Durability: Mac Pro vs air vs thinkpad vs xps

[mfeller2]

I have a camera backpack, that fits a laptop in a padded pouch that sits between my back and the rest of the backpack. I have recently been using this pack more, and I think durability needs to be a major consideration for an upcoming laptop purchase. The laptop compartment is nicely padded, but the laptop is still sandwiched between my back and the rest of the bag, and it is jostled around a lot as I walk.

Before considering the backpack use, I was mainly going back and forth between the Mac Pro and air 11. I like the xps 13, and have had good experience with a Thinkpad X230, but am inclined to move away from Windows (but it is still an option)

But for those of you that have these laptops, how comfortable would you be carrying it in a backpack such as mine for extended periods?

Reviews of the above often mention build quality, but I think all do not really consider "ruggedness". My first thoughts are that a smaller, well-built laptop like the air 11 will do better, with less screen to support and protect from flex. The x230 has held up well, so that maybe the x250 becomes sort of my last resort if I am not sure the other will work.

Thanks!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I had a rMBP 13" for a while, and have a 15", and have a padded camping backpack. I have mine in those plastic Speck "armor" cases, which get pretty scratched up with all the other stuff in the backpack. So you might want something with a plastic exterior. Or a protective cover.

Functionally speaking, it's fine - the laptops don't care. You're not really getting the sorts of stresses that would break a machine like that. (Impacts, fall damage, temperature extremes, etc.) Flex isn't really an issue, unless you have a bunch of weird-shaped stuff in your backpack and are in the habit of sitting on it or something.

Usually when people talk about build quality, they're talking about the feel of the keyboard, how sturdy the hinges are, and whether the fit of the components is tight. (Remember that Lexus commercial with the ball bearing in the body gaps? That thing.) Sturdy hinges are a must-have.

 

[Commodus]

I carry a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro in my backpack... it's fine, although my trick is putting it in a neoprene sleeve (a fairly basic one from Incase) that keeps it scratch-free.

 

[fralexandr]

carried an m11x with a kroo 13" neoprene sleeve in a typical jansport backpack for a few years of school/travel/etc. Both of them still work fine, though the backpack is falling apart in a few places.

 

[RossMAN]

I would also consider the Dell Latitude series which is usually compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad.

 

[McWatt]

For your use case, even the Macbook should survive with no trouble. Just remember that it's far, far more fragile than your x230 and don't treat it like a Thinkpad. In my company we have divisions with Thinkpads (X, T, and W series) and others with Macbooks (13" and 15" rMBPs), and the Macbooks often die from physical damage while the Thinkpads just don't. However, as long as you don't plan on dropping your backpack with the Mac inside it should be fine.