What's the proedure when taking a Tablet PC through security when departing on an international flight?

What's the proedure when taking a Tablet PC through security when departing on an international flight? This is a follow-up to the this question I asked 2 weeks ago. I thought travellers may be interested in some feedback following my MEL-HKG-KIX return flights. In MEL, I asked security staff & was told that my Tablet could stay in my carry-on bag. I left the Tablet in my bag at both HKG & KIX & passed through the security checks without any comments by staff.

Thanks for coming back with that, Agfox. I was in Singapore on the weekend, on the flight out of Sydney my iPad was allowed to stay in my bag but in Singapore they wanted it removed.

It seems so inconsistent. I've went through Singapore last about 4 months ago and they had no problem with my leaving my iPad in my bag then.

HKG tends to be more consistent, but I have also been asked to remove it from the bag there as well...

I just wish that some international standards (or at least Regional standards) would be introduced, or that airports would clearly display clear signs that tell us what needs to go through separately/can stay in the bag...

Yes, this. A simple sign with "IN BAG" and "OUT OF BAG" would be really helpful.

I always take it out of my bag... I find it easier than having to worry about asking or being told to take it out if they see it on the xray and have to put it through again. It's easy enough to do so it's really not a big deal.

As do I when I'm overseas (though I never bother in Australia since the rules seem to be consistently applied here). If you've got to get a laptop out anyway (I doubt many of us would travel with just an iPad) then it's pretty easy to keep them together in the bag and pull them out together.

It's still frustrating though. If it stays in your bag then it's one less thing to worry about when in a rush and thinking about other things. I can't wait until there are universal standards that say that anything that doesn't have moving parts is okay to stay in the bag (ie solid state laptops included).

AusFlyer - I'm of the same mind, I always take it out - just wanted to see what 'the rules' (as such) were at each airport during this last trip, as this topic was only recently raised by readers.