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PowerBook, Because Lives Are On The Line

WCityMike writes "Major Shawn Weed, an intelligence planner with the Third Infantry Division, eschewed his Panasonic Toughbook because it wasn't fast enough in processing giant satellite and reconnaissance images. He put in a requisition for and received a PowerBook G4, the only Apple currently being used in the entire Middle East theater. 'Frankly, lives are in the balance here, so the quicker I can get stuff done accurately, the better,' Weed says."

15 of 150 comments (clear)

  1. Bullet Proof by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    AND you can stop bullets with the case!

  2. You think Apple's prices are high? by Nipsy356 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If the military can pay thousands for a toilet seat, imagine what they paid for a PowerBook.

  3. Military Intelligence by Kalak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Major Shawn Weed, an intelligence planner with the Third Infantry Division

    So he's in military intel? Isn't this among the most famous oxymorons in existence? The jokes are too numerous to mention, all with Apple or the Army as the brunt of the jokes.

    I can see the switch ads now...My name is Shawn Weed and I find Iraqis in the desert.

    btw, I'm not trolling. I'm writing this from a TiBook using an Airport, behind a Linux server.

    --
    I am, and always will be, an idiot. Karma: Coma (mostly effected by .hack)
    1. Re:Military Intelligence by apple-marc · · Score: 3, Funny

      So he's in military intel? Isn't this among the most famous oxymorons in existence?

      With "Microsoft Works" coming a close second...

  4. Is this a good idea... by cuyler · · Score: 4, Funny

    Although I'm an avid mac fac I always thought the glowing apple on the back of the LCD screen would be a bad thing in the field.

    1. Re:Is this a good idea... by dhovis · · Score: 4, Funny
      Two words....

      Duct Tape!
      --

      --
      The internet is the greatest source of biased information in the history of mankind.

    2. Re:Is this a good idea... by quintessent · · Score: 4, Funny

      Don't worry. They replaced the apple with a glowing camouflage design.

  5. It does make some sense... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...to have at least one of the computers different from the others. When a virus written by some 9th grader wipes out the Windows boxes at least the PowerBook will be up and running.

    Or vice versa...

    It also kinda goes with the whole "Power of One" ad campaign the Army has going on.

    Used to be SSG Nichols

  6. Mac fanatics take over the military! by Smack · · Score: 3, Funny

    "In a room full of ugly, ruggedized Panasonic Toughbooks running Windows 2000," he said, "the glowing white Apple against the titanium skin of the G4's lid draws looks from everywhere, and acts as a magnet for the closet Mac addicts serving with the Third Infantry Division."

  7. Re:It's not ruggedized. by C0LDFusion · · Score: 5, Funny

    his DVD drive will be toast if he uses it too much.

    New Army officers directive: Do not watch pr0n during sandstorms?

    --
    Only in slashdot are posts of solidarity modded at -1 Redundant, while posts of antagonism are modded as -1 Flamebait.
  8. The New iPod Fatigues by Cheesewhiz · · Score: 3, Funny
    This is what I've been telling people all along -- Apples save lives.

    We've got to get our troops as many of these new uniforms as we can. Do it for little Jimmy American on the front lines, darnit!

    (Nothing like a little ruthless self-promotion to get a day started right!)

    --

    -----
    "Cogito Eggo Sum: I think, therefore, waffle."
  9. Apple makes it easy for the govt to buy by daveschroeder · · Score: 4, Funny
    Q: If the military can pay thousands for a toilet seat, imagine what they paid for a PowerBook.

    A: About the same as Apple's academic discounts!

    Apple Federal Home Page

    How to buy for federal agencies and miltary - Includes:

    Using a GSA SmartPay purchasing card

    Apple Federal Store (for SmartPay) or Apple Retail stores

    Federal Employee Purchase Program, via Apple Federal Employee Purchase Store or Apple Retail stores at Tyson's Corner, Clarendon, VA, or Towson, MD

    Any number of various federal, GSA, and military contract resellers

  10. Major Weed / Mac by BobWeiner · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cool that he's using a Mac. If Saddam's forces defect over to our side, will that make them switchers? :)

    Bob

    --
    The PC Weenies: 11 Years of Online Tech 'Too
    1. Re:Major Weed / Mac by Trurl's+Machine · · Score: 3, Funny

      Cool that he's using a Mac. If Saddam's forces defect over to our side, will that make them switchers? :)

      The muezzin, he sounded like weep, weep, weep. I wanted a drink and I couldn't have one. Islam is a dry religion. It was kind of bummer. Now I respect the American Way Of Life. And I have better drinks. My name is Osama and I am a logistics consultant.

  11. Beauty of the Mac... by MacAndrew · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you used it to brain your enemy, it would STILL work AND would be simple enough for the debrained enemy to operate.

    So there. :)

    I'm most impressed not that this guy wanted a Mac, but that he actully got one. The military is rightly known for a plodding mentality, and what's he going to do if he needs an extra battery? Steal it from CNN? Of course, had the guy simply called Apple to say, hey, I'd like to place the first Mac in the field, they would have sent over ten gratis.

    Clicking away on my deweaponized iBook...