Is there any reason other than fear of theft to NOT pack a laptop in
checked baggage?  I would pack it securely between layers of clothing,
so it would be about as safe as when it gets thrown around by UPS. 
But is there some danger in the screening process? Do X-rays damage
them?  Any other reason I'm not thinking of?

Hi, 

I've traveled with laptops for year, and can say emphatically that
X-Rays don't harm them. There is a problem with checking them however,
or rather the way you pack them to check. The most common damage I've
heard of to laptops in checked in travel bags is pressure on the
laptop screens. You want to make sure that if someones shoe collection
and steamer trunk are stacked on top, those will not put pressure on
your laptop screen or "squeeze" the screen in any way. I lost one
screen this way, and have heard of several others (after I lost mine
of course). Experience is that thing you get right after you needed
it.

When I say on top of the laptop, I mean that your laptop is closed,
sitting flat, and something is on top putting presure on the flat/back
of the screen.
 

There are some very good travel cases out there for laptops. 
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=laptop+travel+case&pid=2091358080766184067&oid=14901030503677258255&btnG=Search+Froogle&lmode=&addr=&scoring=p
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=laptop+travel+case&pid=4805876921707034940&oid=17104248298892362038&btnG=Search+Froogle&lmode=&addr=&scoring=p
for example, but the focus is generally on the corners of the laptop
and the edges (which is good, because that's where they get damaged
most often and dropped on), but they don't take into consideration the
damage that can come from being squeezed. Probably because it doesn't
come up that often. I know I didn't think about it, until my laptop
was under a stack of bags and the screen didn't work any longer.

So when you pack the laptop, insure that there is a book or something
just a bit thicker than your laptop in there with it to take the
weight.

Have a great trip and happy holidays. 

webadept-ga

Thank you for your detailed response.

The other problem is airline liability is based on weight. Fragile,
valuable and perishable items are excluded from airline liability. In
the event of damage to your baggage liability is limited to about
US$20 per kilo-- about $50 for a typical laptop setup.

Check with your airline for details about higher value declarations
and insuring checked baggage.

If it's going across a border the contents of the drives(s)will be
checked.You should have the battery charged for the same reason.