I am sure this has been extensivly covered and I have not been able to search so I do appologize for asking this.
I am a first time laptop owner and will be travelling with my family from DTW to JFK onto MAD this Easter. I am wondering what to expect regarding screening and a laptop. Also my laptop has a wifi card (still learning about it), will I be able to plug in and use this laptop during layovers?
Thank you for your input. Any other issues you may think helpful are greatly appreciated.

Pretty simple, remove your laptop from the bag it is in, and place it in the grey bin they provide you, and that's it. No worries about the Wi-Fi card, it will be just fine. Your power cable is fine remaining in the bag.

It differs from airport to airport, some allow you to put something small, like loose change or keys in the same bin as your computer, bu most want the computer to fly solo in that bin.

If you ever travel internationally, you will not need to remove your laptop from your bag when going through foreign airports.

Safe travels.

Thank you!

I recommend that if you have family with you, have one go through ahead and one behind you so they can keep an eye on your laptop as it goes through screening. Personally, I've never had a problem, but it's helpful to avoid mistakes--people have walked off with the wrong laptop before--and to be wary of possible theft.

Easy way to avoid the "identical laptops" issue - tape a business card to the top and bottom of your laptop. I've got a ThinkPad, just like everyone else, and it helps.

The official rule is just nothing on top or nothing under the computer, so it's fine to place small items such as keys on the side in the bin, next to your laptop.

Tell that to the geniuses at EWR, who were instructing people to put shoes, coats, hats, etc. in ON TOP of their laptops in the bins. They wouldn't give me a second bin for anything, even though there were tons sitting sideways on the weird little belt behind them.

Has anyone tried those "grip-its" to put on your computer to keep it from slipping? It would also be a good identifier.

(BTW, my laptop came today & I had to have my 13 yr. old help me with it. I am computer savy just laptop challenged. Of course he called me over the hill!)

I'm not sure about the specific airports on your itin, but a very small number of airports have free wi-fi available, many have pay wi-fi. There are a variety of providers, so pricing plans vary. Most offer a full day plan for $7-10, some offer time in more granular increments, starting at around $3.00. Just plug the card in, if you get signal, open a browser and go to any address. The provider will hijaak the browser to a page that describes your options.

My wi-fi card is built in, help. I am confused about the previous post. I am feeling rather dumb today, it will eventually sink in (I promise). Also I am sure I will need a back up battery I see there are 2 tpes of batteries, which would be best, there is a HUGE price difference.
Thank you all for all of this GREAT help!

Well, here we go again with the inconsistency thing. DEN and SEA do not want you to put anything, even coins, in the same bin as the laptop.

Simple, really. Your Wifi card will automatically seek out signals. Reverse click on the icon in the tray (next to the clock) and 'View Available Wireless Networks." If Windows XP hasn't automatically connected you, select the network you want, then you'll be connected.

But then you will be connected to that provider's network, not necessarily the internet. The mention of the "hijack" in the other post is how when you first connect to a network, it will re-direct you to their sign-in page. If you have an account, enter your username and password, and then you're connected. Some airports, like JFK and LGA have their own wireless network, which you can connect to for 24 hours...for, if I remember correctly, $7.95.

Other airports, such as my home airport, DEN (I wouldn't recommend the security circus here, by the way), has AT&T Wireless in all of the concourses. The United Red Carpet Club (as in most, but not all, UA RCCs) has T-Mobile as its exclusive provider. If you travel regularly enough, you should consider purchasing a monthly subscription, usually $30/month.

Good luck.

Did they say where you can place the butcher knife?

No, but they did have a bins specifically labeled, "Fake Bombs" and "Real Bombs"

^ Did they also have bins labeled "boxcutters"?