trevorc@uwovax.uwo.ca (11/30/90)
In article <160670@kean.ucs.mun.ca>, abraham@kean.ucs.mun.ca (ABE ROSS) writes: > Has anyone run into any problems using a laptop on the seat-back table > on airplanes? The first time I ever travelled with the laptop the > stewardess told me that on some planes these tables were magnetized to keep > things from slipping around on them and that the magnetization might > affect the hard disk. Magntizing the table didn't make much sense > since most of the plates, etc. are plastic. But, I didn't want to > test her advice. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Sounds a bit like the proverbial Newfie joke - sure you were not travelling on Air Canada?!! Joking apart, my experience has been varied. I have been asked to cease and desist on some occasions so now ask the flight attendant if the airline approves. Usually you will get the OK. The fear is that the E-M radiation from the lap-top will affect the navigational gear but the large majority of lap-tops are well within Canadian and US limits for this sort of thing and no interference can be expected - intereference of the navi-gear that is, not intereference by the ever vigilant flight attendant! -- Trevor Cradduck, | Phone: (519) 667-6574 Department of Nuclear Medicine, | FAX: (519) 667-6734 Victoria Hospital, | E-mail: University of Western Ontario, | BITNET: TREVORC@UWOVAX.BITNET LONDON, Ontario, | INTERNET: TREVORC@UWOVAX.UWO.CA Canada, N6A 4G5 | UUCP: TREVORC@RIA.UWO.CA