Best way to schlep a laptop computer on a bike?

[MrCjolsen]

Backpack? Messenger-style bag? Panniers too harsh for a computer?

12 mile commute, one way, over the infamous Yolo causway.
MTB with street tires (some rough streets, figuratively and literally)

I will base a purchase on your trusted opinions.

 

[Jakebrake]

While I don't have a laptop computer, the backpack that I sometimes use has a seperate padded slot exclusively for laptop computers. It's a nice backpack, and I notice they are on sale.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/comm...FNBR=633&CRPCGNBR=633&CI=1,226,633&TextMode=0

 

[DHinrichs]

I have a neoprene sleeve for my laptop and put that combo in my backpack. It survived many 15 mile commutes to and from work that way. When I'm not biking I often commute by motorcycle and it survived in a pannier many more times in the same configuration. There are some hardshell backpacks that you can get, I've seen them mostly on motorcycle riders but a few times on bicyclists also, found this link http://www.ebags.com/boblbee/megalo...ckpack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=17905 The bags at that site are fairly expensive. I have seen similar bags at CompUSA for much less, but did not look closely to see what the quality was like.