That ain't no MacBook Air. Jeez.

The Magnificen7

What's so bad about having to remove your laptop from your bag?
I would prefer to leave it in my backpack of course but I'm not going to pay $100 and caary an extra bag for it.

Anyway, I sometimes go to Slovenia and there you even have to open your laptop, I guess to show your not hiding anything between screen and keyboard. So that wouldn't be solved by an "X-ray friendly bag"

turboke

FAIL
People will put other stuff into the bags.
TSA agents will discern approved bags from others?
Expect a cluster when this happens and back to the old routine, we all know.

*As turboke pointed out...why drop another $100?

vagrant

i am pretty sure that the latter will happen. i think the reason why they ask you to remove the laptop is to locate other electronic equipment that might be masked by the laptop. the moment you have more stuff in the bag that makes the x ray "fuzzy", the laptop will have to be removed and scanned separately.
"with a removable laptop case, one a briefcase that reveals the laptop when it's unzipped"...this just facilitates removal and costs $200.

mister_s

Isn't the bigger question why my current cheapo nylon bag can flumox the TSA's multi-million dollar scanning system?

larry91403

Unless it's an emergency I'll drive or you can do without me.

When I pay to go to a circus I want to be the one being entertained by the monkeys doing tricks.

I am not a monkey.

I am not a baby.

I am not a terrorist.

I will not be treated so.

strider_mt2k

My exroommate had his laptop dropped at a security checkpoint, busted the LCD right down the center. The screener said sorry we're not responsible and refused to help him.

Something like this should have been ok'd from the beginning.

BrianEsser

I'm a little OCD, and I barely let my friends put their hands om my laptop, much less the trained monkeys at the TSA. (apologies to any TSA people here, but unless you have a gun, you're still a federal rent-a-cop).

markarian

@larry91403: Isn't the bigger question why my current cheapo nylon bag can flumox the TSA's multi-million dollar scanning system?

This. What the heck are they looking for in a laptop that can be masked with zippers and buckles? And, if all it takes is a few zippers and pockets to confuse the screeners, how can they effectively screen my laptop-less backpack? Like Schneier says, "security theatre".

PeterSimpson

dude fuck flying. Those security goons took out my girlfriends laptop battery and broke the housing and then there like "what, its our job to be assholes" and they (by law) are not responsible when they screw up your shit..........having more power than the police! sorry this has gone too far.

Fatty

well, if the success of the TSA approved locks are any indication of how well these bags will work, sign me up!!!

/sarcasm.

Can't wait for the first tasing incident related to some business traveler yelling at a mouth breathing TSA lackey about what is supposed to be an approved laptop bag.

bizzz

So if I'm reading this right it just comes with a padded pop-out section for my laptop? I have one of those already that I got for less than 15 bucks.

@markarian: Speaking about being OCD about stuff, My father and I always wrap out cables up nicely to put in our bags. He even has an nice carrying case to put them all in. Keeps everything nice and organized. Yet every time we travel, both he and I get stopped and searched, when the signs specifically say "to make screening easier, don't throw all your cables in the bag randomly" or something along those lines

jmurph05

sorry gotta say something else: If somebody with half a brain wants to get something through they well. all the high tech security in the world wont stop it. so give us r fucking liberty back and stop treating everybody like terrorists. oh and buy my girlfriend a new laptop U fucking scumbags

Fatty

@markarian: Where did you find TSA monkeys that were trained? Every experience I've had with them made me think they just grabbed the first ten people in line at unemployment, threw ill-fitting jackets on them and told them to be assholes.

DRW-E

@larry91403: I had the same question.

Greg

Well, that came to market a little late, now that US airports will actually have people booting up your pc to check if you've stolen any software. I'm already awaiting the "fun" when they try to figure out wtf this "Linux" thing is, and why its loaded with productivity apps and games I never paid for..

Monsterdog

@turboke: "What's so bad about having to remove your laptop from your bag?"

My boss had a 1 month old $3000 OQO 2 dropped by TSA while it was out of the bag. Destroyed. She had to file a claim and they did eventually replace it but it took several months.

My scariest experience was having my camera bag being search by a one armed (I kid you not) TSA agent. He was juggling $2K lenses on his stub while searching the bag. I have no problems with the one armed guy but should he be the one doing the bag searches? Sheesh.

All these rules and the fact that they are always changing are just to distract us from the fact that the TSA has no real use.

AndyMac

@Monsterdog:

"now that US airports will actually have people booting up your pc to check if you've stolen any software."

wait, what??

nutbastard

bringing laptop on plane == pain in the ass

having laptop on plane == totally worth it

nutbastard

@PeterSimpson:

It's not the screeners, it the old x-ray technology. I used to design explosives detection system for the TSA. I've come to learn that most of the people are actually -really- good at visualizing x-ray imagery. Problem is, those old machines are, well, old as shit.

Computed Tomography systems solve many of these problems. They can sniff for explosives, and you can rotate imagery in 3D to make sure a zipper is a zipper, not a wire connected to a battery.

At one point in time the TSA was going to roll out CT machines nation wide. However, no one wants to invest the $$$.

aquaosx

So when can we expect an X-rayable jumpsuit? I'd pay a little extra to hop on the belt along with my shoes, wallet, and notebook. Maybe they can roll in a dental exam at the same time.

duffyanneal

This will help the pro travelers, but they are not the problem. The problem is the person who hasn't been at an airport in 8 years and wonders why they are taking his pocket knife.

dimoko

@nutbastard: [blogs.pcworld.com]

Monsterdog

not too long ago i made my first major trip (was to china). anyway i was so nervous that i completely messed up beyond all recognition when i forgot my laptop bck at the check point (between all the confusion and choas, plus i didnt know they were checking laptops, i got confused!) It actually took me about 20 minutes to realize i had lost it. ran back and luckily it had been checked into the lost and found which was right there. the guy asked if i could identify it and was able to note that there was a panel on the bottom which was completely silver (all the paint had chiped off) it was good enough for him and i got it back

it would be really nice if those check out points were simplier...that way people wouldnt have the high potential of losing their (expensive) stuff.

jrghoull

Yeah, at the border, customs agents have massive leeway. Hey kids, don't forget a customs form for your goods before you leave. [forms.cbp.gov] I've never been asked for mine, but I don't want to deal with the hassle of the electronic/camera items I travel with, when coming back to the U.S.

vagrant

The TSA checkpoints has as much to do with stopping terrorism as on incursion into Iraq. When will America realize how much has been stolen?

Skeptical_Geezer