Notebook Ban

I got kicked out of the restaurant car in a Swiss train because I was reading my NetNewsWire with my 12″ PowerBook. I was shown a the written “restaurant” policy booklet containing rule 11: “notebooks are NOT allowed”. Reading newspapers, books, and yelling on a mobile phone are allowed. Even smoking cigars is a more than accepted activity. I did not go into explaining that I was actually reading the news with my small electronic device and having an IM conversation with GPRS. It is interesting to notice that a notebook is still perceived as a working tool and not a communication device. Until december 2005 (when smoking will fortunately be banned from all trains) smokers are more welcomed than geeks in swiss train’s restaurants.