As to safes large enough to hold laptops, I've found that they are not uncommon any more. And, I have a big one with a 15" screen. I've seen at least two that are built into the desk and pull out where the drawar would be, and the lit pops up. The nice thing about these models is that they have power outlets in the back. So, in addition to having your laptop or camera locked up, it can be charging!

As for liability for items stolen from a hotel room, I'm sure that this variest greatly by country, and somewhat by state in the US. In most US states, the only way to hold the innkeeper responsible for the theft of your item is if you lock it in the complimentary safe deposit box provided at the front desk. So, even though a safe may be provided for your convenience, it doesn't increase the hotel's responsinbility from theft above what it would be if you just left the valuables laying on the bed in plain sight.

Now, if you use the in-room safe with the understanding that it makes it more difficult for housekeepers to take things but doesn't actually put the hotel on the hook if stuff is taken, be sure to take the precaution of wiping down the control panel after you've locket it. If you don't, someone can tell at lest which numbers you chose for the combination by using a powder to stick to your finger oil residue that you left behind.

If something does go missing, then they should be able to tell who it was by the use of the master key, especially if it is electronic as many of them are. The electronic key plugs into the safe's computer and can tell it to unlock. It will also show when it was locked and by what code. Also, the fact that this was done gets logged in the master key, so if someone borrowed it and then put it back without anyone noticing it, it could be examined to see if it had been used. Plus, somebody's key had to have been used to open the door, and the door logs this activity. So, they can bring the device to read the door data and find out which staff member did it (or at least which key it was). If the hotel is unwilling to do any of this, call the local police and have them look into it. They may be able to persuade the hotel manager to do this sort of investigation. I'd feel comfortable doing this only in the US or perhaps Canada. Thigns might work very differently in other places. For example, I've seen reports of hotels in Cancun seem to have an open secret that this stuff goes on all the time. If management is aware of it, you're not going to make much progress, even if the police did get involved.