Dell Exploding Laptops

4 Million Recalled as Batteries Catch Fire

[trillianjedi]

Dell issued the biggest product recall in computer history after video footage showed a laptop bursting into flames during a conference in Osaka, Japan.

Similar incidents have been reported across the world. Dell said it had been told of six instances of batteries overheating, causing damage to furniture and belongings but no personal injuries.

[thisismoney.co.uk...]

[Syzygy]

The lunchtime edition of the London Evening Standard has devoted it's front page to this and the story comes complete with a large picture - taken from the video footage - of the laptop bursting into flames.

Syzygy

[edited by: Syzygy at 2:12 pm (utc) on Aug. 15, 2006]

[trillianjedi]

Dell have put up a webpage detailing how to ascertain if this affects you and how to get your battery replaced if so.

Due to the geotargetting of their webservers, the best thing is to go to [dell.com...] and you should see a "battery recall" link bottom left of page.

TJ

[sem4u]

Dell Inc. on Monday recalled 4.1 million Sony-manufactured laptop batteries, saying they could overheat and pose a fire risk.

The Dell-branded lithium-ion batteries were provided as service replacements by the Round Rock, Texas, computer maker, or included with laptops from April 1, 2004 through July 18, 2006. The notebooks sold for between $500 and $2,850, and individual batteries ranged from $60 to $180.

The recalled batteries were made by a unit of Sony Corp. They were sold with the following Dell notebook computers: the Dell Latitude D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, and D810; the Inspiron 6000, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 500m, 510m, 600m, 6400, E1505, 700m, 710m, 9400, and E1705; and the Dell Precision M20, M60, M70 and M90 mobile workstations; and XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170 and XPS M1710.

[informationweek.com...]

Dell battery recall site:

[dellbatteryprogram.com...]

[rogerd]

Hmmm, I've got a Sony laptop... wonder if I need an asbestos lap protector?

[rohitj]

Is sony liable or dell? Anyone know who bears the burden. This obviously looks horrible from a brand/pr perspective.

[johnyfav]

I read somewhere that a while back some professor burn his urm, valubles, when a laptop battery got too hot.

The reg said that the battery replacement site was to help the public warm to the dell brand again.....

I chuckled.

[stef25]

imagine one blows up mid-flight, the owner would probably get the crap beaten out of him and shipped to guantanamo

[johnser]

Bought a £1,500 Sony Vaio 2 years ago. Massive overheating from the start. (Theres a US class action now over this)
Sony didn't want to know after initial 12 months were up - so their laptop is now collecting dust on my shelf. Waste of money.

Instead of risking Sony again, I bought a £1,500 Dell laptop 2 months ago - less risk (or so I thought...)

I hope Sony gets taken to the cleaners over this.
They've had laptop overheating issues for almost 3 years & haven't sorted them out because cashflow was obviously more important.

You can only fool some of the people some of the time....

[potentialgeek]

I was once planning to get a Dell laptop like the ones with the battery problem. Saw the pics. Vivid! Scary! My concern wouldn't be the fire as much as data loss. The geeks who designed the battery must be heading for the hills!

p/g

[walkman]

>> wouldn't be the fire as much as data loss

unless it exploded while it was in the couch and the entire house or apartment complex burned down :)

[stef25]

I just bought a second hand IBM T40 for 450$ and its the nicest laptop ive ever used in 10 yrs of computing. highly recommended and they dont blow up (yet)

[SafetySaves]

Dell has been selling cheaper computers and now it has caught up to them using cheap parts.

[MisterT]

i think if dell handles this recall well...ie: they have good customer service and take care of everyone in a quick manner...this might actually make a lot of dell customers feel better about their customer service, since they have been seriously lacking in that department. if they fumble this recall, watch out!

[Bddmed]

Just found this in my inbox

Thank you for participating in the Dell recall of certain Sony batteries. Your replacement order has been received and you can expect to receive your new battery within 20 business days. You may continue to use your notebook computer safely by turning the system off, ejecting the battery, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power your system until your replacement battery is received.

20 business days! Well, luckily I have 2 laptops. And one of them is not a Dell.

[wmuser]

Usualy when such a things happening with cars,teh producers are calling cars back,will Dell care to replace those products with new ones?

[lexipixel]

This isn't the only laptop battery recall.

Aftermarket "Hi-capacity Rechargeable Notebook Computer Batteries" sold at national and regional resellers and retailers and through online stores between January 2004 and May 2005 for $70-$199 in various packaging -- if you beleive you have one, call "Battery Biz" 800-780-6552... reason: "an internal short can cause the battery cells to overheat posing a fire hazard"

NOTE: their phone message after hours directs you to a website; <www.highcapacity.com/exchange> but the page isn't there...

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