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Dell, Sony Discussed Battery Problem 10 Months Ago
InfoWorldMike writes "Dell and Sony knew about and discussed manufacturing problems with Sony-made Lithium-Ion batteries as long as ten months ago, but held off on issuing a recall until those flaws were clearly linked to catastrophic failures causing those batteries to catch fire, a Sony Electronics spokesman said Friday. Spokesman Rick Clancy said the companies had conversations in October 2005 and again in February 2006. As a result of those conversations, Sony made changes to its manufacturing process to minimize the presence and size of the particles in its batteries. However, the company did not recall batteries that it thought might contain the particles because it wasn't clear that they were dangerous, Clancy said. Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden declined to comment on the conversations with Sony in October and February, but told InfoWorld that Dell was 'confident that the manufacturing process at Sony has been changed to address this issue. Now our focus is erring on the side of caution to ensure no more incidents occur.'"
Yes, I'm pretty sure that was a real ad. I think I remember seeing it on TV several years ago, here in the US. Although, it may not have been exactly the same version, I don't remember the ending screen spelling out that caucasions are too damn tall in big black and white letters like that. I think at the time I had just bought a Sony Vaio laptop and thought the ad was clever. Of course, after the one year warranty ended and every part imaginable started breaking on that Sony laptop, I think otherwise now.