When Virginia's Henrico County School system decided to get rid of 1,000 laptop computers, they offered the 4-year-old Apple iBooks to the public for $50 each. People started lining up hours before the sale was to take place at the Richmond International Raceway.

One woman was so desperate to hold on to her place in line that she wet herself rather than give it up. By the time the gates opened at 7:00 a.m., desire had built to a fever pitch, and "a terrifying mob scene" took place. Although most injuries were minor, a child's stroller was crushed, and an elderly man was thrown to the ground.

Jesse Sandler was one of the winners. He ended up with an iBook, but not without a fight. Sandler beat people with the folding chair he had brought along. "I took my chair here, and I threw it over my shoulder, and I went, Bam," the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station. "They were getting in front of me, and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just."