Airport Scanners Safe for Flash Memory Cards. Travelers Rejoice

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000993024103/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000993024103/</a><br /><br /></div><i>Just in case you were wondering, the Transportation Security Administration has confirmed that flash memory cards can safely be run through airport x-rays and metal detectors with no damage to the cards themselves or the files they contain. In tests.... a range of memory cards were repeatedly run through x-rays and metal detectors and emerged unscathed.</i><br /><br />That's good to know just before the busy festive travel season. I've previously been concerned about camera film going though scanners, but I have to admit I assumed that there was no problem with the digital equivalent. Nice to see that my blind optimism was not misplaced. ;-) How many of you guys are going to indulge in a little seasonal travelling? What are your preferred ways of whiling the distance away with your Pocket PCs? Do you read ebooks, watch movies, play games or do you have another preferred pastime for passing the travel time?

[shyloh]

I haven't woried much about flash memory as I've travelled extensively without any problems. Generally, I listen to music while playing games or goofing around with Pocket Artist. (This is what I do best at the 'inlaws house')

[CTSLICK]

How many of you guys are going to indulge in a little seasonal travelling? What are your preferred ways of whiling the distance away with your Pocket PCs? Do you read ebooks, watch movies, play games or do you have another preferred pastime for passing the travel time?

Well when I am on delay at the airport (ike I am right now) I like to read the PPCThoughts forums ;)

On the aircraft I am armed with my Powerbook for DVD's, my iPod for music and my PPC for games. Sure I could do that all with my PPC but I feel like I make too many concessions.

[mesapilot]

That is nice of them to let us know. As an airline pilot my iPAQ gets x-rayed every day with no problems.

[webdaemon]

I'll be traveling after Christmas. I'm bringing my PPC for ebooks and maps once I get there; and I bought a portable DVD player last week which I will be taking instead of my laptop. This trip I'm not taking any work with me and turning my cell phone off!

[Jonathon Watkins]

That is nice of them to let us know. As an airline pilot my iPAQ gets x-rayed every day with no problems.

Sure, but it is good that they have now proven it. Thinking about it, I seem to remember hearing that sending CF cards in the post could be risky due to the high X-ray dosage they got when going through mail scanners (much higher than at airports). Still at least it is OK traveling.

I'll be listening to MP3s myself tomorrow while waiting at the airport. Hopefully surfing using wifi, but we'll see.

[arnage2]

before i got my portable dvd and laptop i used my ppc for movies.
now i use my ppc for music and games

[Darius Wey]

What are your preferred ways of whiling the distance away with your Pocket PCs? Do you read ebooks, watch movies, play games or do you have another preferred pastime for passing the travel time?

Watch a movie or two. A game here or there. AvantGo for a while. Music - definitely. ;)

[Rob Alexander]

I've traveled with flash memory for years and never had a problem, so this is just a bit anti-climatic. Still, as someone else said, at least it's official now.

As for the PPC, when I travel, the first thing I use is Two Peaks Software TripTracker to get everything organized in one place. Then I make sure I have copies of all important documents in .pdf format in case I need them. Once on the way, I use City Time to help me keep track of time issues and I relax by listening to MP3s while reading ebooks. I tend to go back and forth between that and whatever movies are showing on the plane. I don't much care for movies on the PPC.

Also, I'd like to comment that longer battery life in current PPCs makes traveling much easier. I used to have to buy extra batteries (or external chargers for the first iPaqs) to get through a long trip. With my HP 2215, I can easily make a trip from the eastern US to Australia (just did, in fact) on a single charge. Of course, I don't have it on the whole time, but I was able to use it as much as I wanted and still had about 25% charge on arrival. At least one thing has improved about air travel in recent times. :wink:

[willowpc]

I've been recording TV shows for a long time now with BeyondTV (Snapstream) and watching them on iPAQs on plane trips (with a set of Bose headsets). It's a lot easier (and cheaper) than lugging a dvd player around, and certainly more comfortable and quicker than booting a laptop. Will probably soon get a PVP with a larger screen to continue doing this.

[Narny]

What are your preferred ways of whiling the distance away with your Pocket PCs?

I'm about to spend 28 hours on a coach, so I'm thinking of taking a 12v lead-acid car battery :wink:

My planned journey breakdown is as follows:

10 mins: wee
20 mins: eat
1 hour: stare out the window (assuming I get a window seat)
6 hours: sleep fitfully
20 hours 30 mins: read eBooks, listen to music, play a few games and spend some time tinkering with my chaotic, humungous task list in Pocket Informant to try to bring some order.

Same again in reverse 5 days later. Why doesn't someone invent the aeroplane?

[Darius Wey]

10 mins: wee

Thanks for sharing. :lol:

[marcm]

10 mins: wee
Thanks for sharing. :lol:
Yeah, that could have been "disguised" as reading the newspaper, or you could have just added that to the e-book time... :wink: :lol:

[Squid]

I spend a LOT of time reading. I have been trying to get myself up to speed for a potential new job. Downloaded a lot of information in PWord and Adobe and read it on the plane. E-books definately.

Regards and Happy Holidays,

Squid