Loaner Laptops: How many do you bring?

[Quyen]

Usually, the CR firm tells me in advance if the client(s) needs one or two loaner laptops for RT. When I'm told the client wants one, I bring two . . . just in case the other side wants RT, too, and I'm usually able to sell it to the other side even though they didn't initially order/request it.  When the client asks for two laptops, I bring three . . . just in case.  But that's all I have for now, three minis.

So . . . my question is, How many loaners do y'all bring with you to a RT job, and how/where do you carry them? 

Two minis are already pretty heavy, including all my own stuff: my laptop and writer bag/case. I actually carry my tank of a laptop, Dell 15-incher, on my shoulder, and a compact, but very heavy pull bag for my writer and accessories.  I put the two minis in a small, light-weight computer bag and put that on top of my writer bag.  Geez Louise, I dread the days when the older buildings have no elevator. People look at me like I'm too lazy to do the stairs, but . . . dude, this is seriously heavy stuff. I'm, like, carrying around my own body weight and then some. Try doing stairs with probably 50+ pounds of equipment on 4 - 5-in. heels!  Is there an easier way?  Help! :)

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I always bring three loaner laptops, but can bring up to five if requested.  It's a pain to lug all that extra equipment, so don't want to bother.  Mostly it seems I end up using two net books.

[Janet]

 

I have three netbooks in my case that I bring to all jobs.  I use the soft case for my Diamante and put everything else in my wheeled case.  I bought a new case a while ago.  I decided to go with a shorter, wider case.  I actually like it.  I can rest my writer on it easier and pull them both.  It's a Samsonite case.

 

[Quyen]

Janet, thanks for posting the picture!  That looks almost exactly like my bag. So you carry three netbooks in it, but where is your laptop? I haven't thought about carrying my Diamante in its soft case on top of this, but I just might give it a try.  I don't put my laptop in this, because I bang it up pretty good, like down sidewalks and up and down stairs.  I'm afraid my heavy-handedness with this bag will mess up my laptop if I were to put it in there.

How do you fit all your other stuff in there? I have extension cords, surge protectors, outlet adapters, a bunch of "office supply" stuff, so there's no way I could fit three netbooks.  Oh, wait, you don't carry your writer in here; I do.  Huh, maybe I'll have to play with it and shift stuff around.

[Janet]

 

I carry my laptop in it too.  There's quite a few compartments.  I keep the netbooks in one, my laptop in another, cables and cords in others.  I fill every space of it.  I used to carry my writer in the wheeled bag, but I find it easier to just use the case it came with.

 

The Zuca bags look nice!   Have you ever actually sat on it?  I can picture myself doing that after a long day when I have so many exhibits I'm ready to collapse.

[Quyen]

Lol, I just watched the Zuca video.  I would totally sit on mine!  :)

[Rachel Gard]

I have 4 netbooks with me on all jobs and can bring 6, if requested.  I have a Zuca rolling bag with Zuca backpack piggybag and everything fits, including my 15" laptop.

[Quyen]

Omgosh, four netbooks on a regular basis! The Zuca bag looks cool, heavy-duty, but isn't it really heavy to lift it in and out of your car? I drive an SUV.  It's back-breaking with the stuff I have now. The valet guys always make fun of me, how someone so little like me could carry all that weight, lol.

Which Zuca bag did you get?

[Rachel Gard]

It is heavy but, you're right, heavy-duty.  I have a Jeep Wrangler, so I do have to lift it up pretty high.  I do it in two stages, though, not together.

I have the Sport, just the boring black one.  They didn't have the one that fits in the overhead bin on a plane when I got mine.  I'd love to get a really pretty color but just can't bring myself to do it, LOL!

[Quyen]

How do you lift it in two stages?  The frame separately from the soft bag?

[Rachel Gard]

Yes, the backpack comes off and the main frame has a built-in lifting handle molded into the metal.  I do have the lighted wheels, which come in handy in Chicago at night.

[Quyen]

I love that you could mix and match the frames and bags. Lighted wheels?  I didn't see that. Fun!

Oh, is there enough cushion or foam in there for the laptop/netbooks? It doesn't look like it from the pouches that it comes with.

[Rachel Gard]

There's a padded section in the backpack that I put my CAT laptop in.  My husband modified the main bag because they come empty.  He took parts from my old steno cases and made sections for my writer and computers in it.  He even put a sleeve for my tripod.  Then I got those neoprene zip-arounds for the netbooks, so they're in those.