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Posted: **2006-06-21 12:01pm**

Dell laptop explodes at Japanese conference

INQ reader's amazing snaps

By INQUIRER newsdesk: Wednesday 21 June 2006, 13:22

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.
Guilhem, our astonished reader reports: "The damn thing was on fire and produced several explosions for more than five minutes".

Should you witness such an event, his advice is, "Don't try anything courageous/stupid, stay away, away, away!"

"For the record, this is a Dell machine," notes Guilhem. "It is only a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane," he suggests.

Guilhem managed to catch all the action in these amazing pictures.

"Fire extinguishers leave a mess on your suit and belongings; pack your stuff (if you can) and leave, leave, leave!" he advises.

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. Ouch.

*Boom*

Posted: **2006-06-21 12:03pm**

...Suddenly I'm not so happy with having bought a Dell machine. I am going to personally strangle the guy who recommended it to me.

Posted: **2006-06-21 12:09pm**

Reads new thread on SD.net, looks to right at Dell laptop on desk, looks back at picture.... goes in search of closest fire extinguisher

Posted: **2006-06-21 12:10pm**

Well... now we know who builds the bridge consoles in Star Trek...

Posted: **2006-06-21 12:11pm**

I await people proclaiming Dells to be good machines to start apologizing now.

Posted: **2006-06-21 12:12pm**

And to think I was actually eyeing a dell laptop recently. *Scratches that off list fo things to buy*

Posted: **2006-06-21 12:32pm**

ZOMGWTF DELL = t3H 3v1L t3rr0r15tS!!!!(shift+101)

That aside, I guess AMD + NVIDIA + Laptop = awesome pyrotechnics.

Posted: **2006-06-21 12:44pm**

General Zod wrote:I await people proclaiming Dells to be good machines to start apologizing now.

Fuck yes I love my Dell, no hassle and every part works without any problems.

But I would just love to see a video of the exploding laptop

And my portable is a IBM, no one gets fired for buying IBM

Posted: **2006-06-21 01:10pm**

So what, the battery exploded or something?

Posted: **2006-06-21 01:18pm**

InnocentBystander wrote:So what, the battery exploded or something?

It would almost certainly be the battery. There's a reason the box of lithium batteries my company ordered has an explosives warning sticker on the side of it.

Edit: Actually, its an unstable materials sticker. Still, they can ruin your day.

Posted: **2006-06-21 01:33pm**

Must have been the battery. There isn't anything else volatile enough in a laptop computer to cause that. That's not something that happens all that often, though. Cell phone batteries are basically vary similar if not the same, and there haven't been all that many stories of those exploding despite there being vastly more cell phones than laptop computers.

Edi

Posted: **2006-06-21 01:51pm**

Would a lithium battery produce 'several' explosions?

Posted: **2006-06-21 01:52pm**

InnocentBystander wrote:Would a lithium battery produce 'several' explosions?

May have been two batteries, or just parts of the same battery cooking off?

Posted: **2006-06-21 02:52pm**

Elheru Aran wrote:
InnocentBystander wrote:Would a lithium battery produce 'several' explosions?
May have been two batteries, or just parts of the same battery cooking off?

Probably the individual cells within the battery pack.
Dell has a battery recall for certain models because of the risk of fire.
Maybe this guy didn't know about the recall program?

Posted: **2006-06-21 02:57pm**

Edi wrote:Must have been the battery. There isn't anything else volatile enough in a laptop computer to cause that. That's not something that happens all that often, though. Cell phone batteries are basically vary similar if not the same, and there haven't been all that many stories of those exploding despite there being vastly more cell phones than laptop computers.

Edi

I looked into this when I bought a 'Nokia' brand battery from an ebay seller and the damn thing got *real* hot when charging.
It turns out that almost all of the cellphone battery fire issues that I read about involve counterfeit branded batteries.

Posted: **2006-06-21 02:58pm**

Oh, that image is just priceless. I'm e-mailing that to my brother, who seems to have a thing for Dells and Macs.

Posted: **2006-06-21 03:09pm**

If my dell explodes, I will sue dell for the many DVD's, exspensive desktop it sits next too, LCD projector, and pain/anguishment..

Posted: **2006-06-21 03:13pm**

Laird wrote:If my dell explodes, I will sue dell for the many DVD's, exspensive desktop it sits next too, LCD projector, and pain/anguishment..

But if it did because the battery was one that was under recall you might lose because thanks to this thread, you are now aware of the Dell Battery Recall Program.

Posted: **2006-06-21 03:23pm**

Laird wrote:If my dell explodes, I will sue dell for the many DVD's, exspensive desktop it sits next too, LCD projector, and pain/anguishment..

If you're still alive to do that.

Posted: **2006-06-21 03:55pm**

Glocksman wrote:I looked into this when I bought a 'Nokia' brand battery from an ebay seller and the damn thing got *real* hot when charging.
It turns out that almost all of the cellphone battery fire issues that I read about involve counterfeit branded batteries.

That's correct. I've seen one near-explosion from a cell phone battery, and that was with a well-used one that had developed a fault. It started smoking and almost wrecked my friend's phone, but didn't blow up. Shoddy counterfeits on the other hand have been known to go boom.

Edi

Posted: **2006-06-21 05:10pm**

Dooey Jo wrote:Well... now we know who builds the bridge consoles in Star Trek...

LMAO!!! The exploding consoles of death finally make sense!

Posted: **2006-06-21 05:13pm**

So that's why you don't see commercials with the "Dude, you're getting a Dell" guy anymore...

Posted: **2006-06-21 06:57pm**

YT300000 wrote:So that's why you don't see commercials with the "Dude, you're getting a Dell" guy anymore...

IIRC, he was arrested for illegal drug use. I believe the correct term was, "Dude, you're getting a cell!"

Posted: **2006-06-21 08:51pm**

I find myself noticing the glass of water on that table to the left on that picture, and what looks like a jug on the very right..

Posted: **2006-06-22 12:44am**

Cao Cao wrote:I find myself noticing the glass of water on that table to the left on that picture, and what looks like a jug on the very right..

Water is very, VERY bad for an electrical fire, which this almost assuredly was.