There's something strange in the neighborhood. Several governors have been receiving unsolicited laptops from an unknown source, reports Robert McMillan at
ITWorld. Earlier this week,
The Charleston Gazette in West Virginia broke the story that on Aug. 5, Gov. Joe Manchin received at his office four Compaq laptops. A week later an HP laptop arrived. According to the
Gazette, HP confirmed with West Virginia officials the laptops were ordered online but were unable or unwilling to say who ordered them.
According to McMillan's report, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal's office has confirmed receipt of two shipments of laptops earlier this month, as have officials in Vermont. In addition, www.ITworld.com claims sources indicate up to 10 other states may be receiving the mystery laptops.
The FBI and state law enforcement agencies are investigating.
Chad Vander Veen is a former contributing editor for Emergency Management magazine, and previously served as the editor of FutureStructure, and the associate editor of Government Technology and Public CIO magazines.
