“Qantas is seeking advice on whether it should place restrictions on the use of Apple Mac notebooks on its aircraft, following the computer maker’s recall of 1.8 million batteries today,” Dan Warne reports for APC Magazine.
Warne reports, “A Qantas spokesman told APC this afternoon that the company was seeking further information on the precise risk posed by the batteries in Apple PowerBooks and iBooks, and whether they posed the same risk as Dell batteries. ‘We have put limitations on Dell computers and at this stage we are awaiting further information from Apple,’ said the spokesman.”
“Dell seems to be delighted that Apple has recalled the batteries, dedicating a whole post on its Direct2Dell blog commending Apple on the move,” Warne reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Now, if Qantas finds reason to impose restrictions on Apple’s old PowerBooks and iBooks, do you think they would they get it right and allow Apple’s current model lines of unaffected MacBooks and MacBook Pros through?
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple to recall 1.8 million Sony-made iBook G4, PowerBook G4 batteries – August 24, 2006
Qantas first airline to restrict in-flight Dell laptop use due to fire-prone batteries – August 23, 2006
having lived 10 years down under I hope they would get it right.
“Oh no, that’s my modified Powerbook that has a new Intel processor inside it…. See? You can let me take it on board.”
I’m flyinh up to the Gold Coast next week from Newcastle. Work booked the flight so I don’t know who I’m flying with, but I want to be able to use my MacBook on the flight…
MW = “north” ie Gold Coast is north of Newcastle
With the worldwide threat of terrorism, I think all electronic devices should be banned from airlines. Also, all flamable clothing, especially satins, silks and other materials that bras and panties are made of. If that were the case I might start flying Virgin Airlines.
Dell doesn’t have anything to crow about. I haven’t heard any stories of PowerBooks or iBooks bursting into flames and burning down houses or burning up trucks like we’ve seen coming from their laptops. Apple used the same supplier as they did, so they’re recalling the batteries too, so what? At least they aren’t using the faulty batteries on any of their current notebooks unlike Dell.
… and an even more interesting question: what if I’ve got my _new_ battery for my powerbook after the recall (I just filled out the recall form this morning)? How can I prove to Quantas that I’m using a safe battery? Are they going to have lists of serial numbers or something so I can show them???
That would really tick me off if I had a safe battery but wasn’t allowed to use it
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Judging by the amount of fuctards that can’t read the actual details that are calling the Apple Stores every 2 seconds asking if their “MacBooks are going to explode”, I’d be prepared for equally stupid hamfisted moves such as broadly banning “Macs” for this reason.
Of course news outlets are increasing clicksthroughs and TV news shows are using the story to tease viewers to wait to see the segment at the near end of broadcast (to maximize ad viewing) by saying things like “Is your Apple affected by the battery recall?” (CNN.com) and “Apple recalls laptop (sic) batteries” (BBC.com)
GEE, if they said “Is your iBook/Powerbook battery affected by the recall?” it might cut down on such stupidity. And if BBC would have said “Apple recalls certain iBook/Powerbook batteries” we could 1. help users understand they aren’t meant for laps, 2. help people see that it is a limited set of products affected and 3. show that it isn’t “all” batteries Apple sells.
But that assumes the media cares about giving people accurate information up-front LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
Of course media is only in it for the buck by creating FUD and techno angst…
Some media in Canada are reporting that Apple and Dell are recalling laptop batteries that cause computers to burst into flame.
Ignorant bastards.
The world would be truly a better place without CNN and the BBC. Media B. Idiots is correct, except I would eliminate the “techno” qualifier in his last sentence. It is more accurate this way:
“Of course media is only in it for the buck by creating FUD and angst…”
oh come one… do you REALLY expect ticket counter girls to tell the difference between macbooks and ibooks?
They’re practically identical looking.
ALL macbooks will be banned, in fact, probably including clamshells and pismos.
if it says MacBook or MacBook Pro on it, its OK. Is that hard?
Carlo,
Have you been in an airport recently? You could take all of the baggage screeners’ IQs, add them together, and not break 100.
A friend tried to get his G5 iMac through inpection for carry on and nobody could figure out what it was. “Computer” just wasn’t computing with them. Finally told them it was a monitor and they let it pass.
Only one inspector out of 23 who have inspected this machine recognized it as a computer at first glance.
Why hasn’t there been a recall on the Vaio? Are you telling me Sony doesn’t use their own batteries?
Hard hard: the exact same thing happened to me when I was carrying my iMac G5.
I told them it’s a flat TV then they understood, otherwise they just didnt seem to get what I meant by “computer”, lol
Sony makes sure to sell the GOOD ones.
The LESSER batteries are sold to Dell (understandable) and Apple…
Just thought you you would enjoy the first two response’s (and so far only two) to the page.
Jake said:
I applaud Dell for being the first to step up and take care of thier customers. Now, just keep it up.
August 24, 2006 3:46 PM
Margaret said:
I may sound dumb, but I have read both CPSC announcements. Apple states incidents of overheating and Dell states incidents of actual fires. So my question is, when are you required to report to the CPSC? Additionally, I read the piece in the NYTimes where you did not address the number of systems returned for melting and overheating. Does each manufacturer have its own reporting standards?
August 24, 2006 6:34 PM
My daughters 15″ iBook was NOT on the list for battery recall as of yesterday.
Make that a 14″.
Quantas and all the other airlines should place same restrictions on all laptop computers. It is not that much of incovinience. You run your laptop computer off battery power or power from aircraft with laptop battery removed. Not a problem. Sony is being singled out on this one, but all Li-ion batteries should be a suspect.
For me, the glass is half full.
I get to trade in my (trouble free) 3-year-old battery for a new one, free of charge!
Just thought people here you would enjoy the first two response’s (and so far only two) to Dell’s Direct2Dell blog.
Jake said:
I applaud Dell for being the first to step up and take care of thier customers. Now, just keep it up.
August 24, 2006 3:46 PM
Margaret said:
I may sound dumb, but I have read both CPSC announcements. Apple states incidents of overheating and Dell states incidents of actual fires. So my question is, when are you required to report to the CPSC? Additionally, I read the piece in the NYTimes where you did not address the number of systems returned for melting and overheating. Does each manufacturer have its own reporting standards?
August 24, 2006 6:34 PM