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Laptops In Airports
- Thread starter CubaTBird
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Here's another thread with lots of info on travel with a laptop. Shouldn't be a problem. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/139883/
Yes, if you pass through security (aka intend to get on a plane), it will go through an x-ray detector. It is not dangerous to your computer. It can go through asleep, or if you want a marginally higher amount of security, turn it off.
I know it sounds like it could screw up your computer, but many thousands go through every day, and it isn't an issue. My iBook has gone through many times without any problems, as had my Thinkpad from work before that.
I know it sounds like it could screw up your computer, but many thousands go through every day, and it isn't an issue. My iBook has gone through many times without any problems, as had my Thinkpad from work before that.
Eeep, sorry, yes, carry-on. I've never tried it in checked luggage, but doesn't sound good. And they will require you to take it out and put it in an open box by itself. Be sure you do it... you get a big hassle if you forget, because they will have to make you turn it on and will have to do more detailed searches and other crap if you forget.... 
mkrishnan said:Eeep, sorry, yes, carry-on. I've never tried it in checked luggage, but doesn't sound good. And they will require you to take it out and put it in an open box by itself. Be sure you do it... you get a big hassle if you forget, because they will have to make you turn it on and will have to do more detailed searches and other crap if you forget....
I can vouch for that one, things moved fast when I flew over thanksgiving and the bag snuck through before I reaalized, wasn't a serious problem, but did freak them out. They took the machine aside and did whatever they do to both the bag and powerbook.
If you want to be super streamlined, make sure to have the computer entirely out of any and all casing before it's your turn to pass through the metal detector. They make you put it in a little plastic tray with nothing else (you can set it on its case if you want to though) to run it through. It helps to have it out early.
Occasionally they'll select your computer and a man wearing gloves with gently wipe it with a dry swab, and take like 30 seconds analyzing the swab with some sort of machine before handing it back to you. (It has only ever happened to me in Paris, though).
Occasionally they'll select your computer and a man wearing gloves with gently wipe it with a dry swab, and take like 30 seconds analyzing the swab with some sort of machine before handing it back to you. (It has only ever happened to me in Paris, though).
if this phenomenon were common, and was seen to be a problem, then no one would dare travel with a portable....which sort of defeats the point
X-rays are only seen as harmful to undeveloped rolls of film you get in the old 35mm cameras. the only thing that the digital age has to worry about is magnets.....big, BIG, magnets
any digital device (your ipod, your phone, your digital camera memory card and your Hard Drive from your favourite computer you have which has a hard drive or other form of memory) can be completely destroyed if accidentally dropped into a box of brightly and cheerfully coloured alphabet fridge magnets. delightful!
my ipod looks like a big black square wrapped in seaweed (the headphones) when it passes through the detectors.
X-rays are only seen as harmful to undeveloped rolls of film you get in the old 35mm cameras. the only thing that the digital age has to worry about is magnets.....big, BIG, magnets
any digital device (your ipod, your phone, your digital camera memory card and your Hard Drive from your favourite computer you have which has a hard drive or other form of memory) can be completely destroyed if accidentally dropped into a box of brightly and cheerfully coloured alphabet fridge magnets. delightful!
my ipod looks like a big black square wrapped in seaweed (the headphones) when it passes through the detectors.
rasp said:
I mentioned it in another post, but I was cool about it and felt bad, and they felt bad to have to rigamarole me too...
Plus it became evident that I'm not terrorist material when they saw my white computer with pink keyboard and Hello Kitty desktop.
I did it to mine like 20 times. No problems. You'll be fine. Its not a medal detector, it's just the scanning thing. Or is that the medal detector.
mkrishnan said:Plus it became evident that I'm not terrorist material when they saw my white computer with pink keyboard and Hello Kitty desktop.
Where are the pics? I've been searching the setup thread for what seems like ages. I must see this pink keyboard.
That. Is. Awesome! I love it mkrishnan.
If I wasn't so obsessed with white, I'd have to do something similar. It looks very cool.
If I wasn't so obsessed with white, I'd have to do something similar. It looks very cool.
At our airport they would target you. They always pick the person LEAST likely to be a terrorist. My Grandpa was always picked for the "random" thorough check. He could hardly even walk!mkrishnan said:Plus it became evident that I'm not terrorist material when they saw my white computer with pink keyboard and Hello Kitty desktop.
EricNau said:At our airport they would target you. They always pick the person LEAST likely to be a terrorist. My Grandpa was always picked for the "random" thorough check. He could hardly even walk!
Yeah, I always get pulled aside.
EricNau said:At our airport they would target you. They always pick the person LEAST likely to be a terrorist. My Grandpa was always picked for the "random" thorough check. He could hardly even walk!
It seems like they are always either screening every single non-white person or else going out of their way to only screen babies and the elderly. Who knew the concept of "random" could be so hard... you'd think this system was designed by Microsoft engineers!
Actually, Microsoft truly knows what "random" means. Sometimes Windows will work, and sometimes it won't.mkrishnan said:It seems like they are always either screening every single non-white person or else going out of their way to only screen babies and the elderly. Who knew the concept of "random" could be so hard... you'd think this system was designed by Microsoft engineers!
Chundles said:
I know all about this. i had two lappys to carry home with me with one laptop bag. my lovely ibook and some sucky compaq...i still got love for the compaq so i didnt want it to get mangled in my bags so i stuff both of em in that laptop bag........but of course i had my ibook in a sleeve
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mkrishnan said:
Yeah, I know. In fact, last year I went to Vancouver and I got checked "randomly" while getting my baggage after I had already got off the plane. Got checked 3 times in 10 minutes. So did the Indian lady standing to my left, except she only got checked twice (as far as I knew). The white lady standing to my white never got checked once. Must be random.
Actually, I made the mistake of arguing with the 3rd security person who bothered me, since I had just gotten checked by someone, and while that person was walking away, another security person walked up to me. He MUST have seen the other person walk away, right?
I asked how random this process was when I had been checked 3 times, while the white lady beside me was never asked once. The man was embarrassed, but I think he was a bit defensive since I implied there was racism going on.Anyway, laptops are safe if put through an xray machine. Not too confident about film though, regardless of what they tell you.
everytime i get in the airport im check checked....everytime. i dont mind though i just hate the shoes thing
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