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Several companies are working on new laptop bags that are said to be X-ray friendly

Anyone who has flown post-9/11 knows that traveling with electronic devices, especially laptops, can be a frustrating and time consuming experience that could be simplified.  Along with your shoes, you're also required to remove a laptop from its case and place it in its own bin when sending it through the X-ray machine.  

Several companies are reportedly working on new laptop cases designed so the laptop can be left inside the bag, which will help ease tensions and make flying easier. The new product was developed by Targus and Pathfinder.  

With approval from the Transportation Security Administration, the newly designed carry-on bags will have a "checkpoint-friendly" universal logo.  The material and the way owners store their laptop and peripherals in the case will make it easier and faster for TSA X-ray operators to scan the bags.

The new bags should be available in late September or early October, both companies claim.  The TSA hopes by working with manufacturers it can help arrange for the new bags to be available in time for the Christmas holiday flying season, when millions of Americans will take to the air.

Pathfinder Luggage is now producing two different cases at a manufacturing plant in the Philippines and has received the TSA's blessing.

"They don't want anything obscuring the view of the laptop," said Ron Davis, Pathfinder Luggage executive VP.  "In our case, the material is nylon and foam, and the X-ray machine will see right through that.

The typical laptop bag used today are difficult to see through with the X-ray, and assuming the X-ray machine is able to get a good view, security officers have a hard time scanning the laptop due to a high level of clutter from cables, power cords, mice, etc.  The TSA reports at least 25 percent of travelers today carry a laptop with them.

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Logo
By WhatAbout on 7/3/2008 8:21:05 AM , Rating: 5
So where can I get the logo so I can just place it on my current bag?




RE: Logo
By gwynethgh on 7/3/2008 8:56:57 AM , Rating: 2
"So where can I get the logo so I can just place it on my current bag?"

Thanx that made a good morning laugh


RE: Logo
By jabber on 7/3/2008 9:05:57 AM , Rating: 4
Exactly..wont work at all! Waste of time.

You can wear flip-flops and you still have to take them off to go through. Security staff at airports are not the brightest bunch so instead of the delays arguing the toss of whether a laptop bag is scannable or not it will just be business as usual, all laptops out of bags.

Would you bother/dare arguing with security staff over such an issue?

If Targus had thought it through for two minutes they could have saved themselves a lot of wasted development money.

Targus staff must not get out much, thats all I can say.


RE: Logo
By retrospooty on 7/3/2008 9:15:06 AM , Rating: 2
One would assume the bag hHAS to be see through to be acceptable. The logo isnt really the point, its just a logo.


RE: Logo
By mles1551 on 7/3/2008 2:34:12 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Would you bother/dare arguing with security staff over such an issue?

No, I'd rather not end up in Gitmo b/c of a laptop bag.
.
.
.
But there will be plenty of people buy them b/c they'll think they have to have them.
*Best Buy Staffer to Customer* "Oh yes, this bag by Targus is the only TSA compliant laptop bag available"


Non Issue IMO
By TomZ on 7/3/2008 9:30:11 AM , Rating: 3
I travel a lot on business, and in my opinion, removing the laptop from the case is a non-issue. The overall inconvenience is more related to waiting in line, and other things like having to take shoes off, empty pockets, take off watch, etc., etc. So basically by being able to keep my laptop in the bag, it solves about 5% of the overall problem.




RE: Non Issue IMO
By marvdmartian on 7/3/2008 10:34:47 AM , Rating: 2
No doubt. Idiots that can't figure out how to remove all the metal objects from their person BEFORE they go through the metal detector is a much bigger slowdown, imho.

Really, it would be great if they could have 3 lines. One for families with kids (since that takes longer), one for frequent/intelligent travelers (that know how to sail through the line quickly), and one for the remainder of the travelers that are morons, and slow everyone else down!


RE: Non Issue IMO
By Brainonska511 on 7/3/2008 1:15:39 PM , Rating: 2
They were actually trying to implement this the last time I was going through Midway in Chicago. There was a line or two that families were supposed to go to, a line or two for people familiar with the procedures, and a line or two for people who aren't aware at all of what they are supposed to do.


RE: Non Issue IMO
By TomZ on 7/3/2008 2:35:47 PM , Rating: 2
I personally don't think this will solve any problems. In my experience, most of the wait is due to TSA agents and/or equipment, i.e., the security process itself more than the passengers. Hiring more TSA staff and adding more lanes would therefore be more effective in reducing the delays.

But really we have to recognize that there is a simple cost-vs-efficiency trade-off. The current staff and equipment levels are adequate to get the job done, just not enough to reduce or eliminate passenger delays.

I also wonder if long lines at screening gives everyone a (possibly false) sense of extra security compared to if there was no wait at the security check.


RE: Non Issue IMO
By BigLan on 7/3/2008 4:18:02 PM , Rating: 2
They have it at Salt Lake airport, I think they were the first to try it.


uhm
By yacoub on 7/3/2008 10:06:07 AM , Rating: 2
"security officers have a hard time scanning the laptop due to a high level of clutter from cables, power cords, mice, etc."

So how does the bag propose to address this problem?




RE: uhm
By Polynikes on 7/3/2008 11:38:12 AM , Rating: 3
My guess is it will have no pockets or seams in it aside from those that are needed along the outside edge of the bag, and you'll have to put your cables/mice/etc elsewhere.

So, you'll basically be exchanging one pain in the ass for another.


RE: uhm
By Domicinator on 7/3/2008 12:32:08 PM , Rating: 2
Exactly my thoughts. Flying with a laptop is a huge pain no matter what you try to do.

I almost always have my notebook with me when I fly, and I hate having to go through that whole process. The first time I ever did it, I didn't know about taking it out of the bag, and the guy basically manhandled my laptop and virtually TOSSED it on to the desk for inspection. When I said, "Hey, that's my COMPUTER!!!", they got irritated with me.

Last time I flew, I put the laptop in its own bin and as soon as it got through the X Ray machine, a lady took the bin and pretty much slammed it into the end of the conveyor. I thought for sure that it would be broken, but it was ok.


RE: uhm
By Solandri on 7/3/2008 12:38:23 PM , Rating: 2
Last time I went through airport security (a month ago), the x-ray machines produced images in two directions. That is, they gave a top-down view, and a side view. So accessories in half the outside edges of the bag would also obscure the x-ray view of the laptop. You'd have to be sure to always orient the bag the same way when it went into the x-ray machine.


TSA Bags
By travel2much on 7/7/2008 12:47:22 PM , Rating: 2
As much as I'd like to have fun at the TSA's expense (and please don't throw tomatoes at me), I think if you read the real story and give it some thought, there is at least the *potential*... if done right... that this could help the ridiculous security situation. The fact is, the "platinum lanes" (for experienced travelers) are actually working quite well, and in my opinion as a constant international traveler, every little bit helps. I have looked at all of the manufacturers mentioned in the various articles, and most don't have any real info posted yet, but I did find some stuff at www.checkthrough.com. Some of the information there is factual (as far as I can tell), and some is geared towards the company's own products (as you would expect), but it does help get at least a bit more understanding. Anyway, don't shoot the messenger.... I just want to travel with less grief!




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