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ethanwa79

macrumors 6502
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Sep 13, 2014
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Is the 15" too big for a normal airline tray table? Can it be opened and is it usable? Or should I go with the 13" if I am looking for airplane usage?

In Coach, not First Class, or course.
 
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Is the 15" too big for a normal airline tray table? Can it be opened and is it usable? Or should I go with the 13" if I am looking for airplane usage?

In Coach, not First Class, or course.

You can use it on a tray table, but the screen is going to be pretty vertical.
 
Depends on the seat (which model plane, Economy, Economy Plus, etc.) and whether the person in front is reclining, but generally, it's very awkward with a 15" even if you can get it open. I gave up trying to use laptops on planes years ago, this is where an iPad makes a lot of sense, providing you can find apps that do what you need for that time. Or, a 12" MacBook as a secondary computer. 13" is an OK compromise for this use, it'll still be awkward but less so than a 15".
 
I actually prefer to use it on my lap on the airplane. It's just easier to get a good viewing angle.
 
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Depends on the seat (which model plane, Economy, Economy Plus, etc.) and whether the person in front is reclining, but generally, it's very awkward with a 15" even if you can get it open. I gave up trying to use laptops on planes years ago, this is where an iPad makes a lot of sense, providing you can find apps that do what you need for that time.

I agree. I almost never take a computer on a flight. An airplane is not a very good working environment. There is too many distractions to do any serious concentration. So I use my iPad to watch movies, type emails, and other light tasks.
 
If the person in front of you has their chair in an upright position, you'll probably be fine. However if the person reclines their chair then probably not.
 
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I agree. I almost never take a computer on a flight. An airplane is not a very good working environment. There is too many distractions to do any serious concentration. So I use my iPad to watch movies, type emails, and other light tasks.

I like to look busy so that people leave me alone though. It's dangerous proposition if you try watch a film with a child next to you, I'm an adult and I don't want to share... :(

If the person in front of you has their chair in an upright position, you'll probably be fine. However if the person reclines their chair then probably not.

I find when people recline their chairs, if you take the 15" model and bonk them on the head it resolves this issue, the 12" just doesn't have as much grunt sadly :rolleyes:

In all seriousness OP... It's completely random, you can increase the odds the smaller the computer though, but there are times it's simple to use a 15", others it's not. I personally find it can be quite restrictive to work on public transport, sometimes it's nicer to just chill out and enjoy the flight.
 
Is it not still open and likely that all laptops etc will be banned on all flights ? ie the current restrictions is likely to be extended everywhere. I would hold off if making any decision based on airline usage IMO

else

Ipads/2 in 1's in tent mode are a much better option and 15" on budget airlines no way. A privacy filter can be a good idea too
 
I like to look busy so that people leave me alone though. It's dangerous proposition if you try watch a film with a child next to you, I'm an adult and I don't want to share... :(

I don't blame you. Have people look at what you doing on your computer is another reason I try to go business class when I can. They have little walls between seats and the lay flat beds are not bad.;)
 
You won't have to worry about this if US Homeland Security has their way, as all large electronics will be banned on flights to and from US. As of now, the ban is in effect to all inbound US flights.
 
You won't have to worry about this if US Homeland Security has their way, as all large electronics will be banned on flights to and from US. As of now, the ban is in effect to all inbound US flights.

I am unaware of a ban that effect ALL inbound US flights.

There is a ban for flights leaving from a few countries in the Middle East.

There were talks to extend the ban to flights coming in from the EU, but cooler heads prevailed and that was dropped.

I was in the EU at the time, for a tech conference, so we watched this very closely. No ban, but BA's systems went down cancelling our flight to Heathrow.
 
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Can you actually imagine the spin if they decided to ban all electronic goods from the flight cabin? "We've found that laptops can be used as a bomb (Haven't they always?)", "so to protect people, we'll be filling the planes hold with them instead". The only real way is to ban them from flights entirely, but seems a little nuts when you can put a weapon in the hold instead.

I'd be hopeful they continue to back down, or at least follow the example of the rest of the world. Problem is once you declare a threat and impose a ban, it gets difficult to justify lifting the ban. Then it just becomes the norm until something else comes along.
 
Was on two different 737s, an A319 and an A320 last week. Had my MBP with me but with the chair in front of me "reclined" there really wasn't room to use it in coach. Plus, no one wanted to watch Sully anyway.
 
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I've flown with mine a bunch, even on some small propeller planes, and it's OK. Obviously screen gets pretty vertical if the dude in front of you is reclining, but it's been workable for me.
 
Is the 15" too big for a normal airline tray table? Can it be opened and is it usable? Or should I go with the 13" if I am looking for airplane usage?

In Coach, not First Class, or course.

In Coach if the chair is not reclined it's useable. Otherwise, nope. Same for 13 there to an extent though.
 
The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised that if in the next 5-10 years ALL electronic devices are banned from use in the passenger cabin, to include computers, tablets, phones, and perhaps even music players.

In that case, such issues will become moot!
 
In Coach if the chair is not reclined it's useable. Otherwise, nope. Same for 13 there to an extent though.

Agreed. The issue is more having a keyboard/base of any size forces the screen to be up against the back of the chair in front. A bigger unit exacerbates the problem. This why I find tablets much better for traveling.

But, my wife just got a Surface Book and I cannot wait to try that on travel and see if this split case thing really works.
 
The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised that if in the next 5-10 years ALL electronic devices are banned from use in the passenger cabin, to include computers, tablets, phones, and perhaps even music players.

In that case, such issues will become moot!
Not while the airlines are pumping in-flight entertainment through them via apps though. Makes it easy for everyone to watch what they want on their personal device, without disturbing people who don't want to watch anything.
 
Not while the airlines are pumping in-flight entertainment through them via apps though. Makes it easy for everyone to watch what they want on their personal device, without disturbing people who don't want to watch anything.
This is only specific to a few carriers

I'm sure the ban will be extended further even if its just to speed up airport queues although budget airlines and short haul business trips with virtually no checked baggage will not be happy

The one that always gets me is no sharp objects then the first thing you get on board is metal cutlery, go figure :rolleyes:
 
The airplane situation is where the 11" Air's short vertical dimension really shines. Use it on Japan's Shinkansen, other trains, and even buses with no problem. On smaller planes 'recliners' in front can make even the MBA too tight. Am concerned that the 13" MBP will make me use my lap on the Shinkansen if I'm behind a real recliner.

Anyway, given the trajectory of Apple's pricing, probably only "first-class" people will be using Macs in the future...
 
Got off a long haul flight involving 3 different airlines yesterday. I can report I was able to use the 15" on a small domestic flight, usual o'Bryan Air special kind. Mid haul flight, and a long haul giant plane flight, both through Aero-mintchoc-flotsum.

The level of comfort varied on each one however, larger the plane the better the experience (Which to be frank on a 2 hour short haul flight do you really need a laptop?). Recliners played a big factor, but the laptop fitted easily on all the tables, it's more a question of usability, you'd probably be best on your lap or so on.
 
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