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When is a handheld device too big?

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Old Dec 7, 2015 | 8:01 pm
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When is a handheld device too big?

Now that handheld devices are allowed to be used during taxi, takeoff and landing, I am seeing more cases of:

1 - huge tablets (that are like 8x11 paper size) that take 2 hands to hold
2 - tablet / notebook convertibles

Not to mention people plugging them in during taxi/takeoff/landing.

Last year, I was on a flight, the guy had an ultrabook and he said it was not a notebook/laptop so he was entitled to use it during taxi/takeoff. Luckily the FA put a stop to that.

Does it take an accident where people get slammed on the head by those huge devices or trip over these huge devices/wires during evacuation for the FAA to do something about it?
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Old Dec 7, 2015 | 8:59 pm
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FAs are announcing more often IME that you may not have devices plugged in during taxi/takeoff/landing, FWIW.
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 12:38 am
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Originally Posted by exerda
FAs are announcing more often IME that you may not have devices plugged in during taxi/takeoff/landing, FWIW.
Doesn't stop anyone from doing it discreetly. Once the FAs are seated for takeoff they can't/don't do anything about it anyway...
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Old Dec 13, 2015 | 4:41 pm
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Yes, and it gets me when people in exit rows plug them back in!

The light on the aisle side of the seats is supposed to indicate someone is drawing electricity, I think. However, my observation is that it is not 100% accurate - I have seen people plugging their devices and the light does not turn on.

The other issue is just the huge devices - I think we need to define what hand-held means.

The reality is that in this "me world" and relatively safe aviation environment, nothing will change until something really bad happens.
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