First of all this is based on the knowledge I obtained while selling luggage about 7-8 years ago, so as per usual YMMV. Back in those days Brenthaven made the best bags to offer drop protection to your laptop. The owner or president or whatever Harvey Stone would come into our shop and demonstrate by dropping his bag with his laptop in it and then pulling it out and booting it up to show there was no damage. If the cases are too expensive, then check out the laptop sleeves, they have decent 20 dollar jobbys that will really work. I got a hundred dollar http://www.brenthaven.com/catalog-glove.htmllaptop glove for my bro in the army back in 2000 and he still has it. They're made with great materials up in Bellingham Washington and their warranty is phenomenal. They used to be fanatical about customer service, I bet they still are.

Also I have an older Halliburton 5" case and by itself that thing weighs a pretty good amount. If I throw in my latitude c800 with a 15" screen with both batteries and charger it's ridiculously heavy. The Halliburtons look cool but if you have to do any walking further than from your car to the client then forget it. They're damned impressive in interviews, that first impression with that bad boy and you'll be sure they won't forget you.