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iDriveX · Aug 16, 2005, 01:29 PM

OMG.....

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/16/com....ap/index.html

Story:

Panic ensues in rush for cheap laptops

Tuesday, August 16, 2005; Posted: 2:05 p.m. EDT (18:05 GMT)

Police try to control the crowd rushing to get cheap iBooks.

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far to wet herself rather than surrender her place in line.

"This is total, total chaos," said Latoya Jones, 19, who lost one of her flip-flops in the ordeal and later limped around on the sizzling blacktop with one foot bare.

More than 1,000 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks, which retail for between $999 and $1,299. The Henrico County school system was selling 1,000 of the computers to county residents.

Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some already had been waiting for hours in line. When the gates opened, it became a terrifying mob scene.

People threw themselves forward, screaming and pushing each other. A little girl's stroller was crushed in the stampede. Witnesses said an elderly man was thrown to the pavement, and someone in a car tried to drive his way through the crowd.

Police would not immediately comment on the number of or extent of injuries, though witnesses said they mostly had scrapes and bruises.

"It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer -- and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County. "But I think that people tend to get caught up in the excitement of the event -- it almost has an entertainment value."

Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of her was so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated on herself.

"I've never been in something like that before, and I never again will," said Alexander, who brought her 14-year-old twin boys to the complex at 4:30 a.m. to wait in line. "No matter what the kids want, I already told them I'm not doing that again."

Jesse Sandler said he was one of the people pushing forward, using a folding chair he had brought with him to beat back people who tried to cut in front of him.

"I took my chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,"' the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station.

"They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just," he said.

turtle777 · Aug 16, 2005, 01:31 PM

I never understood why they wouldn't auction them off or something.

-t

iDriveX · Aug 16, 2005, 01:33 PM

Wait till the mob finds out it doesn't run Windows!

ort888 · Aug 16, 2005, 01:44 PM

So who still thinks selling them on ebay would have been a bad idea?

How could they have not anticipated this?

Eug Wanker · Aug 16, 2005, 01:49 PM

Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of her was so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated on herself.

Captain Obvious · Aug 16, 2005, 01:52 PM

They should have only allowed in an X amount of people at a time to purchase the iBooks.
And for a county that is less than 25% black that line sure doesn't look representative of the demographics of the area.

BRussell · Aug 16, 2005, 01:56 PM

These pictures should knock the Mighty Mouse off of Apple's front page.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 16, 2005, 01:58 PM

Rather deplorable behavior worthy of a riot scene on the Simpsons.

ort888 · Aug 16, 2005, 01:59 PM

They should have handed out numbers to people as they arrived and then let them in 20 at a time. They should have done a lot of things. Whoever was in charge of this should be fired for incompetence.

budster101 · Aug 16, 2005, 01:59 PM

I just told a few friends about it...sheesh.

ort888 · Aug 16, 2005, 02:03 PM

They could have charged $150 each and made a lot more money with none of this fuss.

turtle777 · Aug 16, 2005, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

They could have charged $150 each and made a lot more money with none of this fuss.

Exactly. This is what I call wasting tax payers money. 1000 people get a hook up, the rest pays for it. Why not resell at market value. Typically of dumb officials...

-t

cjrivera · Aug 16, 2005, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

They should have handed out numbers to people as they arrived and then let them in 20 at a time. They should have done a lot of things. Whoever was in charge of this should be fired for incompetence.

Of course they're incompetent.
They're getting rid of iBooks for some Dell crap.

flabasha · Aug 16, 2005, 02:17 PM

"It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer -- and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County.

Less desirable attributes than Dell?

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 16, 2005, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by flabasha

"It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer -- and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County.

Less desirable attributes than Dell?

I think he means snot stains and dents.

Y3a · Aug 16, 2005, 02:27 PM

<< "It's rather strange that we would have such a tremendous response for the purchase of a laptop computer -- and laptop computers that probably have less-than- desirable attributes," said Paul Proto, director of general services for Henrico County. >>

No wonder this guy can only get a job in Henrico county - next to the tobacco farms in middle Virginia.
they don't do much thinking down there.

ghporter · Aug 16, 2005, 02:30 PM

These are FOUR YEAR OLD laptops that have had the crap beaten out of them by school kids. That's the "less desirable attributes" they're talking about.

They should have jobbed the whole lot out to someone who could rehab the iBooks and sell them to people who could really use them, instead of setting up a mob situation.

DUMB Henrico County, VERY DUMB.

budster101 · Aug 16, 2005, 02:34 PM

I only told a few friends about it promise....

What a bunch of idiots. Probably looking to buy a bunch by bringing friends (one each) and then sell them for triple or quadruple the amount on ebay. I wonder how many genuinely needed just one for their nephew like myself... I wrote teh idiot over there and begged him to just reserve one for me so I could send it to my nephew in Florida... he ignored my e-mail. I guess in a way, he got what he deserves.

Dumb does not begin to describe how idiotic they were.

jaydon34 · Aug 16, 2005, 02:36 PM

Truly crazy but it goes to show you the power of the mac platform and OS X lol

Kevin · Aug 16, 2005, 02:37 PM

I was going to go. Glad I didn't.

Idiots.

MacNStein · Aug 16, 2005, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

I think he means snot stains and dents.

That's likely NOT snot.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 16, 2005, 02:44 PM

Is this something one would expect coming from Virginia?

ghporter · Aug 16, 2005, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by jaydon34

Truly crazy but it goes to show you the power of the mac platform and OS X lol

No, it shows the power of stupid people in large groups. Budster's right about what many of those people were there for. What they DID do was demonstrate their lack of maturity, civility, manners, and concept of humanity. If I DO see any of those iBooks on eBay, I'm certainly NOT going to buy one.

Goodwill here in San Antonio just opened a store that deals in nothing but computers. If I need a cheap Mac, I think I'll go there and at least help out people who are trying to be productive citizens...

Yes, mob scenes like that in Henrico County DO bother me. It's a sign of a breakdown in our civilization.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 16, 2005, 02:48 PM

I mean who hits someone over the head with a chair for budding and another pisses their pants?

It is like they rounded up a group of people with low IQ's and told them they could get a shitty, old, used laptop if they acted like morons.

Atomic Rooster · Aug 16, 2005, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

I mean who hits someone over the head with a chair for budding and another pisses their pants?

It is like they rounded up a group of people with low IQ's and told them they could get a shitty, old, used laptop if they acted like morons.

These were mac ibook laptops we're talking about buddy!!!

Not some 4 year old shitty peecee.

rickey939 · Aug 16, 2005, 02:56 PM

I blame Apple.®

Kevin · Aug 16, 2005, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

Is this something one would expect coming from Virginia?

Actually it had nothing to do with where it was, but who was running it.

You put that situation any place on this planet, the same results will be seen.

The person in charge of doing it that way, needs fired.

ghporter · Aug 16, 2005, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster

These were mac ibook laptops we're talking about buddy!!!

Not some 4 year old shitty peecee.

Still no excuse for discarding civilization. Would you like the iBook to be connected to this sort of mob violence? I think Apple would not!

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 16, 2005, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster

These were mac ibook laptops we're talking about buddy!!!

Not some 4 year old shitty peecee.

Well I have a 3 year old iBook that I have tried to keep in perfect condition and no way in hell is it worth hitting someone over the head with a chair.

baw · Aug 16, 2005, 03:08 PM

I usually only piss myself over new apple products

Y3a · Aug 16, 2005, 03:16 PM

<< Is this something one would expect coming from Virginia? >>

Yes! it's just north of Richmond, VA, and is full of hicks, rednecks, and country bumpkins who decorate from Target, 7-11 and the like. The lifestyle is slower than you can believe, and the lack of class is obvious. Been there, and observed it 1st hand. henrico County is mostly farms and tobacco and cattle.

Jacob · Aug 16, 2005, 03:22 PM

Atomic Rooster · 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Still no excuse for discarding civilization. Would you like the iBook to be connected to this sort of mob violence? I think Apple would not!

It was a joke sir.

Remember "The Great Cabbage Patch Doll Riots" that was serious.

lavar78 · Aug 16, 2005, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Y3a

<< Is this something one would expect coming from Virginia? >>

Yes! it's just north of Richmond, VA, and is full of hicks, rednecks, and country bumpkins who decorate from Target, 7-11 and the like. The lifestyle is slower than you can believe, and the lack of class is obvious. Been there, and observed it 1st hand. henrico County is mostly farms and tobacco and cattle.

Thanks, Captain Generalization!

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 16, 2005, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Y3a

<< Is this something one would expect coming from Virginia? >>

Yes! it's just north of Richmond, VA, and is full of hicks, rednecks, and country bumpkins who decorate from Target, 7-11 and the like. The lifestyle is slower than you can believe, and the lack of class is obvious. Been there, and observed it 1st hand. henrico County is mostly farms and tobacco and cattle.

I actually figured that based on some of the members here. The scary thing is they seem to bask in the non-existant glow of their own intelligence.

I went to North Carolina and if it is anything like that it ain't pretty.

His Dudeness · Aug 16, 2005, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

I never understood why they wouldn't auction them off or something.

-t

The Virginia school system is NOT that smart. Trust me, I have step kids in the York county school district. This is the same school system that threatend to expel my youngest step daughter because she was eating Pixie Sticks. You all that Pixie Sticks look EXACTLY like crack cocaine, right?

His Dudeness · Aug 16, 2005, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by lavar78

Thanks, Captain Generalization!

Yes, we are all kuntry bumpkins down hea in Yorktown, too.

lavar78 · Aug 16, 2005, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by His Dudeness

Yes, we are all kuntry bumpkins down hea in Yorktown, too.

I'm not.

You aren't even from here.

finboy · Aug 16, 2005, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

I actually figured that based on some of the members here. The scary thing is they seem to bask in the non-existant glow of their own intelligence.

I went to North Carolina and if it is anything like that it ain't pretty.

Yeah, just a buncha hicks. Even worse are all the f*cking Yankees that can't get into school up North and come down to party in the South. Or vacation down here b/c they can't afford to go someplace nice.

Hell, if I want to vacation in the summer I'll go somewhere without mosquitos and heat -- how bright can someone be if they can't figure out that "Hey, Myrtle Beach is crowded on July 4th."?

His Dudeness · Aug 16, 2005, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by lavar78

I'm not.

You aren't even from here.

No, I've been here so long that I call it home now. You're a true native, right? Not associated in any way, shape or form to the military?

Kevin · Aug 16, 2005, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Y3a

<< Is this something one would expect coming from Virginia? >>

Yes! it's just north of Richmond, VA, and is full of hicks, rednecks, and country bumpkins who decorate from Target, 7-11 and the like. The lifestyle is slower than you can believe, and the lack of class is obvious. Been there, and observed it 1st hand. henrico County is mostly farms and tobacco and cattle.

IBJR™

Kevin · Aug 16, 2005, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

I actually figured that based on some of the members here.

Who? I don't recall any members here living in Virginia.

Or are you too spineless to mention names?

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 16, 2005, 04:13 PM

What the hell is a bumpkin?

At any rate always nice to see adults trampling kids for cheap, used material goods:

Kevin · Aug 16, 2005, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by finboy

Hell, if I want to vacation in the summer I'll go somewhere without mosquitos and heat -- how bright can someone be if they can't figure out that "Hey, Myrtle Beach is crowded on July 4th."?

Myrtle Beach. Really sleazy place. But LOTS of Nostalgia.