Crashed [Windows CE] Computer Traps Thai Politician in Limousine

Aardvark Daily ^ | May 14, 2003

[Timesink]

Crashed Computer Traps Thai Politician

Updated 14 May 2003
 

Thailand's Finance Minister Suchart Jaovisidha had to be rescued today from inside his expensive BMW limousine after the onboard computer crashed, leaving the vehicle immobilized.

Once the computer failed, neither the door locks, power windows nor air conditioning systems would function, leaving the Minister and his driver trapped inside the rapidly heating vehicle.

Despite the pair's best efforts, it took a full ten minutes before they were able to summon the attention of a nearby guard who freed the two men by smashing one of the vehicle's windows with a sledgehammer.

A report published in the Bangkok Post indicates that the vehicle was Mr Jaovisidha's own BMW 520 which was being used while his state-supplied Mercedes, was being repaired.

BMW's more up-market 7-series range uses a computer system called i-drive which has Microsoft's WindowsCE at its core.

Did Mr Jaovisidha narrowly miss being killed by the blue windscreen of death?

[ghost of nixon]

didn't he call the help desk first?

[Timesink]

bump for bump lists

[Arkie2]

"Windows crashed, window smashed". A sledgehammer blow dealt to Windows operating system. News at 11.

[NautiNurse]

Looks like the finance minister's car windows are as safe as the computer OS Windows.

LOL--for some strange reason, this reminded me of a time I was running late. Took the time to lock the doors, left the engine running, and left the driver side window all the way down.

[Rebel_Ace]

I don't care what the OS of the computer system is, what I want to know is exactly HOW BIG AN IDIOT was the engineer that designed a car with NO MEANS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK the Doors from the INSIDE!

[Sender]

[battlegearboat]

He voided the warranty when he opened the hood.

[Lysander]

He should have know to hold down the lock, horn, and delete key at the same time to reboot.

[Fractal Trader]

bump fyi

[battlegearboat]

It was getting hotter in there than a pair of jumper cables at a Thai pie supper party.

[2111USMC]

Man, we can't even escape from Bill Gates in our automobiles!

[Bacon Man]

In a related story, famed syndicate figure Pizza the Hutt accidentally locked himself in his stretched limousine and was forced to eat himself to death.

[discostu]

Actually there's a good number of electronic lock and window systems in cars without manual backup (almost all the window controls). It's one of the reasons I don't like them.

[Bacon Man]

Ping because this is too funny.

[Timesink]

Jerry Nadler! What happened!?

[chance33_98]

Yeah, but at least it was easy to use...or not use. Good thing about microsoft, they keep techies in business, plenty of things to fix and money to be made. I am just waiting on someone to file a lawsuit asking for reimbursement for all the hours their people had to spend fixing a broken product :)

[July 4th]

If you re-sell the car, do you violate the EULA?

[Timesink]

Actually there's a good number of electronic lock and window systems in cars without manual backup (almost all the window controls). It's one of the reasons I don't like them.

This is why everyone should have one of these in their glove compartment:

Costs about $10. One quick poke breaks any car window.

Also: If you ever drive off a bridge, roll down the windows - at least ONE window - before you do anything else. That way if the car starts to sink quickly, the pressure will be equal both inside and outside the car, and you'll be able to open the door and get out. If you panic and the car goes underwater with all the windows rolled up, you'll never get the door open.

Of course, that's just one more reason to have the window punch...

[IYAS9YAS]

SPACEBALLS BUMP!