http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/ Engadget Comments for Dell's 17-inchers packing a jolt? http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
It's rarely used off my desk, though. ]]>Feb 6th 2007 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
Perhaps this "ViriiGuy" dude needs to take a look at the powersources in his house and make sure everything is grounded properly, so he doesn't get static shocks.

One thing: the 9400 does get a little heated over time, always make sure you place it on a flat surface so there remains an airflow underneath it.]]>Feb 6th 2007 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
No i am not putting my fingers into the ports they are metal on the outside.

Not a Dell, but not a good laptop either. ]]>Feb 6th 2007 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
It's quite surprising how we're seeing so many problems, not from what the electricity does when it's at the laptop (which I would have thought the hardest), but simply getting the power there.

That's a good area for some innovative engineer to make a lot of money, if we have any of those standing by...]]>Feb 6th 2007 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 5:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Oh how I love the prickle... ;)
Happens only when standing bare-footed on the ground.
Btw: try to touch someone else on the cheek while holding the laptop :)]]>Feb 6th 2007 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 7th 2007 9:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 4:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 4:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 4:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 6:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
I have a 3 prong plug, but that doesn't seem to stop much.]]>Feb 6th 2007 5:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
wow. let's go from 0-60 in no time. way to sensationalize a problem some people have come across. i guess we know why some minor problems get blown out of proportion. you're as bad as network news... "which common household item can kill your kids. tune in at 11." ]]>Feb 6th 2007 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
My laptop shocks me almost every time I put it down. It's an Acer. It's got a 3 pronged plug.

Both of my desktops at work - one Mac, one PC - shock me all the time too.

It's that time of year. Why do people need to freak out at every little thing?
]]>Feb 6th 2007 5:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
Static is a minor problem -- mostly just annoying, and generally consists of a short (microsecond) burst.

This problem sounds like a more continuous voltage discharge. It's also annoying in most cases, but in a worst case (depending on the discharge path), it's capable of causing (or contributing to) a heart attack. Even when it's not threatening someone's life, there seem to have been reported cases of this electric potential problem frying parts of the computer.

(and, yes, static can fry computers too, but engineers have gotten pretty good at protecting the parts most at risk).]]>Feb 8th 2007 11:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 5:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 5:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 5:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 6:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 7th 2007 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 6:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 7:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=13577828
I have a 9300 and an eMachines laptop that has the same problem, both of which have three prong adapters. Any time any of the non-conductive coating/paint is removed from these laptops, you are going to run into this issue.

This isn't a static electricity issue. The current will continue to flow, and not just spark like ESD.]]>Feb 6th 2007 7:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 7:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 7:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 8:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
To test this, just put a ~10K resistor between the things you're measuring. If you still see the voltage, then you might start to worry.]]>Feb 6th 2007 8:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
If you get shocked every time you touch a certain part of your laptop (and you don't move much between shockings), then that's probably a potentially dangerous design defect.]]>Feb 6th 2007 8:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
Thanks for your tip. I measured with a Fluke TrueRMS series meter, if that helps. The laptop is not connected to the cable line at the moment so I can't try, but when one part of my body was grounded (for instance to my mix desk chassis) and I touched one of the laptop's screws or the serial port shield etc, there was a very prominant (but not painful) current flow. Very similar to those prank toy shockers. That gave me reason to believe there is a significant flaw somewhere. I will measure again with a resistor in series next time as you suggested and see what happens.]]>Feb 7th 2007 12:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
Two support calls and one motherboard later, Dell sent out a 3 prong power adapter, which seems to have solved the issue.]]>Feb 6th 2007 8:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
Funny thing is, that the instructions explicitly stated that a grounded connection was not to be used.]]>Feb 6th 2007 9:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 10:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 10:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 10:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 11:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 6th 2007 11:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
The test is performed with all varieties of power outlet mistakes (hot and neutral reversed, only hot or only neutral connected, only one connected and reversed). It sounds like perhaps Dell switched power supplies and "forgot" to re-check with UL. I'm not sure what the leakage specification is for ITE equipment, but 3 mA can give you a pretty good jolt. I think around 8 mA it starts to get lethal.

The screws are probably signal-grounded and if you're touching something that's earth-grounded you provide the path for the return current. This is why getting a three-prong plug solves the issue. It could also be related to your house wiring/operating voltage/operating frequency.]]>Feb 7th 2007 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 7th 2007 2:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 7th 2007 4:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/Feb 7th 2007 7:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/06/dells-17-inchers-packing-a-jolt/
Thank you Engadget for picking this story up. Hopefully we will be able to get the word out, thanks to this article, to even more owners of these laptops. Let them test their own laptops and see if they have this problem as well. So far it seems to appear in about 40% of the 9400/6400 laptops tested.]]>Feb 7th 2007 7:59AM