Dell to recall 4.1 million PC batteries

[onehandle]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -- Dell, the world's largest personal computer maker, said on Monday it would recall 4.1 million notebook computer batteries with cells made by Sony, the largest recall in Dell's history.

Dell said it issued the recall in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the devices' lithium-ion batteries could overheat and, in rare cases, produce smoke and catch fire, Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn said.

The recall of batteries in Dell notebooks sold from April 2004 through last month spans the company's assortment of Latitude, Inspiron and Precision models, Blackburn reported.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/14/technology/dell.reut/index.htm

[Kutjara]

1. So Dell sold laptops with batteries that catch fire...

knowing that many of these computers would be carried on commercial aircraft? Arrest Michael Dell right away! He's obviously an Al Qaeda operative!

[Patsy Stone]

2. And here I wondered why my battery

was so hot.

Not sure if I'm included, but from the look of it, it's a possibility.

[demosincebirth]

6. Mine always runs hot, now I know why.

[Patsy Stone]

7. I'm left-handed

and it's really annoying. There's a spot on the area above the battery where my skin oils have made it shiny. Often when I type or surf for long periods, the continued resting on the same spot makes my skin red. I thought that was just the way it was. Off to look for an email or recall notice.

[demosincebirth]

8. Amen.

I checked Dell's home page and didn't see anything about a re call.

[LiberalUprising]

37. Link here

https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/

[demosincebirth]

40. thanks.

Just checked it. Guess what? its not on recall. Oh, well.

[midnight]

9. Mine too.

[gkhouston]

27. I had one that fried not long ago.

It was like it kept trying to recharge after a full charge was on the battery. I got the flashing light you see when the battery power's about to expire even though I was plugged in and noticed that the bottom of the laptop was alarmingly hot, so I yanked the battery -- permanently. Maybe I'll be able to trade in that doorstop for a new battery. ;-)

[arcos]

3. More from engadget... (batteries were made by Sony)

Dell recalls 4.1 million batteries

Posted Aug 14th 2006 7:55PM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Laptops
Details are still thin about the specific models affected by this latest battery recall, but it would appear Dell is working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission in recalling what's been said to be "the largest safety recall in the history of the consumer electronics industry." We're talking 4.1 million units installed in Dell machines sold between April 2004 and July 18th, an absolutely mind boggling number compared to their last recall, which was in the thousands. The kicker here is the batteries were actually contracted out to Sony for manufacture, meaning of course that anyone else using Sony-built batteries, like, say Sony (and Apple, should we be looking your way?) may also have their units taken back. While we are a little wary of one Dell exec's statement that they're "getting ahead of the issue," which in our opinion would have actually been issuing this recall four months ago, we're glad they're finally taking care of business before someone actually gets hurt.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/dell-recalls-4-1-million-batteries/

[Kutjara]

5. Apple has had a battery recall program in place for...

...about a month now, in respect of the batteries in its MacBook Pro laptops. I enrolled last Wednesday and got my replacement battery via FedEx on Friday. Apple are definitely taking the problem seriously.

I've seen reports on the Apple support forums of batteries swelling and warping, damaging the machines to the point that motherboards have to be replaced.

[and-justice-for-all]

4. DELL is a major Repuke contributor....

...I say send your entire PC back to DELL and demand your money back; then go buy a new Mac. Apple contributes to the Demoncratic and not the dark side.

The BuyBlue.org website is great for knowing who is contributing to which party:

http://www.buyblue.org/directory/alpha

[Kolesar]

11. You can run "PC" applications on a Mac now

So there is no reason not to buy a Mac workstation or notebook computer (This was reported in www.slate.com ). I am still using a Compaq I bought 2 years ago.

[zreosumgame]

33. well yeah, they finally lost Motarola for CPU's

And since they kept losing ,arket share they now can run 'most' PC compatible software, but not all since their emulation of Windows sucks as badly as everything Crapple makes.

[Tesha]

36. You have no idea what you're talking about.

The current generation of Apple machines *RUN WINDOWS
(INCLUDING WINDOWS/XP) DIRECTLY*, no emulation required.

Tesha

[kestrel91316]

28. LOL. I just ordered a Dell desktop PC, customized to my specs, off their

website. For my office.

Oh well, it's 20 times the computer that my twice-as-expensive Gateway was (actually IS - it's what I use at home). I'm willing to pay it. Fry's and Circuit City and Best Buy and CompUSA didn't have what I needed. I like just being able to do the upgrades and customizing I want from my home without salesmen pushing me.

[Pawel K]

32. To expensive

sorry, thats just the fact. I can get a faster PC for a fraction of the cost of an apple. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against macs other than the outrageous cost.

[RamboLiberal]

10. These batteries may be more of a hazard to planes than terrorists

And imagine the UK was requiring laptops to fly as checked baggage. Fire on a plane is scary, remember Valujet and Swissair?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/technology/15battery.html?hp&ex=1155614400&en=7af8f0b380e906bb&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Federal regulations require that lithium-ion batteries be clearly marked with warnings when they are shipped in bulk on airplanes, and various agencies are considering more stringent regulations after a fire that was detected as a United Parcel Service cargo plane began its descent into Philadelphia in February. Though a cause of that fire, which consumed and destroyed the plane after it landed, has not been determined, lithium-ion batteries are suspected. No one was hurt.

A single battery also caught fire in the overhead luggage bin of a Lufthansa passenger jet about to depart from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago in May. A flight engineer tossed it to the tarmac, where the fire was extinguished. (Neither of the incidents resulted in injuries, nor are they said to involve Dell computers or Sony batteries.) The Federal Aviation Administration lists three other incidents involving burning lithium-ion batteries on cargo and passenger planes since 2004.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400881.html

The National Transportation Safety Board last month held a hearing about the safety of lithium batteries on airplanes after a fire occurred Feb. 7 on a cargo jet. The UPS plane, which was carrying lithium-ion batteries, among other items, caught fire in flight and landed safely in Philadelphia. Investigators have not announced the cause of the fire and have not made any safety recommendations about the transportation of such batteries.

In documents, the NTSB detailed several dozen fires in cargo shipments and on planes that could be linked to various kinds of batteries. The Federal Aviation Administration also is reviewing the issue. In 2004, rechargeable lithium batteries in a plastic case started a fire during cargo loading at a FedEx hub in Memphis. In March and June 2005, packages of rechargeable lithium batteries caught fire while being shipped.

[Submariner]

12. Contact info

Dell models that are part of the recall include Latitude, Inspiron, Precision and XPS. The company has set up a toll-free hotline [phone]) and a Web site (www.dellbatteryprogram.com ) where customers can determine if their batteries are subject to the recall.

[Zynx]

13. Dell has been going downhill both as a company and in their products

for quite a while now. I've heard of people having a lot of problems with Dell laptops.

[B3Nut]

24. A lot of the Dell laptops

are manufactured by Compal. They manufacture quite a few HP Compaq laptops as well. Dell recently announced that they would be contracting with Asus for some of their new laptop manufacturing business. This could be good, I like the Asus barebone laptop systems (you add the processor, drives, RAM, wireless network, and OS of your choice yourself). I've built a couple at work, as has my boss. So far, they've been fantastic (and no manufacturer-specific proprietary BS in the BIOS, which I'm sure Dell will have Asus build in under contract.)

Nearly all laptops are built by a handful of OEM's like Compal, Acer, and Asus. Neither Dell nor HP/Compaq actually make the notebooks themselves, I'd hazard that's the case for the other major brands as well. They're built as well or as cheaply as the customer specifies.

I don't think I'll get an off-the-shelf laptop ever now that I've done the barebone DIY thing...I've been building my own desktops for quite a while now and would never buy a storebought machine.

Todd in Beerbratistan

[Zynx]

25. I didn't actually know that.

Thanks for the info. :-)

[Jeanette in FL]

14. Dell to recall notebook batteries

Dell to recall notebook batteries
Tuesday, August 15, 2006 Posted: 0417 GMT (1217 HKT)

(CNN) -- Computer maker Dell Inc. is voluntarily recalling 4.1 million lithium batteries used in its notebook computers because of the danger they could overheat, possibly causing a fire, the company said Monday.

The batteries, which were manufactured by Sony but carry the Dell brand, were sold with notebook computers from April 2004 through July 2006. Some of the recalled batteries also were sold individually as replacements, Dell said in a statement.

"Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could cause a risk of fire," the statement said.

Dell models that are part of the recall include Latitude, Inspiron, Precision and XPS. The company has set up a toll-free hotline [phone]) and a Web site (www.dellbatteryprogram.com) where customers can determine if their batteries are subject to the recall.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/BUSINESS/08/15/dell.recall/

[ERF]

15. Thanks for posting this. I just checked out my battery

and am glad that mine aren't on the list. Of course that means the burning sensation in my lap is something else and will therefore have to visit a doctor.

[WePurrsevere]

17. You're not the only one that has a burning sensation when using an "okay"

battery operated notebook. This is our second laptop and wow can they ever get hot.

My husband says that there are accessories that run from a few dollars if you make it yourself to $40 or more with bells and whistles. Not all are as portable as others but they'll at least help keep the notebook and one's lap much cooler. In the long run though I think that the mfg's really need to work on designing these to stay cooler because of the way many tend to use them.

[NYC]

18. $30 for a metal tray or board about an inch thick

that contains two fans that are supposed to send the heat away from your lap and computer. It plugs directly into your computer; does not require plugging into the wall.

I haven't tried it. Saw it in the store. I would really like to know how it works before I buy one.

I do wish they would make laptops cooler. I had a Compaq that got very hot. This Hewlett Packard is less hot, but still generates a lot of heat.

[MuseRider]

20. I had one

and it was wonderful but it burned out after a while. It was worth every penny. My legs had started to look bruised from the vessels coming to the surface because of the heat and they are back to normal now. For now I am using a plastic piece that fits under and lifts the computer up about 2 inches. It is still hot but my legs are fine and I try to take breaks if I have a lot of work to do.

I was surprised my battery was not in this list, it is so hot I worry about it.

[shanti]

31. i have one of those lifts that you are referring to

it is a MUST! it definitely keeps the laptop from overheating.

[Tesha]

22. Here're several...

http://www.smalldog.com/product/43179 ($25)

http://www.raindesigninc.com/ilap.html (12":$49. 15":$59 17":$69)

Tesha

[Tesha]

21. People always want the fastest laptop.

People always want the fastest laptop, so manufacturers
make laptops that are much faster than what you actually
need for day-to-day stuff.

Faster computers are hotter computers.

Tesha

[tridim]

34. Not always true..

I just ordered some system parts the other day and decided to go with the AMD Athlon-64 X2 CPU. It has a dual core and consumes a little more than half the wattage of the last generation of processors. It's a green CPU!

The thing is going to be so much faster than my current CPU that it doesn't matter to me that it's not bleeding edge speed-wise. I'd much rather cut my energy use than have DU launch 2ms faster.

I'd estimate that 9 out of 10 computer users (not including gamers) don't need and don't take advantage of the speed their computers are capable of. It's just a waste of energy.

[Tesha]

35. My point exactly.

> I'd estimate that 9 out of 10 computer users (not including gamers)
> don't need and don't take advantage of the speed their computers
> are capable of. It's just a waste of energy.

My point exactly. But speed definitely sells to the rubes
and if their laps catch fire, well, that's the price one has
to pay for having the most macho computer ;-) .

Tesha

[Submariner]

16. Thanks Jeanette

Just found that my Inspiron battery needs to replaced. That link is an automatic ordering form. Thanks for saving me from the Al Qaida division of Dell and their IED notebook batteries.

[gasperc]

19. mine's ok

thanks for the update

[bleedingheart]

23. my $2000 company laptop has the problem...for that money...

it shouldn't ...but I will be getting the new battery.

I did notice that it had a problem ...but chalked it up to crappy Dell...but it is really the crappy marriage of Sony and Dell..

[TankLV]

29. Isn't this a rehash of an earlier recall?

Or is this really "new"?

[Betty88]

39. thanks you just got me a new battery

I have not had a problem with my laptop, its a i9300, but then I dont use the battery much. However if they want to give me a new one then cool.

[leftofthedial]

26. when my laptop burned down my house,

the computer was personal again . . .

[kurth]

30. Dell is the Wal-Mart of consumer electronics

Maximize profit at the very lowest possible cost. Force your suppliers to cut corners in order to meet your "target" price. And the hell with customers.

[sarcasmo]

38. To Hell with Dell. Kick and Nom