Can you imagine having to put your laptop in checked luggage? I can't imagine it surviving the trip...
No, even between all the clothes in the suitcase. Why the he** do they have to give their laptops away? Laptops are screened and the security looks closely on them. I never got the impression that I could hide something in laptops from them.
I have occasionally hand carried my laptop onto small twin prop commuters after gate checking my carry-on bag due to minimal storage space. It's precarious. I do know an exec who prefers to put his laptop into his checked luggage. I vaguely recall some cushioned/suspension case he found to protect the notebook computer in checked luggage.