I think it's more likely that people were stampeding because it was a laptop for $50.00, not because it was an iBook for $50.00. I know I'll be raked over the coals for this next comment, however: despite the fact that I detest using Macs, if I could get a used iBook for only $50.00, you could count me as one standing in line.

You would join this animalistic rabble for the chance to buy something which you detest using just because it’s cheap?

I’m afraid a raking over the coals is far too good for you, friend.

Greed ain’t that good.

Please note that I said you could count me as one standing in line. That's very different from stampeding. And, just because I detest using Macs, doesn't mean it's not useful to have one around as a designer. It's just not so useful that I'd pay MORE than $50.

OK then, Sorry if I offended. Each to their own. I love Macs, but personally, I wouldn’t have been there if they were giving them away. Perthaps I have just seen too many news images of stampedes at shopping malls, giveaways, sales, radio contests, Mecca, sports events, etc to see the value in even being around this sort of behaviour (not insinuating that you would lower yourself to that level). Perhaps people feel that they have been cheated most of their lives and believe that they are striking some sort of blow by getting something for nothing. Never mind, I am rambling.

2001 iBooks have a Bus speed of only 66Mhz -- which is hardly even useful these days for even the most basic Adobe product. I highly doubt if there were any designers in the crowd.

To me, it looked like the mob was mainly made up of moms and dads that are too poor to buy computers for their kids, and saw the sale as a chance to get a computer. I don't think it's greed. I think it's more desperation, which is rather sad.

It's easy for us to forget how difficult it is for some families to own a $1,200 laptop period. Nevermind Mac or PC. A computer is still an item that's far from being attainable by most of the world.

Here's one group that's doing something about it. I don't remember if I read it on a thread on SU or in the papers, but I think it's a fucking awesome idea that can change the world.

MIT's $100 laptop.

Point taken, Tan. Perahaps what might be more important here is the question of why folks who are living in the richest country in the world are so desperate to get a hold of even an outdated computer that they will resort to this type of behaviour. I want to be sure that we are agreed that for example, a baby-stroller-crushing stampede is not really the extreme that we want to see humans reduced to for a chance at cheap or free anything.

My accusation of greed, for which I have apologised, was directed soley at arteesternite, who had expected to be raked over the coals (or maybe that was for detesting Macs).

Chris,

Apology accepted, although I wasn't really offended. I just wanted to clarify. And yes, I was expecting to be raked over the coals for detesting Macs :-p

Tan,

That's a good point that at 4 years old, it probably wouldn't be useful. (Also, at 23 years old and working a grunt design job with not really any freelance right now, I don't know if I'd really count as a designer if I was there :-p)

As for the whole stampeding aspect, I think it's more sad, and a bit pathetic, that this happens every year on the day after thanksgiving. Yes, it is more likely to happen at WalMart, but it still happens regularly. And I know many people that aren't poor or desperate that still take part in that awful spectacle every year.

Perhaps part of the problem is that people have been convinced is that the only way to show someone love is by giving them really expensive stuff. It's also, unfortunately, a mark of status.

Capitalism is great, because the competition gives consumers a lot of options. Unfortunately, when the consumers have no meaning in their lives, it can become as souless as the state-is-all communism.

why folks who are living in the richest country in the world are so desperate to get a hold of even an outdated computer that they will resort to this type of behaviour.

I'm still shocked that the school district in 2005 still hadn't heard of eBay.

>eBay

My guess Darrel, is that since the iBooks were likely a corporate donation or bought at a greatly reduced educational cost originally — there were probably restrictions on their method of resale and value which excludes eBay as an option.

Don't get me wrong, though — I think their ultimate solution sucked too, and could have been administered a lot smarter. For example, it could have been a blind lottery instead of a smash and grab.