Dude, you're returning a Dell [update 1]
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 15th 2006 at 1:52AM }
Dell confirmed Monday they were instituting a massive recall of about 4.1 million notebook batteries from their Latitude, Inspiron and Precision models. The batteries, made with cells by Sony, were reported to "overheat and, in rare cases, produce smoke and catch fire," Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn told Reuters.A rep from Sony said that the company will be sharing in the costs for the recall. "We are supporting Dell's recall," Sony's Rick Clancy told Cnet's News.com. "There will be financial assistance and we are sharing engineering data and both doing further research."
The recall itself affects about 18 percent of Dell's 22 million notebook computers sold from April 2004 to July 2006. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that Dell has received six reports of batteries overheating, causing damage to furniture and personal belongings.
[Update: Here are the models affected: Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810; Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705; Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90; XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710.
Go here if your model is on the list.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt @ Aug 15th 2006 2:04AM
I know what he has in that backpack.
Keith L. Dick @ Aug 15th 2006 2:15AM
Umm, returning a *Battery* not the entire Laptop I would think...
Who cares what he has in the backback, hopefully he spent time in Jail for it...
delldude420 @ Aug 15th 2006 2:16AM
ya and its not a dell
The ZeroCorpse @ Aug 15th 2006 3:02AM
Interesting. Apple has the same problem, and every PC weenie and his brother pop in to say how much they hate Macs and that it's proof that Apple sucks.
Dell has a battery recall, and none of those same people are here telling us what crappy computers PCs are because a battery manufacturer screwed up.
Yeah. Apple bashing isn't about PC fanboyism; You just keep telling yourselves that.
Justin Brogan @ Aug 15th 2006 3:05AM
I don't quite see what this has to do with video games, but whatever.
Druidvideo @ Aug 15th 2006 3:07AM
Looks like he has a pound of hash to me
blahman @ Aug 15th 2006 3:32AM
"I don't quite see what this has to do with video games, but whatever."
Some people play video games on computers. Some of those computers have exploding batteries.
Gamer G @ Aug 15th 2006 3:38AM
Aren't the controllers on the PS3 going to have Sony battery's in them???
Another reason to choose the Xbox 360 over the PS3, I have had a 360 since Noember and a controller is yet to explode on me...
T-Bag @ Aug 15th 2006 3:49AM
Looks like Summa is taking his posting privileges way too seriously. Slow down man, you might hurt yourself. Besides, what the hell does this have to do with gaming? Are you high?
jopojelly @ Aug 15th 2006 3:51AM
"made with cells by Sony, were reported to "overheat and, in rare cases, produce smoke and catch fire," "
hmm, "cell" ehh, doesnt bode well for the cell processor, when sony cant even get a battery cell to work, how are they going to get a processor cell to work.....Just kidding.
jpxdude @ Aug 15th 2006 3:52AM
Another example of SONY's shoddy hardware affecting a partnering vendor this time...gosh...
Embassy @ Aug 15th 2006 4:06AM
LOL...sony just cant get a break these days can they....i almost feel bad for them....almost.
bazald @ Aug 15th 2006 4:15AM
The ZeroCorpse: Personally, I hate Apple for Apple.
Also, I'm disappointed that my two batteries weren't recalled, because neither one charges close to 100% anymore. Damn you Dell!
GeoFlame @ Aug 15th 2006 4:25AM
@ The ZeroCorpse
Apples suck not like totally though
but I gotta say
Dells suck worse it isnt PCfanboyism for me.
Dell, HP, and anyother computer like that sucks totally, the best computer you can get is the one you build to meet exactly what you want to use it for.
Custom all the way.
Kiba @ Aug 15th 2006 4:38AM
Poor Sony xD I will NEVER feel sorry for them. Once they start making stuff again they will be getting good press, but ever since the PS2 its been all crappy hardware cheaply made.
Ubersnuber @ Aug 15th 2006 4:39AM
8. Aren't the controllers on the PS3 going to have Sony battery's in them???
Another reason to choose the Xbox 360 over the PS3, I have had a 360 since Noember and a controller is yet to explode on me...
Flaws in Sony's products?
And you are stickin' with MS???
You must be the smart one in the family xD
Go home fanboy
Joe A. @ Aug 15th 2006 4:48AM
Only in the comments section of Joystiq can people make this post anti-Sony and then relate it to the console wars.
Some of you need to realize that it is both Dell AND Sony's problems that their equipment crapped out. And that the world does not revolve around the console wars!
Gamer G @ Aug 15th 2006 4:51AM
fao ubersnuber
Get a sense of humour!
kay @ Aug 15th 2006 7:46AM
this is why the ps3 will explode as soon as you plug it up! Go 360~!!!
Its funny to read statements saying that Joystiq is anti-sony. I remember before the 360 launched, they were all over Sony's nuts and against the 360. I was here many times complaining about the unfair coverage. Now the Sony fanboys are the ones crying. So funny.
Dude, you're getting and xploding PS3. Keeeeeewl!
James Sorensen @ Aug 15th 2006 7:58AM
good to see they fixing this issue finally, as for the whole sony part, well i dont see any issues with my vaio or many other peoples vaio's blowing up....
just a problem with one companies product not interacting correctly with anothers (or the laptops are not designed right to take the power supply)
kksteve @ Aug 15th 2006 8:29AM
Better safe than sony?
erica. @ Aug 15th 2006 8:37AM
thats great since my latitudes (i bought it june 2004) battery decided not to work about a month ago and if i can get a free one through this id save 100bucks.
Gamer G @ Aug 15th 2006 8:37AM
Will this mean they will not let you take a PS3 on a plane??
JJ @ Aug 15th 2006 8:42AM
I didnt know sony private branded batteries, i always thought its like they do with auto oil and what not, its made by another major battery corp. (Like the people who make energizer etc,) but branded with the Sony logo.
Like for instance in the auto oil biz, there's very few major oil manufacturers but there's MANY different private labels, but if you look at the back of the package most of them are made by the same company. FOr instance the oil you get under walmart brand is the same as the Napa/Carquest/Autozone etc brand. Exactly the same, just different packaging.
But i could be wrong. I dont read up on battery manufacturers much.
roflcopters @ Aug 15th 2006 9:02AM
Dell suck /the end
VerticalEvent @ Aug 15th 2006 9:49AM
Anyone read the article? There's only been 6 cases of this happening in the dell laptops; I'm on a dell laptop right now (I've been using it for two years now), and have yet to have an issue with it.
Though, I did wish they would tell me what type is being recall; I took the battery out, and it said it was a Dell battery, but Sony might mark all of the batteries made for Dell as Dell, instead of Sony.
Robert Summa @ Aug 15th 2006 10:16AM
Hey T-Bag,
Guess you never heard of people playing games on laptops. Also, the fact that Sony is involved is at the least mildly important -- seeing as how they make game devices that have batteries, i.e. PSP.
davidleetoon @ Aug 15th 2006 10:26AM
Why I'm sure he's ONLY carrying quality Dell merchandise in there! You people jump on him so quickly with these misguided accusations. Tsk tsk...
Mal F4cti0n @ Aug 15th 2006 10:32AM
How the hell do you take this post as Apple bashing?
What does this have to do with gaming? Um, computers play video games last time I checked. If the Microsoft 360 controller was catching fire, they would probably report that too.
I heard this watching the news, and when they said that they batteries were made by Sony I busted out laughing. For those of you fanbois out there that think Sony's PS3 is going to be the best thing ever, just wait. Oh man, just wait, those CGI videos that you thought you would be playing are going to piss you off once you get your hands on the games.
HAHAHAHAHA, oh yeah, and you better hope the wireless controller doesn't catch fire!
Ubersnuber @ Aug 15th 2006 10:47AM
#18 Gamer G:
"fao ubersnuber
Get a sense of humour!"
Sorry, i have read too many fanboy posts:P
D-6 @ Aug 15th 2006 10:56AM
I don't really care about Sony's troubles or their upcoming console. But really, this is such a blantant attempt of anti-Sony fanboyism by this Mr. Summa that it's not funny. He could have at least mentioned something like "How many gamers do you think are affected?".
Whatever, I'm just glad unprofessional writers such as Summa (As well as gaming bloggers in general) won't treated to perks like E3 anymore.
Robert Summa @ Aug 15th 2006 11:07AM
Sadly D-6, I happen to be a video game journalist for another publication as well, so I will be treated to perks at other events, despite your ill wishes.
Why is the only argument some of you can think of is that I or anyone else here at Joystiq is anti-Sony. Do you understand how stupid of an idea that really is?
This is a valid story about Dell. The reason I included Sony in there is because Sony plays a part in the battery problem and they are sharing the costs of the recall. Do you think I should have left that important info out to satisfy your fanboy needs? Doesn't seem very fair to the readers out there.
If this were a Microsoft battery, D-6, I'm sure you'd say I was anti-Sony because I didn't bash Microsoft enough.
Please, learn how to come up with an original complaint.
Greenspin @ Aug 15th 2006 12:43PM
You know, I've been reading Joystiq for a heck of a long time now but rarely comment. I felt obliged to after reading some of the hate-fueled comments attacking the poster. Two words for you people: Grow up.
This recall is a very important issue. It affects not only businesses and home users, but gamers as well. If you opened your eyes for two seconds you would see that every reputable news source is reporting this, and for good reason. Take your angst-filled, anonymous hiding comments elsewhere please.
Kudos Joystiq for running a good blog here. You probably hear more criticism than praise but just realize the mass majority of us appreciate your work.
D-6 @ Aug 15th 2006 1:23PM
Yes, this is a legimiate news story (I don't recall anyone saying that it was not), but for a video game blog, it does seem out of place. Just because it involves computers and/or a Sony division, doesn't it merits gaming news. By that logic, then, every single tech story should be posted on here...And where's the news on Sony's plan to reduce Co2 emmisions (http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/)?
Frankly, Mr. Summa, I and the other posters don't know whether or not you and co-writers are anti-Sony fanboys. But the perception is that you guys are due to your style of writing and the content you post on your blog. If you're going to get mad at the deluge of Sony fanboy posts in the comments and how old it is, perhaps your site should take the initiative and rethink how you persent your stories. Sure some posters are fanboys, but if you're going to disregard all negative comments about your site as blantant loser fanboyism, then I don't know what to say. Things like that could very easily lose a site's fanbase (not that Joystiq is in any danger of that yet). I could just leave, of course, but I enjoy the non-biased reports that are posted here. You can call me defensive and call me a loser, or you can try to inform me and change my opinion. The fact that I would make a follow up post trying to make more sense than my previous post shows I'm open to that.
Perhaps you think I am a Sony fanboy, but pointing out anti-fanboyism automatically makes me pro-Micorsoft and pro-Nintendo? Where's the logic in that. There's a difference between trying to look at all sides and standing blindly behind something. Perhaps if I took a RETARDED shot at Sony you may be right, but hey, if there was blantant Micrsoft/Nintendo fanboyism in my post, feel free to point it out (In any case I'm a Nintendo fan; my post in the Megee story attests that I'm a Nintendo fan). Besides, I would think you would rather have fans who can look at all sides and accept all opinion and critically argue their points (Instead of people standing behind three different companies while beating their chests with pride). Sure, I've made stupid, biased comments before (Who hasn't) but unlike many others, I can accept I made a mistake in those instances as long as the opposing view is logical.
T-Bag @ Aug 15th 2006 1:29PM
@ Robert,
I'm sure people play games on lap tops. Though pointing out the fact that one single type of laptop had a faulty battery that is in no way used for anything but that laptop has absolutely nothing to do with gaming. It's almost like saying that the Firestone debacle a couple years back had something to do with Gran Turismo, since they support said maker of tires.
tactics @ Aug 15th 2006 1:39PM
OMG JOYSTIQ IS ANTI SONY!!!! WHY DO YOU ALWAYS TELL US ABOUT ALL OF SONY'S BLUNDERS AND FAULTY-ASS PRODUCTS???? BECAUSE YOU HATE SONY HUH??? IF THERE IS A NEGATIVE STORY ABOUT SONY IN THE NEWS JUST DON'T REPORT ON IT!!!!!
hahahah just kidding. sony blows ass. i hope this means that sony just lost another multi-million dollar business partner, and that dell decides to pick up their batteries elsewhere from now on :)
it's gonna be hard to game with 3rd degree burns on your palms from "dualshake3" guys :) good luck with that!
-"superfan" tactics.
mykie @ Aug 15th 2006 2:58PM
"We are supporting Dell's recall," Sony's Rick Clancy told Cnet's News.com
Translation:
*CHA-CHING*CHA-CHING*CHA-CHING*
"There will be financial assistance and we are sharing engineering data and both doing further research."
Translation:
In the meantime, Sony VIAO laptops don't catch fire, we're going to steal Dell's plans and make billions to leverage ourselves!
*CHA-CHING* indeed.