Japan orders Apple to probe laptop fires
updated 08:45 am EDT, Tue August 29, 2006
Mac laptop fire in Japan
Authorities in Japan have reported a Mac laptop fire involving the defective Sony batteries and have asked Apple to investigate. The Associated Press reports that a Mac laptop overheated and caught fire in April, which caused minor burns to the user after the computer caught fire. According to the report, Apple has received nine reports in the United States of the Sony-built lithium-ion batteries battery packs overheating, including two consumers who received minor burns after handling overheated computers. In addition, the report says that Apple has also received reports of minor property damage (but no serious injuries). Following similar demands to both Dell and Sony, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ordered Apple Japan to report on its findings and measures to prevent future troubles by Sept. 5 or it could face a fine of up to 300,000 yen ($2,570) under Japan's consumer safety laws. Apple, however, declined detail the extent of the recall in Japan: in the US, Apple recalled nearly 1.1 million batteries and another 700,000 worldwide.
Typical government: late
08/29, 04:54pm reply
If Apple's already recalling the batteries in question, don't you think Apple's already investigated?
Buran
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2000
No
08/29, 06:18pm reply
Because apple is recalling the batteries doesn't mean anything. Apple states there's no safety issue. Japan is trying to get them to investigate and perhaps pull a dell and recall for safety reasons, not just a 'well, to be safe, we'll pull them, but there's nothing to worry about' kind of thing.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
YEN
08/30, 12:42am reply
Hrmmm:
"...could face a fine of up to 300,000 yen ($2,570) under Japan's consumer safety laws..."
Why not, for that price, just sent the Ministry a couple refurbished iBooks?
JEB
Junior Member
Joined: May 2001
Read it again, testudo
08/30, 05:15pm reply
"Apple has determined that certain lithium-ion batteries containing cells manufactured by Sony Corporation of Japan pose a safety risk that may result in overheating under rare circumstances."
See the words 'pose a safety risk'?
Buran
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2000
Sony laptop battery
09/12, 04:49pm reply
I bought a replacement battery for my Sony laptop about a month ago from www.laptopsforless.com and it works great. Is there any reason to think that a replacement Sony laptop battery would be any worse than the manufacturers?
GreenApple123
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2006