“An Inquirer reader attending a conference in Japan was sat just feet away from a laptop computer that suddenly exploded into flames, in what could have been a deadly accident,” The Inquirer reports.
“Guilhem, [the] astonished reader reports: ‘The damn thing was on fire and produced several explosions for more than five minutes… For the record, this is [was] a Dell machine… It is only a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane,’ he suggests,” The Inquirer reports.
“‘Fire extinguishers leave a mess on your suit and belongings; pack your stuff (if you can) and leave, leave, leave!’ he advises,” The Inquirer reports. “We don’t have any further details of the model of the computer in question. In light of the evidence, however, we’d suggest you avoid actually using a laptop on your lap.”
Full article with better photos here.
MacDailyNews Take: Almost always, this is an issue of shoddily-produced batteries. Virtually every PC company, including Apple, have not been immune to such issues in the past. Hopefully, this will never happen on a plane (or anywhere else again). Generally, we’re of the opinion that as PC companies race to the bottom in a desperate price race, we feel much safer with Apple’s quality vs. all others as Apple is not dependent on operating on razor-thin margins that might affect product quality.
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Probably overclocked.
A new feature of Windows Live virus protection?
return all your money to the shareholders…Dell’s mediocrity has been a hazard to society for decades…now this.
Headline: Dell computer explodes, MDN web sites errupts with flames.
and people complain about the macbooks heat…
Who says Dell laptops aren’t Hot!
even the computers are rebelling against windows now
That’s hot!
I guess this qualifies as “much worse” than the mild burns caused by a few iBooks foolishly rested on the user’s lap. Maybe Dell left a “protective cover” over the vent … like the ones Apple eventually discovered had been left behind.
Good morning Mr. Phelps. Windows has detected that this may not be an authentic version of Windows. Your laptop will self destruct in 5 seconds…..
FSCKING A COOL $HEEET MAN!!!
I love it, video too!!
That’s what you get you cheap PC b*sterds!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Who knew you needed a fire suit to use a Dull?
Hmmm…this didn’t make it to MDN:
http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/06/apple-laptop-engulfed-in-flames-real.html
“we feel much safer with Apple’s quality vs. all others…” Ba-aah!”
Who says Dell laptops aren’t Hot!
Hot?
Hot??
They are not even cute!!
Another Dell explodes
http://iafrica.com/news/sa/3030.htm
Seems this is a widespread problem, Mac laptop explodes too
http://www.axehole.com/2006/06/05/mac-laptop-explodes-into-flames/
“Probably overclocked”
OMG that’s funny, I hope you’re not serious.
Anyway, the MDN take is dead on, could happen to
anybody. Batteries fail, very unfortunate.
Could be a hoax. If not, probably a cheap battery replacement instead of the real thing.
Who cares. Dell is a piece of shit. And libs are gutless, yellow belly cowards.
With what I’ve heard about the new laptops, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about an apple in flames.
Also, remember, there are FAR fewer apple computers, so logically, there should be far fewer flames.
“there’s no such thing as a chemical imbalance”
Actually there was A scanner in the audience who happened to be an Apple fan that cased it to explode. Long live the new flesh!
anybody wanna buy a used dell laptop?
going for real cheap… lol.
and they say MacBook’s run hot!
“A new feature of Windows Live virus protection?”
William, that’s pretty funny.
Macs burn too. Bullshit.
Apple laptop on fire on pavement. An old, cheap iBook at that. He took it out to the driveway and it caught fire all by itself. Yah right.
It burned on the driveway and he had a still camera and video camera ready to record the event. How convienent.
Who the hell uses a computer on the driveway? This was a staged event, unlike the Dell bursting into flames at a well attended conference.
Someone call 911, the MDN editorial staff has been kidnapped and replaced by someone with objective and coherent remarks.