I'm a laptop destroyer

[astroidea]

So I got my X41 tablet for about 8 months ago off ebay. I was astonished at how new it looked when I got it given that it was 4 yrs old. The screen was flawless, and everything worked perfectly. I finally understood why thinkpad's quality were so highly regarded.

Fast forward to now, my screen has lots of microscratches. There are two pencil mark sized scratches about 1cm long each. There seems to be 3 large specks of dust in the screen, creating 3 white dots. They're about the size of the head of an ant, for the lack of a better comparison.

The latch has broken off and is now loosely fitted in.

The pen button fell off and I have it taped on. Works well, just takes some points off for aesthetics.

The pen doesn't click into place in the tablet easily. It takes several attempts.

The mic broke and only records static.

I don't really understand how the way I'm using it is so damaging to it. I use my tablet for school, and I carry it in a bookbag(like one of these http://outyourbackdoor.com/Images/OYB.bookbag.jpg ) with the lid closed(screen facing in) at all times when I'm not using it.
Well the latch broke because I fondled with it too much when I was bored. The rest, I'm not sure.
So how do you guys transport your laptops to keep it in good shape?

I also want to open up the screen to remove the dust bunnies. But how do you get the screwhole covers off? could you get them off without damaging them?

[control]

I have the same one you do and I put it in a neoprene pouch I used with my previous laptops. That's about the most protection I give it, i toss my it in my backpack in the pouch and all is well.

Other than the dust in the screen which was there when I got it. I've read some people saying that you can blow it out of there with compressed air but I remain unconvinced. Don't have time to try it out and my laptops kinda essential for school right now so I'm not risking anything. I've popped off the screw covers before, they're mostly rubber that you can get off using a knife. Might want to glue them back on if the adhesives have worn off.

[Temetka]

My X41T is carried around in a messenger style laptop bag. It offer nice protection but was designed for larger laptops. Once I solve my cashflow situation I would like to pick up a neoprene style sleeve for it.

I have to say that I wasn't sure about my decision to switch from a T60 to this machine. However this machine is far more useful to me and to be honest, I've fallen in love with it. It is very light weight, a tablet, an IBM, and I just love using it.

[astroidea]

Sounds like the compressed air should work if one blew into the whole in which the dust particle originally entered from. But the screen looks pretty darn well sealed off, which makes me particularly confused in how dust got in the first place.

sounds like i should get a neoprene sleeve. I imagine the thick padding helps quite a bit?
mmm this one looks nice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834987006
the comments about the smell is bothersome though

[Temetka]

The smell will dissipate in time.