Good evening Simon!

Out of our manual:

"Cellular phones, wireless computer modems and two way pagers may be used onboard under the following circumstances only:

- While the aircraft is parked at the gate with passengers boarding door open, or;

- During extensive ground delays, while the aircraft is parked at or away from the gate, with engines off."

"Items such as portable computers, video cameras, TV etc. are considered cabin baggage and must be stowed in an approved area for taxi, take-off and landing."

"It is not accpetable for cabin baggage to:
- Obstruct access/cover emergency equipment
- Obstruct and or reduce acccess to aisles and/or exits"
etc...

A laptop computer on your legs or on your tray table while passengers are boarding and until we are at cruising altitude is considered a piece of carry-on baggage that would impair access to the aisles and exits, would most likely end up on the floor and therefore would impede an evacuation in the case of gate emergency/refuelling emergency and should only be used after the seat belt signs have been switched off after take-off. MOT regulation.

Hope that clarifies the situation

It's all about the what ifs.

Cheers