Comments on: Heathrow Terminal 5: Electricity-free no-laptop zone? http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 22:33:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: morcheeba http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108553 morcheeba Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108553 In '94, I got locked in Heathrow overnight (the IRA was shelling the place). No emergency cots, and no place to lie down. We found some better seats near the windows, but the police wouldn't let us near them for fear that they'd shatter. In ’94, I got locked in Heathrow overnight (the IRA was shelling the place). No emergency cots, and no place to lie down. We found some better seats near the windows, but the police wouldn’t let us near them for fear that they’d shatter.

]]> By: anechoic http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108554 anechoic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108554 @ANTINOUS: true, but Schiphol has an huge space outfitted with loungers for people to lie down on – I often check email on my laptop and catch 40 winks there between flights...more airports should be like this... @ANTINOUS: true, but Schiphol has an huge space outfitted with loungers for people to lie down on – I often check email on my laptop and catch 40 winks there between flights…more airports should be like this…

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108556 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108556 Why don't they have strolling vendors with pedal generators or battery/inverter bank carts? Like any other third world place. Why don’t they have strolling vendors with pedal generators or battery/inverter bank carts? Like any other third world place.

]]> By: leo http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108557 leo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108557 I don't see why Heathrow is being singled out. Some terminals have special desks with outlets for laptops, but you'll have to rely on your battery at most terminals. Armrests are also quite common. I don’t see why Heathrow is being singled out. Some terminals have special desks with outlets for laptops, but you’ll have to rely on your battery at most terminals.

Armrests are also quite common.

]]> By: acb http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108562 acb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108562 In line with Thatcherite-Blairite monetarist ideology, Heathrow Terminal 5 is designed to funnel passengers to retail shops and cafes, and to maximise revenue-extracting opportunities. It's surprising that there is anywhere to sit down there without being obliged to pay for an overpriced coffee or cake (though the ratio of retail to non-retail space is far greater than at the older terminals). In line with Thatcherite-Blairite monetarist ideology, Heathrow Terminal 5 is designed to funnel passengers to retail shops and cafes, and to maximise revenue-extracting opportunities. It’s surprising that there is anywhere to sit down there without being obliged to pay for an overpriced coffee or cake (though the ratio of retail to non-retail space is far greater than at the older terminals).

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108566 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108566 then put in outlets with coin meters then put in outlets with coin meters

]]> By: PunkWalrus http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108573 PunkWalrus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108573 I estimate in just a few years, battery life for most laptops will make this a temporary setback at best. Hell, they may even have crank-handled power. I estimate in just a few years, battery life for most laptops will make this a temporary setback at best.

Hell, they may even have crank-handled power.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108580 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108580 http://www.freeplayenergy.com/products/portable-power/weza the above for a step-on charger, they also make a crank laptop charger that clamps on a desk http://www.freeplayenergy.com/products/portable-power/weza

the above for a step-on charger, they also make a crank laptop charger that clamps on a desk

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108590 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108590 Takuan, Would that be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_telephone">Tucker Telephone</a> without the telephone? Takuan,

Would that be a Tucker Telephone without the telephone?

]]> By: imipak http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108846 imipak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108846 This, IMNSHO, is great news. Flying (especially non-essential, "recreational" travel - absurd idea), be made as expensive, unpleasant, difficult and hassle-filled as possible if you don't want your grandchildren to be agricultural peasants due to collapse of global socioeconomic structures caused by the end of oil and the 6m sea-level rise that's destroyed every world city on the coast or navigable river (hint: cities grow near sources of transport and trade.) Actually, that's all probably inevitable by now, but bringing a little unnecessary unpleasantness into the lives of those people who've grown up with the bizarre idea that international travel for the price of a few hours' wages is a right brings me a small amount of bitter, vindictive satisfaction. That probably means I'm a bad person, but hey, who's perfect? This, IMNSHO, is great news. Flying (especially non-essential, “recreational” travel – absurd idea), be made as expensive, unpleasant, difficult and hassle-filled as possible if you don’t want your grandchildren to be agricultural peasants due to collapse of global socioeconomic structures caused by the end of oil and the 6m sea-level rise that’s destroyed every world city on the coast or navigable river (hint: cities grow near sources of transport and trade.) Actually, that’s all probably inevitable by now, but bringing a little unnecessary unpleasantness into the lives of those people who’ve grown up with the bizarre idea that international travel for the price of a few hours’ wages is a right brings me a small amount of bitter, vindictive satisfaction. That probably means I’m a bad person, but hey, who’s perfect?

]]> By: imipak http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108847 imipak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108847 Michael (#29, 30): that's what you pay for your electricity. You don't know what it actually costs. (Hint: externalities.) Michael (#29, 30): that’s what you pay for your electricity. You don’t know what it actually costs. (Hint: externalities.)

]]> By: digitaltribes http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108594 digitaltribes Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108594 Heathrow = Worst airport ever. I avoid it at any cost. Heathrow = Worst airport ever. I avoid it at any cost.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108850 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108850 to paraphrase the Duke of Wellington:" The construction of public railways will only encourage the lower masses to move about needlessly (now fetch me my boots, we're coming up on a farmyard)" I also think there is too much stupid and unnecessary travel - damned democracy. to paraphrase the Duke of Wellington:” The construction of public railways will only encourage the lower masses to move about needlessly (now fetch me my boots, we’re coming up on a farmyard)”

I also think there is too much stupid and unnecessary travel – damned democracy.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108596 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108596 tucker phones never had a phone, that was the idea. One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) clamp charger, 15 VDC at an amp and a half, $13 ,not for general sale(yet) maybe the idea at Heathrow IS to drive away people. They think there is no way to fix it so they just keep making it worse so it'll die a semi-natural death and they can start over tucker phones never had a phone, that was the idea.

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) clamp charger, 15 VDC at an amp and a half, $13 ,not for general sale(yet)

maybe the idea at Heathrow IS to drive away people.
They think there is no way to fix it so they just keep making it worse so it’ll die a semi-natural death and they can start over

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108855 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108855 Oh, so that's how Wellies and sheep became irrevocably attached at the calf. Oh, so that’s how Wellies and sheep became irrevocably attached at the calf.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108600 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108600 was kinda fun though, watching Redford get it in Brubaker (lousy, rich,handsome guy....) was kinda fun though, watching Redford get it in Brubaker (lousy, rich,handsome guy….)

]]> By: folkclarinet http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108615 folkclarinet Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108615 I work in a bookstore which happens to have a coffee shop in the center. We don't allow people to use the electrical outlets for a liability reason: if there's a power surge and someone's laptop is mangled, the company doesn't want to be responsible. Makes sense from a corporate law point of view. Then again, I'm not a litigious kind of person and I probably wouldn't sue a company if that worst-case scenario happened to me. I work in a bookstore which happens to have a coffee shop in the center. We don’t allow people to use the electrical outlets for a liability reason: if there’s a power surge and someone’s laptop is mangled, the company doesn’t want to be responsible. Makes sense from a corporate law point of view. Then again, I’m not a litigious kind of person and I probably wouldn’t sue a company if that worst-case scenario happened to me.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108624 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108624 always the lawyers. Every bloody where you turn. always the lawyers. Every bloody where you turn.

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108625 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108625 I guess, Tak-kun, that you haven't taken my advice from the other day and used the empirical method. I guess, Tak-kun, that you haven’t taken my advice from the other day and used the empirical method.

]]> By: apenzott http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-155481 apenzott Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-155481 Tip on the airline seating which precludes sleeping across due to armrest placement: When terminal is nearly empty (overnight layover) most are not anchored to the ground and by turning over the row (so that the tops and armrests are on the ground) it is possible to sleep long wise across the bottoms of the seats. Tip 2: Sometimes sleeping under the row of seats will suffice, with a pillow on top of the chair bench leg. (Added benefit is that the seat bottoms will filter the light.) Tip on the airline seating which precludes sleeping across due to armrest placement:

When terminal is nearly empty (overnight layover) most are not anchored to the ground and by turning over the row (so that the tops and armrests are on the ground) it is possible to sleep long wise across the bottoms of the seats.

Tip 2:
Sometimes sleeping under the row of seats will suffice, with a pillow on top of the chair bench leg. (Added benefit is that the seat bottoms will filter the light.)

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108633 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108633 chacon son gout, bebe. chacon son gout, bebe.

]]> By: davlee http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108634 davlee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108634 Anechoic: "If only all airports were as nice as Schiphol!" Schiphol wants <b>6 Euro for 30 minutes</b> of wifi, or <a href="http://www.nevon.net/nevon/2006/02/ridiculous_wifi.html">10 Euro for 24 hours.</a> You really need to want to check your e-mail at that rate. Schiphol is indeed aesthetically nice, particularly compared to other Western hubs like LAX, Heathrow or JFK, but it can't hold a candle to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore's Changi, and other <b>free</b> wifi, comforts aplenty Asian airports. Anechoic: “If only all airports were as nice as Schiphol!”

Schiphol wants 6 Euro for 30 minutes of wifi, or 10 Euro for 24 hours. You really need to want to check your e-mail at that rate.

Schiphol is indeed aesthetically nice, particularly compared to other Western hubs like LAX, Heathrow or JFK, but it can’t hold a candle to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore’s Changi, and other free wifi, comforts aplenty Asian airports.

]]> By: WaveyDave http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108661 WaveyDave Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108661 Heathrow is a pit, a hole a dump. Sadly it is my local airport and my heart sinks whenever I have to travel from there or return there. It is an embarrassing advert for the UK , especially if you have come from Dubai or Singapore, or any other airport where they don't treat customer service as secondary to profit. Heathrow is a pit, a hole a dump. Sadly it is my local airport and my heart sinks whenever I have to travel from there or return there. It is an embarrassing advert for the UK , especially if you have come from Dubai or Singapore, or any other airport where they don’t treat customer service as secondary to profit.

]]> By: pengo http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108665 pengo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108665 D y hv srs mdcl cndtn tht prvnts y frm fnctnng wtht lptp? D y fl dsbld by lck f pblc pwr tlts? Thn prhps y shld crry spr bttry, nd sht th hll p. r w mnt t sy "h pr y, y fly vrywhr, wn lptp, h pr flyng lptp ppl." Why dn't y tk th trn fr chng nd wrt yr blgs n yr cll phn nd rprt n trvl tht sn't scrwng p th wrld's clmt qt s mch, r rprt n, sy, th lck f drnkng wtr fntns n pblc plcs. Srly tht's mr f rght thn fr lctrcty. Ths sn't "wndrfl thngs" nr s t ctvsm nd y ddn't vn wrk ncrn r pxlcrft nt th stry. Pls fltr t "btchng bt rprts" vn f t mns n dy lvng t th stry bt smn hvng th dcty t d n yr flght nd st thr, dd, n th nxt bsnss clss st, bt w dn't cr t hr y cmplnng bt t. Stp. Btchng. bt. rprts. Pls. D y hv srs mdcl cndtn tht prvnts y frm fnctnng wtht lptp? D y fl dsbld by lck f pblc pwr tlts? Thn prhps y shld crry spr bttry, nd sht th hll p.

r w mnt t sy “h pr y, y fly vrywhr, wn lptp, h pr flyng lptp ppl.” Why dn’t y tk th trn fr chng nd wrt yr blgs n yr cll phn nd rprt n trvl tht sn’t scrwng p th wrld’s clmt qt s mch, r rprt n, sy, th lck f drnkng wtr fntns n pblc plcs. Srly tht’s mr f rght thn fr lctrcty.

Ths sn’t “wndrfl thngs” nr s t ctvsm nd y ddn’t vn wrk ncrn r pxlcrft nt th stry. Pls fltr t “btchng bt rprts” vn f t mns n dy lvng t th stry bt smn hvng th dcty t d n yr flght nd st thr, dd, n th nxt bsnss clss st, bt w dn’t cr t hr y cmplnng bt t. Stp. Btchng. bt. rprts. Pls.

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108669 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108669 Pengo, Impulse control and the ability to cope with frustration are hallmarks of adult behavior. Please don't comment when you're in hysterics. Pengo,

Impulse control and the ability to cope with frustration are hallmarks of adult behavior. Please don’t comment when you’re in hysterics.

]]> By: Robert http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108678 Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108678 @Pengo: In case you haven't noticed, it's an increasingly networked world. And while I'd like to take the train, somehow they haven't built a tunnel under the Atlantic yet. Although I have to agree that bitching about <i>Heathrow</i> is kind of beating a dead, rotting, bloated, zombie horse. --Rob @Pengo:

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s an increasingly networked world. And while I’d like to take the train, somehow they haven’t built a tunnel under the Atlantic yet.

Although I have to agree that bitching about Heathrow is kind of beating a dead, rotting, bloated, zombie horse.

–Rob

]]> By: Toestubber http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108701 Toestubber Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108701 I would argue that one of the major topics on BoingBoing is design and humanistic engineering. If you're going to write about wonderful design, it makes sense to write about bad, misanthropic, anti-human design as well. For my tax money, the armrest/no-laying-down thing is much more egregious. It's everywhere here in the USA, a clear "fuck you" to the public. When some part of the system breaks down and people need to sleep, they're blocked from doing so by acres of rigid, useless furniture. I would argue that one of the major topics on BoingBoing is design and humanistic engineering. If you’re going to write about wonderful design, it makes sense to write about bad, misanthropic, anti-human design as well.

For my tax money, the armrest/no-laying-down thing is much more egregious. It’s everywhere here in the USA, a clear “fuck you” to the public. When some part of the system breaks down and people need to sleep, they’re blocked from doing so by acres of rigid, useless furniture.

]]> By: anechoic http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108452 anechoic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108452 this is a common discovery for me in most EU airports and is sad to see that Heathrow (the worst airport ever IMO and one I try to avoid transferring through like the plague) doesn't take traveling laptoppers comfort into account while designing a new airport terminal. If only all airports were as nice as Schiphol! this is a common discovery for me in most EU airports and is sad to see that Heathrow (the worst airport ever IMO and one I try to avoid transferring through like the plague) doesn’t take traveling laptoppers comfort into account while designing a new airport terminal.

If only all airports were as nice as Schiphol!

]]> By: boricua http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108456 boricua Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108456 Same thing at the Dallas airport. The very few ones available (and I ran through almost half the airport in search off one) are disabled. Only restaurants have them. I ended up begging a waitress to let me charge my phone, so I could call a hotel. I was stranded during the floods last Spring. Same thing at the Dallas airport. The very few ones available (and I ran through almost half the airport in search off one) are disabled. Only restaurants have them. I ended up begging a waitress to let me charge my phone, so I could call a hotel. I was stranded during the floods last Spring.

]]> By: insomma http://boingboing.net/2008/01/19/heathrow-terminal-5.html#comment-108722 insomma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-108722 Toestubber Excellent point. There were quite a few problems in America and Europe over the holidays with delays and snow. I'm sure that wifi- even if it were made available only under such circumstances- would have been appreciated by travelers trying to advise loved ones of their delays. Same for armrest-free spaces to recline. Takuan- or anybody What price would you be willing to pay for an hour of outlet access? Toestubber

Excellent point.

There were quite a few problems in America and Europe over the holidays with delays and snow. I’m sure that wifi- even if it were made available only under such circumstances- would have been appreciated by travelers trying to advise loved ones of their delays. Same for armrest-free spaces to recline.

Takuan- or anybody

What price would you be willing to pay for an hour of outlet access?

]]>