[Infowarrior] - TSA Says X-Rayable Laptop Bags are Go

[Richard Forno]

TSA Says X-Rayable Laptop Bags are Go

http://gizmodo.com/5020980/tsa-says-x+rayable-laptop-bags-are-go

The director of the TSA, Kip Hawley, has spoken to the New York Times  
and confirmed that x-ray friendly laptop cases will be accepted by the  
agency as soon as they hit the shelves, potentially bringing an end to  
the panic that your laptop will go astray in all the fuss at airport  
checkpoints. We brought you first hints of this back in May, but it  
looks like the process of getting the bags approved is well underway.  
And both Targus and Pathfinder Luggage are hoping to have products on  
sale as soon as September or October.

Pathfinder is currently developing two "checkpoint friendly" models:  
one wheeled trolley with a removable laptop case, one a briefcase that  
reveals the laptop when it's unzipped. These new foam and nylon cases  
will set you back between $100 and $200. Targus's x-rayable cases vary  
from a $39 backpack and a $100 business traveller version. And there  
are at least four or five other manufacturers also submitting  
prototypes to the agency for checking.

But there's still a catch, of sorts: the TSA is not certifying these  
bags, and asks that manufacturers use terms like "checkpoint friendly"  
instead, and avoid buckles pockets or zips in the design. Does that  
mean your impractical bag won't seal securely and some officious  
security guard may still make you fish out your laptop anyway, as he  
doesn't believe it to be "friendly" to the x-ray machine? Time will  
tell. []