i just went out and got a relatively cheap laptop, 100 bucks from my dads IT guy at work! You know the ones that are supposed to be thrown away, but the IT guy sells them out of his car! So i dont really have to worry about it! i usually put it inside my rollaboard, on top of all my clothes and shoes and then put a hooded sweatshirt over it! Only have some minor dings and dents from deadheading a lot last year! I am about to start taking my mac on trips though and that will stay in a laptop case and it will stay on my person at all times!