bangbang023 Veteran Posted September 16, 2006 Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2006 (edited) So we're waiting for a flight in the United lounge at LAX, the flight next to ours was heading to London and in the middle of final boarding, when suddenly this guy comes running the wrong way up the jetway, pushing other boarding passengers out of the way, he quickly drops his laptop on the floor and the thing immediately flares up like a giant firework for about 15 seconds, then catches fire. About a hundred other people in the lounge jumped up and began a mix of gawking and general panic, I clearly heard a few fleeing individuals saying something about terrorists. The fire burned for a minute while everybody just stared at it, then another flare up, this one much larger than the first, drove a larger group of gawkers away. Eventually, the high intensity flaring calmed down and a larger fire kicked in, all the while letting off a thick cloud of white smoke that was slowly filling the terminal. Finally, an employee came over with a fire extinguisher and put it out of its misery.I spoke to the laptop owner (while getting close for some pictures!) and he said he his laptop was an IBM, that he had checked the battery against the recalls on the net and his battery wasn't a recall. I don?t remember seeing any IBM laptops nuke themselves yet on GizModo, just Macbooks and Dells with Sony batteries, but it was a close call nonetheless, if that thing had fired off while that plane was in the air, who knows what would have happened. Also, we got to overhear some of the not-so-computer-literate people on our flight talking about how laptop batteries can explode if you "get too many viruses on your computer." Christ. Source w/images Edited September 17, 2006 by bangbang023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenNT Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 where's the linK? :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshBluebird Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 Kinda lucky this wasn't on the plane. I wondering if lardiop still thinks laptops going up in flames is noithing to worry about now :laugh: (kinda a running joke from the podcasts for those who don't know). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azusa Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 link no work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TogaForComfort Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 Link is reading as: http://forums.<< filtered for offensive content >>/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2069019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 Linky 1 Linky 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simsie Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 wow, is it just me or is the number of laptop fires on the rise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Star Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 As another source I read on it is not Sony's fault. There was to many virus's on the computer that caused it. Source: Engadget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrack Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 A virus shouldn't be able to produce a hardware failure that results in a fire. That is just nutty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strekship Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 Viruses don't cause laptops to burst into flames. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Dog Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 As another source I read on it is not Sony's fault. There was to many virus's on the computer that caused it. Source: Engadget Your name is "Tech Star", please tell me you meant that as a joke and I missed it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbagestrike Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 A virus shouldn't be able to produce a hardware failure that results in a fire. That is just nutty. LOL :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osirisX Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Also, we got to overhear some of the not-so-computer-literate people on our flight talking about how laptop batteries can explode if you "get too many viruses on your computer." LOL :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 looks like removing the battery from laptops should be the case now for plane boarding .... wouldnt want to be sitting underneath the onboard luggage when one of these goes off and starts a fire ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambience Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 fleeing individuals saying something about terrorists This actually stood out for me - has the media already scared people to such an extent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGS4-SS Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 This actually stood out for me - has the media already scared people to such an extent? Haven't you noticed? Now I'm waiting for the new rule in airports: Laptop without batteries (or no laptops at all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windam Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Haven't you noticed? Now I'm waiting for the new rule in airports: Laptop without batteries (or no laptops at all). if that's the case boycott the f****** airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Dog Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Haven't you noticed? Now I'm waiting for the new rule in airports: Laptop without batteries (or no laptops at all). Actually some airports have already started this. Delta in Australia I believe was one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kombolcha Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 ya.. see what happens when you leave a thinpad on your lap for a few mins.. it'll burn your balls off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webeagle12 Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 As another source I read on it is not Sony's fault. There was to many virus's on the computer that caused it. Source: Engadget umm if u serious, turn off your computer and stay away from it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shof Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 i am glad it is NO LONGER a dell lighting up in flames Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEIST Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 I bet 10 bucks this is going into the next NeowinCast. =P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Star Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Here is the link for those that dont belive me: http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/16/thinkpa...tes-bomb-scare/ nd why would it be? IBM and Lenovo aren't flagged for bad batteries -- yet. (Sony, we're looking your direction.) But the coup de gr?ce at LAX: onlookers apparently mumbling that "too many viruses on your computer" can lead to this horrendous fate. How true, indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randolph Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Here is the link for those that dont belive me: http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/16/thinkpa...tes-bomb-scare/ They were being sarcastic!!!!!! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagamer34 Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Software controls hardware. OF COURSE software can cause a fire. Though, the OS is supposed to protect your PC from those kinds of things, it could happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts