claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| but what about power
...but most airport make it impossible to get power for your laptop. I have scouted out outlets in a lot of airports and sometimes there is a waiting line of people to use them. I usually carry a little 3-way cube so I can share when I find one (whether or not it is in use already  )
The most amazing thing is that you find this appalling lack of planning even in brand new terminals. For example, the A wing at Seattle-Tacoma has one double outlet near some of the gates, rigged so that people have to trip over your cord if you use it. I found a grand total of 3 accessible outlets in Terminal 4 at Heathrow, presumably one of the busiest international transit hubs in the world! In many terminals, there are simply no outlets at all. Some others have outlets that are hazardous to use (burned spring contacts, loose attachment). I understand the technical/security issues, but in the US they could very simply use low amp rated GFCI outlets ($9 at Home Depot) to limit power drain, prevent accident and especially prevent anyone from accidentally tripping the breakers for circuits that might feed other stuff. But airport builders are still living in the 20th century it seems. |
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exocet_cm
In memory of dadkins
Premium
join:2003-03-23
New Orleans, LA
clubs:  
 ·Cox HSI
·Suddenlink
 ·Cingular Wireless
 ·AT&T Southeast
·Charter Pipeline
| said by claudeo  :...but most airport make it impossible to get power for your laptop. I have scouted out outlets in a lot of airports and sometimes there is a waiting line of people to use them. I usually carry a little 3-way cube so I can share when I find one (whether or not it is in use already ) The most amazing thing is that you find this appalling lack of planning even in brand new terminals. For example, the A wing at Seattle-Tacoma has one double outlet near some of the gates, rigged so that people have to trip over your cord if you use it. I found a grand total of 3 accessible outlets in Terminal 4 at Heathrow, presumably one of the busiest international transit hubs in the world! In many terminals, there are simply no outlets at all. Some others have outlets that are hazardous to use (burned spring contacts, loose attachment). I understand the technical/security issues, but in the US they could very simply use low amp rated GFCI outlets ($9 at Home Depot) to limit power drain, prevent accident and especially prevent anyone from accidentally tripping the breakers for circuits that might feed other stuff. But airport builders are still living in the 20th century it seems. I like the idea of carrying a 3 way plug, I am off to put one in my computer bag. Nice idea! 
--
I know that God is real, but I don't think He created this vast universe just for us.
Seti@Home & Seti@Boinc |
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averagedude
join:2002-01-30
Mesa, AZ
·Cox HSI
| reply to claudeo
I agree with out about the power outlets.
I am going to carry that three way thing from now on.
Sometimes I get so upset about airports. The flight is only an hour. I have to drive 30+ minutes to the air port (usually through morning rush hour traffic), 30 minutes to find a parking space and shuttle/bus to terminal, arrive 2 hours before flight to check bag and get through security (wish I didn't have to check bag but carry lots of work related stuff), flight 1 hour, get off flight and get bags 30 minutes, 30+ drive to office. This is not a joke - It can take up to 5 hours from house to office, when you can drive there is 6 hours. ARRRHHHH! I just wish there was a way to stream line getting in and out of the airport. I would never trade flying for driving - I just wish the experience was better. Technology was suppose to make life better not turn us into lemmings waiting in a lines.
Thanks for the rant - now back to you regular programming |
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RARPSL
join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY
| said by averagedude :I just wish there was a way to stream line getting in and out of the airport. There is if you (or your expense account) are willing to pay for it. You use a Cab or Airport Limo. You go portal to portal (Home/Office Terminal) without the hassle of the "wasted" time of locating a parking spot/your car and the shuttle/bus trip to/from the terminal (you get dropped off/picked up at the terminal saving 1 hour [from your listed times] each way). |
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