Pranksters invade Starbucks with desktop computers

We've already seen the confusion and hilarity some so-called "portable" computers can cause when taken out into public, but those shenanigans are nothing compared to the scene stirred up when the folks from Improv Everywhere lugged some ancient desktop computers (replete with CRT monitors) into a Starbucks. As you can see in the video after the break, they surprisingly weren't kicked out, but they did manage to attract a fair bit of attention, including from a few folks that thought the computers were set up for public use. Be sure to head up the read link below for the full report, as well as another video with the team relishing in their accomplishment.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Josh L @ Feb 25th 2008 4:57PM]

Epic win.

[Homeboy @ Feb 25th 2008 5:19PM]

Word! They really killed it and managed to give the name laptop a new meaning:

http://improveverywhere.com/images/desk19.jpg

http://improveverywhere.com/images/desk21.jpg

[Andrew @ Feb 25th 2008 5:58PM]

No one's mentioned the obvi Jewish guy towards the end thinking they're schlepping around a server.

[Timerider @ Feb 25th 2008 6:21PM]

Now someone needs to bring an Apple II in complete with 5.25" duo drive.

[sk8rpro @ Feb 25th 2008 11:31PM]

I'm disappointed! I wanted to see Windows 3.1 used instead :(

[mex @ Feb 26th 2008 5:52AM]

And this proves what exactly? "Yeah man, DUUUDE... thats totally awesome..., look we so, like, different." LAME! Not funny. Get a job - there are more important things to be done - stop wasting your time on trying to become a rebel and make pointless statements.

[Poom @ Feb 26th 2008 8:24AM]

Mex, you fail at having a sense of humor. Good job.

[j @ Feb 26th 2008 9:42AM]

word

[Kiwi616 @ Feb 25th 2008 4:57PM]

Those CRT monitors are great....bet they had some help though considering those guys a pretty wimpy looking!

[bigbird @ Feb 25th 2008 5:07PM]

I bet even these wimps would mow you down in a RWC game, Kiwi. CRT's or not!

[asha @ Feb 25th 2008 8:07PM]

Did you catch that one of the computers was running Windows 95?

[phanbouy @ Feb 25th 2008 4:58PM]

Windows 95 FTW!! I declare myself preznit of these guys' new fan club founded by me.

[TomTom2007 @ Feb 25th 2008 4:59PM]

hehe... that windows 95 boot up screen made my day... thanks

[System48 @ Feb 25th 2008 5:00PM]

They should've brought some serious hardware and started playing online.

[bigbird @ Feb 25th 2008 5:12PM]

[Insert mandatory Cysis lame here]

[bigbird @ Feb 25th 2008 5:17PM]

sic = phail....Crysis!

[David Russell @ Feb 25th 2008 5:01PM]

Watch the video. I appreciate how the camera nerd explains that "...it's seeing what I'm seeing..." because I was concerned he might face it towards the Burger King across the street.

[pyro @ Feb 25th 2008 9:09PM]

He was showing that he was using glasses with a camera in them connected to the camcorder.

[rusty771 @ Feb 25th 2008 5:01PM]

windows 95 supported Wi-Fi?!?!?

[Homeboy @ Feb 25th 2008 5:17PM]

What's WiFi? What does it do? Did I have it back in the days when I was rocking Win95 on my 120Mhz Pentium 1 which didn't have internet access?? What is the internet???????

[PJL @ Feb 25th 2008 7:45PM]

Yup. I ran Win95 with wifi for years -- used the software that came with the 802.11b card. Worked fine as my backup machine.

[Rainier @ Feb 25th 2008 6:19PM]

I think the WiFi enabled desktop was running WinXP (see video at 1:07), while the Win95 machine was being used just for MS-Word.

[Ellianth @ Feb 25th 2008 6:24PM]

Any particular reason why it couldn't?

[DWells55 @ Feb 25th 2008 6:40PM]

Device driver support?

[Tiptup300 @ Feb 25th 2008 10:02PM]

Your saying companies don't support their products on windows 95? I thought it was the new hip thing.

[shawnmos @ Feb 26th 2008 12:49AM]

I didn't know there were any wifi cards that had win95 drivers. I had to upgrade an old laptop I had to Win98 so that it could use wifi.

[BatteryAcid @ Feb 26th 2008 10:16PM]

Maybe, I know Windows 98 does. I my parent's house used to have wi-fi with windows 98. It was extremely clunky though. I just remember having to go to run and enter winipfg.

[bigbird @ Feb 25th 2008 5:02PM]

This has got to be fake. All those screen shots and not a single bsod. It just can't be real, can it?

[aaronbareford @ Feb 25th 2008 5:06PM]

Mega ROFLage!

[Mikey @ Feb 25th 2008 5:07PM]

Those guys rock! Props to them.

[James @ Feb 25th 2008 5:09PM]

Starbucks got PWN#D!

[Chris @ Feb 25th 2008 8:41PM]

More like Starbucks got free advertising and looked cool/laid back for going along with it and not hassling them.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Feb 25th 2008 5:11PM]

Next time bring some serious gaming rigs and have starbucks lan party.

[James M @ Feb 25th 2008 5:13PM]

If any of you get the chance to visit the Coffee Table (a coffee shop in Columbus, OH) then you'll probably notice a guy who seems to spend most of his days sitting at a table there with his 24 inch iMac. He often listens to quite loud music, and doesn't seem to actually do any work, but he must drink a lot of coffee.

[Jesse S @ Feb 25th 2008 7:59PM]

So, he's an average Mac user?

[Tiptup300 @ Feb 25th 2008 10:05PM]

Jesse, you just made me nearly choke from laughing so hard. This comment is dedicated to you! ++

[Dan @ Feb 25th 2008 10:35PM]

*diggs up*

n1, Jesse. I got a kick out of that :)

[James @ Feb 25th 2008 5:14PM]

I would personally buy each one of those guys (and gal) a cup of coffee of their choice if I saw that at my Starbucks.

[James @ Feb 25th 2008 5:17PM]

Wow, and totally off-topic but I just noticed there seems to be a lot of James' on Engadget that just posted on this.

James (with pic), James M, and Myself.

[Geir E @ Feb 25th 2008 6:34PM]

From english movies, James seem to be a typical name of butlers. So to see they flock around topics which include references to coffee and other fine beverages shouldn't be that big of a surprise.

As an example, the classic Dinner for One:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXLtM7JO50E

;)

[ben @ Feb 25th 2008 5:14PM]

"This is mine." Comic gold!

[Homeboy @ Feb 25th 2008 5:27PM]

Yeah he got PAWND big time, see how he shocking turns his head when he hears the words "This is mine". Further more his hat and Fubu jacket is completely out of fashion. Dressed like Coolio he must think it's 1995 or something.

[Kyle @ Feb 25th 2008 5:14PM]

I don't see what the big deal is. yeah its awkward, But as a starbucks employee, I would see absolutely no reason to "kick them out" like the author if this article was so surprised didnt happen.

And so they come and utilize the wifi and space...I'm still not seeing why everyones so giddy over this.

[Dan @ Feb 25th 2008 10:38PM]

Doing it once is funny and good PR to not kick them out, but if they did it repeatedly, I would kick them out.

[John Bailey @ Feb 26th 2008 10:43AM]

The point is that they got that scared confused reaction. It was f-u-n-n-y!

"Why are they doing it.." "what's the point.." "I can't see the point.." They must be terrorist apple hating freaks who hate your freedom.

[Pandas @ Feb 25th 2008 5:16PM]

wow what an incredibly boring prank, the reactions on their faces are so entirely...absent...try again guys, maybe with a 22" CRT...

fail.

[erhan @ Feb 25th 2008 8:16PM]

You Fail!

[boydston02 @ Feb 25th 2008 5:16PM]

That is funny. This prank NEEDS to be done again in about a decade when it REALLY gets people reacting. Actually, that would make a great documentary prank! Do this every 5 years and watch people's reactions evolve. Anyway, cool prank.

[Dylan K @ Feb 25th 2008 5:16PM]

I'm going to do this.

[Tony @ Feb 25th 2008 5:33PM]

Someone else already did it, what's the point of doing it again?