I've had to take mine out of the bag AND turn it on for the curious screeners. Taking it out of the bag (I've been told) minimizes the chance that you'll have knives, etc. under the laptop which would help shield the offending items on the x-ray. I just wish the screeners would stop yelling at me to take it out of the bag the way the customs goons yell at me how to stand in line at the San Ysidro pedestrian crossing. Look, I'm an American citizen -- Stop yelling at me.