Only half the team was present for the Basingstoke game, with the other half in Oxford for a pre-season friendly with Oxford at the same time.
Reading took the lead just fourteen minutes into the game, Martin Butler interchanged nicely with Alex Smith before firing a low cross into the box for John Salako to turn into the net.
Laidler doubled the lead for the Royals shortly before the hour mark, his clever run to the edge of the box ended with a storming finish which the Basingstoke 'keeper helplessly watched fly past him.
Steve Warren, signed on a free transfer from Crystal Palace at the end of last season, added a third with just a quarter of an hour left to play, his quickly taken free kick deceiving the Town defence.
Afterwards Royals coach Kevin Dillon told Teamtalk: "This year we are doing pre-season slightly different. We have hand-picked the teams we play as we know the people involved.
"We had a few problems last pre-season against some local teams, but we know these teams like to try and play football and they look after us.
"We will split the teams down the middle again for Saturday's matches at Whyteleafe and Banbury and play them the same way.
"Alan Pardew has been away this week and I've only spoken to him once, but we'll meet up and have a chat about this game tomorrow."
Reading Line-Up: Ashdown, Murty (Mullins, 65), Smith (Lucas, 57) Parkinson (Warren, 46), Whitbread (Theo, 62), Stanley (Middleton, 65), Newman (Howell, 57), Harper (Birnie, 46), Butler (Bailey, 46), Tyson (Laidler, 20) Salako (Campbell, 46).