I must admit that this is my first backpack with a laptop compartment, so I have no experience with others. In my opinion, the backpack for the price is a bargain, because you get a super backpack with many compartments and pockets, but I would have still wanted a better side pocket for a bottle, because the existing, in my opinion, to use for poor (perhaps this should also be for bottles No, I do not know). The padding of the laptop compartment is sufficient, and the space in your backpack. By and large, the backpack is fine and you can get for little money a great entry-level pack.