TSA: Netbooks, e-readers and iPads can be kept inside bags during airport checks
By Vlad Savov 
posted April 8th 2010 7:26AM
posted April 8th 2010 7:26AM
posted April 8th 2010 7:26AM
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I feel really safe knowing that the TSA's screening equipment is incapable of scanning a laptop in a Bag.
@malexandria1 Its not that the equipment cant scan laptops, its that laptops are often in the same bag as cables, power bricks, external mice and portable keyboards and other things with cables and wires.
On an x-ray screen, it can be harder to tell if what you are looking at is a laptop or if its something dangerous.
Forcing you to remove the laptop and screen it separately ensures that they get a clear look at both the laptop and its bag and can be sure there is nothing dangerous in there.
Yeah, it used to be you could leave the laptop in the bag, then it changed to having it out of the bag but in the same bin, now it's separate bins for the laptop and bag. So when I fly in winter it's carry on, laptop bin, shoes / laptop bag bin and coat bin.
A few more "terror alerts" and eventually it will take 38 bins per person to go through the scanner. Change my ass.
They're so inconsistent with their policies. Also what they say varies from port to port...
This policy is a serious blow to iPad owners. How dare the TSA take away an opportunity to educate the public about how *magical* these devices are!! This is like making people who wear Louis Vuitton shoes keep them on at the checkpoint. Half the point of wearing LV or carrying an iPad through TSA security is to make oneself look superior among one's peers.
I went through security a few weeks ago with my Sony Reader. The guy operating the bag scanner called for a bag check. Another guy came over, looked at the screen, then pulled out my bag and asked if I had a kindle in it. I told him it was the Sony version, he pulled out and sent it and my bag back through separately. I guess that won't happen next time if it's policy now. There were no indications anywhere in the security line that e-readers should be sent through separately.
Presumably the TSA goons have been educated as to what an iPad looks like via X-ray.
"Netbooks, e-readers and iPads"... seriously engadget??? ipads? thats not even a category.
wait, maybe the other tablets can't be kept inside bags during airport checks.
@bryoneill11 Except it wasn't engadget being stupid, it was the TSA.
Yeah, I think I'll probably continue to remove my netbook going to airport security. Worst case scenario is that they say 'don't worry about it, just put it back in your bag. That's a lot better than angering airport security by NOT taking my netbook out of my bag.
Eeeps! I had never taken out my Sony Reader out ever. It was always in my laptop bag which I would take the laptop out though... have I been a scofflaw all this time?
The funny thing is, I still can't carry water or any liquid through the check-in gate!
Idiots...what a scam.
But I still have to take out my Macbook right? Meh.
@Faceless Troll
I also own an Apple-branded computer! How awesome are we? High five!
@UnixSystemsEngineer I just ate an apple, and made the logo with mine own mouth! So awesome!!11!!1one!!one
Going to be a mess! Netbooks are getting larger like laptops and laptops are getting smaller like netbooks!
So backwards. The netbook I have can do everything a laptop can and if anything is MUCH EASIER to unpack than a tremendous 20" portable workstation.