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Compaq Recalls Notebook AC Adapters
rotifer writes: "Compaq is recalling 1.4 million power adapters as fire hazards. I have one of these sitting on my living room floor right now. Compaq says in their FAQ on the subject "Compaq urges customers to discontinue use of the recalled AC adapter and to order a replacement adapter immediately." and that "We expect customers to receive their adapters within 5-10 days". Which means, of course, 5-10 days of not being able to use the computer. Has anyone had one of these things blow up on them? How dangerous is it to keep using it while waiting for the replacement part?" Only you can prevent notebook fires.
They weren't kidding when the said 'blazing fast'... little did they know they were talking about the users themselves after having used the computer...
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Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
Where am I supposed to send the faulty keyboard that came with the laptop?
I only post comments when someone on the internet is wrong.
All your power adapters are belong to Compaq.
That was fun to explain to tech support....
Techie: "What do the lights do when it turns on"
Me: nothing, it won't turn on... all the smoke came out of it and I can't get it back in.
I guess I know why it was so cheap :)
(dss-5+ old style POS.. v2.0 is much better, smaller power brick and no fan in the unit)
-paul
...talk about a new meaning to the phrase "Crash and burn"...
I have an Armada E500s with the adaptor in question (mine says PPP003), and I have noticed that it gets really hot while I'm using it.
I think I'm going to keep using it until I get my new one in, tho. I'll just make sure the adaptor isn't sitting on my collection of oily rags.
Brant
Argle. Bargle.
...an update to the classic teacher-pupil conversation - "Miss, miss, I can't hand in my homework because my computer caught fire"...
Anyway, what makes these babies that bad, and yet let them past standard testing? Most laptops+accessories get hot, but something of this magnitude really ought to have been caught.
I think slashdot would be a better place if more AC's spontaneously combusted.
And what is Compaq writing in their notbooks about this? Why do they care?
first my quantum fireball harddrive, now this.
compaq should just introduce an athlon with a quantum fireball, firewire, and no cooling devices ever.
if it doesnt catch fire, at least it will make you sterile.
--donabal
Safety First Day?
of Wintel systems copying Apple "features"!!!! At least Compaq was careful to make it the adapter, rather than the battery, that ignites, thus avoiding more infringement lawsuits from Apple.
I mean, sure AC's can be annoying at times given their propensity to flame but please. Packing them in boxes and shipping them somewhere just isn't the answer.
Until the new one arrives go ahead and use the one you have. As a precaution you'd better keep it submerged in a bucket of water, though. Then you won't have to worry about it bursting into flames! :-)
And if you keep the water cold you can store some brew in it for easy access while computing!
(He he)
All right, all right. . .Sheesh.
What are you, the Use-Some-Common-Sense-You-Dumb-Bastard Police?
Reminds me of the divorce comic someone sent me, as a gesture of goodwill, the husband gave the wife a brand new SUV for the divorce, then I noticed the firestone tires :)
At my old company, we purchased a whole slew of really damned cheap (but fast!) Toshiba laptops. The AC adapters were so hot that quite a few users were afraid to touch them. I even caught someone putting their coffee mug on top of the AC adapter to keep it warm.
And if you call within the next 15 minutes, we'll throw in a FREE coffee warmer!
Everybody knows that water conducts electricity very well, crazy man!
You should use something less conductive, like isopropyl alcohol or gasoline.