“Programmer Michael Nygard is used to travel. He’s got the process down, from airport to hotel. Unfortunately, the TSA isn’t as prepared,” Dave Caolo reports for TUAW.
“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,” Caolo reports.
Caolo reports, “‘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.”
Full article here.
Nygard’s original blog post, “Steve Jobs Made Me Miss My Flight,” here.
[Thanks to every MacDailyNews Reader (and their mothers) for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Yeah, okay. Color us cynical, but are TSA workers really that out of it? Granted, the TSA is not a hotbed for Mensa candidates, but didn’t the large Apple logo on the Air’s lid help them along even a little bit? How about the Air’s major TV, print, and radio campaign that’s been running for nearly two solid months before Nygard’s blog post? Even that didn’t help the poor TSA schlubs any, huh? We’d like to see the video evidence, please. Yup, you guess it, this story sounds just a bit too made up to us, almost like a PR plant — “The MacBook Air is so thin and advanced that it baffles government workers!” — but, hey, there’s an outside chance that we might be wrong once or twice, so what do you think?
Actually, I don’t doubt this. I’ve seen some Airport wackiness, and all it takes is one person with a raised eyebrow.
Make that airport wackiness, to disambiguate for the Mac community
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Unless you have witnessed it, the combined intelligence of the TSA personnel is quite stunning. And honestly, if you are not in the tech sphere, or read the bigger publications regularly, I doubt you would be aware either. We get caught up in our little world, and we forget the life of the lemmings…
Even if the TSA HAD heard of the MBA, he probably didn’t know about the SSD.
I believe it. I’ve traveled by air enough to know that the ‘security measures’ exclude my wife’s makeup, body cream, toothpaste, shave cream, etc. She couldn’t carry the items in her suitcase unless they were contained in a clear ziploc bag. She had to go out and come back in with them. It was ok to have them but the ultra secure explosion proof no leak ziploc was the safety key.
I doubt the educational level is too high for those who are entrusted with the safety of millions of people and billions of dollars of equipment. I brought a food slicing device through the safety checkpoint and the TSA employee had to ask a superior if it was safe. I can just imagine what a sleek new laptop would do their minds.
Ooops was getting off onto a rant. My patriotism was slipping. I must be reeducated for the good of all democracies around the globe. Do not think for myself. Do not think for myself. Do not…
The shave cream was mine.
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Some people are baffled by the stupidity of TSA agents? Come on. Doesn’t anyone remember the stories about the hiring process? One man had to be reminded to bathe, but was an excellent screener”.
Or the article about an undercover TSA screener?
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/detail?articleId=10624&pageNumber=1&print=true
I went through JFK on a slow day one time and was terrified when they started shouting at me from the Xray machine while I was putting my shoes back on. They were real worked up about what was in my carry on but didn’t want to open it. They just kept shouting “What’s in there? What is it?” I was going white trying to figure out what they were on about and I think they picked up on that and someone finally said. “Is it a doll ?” and I answered “It’s a Rescue Hero action figure for my son” They went nuts shouting “I knew it. Told you!”
They all started laughing and apologized. It was pretty funny after I realized they were having some fun trying to guess what stuff was on the Xray.
I have another good story about a national guardsman drawing his rifle on me at the San Francisco airport right after 9/11 but I’ll save that one.
So, no, nothing about security at the airport surprises me.
if it was a dell they would have ushered them right through…
They don’t exactly recruit the best and the brightest for the TSA.
Sorry, I fly regularly with a MacBook Air. And I have never been challenged.
Does anyone remember when security used to make you boot up your laptop to prove that all the gizmos inside were really part of a computer? I used to laugh at the poor Windows guys who had to wait interminably for their laptops to boot up when all I had to do is wake my sleeping Powerbook.
I was pulled aside by airport security when I traveled with an original 45-pound Mac Portable. They are not trained to know what the hell is going on.
Q. What did the airport security professional get on his IQ test?
A. Drool.
And just think, if Hillary Clinton or Barrack Obama wins the election, we’ll be handling your medical care as well!
Hey, my magic word is “plane!”
Sounds like MDN doesn’t fly anywhere very often. TSA fools are dumb as dirt.
@original Shiva:
Thanks with clarifying the issue of the shave cream. My mind is soooo fast.
You won’t see video evidence of this. One of the TSA rules is that you cannot video tape anything in the area of security screening. It helps them to keep the terrorists guessing, I guess.
The comment about Obama and Hillary was just plain ignorant. I don’t believe they were the ones that came up with the TSA in the first place, fool.
I’ve dealt with TSA before. They even conducted an investigation on me that took 6 months! Nothing with them surprises me.
I’m not saying they all are like that or even the majority are like that. Just that it is believable to me.
MDN could try and contact Michael Nygard. If you are going to question him you should at least do him the courtesy of questioning him.
BTW – I was cleared. Boom!
“The MacBook Air is so thin and advanced that it baffles government workers!”
Not that this is a particular accomplishment…
Q: Where does an 800 pound gorilla sleep?
A: Anywhere he wants.
Q: Why does the TSA stop people at random for no apparent reason?
A: Because they can.
Like other caged animals, they are dangerous and to be feared.
The crack about Hillary & Obama was an observation about ALL big government initiatives. They are all mirrors of the TSA. The TSA is a very visible government agency that we all must suffer through, but just about every Federal Government bureau is equally inept, just better hidden for most of us. Of course Hillary and Obama profess to love “big government can do anything” projects (and if you don’t recognize that then it is you who are ignorant). But the fact is if you don’t like the incompetence of the TSA (which is par for government projects) then you had better prepare yourself for the worst when we allow the federal government take over healthcare, etc.
TSA will never do security right because they’re resistant to human screening – profiling, if you will. Not of the simple race or religion variety, but one covering behavior, probe and response, documentation and background. It was such profiling that kept the 20th hijacker out of the US, despite the “open door policy” to Saudis, and could have kept his partners from flying out of Logan. Technology is no substitute for the trained, human observer.
What does TSA stand for, according to the FBI?
Take Scissors Away
Funny, the TsA girl was able to find my hard drive when it was in a solid state….
When I fly I don’t give a damn what they do or ask me as long as I don’t miss my plane.
They have a job I wouldn’t want to do and don’t want.
Major BS detected. And delected.
I don’t doubt the story, I few about 6 months ago for a job interview and had my 867 mhz powerbook (with the titanium case) and I had to prove to the TSA that it was not a bomb. I had to power it on and perform a few tasks. Apparently their scanning equipment couldn’t penetrate the case.
Imagine if he had Safari opened to Al Jazeera, with a countdown clock app running.
Methinks the TSA folks might not see any humor in it… :O
Be a little gentle with the TSA folk — TV and advertising are not part of my life; the get avoided carefully. so “How about the Air’s major TV, print, and radio campaign that’s been running for nearly two solid months before Nygard’s blog post?” may not apply.
We should be happy that the TSA agents were actually paying attention to the X-ray screen. With popularity of MacBook Air, we should have expected more people complaining about being stopped by TSA by now. The fact this is the first article about it should scare us more. What were other TSA agents doing? Either this was first time MacBook Air went through the X-ray machine or they did not notice a hard disk was missing in the laptop.
Another thought is, no Windows PC laptop users will have to experience this problem. Again, Windows laptops are years behind the Mac laptops.
I believe the headline is wrong. It should actually read:
“Intelligence Baffles Airport Security”
As I have seen many times over the years the government can not do anything right and private business can always do it better for less money.
Support the FairTax
get government out of our lives
spark said: “blah, blah, blah, blah, gurgle, blurp, blah…….blah.
================================
I’ll bet the color of your keyboard matches your winky – cheetos orange!
Apple doesn’t advertise on “Young and the Reckless” so TSA personnel aren’t going to see the ads
here you go, busted
looks good on an iPhone, too
http://boortz.com/mp3/archive/countdown.swf
Mike Nygard is a goodfriend of mine and a former co-worker, actually! He is as ethical and honest as they come. He would not make this up. Below is a link to a book he recently had published. Enjoy!
http://www.pragprog.com/titles/mnee/index.html
They just wanted it.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s MacBook Air.
This reminds me of a story from a few years ago about a guy with a brand new early 15 inch PowerBook. Airport security would not believe it was a laptop because no way was a consumer computer made out of “weapons grade titanium”. Apparently the poor guys PB was torn apart. Anyone remember that one?
TSA is only a sliver above “Ya’ll want frys with that?”
TSA is Security Theatre, the classic case of governments pretending to be doing something by being seen to do something.
Saw this comment on TUAW:
“I got stopped in December because I forgot to take my Nike+ sensor out of my shoe. I tried to explain to the guy what it was, but he called his supervisor. Fortunately he knew what it was. I would think that they have seen thousands of them before.”
MacBook Air’s, Titanium PowerBook’s, Nike+ iPod sensors!!
Is this a big Apple Plot?
It’s all dubya’s fault.
“Keepin’ us safe”.
50% of the people in any airport is below average.
Maclouie
I think you be half right.
The Apple Store is down………
American border guards:
‘For one sweet moment in my miserable life, I had power!
The guy looked harmless, but he had a laptop so I asked him to dismantle it.’ ‘He missed his flight by several hours.’
‘Later that day, I forced an 80 year-old guy to strip to his underwear – why?’ Because I can. He should have stopped talking when I told him to.’
‘I am a social inadequate, IQ of about 23, but when I am at the airport, and the line stretches out before me, I am KING!’
‘I know 911 was a Bush/Cheney false flag black op, but it sure did me some good!’
The TSA are fascist thugs who delight in trying to intimidate passengers simply because they can. You will find that most complaints about them have little to do with luggage itself, and everything to do with how they treat people during the screening process.The majority that I have encountered are only screening bags because they flunked out of Abu Ghraib.
I travel a lot for work… I believe this. I have never seen such a bunch of incompetent Federal employees in my life. I am literally surprised that planes aren’t blowing up daily. They are idiots.
I can literally see them discussing, whether this shiny thing is really a computer. All of them huddled while the line backs-up and I’m missing my f-ing flight.
“They are all mirrors of the TSA”
I’d say these issues are more of a reflection on the dumbing down of America than they are government initiatives. The people they hire obviously are just plain stupid and can’t wrap their puny brains around even the simplest concepts. If the general public were a little more educated, this probably wouldn’t be an issue.
Get ready, it’s only going to get worse.
The random checks are rather hilarious.. A few years after 911 my mom and dad came back from aruba and were very tan. My dad, one liking to joke and be funny, started talking to my mom in an arabic accent, ya know like the cab drivers or “kwik-e mart” owners.. They pulled them aside knowing they are definately american looking and checked their luggage. Another time I flew out to florida myself and someone got yelled at because he had toothpaste in his bag. They asked if he had any liquids and he said no. They pretty much had an aneurism over it, im surprised they didn’t give the 60 year old a heart attack.
@TowerTone
funny joke about the solid state drive…. I dont think many caught onto that
Flying with a C-PAP device (air pressure device that I have to sleep with) has added to my airport woes: TSA officials six feet apart will tell me two different ways to unload and display the device, which must be carry-on. And they do it rudely.
I went through san francisco airport three years back and they hadnt seen a usb-key before
Security Guard reasoning: Person claims to be going on a long trip. Dressed like a serious business person. Takes crappy underpowered laptop? Wait a minute they don’t intend to be around that long! Terrorist!!!!
Just my $0.02
It’s hard for me to appreciate such a negative headline. I think it should read:
“Airport security figures out that MacBook Air is a laptop”.
TSA and airport security. I’m surprised they know what a cellphone is. I got the big “stand over here while we go through everything you have and take your shoes off and jacket – etc. – etc.” because when asked if I wanted to sign up for their frikkin frequent flyer club I said: “No – I don’t fly much” I then watched her put a mark on my boarding pass that was the clue to Mong up at the X-ray to make my life a living hell. I hate flying – avoid it at all costs – but my father was about to die and I had to get there fast.
Fark the TSA – I really look like a frikkin terrorist.
Glad I didn’t have an iPhone at that time or I would still be going through the search.
“Of course Hillary and Obama profess to love “big government can do anything” projects (and if you don’t recognize that then it is you who are ignorant)”
so spark, why is it that the “little government” conservatives grow the government larger than the liberals every time?
why is it that the ” pro second amendment no PC speak” types lay down and roll over like good little doggies when their masters take away real freedoms like habeas corpus and free speech?
what color is the sky in your world, cause here in the REAL world……
All you people sound like smug, arseholes w/ a superiority complex when talking about the TSA employees who are only doing their jobs…..
Typical liberals! Automatically assume that you’re superior to all other people and mock them like you’re some spoiled, pubescent teenager…
Yet these same self-important chuckleheads want the government to take over all other aspects of our lives! (presenting Obama and universal healthcare!)
As far as those being inconvenienced passing thru security… Hey morons, we had some whack jobs fly a few planes into several buildings a number of years back killing thousands, not to mention the United flight that the passengers heroically forced to the ground sacrificing their own lives…
As a frequent traveller, both domestic & foreign, I am HAPPY to oblige the TSA personnel… I do not view having to put toiletries into Ziploc bags as overly burdensome (but apparently the pusshead on this board was probably confused by the plastic zipper)
If you don’t like the rules, you can charter your own plane… If you can’t afford that, then take the bus…. I WANT these people doing their jobs…. (and if you can’t afford to charter your own plane, then you are just another working slob like the rest of us – doing our jobs, just like the TSA employees. I would certainly like to comment on the average IQs of some of your professions!
@Jimbo
Hillary and Obama’s health care system is going to put you in a mile long line after a 6 month long wait. Will you feel you voted for a “fool” then??
@ben dover
For your information, i am a conservative, and I am just as smug and superior as any liberal!!
Seriously though, I travel a lot, and share the low opinion of the average TSA worker. ANYONE who has to deal with these people on a regular basis does.
Since we are sharing stories, I was traveling through Logan airport in Boston (you know, the same place that let two planeloads of terrorists through with boxcutters on 9/11), and was trying to fly standby on an earlier flight. Since I was standby, I could not check my bag, and had to take it to the gate with me.
What I had forgotten was that I had a chemical sample in my bag from a customer that I was taking back for a lab analysis. Technically, a hazardous chemical.
TSA screened my bag, then told me that they needed to scren it again. They then told me they wanted to search my bag. Do you think they even looked at the coffee cup sized container of unidentified white powder? No.
They did take my nail clippers though.
Thank god they are on watch protecting us from evil. You never know when a terrorist may want to give you a manicure against your will.
Most airport security people are bafflled by anything that is not edible….and available at the food stands in the airport.
These security people are clueless but enjoy intimidating others.
He must have been at LAX.
First the airlines don’t understand the iPhone. Now TSA is clueless on the MacBook Air. Who is running the nation’s airspace? Microsoft?
Funny how you are picking on Hillary and Obama about the TSA and how our government works or doesn’t work. When all this time this is a Bush White House that granted the TSA its absurd power. This is a Bush/Cheney, Republican controlled congress fiasco not a Democrat one.
You’re correct htown. TSA has nothing to do with the upcoming election except that if McBush wins we can kiss more freedoms goodbye in the name of Safety.
Give it some thought Ben Dover. Box cutters? Really? Box cutters?
Have you actually inquired beyond the mainstream media about 911? Box cutters? If someone tried to take your wallet with a box cutter would you hand it over? Pressed against my throat, they can have it. Threaten me with one and we tussle. Same with nail clippers and other manicuring devices. Come at me with an 8 oz bottle of water and see what happens. Box cutters? You don’t have to be a liberal or conservative to have an open mind and inquire beyond what you’re told. Just have an open mind.
Things are equally bad at harbours. Did you know that a Captain (or any crew member) on a foreign ship is not allowed to stroll further away from his ship than 150ft in US harbours? Not even allowed to visit a friend on another ship. After a month on the Sea they have to stay onboard. Todays shipping is hard work, not like 25 years ago when they could get a certain “reputation”.
A Captain is sole responsible for his ship, men and cargo worth millions, but when he arrives in the US he and his men are regarded as potential terrorists!
I think it’s outright a shame!
this just partially happened to me this morning. I didnt have to go to a holding room but they looked at my ssd model funny, pulled it off the conveyer and asked me to open it to see it turn on. They were nice about it and saying “wow” as much ad anything.
I do what the TSA say, but that doesn’t mean they’re the most endearing or brightest bulbs in the chandelier. While waiting in a security line that was getting long, one TSA person was “helping” us with advice by asking us to “remove all metallic items from our bodies – that means items that contain metal or stick to a magnet”. Some joker asked if non-ferrous items were OK. The TSA guy was nice until he realized he was being made fun of. The joker had a nice long search…
Hell, the TSA will pull you over if they are just curious about something…when I first got my powerbook titanium it freaked them out….
“Does anyone remember when security used to make you boot up your laptop to prove that all the gizmos inside were really part of a computer? I used to laugh at the poor Windows guys who had to wait interminably for their laptops to boot up when all I had to do is wake my sleeping Powerbook.”
um… windows laptops can go to sleep too
To add my 2 cents-most of the TSA folks i’ve dealt with have been fine, and I used to do a lot of 1-way flights by myself so I always had special attention. Most of them are just trying not to screw up an important job-granted we seem to be blessed with an ignorant general population and they seem to like working for TSA.
You think that our security checkpoints are burdensome–try flying in or out of Isreal. We have it easy.