Thursday, September 01, 2005

How much is a laptop worth?

Would you stand in line, endure a stampede, risk being beaten with a folding chair, and even go so far as to wet yourself rather than give up your place in line - all for the chance of being able to purchase a laptop computer for $50. To be fair, those in line probably weren't aware it was going to turn as nasty as it did but it was probably always a fair bet that there would be a fair amount of competition for the laptops.
About 5,500 people turned up for the Henrico Country school's sale of 1,000 laptops at the bargain price of $50 each. The Apple iBooks, when new, usually cost between $999 and $1299.
Even though there was much questionable behaviour by the shoppers, there were no arrests - although perhaps there should have been: given 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.

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