This article first appeared on my old blog at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/wsodeman?id=46
http://news.yah
“The [Consumer Product Safety Commission]. knows of 339 incidents in which lithium batteries used in laptops and cell phones — not just Dell products — overheated between 2003 and 2005, Wolfson said.“
When we’re talking about overheating, we’re talking about explosions and fires.
Last week, British officials banned laptop computers and audio players as carry-on items, following the gel bomb arrests.
A UPS cargo plane was destroyed by fire last February in Philadelphia. The blaze may have been started by a crate full of laptop computer batteries.
This Dell recall may inspire airlines or the FAA to draft tighter restrictions on laptop computers, iPods and cell phones in commercial airplanes. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in both devices, as they perform well and last longer than other rechargeable batteries.
Passengers may not be happy. I always carry my electronic devices in my carry-on bag when I fly, simply because I don’t want them jostled and fondled in my checked baggage.
See the chapter on computer hardware in the IS 6100 textbook.
Laptop computers require a large amount of electrical energy. While it is possible to power a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone from an RJ-45 network jack, this only needs about 5 watts of electrical power.
You may be familiar with the watt, as it’s the standard measure for household light bulbs.
Five watts not nearly enough to power a laptop computer. Even the smallest laptops use much more powerful batteries.
In comparison, a AAA battery delivers only a few watts, and for a limited amount of time.
August 15: Here’s some additional information from Engadget, which has been covering this story for several months. Check the multiple links regarding explosions in this article. A reader posted a link to Dell’s statement here, including instrucitons on replacement batteries.
The New York Times reports that Sony management confirmed that the company manufactured and sold the affected batteries to Dell. The batteries were shipped to Dell customers in computers sold between April 2004 and July 18.
CNN reported on August 15 that Sony is paying most or all of the recall costs. While this minimizes Dell’s direct losses, they will see an immediate drop in sales revenue as customers choose Dell’s competitors.
The Houston Chronicle reports that customers are hammering Dell with e-mails and phone calls as news spreads about the recall.
Engadget reported on August 6 that an Apple PowerBook exploded. Apple has already mounted a recall for some PowerBook and MacBook models, and Sony batteries are involved.
