2008 Woodie Awards
Recent battery recall gets students heated
Ashley Cook
Issue date: 9/22/06 Section: Perspectives
- Page 1 of 2 next >
A voluntary recall of 4.1 million lithium-ion batteries used within laptops has recently been announced by Dell Computers and 1. 8 million batteries are also included from Apple, due to potential overheating and fire hazards.
This recall is the largest computer-related recall ever recorded by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, not something I'd be too proud of. In cooperation with the U.S. CPSC, Dell is voluntarily recalling certain Dell-branded batteries and offering free replacements.
Sony admitted the problem was caused by a line contamination issue that spanned years. They not only knew of the situation, but they ignored it because they thought they could just put a Band-Aid on the problem, obviously not.
Sony apparently had a tool that crimped the metal casing and shards wee created in the metal that occasionally fell into the cathode or anode (positive and negative terminals of a battery.) In other words, Sony should have been much more careful when manufacturing these batteries because not only are they losing money, but so are the Dell and Apple companies.
Dell has identified a potential issue associated with Dell Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Dell Precision Mobile Workstation notebooks carrying these lithium-ion batteries. Also computers purchased from Dell or Apple within the following dates; April 1, 2004 to July 18, 2006, should also be checked for hazards. But Dell still is not moving forward to check all of the computer batteries. How are we to know the computer we are using right now may not have something wrong with it also?
I think all consumers who own a Dell or Apple computer should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the units. Carmi Levy, InfoTech senior analyst, said in webtech.com, "Computer Designs that limit heat dissipation as well as the apparent faulty performance of Sony's lithium-ion batteries need to be thoroughly investigated." Concerns Dell stated were that of collateral damage to computing equipment and its surrounding areas.
This recall is the largest computer-related recall ever recorded by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, not something I'd be too proud of. In cooperation with the U.S. CPSC, Dell is voluntarily recalling certain Dell-branded batteries and offering free replacements.
Sony admitted the problem was caused by a line contamination issue that spanned years. They not only knew of the situation, but they ignored it because they thought they could just put a Band-Aid on the problem, obviously not.
Sony apparently had a tool that crimped the metal casing and shards wee created in the metal that occasionally fell into the cathode or anode (positive and negative terminals of a battery.) In other words, Sony should have been much more careful when manufacturing these batteries because not only are they losing money, but so are the Dell and Apple companies.
Dell has identified a potential issue associated with Dell Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Dell Precision Mobile Workstation notebooks carrying these lithium-ion batteries. Also computers purchased from Dell or Apple within the following dates; April 1, 2004 to July 18, 2006, should also be checked for hazards. But Dell still is not moving forward to check all of the computer batteries. How are we to know the computer we are using right now may not have something wrong with it also?
I think all consumers who own a Dell or Apple computer should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the units. Carmi Levy, InfoTech senior analyst, said in webtech.com, "Computer Designs that limit heat dissipation as well as the apparent faulty performance of Sony's lithium-ion batteries need to be thoroughly investigated." Concerns Dell stated were that of collateral damage to computing equipment and its surrounding areas.
Be the first to comment on this story