1970-01-01 3 days ago

Why do almost all laptops not come with a built-in handle? That is the quintessence of a portable item. Forget the bag.

Weight. Packed size. Most people don't need a handle, so why waste volume and material on it?

I think the Toshiba Toughbook had a handle. I think many folks here, given their druthers, would design something that looked like a Toughbook, then become disenchanted with it for various completely foreseeable reasons, and go back to using their standard issue MBP.

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eichin 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

*Panasonic Toughbook

(There were generations of these with handles, but at least in the early ones, the handle didn't dominate the dimensions - things like "removable drives encased in impact gel" did.)

	▲	0_____0 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		Hah, I guess I'm a sucker for alliteration. Thanks for the correction.

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Dylan16807 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

It's worth noting that by the time you make a rugged laptop it's actually bulkier than a small laptop bag with a handle.

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sgerenser 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The original “Toilet Seat” iBook from 1999is the only one I can recall that came with a handle: https://lunduke.substack.com/p/ode-to-the-clamshell-ibook-g3...

	▲	eichin 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		Also the eMate 300! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMate_300 (from 1997) (And if you go much farther back, the TRS-80 Model 4p - but "sewing machine class" portables kind of had to.)

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zffr 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

To me a handle implies that the object is somewhat sturdy. It’s okay to have it bump against other things and to set it on the floor.

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loloquwowndueo 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Laptops ape notebooks (the paper kind). When’s the last time you saw a notebook with a handle?

	▲	WarOnPrivacy 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		I'm with the parent. But then again, my bag also has a shoulder strap, two large compartments and a ½doz pockets. I carry 1-2 laptops along with an assortment of tools, cables and adapters. I serve to live.