The IDIOCY of some people...

[Apostrophe]

I mean the sheer, rash, thoughtless IDIOCY that happens in this video is appalling!

This idiot OPENED A MAC CLASSIC and TURNED IT ON WHILE IT WAS OPEN.

 

[LCGuy]

I can't watch it, since I'm on dialup, so I've got no idea as to what happens exactly but I've had compacts running while they're open, and both me and the Macs have survived. As long as you're careful and don't touch anything you should be fine.

 

[MacMan]

Looks like he did it quite responsibly to me, plugged it in and then turned it on at the wall instead of with the switch on the back. Electricution is only a risk if you're actually handling the machine itself while it is on but otherwise is not a problem so long as you are careful and know what you are doing.

Not that I would recommend doing it though.

 

[tomlee59]

"Idiocy" is much too strong a word. He didn't touch any dangerous bits, didn't even get near them. There is nothing particularly risky about what he did.

Certainly if you don't know your way around a piece of equipment, powering up an open machine is not a good idea. But the mere fact of doing so is not automatically a sign of foolishness.

The one criticism I have of that fellow is his cruel use of a screwdriver to separate the case halves. I'm sure he left ugly chew marks all along the seams.

The horror, the horror!

 

[SiliconValleyPirate]

I mean the sheer, rash, thoughtless IDIOCY that happens in this video is appalling!
This idiot OPENED A MAC CLASSIC and TURNED IT ON WHILE IT WAS OPEN.

Well this idiot has done that more times that you've had hot dinners and I've never *once* been got by one. Moreover, on some models the only way you can adjust the pots o n the analogue board that control the screen dimensions is by... yes, taking the lid of and running it up topless!

It's no big deal as long as you are careful. You'll no doubt have missed (due to descending red mist) the fact the person even set the power switch n the back to '1' so he *didn't* have to reach round and switch it on at the board while it was live. That struck me as a really *good* idea!

I was more appalled by him using a screwdriver to lever the 2 halves of the case apart personally...

UPDATE: LOL. tomlee obviously had the same thought at the same time

 

[Patnukem]

I kind of wanted him to get shocked is that so wrong?

 

[tomlee59]

I was more appalled by him using a screwdriver to lever the 2 halves of the case apart personally...

UPDATE: LOL. tomlee obviously had the same thought at the same time

Great minds think alike.

And so do ours.

 

[benjgvps]

Heh, look at another example of stupid, grammatically incorrect and uninformed youtube commenters:

cotton509 (4 months ago)

you can upgrade the hdd to 5 gb oinly becuase any more will make it crash

 

[Unknown_K]

I have seen worse. A tech at a company I was at was tired and not thinking clearly when he tried to take a voltage reading on a live 480VAC transformer with his fluke handheld meter set to resistance. The explosion woke him up without any damage to himself. Ofcouse it did make a big bang, blew his meter up, pitted the lugs on the transformer, and turned out the lights to the whole building. I have seen people who did know better getting dropped by sticking their hands into live 208VAC while mucking around in power sections of industrial machinery.

The people who get zapped and killed are the totaly clueless, and the been there done it 10,000x before people who just get stupid.

 

[Charlieman]

A tech at a company I was at was tired and not thinking clearly

And that is rule number one about electrical safety. If you are tired or if you have become frustrated that something doesn't work, the last place you need to be is around high volts. Personally, I only mess with important stuff (electrical, electronic or software) at weekends or a day off; weekday evenings are for non-critical hacking and reading. Professionally, there have been many occasions when I have been compelled to work under stress, but the results were less than perfect.

 

[MacMan]

And that is rule number one about electrical safety. If you are tired or if you have become frustrated that something doesn't work, the last place you need to be is around high volts.

I would agree with that, there's been a handful of times when I've toasted things, (or myself), due to lack of concentration through tiredness. Even just taking a break or leaving something until the next day can make such a difference.

 

[Scott Baret]

I wouldn't call it being an idiot if I were you.

I have used many compacts without their covers on. Every time I perform a repair or adjust the screen, I start it up like that. I always will power up without the cover on after I fix something just in case I forgot to reconnect a cable (I have a tendency to forget the four-pronged CRT cable that attaches to the analog board) or if something I put in is DOA and I didn't know it (this happened to me once with RAM, which is why I always do it like this now).

Once all is well I put the case back on and insert the four (sometimes five) screws.

Speaking of opening cases, did anyone else see the Mac Cracker on eBay today?

 

[SiliconValleyPirate]

And that is rule number one about electrical safety. If you are tired or if you have become frustrated that something doesn't work, the last place you need to be is around high volts.

Even just taking a break or leaving something until the next day can make such a difference.

That's fine in your hobbyist bedroom, but when you get paid to do a job and you are on schedule you have no choice, that's when people make really big mistakes. The boss is on your back, the clock is ticking and something isn't working... Been there myself, but thankfully not with anything high voltage.

Great minds think alike.

And so do ours.

I believe the phrase you are looking for is:

"Great minds think alike... and fools seldom differ" [] ]'>

 

[JDW]

I've read through this thread, but I fail to see the point. I expected to see someone getting shocked on video, but I don't see that. I don't see him putting any metal objects inside the case or pouring water over it while it's turned on -- all things I would have expected by reading the title of this thread. But all that video shows is someone who opened a classic Mac and switched on the power. That's it. Nothing more. No sparks even!

Well, okay, the guy was an "idiot" for cracking the plastics open with a flat head screw driver, but perhaps he was a Windows user anyway who didn't care about Macs?

Now if he had opened the case, and then placed the Mac in a bathtub, and then filled it partially with water, and then plugged it in, and then switched on the power, now that would have been something to see. It wouldn't have taken long for the breaker to trip, but still, that would have been a more amazing video than this.

No, how about this... Open the Mac, put it in a large plastic pan so the Mac is half-way sitting in the pan, fill the pan with jello, refrigerate, then plug it in to see how well jello conducts electricity when you switch the Mac on. Of course, I would recommend an IBM PC for this test rather than a Mac, but you get the picture.

Seriously folks, I am struggling to see the point of this thread!

Such that this thread won't be a let-down for others who come across it, I've looked up some REAL flicks for you. If you want to see some video produced by a mind of idiocy and violence, have a look at these (I advise turning off your speakers unless you like vulgar music on the first video -- viewer discretion advised):

Weapons of Mac Destruction

Blowing up a Classic

And to think, the people who created these videos are likely registered voters in the US. Scary.

 

[SiliconValleyPirate]

I guess it's all a question of perceived value. People like that see no value on old computer hardware, which is a shame because if it works it's worth something to someone. Charities, collectors, geeks, all want old stuff. It can be used for all sorts.

Anything to create a spectacle on YouTube eh?

 

[benjgvps]

Wow, I just noticed something, On every video containing a Macintosh computer or a Windows PC screwing up, there is at least one comment saying PCs Suck! or Macs Suck! or random hate. I want to IP trace these commenters and call them saying I'm the internet police and that they will be fined.

 

[ealex79]

But running a TV or Monitor without a case imposes more danger then just a computer. But I wouldn't be afraid to run one on controlled circumstances. One doesn't HAVE to touch any copper pieces on a switched on monitor, is it? [] ]'>

 

[II2II]

For a while, I called the Macintosh the user friendly computer that would gladly kill you.

I'm one of those IDIOTS who opened up a compact Mac, then powered it up with the case open (after servicing it). I was acutely aware of the CRT and th analog board, but it didn't quite strike me that the PSU was not in its own enclosure as it is on most computers (or on later compacts, but I wasn't aware of those at the time). So I had 120V AC going through my hand since my thumb was exactly where it shouldn't be.

It actually felt kinda cool, though I wouldn't suggest that anyone goes out and tries this experiment. It felt cool because my hand was on both the live wire and ground, so the current didn't pass through my body. On the other hand, I had another encounter (this time with faulty equipment) where the current did go through my body. It fscked around with my heart that time, and that did not feel cool.

I guess what I'm saying is that you want to avoid accidents with electricity, because it can be dangerous. But just because it is dangerous doesn't mean it is this horrendously deadly thing. I'm willing to bet that something like street racing or drunk driving is much more deadly, but people are more willing to take risks like that because it is easier to visualize how objects move than how electrons move.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

I'm not sure how this is idiocy... how do you think electronic techs serviced televisions and monitors? You HAVE to run them open to even probe for correct voltages or take O-scope readings.

Just use reasonable care to avoid touching live circuitry and you should be okay. I have repaired several dozens of CRT TVs and monitors back in the day. The 30k volts from the flyback output can potentially kill you, but it's low current so most likely you'd just get a very uncomfortable jolt like being hit by a stun gun, although I don't speak from experience because this is one voltage I've never accidentally touched. BTW, the B&W tube in a classic Mac probably only gets closer to 12-15kV.

Although I would have to admit that I've had my share of accidents. There have been times that I've forgotten to check large electrolytic caps in the primary circuit of TVs only to discover they still retained a pretty sizable charge. I've also accidentally brushed against live heatsinks in monitors and power supplies. I've been lucky every time that all I've gotten every time is a weird buzzing/tingling sensation running up my arm.