Question for electronics experts:

[speeder]

I am about to set off on a MC trip and bought a new tank bag that has magnetic hold-downs. I was just reading the short instruction sheet that came with it and lo and behold, it has a warning about putting electronic devices in the bag because of the magnets. Says that it might screw them up. Now they tell me.

It also says something about keeping such devices, (cell phones, laptops, etc.), as far from the magnets as possible if they are in the bag. Like near the top. I was planning on using the bag to store laptop and keep phone on top, under plastic so that I can use map, listen to music, talk on phone using ear buds, etc. It's a loooong trip.

I bought the magnetic bag so that it would be easier to bring into gas stations, restaurants, etc. They also make it with straps and some type of quick release, I'm feeling like I really fk'ed up here. No time to exchange before leaving.

Here is a pic, sorry for bad lighting. It's night time here. Magnetic deals are visible on the bottom:



Am I screwed here? TIA.

[slodave]

The laptop/magnet issues is funny. People are concerned that if they bring a magnet near the hard drive, it will erase the drive. Um, there are two powerful magnets inside the drive that are used to keep the head locked and also how it moves the head across the platters. The motor that spins the platters is a magnet in itself, albeit weak compared to the other two. You need a very powerful magnet to wipe the platters. More than likely, the magnets in the bag are strong enough to keep the bag in place, but not strong enough to wipe anything out. Legal makes them do that, because there will be that one time where things go wrong and data is lost.

There was a time, when the drives were bigger, that I could take two of the magnets and use them to hold me off the ground in a metal door frame. I also use them (current magnets) to wipe the magnetic strip on the back of my DL. They are very good at doing that.

As for other devices, not so sure. I'd probably try and keep a smart phone as far away from the bottom as I can.

[slodave]

It's a little late now, but Rick Lee has a tank bag for his trips...

[Bill Douglas]

Denis I used to work at a research facility where they had a machine with a huge magnet in a machine. As I walked past with a laptop in a bag it would haul the bag towards the machine. I asked the guy who ran it did he lose the fillings in his teeth and how did his computer+phone+backup tapes get on. He said never a problem with any of them.

So where is the ride too?