Agreed on the laptop. Don't check it. Most airlines warn not to check anything valuable. There's the risk of it getting stolen, screeners taking it apart or something, damage, etc. If you don't want to carry it on, I would suggest shipping it back home before checking it.

Why not put all your reading material on the laptop? This way you can trade the bulk/weight of the reading material with the laptop and not have to check it, killing two birds with one stone.