IBM To Repair Smoking Monitors

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IBM To Repair Smoking Monitors

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Tuesday March 4, 2003 @05:12AM from the well-isn't-that-nice-of-them dept.

Rio writes "A local6.com story says IBM is recalling to repair 56,000 G51 and G51t computer monitors because the circuit board can overheat and smoke, posing a fire hazard. IBM has received several reports of monitors overheating and smoking, including one report of minor property damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Comission." And I thought all that smoke was just my mobo overheating.

30 of 193 comments (clear)

MMmm! by Dark+Lord+Seth · 2003-03-04 05:15 · Score: 4, Funny

I'd like one of those monitors! I'll find myself some dremel and a steel girder to create the first monitor/grill combo ever! Steak anyone?

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1. Re:MMmm! by tomhudson · 2003-03-04 08:43 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  If you notice, the monitors were made under subcontract by the same company that made/used the exploding capacitors that have caused so much motherboard/poer supply grief lately.
  Probably not a coincidence :-(
Well that's corporate civic-mindedness! by Tofino · 2003-03-04 05:15 · Score: 3, Insightful

If only tobacco companies would be as obliging!
They missed the marketing boat. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-04 05:15 · Score: 5, Funny

"IBM G51: The hottest monitor available!"
OT What kind of tech news site is this? by binaryDigit · 2003-03-04 05:17 · Score: 5, Funny

When right next to the article on the monitors, is this:

Man Who Allegedly Ate Cat's Tail Ruled Insane

and

Thousands Flock To See Gold Toilets
Smoking? by Soko · 2003-03-04 05:18 · Score: 4, Funny

Can't they just *cough* *cough* patch it?

*cough*

Soko

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What next? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-04 05:18 · Score: 3, Funny

First IBM hard drives, now IBM monitors. What's next to kick the bucket?
1. Re:What next? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-04 05:20 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  IBM enterprise class servers.
They were probably made . . . by Rocko+Bonaparte · 2003-03-04 05:20 · Score: 3, Funny

. . . from components they popped off of returned deskstars.

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No I'm not trolling.
Monitors by grub · 2003-03-04 05:20 · Score: 4, Funny

Do those smoking monitors have to be used outside in California?

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Trolling is a art,
Mobo? by chowdmouse · 2003-03-04 05:22 · Score: 5, Funny

And I thought all that smoke was just my mobo overheating.
Did you mean mojo? Yeah, Baby!
IBM by grub · 2003-03-04 05:22 · Score: 3, Funny

Maybe IBM should rethink its business focus. Perhaps they should manufacture baseboard heaters, toaster overs, wave solder baths...

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Trolling is a art,
monitors are in trouble by Dylan2000 · 2003-03-04 05:24 · Score: 3, Funny

IBM has received several reports of monitors overheating and smoking

sounds like these monitors just bought themselves a first-class ticket to detention. They should have smoked in the bathroom where nobody would see them.

I blame the parents.

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Nice to hear by stratjakt · 2003-03-04 05:25 · Score: 5, Insightful

It's good that a company actually has the balls to recall a faulty product. It's kind of a shame that it has to be a fire hazard to make it happen, and not poor quality. I guess it's the lawyers who made the call, fearing wrongful death suits when some kid dies of inhalation while playing UT.

The PC market is flooded with second rate, faulty, poorly designed and nonfunctional hardware.

I once had an NEC monitor that burned out on me, had it replaced, that one burned out, replaced again, that one burned out ad nauseum - 5 in a row. By the 6th, they had stopped manufacturing them and I got a different one, which still works fine today.

I knew the monitor was designed poorly, they knew it was designed poorly (they only made 'em for like 6 months). Wouldnt a recall have been easier and cheaper than cross shipping me 5 replacements in a row?

Oh well. I just wish there were more corporations willing to stand behind their merchandise.

--
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1. Re:Nice to hear by DJ+FirBee · 2003-03-04 05:45 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  //I knew the monitor was designed poorly, they knew it was designed poorly (they only made 'em for like 6 months). Wouldnt a recall have been easier and cheaper than cross shipping me 5 replacements in a row?//
  
  The answer is no. If they had a recall they would have to recall every monitor not just yours. If it would have been cheaper, they would have done it like that. They are a company with accountants and what not. They know what is cheaper.
  
  IBM is doing it's recall no doubt because they fear litigation. IBM did not recall it's crappy GNX series hard drives that fell apart, because they would not catch fire and expose IBM to a lawsuit.
2. Re:Nice to hear by vasqzr · 2003-03-04 06:12 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  The PC market is flooded with second rate, faulty, poorly designed and nonfunctional hardware
  
  Consumers want $1,000, $500, $300 PC's. What do you expect?
  
  Let's go back in time a few years. The Pentium 133MHz had just come out, making the 120MHz look like a sweet deal. 16MB of RAM was pretty good, and 56K modems were all the rage. You'd get this kind of a deal for $1,999.
  
  A monitor back then, 14" and 15" were standard, would cost you nearly $200. A 17" was a $350-$400 luxury. 19"? $500-700. And 21" monitors would cost you $1,000-$2,000!
  
  Think about how cheap monitors are now. You can't GIVE away a 15". 17" are available for $69 after rebate from any retail store. 19" monitors are $200-$300. Once considered extravagant, 21" monitors are just a little more than the 17" monitors of yesterday. Hell, you can get a 15" LCD for $199.
  
  The problem has always been quality. Sure, the bargain basement monitors work, but the colors are bad, they lack focus, and aren't the brightest, or are too bright.
  
  The de facto standard has usually been the Sony Trinitron displays. I'd rather use a 3 year old Trinitron than a 1 year old bargain brand.
  
  Now, the PC market is flooded with crappy monitors. (Not to mention OTHER components) Take a look at the Apple side of things, or the SGI/Sun workstations. They've had their share of bad products, but much of the OEM equipment is re-branded Sony models etc.
fire? by _ph1ux_ · 2003-03-04 05:26 · Score: 4, Insightful

I'd say they were more of a water risk....

If you have a smoke detection system that will set off sprinklers in the event of smoke....

then all your machines are Toast!
Inevitable by limekiller4 · 2003-03-04 05:29 · Score: 4, Funny

AOL Member: My monitor seems to be smoking.
Customer Support: Oh. Err... [looking at breakroom longingly] Is that an IBM monitor you have there, sir?
AOL Member: Why yes, it is.
Customer Support: Well, then that would be the new Smell-sation monitor feature, sir. It ...uh ...tells you, by olfactory cues, how fast your internet connection is. [co-workers dying of laughter in background, turning blue] We just upgraded our network, so that's probably what you're seei ...er, smelling, sir.
AOL Member: Oh, wonderful! Thank you! [click]

--
My .02,
Limekiller
related news... by new+death+barbie · 2003-03-04 05:30 · Score: 4, Funny

Although IBM has admitted problems with smoke, a representative was quick to point out that noone has complained about the mirrors.

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It's supposed to be completely automatic, but actually you have to press this button.
What a warranty! by big_groo · 2003-03-04 05:32 · Score: 3, Interesting

Here is the link to IBM's page about these monitors. That's one hell of a warranty on a monitor.
My guess is that most of the people that use these are business customers (ie. used as cash register displays or something like that) and they don't want to lose any repeat business.
1. Re:What a warranty! by Pharmboy · 2003-03-04 06:03 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  My guess is that most of the people that use these are business customers (ie. used as cash register displays or something like that) and they don't want to lose any repeat business.
  
  My experience with IBM has always been great. Twice they have replaced minor parts OUT OF WARRANTY with just a call, free. And this was just on consumer grade products. One reason I half a dozen IBM servers now. (ppro 2 dual's, never a down day in over 4 years, even the used one i bought off ebay).
  
  I am betting most (not all, but most) people that talk trash about IBM have never been IBM customers. As always, you mileage will vary, but they have always treated me, a very tiny customer, like gold.
  
  --
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Quite old by rirugrat · 2003-03-04 05:35 · Score: 4, Informative

The 6541 model of IBM monitors are quite old since they were manufactured from June 1997 - September 1997. It's amazing that they still work. Our company used to purchase Acer 34 and 76 monitors and they all failed within 3 years.

And only 5 reported failures? In almost 6 years? That doesn't sound too bad to me...

Chris
Wouldn't it be cheaper to just replace them? by brickbat · 2003-03-04 05:38 · Score: 3, Insightful

These things are ancient. I've gone through at least two monitors since the G51 was introduced. And a decent new 17" monitor is about $120. Seems like it would be cheaper for IBM to just give owners a credit towards a new monitor.

Perhaps IBM is banking on the fact that most of these dinosaurs are sitting on a shelf somewhere because their tubes blew out long ago. I know I wouldn't bother getting a 6-year-old 15" monitor fixed, even if it was for free.
FLAME POST! by Eric_Cartman_South_P · 2003-03-04 05:42 · Score: 5, Funny

Not true dude. I'm using a Deskstar right now and it has never fai^HHHHHHHHHHHH[no carrier]
More than 56,000 by EinarH · 2003-03-04 05:51 · Score: 5, Informative

From the IBM-site. :

Between 1997 and 1999, a total of approximately 700,000 G51 series monitors were manufactured for IBM in Malaysia and China by LiteOn Technology International, Inc. Approximately 117,000 monitors that could potentially include this component were shipped worldwide, and about 56,000 were sold in the U.S.

They are withdrawing all the 117,000:
If you live outside of the US, click here. for a list of phone numbers to contact a repair center.

[rant]
It's only the US-centric slashdot, who want us Europeans to burn... ;-)[/rant]

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Fiery IBM monitors are nothing new by netringer · 2003-03-04 05:56 · Score: 4, Funny

Nuttin new.
The IBM monitors that shipped with IBM PS/2 computers in the late 1980's were notorious for bursting into flame. Flames would shoot out of the monitor's vents at the top of the case. One morning I found one had charred the top of its case overnight. Luckily it burned itself out without tripping the office sprinklers. THAT would have been more exciting.
Which reminds me of the sick joke I dreamed up for our IT boss at that job. We were thinking of calling him up on his honeymoon vacation, and saying, "Don't worry about the fire in the data center. The sprinklers put it out!"
Around that time I was interviewing at a 100% "True Blue" IBM shop. I mentioned that the new IBM monitors are known to burst into flame. The response was, "Oh yes, the monitors do often catch on fire. But then IBM replaces them for free under warranty!"
IBM's immediate response was to send adhesive labels for the monitors that advised powering them off when not in use. New monitors came with the sticker pre-applied at the factory.

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nosmoke.exe.... by 3-State+Bit · 2003-03-04 06:06 · Score: 4, Funny

apparently a true story:

I used to work in a computer store and one day we had a gentleman call in with a smoking power supply. The service rep was having a bit of trouble convincing this guy that he had a hardware problem.

Service Rep: Sir, something has burned up within your power supply.

Customer: I bet that there is some command that I can put into the AUTOEXEC.BAT that will take care of this.

Service Rep: There is nothing that software can do to help you with this problem.

Customer: I know that there is something that I can put in... some command... maybe it should go into the CONFIG.SYS.

[After a few minutes of going round and round]
Service Rep: Okay, I am not supposed to tell anyone this but there is a hidden command in some versions of DOS that you can use. I want you to edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT and add the last line as C:\DOS\NOSMOKE and reboot your computer.

[Customer does this]
Customer: It is still smoking.

Service Rep: I guess you'll need to call Microsoft and ask them for a patch for the NOSMOKE.EXE.

[The customer then hung up. We thought that we had heard the last of this guy but NO... he calls back four hours later]
Service Rep: Hello Sir, how is your computer?

Customer: I called Microsoft and they said that my power supply is incompatible with their NOSMOKE.EXE and that I need to get a new one. I was wondering when I can have that done and how much it will cost..

An old but good story...
Re:Somewhat OT...but... by Tim+Macinta · 2003-03-04 06:18 · Score: 4, Informative

We had a developer who was coding on a Dell Latitude w/ Dell's huge (and expandable) C/Dock-II... the dock started smoking one day during his coding session. I just happened to be walking by and quickly unplugged it from the wall. Apparently a small capacitor inside the dock exploded and got all over everything, causing it to smoke.
Heh heh... and that's not the only thing from dell caught smoking.

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Don't let IBM change the subject! by Provocateur · 2003-03-04 07:06 · Score: 3, Insightful

Focus, guys, focus! Thinkpad Batteries!

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Re:Coincidence can be scary... by Moses+Lawn · 2003-03-04 12:40 · Score: 3, Funny

That reminds me of the best coincidence I ever ran across. At my first job, we were developing a desktop environment for DOS (file manager, various utilities, etc). This was in Southern California in 1990.

One of the project managers was testing the calculator and did something to get an overflow error. At that moment, the Whittier quake happened. The PM filed a bug report: "Arithmetic overflow in calculator causes earthquake." The bug stayed open until just before shipping, when it was closed as "Cannot reproduce."

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What if life is just a side effect of some other process and God has no idea we exist?