September 8, 2006

"Apple has issued a recall on several models of Mac laptops because the battery can overheat and catch fire...."

"Experts say a Mac fire is just like a PC fire, except it's more hip and condescending." -- Conan O'Brien.

My Power Book has one of the recalled batteries. I feel strangely unthreatened by the thing. I've filled out the form and am awaiting the replacement, but I'm still using the computer. I even use it in bed, surrounded by flammable fabrics. What are the chances? I don't, however, keep it in bed, on, while I'm sleeping. Some people do, you know. I'm pretty attached to my computer, and I do keep it where I can reach it without getting out of bed, and I do sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and use it. But there is a line. I'm not going to sleep with it in the bed. Not on purpose anyway. Let's just say, I wouldn't lie down with it in the bed. I'm quite capable of falling asleep while sitting up in bed with the thing on my lap. Recalled battery and all. Living dangerously, out here in Madison, Wisconsin.

12 comments:

Glenn Howes said...

I guess you've internalized the idea that danger large enough to cause a lawsuit or a recall is not very dangerous at all. Which is probably true.

I have a recalled battery too, and I'm happy to get a new one, I'd charged/discharged the old one so many times it was down to a 30 minutes of use. And I'm not sticking it to Apple, but to Sony the battery's manufacturer (and famed rootkit distributor).

Nasty, Brutish & Short said...

Blogging in bed, Ann? And you are surprised when David Lat calls you a "machine?"

The rest of us might as well just admit there is no way we will ever be able to blog as much as you do.

altoids1306 said...

To borrow a phrase from Gandhi, I would buy a Mac/iPod, if it wasn't for all the Mac/iPod users.

Jake said...

Apple says it has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two reports of minor burns from handling overheated computers and other reports of minor property damage. No serious injuries were reported. There are 1.1 million Apple laptops subject to this recall. So it seems that likelihood of a problem is remote.

We provide the facts and you decide.

Mark Haag said...

The advantage of blogging in bed with a Mac, is that it doubles as a footwarmer.

dave said...

Apple says...

Yes, let's trust the big corporation with millions of dollars on the line to tell the truth about a problem they've been having for several years.

You should use your original-battery MacBook in your bed, too.

bill said...

You people with Apple Derangement Syndrome are unbelievable. Finally, a Mac that behaves just like a Dell and you still complain.

Anonymous said...

Not to be a common scold, but you should NEVER use a laptop, especially that Apple laptop, on soft covers, pillows, etc. Soft surfaces can block the air inlets in the back under the hinge and seriously clot up the cooling

The same goes for the external power supply. I nearly melted the case of my PowerBook power supply once when it was nestled in sofa cushions for a few hours. It actually scorched the couch. IMHO, that little rascal should always be on a nice, hard, well-ventilated surface.

And, yes, us Mac users are horrible people. I've been a happy, smug, rotten jerk since my first Mac in 1987. Before that I was simply a smug, rotten jerk.

amba said...

You need something to keep your pulse up out there since they killed off all the wolves.

Freeman Hunt said...

I bought a Mac iBook and used it until it drove me nuts with its overcuteness of interface, incompatibility, and lack of freeware utilities. Then I bought a Dell Inspiron which I've been very happy with.

I was not very happy when both Apple and Dell started recalling batteries.

Anonymous said...

Hi amba. Yes, the wolves did make things exciting:

“…From the back of the cave, the clan could hear the terrible howling growing louder. The women tried to shelter the babies next to themselves under the skins, while the younger children whimpered in fright. The older children stared wide-eyed into the black cave entrance. Some tried to imitate the elders, who were now ignoring them. Some of the men were making piles of throwing stones, while the hunters were fastening bowstrings and counting arrows. Others were making their stone knives ready. All knew, however, that the only hope of keeping the wolves away was the smoking fire of laptop batteries….”

Pat Patterson said...

Exploding laptops! Wasn't this the plotline for Halloween III with Dan O'Herlihy?