yup

wesrubix

now if they can just ship a Desktop PC with a Desk and we are all set! :)

hindsight2020

Brilliant, I've had HP laptops never had a problem their desktops on the other hand aren't that great, but good idea none the less.

mordecaidrake

@MacTodd: The worlds worst $700 laptop bag... but hey, you get a crappy laptop inside it...

FlashSandbox

Brilliant indeed, but I still don't want to buy a computer. Hooray for HP. [Unenthusiatic cheer] for Walmart

eagleapex

This simple yet brilliant move by HP will provide more positive press and public sentiment than any 'new and improved' product ever would. It's encouraging to see big business working to improve the environment AND their bottom line by becoming more packaging-conscious. As much as I personally detest Wal-Mart for some of their less than friendly and predatory business practices, I must commend them for encouraging their vendors to become more eco-friendly.

seismic007

Now if they market (and price) it as "Buy a laptop bag... get a free laptop" then it's a good deal/campaign!

MacTodd

Although it will make it harder to wrap for Christmas or birthdays.

siville

I'd be all for it, if for no other reason that I hate having to get rid of the damn boxes, and also assuming that the bag has the proper compartments to fit the power plug, etc. that the machine comes with.

Norcross

Wow, it's about time! We need to remember that a VAST majority of consumers out there will buy from Wal-Mart and they will love the idea of walking out of the store with this bag on their shoulders. Too bad it didn't make it to market before the beginning of the school year.

siville

one of the best ideas ever... just as long as they keep the price the same.

KoRnholio8

I love this idea, and it's a great way to purchase a laptop. I myself wouldn't buy one due to specs. I think Wal-Mart execs would push out a policy to have the laptops behind sealed glass, like they do with anything small and close to $100. Maybe even have them in the back and just have someone bring it out when they ask.

1.21Gigawatts

It always happens a month after I buy one, and while I'm still trying to find a suitable laptop bag. Just my luck.

Still, props for the idea. Sounds like a win-win-win situation, with the space-and-materials savings for them, somewhat sustainable design (recycled material bag), and the not-having-to-buy-a-bag savings for consumers.

Themindtaker

@Tedinasia: A valid point but i think they may incorporate those tamper evident tabs that show if someone has opened the bag. In any case I'm sure they've thought about that in some form.

alukard

Will unboxing become unbagging?
I think it's a great idea, but I wouldn't buy a laptop just because it came in a bag. I hope other manufacturers adopt this idea.

Mayor McRib

@forrestmc4: Before someone else says it: They stole this idea from Apple's dumpsters. ;)

Git Em SteveDave is starlost

This is brilliant, but I would be concerned that a messenger bag in some non-factory sealed container might not get all those fun "accessories" like say, a power cord.

ianmac47

Wow, thats a good idea. HP isn't full of nutters after all.

forrestmc4

Thank you HP for having some real forward thinking. I hope other manufacturers will take note and curtail their excessive packaging as well.
Cut waste, cut cost, recycle, and everyone will be happier.

BigDogues

While I agree it does reduce waste, would you really want to purchase an "Opened" laptop from the shelf that is not sealed ? I can see it as a retailers nightmare as people open / check to see if all the parts are still there, search for one that has not been "touched"...

Tedinasia

Very Nice. I'd buy one, if it wasn't from walmart and probably had better specs that the walmart ones.

jrlcopy

if i was up for buying a computer a wal-mart in the first place, why not go for one in a laptop bag?

f0rge

good for them. this is a step in the right direction. i still wouldnt buy an HP, but i would buy a laptop in a bag.

lldsandsll

Great idea.

TM-Oliveira

I am actually suprised apple hasn't done this it seems exactly like the kind of thing they would do. Good job HP

taftsearlobe33

I love this idea - only one major peeve with it.
Why oh why didn't they do this last year, when I bought my Pavilion? AAAAAGGH!

jigsawfallingintoplace

This really is a great idea! Not only from the perspective of less packaging and waste, but also, there are so many more possibilities like, bag colors and patterns, and also, the bag itself becomes the gift wrapping. I hope other companies adopt this idea as well.

RE-L

Dude, hell yes. I wish all laptops did this. Not to mention, I hate having to shell out extra for a sleeve designed for my laptop. Also, dealing w/ the giant-arse box that comes w/ a comp is annoying. I recycle, but that doesn't mean I revel in it.

Aristeia

Sure, I'd buy a laptop in its own bag/case. I hate all of the packaging I routinely have to get rid of when I buy electronics of any kind. Like others, I wouldn't buy a low grade laptop and certainly not from Wal*Mart, but I'd like to see this practice carried out across the industry. For mail order, just put the stuffed laptop bag into one appropriately sized cardboard box for safe shipping. Honestly, a laptop does not need to come in a 20"x16"x10" box stuffed to the gills with padding and separate placement of peripherals.

techcommdood

While I applaud HPs effort on this, it brings to mind an annoyance with other companies attempts at this. If you are a company and you reduce packaging and by proxy your shipping costs, you can not charge me a premium for a green product.

brianhatch

I doubt they'd have these sitting on a rack or table, they'd hvae them like all their other laptops: locked up behind plexiglass or whatever.

Great move. A++++

jwm1314

I'm interested to see how this affects the number of said HP laptops that get broken. Most people I know that would buy a computer at walmart are the same that would never invest in a decent bag, meaning it's more likely to get damaged. I would assume that someone who buys a laptop only to have it break is less likely to buy one from the same company in the future... so my guess is that this could help HP's perception of quality for the people that buy these.

crackp1pe

Shoplifters probably love this idea.

avantreese

Yes.

Rain-man

If I was in high school or college looking for an affordable laptop, I would have totally jumped on something like this.

I think it's a good idea. Despite what the fanboys scream, I think HP is the leading innovator in computers. HP Media Center TV PCs were the bomb.

GeekyNerdGuy

Also: No need for multi-language manuals and tons of other crap they put together.

Online docs or at most pdfs put together with the install cds are enough.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

Better than the interoffice envelope that the MacBook Air comes in.

FЯeeMan

Anything that gets rid of the styrofoam is fine by me. We don't need more and more computers and peripherals packaged in lots of foam peanuts or clamshells or ends, so this is a pretty good execution from HP.

Manila envelope says whaaaa??

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

As long as it's not damaged, I'd even pay more to get it in a bag.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

@Bokusatsu_Tenshi: for me...i'm with you on the lack of manuals.

but if there isn't at least a paper cheat sheet (the power button is here) their customer service dept. is going to be real busy...its cheaper to print a manual than pay to answer "it won't come on". Not to mention the fact that most people won't go and open a .pdf anyway. They need to make things like how to take care of a laptop battery pretty easy to get to...and since they probably (at least they used to) recommend an (unlikely) overnight charge before your first boot-up they can't really stick that little tid bit on a .pdf and then blame the customer when they don't do it and want a new battery.

chriscrob

Great idea, I just want the HP logo off the bag so that I'm not advertising that I could be carrying a laptop in there.

Hell, why do manufacturers insist on slapping their logo all over a bag if you buy it from them? To me that's just a thief magnet.

theblackdog

I would never buy a laptop just because it came in a bag, but this would definitely be a factor in my decision. Definitely a step in the right direction.

FredicvsMaximvs

I would be more comfortable buying something like this shrink wrapped. Get that virgin feel without the box. (I hope there is eco-friendly shrink wrap.)

Curves

@Tedinasia: I doubt that Walmart would just put these on unlocked shelves like they do with 99% of their merch.

dsevil

Wow wow wow stop that HP! you think all the people that buy a laptop want a girly bag?

macjesus

i've bought computers out of the backs of trucks, why not a man-purse?

konshuss

I really like the idea other company should take note.

Thanatos

Look at me! Look how COOL I am! I hate Walmart!!!!

GadgetPlay

I love the idea. I don't shop at Walmart, but if this showed up at other retailers, I would certainly give it a look.

M.A.S.

@Bokusatsu_Tenshi: Thinkpads come with a pretty nice virtual manual with brief tutorial vids. I think all companies should have something similar in their systems. Who wants to read the manuals?

However, in the event of a hardware failure, which would keep you from that manual, it's nice to have a simple troubleshooting card with the most basic and necessary instructions.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

i think this is a really good idea. i would just hope they'd start doing this for laptops sold at other retailers too.

radiograph

atleast put some clear plastic on it to prevent tampering and dust while its waiting to be purchased...

urbanturban666

that´s a really, WAY cool idea! Others should copy this.

stopitnow54

They really need to start this everywhere. People always ask at Circuit if they come with bags and get all pissy when they don't. Good for the environment and the retailers.

CSUSam

I like this - but what if you prefer a backpack style bag?

Miguel Valdespino

Great idea, but if they sold them in different styles on their site, and shipped in just a small box, this could be perfect

Con Seannery

And I'll say this too - the messenger bags from HP are nice quality. Soft, lightweight, and have lots of room for miscellaneous crap in them. I have the brown one that matches the Artist Edition Pavilion laptop I bought last May, and I think it's a great bag. So much so that I enjoy lugging the HP around a lot more than my MacBook Pro, simply because while my MBP bag is a lot more rugged it also weighs a ton more, which makes a big difference at the airport and abroad.

I think this is a great move by HP and hope they sell like hotcakes.

tayaya

@Themindtaker: I just bought a Timbuk2 Commute bag Commute
and although it indicates that it will fit 17" laptops, the bag barely fits my Dell 1525, so it definitely will NOT fit a 17" laptop...

anti-hello-kitty

Please, people. This is Wal-Mart we're talking about. Most of us won't buy a laptop from HP from Wal-Mart, but you aren't going to see these bags sitting on store shelves out in the open. They lock up $200-$300 game systems and $50 games behind half-inch glass, you think they're going to put Laptops in convenient grab-and-go bags on shelves? That's just asking to get mob-shoplifted.

jamuraa

@jamuraa: good point... if i had a store id probably lock up everything behind a counter... ive seen people at the grocery store trying to shove 2 frozen pizzas into one box...

urbanturban666

Now, if only the bag wasn't so ugly.

Why are laptop bags designed to look like they carry laptops? I keep mine in a bag that looks like a cheap soft sided briefcase, but I added interior padding.

Bob Brown

This only seems logical. I wonder why no one in the shipping departments of these companies came up with this before. I would be inclined to buy one if I liked the specs of the computer.

Anyway, good job HP.

bubkes

I probably sound like a HP employee, but we should not expect a price cut right away... Even if it costs HP less in the long run, there were costs to make this happen. Either way, if it saves HP $25-50 per unit, it'll be hard to notice the difference on our end. Future models perhaps but at least it helps the environment...

Jeff_was_here

Yes, yes I would buy a laptop in a bag.
No, no I would not buy an HP laptop (unless it was their business line).

KStrike155

My old Averatec C3600 came in a space foam laptop case. It was a crap computer, but it definitely did cut down on packaging. I love the idea, but don't want to buy another pc that's going to die on me because the company is too cheap to do quality testing and use good materials.

Atriel

Great idea, as long as they can keep them secured on the shelves so no one can snag a charger (always follow the consumerist and check the package before you leave the store.

Hand_O_Death

I love this Idea when it launched Im a HP Reseller and can't wait until mine arrive and I have some SpyderWrap to keep them from being stolen quick.

jevonreese

@Tedinasia:

I would be surprised if they don't at least seal the contents of the laptop bag in a thin plastic bag so you can see they haven't bee opened before. It would be a pretty big oversight if nobody in process of approving this idea didn't think of that already.

El_Guappo

@f0rge:

If your up for buying a computer from Wallmart you'd probably go for in in a hessian bag.

Only kidding. Im sure those computer sales dudes really are professionals at what they do.

El_Guappo

This is a great idea, I think it would go over with the smart shoppers very well...

But don't expect to see this hit the mainstream electronic stores like Best Buy or Circuit City. It would cut down on their gouging of customers pockets with computer accessories such as $80 laptop bags that invoice for 20 bucks; or the infamous $30 USB 2.0 Gold Plated cords that invoice for a a buck fifty... Where would they upsell.. ah, I mean help the customer's needs.

acadapter

I definitely would, I wish my Mac would have came with one. That's a pretty good idea to me. You wouldn't have to go out and buy one your self, but the bad thing about it is that every one who bought it will have the same bag from the looks of it.

RockNRollBeaver

This idea was posted on Dell Ideastorm by akamat a year ago and I know that Dell was interested in pursuing the idea. [www.ideastorm.com]
I'm not surprised that HP brought it to market sooner but my guess is that Dell follow in classic "me too" style.
I'd love to see Apple follow suit with a simple, sleek Incase bag.

pattiroll