He forgot his laptop, because it wasn't on the belt when he came out of the scanner. They gave it away before he had a chance to forget it. The couple of minutes it took him to realise that he didn't actually all of his stuff off the belt (even though, he did, since the laptop wasn't there any more) wouldn't have made a difference since somebody else has taken it beforehand anyway.
Especially if you're used to being able to leave your laptop in your bag - you fall back to routine very easily. I want to fault him for walking off and leaving it, but I can also imagine myself easily doing the same.
I'm surprised that everyone is focusing on the TSA for giving his computer away (awful), but to me, the even more objectionable thing is that THE WOMAN TOOK A RANDOM COMPUTER and just left with it. Any reasonable person would say "that is not mine", or am I being too naive? And, since she didn't do that, there was clearly malice involved, so the police were also clearly in the wrong, saying that it was an accident and not a crime.
It depends though - a lot of people have MBP's and they all look alike, especially when closed and turned off. She could have taken it in error.
Now, the fact that she didn't leave her own MBP behind is a strong indicator that she didn't have one (or at least didn't have it with her), and that she intentionally took someone elses laptop.
Clearly that was wrong of her, and should not be diminished. The difference is that I would not be surprised that any random person I meet anywhere turns of out to be a thief, but I, and I expect lots of other people, hold government employees to a much higher standard. Especially, as you note, if they then just call the whole thing an accident.
To be fair, MacBook Pros pretty much all look the same on the outside. She probabaly just thought it was hers, stuffed it in her bag, and went to catch her flight.
There's a reason the first thing I do with a new laptop is add about fifteen assorted stickers to it. Very helpful at conferences and such when it comes to keeping laptops distinct.
Exactly! Also: never clean the keyboard or wipe off any coffee or marmalade spills; that way the thief will probably decide they don't want it after all, hand it back and go looking for a shiny, well looked-after one...
I thought that ... So why isn't there a spare MacBook Pro laying around the security line?
Hey, a name game: MacRoulette. You put your laptop through security with a bunch of others and you grab a random one. Practice safe computing and always have a backup.
That is a fair point, however, in that case, there would be a computer left over on the belt, that the author would've seen when he got out of the scanner.
On a side note: do people not keep their laptops in sleeves (even when in backpacks)?
Where is this? I'ma frequent flyer, and have never once been sled to open my laptop nor have I ever seen anyone asked to do so (outside a short period after 9/11)
To/from UK I've been asked "back then" when the craze started; in the last 4 years, never once. Which is correct: they are not scanning the laptop but rather the bag which the laptop would obstruct. Once it's out it doesn't really matter how it's packaged.
I'm always surprised that people don't try harder to personalize their laptops. MacBooks all look alike. I put a sticker with my name on it, which has come in handy when in a room with ten other Airs lying about.
I am amused how the article states that the iPhone was an "instant hit". It was successful-ish for the time - it sold around 6million in 5 quarters - but was also being scoffed at by every other dumb- or smartphone maker. Same with the iPod I guess... and iPad... and everything that has evolved and changed their respective markets in their iterations.
