackberry, and palm pilots at home! :p
That said, the trunk is the best spot for it, in my opinion. Put it in with the clothes so it is cushioned from vibration as much as possible. And don't put it in there while it's asleep, put it away completely off.

[Moot]

I just finished riding about 8,000 miles with my laptop in my side case with no problems. I did not use an entire computer case, just a padded "envelope". It was nestled between a stuff sack that had my rain gear and another stuff sack that contained other soft items all inside my Kathy's bag liner for easy removal every night. I agree it would have been great to leave it at home, unfortunatly, the choice was the ability to spend an hour or so a day on line with my office or not taking off a month to ride.

[doios]

ditto on the padded "envelope". but i store mine upright in the top case

[NOGILLS2]

Mine rides in the top case and has been on many trips! You would be amazed at what abuse a laptop can take! I used mine to navigate on the ICWW and Miss River. Generator power source that shut down while laptop on. Dropped it a couple of times. It is still going strong, a little rough around the edges, but still works well!!!!

[danbrown]

I seen a couple rideing a Iron Butt rally. The husband drove and the wife was the navigator. they were old hands at it. they had fabricated a large waterproof pocket and attached it to the back of his jacket to hold a laptop. the wife could take the laptop out and navigate while going down the road. (it was tethered) IMO those iron butt riders are a few bricks shy of a load.

[meese]

IMO those iron butt riders are a few bricks shy of a load.Well, thank you for the compliment. :) I'll let you know when I get the laptop working from the rider's position. :D

My MacBook has survived tens of thousands of miles on the bike. Like Byrum, this allows me to travel freely but still maintain contact with my clients.

I have a padded bag that's just barely bigger than the laptop, but still has pockets for power cords, etc. That allows me to stow it in the trunk or side cases as needed.

I don't usually power it off but rather just close it and let it sleep. It always wakes up without any problems. Then again, it is an Apple. :)

[cfell]

Put in the topcase... if you can remove the Harddrive, do it and store it in some anti static bubble wrap inside a Tupperware kind of sandwich container. That will protect it from vibration, etc..

and, you might see if you have insurance on it before you leave... never know.

Now, if you MUST have "connectivity", plan some stops at some local libraries... they have PC's now a days...

If you need to "download" pictures from a camera, stop at a Walgreens or Wally world... and download to CD and mail them home...

[davemoore]

Co-pilot/navigator is in love with her new laptop. We are not planning a trip this year, but hope to go on a long one late next summer/fall if the new house is finished (and assuming we have any money or credit left). If she takes her laptop along would it be stowed best in the trunk, side bag, or in a tank bag. Was worried about heat build up as well as vibration. Anybody have any thoughts or experience in this area? Would appreciate the imput.
Thanx

I'll second what Nogills said....

I have carried laptops in BMWs for years. They travel in a padded nylon carry case and reside in the top case. My old TI laptop finally quit working, but it was probably due to several drop-on-concrete incidences (even so, the case was cracked and held together with tape for a year or two before it finally died). It even survived a screen crushing and LCD transplant courtesy American Airline baggage handling. I carry a Dell laptop now, and it has been problem free for several years of traveling with me, commuting and long distance trips both.