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-- Traveling With PDA's (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=11244)

I will be taking my daughter to Paris on Spring Break. We will be using a Prism and a Platinum. I have heard stories of data being erased or corrupted by the X - Ray equipment. Any experiences or suggestions from the well traveled PDA crowd. Thanks

Data can only be erased when it is stored on some magnetic type of media. Because the palm pilot don't use magnetic media, they are not affected by the X-ray machines. I have sent my trust palm through three internation airports, and I have not had a problem yet.

BEN

I usually don't check my PDA in my luggage or briefcase, thereby eliminating having to have my Visor x-rayed. I usually have it clipped to my belt, so I put it in the basket with my coins and other pocket stuff. The security attendant usually just asks me to turn the Visor on so that they can verify that it's a functioning PDA. The same thing with my camera... they ask to look through the viewfinder.

Phil Frank

I've sent both my laptop and PDAs through X-Rays without any trouble.

This past Christmas I went to see my Sister off and had the Visor in my pocket, took it out and put it in the tray. Rather than asking me to turn it on the stupid X-Ray attendant tried opening it herself, by sticking her nails inbetween where the front and back casing meet and prying it open. She gave up and finally asked me top turn it on.

__________________
Matt Nichols
[email protected]

The biggest danger in having your PDA x-rayed at airport security is that it will be stolen. A friend had his Visor in his briefcase and put it on the x-ray machine conveyor belt at Heathrow airport. When he got on the plane the Visor was no longer in his briefcase.

I suggest you keep it on your person and have them hand check it. Or, if you do pass your bag through the x-ray machine, make sure the PDA is still in there when you pick it up.

A common ploy for laptop thieves is to get two guys in front of someone with a laptop case at an x-ray machine. The first one goes through quickly, the second one dawdles and holds you up in line while the first one grabs your bag after it comes out of the machine. I suspect this can be used against PDA owners, too, so keep an eye on your bag.

Laura

LauraNerf noted: "The biggest danger in having your PDA x-rayed at airport security is that it will be stolen."

I concur. It's far worse with laptop cases than with PDAs, mostly because a laptop case is so identifiable. If you're traveling with someone else, leave your bags with the second person. Go through the security portal first. Once you're clear, have your friend move everything through the X-ray machine so you can retrieve everything promptly.

"I suggest you keep it on your person and have them hand check it. Or, if you do pass your bag through the x-ray machine, make sure the PDA is still in there when you pick it up."

If at all possible, try not to put everything on the belt when there's a big back-up at the walk-through portal. Even with a security person pulling an individual aside for a manual wand check, it is enough of a pause to give thieves extra cushion. If it's a purse, push your carry-on through first, then your purse right after it. This makes it more difficult for thieves to access your purse, since they have to first wait for your carry-on to get through.

The manual inspection is probably your best bet. If it's in a case you will need to remove it. Show it to the security agent; sometimes (depending on variables including which airport you're at, and its level of security) you will be asked to turn your Visor on. No problem, since there's no boot-up lag time like you get on a laptop.

By the way, my impression is that the "snag the laptop" deal (and other petty thievery such as pick pocketing) is far more common in Europe than it is in the U.S. Don't use that as a reason to let down your guard, however.

As for those of you who talked about not putting your Visors in your check-ins, I say PAH!! What are you doing even checking your stuff in? Haven't you been to my Travelite FAQ Web site yet? I have readers who to go Europe for three weeks with one carry-on. C'mon, let's get with the program!!

__________________
<B>Traveliter</B>/ Lani Teshima. 2000: Blue Vdx. 2001: Vpl. Travel writer, <A href="http://www.mouseplanet.com/lani/">MousePlanet.com</A>
Publisher/Editor:
- <B><A href="http://www.pilotlite.org">Pilotlite.org</A></B>: Simplify your travel with a PDA.
- <B><A href="http://www.travelite.org">Travelite.org</A></B>: Learn how to travel with just your carry-on

Travelling w/ Visor

I would invest the 40.00 and get the backup module. Nothing sucks worse than getting away from home and having a crash and having to hard reset.

If you can carry your visor by hand, I suggest that. Mine is too important to have some sticky fingered person lift it!!! :-)

__________________
Best Regards,
13612
Bill Ray
www.billraydrums.com

quote:

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Originally posted by LauraNerf
A friend had his Visor in his briefcase and put it on the x-ray machine conveyor belt at Heathrow airport. When he got on the plane the Visor was no longer in his briefcase.

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On boarding my flight at JFK, I emptied my pockets, including Visor, into one of those baskets, thinking it would bypass the x-ray machine. Instead, they insisted on putting it through. No harm came to it, and I'm probably being paranoid, but it kind of ticked me off. So, on subsequent flights, I would empty my pockets, and have my keys go through the machine, but I'd "forget" to take out my Visor. When I beeped going through the gate, they would either hand check me on the other side, or ask me to check my pockets again. I'd hand the Visor to the guard, go through the gate again clean, pick up my Visor, and go on my merry way, avoiding the x-ray machine. Silly I guess, but since this thread was there I thought I'd share.