I do sympathize with the OP though. I don't even bother breaking the laptop out pre-flight as it's hardly ever worth it. I tend to just stick to the blackberry until I'm in the air.
It sucks to be even in the situation to have the need to take out that laptop, so i sympathize. But again, i tell people to back off when im traveling, so never had the need to.
Originally Posted by
alphaeagle
Are you sure it's a lie? I know pilots can occasionally tell when a cellphone is on. I had one complaining to an FA as I was getting off there was one on during an approach. Not sure if it interfered with the instruments, or more likely, they could hear the static through their head phones.
There is no instrument in that cockpit to tell the pilot one way or the other, nor does anything go wrong even if you surf the web using your inductively noisy TDMA device on the flight deck. Someone on their cell phone or ipod isnt going to make all the instruments mysteriously go wacky.
Its also interesting that the FAA is perfectly fine with WiFi, even though some of those radios are probably have some of the most borderline output ive ever seen. But since all electronics should be FCC certified for intentional and unintentional emissions (and they are very strict), there's not too much to worry. China does slip in uncertified equipment though.
but even with the high unlikely case of it causing any problems, i respect the caution at play.