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Crashed [Windows CE] Computer Traps Thai Politician in Limousine
Aardvark Daily ^
| May 14, 2003
Posted on 05/14/2003 11:35:11 AM PDT by 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?
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Technical
KEYWORDS: bluescreenofdeath; bmw; microsoft; techindex; thailand; windows; windowsce
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1
posted on
05/14/2003 11:35:11 AM PDT
by
Timesink
To: Timesink
didn't he call the help desk first?
To: *Microsoft; *tech_index
bump for bump lists
3
posted on
05/14/2003 11:38:15 AM PDT
by
Timesink
To: Timesink
"Windows crashed, window smashed". A sledgehammer blow dealt to Windows operating system. News at 11.
4
posted on
05/14/2003 11:38:56 AM PDT
by
Arkie2
(TSA ="Thousands standing around")
To: Timesink
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.
5
posted on
05/14/2003 11:40:34 AM PDT
by
NautiNurse
(If Lawton Chiles runs for the Senate seat in 2004, we will **really** have Jurassic Park in Florida)
To: Timesink
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!
6
posted on
05/14/2003 11:41:07 AM PDT
by
Rebel_Ace
(Tags?!? Tags?!? We don' neeeed no stinkin' Tags!)
To: Timesink
7
posted on
05/14/2003 11:42:15 AM PDT
by
Sender
To: Rebel_Ace
He voided the warranty when he opened the hood.
To: Timesink
He should have know to hold down the lock, horn, and delete key at the same time to reboot.
9
posted on
05/14/2003 11:43:05 AM PDT
by
Lysander
(My army can kill your army)
To: Dominic Harr; chance33_98; rdb3; ShadowAce
bump fyi
10
posted on
05/14/2003 11:44:52 AM PDT
by
Fractal Trader
(Free Republic Energized - - The power of Intelligence on the Internet! Checked by Correkt Spel (TM))
To: battlegearboat
It was getting hotter in there than a pair of jumper cables at a Thai pie supper party.
To: Timesink
Man, we can't even escape from Bill Gates in our automobiles!
12
posted on
05/14/2003 11:46:36 AM PDT
by
2111USMC
To: Timesink
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.
13
posted on
05/14/2003 11:47:15 AM PDT
by
Bacon Man
(Bacon is never wrong but occasionally fried.)
To: Rebel_Ace
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.
14
posted on
05/14/2003 11:48:01 AM PDT
by
discostu
(A cow don't make ham)
To: Hap; Xenalyte
Ping because this is too funny.
15
posted on
05/14/2003 11:48:52 AM PDT
by
Bacon Man
(Bacon is never wrong but occasionally fried.)
To: Bacon Man
Jerry Nadler! What happened!?
16
posted on
05/14/2003 11:48:58 AM PDT
by
Timesink
To: Fractal Trader
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 :)
17
posted on
05/14/2003 11:51:54 AM PDT
by
chance33_98
(www.hannahmore.com -- Shepherd Of Salisbury Plain is online, more to come! (my website))
To: battlegearboat
If you re-sell the car, do you violate the EULA?
18
posted on
05/14/2003 11:53:41 AM PDT
by
July 4th
To: discostu; Rebel_Ace
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...
19
posted on
05/14/2003 11:55:18 AM PDT
by
Timesink
To: Bacon Man
SPACEBALLS BUMP!
20
posted on
05/14/2003 11:56:16 AM PDT
by
IYAS9YAS
(Go Fast, Turn Left!)
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