[mr_dbr]

This seems like an absurd, silly idea..

1) Have any laptops (or MP3 players) actually been used to smuggle explosives onto a plane?

2) Aren't laptops and such searched for explosives anyway? (x-ray'd, sniffer-dog'd etc - my hand-luggage was randomly swabbed for explosives)

There is some logic to banning such electronics, but it's the same logic that lead to water bottles and metal butter-knifes being banned..

The linked news-item (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/us/27plane.html ) seems to be a better argument for giving all airline passengers guns than it is for banning laptops..