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Laptop Explodes at Japanese Conference
An anonymous reader writes "A laptop reported to be a Dell burst into flame and was caught on camera during a recent Japanese conference. Guess this laptop could be a poster child to prove that laptops really can cause sterility if they are on your lap."
Don't put batteries in laptops! They can explode!
I've built balls of steel lugging that thing around. Not even an exploding Sunblade100 could sterilize my boys.
An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
... hackers
Perhaps this is a sign that computers (through the mega-computing power of the internet) have become self-aware. This is just the start to their war against the fleshlings... I mean, what better way to take out your opponent than to get him to put you in his lap, then you detonate yourself -- even if you don't destroy him, you take out his ability to reproduce. Fear the machines!
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
From the article:
Should you witness such an event, his advice is, "Don't try anything courageous/stupid, stay away, away, away!"
But take pictures first!
-h-
Good thing this wasn't on the guy's lap.
The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
The hard drive is right under the left palm-rest area, and it has quite literally burned my hand several times. It's not suprising to me to see one on fire.
Having just looked at pictures of an exploding laptop, and been warned to "avoid actually using a laptop on your lap", here I am happily typing away with my laptop sat in my lap as ever (with the usual book underneath to keep the CPU from burning out).
But then mine is a fairly old thinkpad that runs quite cool, usually ~45 degrees. The one that exploded looks more modern (it is a Dell, after all).
There, nicely rationalised away so as I can get back to my life
'Liar liar, pants on fire."
I can't wait till we get hydrogen fuel cells in our laptops!
This guy's the limit!
It's on the Inquirer, but they have a picture. Who do I believe, my eyes or my head?
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
...the Dell, being the subject of a long standing flame war, finally succumbed to the last battle of its painfully long life.
(It'd be ironic if somehow I got modded down with a "Flamebait")
Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem.
Guess this laptop could be a poster child to prove that laptops really can cause sterility if they are on your lap
Am I the only person out there who thinks that sterility is a good thing? I can buy thousands of high end laptops for what one kid costs.
...I'd kill myself too.
And now, a PSA from David Lynch.
I thought someome told Kusanagi to stop diving into random portables.
..an exploding beowulf cluster of these things!
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
Perhaps this will convince manufacturers to start thinking about the temperatures that their computers run at. Sure, they make sure that the processor and hard drive run below their rated maximum temperatures, but in a practical sense, they've been letting computers run too hot. My Asus M2400Ne runs pretty cool most of the time, but the hard drive and AC adapter (both the power brick and the plug) can get so hot that they burn you a little if you hold them for a few seconds. This is ridiculous. You can't build a product that reaches insane temperatures, and then stick a little label that says "Do not use with less than 3 feet of space next to eachvent" on it! Let's see some better cooling. Personally, I think a laptop with one big (4 to 6 inches), slowly rotating fan in the middle of the bottom, plus exhaust vents on the sides and back, would actually look nice, keep the laptop much cooler (no more "hot spots" on the keyboard), and run quietly. (You'd need rubber feet to hold it up enough, but most bottom vents need them.) This would probably also help with blocked vents, since it's much harder to block a huge circle-shaped vent in the middle of the case than a small square vent near the side, where the laptop is likely to rest on your leg.
ttuttle is a rankmaniac
Mow your lawn
Make your lunch
Give you a hug
Smile
Hold your hand
Carry your bag
Laugh
Get sick
Cry
Call you at work
Run into you
No matter how many laptops you buy, you won't be able to share your life, your lessons, your beliefs, or your ideas with a laptop. Though if you get sterilized, at least you can adopt a kid.
GPL Deconstructed
People, do not use your laptop on carpet or in situations where it may not get ample ventilation. It can burst into flames and harm people or property... well definitely the laptop at least. Read your manuals and follow the disclaimers.
Rule 1: Do not put Mentos in laptop.
Anyone know if the screen displayed "LP On Fire?"
Just add {In Space!} to anything.
Does Dell cover explosions in their warrenty?
I like the way that in the second picture, the laptop is still burning, yet just in the shot you can see some geek typing on another laptop, just a couple of feet away. Not even a fire can stop a geek from bashing out some code! Or maybe he's on IRC: "d00dz, a laptop just caught fire in front of me!!! Freaky!! Its still burnin..."
Was that laptop was web server host to the previous slashdot story?
meh
They would notice because the automated fire / smoke detection systems would notify them.
And over there we have the labyrinth guards. One always lies, one always tells the truth, and one stabs people who ask t
Dude, this is not the National Enquirer. This is a British technology webiste.
I wonder what the US Marshall onboard would do?
First, he would carefully return his pristine copy of American Rifleman to its snug sealed fold within his kevlar jacket, then reach into his jacket holster and withdraw his standard issue SIG-Sauer P228. Then, in one brisk motion, he would adjust his stetson/baseball cap, stand out of his seat, face the explosion and flick back his jacket revealing; one flawlessly polished United States Marshals Service badge, one flawlessly polished State of Texas belt buckle(large), one flawlessly polished non standard issue Smith and Western Model 500 holstered to right of belt buckle.
He would then proceed to unload all fifteen rounds of the P228 into the laptop and its owner, causing further combustions of the laptop, and naturally killing the misfortuate passenger come terrorist, who only moments before would have been enjoying a quiet morning flight while reading left wing Californian blogs over the inflight coffee. A number of the bullets would obviously rupture the aircrafts fragile hull, and as a result of the altitude, the entire plane would begin to depressurise and disintegrate.
As the wind howls about him and as passengers begin to be sucked out of the plane still vainly clutching at their chairs, the marshal would leap forward, land a solid punch on the jaw of the laptop owner's corpse, and, just before the chair that now contained them both was torn away by the wind, the marshal would reach for his handcuffs, and neatly clamp one end about the corpses wrist, and one about his own.
As the gale finally takes the pair, the remaining doomed passengers will just faintly make out the brave hero's final words, carried by chance on swirling eddies:
United States Marshalls!!!! Freeze!!!
May the Maths Be with you!
Very obviously a LiIon/LiPoly/LiEtc battery explosion. They go off like small bombs when abused to an extreme (short circuit, overcharge). My guess is that something went terribly wrong with the charge controller, and fried the pack. The phenomenon isn't news, just that some other failure caused it. It's unfortunate that it happened, but it's a good lesson about why extra care is needed with volatile technologies. As a EE, I can say with authority that it's easy to design a very safe battery management system. It's when production cost reduction folks get involved and cut corners that things often go wrong, or when someone thinks they can optimize something without a full understanding
This is not a sig. this is a duck. quack.
caption that picture "revenge of the RIAA."
if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
Caution - laptop may run a little warm. ;)
Gifts for Geeks - Stuff that really matters!
isn't this what y2k was supposed to be like?
Anybody know how it exploded?
Like this...
BOOM!!!!!!!!
This space unintentionally left blank.
"Somebody Set Up Us The Bomb".
:) *Bows* Thank you, thank you.
Ta-da!
How is it possible that even images of their own device on fire could look so boring. They're so devoid of composition, of sensitivity.
In this other example, the victim has taken time to place the burning device against a backdrop of roughly hewn rock, and has done so at a time of day deserving of the generous tones cast by the flames as they lash, even swagger about the white plastic..
Dell, here this: even in death, one should look positively gorgeous.
This seems to be a old modle Dell X200. I'm thrilled, cus' guess what im typing on right now?! Ohh well, I need a new comp anyway. http://notebook.cz/__/,aktuality,predstaveni,2002, dell_x200.html (I love how yahoo though I could read Czech)
Since no one has said it,
"Dude, you're getting a skin graft!"
/
A number of the bullets would obviously rupture the aircrafts fragile hull, and as a result of the altitude, the entire plane would begin to depressurise and disintegrate.
no it wont. popping several holes in a pressurized plane even a window will not destroy or even cause major damage to a plane.
Anyone into avionics and avaiation knows this as well as mythbusters also proved it. the only way they did any major damage was lots of primercord and shaped explosive charges.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
This is why I had a sprinkler system installed in my PC. Safety first!
It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
Note the bright white flash, and light colored smoke. That is not a battery fire (don't ask how I know) The metal is magnesium http://www.hydro.com/en/about/history/1946_1977/19 50.html
International challenges
Despite Hydro's leading role in developing magnesium technology, the company decided in 2002 to close its production plant at Porsgrunn and instead concentrate on further developments of its facility in Becancour, Canada, built in the early 1990s. It also established access to metal in China.
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem03/chem0 3547.htm
www.cabrillo.edu/~rroland//CHEM1A/JoshLabManual/11 -HeatofCombustion(Magnesium).doc
Bet it was nearly this model: http://laptopmag.com/Review/Dell-Latitude-D620.htm
Magnesium, a silvery white metal of atomic weight 24.32, ignites at 632C and burns at 1982C, with magnesium oxide (MgO) as its combustion product. In an exothermic reaction, metallic magnesium can ignite to produce magnesium dihydroxide (ie, Mg(OH)2) and hydrogen. Magnesium is used in either powdered or solid form as an incendiary agent for both illumination and antipersonnel purposes. Various alloys of magnesium (eg, aluminum/zinc/magnesium alloy found in US M126 round) are mechanically sturdier but also can be ignited easily.
Thermite is a mixture of powdered or granular aluminum and powdered iron oxide. When combined with other substances, such as binders, the material is termed a "thermate." All such materials react vigorously when heated to the combustion temperature of aluminum. This reaction produces aluminum oxide, elemental iron, and sufficient heat to melt the iron. The reaction temperature is approximately 2200C.
...this happens more often than Dell admits.
GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
Man, there's a lot of hate in here for Dell. Just curious, why? My GF and boss both have a Dell 700m and I've got to say those things are solid. Small, light, battery life of 3+ hours. Light years better than Vaios, IMHO. I've experienced few problems with their desktop systems as well.
As far as the exploding laptop, is it really the manufacturer's fault? This question would apply regardless of who it is. It would seem to me that if it were a manufacturing defect in the laptop, say in the charging circuitry, those models would be exploding left and right. It was very likely that the battery pack on that thing was made by a third party and sold for half the price of an OEM pack.
That's not to say that OEM battery packs can't blow up. The battery cells are procured from outside manufacturers. Of course, laptop manufacturers will (hopefully) only buy batteries made by reputable firms, but right now there's big business in counterfeit batteries over in China. I remember awhile back Kyocera had phones coming with counterfeit batteries that were exploding in peoples' pockets and hands, inflicting some serious injuries. The thing is, don't just eye Dells with suspicison - I imagine it's possible for any manufacturer to get a bad batch of batteries if they're not careful, but I imagine that's rare and they are, indeed, careful. Big laptop manufacturers probably have direct accounts, anyway.
-R
I blame Microsoft. I'm not sure of the specifics yet, but I'm pretty sure this is a Windows error. Or possibly DRM working properly.
Our competition's computers get so hot, no wonder their name rhymes with hell.
... or something to that affect.
Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
There's a lot of protective circuitry built into Li-Ion batteries and laptops to prevent this. It's very rare that all those fail at once, but it's possible.
Charging any sort of battery (Li-Ion, MiMH, NiCad) is usually done with peak detection. A controlled current is applied to the battery. As it charges the measured volts in the charge circuit continues to rise. When the batteries reach full the voltage will actually go down a bit. Chargers are designed to detect this "peak" and shut off charging current or go into a trickle charge mode to prevent the batteries from being overcharged. When this doesn't work right and other safety features fail you can get a run-away charge cycle and explode the battery.
Apple Commercial
Opening shot: Boring White Dude and Sarcastic Babe Magnet Skaterboy
BWD: Hello... does it feel hot in here to you?
SBMS: Yeah. But it always is a little warm. You just have to dress right... are you okay?
BWD: Ahhhhh... you might want to stay back -- ARRRRAAAAGHHH! I'm BURNING!!
SBMS: Stopdropandroll! Ah, man that has to hurt!
BWD: I'm okay. It's just the epidermis.
SBMS: [leaving for Japan with Kevin Rose] Old people suck, and they're also pretty flammable. Don't hang out with them. I rule. Macs get laid. JAGERMEISTER SHOTS! Line 'em up, and show me the Japanese chicks!
Alex: [shot of him passed out on floor next to toilet] ooohhh goddd.
let's see how this hypothetically plays out:
1)laptop gets warm because there is not enough air circulation
2)laptop is placed on pillow to absorb heat
3)pillow completely blocks air vents
4)laptop gets hot and explodes
5)sue manufacturer/post about faulty power supplies.
I know, I know, the parent said no such thing, but I wonder how many people either a)abuse the machine or b)block the vents, causing the overheating problem to begin with.
Insert witty comment *here*. I'm fresh out of wit...
Gives a whole new meaning to DVD BURNER!!
-- QED
I was recently on 5 hour plane trip from Seattle to DC when about 1/2 way through the trip I decided to fire up my brand new Dell laptop that had been in the overhead compartment in a Dell carry bag. I pulled it out and almost dropped it it was so hot. Somehow it had not suspended or something and just heated up. Luckily there was an empty seat next to me so I opened it up and stood it on edge to let it cool down. You could feel the heat radiating off it! I have no doubt that it would have started a fire or at least smoldered if I had not tried to start using it. Pretty scary stuff at the time.
The flame in the fist photo is saturated. The parts around the periphery that you can see properly are orangish. The flame may have been white, or it may not have. There's no way to tell conclusively from that photo. It could have been virtually any color that has significant red, green and blue components.
Learn to harness the power of the exploding battery, couple it with zTrace Gold, and you get a solution to the trend of compromised personal data on stolen corporate laptops. Maybe not a solution per se... but visceral satisfaction at least.
this reminds me of a little american play that I can not remember the name
in WWII the father a great industrial magnat produces war aeroplanes' motors which are known to have a flaw (the flaw is a secret & known only by the father)
his son gets recruted in the army as a pilot and eventually gets killed by his fathers' manufactured planes...
this was an obligatory high-school lecture in my ex socialist country centered to picture the 'inhuman quest for profits at any cost in the capitalist society'
If you want to dispose of a damaged or defective Li-Ion/Li-Po battery, you must:
1) Discharge the battery to the minimum voltage per cell
2) Puncture the membrane around the cell. (remove any labels or covering. Wear eye protection!)
3) Submerge compelety in salt water. (Make sure the water is really salty. Infact, put salt in until the water doesn't absorb anymore. You don't ever want to put a lithium battery in fresh water!!! The lithium in the battery reacts with fresh water, and you will have a reaction much like an explosion.)
4) Leave in the water for at least a few hours (6+) a day to be sure.
5) Throw away in normal garbage.
And it does not have to burn that bright. It's enough when it overloads the CCD chip of the camera that took the shot. Try it, with proper exposition even a candle flame can look insanely bright on a photograph.