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Apple Powerbook and iBook Battery Recall

doubleacr writes "The Register is reporting that Apple is recalling batteries in 12 and 15 inch Powerbook and 12 inch iBooks sold between October 2004 and May 2005. Apple has set up a page with info on model number and serial numbers of batteries affected, and also how to get a replacement."

364 comments

  1. affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    affected, not effected

  2. Nah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I rather like my exploding iBattery, thanks.

    1. Re:Nah by tehshen · · Score: 3, Informative

      I don't think you could type so well if the battery explodes and mangles up the keyboard quite badly

      --
      Guy asked me for a quarter for a cup of coffee. So I bit him.
    2. Re:Nah by nizo · · Score: 2, Funny

      A cheaper solution for Apple would have been to market this as a birth control device. It isn't a bug, it's a feature!

    3. Re:Nah by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 1

      Hey, I was just getting mine broken in when I get a set of replacements. SWEEET.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    4. Re:Nah by Karl+Tacheron · · Score: 2, Funny

      Since when has boiling lithium pouring onto your genitals been a feature?

      Did I miss the memo?

    5. Re:Nah by kosmicki · · Score: 1

      Mod parent +1 Painful

    6. Re:Nah by iphayd · · Score: 1

      Actually, that's just a Powerbook C4.

    7. Re:Nah by nizo · · Score: 1

      I guess labelling this as a feature would be difficult, since finding employees willing to beta test would be no small task. Then again, with the trends in outsourcing, maybe even this wouldn't be a problem.

    8. Re:Nah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, can't beat that apple quality, now can you?

  3. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Truly, you have used your grammar super-powers to good effect. I salute you, Sir AC.

  4. From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Q. Can I use my iBook or PowerBook without the battery in it?

    A. Yes, once you've removed the affected battery, just plug in the AC adapter to power the computer.


    And I thought only Windows users were dumb. How silly of me!

    1. Re:From the FAQ by trampel · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's not quite that dumb. There are/were notebooks that won't run without a battery installed, maybe due to the design of their power circuitry.

      I remember the Powerbook 180, for instance.

    2. Re:From the FAQ by Changa_MC · · Score: 1

      several compaqs had that same limitation, I don't recall which ones.

      --
      Changa hates change.
    3. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows users?
      I think you forgot Apple's TV ads, a couple years ago, featuring random dumb computer users, explaining why/how "it just works".

    4. Re:From the FAQ by tehshen · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, but Mac users are faster, better, and look prettier when they're being stupid ;)

      Reminded me of this.

      --
      Guy asked me for a quarter for a cup of coffee. So I bit him.
    5. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, or the IBM Thinkpad 600 line whose BIOS flashing software required a CHARGED battery to be installed before running.

      This is all well and good, I suppose, except that the batteries for this line were endemically flawed and died within a few months, basically leaving you to buy a $100 BIOS upgrade-dongle. Or use the electronics lab afterhours to supply the right Volts straight into the supply pins. Fuck you IBM.

    6. Re:From the FAQ by drakethegreat · · Score: 1

      Taking irrelevant stabs at Apple is invitation for a flame war.

    7. Re:From the FAQ by Nytewynd · · Score: 1

      My comment wasn't directed at Apple so much as anyone that has a laptop that isn't portable.

      --
      /. ++
    8. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OMG! That's great!

    9. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful
      I remember the Powerbook 180

      That was only true if the motherboard fuse was blown (which wasn't all that hard to do, considering). With the fuse gone you needed the battery in place in order to power up on the wall adapter. Otherwise you could power up with no battery in place.

      Having replaced those surface mount fuses several times, I learned this.

    10. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some computers require the battery because thats how they are powered. The line just supplies a trickle charge to the battery...

      What a dumbfuck.

    11. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well yeah, except for the faster and better part. All Mac users tend to be 'pretty', though, that's for sure.

    12. Re:From the FAQ by zakezuke · · Score: 1

      And I thought only Windows users were dumb. How silly of me!

      Apple's claim to fame was selling turn key technology the likes of which you just turn on and use without thinking about. In the mid 90s for example they had a good commercial where average Joe was trying to get his PC to use his CD-rom drive, quoting the manual "In autoexec dot bat mscdex /d driver where driver is defined in your config dot sys" gets fed up, phones his friend and asks if he can use his mac.

      It's in good form to explain these details esp Apple who's target market are those who don't want to think about the technical aspect of technology.

      --
      There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
    13. Re:From the FAQ by CyberBill · · Score: 1

      LOL Okay, best - post - evar.

      --
      -Bill
    14. Re:From the FAQ by antifoidulus · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Heh, though really Apple should send you a battery if you call them and then have you send the defective one back when you receive the replacement. That is what they did when my AC adaptor broke(a week before the warranty ran out). Apple rushed me a new AC adaptor and had me send my defective one back(they paid the shipping). I think the only reason they had me send mine back was to ensure that I wasn't just getting a free power supply. I see no reason they shouldn't do the same for the batteries.

    15. Re:From the FAQ by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      This is not really a dumb question. It can depend on how the system is wired. The laptop could get all its power from the battery all the time and the AC addapter just keeps the battery charged. Yes that is an unlikly setup but it is possible. And a lot of people are unwilling to test it out.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    16. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      only morons will think windows users as dumb, look at the stupid mac advertisements, it portraits those people who are absolutely dumb "I cant figure out how to use a pc", so they chose mac.

    17. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      2002 called. They want their troll theme back.

    18. Re:From the FAQ by Moofie · · Score: 1

      I've worked on a number of laptops that don't work unless there's a battery installed. All of them were Windows laptops. What was your point again?

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
    19. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Q. Can I use my iBook or PowerBook without the battery in it?

      Install optional hankcrank. Rotate crank until screen comes on and computer starts boot up process. To turn off computer simply stop turning crank. To increase clock speed turn crank faster.

    20. Re:From the FAQ by linuxpng · · Score: 1

      (somewhat unrelated) an IBM thinkpad T23 will not update it's BIOS without a installed and charged battery. Have a bettery that died and always reports 5% and the update refuses to apply.

    21. Re:From the FAQ by hackstraw · · Score: 1


      Well, I'm not a computer dummy, but I wasn't sure if I could take my battery out while it was powered on to see if my battery was eligible for replacement. I figured, I would just go ahead and try. It was plugged in of course.

      It worked, and the battery indicator changed to some "Its gone" icon, and the serial number on it did not match and I put it back in and everything was OK.

    22. Re:From the FAQ by Baricom · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think the only reason they had me send mine back was to ensure that I wasn't just getting a free power supply.

      That's one possibility. Another is that Apple wants it so they can have their engineers do a post-mortem to figure out what went wrong. A relative called the toll-free number on a well-known brand of kitchen sponge and they asked her to send the defective one back postage-paid, which probably cost them more than the sponge did.

      palmOne is also rumored to have been asking Tungsten C owners with a zeroed-out MAC address to send it back postage-paid, in exchange for a new (not refurbished or repaired) unit, because they didn't know what the problem was.

    23. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, yeah... Those apple folks are just supermodels, aren't they?

    24. Re:From the FAQ by mollymoo · · Score: 1
      Congratulations, you just purchased a desktop PC for double the price.

      I expect like many laptops, mine is used more often in the house but away from a desk than it is "on the road". Most of the time I don't plug my laptop in it's because I can't be bothered, not because there is no mains power available.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    25. Re:From the FAQ by biglig2 · · Score: 1

      Every non-moronic bit of hardware does this. Since a power loss while writing the bios turns your device into a paperweight, anything that has a battery and PSU will insist on them both being present to do the write.

      --
      ~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
    26. Re:From the FAQ by Bastard+Operator+Fro · · Score: 1

      actually, that is what they do.

      "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."

      It for those that don't want to use a potential explosive battery until the new battery arrives.

      --
      Shaun Nelson - Bastard Operator (From Hell / For Hire)
    27. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Was this a real problem or just CYA from IBM? I flashed a number of TP600s (on AC) and never was too concerned whether the battery was full or not.

    28. Re:From the FAQ by mike518 · · Score: 0

      That is a well needed support article, those 20 inch things are almost as heavy as dell laptops (dont troll me for this -- you know its true, portables my ass). Carry an Imac wrong and your likely to end up with all 30lbs. times Gravity of 9.8m/s (unless on a different planet or zero G) on your foot. I believe its so important that they should have mac specialists doing visual training how to carry them like they do on planes for those air respirators.

      --
      Mike
      I heart the RIAA & MPAA, im sure its mutual...
    29. Re:From the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > almost as heavy as dell laptops (dont troll me for this -- you know its true, portables my ass).

      OTOH Dell sells 12" ultraportables that weight 2 pounds less than the 12" PB Apple.

    30. Re:From the FAQ by Magic5Ball · · Score: 1

      It's a valid question because the white CRT iMac has a fairly smooth surface all around and no handle or obvious way of gripping it. Picking it up about as difficult as picking up a wet watermelon with about 1.5 times the expected density.

      --
      There are 1.1... kinds of people.
    31. Re:From the FAQ by mike518 · · Score: 0

      its a shame that most of there "portables" are less than such weighing in at around 7-12 pounds -- hell they have some that are 15 pounds! It doubles as a door holder, a paper weight, and a dumbell i guess?

      --
      Mike
      I heart the RIAA & MPAA, im sure its mutual...
    32. Re:From the FAQ by Thu25245 · · Score: 1

      The original iMac had a handle.

      The G4 iMac was nice when sitting on a desk, but the round base didn't offer much in the way of handholds. The manual actually suggested you lift it by the monitor's support arm. While carrying it, you supported the base with your other hand.

      The iMac G5 presents a similar problem: large computer, small "foot." Anyone with two brain cells left could probably move it across the room if he had to, but how do you safely grab and move a $2000 slab-with-hinged-foot?

      Naw, for true stupidity, you have to look at this FAQ.

  5. Explains a lot. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So that's why it keeps smoking! I'm so used to overclocked systems I thought that was normal.

    1. Re:Explains a lot. by iminplaya · · Score: 1

      That's what the recall is about. they're just putting it into a stronger case to keep the smoke in.

      --
      What?
  6. Nuts, Not My Battery by Dr.+Transparent · · Score: 4, Funny
    And here I was hoping for a new battery. I missed it by a few production runs it appears.

    Maybe if I scratch the serial number up...

    1. Re:Nuts, Not My Battery by pantycrickets · · Score: 5, Funny

      Maybe if I scratch the serial number up...

      Then you'll be guilty of defacing a battery. A felony in most states!

    2. Re:Nuts, Not My Battery by Caltheos · · Score: 4, Funny

      More like you would be convicted of Assault on Battery

      --
      We've secretely replaced the Enterprise's dilithium crystals with Folgers crystals. Lets see if they notice.
    3. Re:Nuts, Not My Battery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Battery on a battery, eh?

    4. Re:Nuts, Not My Battery by tunesmith · · Score: 5, Funny

      assault on battery. :-)

      --
      skkkoooonnnggggkkk ptui
    5. Re:Nuts, Not My Battery by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought it was "assault on battery". That's what they keep saying on Law and Order, anyway.

    6. Re:Nuts, Not My Battery by Phroggy · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I was hoping for this too - mine doesn't hold a charge as long as it did when it was new. No free replacement for me, though!

      --
      $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
      $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
    7. Re:Nuts, Not My Battery by DarKnyht · · Score: 1

      Man, I feel like I have the Pinto of Apple Computers. First the display recall, then I find that my power supply was designed bad (class action lawsuit pending), and now I find that the battery is crap.

      --
      Voting them all out of office, now that's change I can believe in.
  7. From TFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "...the components could overheat and catch figure."

    Get hot and strike a pose.

    1. Re:From TFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Someone beat you to it. We saw this coming from a mile away anyway. Oh, and do not eat iPod Shuffle.

    2. Re:From TFA by BillX · · Score: 1
      --
      Caveat Emptor is not a business model.
  8. Before anyone goes off... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is not a danger. it is a precaution. It may not even be an ISSUE but apple have still found parts out of spec in certain areas of battery production.

    In other words like with the 5300 powerbooks, no consumer batteries have ever caught fire, and almost certainly none ever will.

    1. Re:Before anyone goes off... by Saven+Marek · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well maybe youd like to explain this destroyed powerbook then. the heat was enough to buckled the frame and everything.

    2. Re:Before anyone goes off... by mog007 · · Score: 1

      People love to blow things out of perportions. Just look at the explosive hazard that the Pinto posed. Or rather, didn't.

    3. Re:Before anyone goes off... by blanks · · Score: 1

      "This is not a danger. it is a precaution."

      FTFA: "Apple said the risk of combustion was very small. The recall comes after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission received six reports of batteries overheating, two from the US and the rest from around the globe."

      Yeah only 6 reported to the safety commission, and im just guessing the number of people who haent reported it is much higher then that. That sounds a little more serious then a precaution.

    4. Re:Before anyone goes off... by pyros · · Score: 1, Interesting

      That looks more 'slightly shotgunned' than burnt from an exploding battery.

    5. Re:Before anyone goes off... by Changa_MC · · Score: 1
      In collisions, the Pinto would explode and kill people. It happened several times, as the families that sued demonstrated.

      And Ford knew in advance that it would. They knew before a single Pinto left the factory that the gas tank was flawed. They even designed a rubber liner that prevented the explosions, but at $11 a car, they decided not to bother implemmenting it.

      You can say I over-reacted, but I'm never buying a Ford.

      --
      Changa hates change.
    6. Re:Before anyone goes off... by Pollardito · · Score: 1

      so when someone posts a link to "my powerbook battery exploded", remember that it's just another cool apple mod and not any sort of part problem

    7. Re:Before anyone goes off... by teknomage1 · · Score: 1

      A fire was caused in a dorm room at the Savannah College of Art and Design by an apple laptop under a towel this year.

      --
      Stop intellectual property from infringing on me
    8. Re:Before anyone goes off... by goodmanj · · Score: 1
      no consumer batteries have ever caught fire,

      From the e-mail Apple sent registered Powerbook users:

      Apple received six consumer reports of these batteries overheating.

      We can argue about the difference between "overheat" and "catch fire", but the point is, this really is a danger to consumers, and not just a precautionary recall.

    9. Re:Before anyone goes off... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the piece was titled "Fire Caused By Computer Under Towel", and was well-received by advising faculty.

  9. Whatever you do.. by PopeAlien · · Score: 5, Funny

    DO NOT put them in a washing machine and puncture them with a screwdriver!

    1. Re:Whatever you do.. by HAKdragon · · Score: 5, Funny

      Homer Simpson: See? Because of me, now they have a warning

      --
      "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs. We have a protractor."
    2. Re:Whatever you do.. by Ezdaloth · · Score: 1

      Few things exist to which i'd do that anyways, most are human and not exactly "friends o'mine". ;-)

  10. A quick fix... by heatuser · · Score: 1, Informative

    ...some device called the ThermaPAK. Founded recently and been using one. Uses phase change materials to absorb the excess heat from Powerbooks.

    1. Re:A quick fix... by JadeNB · · Score: 1

      If the batteries do, despite the `very small' risk, catch fire, a ThermaPAK is not going to be a lot of help to you. What you'll have is a flaming sleeve over your laptop.

  11. Macs are for f@gghits!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Seriously. Everyone knows that the only people who use Macs are either teh ghey or they are wannabe geeks who are to inept to use Linux but who do not want the stigma of using windows so they go buy a poseur Mac and then think that they are cool.

    1. Re:Macs are for f@gghits!!! by TheDefenistrator · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      I would not try and defend an opinion that could possibly be vaild by calling 7000 hardware hackers and coding gods "fags". Please, use logic. OSX is FreeBSD with a fantastic interface, and a beautiful design. It also suports many of the programs that even the best of my fellow linux lovers must dual boot to use. OSX is a joy to use and is useable for work, pleasure, and everything in between. I dont want to come off as one of the feared "Mac Zelots," as I happen to love *nix as well, but I absolutly love my Powerbook. I have never used a finer computer.

      As for OSX being for "fake" geeks, why dont you tell that to Tim O'Reilly, Paul Graham, or Trevor Blackwell. Despite how much you may hate Macs, many swear by them.

      By the way, not only Mac users are "teh ghey." Just look in the freaking mirror.

    2. Re:Macs are for f@gghits!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought I'd get modded up, but all I got was this crappy t-shirt.

    3. Re:Macs are for f@gghits!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Come and hack me, my isp is 127.0.0.1

      If you don't know the difference between ip and isp, it's pretty safe to say you don't know shit about "*nix", hardware hackers or coding gods.

    4. Re:Macs are for f@gghits!!! by fimbulvetr · · Score: 1

      OSX is _NOT_, NOT, Not and *NOT* FreeBSD!!!

      OSX is _BASED_ off of Darwin, which is based off of _A_ BSD.

      If OSX was FreeBSD, there would not be stupid shit like "At" vulnerabilities in OSX.

    5. Re:Macs are for f@gghits!!! by dave420 · · Score: 1
      But you can't use OSX using only the keyboard, as I do in other operating systems. That fact alone makes it a lot slower for me to use, and therefor out of the question.

      And, fyi, most mac users don't even know OSX is based on BSD. They don't know you can use it for routing, hosting, ssh and every other BSD app it has. That's why it's for fake geeks mainly. They have the tools, yet have absolutely no idea how to use them. It's like an eight-year-old with a dodge viper. Good for him, but hell if he'll get full use out of it.

      You're clearly in the minority and not part of the fake-geek mac clique, which I think is great. Don't be fooled into thinking all those cool guys in the mac store looking over the specs of the latest airport know what they are doing.

      Macs are very powerful. Most mac users don't even know just how powerful. My friend has a 12" powerbook and a playstation 2 w/network adaptor. He didn't know how to use the mac to bridge the playstation 2's network connection to his wireless. That's just a brief demonstration that not all mac users know how to get the most out of their machines. He even admitted he bought it because of it's "coolness", which frankly I find ridiculous. I'm not big into fashion and vanity, so I guess that might have something to do with it ;)

  12. Sony battery warrenty by SamSeaborn · · Score: 2, Informative
    A friend of mine works at the Sony store and he told me about this interesting Sony Store policy. If any customer comes back with any complaint about a handycam battery within the camera's warrenty period, the customer is given a new battery right off the shelf, no questions asked.

    The cool thing is, the battery that comes with most cameras holds a 60 min charge, but the ones they stock in store are 120 mins.

    All you have to do is go in with your original battery and say, "this battery isn't holding a full charge". Bingo, free new better battery.

    Sam

    1. Re:Sony battery warrenty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's a warrenty? And what does Sony have to do with anything?

    2. Re:Sony battery warrenty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A friend of mine works at the grocery store and he told me about this interesting grocery Store policy. If any customer comes back with any complaint about a fruit or ravioli within a 24 hour period, the customer is given a new fruit or ravioli off the shelf, no questions asked.

      The cool thing is, the ravioli that comes from most shelves contain no fruit, but the ones they stock in store have bananna chunks mixed in.

      All you have to do is go in with your original fruit or ravioli and say, "this ravioli doesn't contain any fruit". Bingo, free new better ravioli.

      Sam

    3. Re:Sony battery warrenty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wtf?

    4. Re:Sony battery warrenty by prichardson · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But to take advantage of something like that would be dishonest unless Sony wanted to replace everyone's 60min battery. Has it occurred to you that if people didn't try and exploit loopholes that policy filling them wouldn't exist and therefor wouldn't get in the way of legitimate problems.

      --
      Help I'm a rock.
    5. Re:Sony battery warrenty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NO! now shut up and let me enjoy my 2hr battery!

    6. Re:Sony battery warrenty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Has it occurred to you that if people didn't try and exploit loopholes that policy filling them wouldn't exist and therefor wouldn't get in the way of legitimate problems.

      You didn't put a question mark at the end of that question, so technically it's not a question. Which means he doesn't have to answer it.

      So there.

  13. Here's a trick to remember which one it is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Always write down the opposite of the spelling you think is correct.

  14. how about iPOD? by alexandreracine · · Score: 0

    Will they do the same with the iPOD?

    I mean, come on, a 100$ battery replacement after two years...

    --
    No sig for now.
    1. Re:how about iPOD? by noewun · · Score: 1
      I mean, come on, a 100$ battery replacement after two years...

      $100? Are you buying three of them?

      --
      I am a believer of momentum and curves.
  15. They can have my battery... by nathan+s · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..when they pry it from my cold, dead fing-

    Oh wait, this is a good thing. Nevermind. :-)

    1. Re:They can have my battery... by QuijiboIsAWord · · Score: 0
      ..when they pry it from my cold, dead fing-

      I believe you mean "cold, dead, charred from the flaming inferno, fing-"
      --
      -Hmm...I got a G+ invite, better remember to remove the request from my sig...-
    2. Re:They can have my battery... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your novel, Alice, sucks cock.

    3. Re:They can have my battery... by Lovesquid · · Score: 1

      What a clever invention! I'll take 3.

  16. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Indeed he has a sophisticated affect.

  17. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  18. Sounds like Good Business to Me by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 4, Insightful

    From the article:

    "Apple said the risk of combustion was very small. The recall comes after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission received six reports of batteries overheating, two from the US and the rest from around the globe."

    Six, man. SIX! And only TWO in the US!

    And they're taking what must be a pretty big loss just for the sake of having good business integrity.

    I dunno, man. Sounds pretty cool to me.

    --
    http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    1. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Umm who knows if it was actual documented cases of the battery exploding or something versus just emails.

      Usually it just takes one complaint.

      Don't be an apple fan boy without finding out what hte industry norm is for this type of thing.

    2. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by paranode · · Score: 2, Insightful
      OTOH, if they know about the problem and don't issue a recall and even one more person gets hurt, they could be sued for quite a bit more than it would cost to issue the recall.

      In the US, lawsuits are the enforcers of business integrity.

    3. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, it was six out of the twenty or so Mac users out there.


      /owns a Mac mini

    4. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 1

      Good point.

      I guess I just WANT to believe in Apple...really bad.

      ; D

      --
      http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    5. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by grahams · · Score: 4, Interesting
      And they're taking what must be a pretty big loss just for the sake of having good business integrity.
      A big loss for the battery company, probably not that big of a deal for Apple...
    6. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by brontus3927 · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Actually, it's probably more an issue of liability. If Apple is made aware of a potential problem that could cause injury or death, and doesn't act on it, if another person is injured by the product, they are negligent and open to lawsuit. If they know it happened six times, and they know that same configuration occured more than six times, then they know it can happen again.

      And if they didn't recall, groups like Consumer Report and Action News would be all over them about it.

    7. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      Six, man. SIX! And only TWO in the US!

      And they're taking what must be a pretty big loss just for the sake of having good business integrity.


      Yeah, if only MS would do that.. oh wait, they have.

      Replaced 14 million xbox power cords because of problems with "30 cases worldwide".

      I love how when apple does it, it's because they're a great company, but when MS does it, it's because they make crappy products.

    8. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. I have to kiss some Apple ass so I can get that +5 moderation. I had no idea it was that easy. Just quote the article and say how great Apple is. A recipe for success.

    9. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by truesaer · · Score: 1
      Auto companies often recall their cars based on problems in less than 10 cars. And a lot of times it is questionable if it was even a problem in the part or damage after manufacturing.


      Its amazing there aren't more recalls considering how little is necessary to actually trigger one.

    10. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by FlopEJoe · · Score: 5, Interesting
      "Six, man. SIX! And only TWO in the US!"

      That's a lot better company support than Fight Club math:

      If a new car built by my company leaves Chicago traveling west at 60 miles per hour, and the rear differential locks up, and the car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside, does my company initiate a recall?

      You take the population of vehicles in the field (A) and multiply it by the probable rate of failure (B), then multiply the result by the average cost of an out-of-court settlement (C).

      A times B times C equals X. This is what it will cost if we don't initiate a recall.

      If X is greater than the cost of a recall, we recall the cars and no one gets hurt.

      If X is less than the cost of a recall, then we don't recall.

    11. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I guess I just WANT to believe in Apple...really bad.

      Sad fscker! They're just a company trying to make money to please the shareholders. Jeeez...

    12. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 1

      ...well you've got a point. I really didn't expect that moderation (though I'm not ungrateful).

      But my recipe (as you've defined it) is about as valid as posting inflamatory remarks as an Anonymous Coward.

      (Sorry, dude. Had to state the obvious.)

      --
      http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    13. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 1

      You're calculations are astoundingly (and refreshingly) valid and applicable.

      And to think I'm sitting in my cubicle, hard at work as a Risk Analyst! ...gotta love the sweet irony.

      --
      http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    14. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Makes me wish more companies valued business integrity over short term profits. I'm sure this publicity will only be good for them in the end anyway.

    15. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by ad0gg · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If one of those batteries burned down someone's house and killed a couple people. The lawsuit would easily overshadow the costs of the recall. Especially when its was reported to the US consumer product safety commission, punitive damages would be astounding since it would show apple had prior knowlege to the fault.

      --

      Have you ever been to a turkish prison?

    16. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I love how when apple does it, it's because they're a great company, but when MS does it, it's because they make crappy products.

      I love how people with no financial stake in a company express their offense when someone makes fun of the local whipping boy.

    17. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by blanks · · Score: 1

      US Consumer Product Safety Commission received six reports

      Yes only 6 reports to the product safety comission. How many people didnt report it.

    18. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Colol · · Score: 4, Informative

      And they're taking what must be a pretty big loss just for the sake of having good business integrity.

      According to the article over at MacCentral, nope. Apple doesn't expect the cost of performing the recall "to be material to Apple", and LG will be the one ponying up the costs.

      Which, given this is the second time in a year LG has caused Apple to issue a recall on batteries, they ought to be doing.

    19. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Jimmy+Nail · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'd day the danger is pretty real. I work for a battery maker (A competitor of LG, makers of these 'hot' ones), and we've had some sketchy shit happen that didn't result in a recall. I'd have to guess that the problem is fairly serious.

      I know for a fact that Apple won't issue a recall like this unless there is a clear danger.

    20. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by latras · · Score: 1

      Dell did the same thing with their power adapter recall. I think only a few were reported to have caught on fire, but there were almost a million produced.

    21. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Looks like there's something missing in that analysis--lost business if the consumer ever discovers you doing that. Just ask Firestone, or former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    22. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but those six people were roasted alive when their batteries overheated and burst into flames.

    23. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Warning: Reality distortion field in effect.

    24. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I know for a fact that Apple won't issue a recall like this unless there is a clear danger.
      No. You don't.
    25. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by mollymoo · · Score: 1
      Usually it just takes one complaint.

      So if I phone Dell and say the battery went pop in my laptop, they would instantly recall the whole lot? No. They aren't that stupid. They'll get hold of the battery and inspect it. If they find a fault, they'll do a recall. If they can't find a fault, they won't. Most consumer goods which break/explode/burn do so because the consumer has done something monumentally stupid.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    26. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here, I'll show my age-

      Before Ford and Firestone tires there was the Ford Pinto where the cost to fix the problem would cost more than paying $200,000 per death caused by the car.

      Admittedly, that case is more egregious since they actually did put a price on human life. And decided it was willing to pay it.

    27. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      Yes, and Ford suffered dearly for that. It didn't help matters that this was at the beginning of the Japanese invasion, but the Pinto illustrated every reason Americans turned to Japanese automakers in the 1970's.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    28. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by SkiifGeek · · Score: 1

      Your point being?

      Unfortunately, this is / was, a common practice by major engineering firms. It is a part of risk management and is sometimes called (and I am going to get it wrong here) Headstone Engineering.

      Engineering in a Factor of Safety goes some way to overcoming these issues, but if the cost of building in the safety margins is more than the cost of paying out after loss of life due to failure, then it is not likely to be included.

      For example, I could build a bridge to cross a gap by placing a plank across it. Cheap, and functional, but it may only be marginally within the weight carriage requirements. If someone then fell and died as a result of the plank failing, that is a cost I would be liable for. Alternatively, I could pour concrete and fill in the gap completely, set up fenced in barriers and other protective measures. This would almost certainly not fail catastrophically and cause death, with such a high factor of safety, but it would not make economic sense as the most optimal solution.

      Although a canned example, the problem does scale properly. For example, the failure of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, Victoria, during construction was due to two factors. The first was improper structural design. An insufficient factor of safety had been considered for the bridge elements as individual components during construction. The second factor was the improper construction method being used, which exceeded the factor of safety for a segment, causing a catastrophic structural failure, and death of 35 construction workers. The bridge segments could have been engineered to never fail, but the cost would be prohibitive, and would preclude their use in an efficient bridge design. The design of WTC 1 and 2 is also an example - design took into account an almost empty 707 striking the buildings, not fully fuelled modern commuter jets. Yes, the buildings could have been built to withstand more, but it then would have affected their eventual height, design and cost efficiency.

    29. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You forgot to cite your quote.

    30. Re:Sounds like Good Business to Me by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 1

      Obviously no business should be *excessive* when engineering for safety, or else all cars would be engineered to Formula 1 safety standards and cost $200,000. But at the same time, anything that could be perceived as negligence would be avoided by a wise corporation because of the immense cost in public relations.

      As for the World Trade Center, I believe it was not the impact but rather the heat that led to their eventual demise. The WTC was built at the time when the dangers of asbestos were first discovered, and so they chose not to use it. I understand, however, that our information about the WTC is incomplete.

      My point is, there is a difference between making reasonable engineering decisions to engineer something short of the safest design possible and negligence. My point is that, even assuming a company full of people who have no concern for the safety and wellbeing of others, the Fight Club scenario wouldn't apply to any company that keeps in consideration its image and the possible damage to future sales--i.e. any company that takes marketing seriously. I'm not saying that negligence never happens. I am saying that negligence of the sort in the Fight Club scenario is not a profitable long-term business option. Businesses know this.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
  19. From TFA by millennial · · Score: 3, Funny

    "The danger posed by these batteries is at its greatest when soaked in water and then stabbed with a screwdriver or other blunt object."
    Just kidding. But it's true for the iPod, remember?

    --
    I am scientifically inaccurate.
  20. Hot bodies attract? by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Apple has asked 128,000 notebook computer users to return their PowerBook or iBook batteries on the off-chance the components could overheat and catch figure. I'd be interested in purchasing a computer that can catch figures for me.

  21. For those by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For those that will snark away and say that a faulty battery is a very bad design flaw, let me be the first to say that youre *missing the target market*!

  22. SHIT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I JUST BURNED MY SNATCH!

  23. Affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Affected, not effected.

  24. Go Figure... by flood6 · · Score: 0, Redundant
    ...on the off-chance the components could overheat and catch figure.

    Dear God! It could catch figure?

  25. Re:About time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, when can we get to the next mp3 player story with "It isn't an Apple branded mp3 player. Lame." tacked on?

  26. How do they do it? by jargoone · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's incredible! I got my new battery from the recall, and my Powerbook is faster than ever before! Whether it's software or hardware, Apple just keeps getting better!

    1. Re:How do they do it? by NineNine · · Score: 0

      Actually, better would just have to be a non-exploding battery, as opposed to an exploding one.

    2. Re:How do they do it? by brkello · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I am confused on whether to be pleased that a scarcastic statement about apple was modded up or be disappointed that it was modded up due to people believing it.

      --
      Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
  27. Microsoft by devphaeton · · Score: 2, Funny

    So how long before Microsoft copies this?

    er.. i mean....

    Who should we complain to in the KDE team about being slow and lazy in adding this feature? My Toshiba running FBSD hasn't had any troubles with the battery! Those KDE folks are slow and lazy.

    er... i mean....

    Good job Apple.. Glad to see someone taking some responsibility.

    --


    do() || do_not(); // try();
  28. Re:affected by Wabin · · Score: 1

    Amen. If only I had mod points.

    --
    Most exciting phrase in science: not "Eureka!" but "Hmm... That's funny..." -Asimov (abridged for \. limits)
  29. haha ironic by Kaamoss · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I could have had the first post, but I realized that my recent ibook was effected. Went to the site and filled out the form in about 5 minutes. Deffinitly hassle free so everyone who has a relativly recient ibook 12" 14" or power book 12" should go there asap and get their free replacement battery.

    1. Re:haha ironic by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thanks for the tip, man.

      I got a PB around that time, so I should check it out as well.

      Although it's probably a good thing that you didn't get first post. Strongbad would have torn apart your post for spelling! :)

      --
      http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    2. Re:haha ironic by Cecil · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, that's a nice thought, but it's not all batteries, only some of the LG ones. I bought my PB 15" a month ago, and my battery's serial number is W7515XXXXXXXXX nothing near the range of serials they're replacing.

    3. Re:haha ironic by Kaamoss · · Score: 1

      Yes. I usually spell check but I'm at work and we have cameras. If I type fast enough however because of how compressed the video has to be and time it right the camera never even takes a frame of me typing my post. I apologize for the spelling though.

    4. Re:haha ironic by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 1

      Dude, that's so funny.

      It really makes me glad that I have such a laid back company. I can screw around on /. all day if I wanted to!

      It makes me kinda proud, and kinda guilty-feeling. ...oh well.

      --
      http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    5. Re:haha ironic by syrinx · · Score: 1

      Uh, you seriously have cameras at work watching you? Unless you work at, say, the NSA, you *really* need a new job. If my company started watching me on cameras, I'd be out of here before you could say "antidisestablishmentarianism".

      --
      Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
    6. Re:haha ironic by Richard_at_work · · Score: 1

      A tip - compose your post in another app, like MS Word or something so it looks like you are working. Cut and paste into the slashdot comment box, switch back to your work for 20 seconds, swithc back and post. Nothing for the cameras to catch. NB - this is not how I do it, we have very liberal bosses at work.

    7. Re:haha ironic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      What's ironic about that? It might have been ironic if the battery had exploded as you tried to open the replacement battery page.

      Sorry, the word nazi in me couldn't let that one slide. Irony is probably the most misused word in the English language.

  30. Powerbook dangerous when wet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did this start out after somebody's mother accidently washed their iBook?

  31. meh by SolusSD · · Score: 1

    exploding batteries won't stop me from buying my powerbook! but why won't their online store allow me to purchase one right now? anybody? I didn't think they stopped selling them..

  32. What about my 14" iBook G4? by Alakaboo · · Score: 1

    Am I supposed to believe that this problem "strafed" my 14" iBook G4? Better keep an eye on 'er.

    1. Re:What about my 14" iBook G4? by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      Maybe Apple just never shipped the affected batteries with the 14" series?

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
  33. Well, crap..... by TheDefenistrator · · Score: 0

    Does anyone know if this is for those sold up until the begining of May, or if it is all of May?

  34. Re:It always sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    I was designing the logo for our new t-shirt campaign "Fascist Canary Enslavers And How They Must Be Stopped" at the local Starbucks when my battery burned my balls off. Now it was a rush job, because the local print shop was closing because the owner was going on a two week sabbatical to become one with the flowers, so I ignored the flames leaping up from my Powerbook. Clearly, despite the intense heat, the need to finish the logo was my prime interest.

    At any rate, my girlfriend, M (her real name is Olivia, but she feels that being part of the human community means identity must be simplified) said "Geez, Renfrew, don't you think you should at least pour some espresso on that?" I couldn't reply, as my penis was being seared and my mouse was starting to get sticky. I tried to think "What would Steve Jobs do in a situation like this?" but all I could think of was that he would probably order a muffin with a low-fat margarine substitute.

  35. Jesus, once again.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    ...of batteries effected...


    The batteries are affected, not effected. Just a teeny, tiny attempt at good English every now and again would be nice. Please?


    While I'm at it, Apple's not doing this because they're nice, they're doing it because they don't want to be sued.

  36. Dell Recall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I personally preferred the way Dell did their battery recall a few years ago. You called them, they sent you a replacement, then you returned your old battery and they sent you another one. I got a recall-worthy one when buying a replacement battery for cheap off of eBay, so I ended up getting 2 new (maybe refurb) batteries for around $15

  37. Canada Web Page by Gherikill · · Score: 0

    Can Canadians use the same webpage?

  38. unsafe batteries? by brontus3927 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    A couple weeks ago, Dell issued a recall on some of their Inspirions because of a similar problem. My sister's isn't one of them, but I noticed that the battery gets warmer than the processor does. And the powerbrick gets too hot to touch if the things been running for a few hours.

    I haven't a clue what the solution to this is, but with the explosion of notebook sales, I think we're going to be seeing A LOT of these kinds of problems

    1. Re:unsafe batteries? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The solution is to stop buying Dell laptops. You're only encouraging them.

    2. Re:unsafe batteries? by brontus3927 · · Score: 1

      Believe me, I did everything in my power to try to convince her to not buy a Dell. I try everything in my power to convince anyone to not buy a Dell. But she did anyway, and has regretted it ever since.

    3. Re:unsafe batteries? by ultramk · · Score: 1

      I haven't a clue what the solution to this is, but with the explosion of notebook sales...

      That would be from the poor-choice-of-words dept.

      m-

      --
      You catch enchiladas by picking them up behind the head and holding them underwater until they don't kick anymore -VeGas
    4. Re:unsafe batteries? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Better a Dell then an apple.. At least I can get software for a Dell.

  39. Or fear of liability by Thu25245 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    On the flip side, if they didn't decide on a recall, and someone were to get injured, they'd face a serious liability suit. "You already had six reports of failure, and yet your company did nothing. Your negligence is directly responsible for my disfiguring burns." Not a pretty idea.

    Good business practices and fear of lawsuits often yield the same results. Which motivation you choose to ascribe depends mostly on how cynical you are.

    1. Re:Or fear of liability by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 1

      That's a good point.

      And I life in California...I ought to know better about how litigious our society has become!

      --
      http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    2. Re:Or fear of liability by pyros · · Score: 1
      "You already had six reports of failure, and yet your company did nothing. Your negligence is directly responsible for my disfiguring burns."

      That was the exact reasoning behind the several hundred thousand dollar judgement against McDonalds after that old woman spilled her coffee. McDonalds had several hundred complaints about people getting third degree burns from the coffee due to flimsy cup/lids.

    3. Re:Or fear of liability by Barlo_Mung_42 · · Score: 1

      "Which motivation you choose to ascribe depends mostly on how cynical you are."

      Or naive.

    4. Re:Or fear of liability by mattgreen · · Score: 1

      This is Apple we're talking about, they can do no wrong.

  40. When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair company.. by Khyber · · Score: 2, Interesting

    WE always had problems with the batteries and logic boards going out like crazy. Would anyone care to wager a guess why?

    They're mainly manufactured in Guadalahara, Mexico. Cheap labor and poor standards controls usually equals poor products.

    One out of three laptops actually made it past the Cashmere test after repairs, due to defective parts. (Bad onboard USB/Firewire, IDE controller, etc.) And people wonder why Apple products are so expensive. They're spending more in repairs than almost anything else.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  41. Re:About time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think the fact that there is no opinion tacked on shows a clear bias towards Apple, and am highly offended... *FNORD*

  42. Re:About time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean:

    "It isn't an Apple branded mp3 player. No wireless. Less explosions than an iPod. Lame."

  43. batteries on fire by digitaldc · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Apple has asked 128,000 notebook computer users to return their PowerBook or iBook batteries on the off-chance the components could overheat and catch figure."
    In a related note, the Register's reporting and editing have been outsourced to Bangalore.
    Paris Hilton had her ibook's battery explode on her lap, all that we could hear her say was... 'That's hot!'

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  44. Canadian Webpage by Gherikill · · Score: 0

    Can Canadians use that webpage or is there a specific Canadian page?

  45. Thankyou slashdot and doubleacr! by Richard_at_work · · Score: 1

    Ive just checked my battery and its within the range, which is worrysome, because if I hadnt spotted this on Slashdot, chances are I would never have found out about it! Anyway, replacement ordered, battery disconnected, threat of death averted, thanks :)

    1. Re:Thankyou slashdot and doubleacr! by digithead · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you registered a sacrificial e-mail address with Apple, you would have gotten a nice message from them notifying you of the recall earlier today. It's not clear to me if they sent it to all Apple customers (probably) or only to those who purchased/registered an affected computer with them.

      --
      Once you lick the lollipop of mediocrity, you'll suck forever!
    2. Re:Thankyou slashdot and doubleacr! by Richard_at_work · · Score: 1

      I have at least 3 email addresses registered with Apple (Mac mini Registration, ibook registration and ADC registration) and havent received a single email about this :/ All 3 email addresses are current and valid.

    3. Re:Thankyou slashdot and doubleacr! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too bad you didn't read the update where OSX causes flatulence and impotence. Take your computer back immediately and swap it for a high quality PC running Windows. I mean, what kind of fucking retard runs a Mac anyways? Only queers and jailhouse snitches like Macs.

    4. Re:Thankyou slashdot and doubleacr! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Further to that, recent studies by the University of Sax-coburg-gotha reveals that:

      * Macs of all stripes cause men to grow D-cup breasts.
      * Powerbooks cause you to sprout testicles on your eyebrows.
      * All Mac wordprocessors kill dozens of braincells for each keystroke. The later stages of this affliction can lead long-term Mac users to lose count after 1 when looking at non-Mac mouse buttons.
      * Macs cause sterility in beavers, thus hinting that humans are likely to be effected as well.
      * Macs kill Chinese people. Yes, I'm afraid it's true. You're a real racist of you use a Mac anywhere near a Chinese person.

    5. Re:Thankyou slashdot and doubleacr! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a cure, though, and that's to buy a Genuine Intel processor-based machine running Windows XP. Windows XP has been found to:

      * Make men very popular with ladies.
      * Windows users are found to be nearly five hundred times more intelligent than even the most clever Mac user.
      * Windows users know much more about their computers and about combing their hair.
      * Windows users don't try nearly so hard to be hip, and thus are much less likely to be pathetic, unfuckable dorks.

    6. Re:Thankyou slashdot and doubleacr! by rstultz · · Score: 1

      I've got two email address registered with them, both got an email. Do you run a spam filter? Mail is smart, it tosses all Apple email to the junk filter.

      Ryan

  46. Probably pulled by Thu25245 · · Score: 1

    Standard practice for consumer recalls: pull the products off the shelves. Contact resellers and tell them to do the same.

    I'd expect any laptops Apple is shipping are not part of the recall. Any orders would probably be held up until new batteries are available.

    If you've placed an order before the recall was announced, you should probably check it when it arrives. The recall covers models sold until "May 2005" so it's possible that bad batteries were already in the hands of the FedEx guys before the recall was finalized.

  47. Re:Ya know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes we can laugh at ourselves , but it takes something funny .
    You said only X people Use Y
    X being gay and Y being apple
    however jokes like that are alot worse if you replace X with Black or jewish .
    Think tabout it before you spout your homophobic Crap in future , and no the "But i have a X freind " line is shite.

  48. I for one... by slcdb · · Score: 1, Funny

    ... welcome our new Consumer Product Safety Commission overlords.

    Ahem, sorry... this is getting really old, isn't it?

    --
    Despite what EULAs say, most software is sold, not licensed.
    1. Re:I for one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. Not to mention that it's not funny either.

    2. Re:I for one... by Skater · · Score: 1

      Yes, but that never stopped /. posters before. :)

    3. Re:I for one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Soviet Russia, Consumer Producty Safety Commissions you!

    4. Re:I for one... by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      I am already old, you insensitive... meh, whatever.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
  49. Dell by truesaer · · Score: 3, Informative

    I had a dell notebook once that had a battery recall. I didn't even know about the recall until one day I found an Airborn Express box on my porch with a new battery and a prepaid box to return the old one. After returning it I promptly got an ADDITIONAL battery and a $30 gift certificate to Dell's website as a thankyou/sorry. I thought that was pretty cool of them, the recall consumed about 2 minutes of my time to seal the battery in the return box, and I got a bunch of free stuff out of it too.

  50. odds of disaster so far... 6 in 128,000 by acomj · · Score: 1

    Not good odds (but better than the lotto). But hey! Free battery.

  51. Please see this as a positive thing by johansalk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Companies too often get a bad press when they do the responsible and praisworthy thing of honoring their promises to consumers and recall their products to repair a fault. Yes, ideally the product should not have the fault in the first place, when that would be in an ideal world, and these thing just have to happen from time to time. I think companies should get a bad press when they don't recall a product when they should, not when they do the right thing.

    1. Re:Please see this as a positive thing by ArbitraryConstant · · Score: 1

      I don't see this as a positive thing. I see this as further evidence that Apple doesn't spend enough on QA.

      This will be about the tenth time my iBook has had something wrong with it. In this case the inconvenience is very small because I can continue to use the computer until the replacement arrives, but Apple's consistent failure to do good QA guarantees that this will continue to happen in the future.

      They're not any worse than other OEMs, but they're not any better.

      --
      I rarely criticize things I don't care about.
    2. Re:Please see this as a positive thing by Slashcrap · · Score: 1

      Companies too often get a bad press when they do the responsible and praisworthy thing of honoring their promises to consumers and recall their products to repair a fault.

      Yeah, but this is Apple we're talking about. If it turned out that they were at the centre of a Satanic baby-raping death cult you'd still have to read the Slashdot story at -1 to see anything approaching criticism.

    3. Re:Please see this as a positive thing by Thu25245 · · Score: 1

      Apple has several hundred thousand (possibly in the millions) affected systems out in the field.

      And six reports of failure.

      That's not a QA lapse. No quality-control testing procedure yet devised could have caught this.

      Bad iBook logic boards were a QA lapse. White spots on PowerBook screens were a QA lapse. Both very expensive for the company (and its shareholders) due to the cost of warranty repairs and shipping.

      On the macro scale, Apple's notebooks have as low or lower rate of failure than any other manufacturer. So says PC Magazine, year after year. Small consolation to those affected, but not a bad record to have.

      This is just one of those things: LG made some faulty batteries, with a very small likelihood of a dangerous flaw. Neither Apple, nor LG, could have caught the flaw in their testing labs. Only once the systems were out in the field in volume did this become evident. That's the way it is sometimes.

  52. I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..I wonder what will happen if I receive my NEW battery *AND* don't send back the old? Two batteries for my ibook!

    Yes, it's immoral, I do not deny that.

    1. Re:I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're sitting your powerbook with the "dangerous" battery on your lap, it explodes and your penis ends up stuck to the wall?

    2. Re:I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OH, COME ON! That's sooo hyperbolic.

  53. From TFA by Jason_D_Berg · · Score: 0, Redundant

    "the components could overheat and catch figure." Wow...wouldn't want that happening to my batteries. Anyone know what exactly a battery that catches figure looks like?

  54. Re:Mac Zealot translator-o-matic! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My iBook was made in Taiwan by AlphaTop ... But it's silvery and cost far more than an x86 laptop of better spec, so it must be much higher quality!

    Which was also made in Taiwan by AlphaTop.

  55. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "They're mainly manufactured in Guadalahara, Mexico"

    I think that you mean, Guadalahara Meksiko.

  56. Re:About time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You forget that this is (Apple/Google/Dupe)dot and they will *NEVER* post anything like that.

    If it was a Dell notebook battery recall though you can bet there will be a comment like "Glad my iBook is still running fine after all these years" tagged on.

  57. Re:Ya know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Here's one:

    X are a Y
    X being you and Y being douchebag

  58. Re:Before anyone goes off... - WRONG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Wrong, this one burned.

  59. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    That is a bit of a misleading statistic don't you think? That is like saying:

    When I worked at AA, we always had drunk people coming in for help. Based on this, I think that most people must be drunks.

  60. Re:Ya know... by MisanthropicProgram · · Score: 3, Insightful
    I just wisht there was a WTF moderation choice...

    I would prefer that to "Offtopic" or "Troll" or "Flamebait".

  61. More info on how this works? by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 1

    I'm at work right now, so I don't have my PB Battery Serial # handy to fill out the form. Do you have to send in your battery first, or do they send you the replacement along with a return box?

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    1. Re:More info on how this works? by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nevermind, I just found out on the bottom of the page: 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.

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    2. Re:More info on how this works? by Driph · · Score: 1

      Out of curiosity, anyone know what happens if you never bother to return the recalled battery after you receive the replacement?

      --

      --
      driph
  62. Now I wish I'd abused mine! by Ben+Jackson · · Score: 5, Informative

    Mine is about 5 months old, but I've been babying the battery. Wish I'd known I'd be getting a freebie! To find out how many cycles your battery already has:

    ioreg -l -w 0 | grep Capacity

    I only used 22 cycles. :(

    1. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mine is 2 years old and only 21 cycles. I knew I shouldn't have bought a laptop...

    2. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by greed · · Score: 1

      387 cycles. I wonder why it doesn't seem to run as long on battery as it used to, it's only 2 1/2 years old.... (Max useful life is what, around 500?)

      At least there's been more cycles on my battery than replacements of the iLogic iBoard.

    3. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by seann · · Score: 1

      june 2003
      53 cycles
      12" pb

      --
      I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
    4. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by timbloom · · Score: 3, Interesting

      492 cycles here. nearly a cycle a day since I've owned the thing. I am still getting a little over 1/2 the life it came with, but have a new one that's only been drained and charged for regular maintenance. Apple recommends fully draining the battery and recharging it at least once a month to keep it from going into some sort of deep discharges state.
      I'll keep this one till it is absolutely pointless to use anymore, since about 1/2 of my time I am using it on AC power, the battery only needs to last a couple hours at a time. No point in hurting the nice battery until this one's life is completely gone.

    5. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by busman · · Score: 5, Informative

      or for the terminal impaired ..

      System Profiler -> Hardware -> Power

      Battery Information:

      Battery Installed: Yes
      First low level warning: No
      Full Charge Capacity (mAh): 4438
      Remaining Capacity (mAh): 1262
      Amperage (mA): -1726
      Voltage (mV): 10921
      Cycle Count: 22

      --
      __
      Sigs are like arse-holes, everybody has one ;-)
    6. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by dangitman · · Score: 1
      Umm, cycling is good for laptop batteries. You are more likely for performance to degrade if you NEVER let it run flat, and keep it plugged into the power. Not to mention the charge-level sensor will be miscalibrated if you don't regularly discharge and recharge the battery. Apple recommends deliberately doing it once a month.

      So, now you can get a new battery and treat it properly, instead of abusing it through "babying."

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    7. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      Ideally, you should only run Li-Ion batteries flat to re-calibrate the charge metering electronics. For maximum life you should avoid regularly discharging to less than 40% capacity.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    8. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by elflet · · Score: 1
      Apple recommends fully draining the battery and recharging it at least once a month to keep it from going into some sort of deep discharges state.

      Not quite. Lithium batteries don't have that problem. The real reason for the full discharge-recharge cycle is to give the system a chance to recalculate the battery's capacity. One manufacturer puts it this way:

      Generally a SBS (coulomb-metric) fuel gauge is accurate to within 2%-5% and provides continuous measurement and display of the battery condition. However, with SBS you must cycle the pack to full discharge and full charge periodically in order to re-calibrate the fuel gauge.
    9. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by standards · · Score: 1

      Damn, I have 64 cycles, and my battery is only 3 months old.

      And not involved in the recall. Sadness.

    10. Re:Now I wish I'd abused mine! by dangitman · · Score: 1
      For maximum life you should avoid regularly discharging to less than 40% capacity.

      But isn't it even worse to never discharge them, and leave them constantly topped up at 96 to 100 percent?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  63. switchers by mbaudis · · Score: 1

    well, this is just for recent switchers ...

    1. Re:switchers by ottothecow · · Score: 1

      Well, at least they get some guaranteed brand new li-ion cells.

      --
      Bottles.
  64. A Q: what does "FAQ" stand for now? by ianscot · · Score: 1
    'Cause it sure isn't "frequently asked questions" any more -- not unless the people asking the questions are the audience panel they use for scoring responses on "The Family Feud."

    I feel kind of bad for the poor tech writers who make a living going over stuff like this. It's like they get told to pretend they're morons.

    "What happens if I put my tongue across the contacts? Will it feel like a nine-volt?"

    --
    "Fundamentalism" isn't about divine morality. It's about human authority.
  65. Think outside by Jozer99 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Think outside the iBox. Don't buy crummy Wintel batteries that don't iExplode when they are being iCharged.

  66. switchers by mbaudis · · Score: 1

    well, this is just for recent switchers ...

    and only for the ones coming from windows; naturally, linux experience enables you to run the ibook from, say, the heat generated from your dual-athlon (still your main machine) while compiling some private kernel modifications. did i call you switcher? sorry, you dual-boot the ibook.

  67. Re:Windows users ARE dumb by rizzo420 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    more robust, more stable alternatives, while free, are not as easy to use.

    easier to use, more stable alternatives are far more expensive...

    and my machine isn't virus/worm/trojan/spyware/malware-ridden. get over yourself. while apples are higher quality, they are still susceptible to problems as seen here. and don't get me started on the problems with introducing linux to the mainstream average computer user...

    --
    please me, have no regrets.
  68. Hello Slashdot by falcon5768 · · Score: 4, Funny
    could you PLEASE stop hitting the server so I can actually set up the replacement for my battery

    Thank you

    --

    "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    1. Re:Hello Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      please, i want my battery replacement too.

      (Sign our online petition now)

    2. Re:Hello Slashdot by roach2002 · · Score: 1

      Mod parent "Insightful", not Funny. The site was already slow before it was linked to by slashdot.

      The page is buckling under the load. First it tells me my serial number is valid for the recall, then it says it isn't, and I can't get the procedure to finish.

      Just called Apple Technical support and they'll have a special phone number for the recall tomorrow. (Think they'd get it up the first day when they sent the email and get the most responses, as I'd expect the responses per day to decrease monotonically)

  69. Re:Ya know... by JargonScott · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Ok, how about:

    Q: What does a Polish bride gets on her wedding night that's long and hard?

    A: A new last name.

    --
    Nuke Gay Whales for Jesus.
  70. Ok, the website has some problems! by AnObfuscator · · Score: 4, Informative

    It seems there are some current problems with the website, just be forewarned!

    Here's my story:
    So, my battery for my PB 12" is in the range as testified on Apple's site. I tried to use the site to have my affected battery registered, but the site kept returning an error that my serial number wasn't recognized. Huh?

    So, I call Apple, and the guy says, "your model number is the Powerbook battery #, but the battery's serial number is an iBook battery serial number, so the system is rejecting the battery # as inconsistent with the computer's #." Huh?

    So, the guy went off to figure out what to do and put me on hold. For some reason, the hold music turned off, and this voice comes on every 30 seconds to say, "Please wait. Please wait. Please wait. Please wait."

    It is very very very obnoxious.

    So, they finally try to set up a manual request over the phone, but I have to give them a credit card number (They want to put a hold on it, I guess to keep you from getting a free battery), which is SOP but still annoying, because I don't have a credit card. So I have to call back later with a credit card (grrr) or wait for the website to be fixed (double grrr grrr).

    for whatever reason, they *don't* requre the credit card info via the website.

    hopefully my experience can be of assistance to one of you out there.

    --
    multifariam.net -- yet another nerd blog
    1. Re:Ok, the website has some problems! by saddino · · Score: 1

      Same problems here. The website was returning "errors" re: my battery serial number. So I called and spoke to a guy who sounded a bit confused -- he put me on hold and them came back with (honest truth) "Can you please call back at a later time? We're having some problems here." Went back to site and it was down. Now there only seems to be a Powerbook battery exchange in its place (I have the iBook battery). Oh well, maybe I'll try again tomorrow.

    2. Re:Ok, the website has some problems! by sumirain · · Score: 1

      The website *also* doesn't want to believe I have a valid zip code or email address. The email address that I used to register my laptop is my university address, ending in .edu. The web form insisted that this was an invalid address, but it shut up when I supplied my @gmail.com address. What's that about? Also, it insists that I can't possibly live in this county with a zip code of 98102. Why is the county a required field at all? I'm not sure I trust these goons to send me a non-exploding battery if they can't write a damn ship-to form intelligently.

  71. The affects of bad grammer.... by TechnoGrl · · Score: 1

    a thing "affects" another thing.

    "effected" means produced, "affected" means influenced

    (btw - the title is just a joke)

    --
    ----- In Your Cubicle No One Can Hear You Scream...
    1. Re:The affects of bad grammer.... by TechnoGrl · · Score: 1

      Are probably worse then the effects of last minute editing ....

      Dooh!!!

      --
      ----- In Your Cubicle No One Can Hear You Scream...
  72. Mine is fine by lbmouse · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm using it right now and haven't had a singl

    +++ATH
    NO CARRIER

    1. Re:Mine is fine by Ziviyr · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I can see this.

      Wacky proprietary software going "gee, power levels are going down sharply, I think I'll initiate a modem disconnect to whatever field in that webpage you're using, even though I'm on broadband, and then maybe I'll catch fire or something.

      --

      Someone set us up the bomb, so shine we are!
  73. Re:It always sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That was pretty funny. Thanks.

  74. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  75. iPod by astro_ripper · · Score: 1

    They should have released this warning for the exploding iPod the other day...

    1. Re:iPod by wootest · · Score: 1

      "Warning! Note that if you strike a screwdriver right through the battery, the fundamental laws of physics and their consequences still apply, you dolt." :)

  76. Odd... by CrazyTalk · · Score: 1

    Nothing about this on the Apple website, at least on the home page. "Hot News" is that "Tiger Roars and Soars". Unfortunatley the link provided in the story has been slashdotted, so I will have to wait to see if my iBook had the bad battery. (unless someone is kind enough to post info...)

    1. Re:Odd... by Laplace · · Score: 1

      IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

      Dear Apple Customer,

      Apple is voluntarily recalling certain lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that were sold worldwide, in systems and separately, from October 2004 through May 2005 for use with the following computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4, 15-inch PowerBook G4. These batteries were manufactured by LG Chem, Ltd. of South Korea. Apple has initiated a worldwide exchange program and will provide you with a new replacement battery, free of charge. This program is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities.

      Issue: The affected batteries could overheat, posing a fire hazard. Apple received six consumer reports of these batteries overheating. Apple urges you to stop using your battery and to order a replacement battery immediately. If you must temporarily use your computer with the battery, do not leave it unattended and check for signs of overheating.

      Product: 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 bar code.

      Please use the chart below to match your computer with the affected battery model number and serial number range. If your battery's serial number does not match the requirements listed below, you do not have to exchange your battery.

      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

      What to do: To begin the battery exchange process, go to the Apple website at www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange. You will be asked for the serial number of your computer, 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. You may exchange up to three batteries through the website. When you receive the replacement battery, please use the same shipping packaging and the included prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery to Apple. If you do not have access to the website listed above, you can call Apple at 800-275-2273 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., central standard time, seven days a week, for further assistance.

      Thank you for your cooperation with this exchange program.

      Apple

      --
      The middle mind speaks!
    2. Re:Odd... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's linked on the front page - the centered text links at the bottom of the page.

  77. Apple slashdotted? by rleibman · · Score: 1

    So how do I ask for my replacement battery if the site is slashdotted?

  78. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yea I would mod him down for having a dictionary stuck up his ass.

  79. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cary strikes again....I think..

  80. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does it make you feel superior that you correct a common spelling mistake. And the fact that your post doesn't add anything to the topic at hand and neither proves nor disproves a point. Except for saying Ohh someone made a type that spell checking missed. To bad you are unable to think for yourself except you will just have to point out a common mistake that most normal humans and interprate anyways.

    Btw. have fun spell checking this post.

  81. Apple, those suckers! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They just changed the page and put a powerbook-only page instead.

    I have an Ibook you insensitive clud!

  82. Re:Need an icon for this by falcon5768 · · Score: 1
    how are they any more frequent then Dells?

    go back to ya hole you troll

    --

    "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

  83. OEM recall? by amichalo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why is this recall not coming from the Original Equipment Manufacturer? I mean, does Apple actually make the batteries being recalled?

    It also seems like battery recalls are happening more and more on electronic devices. Is it that we are using more batteries or is there something going on with battery manufacturing?

    Dell issued a large recall last year, this is Apple's second recall on batteries I believe. Certainly there are others that I don't know about.

    --
    I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
    1. Re:OEM recall? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      People bought the batteries from Apple. They are Apple branded. It's Apple's responsibility to recall them and then get the money from the OEM, and they're owning up to it (which is a good thing).

    2. Re:OEM recall? by hackstraw · · Score: 2, Informative

      I mean, does Apple actually make the batteries being recalled?

      They do not make the battery itself, but to my knowledge they make the custom enclosure for the battery to fit inside of the computer and add the LED power level indicator, and whatnot.

      To my knowledge, I don't know that you can buy one of these batteries from somewhere else.

    3. Re:OEM recall? by prichardson · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      I would give most anything for a working media player for OS X that plays oggs, flacs, and maybe shns.

      Just install the QuckTime OGG and FLAC components and iTunes will be able to play them fine.

      http://qtcomponents.sourceforge.net/
      http://damien.drix.free.fr/qtflac/

      Good Luck!

      --
      Help I'm a rock.
    4. Re:OEM recall? by hackstraw · · Score: 1

      Just install the QuckTime OGG and FLAC components and iTunes will be able to play them fine.

      I've installed them before, but the ogg one mostly worked, the flac one only worked via quicktime and not iTunes.

      I forgot the issues with ogg, but they were acceptable. iTunes refused to play flac files completely, however I could preview in the finder or import them via quicktime.

      Now, all of this is incorrect now that I have quicktime 7 and everything is now completely broken.

      I have many hundreds of Gigs of flacs that I would like to be able to listen to. If this is not resolved in the next 2 months I'm actually going to buy a Windows computer and use Winamp.

      I feel as though I'm completely going to the dark side like a gamer, but going over a year without an acceptable media player is getting really old.

      I'm not sure how to downgrade quicktime, nor if its worthwhile.

    5. Re:OEM recall? by Nasarius · · Score: 1
      I have many hundreds of Gigs of flacs that I would like to be able to listen to. If this is not resolved in the next 2 months I'm actually going to buy a Windows computer and use Winamp.

      There are no alternative media players for OS X? Honestly? Wow.

      If you don't want to buy a whole new computer, you can always try Linux. Ubuntu is available for PPC, if you're new to Linux.

      --
      LOAD "SIG",8,1
    6. Re:OEM recall? by evilviper · · Score: 1
      It also seems like battery recalls are happening more and more on electronic devices. Is it that we are using more batteries or is there something going on with battery manufacturing?

      Margins are falling, and the first things to go are engineering and testing. You only mention battery recalls, but recalls of all computer components have gone up dramatically. CRTs, LCDs, Power Supplies, etc.

      Batteries are additionally at risk because, with the popularity of LiIon primarily, and NiMH to a lesser extent, very fast charging of high-capacity batteries is standard, which means more power from the power supply, and more heat output by the batteries in a significantly compressed period of time.

      It doesn't help that notebooks have gotten hotter due to faster processors (though that trend seems to have started reversing now) more powerful GPUs, etc, and you've got about twice as much heat output as you used-to.
      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    7. Re:OEM recall? by csirac · · Score: 1

      There's a few options.

      You could try VLC, it's a brilliant movie player for mac and seems to support flac, haven't tried flac files myself though (I know it plays ogg).

      Alternatively, you could install fink and then xmms, a popular media player on Linux that I know plays flac (with the right plugin). Of course, for this you'll need to startx each time to get a working X11 server and then launch xmms from there... you won't get drag 'n drop with the finder etc. but it might work... I'm not a mac guru, I'm a Linux user who recently bought an iBook...

    8. Re:OEM recall? by serbanp · · Score: 1
      to my knowledge they make the custom enclosure for the battery to fit inside of the computer and add the LED power level indicator, and whatnot

      B.S. Apple doesn't build anything, although they are among the few remaining brand-name companies having real engineers in place who have a say in how the various Taiwan OEMs design and build notebooks.

      Anyway, back to the subject. Because of the huge risk a LiIon battery presents, the pack consists in much more than the cells and a LED power level indicator. Protection circuitry (overvoltage/undervoltage/overcurrent/overtemperat ure), typically both solid-state and fusible, gas gauge (that among other things, computes how many LEDs to turn on), communication circuitry (to chat with the PC about its health status, presence etc, you name it.

      To make them, it's simply beyond the engineering capabilities of shops like Apple; even the OEMs lean on the ODMs for such parts (along with RAM sticks and AC adapters, other famously recalled items).

    9. Re:OEM recall? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey, whoever modded this Offtopic is ruining slashdot. This guy was trying to help someone, and what what do they get for it?... Bad Karma

    10. Re:OEM recall? by hackstraw · · Score: 1

      You could try VLC ... fink and then xmms

      I was very specific in saying that I wanted a _working_ media player. VLC stops playing a flac file when the system is under load (with a meaningless extraverbose error message to boot). XMMS skips horribly which takes it out of the working category immediately.

      Its fucking stupid that its 2005 and I'm looking to spend about $2,500 for a nice fast computer, and being able to play music files is the biggest problem in picking one. Whats worse is that the absolutely worst OS (Windows) is the most attractive at this point because it can play music and has 3rd party commercial software support.

      Maybe I'll just wait another 4 or so years to get a usable computer.

    11. Re:OEM recall? by prichardson · · Score: 1

      I hate to say this, but maybe it's time to re-encode. Apple's Lossless codec is a good replacement for FLAC and AAC/m4a (dame thing, different extension) I think sounds better than OGG, but that's on my computer using my speakers with my music.

      I don't know what to say about your existing collection, other than, since it's in those rather unpopular formats, you are likely to have ripped it yourself, so it can be ripped again.

      This would also enable you t put these things on an iPod.

      Also, I object to your insinuation that not being able to play OGG/FLAC makes a computer unusable.

      --
      Help I'm a rock.
  84. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're just jealous because someone beat you to the punch. I mean, look at all the crap you senselessly typed... feh..

  85. Warning: Don't put water on burning lithium by Johnboi+Waltune · · Score: 5, Informative
    I have one of these recalled Powerbook batteries, and right now it's running at home unsupervised. Great.

    I haven't seen anyone else mention it in this thread, but pouring water on burning lithium is an extremely Bad Idea. You'll get an effect similar to pouring gasoline on burning wood.

    Most Slashdotters probably know not to pour water on an electrical fire, but I suspect far fewer know burning lithium can use water for a fuel source.

    From a FAQ I found about how to handle a lithium fire (this is a google html version since the original was a .Doc file): "Use a graphite powder or a Lith-X (class D) extinguisher to extinguish burning lithium. Don't use water, sand, carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, or soda acid extinguishers in lithium cell fires."

    --
    "The advanced societies of the future will be driven by competing systems of psychopathology." -JG Ballard
    1. Re:Warning: Don't put water on burning lithium by rokzy · · Score: 1

      > I have one of these recalled Powerbook batteries, and right now it's running at home unsupervised. Great.

      you're far more likely to have a problem resulting from choosing to run equipment unsupervised than you are from the possibility of having one of these defective batteries so don't get all bitchy about it.

    2. Re:Warning: Don't put water on burning lithium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Huh? I can deal with a small fire, if I'm there. If I'm not there, my entire building could burn down, and 6 people could lose their homes. AFAIK my other equipment is not a fire hazard, but this Powerbook battery is.

      What exactly is your point in attacking me? Are you suggesting I ought not to leave my computers powered up while I'm away? Or are you simply hell bent on defending Apple even though they admit they dropped the ball in hardware quality assurance?

    3. Re:Warning: Don't put water on burning lithium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's been 6 bad batteries out of maybe hundreds of thousands. So, chill. The chances of anything happening are just statistical noise.

      Your battery probably have lived to see death by old age, if the recall hadn't happened.

    4. Re:Warning: Don't put water on burning lithium by schnappadap · · Score: 1

      Yes, technically, you SHOULD use a class D exinguisher to put out all metal fires (magnesium, lithium, etc.). The problem is finding them. They are notoriusly hard to come by, the fire department I work for doesn't even have one. Bottom line: get your replacement battery.

    5. Re:Warning: Don't put water on burning lithium by Have+Blue · · Score: 1

      I have one of these recalled Powerbook batteries, and right now it's running at home unsupervised. Great.

      I have one of these recalled batteries, and right now it's running on my lap, working normally, at a sane temperature, just as it has done for the past 6 months. The news of this recall will not make your battery explode.

  86. Re:affected by dwlovell · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obvious, not Informative

  87. Many laptops shouldn't! by bluGill · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It only sounds like a stupid question. However many laptop power supplies are designed with the assumption that there will be this big battery installed acting as a capacitor. So the power supply just sends in dirty power, letting the battery smooth out all the noise into a nice steady DC current.

    That is why you leave your old, dead, battery in your laptop even though it gives at most a second of runtime - it still make the power better.

    1. Re:Many laptops shouldn't! by RzUpAnmsCwrds · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "However many laptop power supplies are designed with the assumption that there will be this big battery installed acting as a capacitor."

      No, they don't. Li-Ion batteries are destroyed if they are mischarged, and placing the battery in parallel with the power supply would be extremely dangerous. The battery would likely burn and/or explode the first time that it was connected due to overcharging.

      Modern laptops have extensive power circuitry to preciscely control the charging cycle of the battery. The battery is never used as "a capacitor". That's what the real capacitors are for.

    2. Re:Many laptops shouldn't! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      No, they don't. Li-Ion batteries are destroyed if they are mischarged, and placing the battery in parallel with the power supply would be extremely dangerous. The battery would likely burn and/or explode the first time that it was connected due to overcharging.

      Modern laptops have extensive power circuitry to preciscely control the charging cycle of the battery.


      Except, apparently for Apple laptops.

      *ducks*

    3. Re:Many laptops shouldn't! by llzackll · · Score: 3, Interesting

      "It only sounds like a stupid question. However many laptop power supplies are designed with the assumption that there will be this big battery installed acting as a capacitor. So the power supply just sends in dirty power, letting the battery smooth out all the noise into a nice steady DC current."

      Laptops don't work this way. Cars use this method to smooth out power coming from the alternator, but all modern laptops work just fine with no battery.

  88. -1: Wrong by RackinFrackin · · Score: 2, Informative

    Apple's page (the one linked in the post) clearly states that the recall is for the 15 inch aluminum Powerbook only.

    Copied directly from Apple's main page:

    Important Safety Recall -- Rechargeable Batteries for 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch and 15-inch PowerBook G4

    1. Re:-1: Wrong by illumnatLA · · Score: 1

      Oooops! Well... when I clicked on that link just before I posted, it brought up a page that was *only* for the 15" Powerbook. My mistake!

      --
      Web hosting that doesn't suck!Dreamhost
  89. Re:Exploding Batteries, Woo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And you wondered why they included a fire extinguisher with a notebook computer?

  90. yeah, not yea by Merk · · Score: 2, Informative

    yeah not yea.

    'Yea' is olde englishe. 'Yeah' is the common informal way of saying yes.

  91. Re:15 inch only-NOT 12 inch or iBook by oldbenway · · Score: 0
    Sorry you are completely wrong, quote from https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/

    "...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."

    You were looking at the Previous battery recall for the 15in Powerbooks,
    CLEARLY marked in the article as "Recall Last August." RTFA Indeed...

  92. Wot Bad Press? by quarkscat · · Score: 1

    So lets see here: we have cellphones that catch fire; we have iPods that can explode; we have Dell and Sony and Apple laptops that catch fire -- the problem seems to cover a wide variety of battery operated consumer products.

    It took the TSA/DHS nearly 3 years after the British would-be bomber, Richard Reed, to get around to banning butane lighters on commercial aircraft. Anyone willing to take a bet on just how long it will take for the TSA/DHS to ban all battery operated consumer products from commercial aircraft?

    The whole paranoia about aircraft safety will not subside until after the TSA/DHS has all commercial aircraft passengers disrobing, with only paper (drafty) hospital gowns and paper slippers being permitted.

  93. Re:Need an icon for this by The_Incubator · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Well, the story is not a comparison of Dell vs. Apple recall rates.

    And for a meta-question, why is feeding a troll worth more mod points that trolling?

    Don't encourage me.

    Nick

  94. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Daedala · · Score: 4, Funny

    WE always had problems with the batteries and logic boards going out like crazy. Would anyone care to wager a guess why?

    Because you were working in a repair company, so people didn't bring you the ones that worked?

    --
    What I say does not represent the views of my employers, my friends, my cats, or myself.
  95. Good deal! by chudgoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you're like me, your battery is wearing out anyway and a free (and new) replacement is a pretty good deal!

    (If it hasn't exploded yet, it probably wont anyway)

  96. Re:About time... by s/nemisis · · Score: 1

    "You forget that this is (Apple/Google/Dupe)dot and they will *NEVER* post anything like that.

    If it was a Dell notebook battery recall though you can bet there will be a comment like "Glad my iBook is still running fine after all these years" tagged on."


    Well since you asked for it...
    I'm glad my dell laptop is still running fine after all these years! Oh wait... nope, it died. nevermind. I'm glad my ibook is still running fine after a year ..... with one replaced hard drive.

    gta

    --
    -=gabe2=- macbook dual 2.0
  97. slashdotted! by sumirain · · Score: 1

    I have one of the affected battery models. (Go me.) I tried to fill out their web form for a replacement, and it seems they're being slashdotted. Bah, can't win.

  98. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by ArbitraryConstant · · Score: 1

    Makes you wonder why they don't spend more on QA upfront.

    --
    I rarely criticize things I don't care about.
  99. Ads by Google by mikewren420 · · Score: 1

    These Google ads are killing me. Recall story about Powerbook batteries, and they're pitching Powerbook laptops! :)

  100. Re:Exploding Batteries, Woo! by atomm1024 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Notice that it's in the Apple section. If Apple isn't of interest to you, you can disable it in your account. For those who do use Macs, this might be important. The risk is certainly small, but at least for a person with one of these three models, why take the chance? Apple's wouldn't be recalling the batteries if they thought it so minor. I think it's perfectly appropriate for the Apple section of Slashdot to spread this news more widely.

    --
    Signature.
  101. Re:15 inch only-NOT 12 inch or iBook by nuggetman · · Score: 1

    Apple's page (the one linked in the post) clearly states that the recall is for the 15 inch aluminum Powerbook only.


    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.

    --
    ...and that's all there is to it.
  102. Re:Mac Zealot translator-o-matic! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You do realize that moderators work this way because they've got large penises stuck in their ears and are too busy saying "Ooh yeah baby, I sure do like that!"

  103. Re:affected by shiafu · · Score: 1
    No... your just jealous because there alot better at spelling than you.
    </petpeeve>
  104. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    How preposterous. Guadalajara, Mexico is actually a high-tech city where IBM, Apple, Sony, amongst others have fully compliant ISO-9000 plants. Cheap labor? How about world-class US educated Engineers running the plants. Parts are assembled following strict ISO. The cost effectiveness of their model doesn't come strictly from labor but more from geography, tax incentives, and technology.

  105. Cycle? by CaptainPinko · · Score: 1, Interesting

    what exactly is a battery cycle? the number of time you've charged it? what happens if you charge it at half-full... is it only a half cycle? or is it just estimated?

    --
    Your CPU is not doing anything else, at least do something.
    1. Re:Cycle? by k_187 · · Score: 1

      A full cycle is putting 100% of capacity into the battery. So if you discharge down to 50% and charge back up twice, that's a full cycle. Apple has a page on batteries which explains this. I'd link if I wasn't lazy.

      --
      11 was a racehorse
      12 was 12
      1111 Race
      12112
  106. Apple web site totally slammed... by peter1 · · Score: 3, Informative
    When I went to put my serial numbers in (which are within the qualifying range), it initially came back and told me that I do not qualify. On a second reload of the page (which took forever) it finally admitted that I did qualify, but when I went to register the page never finished loading. A final third attempt and again it claimed that I was out of luck.

    Had to end up calling Apple support directly (800-275-2273) who admitted that they are being slammed and all the techs are taking serial numbers to enter at a later time when the servers get quiet again...

    Just to save everyone the hassle of trying to get registered on the web site...

  107. OT -- updates to the powerbook? by dalutong · · Score: 1

    my girlfriend's looking to get a 12-inch powerbook before the fall. any mac gurus know whether there will be an upgraded line of powermacs before then. if so, when? if not, would it happen before years end?

    thanks.

    --

    What comes first, finding a teacher or becoming a student?
    1. Re:OT -- updates to the powerbook? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just wait for the G5 Powerbooks. If you thought the G4 Powerbook was good at catching fire, just wait until they cram a G5 into a laptop! ...hey, we're back on topic!

    2. Re:OT -- updates to the powerbook? by Chucker23N · · Score: 1

      Check http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

    3. Re:OT -- updates to the powerbook? by dalutong · · Score: 1

      Thank you very much.

      --

      What comes first, finding a teacher or becoming a student?
  108. Re:affected by prell · · Score: 1
    affected, not effected [serial numbers]
    Well, maybe the recall is due to the batteries vomiting serial numbers?

    And I'm already convinced the Apple laptops are somewhat sentient. Look at the glowing "sleep" indicators, even! And, of course they're snobby. So, the computers could have seen something they didn't like, and produced the only emesis they had available. Wait -- is there a new Windows Media Player available for OS X?
  109. Microwaves by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Aw, man... I can't microwave it?

  110. We musn't judge a company by one thing. by jbn-o · · Score: 1, Troll

    We must not judge a company by just one thing that they do. Apple also distributes proprietary software as part of MacOS X which denies its users the ability to learn what their computer is really doing. They hold and acquire software patents which stop all software developers and users from implementing software described in the patent and using that software without permission from the patent holder. One of Apple's patents stops free software developers from distributing software to render fonts in a more aesthetically pleasing way.

    Thus, I don't think it's fair to describe Apple as having "good busines integrity" when they harm all citizens of certain countries as they do. Some business practices can be appropriate, others are unquestionably harmful.

    1. Re:We musn't judge a company by one thing. by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 1

      True, but I am reminded of the Biblical passage, refering to the Pharisees' questioning of a man healed by Jesus:
      "Whether he be from God, I know not. One thing I know is that whereas I was blind, now I see!"

      And my paraphrase here:
      "Whether Apple be of sound integrity, I know not. One thing I know is that whereas I was perpetually frustrated with my PC, now I am perpetually stoked with my Apple!"

      I know it's just one man's testimony, but, hey, what else matters to that one man!

      So, in other words, yes, I agree that there is more to a company's supposed integrity than simply bowing to the imminent threat of a lawsuit hanging overhead, as has been so perceptibly and kindly stated by many replies herein.

      Though I have to say that, IMHO, Apple still rocks (THOUGH IT'S FAR FROM PERFECT!).

      --
      http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
    2. Re:We musn't judge a company by one thing. by Omestes · · Score: 1
      which denies its users the ability to learn what their computer is really doing.

      Err... How so? I'm typing this via OS X right now, and I'm pretty sure I know what my computer is doing right now.

      1996 top 11.0% 0:01.15 1 18 21 448K 476K 2.22M 26.9M
      1988 bash 0.0% 0:00.05 1 14 17 176K 924K 804K 27.1M
      1987 login 0.0% 0:00.03 1 16 36 144K 492K 564K 26.9M
      1985 Terminal 9.3% 0:01.98 5 166 189 2.66M+ 9.39M+ 8.13M+ 123M+
      1984 mdimport 0.0% 0:00.90 4 61 53 844K 2.62M 2.73M 39.0M
      1981 firefox-bi 0.6% 2:20.52 10 199 447 33.3M 30.6M+ 45.7M 334M
      1980 lookupd 0.0% 0:00.13 2 34 37 380K 1.02M 1.17M 28.5M
      1978 AppleModem 0.0% 0:00.27 2 67 104 1.06M 4.27M 3.38M 104M
      1976 pppd 0.0% 0:00.07 1 26 28 308K 1.04M 1.22M 27.4M
      1896 Stickies 0.0% 0:01.84 1 71 144 2.32M 9.46M 6.08M 117M
      1842 Quicksilve 0.0% 0:35.96 2 96 259 16.2M 10.8M 21.0M 152M
      1839 iTunes 6.7% 92:35.30 10 235 530 23.2M 23.7M+ 16.4M 167M
      978 ntpd 0.0% 0:39.51 1 11 18 76K 468K 220K 26.8M
      647 DashboardC 0.0% 0:17.34 3 100 187 2.43M 8.00M 4.20M 136M
      541 cupsd 0.0% 0:00.14 2 30 26 256K 952K 852K 27.8M
      391 DashboardC 0.0% 28:17.33 3 95 162 3.61M 5.01M 4.33M 113M

      Unless we're talking about super-secret nefarious code that escapes the unsleeping eyes of Unix.

      So, please clarify.
      --
      A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
    3. Re:We musn't judge a company by one thing. by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      I think it was meant in a way of "if I want to know hoe program XYZ does what it does I can just take a look at the sourcecode". Which obviously doesn't work with parts of OS X.

      Still a damn fine operating system.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    4. Re:We musn't judge a company by one thing. by Omestes · · Score: 1

      Ahhh... Still strikes me as odd. I'm as big an advocate of open source as anyone here, but I'm also a realist, and know that all source will never be open, and that there are scads of superiour software (meaning functionality, not some idealistic definition) that are closed, and will remain closed.

      I never that that the open source movement was about paranoia, I always thought it was about improvements, and fixing bugs. Not, "I want to see the source to see if it's phoning the CIA!!!" But then again I forget at times I'm in the land of tinfoil hats.

      --
      A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
    5. Re:We musn't judge a company by one thing. by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      Well, people might want to look at the code just because they're interested in knowing how it works... I'd say it's more curiosity then paranoia.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    6. Re:We musn't judge a company by one thing. by Have+Blue · · Score: 1

      It's not possible to ever be absolutely sure what the computer is doing.

    7. Re:We musn't judge a company by one thing. by bioglaze · · Score: 1

      SW patents are not Apple's fault. Apple is a profit making company which uses all opportunities providied by the law, including SW patents. It's the law that's stupid, not Apple.

      --
      Who is John Galt?
  111. Re:I have to answer this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't be an idiot. It's not like "shite", the word, has an exclusivity contract with Ireland. It's commonly employed all throughout England, Scotland, Wales, etc.

  112. From the article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    could overheat and catch fire, not could overheat and catch figure.

  113. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Khyber · · Score: 1

    HAHAHA!! Not entirely true, but still funny regardless!

    Actually, we've received working laptops that only needed a firmware upgrade so certain programs would work properly. However, once we perform ANY type of work, we had to run Cashmere on it. And, more often than not, along the way, something would go wrong, and it would require us to replace whatever was causing the problem (most common problem, the firmware upgrade would completely kill boards of a certain revision, so we'd have to replace the entire board, regardless, before we could even run Cashmere.)

    What's really funny, though, is we've received government Apple laptops (72B, 72C, 73 models) with the hard drive removed (for security, of course) only to find out there's nothing wrong with the laptop, at all, so it was OBVIOUSLY their hard drive.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  114. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Khyber · · Score: 1

    I know this will make alot of Mac users happy/unhappy, but I can honestly say (having worked both sides of the fence) that it's the same reason Microsoft doesn't spend more on Quality Assurance. Quicker shipping release = quicker flow of cash. Who cares if it works now and screws up a couple of weeks later? We've already made the money, we can fix it later once it becomes a real problem.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  115. Convenience is not the droid you're looking for. by jbn-o · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The issue at hand has nothing to do with being perfect. Such a comparison is a way to railroad people into accepting your conclusion without any real consideration of alternatives. It says that on the one hand we have Apple with whatever behavior they wish to engage in, on the other we have perfection. Since perfection is never available anywhere for anything, the perfection "alternative" goes away leaving only what was offered first; thus there is really no alternative at all.

    You're also trying to position convenience above ethical treatment of other people and this is very dangerous position. People of a variety of political standpoints agree that Nike products are manufactured by underpaid workers who labor in unreasonable working conditions, earning far less than a living wage. Nike makes a great deal of money on the backs of workers who are treated unethically. See the evidence presented in the book and movie "The Corporation" for first-hand accounts and price evidence retreived from Nike's garbage.

    Yet Nike products are sold at most athletic shoe stores. We are not better off by encouraging people to do business with Nike because what they offer is convenient. Particularly for those wealthy enough to afford Nike shoes (or Apple computers), other options are available which will serve a comparable function.

    In the software realm, we are better off by doing what we can to encourage writing more free software, software which respects the users ability to share and modify programs, and we are also better off by doing away with software patents entirely. We should encourage hacking on free software to make it easier to use for most people most of the time. But we cannot afford to believe (as so many who frequent this site do) that ethical treatment of people is separable from computer software, or that technical convenience should trump how we treat other people.

  116. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Khyber · · Score: 1

    Oh, I forgot to add, for those of you who have sent your Apple laptops in for repair, do you remember that "All of our work is performed by Apple-Certified technicians" paper you got in your little box?

    I have NO Apple certifications to speak of, at all. So, just an FYI, they're not telling you the complete truth.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  117. Read The Fine Recall... they do. by michaeldot · · Score: 1

    https://depot.info.apple.com/batteryexchange/index .html

    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

  118. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Khyber · · Score: 1

    Nope, it's not a misleading statistic. All inventory that came thru S/R on the trucks has a Guadalahara, Mexico postage mark on it. Even says it on some of the parts. Take a look for yourself. It's been about a year since I've done work on any Apple products, so I can't remember exactly where it's stated. Hrm, If I had any of the iBooks lying around for fun, I'd take it apart and tell you where to look. Maybe not ALL of it is made in Mexico, but I guarantee you SOME of it is, especially if your laptop got shipped to Memphis for repairs.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  119. Who is the supplier?? by phelix_da_kat · · Score: 1
    Apple out sources the production of their computers to 3rd parties in Asia. Is it these 3rd parties who in turn out source the batteries?

    I am sure Apple passes the costs back to the companies that build them, but ultimately at what cost to their reputation?

    Any idea who makes the batteries?

    1. Re:Who is the supplier?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RTFA

      LG Chem

  120. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Khyber · · Score: 1

    So, would that explain why when I turn my PS2 vertically to save space, half of the time it won't even read my games, or if it does read it, it takes an insane amount of time to load? (Case in point, I play Final Fantasy X. With my PS2 set vertically, I've got enough time to go use the bathroom, smoke a joint, then sit down and listn to at least one song before the battle even loads up.)

    Would that also explain why people throw away perfectly good PS2 units that "don't work" when all they need is to be taken apart, and all the componenets reseated? (I don't even have to clean the lens in most cases.)

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  121. Apple toured the battery plant I work at... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The company I work at in Canada had Apple come around for a tour a few weeks ago. Looks like they are unhappy with the South Korean manufacturer and their venting cells...

  122. Re:Convenience is not the droid you're looking for by Delilah+Jones · · Score: 1

    I appreciate your remarks, which plainly show a perspicacious analysis of the deeper ethical issues. In particular, I appreciate your treatment of the tender balance of nonmaleficence (with Nike) and beneficence (with open source software).

    It was truly a breath of fresh air.

    Although, I am still worried that if I go around with this strong moralistic attitude towards every product I buy, I will end up living in some monastery somewhere, wearing homespun robes and eating organic brown rice daily, listening to an endless supply of Grateful Dead bootlegs (and, yes, the Dead always allowed bootlegging). I'm sure some would prefer this existence, but, to me, it seems a bit austere, to say the least (aside from the Grateful Dead part--that, I think I could handle quite well).

    In other words, sometime around grad school, I decided to ditch the mentality of "I won't buy Ford cars because Henry Ford was racist. I won't buy non-range free chicken meat because it's animal torture..." because, as I have already mentioned, I will end up feeling guilty every time I drive to work, or sink my teeth into a juicy, spicy chicken sandwich from Wendy's.

    And, for me, I'd rather not live with that burden.

    As for my "NOT PERFECT" comment and your subsequent reply, I agree with your logos. So, perhaps it should not be "Perfect versus Nonperfect," but "Good versus Better" (as defined by the end user).

    At least it's a start...

    Thanks again, man.

    --
    http://augustwestproducts.i8.com
  123. Re:Ya know... by binary+paladin · · Score: 0

    Think tabout it before you spout your homophobic Crap in future...

    He didn't sound all that "afraid of the same." Heh. Oh. Oh! You meant "afraid of homosexuals." Well, he didn't sound afraid of them either. That word is so fucking stupid.

  124. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Slashdot, not Fark

  125. Re:affected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    its you're and they're... and alot isn't even a word, its "a lot".

  126. Re:Windows users ARE dumb by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It doesn't matter what computer platform you use however, you are still dumb.

  127. This is important by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

    I learned of the recall through this story and lo and behold, my iBook's battery is affected. I don't know whether Apple is going to drop me a mail or not (I didn't register the iBook), but it's better to hear such news redundantly then possibly not at all.

    --
    USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
  128. Ellen Feiss's story... by vistic · · Score: 2, Funny

    "I was writing a paper on the PowerBook, and it was, like, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep! And then, like, the battery exploded acid all over me. And I was, like 'ow.' It devoured my skin. It was really good skin. And then I had to do get grafts and I had to do it fast so it wasn't as good. It's kind of a bummer."

  129. Recall the iMac G5 ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  130. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by mollymoo · · Score: 1
    How preposterous. Guadalajara, Mexico is actually a high-tech city where IBM, Apple, Sony, amongst others have fully compliant ISO-9000 plants.

    You do realise ISO 9000 says nothing about the quality of a product, don't you? It just says you have a consistent and well documented process. That process can be to produce the cheapest, nastiest, most poorly-designed crap on the planet.

    I'm not saying Guadalajara produces crap, just that ISO 9000 is no guarantee of a quality product.

    --
    Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
  131. South Korea by Coolnat2004 · · Score: 1

    I got an email from Apple about this because I recently got a 12" PB and had it registered (I love Apple!). Anyway, apparently the batteries are manufactured by LG Chem, Ltd. of South Korea.. Great.. Anyway, my battery is not affected (Not in the serial range, but pretty close.)

  132. Re:Maybe a stupid question.. by mollymoo · · Score: 1

    How are they going to hold your credit card when they don't ask for your CC details on the battery replacement form?

    --
    Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
  133. No, it wouldn't explain it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It just demonstrates that the reason is poor design, not lazy mexican workers.

    You honestly think if it were made in the states it would be any better? What about the Pinto?

  134. Hmm... by Slipped_Disk · · Score: 1

    Well as of right now, I thnk Apple's recall site is overwhelmed/slashdotted/whatever -- I submit my recall form but I don't get any confirmation page (in fact the page I get is blank & full of things that didn't load ("connection reset by peer").

    I'd reccomend calling Apple tomorrow morning (certainly what I'll be doing) to be sure your request went through and your replacement battery is on the way if you didn't get a confirmation page.

    --
    /~mikeg
  135. Re:Exploding Batteries, Woo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Try to cover up bad things Apple did, huh, fanboie?

    We will be here to continue monitor your actions to dispel your spreading myths that Apple products cost more because are of higher quality --- Apple products cost more because IT PUTS A BIGGER IN STEVE JOBS POCKET. You think he loves you? Save yourself and learn how to use Linux --- it is truly yours.

  136. Serves you right for not having a 12-inch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your girlfriend seems to think so.

  137. faster better and prettier? by commodoresloat · · Score: 1

    Don't forget snappier!

  138. Re:Ha hah ahhhha by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mods don't seem to like this thread, but screw 'em...Here's some more...

    A guy walks into a bar and orders three shots of whiskey. The bartender
    sets them up, and the guy drinks them one after another. The guy does
    this every day for two weeks straight. Finally, the bartender asks him
    why he always orders three shots at a time.
    The guy says "I have one brother in Poland and another brother in
    France. They do the same thing. It's like the three of us having a drink
    together every day."
    The next day the guy walks into the bar and only orders two shots.
    After he drinks them down, the bartender says, "What happened? Did one
    of your brothers die?"
    The guy says, "No. I quit drinking."

    Did you hear about the Polish girl who wanted to give blood?
    She spent three hours wringing out tampons.

    An Irish guy, an Italian guy, and a Polish guy are in a bar.
    The Irish guy says, "Aye, this is a nice bar, but MacDougal's is the
    best. At MacDougal's, you buy a drink, you buy another drink, and
    MacDougal himself buys the third drink."
    The Italian guy says, "Yeah, that's-a nice, but where I come-a from,
    there's-a this place, Vinnie's. You buy a drink, Vinnie buys you a
    drink. You buy another drink, Vinnie buys you another drink."
    The Polish guy says, "You think that's great? Where I come from, there's
    this place, Stukowski's. At Stukowski's, they buy you your first drink,
    they buy you your second drink, they buy you your third drink, and then,
    they take you in the back, and you get laid."
    The Italian guy says, "That's-a fantastic. That's-a happen to you?"
    The Polish guy says, "No. It happened to my sister."

    Did you hear about the Polish guy whose wife had triplets?
    He went looking for the other two guys.

    Hear about the Polish abortion clinic?
    There's a two year wait.

    Polish car pool?
    They meet at work.

  139. Re:Exploding Batteries, Woo! by atomm1024 · · Score: 1

    It puts a bigger in Steve Jobs pocket? Oh noes!! I wouldn't want Steve Jobs pocket to have a bigger!

    I mean, seriously, WTF, is that some sort of innuendo? Are you saying that higher-priced products make Jobs get turned on?

    Well, normally I don't respond to idiot trolls, but speaking of dispelling myths, I'd like to point out that nothing that I said was pro-Apple, and also that I use both Mac OS X and Linux regularly. So there.

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  141. Re:Borrowing a Jack by atomm1024 · · Score: 1

    Your criticism of the article summary is perfectly appropriate. I agree that it should have had more detail about the reason for the recall.

    But what violent reaction were you referring to? I see nothing that could be taken as a violent reaction in my reply to your original comment. Just curious, and I apologize if I said anything that sounded hostile.

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  143. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Smurf · · Score: 1

    Apparently the Memphis repair depot has had a horrible track, not just on parts failing, but extremely sloppy repair practices. The issue is supposed to have improved, though.

    I would say that the problem here is cheap, badly trained labor, and poor standards controls in Memphis, not in Mexico. (I say cheap labor because the wages in Memphis are much lower than in many other parts of the U.S.).

    The salaries in Latin America and parts of Asia are substantially lower than in richer regions of the world. Sometimes this is a consequence of underpaying the workers, but sometimes the difference is due to an extremely lower cost of life. In the latter cases, the workers are actually very, very well payed, and the quality of their work is remarkable.

  144. Re:When I worked for an Apple Laptop repair compan by Khyber · · Score: 1

    Actually, nothing is manufactured in Memphis. We've done absolute bare testing on the parts we've received before, and about 60% of them fail. Wherever they're coming from, or what's being used to ship them, is the most likely cause.

    And to add in, I talked with one of my friends that still works for that particular company. It's STILL got a horrible track record, and almost nobody now has an Apple certification.

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    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.