It seems almost inevitable that your laptop will be the object of damage or carelessness. Here are a few tips for protecting your laptop from physical damage, or recouping some losses if damage does occur:
A well-made laptop case is really a must when moving about with your laptop. It helps to protect the laptop if you drop it and protect it from things falling on it. Look for one with both good padding and pockets for storing USB sticks and cords and DVDs, a power cord, and possibly a fingerprint reader or lock.
Your laptop screen is one of its biggest vulnerabilities. If it gets scratched or damaged in some way, short of attaching an external monitor (which doesn’t do you much good if you’re on a plane), your laptop is pretty much a goner.
You can buy a fairly low-cost screen protector, a thin sheet of plastic that you place across your monitor that can help prevent scratches and, as a bonus, keep your screen from picking up dust or smudges.
Because you can’t prevent each and every possible disaster, always back up your data (copy it to storage other than your laptop’s hard drive) so you don’t lose it — and consider getting insurance for your laptop.
If your homeowner’s policy doesn’t already cover it, companies such as Safeware offer special laptop insurance against damage and theft. If your laptop is essential to your work or hobby, or if you travel with it a great deal, you might want to get an insurance quote to see whether coverage is within your budget.