Is there a protective case for a laptop analogous to those for phones?
September 20, 2022 12:53 AM Subscribe
You know how you have protective cases for your phone? Is there something similar but for a laptop? I have an ASUS 2021 Flagship TUF A15 Gaming 15 Laptop 15.6". I'm looking for something water, dirt, and impact resistant.
In the same vein, is there a screen protector you'd recommend?
Response by poster: @mumkin
I guess. Dang that's way more expensive than I had in mind. Is that what's standard? If it is, then I guess it is.
posted by ggp88 at 1:59 AM on September 20, 2022
I guess. Dang that's way more expensive than I had in mind. Is that what's standard? If it is, then I guess it is.
posted by ggp88 at 1:59 AM on September 20, 2022
You can also get neoprene laptop sleeves, but a lower-tech approach is just to use a big padded manila (or, if you need rainproofing, plastic) envelope. They're available in a variety of laptop-suitable sizes and they're cheap to replace if they get dirty.
posted by offog at 2:51 AM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by offog at 2:51 AM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Aliexpress:
15.6 inch laptop sleeve.
Never bought anything from there, so I'm vague on how it works.
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:01 AM on September 20, 2022
15.6 inch laptop sleeve.
Never bought anything from there, so I'm vague on how it works.
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:01 AM on September 20, 2022
The Pelican case is probably overkill unless you're planning to use this when you're on a ladder in a paint factory -- you got to be able to drop it without causing a spark that will cause the whole thing to go up. So as you can imagine, the sky's the limit.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:08 AM on September 20, 2022
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:08 AM on September 20, 2022
The Pelican case is not really like a phone case in that it's not intended to protect the laptop while you use it; it's more of an extremely rugged briefcase to protect the laptop while transporting it from place to place. The pelican case provides absolutely no protection once you're using the laptop. I guess you could leave the laptop sitting in the Pelican case while you use it, but in my view, you shouldn't use a laptop like yours resting in that case, OP, because it blocks all the airflow needed to cool the internals.
posted by Alterscape at 7:13 AM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Alterscape at 7:13 AM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
If what you are looking for is protection while transporting, the Pelican case (or a similar knockoff) will do the trick. Then again, so will a decently beefy backpack case.
If what you need is protection while in use, then you need to find a new laptop. Panasonic Toughbook, Getac, Dell Rugged, etc. Note that the prices of these units will make that aforementioned Pelican case look like a bargain. Prices typically start at $2,000 and quickly go up from there depending on if you need a "semi-rugged" or a "rugged" system. They are also rather heavy compared to their not so rugged counterparts. A laptop with a 13" screen that tips the scales at 4.5lb is a "lightweight" in this field.
posted by SegFaultCoreDump at 9:03 AM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
If what you need is protection while in use, then you need to find a new laptop. Panasonic Toughbook, Getac, Dell Rugged, etc. Note that the prices of these units will make that aforementioned Pelican case look like a bargain. Prices typically start at $2,000 and quickly go up from there depending on if you need a "semi-rugged" or a "rugged" system. They are also rather heavy compared to their not so rugged counterparts. A laptop with a 13" screen that tips the scales at 4.5lb is a "lightweight" in this field.
posted by SegFaultCoreDump at 9:03 AM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
If protection while in transport is what you need then you can roll your own way cheaper than the pelican case. A tool case like this dewalt or this milwuakee and some spongy foam is all you need to get 90%of the protection at 50% of the cost.
posted by Mitheral at 9:41 AM on September 20, 2022
posted by Mitheral at 9:41 AM on September 20, 2022
For years I've carried around my laptops in a padded sleeve inside an Ortlieb backpack, on a motorcycle. With commutes of over one hour, one way, day in day out, any weather.
No problems whatsoever even back when SSDs did not yet exist, but then they are ThinkPads.
Agreeing with SegFaultCoreDump that you won't find a protective case similar to one for a phone or tablet, protecting the laptop while you're using it. But then the way you use a laptop, sitting at a desk or table, or with the laptop on your knees, tends to be a good deal less risky than holding a tablet or phone in one hand and prodding it with the other, especially when standing or walking.
And even Ukrainian soldiers appear to be using just non-flimsy laptops, with indeed the odd Toughbook showing. Tablets often look bespoke military/industrial, phones again just consumer stuff with cases from the beefy end of the spectrum.
posted by Stoneshop at 11:27 AM on September 20, 2022
No problems whatsoever even back when SSDs did not yet exist, but then they are ThinkPads.
Agreeing with SegFaultCoreDump that you won't find a protective case similar to one for a phone or tablet, protecting the laptop while you're using it. But then the way you use a laptop, sitting at a desk or table, or with the laptop on your knees, tends to be a good deal less risky than holding a tablet or phone in one hand and prodding it with the other, especially when standing or walking.
And even Ukrainian soldiers appear to be using just non-flimsy laptops, with indeed the odd Toughbook showing. Tablets often look bespoke military/industrial, phones again just consumer stuff with cases from the beefy end of the spectrum.
posted by Stoneshop at 11:27 AM on September 20, 2022
It sounds like you're looking for a shell like this—that's an example for a Mac laptop, but perhaps something like that exists for your ASUS?
posted by StrawberryPie at 2:18 PM on September 20, 2022
posted by StrawberryPie at 2:18 PM on September 20, 2022
An eon or two ago I wanted to buy a shell-like thing for the first-gen MacBook Pro. The salesguy at the store I wanted to buy it from refused to sell it to me -- because, he said, the laptop would basically burn itself out in that shell. His point was, you have to be careful with ventilation.
posted by lhauser at 9:55 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by lhauser at 9:55 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by mumkin at 1:48 AM on September 20, 2022