[HazelGirl]

Have you ever noticed something "wrong" with your laptop after you have left an airport? That is, do you think that having to put it through the machine damages the hard drive?

[antoinasia]

I hope someone answers this before I take mine to the airport for the first time Friday ..... if not, I'll let you know monday! haha

[Big Mac]

I have never taken a laptop through the airport carry-on scanner, but most tech authorities say there isn't an issue with doing it.

[foo12]

No, it's perfectly safe. My PowerBook has been x-rayed about... 20+ times in the past two years. (And the whole "can't even have your laptop in a sleeve" thing is a joke. Kabuki security. I can understand not having it in a bag packed with other electronics, but we have serious issues if 3/32" of neoprene foam and nylon and stop our magic happy device from seeking out the evil.)

[MickeyZ]

I travelled with my 15" MBP twice and putting it through the x-ray machine did no harm to it.

[ibook_steve]

This has been asked many times. It's not the X-rays you need to worry about. It's the magnets in the motors that drive the conveyor belt and the possibility of someone stealing your machine while the wand people check your shoes for explosives. Put your laptop in the machine last after the rest of your luggage, and pick it back up as soon as possible.

Steve

[HazelGirl]

thanks.

just want to be sure no harm will come to my new baby.

[Tomchu]

Airport x-ray machines aren't the problem ... personnel who don't know how to handle laptops are. I had some bitch in Amsterdam literally throw my MBP down onto a plastic tray without even flincing.

The look of incredulity on my face was noticed by almost everyone around me, but she was completely oblivious.

[and_the_dog]

My series of powerbooks have been through the xray machines at airports several hundred times. My only problems:

- Careless TSA folk. I have had laptops dropped, knocked off tables, and otherwise abused.

- Loose screws. Try not to let the bin holding your laptop slide down the slope of rollers at the end of some xray machines, that tends to vibrate screws loose. Not a huge issue, and if you're only traveling occasionally, don't even worry about it. I think it's only happened to me because of the severe abuse I put laptops through.

My new MacBookPro will start receiving this treatment as soon as I have time to sit down and get it configured and everything copied over. (It's still in its box right now.)

[rjt1000]

I'm a regular air traveler and my PB G4 12 1.33 has been xrayed about 50 times. The xrays are no problem, but careless handling, moving luggage and theft are the dangers

My advice:

Get everything ready before you get to the xray line. Get all your metal objects (belt, watch, rings, wire-framed glasses, keys, coins, cell phone) into your carry-on bag before so you won't be distracted by doing this. Wear shoes that are easy to take on and off.

Your goal is to get through the metal detector without setting off the alarm so you will not have to be wanded and patted down (and thereby unable to grab your laptop off the xray belt as soon as it emerges.)

Be sure to dump out the plastic bin (of sand and dirt from people shoes) before putting your laptop in it.

Put all of your other carryons (especially heavy ones) through the xray first. Put your laptop case through next to last and your laptop last. Wait until your laptop enters the xray machine before you enter the metal detector.

As soon as the laptop emerges grab it and put it in the case. (You want to avoid a heavy bag careening down the xray belt next and slamming into the plastic bin holding your laptop and dumping it out). Best is a case with a shoulder strap so you can hang it safely on your shoulder before you start to fuss with your shoes and other belongings.

Bon voyage,

rjt1000

[rjt1000]

Originally Posted by foo12 

(And the whole "can't even have your laptop in a sleeve" thing is a joke. Kabuki security. I can understand not having it in a bag packed with other electronics, but we have serious issues if 3/32" of neoprene foam and nylon and stop our magic happy device from seeking out the evil.)

The reason they want you to take the laptop out of the case is that the laptops dense electronics could potentially block them from visualizing contraband in the case (not vice versa).

[and_the_dog]

Oh, and:

1. If you have a screen protector sleeve (just a piece of good fabric that slides down around the screen to protect it from the keyboard), turn your laptop upside down in the plastic bin so that TSA is less likely to notice it. I've had a few TSA folks demand I take the screen sleeve off, or worse, start to try to do it themselves. By turning the whole thing upside down, so it's not visible, I've had no problems. (And, no way a thin piece of fabric is going to affect the xray.)

2. Tape your business card to your laptop, or some big recognizable sticker, or some how deface your laptop so it is unambiguously *yours*. Before I started doing this I had several people unintentionally try to walk off with my laptop and leave me theirs.

(#2 also is part of the reason I agree with the above poster that your goal is to get through the metal detector quickly and without beeping so you can grab your laptop asap at the other end. Also related to this: have your laptop go into the xray machine last, but wait until it's fully in before you walk through the metal detector.)

#3 Do not let yourself be bullied into clumsily carrying your bag(s) and laptop to some other place before you put your laptop back in your bag. Some day you will drop your laptop, or have some turn and bump you hard, or something. Stand right where you are at the end of the xray and get your laptop safely resecured before you do anything else. Related to this: Be sure that however your bag and laptop case work, that it's quick and easy to get it back in the bag so you don't hold up the whole line for too long.