Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

"Really, TSA? Are you honestly so stoked to disappoint? If you'll recall, the American Transportation Security Administration got up close and personal with a first-generation MacBook Air after wrongly assuming it was an Apocalypse-bringer, and even after adjusting rules so that iPads, netbooks and other smaller electronics could fly through carry-on screening equipment without being unpacked, we've still heard of (and personally experienced) occasions where agents have demanded that tablet PCs be ran through naked."

Inconsistency is the one constant with TSA and their rules. I dealt with them several times last year when my daughter was going to pole vaulting competitions. All we wanted to know was how to pack her track spikes or if we could just carry them on board since they were pretty expensive and we didn't want them to get lost. Trying to figure out which of the 4 answers we were given on how to pack her track spikes was the correct answer was the challenge. So I take this stuff with a grain of salt because depending on which TSA agent is at the screening stations, you just might be forced to take it out. Yes, they can say it's ok but be prepared to take it out anyway. And DO NOT argue with them about it, it gets you nowhere but one of those rooms with no windows. Oh, regarding the spikes, we took them off the shoes and put them in a ziplock bag and put them in the carry on bag and no problem.

"Apple's iPad tablet is friendlier than a traditional laptop when it comes to airport security."

TSA said yesterday that you shouldn't need to remove your iPad from your bag, but if they can't get a clear image, just like anything else, you may be asked to remove it. At least they are ahead of the game on this one, but I sure hope they at least know what it is, unlike when the MacBook Air came through one of their checkpoints.