The specific one I was thinking of actually reported green light in the cockpit for a few seconds.
"The pilots described the light as a laser that entered the cockpit from the chief officer's window and did not move off the aircraft, said Alison Gemmell, director of marketing and communication for SkyWest Airlines." from
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2004/12/31/news/news09.txt
The article you linked also states passengers saw the light as well. They couldn't have seen it if it were limited to a small spot aimed at the cockpit.