Well, I agree that shooting the laptop was wasteful, and personally, I'd just give it away (if there are any other parents out there tempted to shoot out their child's expensive toys - pm me. I'll give you my address. I still have a flip phone, no lap top and no ipod. It's a pathetic existence).
Still, after reading the link thetalady provided (particularly his response to the questions some media outlet had sent him) and watching the video - I like the guy. Wouldn't have made the same choice, but he didn't sound like a nut case, dysfunctional dad either IMO.
Maybe between teaching and parenting I've spent entirely too much time around teenagers.