Exploding laptop batteries from the Sony/Dell/Apple battery fiasco have also scared Quantas and Korean Air into forcing customers to remove batteries from all such branded laptops, even those not affected by recall.  Customers can use their laptops if they are sitting close enough to an in-seat power supply. In my experience, laptops take up so much room anyway, that a pda may be a better option anyway. I’ve seen laptops and users contorted into some odd positions in airplanes.