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Alan Cox's Exploding Laptop

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the a-famous-exploding-laptop dept.

Bowie J. Poag writes to mention a page put up to commemorate the explosion of Alan Cox's laptop. From the article: "Alan was on the other side of the room from the laptop. I was elsewhere. He yelled out, I ambled towards the room in my own good time, and then I heard 'Fire! Real fire! Call the fire brigade, now!' and I speeded up a bit. From Alan subsequently, I gather there was an explosion and flying pieces of laptop, and a fireball, and a couple of fires started where (presumably) boiling battery landed, and one fragment smashed an LCD monitor. And then there was smoke and smell (there is still smell) and smoke alarm wailing and firemen and sirens and paramedics (happily unneeded) and police and a man with a notebook asking questions for the fire report.'"

8 of 339 comments (clear)

  1. His own fault... by Pink+Tinkletini · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...for buying an IBM ThinkPad, notorious for their unreliability. Perhaps he should have considered an Apple or Dell instead.

    --
    And now, a PSA from David Lynch.
    1. Re:His own fault... by phasm42 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Time to adjust your sarcasm detector.

      --
      "No one likes working in a hamster wheel, and your shop smells of cedar shavings from here." - TaleSpinner
    2. Re:His own fault... by pchan- · · Score: 5, Funny

      Think of this as a learning experience If Linux had implemented BeOS's is_computer_on_fire()* system call, he would have been able to log the situation, send an email to his friend to alert the authorities, and shut down cleanly.

      *Yes, it's actually in the OS.

  2. Then the insurance guy says... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "What? Exploding laptop and you're running linux? Oh, we don't cover that."

  3. Re:Epidemic? by DustyShadow · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that why there is a "Made for Windows XP" sticker on it?

  4. Heh. by Square+Snow+Man · · Score: 5, Funny

    Coming Soon Laptops On A Plane!

  5. Re:Laptop? by OldManAndTheC++ · · Score: 5, Funny

    they aren't designed to be used on laps or any other surface

    Drat. Now I'll have to go shopping for a surface-less table. Perhaps "Klein Bottles-R-Us" has what I need...

    --
    Soylent Green is peoplicious!
  6. Re:I was worried for a sec... by mwanaheri · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am worried. 'real fire'? How virtual must your reality be to shout 'real fire'?

    --
    Idha khatabahum lijahiluna qalu salaman