Another PowerBook violently explodes

Just when we think these explosive batteries can't get any worse, then you see a PowerBook that looks like it was hit with a high powered explosive charge -- which, in a manner of speaking, it was. This unit was apparently a year old and wasn't even powered at the time it, um, went off -- 6:00AM. Talk about your rude awakenings. So please, people, learn from this rash of Li-ion explosions: you lessen your chances of battery combustion by returning them wherever possible, so return your frickin defective batteries, ok?

[Via Cult of Mac]

[Zeke @ Aug 6th 2006 3:48AM]

Only a matter of time before one explodes on someone's lap....

*ouch*

[MaXKiLLz @ Aug 6th 2006 4:06AM]

or on a passenger jet !

[Nic @ Aug 6th 2006 4:10AM]

I can only imagine all the lawsuits on the horizon if the problem continues.

[V8v @ Aug 6th 2006 4:15AM]

This is a scam. That's the same dude who was running that "smash my ipod" thing or whatever last year. He torched it on purpose to try to scam Apple or to get attention.

[Tony Rayo @ Aug 6th 2006 4:41AM]

What are you basing that on V8v? I'm not saying you are wrong, I'm just curious where you saw the connection. Heh on the Cult of Mac page it was said that this happened to the poster's sister's friend. I wish I had a sister now... FREE MACS FOR ALL!

- Tony R.

[PacketMonkee @ Aug 6th 2006 4:41AM]

That "Smash My iPod" guy is a loser.

[Kyle @ Aug 6th 2006 4:43AM]

I wonder if the FAA will ever ban Li-ion batteries on planes. If they do they better put plugs in all seats.

[UNreal @ Aug 6th 2006 4:56AM]

I'm wondering, if this is true, why nobody reporting this? This is really a serious explosion, and it could happen anytime on anyone, the person should already file a lawsuit against Apple and probably got millions of compensation...

but instead, the person post the pictures on Flickrs... and nobody reporting this ... why?

[max @ Aug 6th 2006 5:14AM]

would you sue canon if the duracells in your camera exploded? no. apple doesnt make the batteries.

[Jon Gray @ Aug 6th 2006 7:16AM]

Max: It really doesn't matter who made the batteries - if Apple supplied the batteries with the laptop, they are liable. Apple would just then sue the makers of the battery.

[Adam @ Aug 6th 2006 7:32AM]

Apple aren't liable here, the person mustn't have replaced the battery, for FREE, apple was offering replacements and this guy mustn't have got one, his own fault

[pp @ Aug 6th 2006 7:39AM]

Well considering how that table it was on looks at least we know that the case did it's job by dissipating heat. I hope that this never happens while someone is using it, it'd be hospital time for them and a instant lawsuit for probably both the laptop and battery manufacturer.

[GreggyF @ Aug 6th 2006 8:31AM]

You said 'fucking' too, dookie... oh wait. Fuck.

[Troy @ Aug 6th 2006 8:47AM]

So what I don't understand is why apple still has this problem. Don't they contact peeps with the problem, otherwise why bother registering your computer, (warranty repairs, recalls, things like this). It can never be left to the consumer to keep track of the 1,000's of recalls, but if Apple told this person (or anyone) "you have bad batteries, the can catch fire, will give you new safe ones, bring or send them back" what am I missing here?

[Chris Pooz @ Aug 6th 2006 8:52AM]

Am I the only that noticed after the jump, the pic of the battery bay looks like it has a ton of AA batteries stufed in it? Whats with the multiple "cylinder" looking things in the battery bay? I smell bullshit.

[Troy @ Aug 6th 2006 9:04AM]

"would you sue canon if the duracells in your camera exploded? no. apple doesnt make the batteries." by Max.

No, you would not take legal action against Canon in this case, (although you might if the design in the camera did not address this as a possibility and warned me that this could be an outcome if I used Duracell or Brand "X". In that case, Cannon would have liability.)

The difference here is we don't have a choice in brand names of the batteries when we buy a notebook, (If ever there was a good reason to abandon the Labtop name, this story is it.)

If left up to the public, would you buy a "brand name" battery pack or for half the price a generic? There is no such choice. Apple or Dell or whomever makes this choice, not the consumer. So your example is not valid in this case. I can buy any brand of consumer batteries and if they catch fire, I have a problem. That's not what this is about, at all.

[kernel_panic @ Aug 6th 2006 9:12AM]

I think people are forgetting that Apple had a recall on these batteries. It voids you warranty and all liabilities not to comply with recalls. If Apple contacts you about a recall (the will), they provide a free replacement (they do), and you still don't comply, what do you expect?

[Intrepid @ Aug 6th 2006 9:32AM]

Think about it. If this was Dell then everyone would be like "Stupid crappy Dell". But now that it's Apple there are many people saying "It can't be true!". Batteries are made of chemicals, sometimes chemicals explode.

I hope this proves a point to all the 'die-hard' fanboys - Every company can make bad products.

[LukeA @ Aug 6th 2006 9:40AM]

That doesn't look like a violent sxplosion. That's a fire. It was just smokin' pretty good.



To the poster who complained about cylinders in the battery,

It's a Li-ion battery. It's made up of 1.2 volt cylindrical cells. Lithium polymer batteries are the only type of battery in the world that don't use cylindrical cells.

[LukeA @ Aug 6th 2006 9:52AM]

Intrepid,

"Batteries are made of chemicals, sometimes chemicals explode."

Thank you for that dangerous oversimplification. Retard.

[Kurt @ Aug 6th 2006 10:04AM]

Here is why it is fake.....the damn laptop has been around for way too long for this not to be a mass problem. If I had to guess I would say this is a torch job. I have that exact powerbook (maybe different mhz not 100% sure) and the laptop doesn't get hot at all unless I place in on a pillow or something like that when I am using it.

I think this is a scam, I know it is possible but the fact that the book hasn't been made for over a year and now all of a sudden they are blowing up.

I say Shenanigans!!!!

[Badtastic @ Aug 6th 2006 10:22AM]

Happened recently in Norway as well. Guy brings Powerbook to work, it starts emitting smoke, and within seconds 3ft high flames. The colleagues panic and extinguish the flames. According to the article, Apple have promised to replace the Powerbook and all other items damaged in connection with this fire. See link and pictures below from Swedish newspaper:

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,866880,00.html

[Josh @ Aug 6th 2006 10:35AM]

Pooz, many batteries have lots of little battery cylinders inside. Have you ever opened your laptop battery to see what is actually inside? Or even a standard 9V battery?

Man, a lot of people are so sure this is real or fake or whtever based on lame-ass assumptions.

[Joe @ Aug 6th 2006 10:35AM]

Guess that brings a whole new meaning to the term PowerBook.

[Doug @ Aug 6th 2006 10:38AM]

I agree. I think that this is completely fake. All of a sudden when MacBook batteries start getting hot, PowerBook ones start blowing up? I find that a little to convenient.

[Gregbert @ Aug 6th 2006 10:45AM]

There is a good reason why these Macs are exploding. It's a Microsoft Conspiracy. Windows people are causing the exploding Macs by having large psychic sessions. They all get together and focus their mental powers on blowing up somebody's Mac. I snuck into one once. Now I'm being followed, they are trying to take me away away. They're trying to take me away...

[Whatever @ Aug 6th 2006 11:35AM]

Weird... Apple laptops started spontaneously exploding only after the first reports of the Dell notebooks catching fire and/or exploding.

To the mystery machine...

[ryan @ Aug 6th 2006 11:43AM]

i blame dell.

apple ftw!

[zorg @ Aug 6th 2006 11:48AM]

I don't believe any of these exploding, burning Powerbook stories either. I painstakingly translated the Swedish news story and found that the "moose" (whatever that means, probably some Swedish slang for malcontent) that initially reported this, was eventually sacked. Then whoever sacked him was sacked, for "making credits" (probably Swedish slang for taking credit that was not due). Anyway, Sweden has lovely lakes, a fine telephone system, and many furry animals, but I wouldn't take their reports of exploding computers too seriously.

As for the companies, Apple and Dell and all the rest are a pain. Apple is a pain that makes mostly really good stuff and Dell is a pain that mostly makes crap. Still not a hundred percent either way. I guess the long tail media makes it easier to see this, if not to understand it.

[Richard Lai @ Aug 6th 2006 11:51AM]

Gregbert: Maybe it's actually running Windows on these Macs that caused them to blow up. Sounds more convincing than your "Conspiracy" thing. :p

[san @ Aug 6th 2006 12:05PM]

If that Powerbook was only a year old, I don't think its battery was covered by the recall. The battery recall applies to batteries sold, and included in new Powerbooks, between January 2004 and August 2004. You know, weird stuff going to happen; maybe this is just a single incident related to an idiosyncratic defect.

[Bazza @ Aug 6th 2006 12:09PM]

you people crack me up!! haha!! its just incredible.

[UNreal @ Aug 6th 2006 12:12PM]

I think the guy should report this and sue Apple for endangering people life for not making their product safe.

"But", if he didn't so meaning this can't be prove true, then...

You know, I really do not want to say it's real or not, but if I'm the one who have this accident, it's trumatic enough to do whatever I can to get my compensation or bring the responsible party to the forefront.

For the part about media, is there really so much fanfare and Apple friendly throughout the channels? Last time I check, it's just the opposite. True that there's much fanfare on the user's side, but not the media side. This should make a hot and dramatic story that get lots of clicks. CNet and Zdnet will be the first one jump on it...

Again, can it prove real?

I also heard a story about the power supply explosion of a Power Mac, and the person who said it's his friend had it and cause the damage of his hearing... but again, if it's real, I'll sue the company and have lots of press out there (come on, it's hearing damage!!!) but , nothing... does it make any sense to you???

[Justin @ Aug 6th 2006 12:15PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2005/06/28/how-to-rebuild-your-laptop-battery/

hmmm wierd, the inside of an Li battery looks like it could have smaller batteries inside of it. I've seen many laptop batteries that look like AA batteries inside. quit defending apple so much, these new macbooks are prone to problems, they have swithced out our entire stock of laptops twice now because of all of the issues people have been having at compusa. apple needs to get is stuff together before someone does get hurt.

[tiuk @ Aug 6th 2006 12:31PM]

I usually leave my laptop in hibernate under my bed, plugged in. I'm thinking now maybe I should keep it somewhere else, but I can't imagine where. Is it really possible that this can happen even if the laptop isn't plugged in or turned on? If so, it seems nowhere is safe.

[don @ Aug 6th 2006 12:39PM]

Apple Fan boys are such a-holes, they care more in defending a life threatening flaw in their holy Apple than the potential harm this flaw can have on a person's life. Grow up a-holes and take a grip on reality, Apple products are flawed because they are made by humans not gods.

[js @ Aug 6th 2006 12:57PM]

"Apple products are flawed because they are made by humans not gods." - don

What?? You mean that the Apple products are made by the people in the sweatshops in China, not from the God, Steve Jobs?

Apple zealots, to your battle stations!!!

[Adam Pennington @ Aug 6th 2006 1:37PM]

BTW, a very small hole in one LiIon cell can cause this on either a Dell or a Mac. If you wanted to recreate this all it would take is a very small drill bit. So many of these have come in right on top of each other that I'm wondering if some folks have just decided that it's a easy way to get a new laptop.

Someone mentioned above that LiIon batteries are often composed of AA sized cells which are 1.2v. Partially true, they are that size but usually cells are around 3.7V. Trust me, if you could easily buy AA sized Lithium Ion cells which were 1.2V, you'd have them in your digital camera.

Adam

[Benson Leung @ Aug 6th 2006 1:54PM]

Guys guys guys... There is so much bashing of Dell, Apple and whoever else here whenever something like this happens, and lots of stupid name calling. But take a step back and look at the big picture :

This is a problem not isolated to one manufacturer, and battery combustion does not know platform loyalties.

We've seen Dell notebooks have this problem. We've seen some older (and newer) Apples have this problem too. It's clear that the problem isn't manufacturer, but Lithium Ion battery technology in general... so if you have a notebook with a lithium ion battery, and if you own any modern notebook, you surely do, be aware that this could be a problem, and pay attention to battery recalls. sheesh.

[jm @ Aug 6th 2006 1:55PM]

I have a question, does apple still contact you about the recall if you don't register you product? If you don't register how else could they contact you about a recall?

[definitioN. @ Aug 6th 2006 2:09PM]

Imagine! The laptop explodes on someones lap while watching a video! (If you know what I mean) Then the person will suffer greatly and reget ever buying one of these PowerBooks again!

[M @ Aug 6th 2006 2:56PM]

Think about it. If this was Dell then everyone would be like "Stupid crappy Dell". But now that it's Apple there are many people saying "It can't be true!".
-Intrepid

Agreed.

[Rich @ Aug 6th 2006 3:08PM]

Um. Is it just me or do those holes in the table look like a nice flame would fit right up in there... Real or not. I for one welcome our exploding overlords.

[Tony @ Aug 6th 2006 3:27PM]

Okay, I know this is something that really does happen sometimes b/c it happened to me a couple years ago with an old IBM Laptop, but THIS particular picture is faked. The main reason I say so is because of the shape of the holes on the right half of the picture here at the top of the thread, the holes are way too perfect. If it really was a battery meltdown, the hole would be oblong in shape and there would be evidence around the hole of more acid that got onto other parts of the matrerial and caused some deterioration without causing holes. I mean when was the last time you poured water on the ground and it made a perfect circle?

[Paco @ Aug 6th 2006 3:34PM]

The best chance for a battery to explode would be for the voltage regulator in the supply to fail and provide to much voltage to the battery being charged. This is the most common failure of batteries I have seen. Sure every now and these you get a faulty battery on the line but it is pretty rare. Apple did a recall in may of '05 for battery problems. If it just now "exploded" I hope the person that didn't act on the recall is disfugured for life :)

It is funny how no one is very concerned about the barrery on their motherboard exploding. They have been using li-on batteries there for years.

[roy van Veen @ Aug 6th 2006 4:52PM]

Might have something to do with the way these thin notebooks bend during use. If I look at this 15" then I see imprints of the keys (also on the right, the left prints seem to be from the fire) in the screen. This can be evidence that it has been put in a bag while frequently being under high pressure: basically pressing the screen lid from the back in the keys and thus imprinting the keys in the screen. If you do it a lot, the whole chasis eventually bends and the notebook becomes a kind of a bowl. MIght not be a lot, but maybe enough pressure on the battery?

I have a first generation G4 17" powerbook myself (so it's turning 4 this year) and I use it heavily. It shows: scratches everywhere, even a dent in the left corner (fell off a table some day). I travel a lot with it on planes and always only use one carry-on .. so that contains: powerbook + books + some clothing + cameras. I use screenprotection, so don't have the keyimprints in the screen. But I do have the 'bowl effect' ... the bottom of my notebook is scratched in the middle (right on the battery of my 17") because it has become the mainpart it rests on during use on flat surfaces.

Needless to say that I really love my 17". Best computer I have ever had and will be using it until it explodes, dies or Apple introduces a nice replacement.

[Stubb @ Aug 6th 2006 4:59PM]

A comment on the norwegian case.
I tipped Engadget on it, giving them pics and a translation of a norwegian article. It was also on the TV news, so it looks quite real.

The battery started burning, then 'jumped' out of its slot and landed on an external keyboard. The Mac was standing on a pedestal/stand type thing about 10 inches over the table. The large amount of corrateral damage in this case makes me think it's real.

[moog55 @ Aug 6th 2006 5:09PM]

wow. apple is really going down the shitter...

[Chris Hofman @ Aug 6th 2006 5:37PM]

Wow. I know it's been going on for awhile but it seems to be gathering momentum.

[Sam @ Aug 6th 2006 6:26PM]

engadget:
"...so return your frickin defective batteries, ok?"

I think defective are the brains of those whom the batteries explode! Those spoiled kids or morons with similar limited mental abilities, lack of self-discipline and clueless about handling a device safely... The notebook is just one more item in their possession that has been exploded!