Alright, Mac Nation, what am i missing?
Va. Laptop Sale Turns Into a Stampede
--------------------
By KRISTEN GELINEAU
Associated Press Writer
August 16, 2005, 10:07 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. -- 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 as 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.
An estimated 5,500 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in
hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks. The Henrico
County school system was selling 1,000 of the computers to county residents. New
iBooks cost between $999 and $1,299.
Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some already had been waiting since
1:30 a.m. 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.
Seventeen people suffered minor injuries, with four requiring hospital
treatment, Henrico County Battalion Chief Steve Wood said. There were no arrests
and the iBooks sold out by 1 p.m.
"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.
Copyright (c) 2005, The Associated Press
Now, if these were Who tickets, count me there. But, jesus.
--------------------
By KRISTEN GELINEAU
Associated Press Writer
August 16, 2005, 10:07 PM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. -- 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 as 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.
An estimated 5,500 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in
hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks. The Henrico
County school system was selling 1,000 of the computers to county residents. New
iBooks cost between $999 and $1,299.
Officials opened the gates at 7 a.m., but some already had been waiting since
1:30 a.m. 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.
Seventeen people suffered minor injuries, with four requiring hospital
treatment, Henrico County Battalion Chief Steve Wood said. There were no arrests
and the iBooks sold out by 1 p.m.
"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.
Copyright (c) 2005, The Associated Press
Now, if these were Who tickets, count me there. But, jesus.