Apple warns about bad batteries, recalls 28000 (BBC)

[Endangered Specie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3581024.stm

{

Apple is recalling 28,000 faulty batteries used to power its 15-inch Powerbook G4 laptops.

An internal short circuit in the batteries causes them to overheat and could pose a fire hazard to consumers. So far no injuries have been reported.

If users find that they are using one of the faulty batteries, they are been told to stop using it immediately.

The batteries affected were made during December 2003 and are probably found in laptops sold since January 2004.

Product details

Some of the batteries may have been sold separately as back-up power supplies.

The faulty batteries have the model number A1045 and serial numbers that begin with HQ404, HQ405, HQ406, HQ407 or HQ408.

No other batteries for Powerbook or iBook laptops are affected by the recall.

}

[dodger501]

1. I was hoping iPods would be included in this

My battery does not last long at all.

[LifeDuringWartime]

2. you can get replacements

either from apple or through a third party.

[benburch]

3. IPodResQ

I've had these folks fix things before (not iPods, but dropped powerbooks);

http://www.ipodresq.com/detail.php?prodID=P010068 for having them fix it; $79

http://www.ipodresq.com/hitlist-browse.php?category=Batteries&subCat=iPod for replacing it yourself; $29

[QC]

6. I'm thinking of buying an iPod.

Should I reconsider? I've heard a lot of complaints about the batteries, and of course this isn't the first time Apple has had battery trouble.

[benburch]

8. You'll not regret the purchase.

Even if you eventually need a new battery, they are only $30 if you install them yourself, and the iPod works really well!

[MGKrebs]

9. My battery lasts about 8 hours.

Pretty rare for me to be away from an outlet (or car cig lighter) for more than 8 hours.

[starbuck6446]

11. No... don't reconsider!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my ipod. I am a diehard PC user and even considered buying a mac computer. (I couldn't go through with it... felt *unnatural* HA!) But I DO really love my ipod. You'll be very happy with it.

Go to best buy, get the service plan, and find something else wrong with it when the battery goes... you'll just get a new one. That's my plan.

[QC]

12. Cool--sounds like it's worth buying.

I've read the reviews of the equivalent Rio and Nomad players and they seem to have more service issues, particularly Rio. So all in all the iPod seems to be the most reliable.

[frylock]

4. say what you will about the instabilities of the pc..

but my Toshiba was never in any danger of crashing and burning!! :bounce:

[benburch]

7. Ummm.... Yes, actually it is!

Toshiba had a similar battery recall a few years back.

This is a fault with the BATTERY, which NO PC maker manufactures!

[frylock]

10. awwwwwwww krap..

I had better keep a bottle of halon handy then!! ;)

[democracy eh]

5. Apple is hyper-sensitive due to a past issue

there are likely no problems with %99.999 of batteries. They are just extra cautious, for fear of frivolous lawsuits.

Some one raised one several years ago about the ac/dc power supplies for powerbooks. Someone convinced a judge that there was a risk of the bricks starting a fire, as they got warm. emphasis on "warm".

I filled out a form, they sent me a new one (the new yoyo style one though) and a FedEx pouch to send the old model in. Irony is that the new model was actually 'warmer' than the old model. but it was a specific part for a specific lawsuit.

Apple also discovered several years ago with the Powerbook 190's it is better to to a recall and get as many of the potentially defective units off the street, than deal with years of repeated complaints.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

13. Thanks- I'm pretty sure that my partner's laptop is included in the recall

That would explain why the laptop is always SO warm.

[Paulie]

14. Sometimes they are just Warm

My TiBook800 can get quite warm, since part of the venting of the heat is THROUGH the keyboard. If one side gets warm, and not so the other, then it's probably normal.

My Thinkpad T30 at work, with a P4-M, gets so warm, that I put my coffee mug next to the fan output on the left rear side, and it keeps the cup warm enough so the coffee stays hotter longer! :) :) :)

General rule: The faster the laptop, the more heat it generates.