Who needs terrorists when we have Dell?

[cjcampbell]

So, Dell has exploding laptops. Reminds me of the old days in Hollywood
when every computer in a Universal picture eventually exploded. Geeks
smirkingly called them the Explodatron 2000. Now instead of the
Explodatron 2000 we have Dell! Four million laptops apparently just a
time bomb (literally) waiting to go off. And it might go a lot further
than that -- lots of companies use the same batteries, including Apple,
HP, Sony.

[Cub Driver]

On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
> wrote:

>So, Dell has exploding laptops.

Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.

Credit where credit is due!

(Mine is one of the laptops affected.)


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

[john smith]

In article . com>,
"cjcampbell" > wrote:

> So, Dell has exploding laptops. Reminds me of the old days in Hollywood
> when every computer in a Universal picture eventually exploded. Geeks
> smirkingly called them the Explodatron 2000. Now instead of the
> Explodatron 2000 we have Dell! Four million laptops apparently just a
> time bomb (literally) waiting to go off. And it might go a lot further
> than that -- lots of companies use the same batteries, including Apple,
> HP, Sony.

I had the same thought when I read the article in yesterday's Wall
Street Journal. If the terrorists learn what makes some batteries
explode and others not, the weapon will be undetectable.
Or, they just rig any existing battery pack by removing a couple cells
and replacing them with an igniter. The computer already provides the
timer and the battery the power and fuel.

[Larry Dighera]

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:57:49 -0400, Cub Driver <usenet AT danford DOT
net> wrote in >:

>On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
> wrote:
>
>>So, Dell has exploding laptops.
>
>Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
>SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.
>

It took a long time for lithium battery development to achieve the
point where the batteries were considered safe enough to be used
outside the laboratory. Lithium is a very reactive and light weight
metal:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium
Lithium will ignite and burn when exposed to water and water
vapors in oxygen. It is the only metal that reacts with nitrogen
at room temperature. Lithium has a high specific heat capacity,
3582 J/(kg·K), and a great temperature range in its liquid form,
which makes it a useful chemical.

Lithium in its pure form is highly flammable and slightly
explosive when exposed to air and especially water. Lithium fires
are difficult to extinguish, requiring special chemicals designed
to smother them. Lithium metal is also corrosive and requires
special handling to avoid skin contact. Lithium should be stored
in a non-reactive compound such as naphtha or a hydrocarbon.

...

And in an attempt to include some on-topic content:

Carriage and shipment of some kinds of lithium batteries may be
prohibited aboard certain types of transportation (particularly
aircraft), because of the ability of most types of lithium
batteries to fully discharge very rapidly when short-circuited,
leading to overheating and possible explosion. However, most
consumer lithium batteries have thermal overload protection
built-in to prevent this type of incident, or their design
inherently limits short-circuit currents.

[Jonathan Goodish]

In article >,
Cub Driver <usenet AT danford DOT net> wrote:
> >So, Dell has exploding laptops.
>
> Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
> SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.


If I recall correctly, Apple had the same problem a couple years ago
with Sony batteries, though I believe that Apple's issue was identified
and corrected quickly. I don't know what the specific defect was with
the batteries that caused them to "explode," but this story is only
significant because of the magnitude of the problem.




JKG

[john smith]

> If I recall correctly, Apple had the same problem a couple years ago
> with Sony batteries, though I believe that Apple's issue was identified
> and corrected quickly. I don't know what the specific defect was with
> the batteries that caused them to "explode," but this story is only
> significant because of the magnitude of the problem.

Apple has a current recall on iBook batteries. It has been effect for
most of this year. Check out their website. www.apple.com

[Robert M. Gary]

I see another Dateline special coming up "And now an episode you won't
want to miss, before you fire up your laptop, know that you may DIE,
watch Dateline at 9 to see how".

-Robert


cjcampbell wrote:
> So, Dell has exploding laptops. Reminds me of the old days in Hollywood
> when every computer in a Universal picture eventually exploded. Geeks
> smirkingly called them the Explodatron 2000. Now instead of the
> Explodatron 2000 we have Dell! Four million laptops apparently just a
> time bomb (literally) waiting to go off. And it might go a lot further
> than that -- lots of companies use the same batteries, including Apple,
> HP, Sony.

[Montblack[_1_]]

("Robert M. Gary" wrote)
> I see another Dateline special coming up "And now an episode you won't
> want to miss, before you fire up your laptop, know that you may DIE, watch
> Dateline at 9 to see how".


These days, 98.486% of all TV "news" can be viewed on a par with the likes
of: Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, A Current Affair, Hard Copy,
Inside Edition, etc, etc, etc.

I no longer watch my local TV news every night. Don't miss it one bit. In
fact, it's almost cleansing NOT seeing that stuff night after night after
night.

If I want to give an hour to TV, I'll watch a show about houseboats on The
Travel Channel.


Montblack
"Don't take any **** from the zeitgeist." - George Carlin

[Don Tuite]

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 11:24:49 -0500, "Montblack"
> wrote:

>
>If I want to give an hour to TV, I'll watch a show about houseboats on The
>Travel Channel.
>
X-treem houseboatz? Light Sport Houseboats? Experimental houseboats?
Anchor mods? Vintage houseboats? Never Again -- I Learned About
Houseboats from That? Houseboat hangars?

Don

[Montblack[_1_]]

("Don Tuite" wrote)
> X-treem houseboatz? Light Sport Houseboats? Experimental houseboats?
> Anchor mods? Vintage houseboats? Never Again -- I Learned About
> Houseboats from That? Houseboat hangars?


Stories From the Flybridge.


Montblack

[Robert M. Gary]

Montblack wrote:
> ("Robert M. Gary" wrote)
> > I see another Dateline special coming up "And now an episode you won't
> > want to miss, before you fire up your laptop, know that you may DIE, watch
> > Dateline at 9 to see how".
>
>
> These days, 98.486% of all TV "news" can be viewed on a par with the likes
> of: Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, A Current Affair, Hard Copy,
> Inside Edition, etc, etc, etc.

I no longer watch TV news either. I tend to get my news from The Wall
Street Journal. Seems to be the more reasonable publication.

-Robert

[Vaughn Simon]

"cjcampbell" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> So, Dell has exploding laptops.

Exploding laptops (shudder). Perhaps for the sake of future generations, I
should stop using my laptop on my lap?

Vaughn

[.Blueskies.]

"Cub Driver" <usenet AT danford DOT net> wrote in message ...
: On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
: > wrote:
:
: >So, Dell has exploding laptops.
:
: Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
: SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.
:
: Credit where credit is due!
:
: (Mine is one of the laptops affected.)
:
:
: -- all the best, Dan Ford
:
: email: usenet AT danford DOT net
:
: Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
: Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
: In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com


I am trying sooo hard to boycott Sony. I went to buy a watch battery, and after I got home I looked really closely, and
it was a SONY! I do my best to avoid anything Sony....

[Emily[_1_]]

Vaughn Simon wrote:
> "cjcampbell" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> So, Dell has exploding laptops.
>
> Exploding laptops (shudder). Perhaps for the sake of future generations, I
> should stop using my laptop on my lap?
>
> Vaughn
>
>
>
That's already been studied. There was a report last year maybe that
said men using laptops in their lap have a lower sperm count.

[Grumman-581[_1_]]

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 17:22:43 -0500, Emily >
wrote:
> There was a report last year maybe that
> said men using laptops in their lap have a
> lower sperm count.

Understandable since they need to be a couple of degrees cooler than
the rest of the body... So, when you see a guy on a plane with a
laptop in his lap, does it get you all hot and bothered?
<dirty-old-man-grin>

[Emily[_1_]]

Grumman-581 wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 17:22:43 -0500, Emily >
> wrote:
>> There was a report last year maybe that
>> said men using laptops in their lap have a
>> lower sperm count.
>
> Understandable since they need to be a couple of degrees cooler than
> the rest of the body... So, when you see a guy on a plane with a
> laptop in his lap, does it get you all hot and bothered?
> <dirty-old-man-grin>

Yes, because I know the chances of getting pregnant and having to quit
my job are lowered.

Oh, I'm sorry, did that sound too much like I hate children? (I've been
told hating children is unattractive)

[Grumman-581[_1_]]

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:12:17 -0500, Emily >
wrote:
> Oh, I'm sorry, did that sound too much like I hate children? (I've been
> told hating children is unattractive)

Nawh, it's not... Grace originally said that she didn't like kids...
That definitely attracted me to her... Turned out that the biological
clock started ticking and then it became, "Well, I just want *one*"...
Kaitlyn is now nearly 12 and I suspect that it's been nearly 12 years
since I've had any peace, quiet, or privacy in my life... I can still
just barely remember being able to do the things that we wanted to do
on the weekends... Being able to take vacations when and where we
wanted to go without concern for some stupid ass school's schedule...
Being able to consider buying a house because we liked the design
instead of what ****in' school district it was in... Damn, I should
have gotten clipped and just let Grace think I was shooting blanks...

The only thing that makes life bearable is when I end up on contract
so far out of town that I don't have to see them for a couple of
months... A recruiter contacted me this week for a 6+ month contract
up in Philly... Damn, I hope I get that contract... I need the peace
and quiet of a high pressure job away from home... Basically, I'm
dying a slow death of estrogen poisoning here...

http://grumman581.googlepages.com/leadingcauseofdeath

[cjcampbell]

Cub Driver wrote:
> On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
> > wrote:
>
> >So, Dell has exploding laptops.
>
> Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
> SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.
>
> Credit where credit is due!
>
> (Mine is one of the laptops affected.)
>

So, if you are flying and your laptop catches fire, how do you put it
out? Halon is no good for class D fires.

[Jay Beckman]

"cjcampbell" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Cub Driver wrote:
>> On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >So, Dell has exploding laptops.
>>
>> Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
>> SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.
>>
>> Credit where credit is due!
>>
>> (Mine is one of the laptops affected.)
>>
>
> So, if you are flying and your laptop catches fire, how do you put it
> out? Halon is no good for class D fires.
>

91.15 ... Just look before you jettison...

;O)

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

[Montblack[_1_]]

("cjcampbell" wrote)
> So, if you are flying and your laptop catches fire, how do you put it out?

"I was so scared I pee'd my pants" might be a useful first step.

> Halon is no good for class D fires.

Will Halon work, when transitioning Class D airspace?


Montblack

[Montblack[_1_]]

("Emily" wrote)
> Yes, because I know the chances of getting pregnant and having to quit my
> job are lowered.

Keep your job, get a raise ...and let 'hubby' stay home with the little
one(s).

> Oh, I'm sorry, did that sound too much like I hate children? (I've been
> told hating children is unattractive)

Hating children is ok. Bitching about hating children (which you're not
doing here) is what makes one unattractive.


Montblack

[Cub Driver]

On 15 Aug 2006 22:52:04 -0700, "cjcampbell"
> wrote:

>So, if you are flying and your laptop catches fire, how do you put it
>out? Halon is no good for class D fires.

In a small plane? I'd throw it out the door.

In one of the incidents (there haven't been many ... that we know of)
a flight attendant emptied the fire extinguisher onto the bag
containing the offending laptop, but it was still sizzling. So he or
she picked it up (in another account I read that the FA used oven
mitts from the galley!) and threw it either onto the loading ramp or
onto the tarmac (the accounts vary) where it again burst into flame.
Sounded a bit like the Terminator coming back to life.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

[Matt Whiting]

Montblack wrote:
> ("Emily" wrote)
>
>> Yes, because I know the chances of getting pregnant and having to quit
>> my job are lowered.
>
>
> Keep your job, get a raise ...and let 'hubby' stay home with the little
> one(s).
>
>> Oh, I'm sorry, did that sound too much like I hate children? (I've
>> been told hating children is unattractive)
>
>
> Hating children is ok. Bitching about hating children (which you're not
> doing here) is what makes one unattractive.

I always thought being ugly made one unattractive. :-)

Matt

[Jim Carter[_1_]]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jay Beckman ]
> Posted At: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 2:05 AM
> Posted To: rec.aviation.piloting
> Conversation: Who needs terrorists when we have Dell?
> Subject: Re: Who needs terrorists when we have Sony?
>
>
.... <clipped for brevity>
>
> 91.15 ... Just look before you jettison...
>
> ;O)
>
> Jay Beckman
> PP-ASEL
> Chandler, AZ

I'm betting there are a lot more laptops used in pressurized cockpits
above 15,000' than below; I doubt the jettison solution applies to them.

Since laptops are once again allowed onboard as checked luggage, I
wonder if the airlines are going to start checking battery models and
revision numbers (bet not). Or what about corporate and charter? There
doesn't seem to be much in the way of cockpit volume to dilute the fumes
from the chemical fire, and you certainly wouldn't want a constant feed
oxygen system switched on during the event.

[Peter R.]

Emily > wrote:

> Oh, I'm sorry, did that sound too much like I hate children? (I've been
> told hating children is unattractive)

Do you hate children or do you hate what modern parenting has done to the
reputation of children?

--
Peter

[Larry Dighera]

On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:43:46 GMT, "Jim Carter" >
wrote in <004101c6c131$99807a10$4001a8c0@omnibook6100>:

>Since laptops are once again allowed onboard as checked luggage, I
>wonder if the airlines are going to start checking battery models and
>revision numbers (bet not).

It would seem this requirement to check laptop computers rather than
making them available for use in the cabin has cost Boeing a bundle
not to mention the jobs lost:

------------------------------
The Boeing Company <http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/index.html>

Boeing to Discontinue Connexion by Boeing Service

* Previously announced charge to earnings now expected to be up to
$320 million

* Earnings benefit of approximately $0.15 per share expected
beginning in 2007

CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today
announced that a detailed business and market analysis of Connexion by
Boeing is complete, and the company has decided to exit the high-speed
broadband communications connectivity markets. Boeing will work with
its customers to facilitate an orderly phase out of the Connexion by
Boeing service.

"Over the last six years, we have invested substantial time, resources
and technology in Connexion by Boeing," said Boeing Chairman,
President and CEO Jim McNerney. "Regrettably, the market for this
service has not materialized as had been expected. We believe this
decision best balances the long-term interests of all parties with a
stake in Connexion by Boeing."

As initially disclosed in the company's second-quarter 2006 financial
results on July 26, Boeing now expects to recognize a pre-tax charge
of up to $320 million, or $0.26 per share, in the second half of 2006,
of which approximately $290 million will be taken in the third quarter
and the balance in the fourth quarter. The company also expects a
benefit to earnings of approximately $0.15 per share starting in 2007
without further investment in Connexion. The company will update its
financial guidance when it releases third quarter results on October
25.

The charge relates to writing down certain assets, payments of early
termination fees and other costs related to shutting down the service.
Boeing expects the majority of Connexion employees will find other
jobs within the company.

Boeing acknowledged it was reviewing the Connexion business on June
26. This effort included an assessment of the market and discussions
with existing customers and potential new business partners.

[Roger[_4_]]

On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
> wrote:

>So, Dell has exploding laptops. Reminds me of the old days in Hollywood
>when every computer in a Universal picture eventually exploded. Geeks
>smirkingly called them the Explodatron 2000. Now instead of the
>Explodatron 2000 we have Dell! Four million laptops apparently just a
>time bomb (literally) waiting to go off. And it might go a lot further
>than that -- lots of companies use the same batteries, including Apple,
>HP, Sony.

Any one blaming Dell is blaming the wrong company. All of the above
go back to one and only, "screw the customer, we'll put root kits on
their computers as they wouldn't know what they are anyway", Sony.

If given a choice I will never again purchase anything produced by
Sony.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[Larry Dighera]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 01:51:05 -0400, Roger >
wrote in >:

>All of the above
>go back to one and only, "screw the customer, we'll put root kits on
>their computers as they wouldn't know what they are anyway", Sony.


http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5946760.html
On Thursday, a wave of malicious software appeared in the wild
that piggybacked on copy-protection technology installed on hard
drives by Sony BMG Music Entertainment CDs.

Computer security companies had been predicting such exploit code
in the wild for weeks, since an independent developer had exposed
the presence of a "rootkit" tool on the Sony CDs. The rootkit
technology hid the copy protection from view, but also left open a
hole that could hide other software.

Virus writers quickly took advantage of that hole, modifying an
old Trojan horse to take advantage of the powerful inadvertent
shielding provided by the Sony software.
...

[Roger[_4_]]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 12:42:02 GMT, Larry Dighera >
wrote:

>On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 01:51:05 -0400, Roger >
>wrote in >:
>
>>All of the above
>>go back to one and only, "screw the customer, we'll put root kits on
>>their computers as they wouldn't know what they are anyway", Sony.
>
>
> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5946760.html
> On Thursday, a wave of malicious software appeared in the wild
> that piggybacked on copy-protection technology installed on hard
> drives by Sony BMG Music Entertainment CDs.
>
> Computer security companies had been predicting such exploit code
> in the wild for weeks, since an independent developer had exposed
> the presence of a "rootkit" tool on the Sony CDs. The rootkit
> technology hid the copy protection from view, but also left open a
> hole that could hide other software.
>
> Virus writers quickly took advantage of that hole, modifying an
> old Trojan horse to take advantage of the powerful inadvertent
> shielding provided by the Sony software.
> ...
Yup, which Sony vehemently denied could happen until the public was
shown it *was * happening.

What did they do for the many people who had their computers trashed
due to the root kit itself. They replaced the offending CD and
offered a program to remove the root kit. (which really didn't).

Eventually they did come up with the soft ware to remove the root kit,
but those who had their computers trashed were stuck with the costs
and inconvenience of putting things back together.

BTW according to news reports in the trade journals at the time the
government was considering the prosecution of the case under the cyber
terrorism laws but never did. One judge did pointedly tell Sony that
all though it was their music these were not their computers.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[Larry Dighera]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:22:30 -0400, Roger >
wrote in >:

> those who had their computers trashed were stuck with the costs
>and inconvenience of putting things back together.

Sounds like fodder for a class action suit to me.

[Roger[_4_]]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 23:59:19 GMT, Larry Dighera >
wrote:

>On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:22:30 -0400, Roger >
>wrote in >:
>
>> those who had their computers trashed were stuck with the costs
>>and inconvenience of putting things back together.
>
>Sounds like fodder for a class action suit to me.

But Sony gave them a new CD<:-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[Larry Dighera]

On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:16:17 -0400, Roger >
wrote in >:

>On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 23:59:19 GMT, Larry Dighera >
>wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:22:30 -0400, Roger >
>>wrote in >:
>>
>>> those who had their computers trashed were stuck with the costs
>>>and inconvenience of putting things back together.
>>
>>Sounds like fodder for a class action suit to me.
>
>But Sony gave them a new CD<:-))

But Sony failed to compensate those computer users who were forced to
reinstall the OS on their computers as a result of the clandestine
malware foist upon them as a result of using Sony's product.
Presumably breaking the seal on the music CD didn't constitute
agreement to permit Sony to compromise the security of their
computers.

[Roger[_4_]]

On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 13:19:11 GMT, Larry Dighera >
wrote:

>On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:16:17 -0400, Roger >
>wrote in >:
>
>>On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 23:59:19 GMT, Larry Dighera >
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:22:30 -0400, Roger >
>>>wrote in >:
>>>
>>>> those who had their computers trashed were stuck with the costs
>>>>and inconvenience of putting things back together.
>>>
>>>Sounds like fodder for a class action suit to me.
>>
>>But Sony gave them a new CD<:-))
>
>But Sony failed to compensate those computer users who were forced to
>reinstall the OS on their computers as a result of the clandestine

And all the other soft ware. Then you need to take into account how
much data may have been lost. Sony installed software without
permission and in many cases after being told explicitly not to
install, so technically they don't get that "not responsible for" part
that goes with accepting a program.

BUT as far as Sony is concerned they gave people the new disk and by
accepting the disk they absolved Sony of any further responsibility.
What do you want to bet that clause is in there some where for those
who accepted the CD?

>malware foist upon them as a result of using Sony's product.
>Presumably breaking the seal on the music CD didn't constitute
>agreement to permit Sony to compromise the security of their
>computers.

That is pretty much what the judge said too, but all has been very
quiet on the subject since then.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[Larry Dighera]

On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 22:26:04 -0400, Roger >
wrote in >:

>That is pretty much what the judge said too, but all has been very
>quiet on the subject since then.

Perhaps that silence is a result of a clause they inserted in their
settlement agreements. :-)

[Roger[_4_]]

On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 14:35:32 GMT, Larry Dighera >
wrote:

>On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 22:26:04 -0400, Roger >
>wrote in >:
>
>>That is pretty much what the judge said too, but all has been very
>>quiet on the subject since then.
>
>Perhaps that silence is a result of a clause they inserted in their
>settlement agreements. :-)

An out-of-court settlement: We give you a CD to replace the one with
the *supposed* problem and you agree not to pursue the issue of the CD
any farther. Nah, that'd be too underhanded as they know probably 90%
of those users whose systems crashed and had to be completely reloaded
still wouldn't have the faintest idea as to the cause. To do such a
thing would be beneath any honest company, don't you think?

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

[cjcampbell]

Larry Dighera wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:43:46 GMT, "Jim Carter" >
> wrote in <004101c6c131$99807a10$4001a8c0@omnibook6100>:
>
> >Since laptops are once again allowed onboard as checked luggage, I
> >wonder if the airlines are going to start checking battery models and
> >revision numbers (bet not).
>
> It would seem this requirement to check laptop computers rather than
> making them available for use in the cabin has cost Boeing a bundle
> not to mention the jobs lost:

I doubt that a couple days of not allowing carry-on laptops on board in
this quarter had any effect on a business that has been losing money in
several prior quarters. The decision was already made.

Boeing's problem is that people did not want to pay the exorbitant
connection fees just to use their laptops in flight. Boeing was looking
for other providers, but they all seemed to think of airline passengers
as being filthy rich Internet addicts with IQs somewhat below Forrest
Gump -- a vanishingly small portion of the population of whom the
highest concentration appears to be posting on Usenet.

[Larry Dighera]

On 20 Aug 2006 22:58:43 -0700, "cjcampbell"
> wrote in
. com>:

>a couple days of not allowing carry-on laptops on board

Somehow I got the idea that had become permanent, but you know what my
momma used to say ...

[cjcampbell]

Larry Dighera wrote:
> On 20 Aug 2006 22:58:43 -0700, "cjcampbell"
> > wrote in
> . com>:
>
> >a couple days of not allowing carry-on laptops on board
>
> Somehow I got the idea that had become permanent, but you know what my
> momma used to say ...

Sometimes I think pilots should just put a black border around
everything they post. You read the messages here and you get the
impression that all news is bad news. :-)

[Grumman-581[_1_]]

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:06:51 GMT, Larry Dighera >
wrote:
> Somehow I got the idea that had become permanent, but you know what my
> momma used to say ...

"Hurry up, get dressed, my husband just drove up" ???
<dirty-old-man-grin>