Laptop and TSA scanner
 

It is always required to get your laptop out of your carry-on luggage and put into a separate box, and why TSA has such a rule?

Unlike sharp knifes and other items, laptop is not dangerous item.

Is this to protect the laptop? Or to run stronger X-ray to exam the laptop?

One concern is the notebook metal components may block items below it during x-ray, which is why they want it in a bin....unless you have one of the new approved carriers.

They think all laptops are potential bombs (but somehow iPods, phones, video players and other electronic devices are not :rolleyes:)

So their conclusion is putting the laptop through on its own makes the 'bomb' easier to see - of course given they can only detect 20% or so of the bomb or bomb parts they are tested with, I'm not holding my breath.

Just another silly rule - although certainly not on par with the stupidity of putting liquids/gels through the x-ray on their own because the TSA believes the x-ray can detect the chemical composition of these items - now that rule is unbelievably stupid.

The notebook or whatever can hide stuff under it. You could, for example, easily pack a bag so that they could see the computer, but not something directly under it, just thinking it was a laptop.

When they put out the specs for the new laptop bags it was things like no pockets by the laptop, no metal snaps or zippers on top of or under the laptop, etc. They want a very clear image that it's just a laptop.

In a nutshell, they force us to do it to accommodate for the shortfall in the technology (the 2-D x-ray machines) the TSA uses.

correct and i've never had an issue leaving my laptop in my "butterfly style" laptop bag.

http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/...rocedures.shtm

+1

I do the same with my MacBook Pro. I use an Incase neoprene sleeve..

http://www.goincase.com/products/det...sleeve-cl57099

The rule of thumb is all large electronics need to be able to seen. Like, if an xbox was to come through with lots of wires around it, it would be hard to determine if there are dangerous items around it. It's soo much easier to see electronics if their aren't lots of clutter around it. We say laptops b/c they are the most common large electronics carried around by passengers. I think people would look at me crazy if I started asking everyone to take out their PS3's out of their bags lol.

They raised a stink with me at IAD for leaving my netbook in it's very thin, cloth sleeve. Just the netbook and sleeve, which I removed from my shoulder bag.