Dell Buyers Flock To Replace Batteries

Dell Inc. \'s record-
Set Recall 4.
1 million laptop batteries raise safety concerns about the power supply of countless electronic devices, but experts say the problem appears to be due to defects in laptop battery production, not potential technology.
The customer started calling the company on Tuesday and surfing on a special website to order a replacement for lithium
Ion batteries that can cause Dell machines to overheat or even catch fire.
The batteries were supplied to Dell by Sony, Japan. Lithium-
Ion batteries are used not only for laptops but also for digital cameras, music players, mobile phones and other gadgets.
According to CBS News reporter Cynthia Bowles, the problem is not limited to a computer manufacturer.
In the past 15 months, HP, battery business and Apple have issued a recall warning against their lithium-
Ion batteries can cause the laptop to overheat and cause fire hazards.
Harris Dell, the world\'s largest PC maker, announced the recall on Monday night at the Consumer Product Safety Board.
It\'s the biggest electronic product.
Related recalls involving federal agencies.
For more information about Dell\'s recall and recourse, click here.
You can also play 1-866-342-0011.
For information about the recall of the Consumer Product Safety Committee, please click here.
These batteries were shipped on laptops sold during the period April 1 to July 18, 2004.
They were included in some models of circular rocks in Texas.
Dell-based laptops for Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Precision mobile workstations.
The replacement order will be in the first-come, first-
Dell spokesman Ira Williams said.
He said he could not estimate how long customers would need to wait for the new battery, adding that the new battery could vary depending on the model.
Sony and some other battery manufacturers are replacing batteries.
Rick Clancy, a spokesman for Sony, said the company had \"taken steps to solve the problem \". . .
Satisfy Dell.
He declined to elaborate on what the company had done to solve the problem.
Lithium has been replacing nickel.
Since the beginning of 1990, cadmium and other battery materials have been used for a range of electronic devices.
Smaller, lighter-weight batteries can generate more power to drive more and more demanding devices, such as laptops.
Resolution screen.
Battery pack contains rolling batteryMetal bars.
In the manufacturing process of Japan\'s Sony factory, the winding edge will leave small metal fragments in the battery, some of which will cause the battery to be short-circuited.
Circuit and overheating, according to Sony.
Roger Kay, an analyst at the endpoint technology association, called the situation a \"nightmare for Sony\", but said the recall was unlikely to scare away manufacturers from using lithiumion batteries. \"Well-made lithium-
\"The ion battery is very safe,\" he said . \"
\"It\'s a manufacturing problem, not a charge against lithium --ion technology.
\"The consumer product safety board says the Dell battery is well designed but production is defective,\" Bowles reported.
\"The batteries themselves actually meet current safety standards, but they need to go further and they need to ensure the safety of these batteries,\" Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said . \".
Still, there have been reports of lithium-ion batteries.
Last year, Apple recalled batteries produced by South Korea\'s LG Chemical Co. , Ltd.
On 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration banned the shipment of lithium batteries from the cargo compartment of the passenger aircraft, as there may be fire hazards when they are shipped in bulk.
However, passengers can still carry laptops or mobile phones on the plane.
S. FAA spokesman Tammy Jones said the agency is continuing to review possible dangers.
Sony offers battery components to other computer manufacturers including Lenovo Group Ltd.
The company says it receives reports of some overheated batteries every year, but does not intend to recall them.
Spokesman Bob Page said Lenovo\'s machine has other features, including disabling the software of the machine if unsafe conditions are detected.
Mr. Kay said Dell used Sony\'s battery components longer than other manufacturers, and Lenovo and others could end up having similar problems.
Apple also uses Sony batteries, analysts say, and Apple says it is investigating the situation. Hewlett-
Packard said it did not use Sony batteries and was not affected by the recall.
Fujitsu says they make their own batteries.
Dell did not give an estimate of the cost of the recall, but said it would not have a significant impact on the company\'s financial results, which said Sony would bear most of the cost.
Analysts estimate the recall could reach $0. 2 billion to $0. 4 billion.
Investors ignored the news and pushed up shares in Dell and Sony in Tuesday\'s trading.
Dell shares rose 84 cents to close at $22, up 5%.
Sony shares rose 62 cents to close at $45 on the Nasdaq stock market.
On the New York Stock Exchange.
The bigger problem, analysts say, is that the reputation of Dell and Sony could be affected.
Cindy Shaw, an analyst at Moors & Cabot, said the recall could remove consumers from Dell --to-school time.
She also said business customers may not forgive.
At lunch time on Tuesday, some customers browsed Dell\'s first store in an upscale Dallas mall.
Dale Topham, a Dallas resident who is repairing computers, said the recall would not make it unlikely he would buy another Dell.
\"I am not worried because they are trying to solve this problem,\" he said . \".
According to a 2005 survey by Forrester Research, Dell and Sony are among the most trusted consumer technology companies.
But Ted Schadler, a Forrester analyst, said that if the fire caused the regulator to ban laptops from getting on board, the recall could curb laptop sales to businesses.