Who needs terrorists when we have Dell?

So, Dell has exploding laptops. Reminds me of the old days in Hollywood
when every computer in a Universal picture eventually exploded. Geeks
smirkingly called them the Explodatron 2000. Now instead of the
Explodatron 2000 we have Dell! Four million laptops apparently just a
time bomb (literally) waiting to go off. And it might go a lot further
than that -- lots of companies use the same batteries, including Apple,
HP, Sony.

On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
wrote:

So, Dell has exploding laptops.

Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.

Credit where credit is due!

(Mine is one of the laptops affected.)


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:57:49 -0400, Cub Driver usenet AT danford DOT
net wrote in :

On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
wrote:

So, Dell has exploding laptops.

Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.


It took a long time for lithium battery development to achieve the
point where the batteries were considered safe enough to be used
outside the laboratory. Lithium is a very reactive and light weight
metal:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium
Lithium will ignite and burn when exposed to water and water
vapors in oxygen. It is the only metal that reacts with nitrogen
at room temperature. Lithium has a high specific heat capacity,
3582 J/(kg·K), and a great temperature range in its liquid form,
which makes it a useful chemical.

Lithium in its pure form is highly flammable and slightly
explosive when exposed to air and especially water. Lithium fires
are difficult to extinguish, requiring special chemicals designed
to smother them. Lithium metal is also corrosive and requires
special handling to avoid skin contact. Lithium should be stored
in a non-reactive compound such as naphtha or a hydrocarbon.

...

And in an attempt to include some on-topic content:

Carriage and shipment of some kinds of lithium batteries may be
prohibited aboard certain types of transportation (particularly
aircraft), because of the ability of most types of lithium
batteries to fully discharge very rapidly when short-circuited,
leading to overheating and possible explosion. However, most
consumer lithium batteries have thermal overload protection
built-in to prevent this type of incident, or their design
inherently limits short-circuit currents.

In article ,
Cub Driver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote:
So, Dell has exploding laptops.

Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.


If I recall correctly, Apple had the same problem a couple years ago
with Sony batteries, though I believe that Apple's issue was identified
and corrected quickly. I don't know what the specific defect was with
the batteries that caused them to "explode," but this story is only
significant because of the magnitude of the problem.




JKG

If I recall correctly, Apple had the same problem a couple years ago
with Sony batteries, though I believe that Apple's issue was identified
and corrected quickly. I don't know what the specific defect was with
the batteries that caused them to "explode," but this story is only
significant because of the magnitude of the problem.

Apple has a current recall on iBook batteries. It has been effect for
most of this year. Check out their website. www.apple.com

"Cub Driver" usenet AT danford DOT net wrote in message ...
: On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
: wrote:
:
: So, Dell has exploding laptops.
:
: Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
: SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.
:
: Credit where credit is due!
:
: (Mine is one of the laptops affected.)
:
:
: -- all the best, Dan Ford
:
: email: usenet AT danford DOT net
:
: Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
: Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
: In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com


I am trying sooo hard to boycott Sony. I went to buy a watch battery, and after I got home I looked really closely, and
it was a SONY! I do my best to avoid anything Sony....

Cub Driver wrote:
On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
wrote:

So, Dell has exploding laptops.

Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.

Credit where credit is due!

(Mine is one of the laptops affected.)


So, if you are flying and your laptop catches fire, how do you put it
out? Halon is no good for class D fires.

"cjcampbell" wrote in message
ups.com...

Cub Driver wrote:
On 15 Aug 2006 02:42:26 -0700, "cjcampbell"
wrote:

So, Dell has exploding laptops.

Not really. Dell sold laptops with SONY batteries in them, and these
SONY batteries occasionally burst into flame.

Credit where credit is due!

(Mine is one of the laptops affected.)


So, if you are flying and your laptop catches fire, how do you put it
out? Halon is no good for class D fires.


91.15 ... Just look before you jettison...

;O)

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Beckman ]
Posted At: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 2:05 AM
Posted To: rec.aviation.piloting
Conversation: Who needs terrorists when we have Dell?
Subject: Who needs terrorists when we have Sony?


.... clipped for brevity

91.15 ... Just look before you jettison...

;O)

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

I'm betting there are a lot more laptops used in pressurized cockpits
above 15,000' than below; I doubt the jettison solution applies to them.

Since laptops are once again allowed onboard as checked luggage, I
wonder if the airlines are going to start checking battery models and
revision numbers (bet not). Or what about corporate and charter? There
doesn't seem to be much in the way of cockpit volume to dilute the fumes
from the chemical fire, and you certainly wouldn't want a constant feed
oxygen system switched on during the event.

On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:43:46 GMT, "Jim Carter"
wrote in 004101c6c131$99807a10$4001a8c0@omnibook6100:

Since laptops are once again allowed onboard as checked luggage, I
wonder if the airlines are going to start checking battery models and
revision numbers (bet not).

It would seem this requirement to check laptop computers rather than
making them available for use in the cabin has cost Boeing a bundle
not to mention the jobs lost:

------------------------------
The Boeing Company http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/index.html

Boeing to Discontinue Connexion by Boeing Service

* Previously announced charge to earnings now expected to be up to
$320 million

* Earnings benefit of approximately $0.15 per share expected
beginning in 2007

CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today
announced that a detailed business and market analysis of Connexion by
Boeing is complete, and the company has decided to exit the high-speed
broadband communications connectivity markets. Boeing will work with
its customers to facilitate an orderly phase out of the Connexion by
Boeing service.

"Over the last six years, we have invested substantial time, resources
and technology in Connexion by Boeing," said Boeing Chairman,
President and CEO Jim McNerney. "Regrettably, the market for this
service has not materialized as had been expected. We believe this
decision best balances the long-term interests of all parties with a
stake in Connexion by Boeing."

As initially disclosed in the company's second-quarter 2006 financial
results on July 26, Boeing now expects to recognize a pre-tax charge
of up to $320 million, or $0.26 per share, in the second half of 2006,
of which approximately $290 million will be taken in the third quarter
and the balance in the fourth quarter. The company also expects a
benefit to earnings of approximately $0.15 per share starting in 2007
without further investment in Connexion. The company will update its
financial guidance when it releases third quarter results on October
25.

The charge relates to writing down certain assets, payments of early
termination fees and other costs related to shutting down the service.
Boeing expects the majority of Connexion employees will find other
jobs within the company.

Boeing acknowledged it was reviewing the Connexion business on June
26. This effort included an assessment of the market and discussions
with existing customers and potential new business partners.