Programmer with Apple laptop considered dangerous terrorist with dangerous device

[Elwood P Dowd]

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/03/07/how-a-macbook-air-baffled-airport-security/

How a MacBook Air baffled airport security

Alternate title: The MacBook Air is a device, but it's not a "Device."

Programmer Michael Nygard is used to travel. He's got the process down, from airport to hotel. Unfortunately, the TSA isn't as prepared.

While passing through airport security recently, he was pulled aside and made to sit in the holding area. He watched as a gaggle of TSA workers examined his things, especially his laptop ...

"'There's no drive,' one says. 'And no ports on the back. It has a couple of lines where the drive should be,' she continues...."

As you've probably guessed, Michael's MacBook Air had them all baffled. Fortunately, a younger member of the team eventually arrived and explained that it's not a "device," but a computer with a solid state hard drive. It's good to know they're keeping up with this kind of thing.

Here's a warning to everyone traveling to SxSW this weekend with a MacBook Air: schedule a few extra minutes for the airport.

[Kutjara]

1. Reminds me of when I used to travel with two laptops.

I'd often have to give client demonstrations of my company's server software, which required me to network two computers together. For about two years, I had to travel around the world with two laptops. At just about every airport, I'd be made to endure long waits, elaborate searches, endless questioning, and veiled threats. Because, presumbaly, terrorists need two computers to hatch their diabolical schemes. And law-abiding citizens could never, ever, have the need to carry two computers. Oh no.

And now the lackwits at the TSA haven't heard about SSD drives. Never mind that Dell, Lenovo, Apple and others have been putting them in computers since late last year. Never mind that the drive in the MacBook Air is the same as in every iPod that's been manufactured during the past three years. No, they don't understand it, and what they don't understand must be bad. It's the Incredible Hulk school of security.

I feel so safe.

[MadMaddie]

2. So I guess the advancements of American Technology will

edited because my stupid keyboard sucks...

be put on the Terrorism list because we can't hire people smart enough to figure out that Macs and other laptops don't look like anything they have ever seen..:sarcasm:

[RC]

3. Yeah, and...? What else is new?

TSA did not even know our passports had been chipped when I went through KCI a year ago. It set off their wand. I told them it was my passport in my shirt pocket.
Way to keep up guys. Makes me feel really safe with ya all so diligently on the job.