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Posted on 08/24/2006 1:04:54 PM PDT by finnman69
The recall of Sony-manufactured laptop computer batteries was extended on Thursday to about 1.1 million battery packs used in systems sold by Apple.
The recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and follows a similar recall of 4.1 million Sony-manufactured batteries used in Dell laptops announced last week. Dell and the CPSC had reported six known instances of battery problems in Dell computers, including some well-documented occurrences of fires associated with the batteries and computers.
The CPSC said Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two reports of minor burns from handling overhead computers and other reports of minor property damage. There have been no serious injuries reported, according the CPSC.
The recalled Apple notebook batteries were sold from October 2003 through August 2006.
Sony manufactures lithium-ion batteries used in laptops from Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo, as well as in devices such as MP3 and DVD players.
In most cases, problems in the batteries are the result of a simple short circuit, a Sony spokesman told InformationWeek last week. "There are other factors that can lad to the rare instance of flaming. The odds are greater if the particles [inside the battery cells] move at a faster speed and are affected by thing like charging and voltage," he said.
Nancy Nord, acting chairman of the CPSC, said on PBS' The News Hour recently that the issue "was not a design problem but deals with quality control in the manufacture of the battery. A contaminant got into the cell, and when the battery is vigorously jostled or compressed, that contaminant can cause a short."
Nord said last week that the commission was investigating other products that use the Sony-manufactured batteries to see if similar problems might exist.
All new laptops should be sold with a fire extinguisher!..........
http://www.crn.com/sections/custom/custom.jhtml?articleId=192205064
Apple To Replace Recalled Notebook Batteries Free
By Edward F. Moltzen,
3:50 PM EDT Thu. Aug. 24, 2006
Apple said Thursday that it will provide free replacements of PowerPC-based notebook batteries affected by its recall with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The Apple recall, announced Thursday by the CPSC, involves 1.8 million lithium-ion batteries for iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 laptops sold between October 2003 and August 2006. The batteries cost about $130 each, according to the commission.
"We discovered [that] some Sony batteries in PowerPC-based PowerBooks and iBooks do not meet Apple's standards for safety and performance," Apple spokeswoman Teresa Weaver said. "None of Apple's Intel-based notebooks are affected, only certain models of iBooks and PowerBooks."
The recall is the second this month involving notebook battery cells made by Sony. Last week, Dell said it is recalling 4.1 million laptop batteries made by Sony because they posed a fire hazard.
Apple's No.1 priority is to recall and replace the affected batteries, Weaver said. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has established a Web site, support.apple.com/batteryprogram, that provides details for those seeking to exchange batteries.
The Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on safety issues raised in the recall. According to a CPSC press release, "Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two reports of minor burns from handling overheated computers and other reports of minor property damage. No serious injuries were reported."
Weaver noted that Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks--the subject of an voluntary battery-exchange program announced two weeks ago--aren't related to the recall. But she declined to say if the company has determined the cause of previous reports of batteries "bulging" or swelling in some Apple notebooks. Apple said it would replace those batteries free because they were found to be not up to the company's standards.
In the weeks leading up to that exchange program, several Apple notebook users had filed reports--which were circulated on the Web--of laptop batteries that "bulged" or expanded. In some cases, the bulging was so severe it bent the notebook's metal case.
Weaver declined to comment on those reports. Scott Wolfson, chief spokesman for the CPSC, also declined to comment on that matter, saying that Apple had objected to the commission disclosing information about bulging batteries.
"Apple has asked that any questions related to that issue be deferred to Apple for their response," Wolfson said. "When conducting a recall, a firm is entitled to allow certain information to be disclosed by CPSC, and they can make a claim that certain information not be disclosed." Wolfson said Wednesday that the commission had reviewed the MacBook Pro batteries and determined they didn't present a safety threat.
Apple resellers interviewed by CRN over the past several days--before and after the recall was announced--said they had received only a few complaints about Apple notebook batteries, and most of the complaints focused on other issues, such as batteries not fully recharging.
"They've had battery issues in the past," said David Salav, president of Webistix, a Holbrook, N.Y.-based solution provider and Apple specialist, Thursday after Apple recall announcement. "This is nothing new. You know how Apple customers are. They are just going to keep on buying because they are Apple customers," he said. "At the end of the day, I think it's not going to effect business."
Apple's Weaver said the company does "not anticipate this recall to have a material financial impact on Apple."
The remark was similar to a statement issued last week by Dell, which indicated that Sony would pick up the tab for its recall.
Are these the models?
Battery Exchange
* 15-inch MacBook Pro
* iBook G4 and PowerBook G4
Their support page keeps hanging...
AAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! MY HAND!!!!!!!!!!!
jk...i'm using an IBM :p
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities, Apple is voluntarily recalling certain lithium ion rechargeable batteries that were sold worldwide from October 2004 through May 2005 for use with the following notebook computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. These batteries were manufactured by LG Chem, Ltd. of South Korea.
The affected batteries could overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Apple has received six consumer reports of these batteries overheating. If you have a recalled battery, please stop using it and order a replacement battery immediately. Once you have removed the battery, plug in the AC adapter to power the computer. If you must temporarily use your computer with the battery, do not leave it unattended and check for signs of overheating.
Apple has initiated a worldwide exchange program and will provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge.
The recalled batteries include those with model numbers A1061, A1078, and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 through HQ507 and 3X446 through 3X510. To view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the battery, you must remove the battery from the computer. The battery serial number is printed in black or dark grey lettering beneath a barcode. See photos below. Please use the chart below to identify the battery model and serial numbers that apply to your iBook or PowerBook.
| Computer model | Battery model number |
Battery serial number range |
| 12-inch iBook G4 | A1061 | HQ441 – HQ507 |
| 12-inch PowerBook G4 | A1079 | 3X446 – 3X510 |
| 15-inch PowerBook G4 | A1078 | 3X446 – 3X509 |
Note: If your battery serial number does not match the requirements listed above, you do not have to exchange your battery.
National and regional resellers, catalogers, and Apple's on-line and retail stores sold the computers with the batteries from October 2004 through May 2005 for between US$900 and US$2300. These batteries were also sold separately for about US$130.
To begin the battery exchange process, you will be asked for the serial number of your iBook G4 or PowerBook G4, the serial number of your battery and a ship to address.
After serial number verification, a new battery will be shipped to you, free of charge. When you receive the replacement battery, please use the same shipping packaging and included prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery to Apple.
If you have recently purchased an extra or replacement battery for any of the computer models noted above or a 12-inch iBook G3, please check the battery's serial number to see if it needs to be exchanged.
Thank you for your cooperation with this exchange program.
It won't be just Dell and Apple, and it won't be just laptops. Lots of things (like, everything) use Li-Ion batteries, and many of them had some manufacturing... uh... difficulties. It isn't just Sony batteries, either. These guys (Sony, Dell and Apple) are just getting out in front of it. There may be a real s#!7storm to come.
I don't have that problem because I build my own laptop batteries out of dead leaves and Drano. They last ten times as long and generate no heat.
With all of the research into NiMH rechargeable technology being driven by the digital camera industry, I wonder if the laptop people need to revisit that approach and just get away from the volatile Lithium chemistries altogether.
The MacBook is an Intel-based product. So, if the story is accurate, these are not part of the recall. However, the G4-based systems are.
mac ping
It is a fairly narrow range of battery serial numbers actually. I was hoping to score a new battery for my 12" Powerbook but sadly no. Hate having to shell out big bucks for a new battery.
But wait. Apple computers cure cancer. I'm sure I read that on one of the Apple vs. PC threads.
I know what you mean. I've 2 ibook batteries that each have about 15 minutes left on them. I splurged on a 6 hour one last year, now it's good for about 4.
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* 15-inch MacBook Pro has been subject to a battery recall for specific models below a specified serial number.
* iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 have been added to the list and apparently it is for ALL of the batteries for these models.
Your powerbook is affected by this recall.
I'm glad I don't own stock in Sony...first Dell, then Apple. Considering it runs into the millions, I have a hardtime believing that Dell and Apple are the only ones to have Sony batteries that are having problems.
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