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Dell laptop explodes
the Inquirer ^ | 21 June 2006 | Inquirer staff

Posted on 07/10/2006 9:21:04 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember

AN INQUIRER READER attending a conference in Japan was sat just feet away from a laptop computer that suddenly exploded into flames, in what could have been a deadly accident.

Gaston, our astonished reader reports: "The damn thing was on fire and produced several explosions for more than five minutes".

Should you witness such an event, his advice is, "Don't try anything courageous/stupid, stay away, away, away!"

"For the record, this is a Dell machine," notes Gaston. "It is only a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane," he suggests.

Our witness managed to catch all the action in these amazing pictures.

"Fire extinguishers leave a mess on your suit and belongings; pack your stuff (if you can) and leave, leave, leave!" he advises.

We don't have any further details of the model of the computer in question. In light of the evidence, however, we'd suggest you avoid actually using a laptop on your lap. Ouch.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 3peat; computer; duplicate; hatewhenthathappens; searchdell; whiskeytangofoxtrot; wtf; youregettingalawsuit
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To: reagan_fanatic

my pr0n!!"

&&
What does that mean?


21 posted on 07/10/2006 9:32:55 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Never trust Democrats with national security.)
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To: Dixie Yooper
Was the user a Palestinian

No, he was a FReeper who posted a Pro-Buchanan article and attempted to justify his support of him......

The guy REALLY got flamed for that one.....

22 posted on 07/10/2006 9:32:57 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Global warming has forced me to buy glacier front property in Alaska....)
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To: FormerACLUmember

Maybe Mr. Dell should liquidate his company and give the money back to the shareholders.


23 posted on 07/10/2006 9:33:15 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: bwteim
Gaston, our astonished reader reports: "The damn thing was on fire and produced several explosions for more than five minutes".

...

Camden said it was **too early to draw any conclusions** and **added that it did not appear that the incident had anything to do with the battery issues related to the recall.** "From here it's going to be a very methodical and meticulous process to figure out what happened," Camden said.

Uh-oh. It sounds like someone decided to save some bucks by not including a voltage-limiter on their Lithium-Ion batteries...

24 posted on 07/10/2006 9:34:18 AM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (Karen Ryan reporting...)
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To: FormerACLUmember

I find this a great opportunity to bitch about Dell.

My best friend bought a desktop system from them about three years ago. She has had nothing but problems...and the problems started within the first week she owned it. Their tech support (outsourced to India of course) is far worse than most.

I have read that Dell is considered to have the worst product in the industry. I believe it.


25 posted on 07/10/2006 9:35:40 AM PDT by Artemis Webb
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To: Bob
I can't help wondering if this laptop was being run with a genuine Dell battery or some cheap off-brand 'equivalent'.

Excellent point. If true, I am sure Dell will announce this ASAP. No word yet, so it might be original equipment. (Truth disclosure: I writing this on a Dell and have never had a problem... BOOM!)

26 posted on 07/10/2006 9:35:43 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember (No program, no ideas, no clue: The democrats!)
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To: FormerACLUmember
"Dude! You got a Dell!!"


27 posted on 07/10/2006 9:36:10 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: Artemis Webb

Me too. I posted this after endless problems with "Dell Hell" (Dell's Tech Support on the magnificent, exotic Indian Subcontinent)


28 posted on 07/10/2006 9:37:14 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember (No program, no ideas, no clue: The democrats!)
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To: FormerACLUmember

WoW! That's quite an explosion. I've been thinking about getting a Dell Laptop. Maybe I need to rethink that now. I wonder if this is an added Dell 'feature?' LOL I think I'll pass on that one. ;o)


29 posted on 07/10/2006 9:37:50 AM PDT by NRA2BFree (NEVER ARGUE WITH IDIOTS!!! THEY*LL DRAG YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL AND BEAT YOU WITH EXPERIENCE!!!!)
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To: Hot Tabasco
Must have been a Freeper since there was no casualty.
Mossad never makes mistakes.
30 posted on 07/10/2006 9:38:19 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: FormerACLUmember

Looked like a C610.....a very popular model after the C840.

Is there reportage of what model it was?

I like the "one off" battery theory.


31 posted on 07/10/2006 9:38:19 AM PDT by petro45acp (SUPPORT/BE YOUR LOCAL SHEEPDOG! ("On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs" by Dave Grossman))
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To: Slings and Arrows

Those suckers do get pretty hot. Docking stations help a little.


32 posted on 07/10/2006 9:39:42 AM PDT by phantomworker (The ultimate in wisdom is to live in the present, plan for the future and profit from the past.-Anon)
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To: PBRSTREETGANG

LOL


33 posted on 07/10/2006 9:40:46 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember (No program, no ideas, no clue: The democrats!)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
Perhaps. Putting a laptop on what appears to be some type of fabric or plastic table cloth wouldn't help with heat dissipation either.
34 posted on 07/10/2006 9:44:26 AM PDT by bwteim (bwteim = Begin With The End In Mind)
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To: phantomworker
Those suckers do get pretty hot. Docking stations help a little.

I know that some laptops do *coughTOSHIBA!cough*, but I'm on my HP laptop right now and it's cool as a cucumber.

35 posted on 07/10/2006 9:44:42 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Pray for peace, prepare for war.)
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To: FormerACLUmember
"For the record, this is a Dell machine," notes Gaston. "It is only a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane," he suggests.

For the record, this has happened as long as ten years ago. My son, an exceptional engineer (if I do say so myself), was tasked to investigate and solve a similar incident aboard an aircraft around 1996 or so.

He found the design flaw and engineered a solution; the manufacturer of that highly regarded (at the time) and expensive laptop, is no longer in business.

36 posted on 07/10/2006 9:44:45 AM PDT by Publius6961 (Multiculturalism is the white flag of a dying country)
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To: NRA2BFree

I am no expert on what to buy... How about an Apple laptop?


37 posted on 07/10/2006 9:45:01 AM PDT by FormerACLUmember (No program, no ideas, no clue: The democrats!)
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To: FormerACLUmember

It's not an isolated incident...a friend of mine from Pax River Naval Air Station sent me a picture of a Dell laptop that burst into flames exactly like the one in this story did. I don't have the picture with me, but apparently the computer started smoking just after it booted up and then blew up just after its quick thinking user ran outside with it and tossed it away from his office. Pretty hair raising, if you ask me...


38 posted on 07/10/2006 9:46:21 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("Si vis pacem para bellum")
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To: FormerACLUmember

I've owned three Dells (one currently) and have never had any problems. They have all been well-made, easily upgraded, and dependable. On the other hand, I've heard (anecdotally) that Dell quality has deteriorated and that their outsourced tech support is as useless as mammaries on a masculine bovine.


39 posted on 07/10/2006 9:47:49 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh
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To: Artemis Webb
I have read that Dell is considered to have the worst product in the industry. I believe it.

I don't think Gateway or HP or Sony are substantively better. They all suck. All of them.

You want a good computer? Build it yourself. Those machines always run better.
40 posted on 07/10/2006 9:48:51 AM PDT by JamesP81 ("Never let your schooling interfere with your education" --Mark Twain)
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