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Apple Recalls 1.8 Million Batteries

Like a lot of people, my serial (3K437...) falls in the stated range for 12" PBs, but the Apple site says it's not valid/doesn't qualify. It was doing that this morning when the story very first broke (long before the site went down or even got slow), and it's still doing it now. The battery has been going fine for almost 2 years, and I don't expect to explode tomorrow, but it would be nice to get a new one.
 
Hmmm...

I, too, have a number in the range affected but am getting turned down by the website. Interestingly, when I changed the last letter of the serial number I entered from "a" to "b," it was accepted! I am wondering whether in fact not all batteries in the range are being recalled and Apple is just doing a bad job of communicating (as someone on Macintouch suggested).
 
I'm not sure why so many people are having trouble.. the website worked (albeit very slowly) for me. It reported that both my computer and battery were elegible for the recall, I filled out the form, and voila. The confirmation email I just got said it might be as long as 4-6 weeks. Hope everyone's luck starts to turn around.
 
MY GOD

I just woke up from a nap and have at least a DOZEN e-mails from PC-owning friends and famailies saying stuff like "What's up with your boys?!?!?!"

I kindly link them to the 4.1 million Dell's being recalled. :D

Can someone link whatever is the VALID page for this?

Lots of conflicting information around...
 
iGary said:
MY GOD

I just woke up from a nap and have at least a DOZEN e-mails from PC-owning friends and famailies saying stuff like "What's up with your boys?!?!?!"

I kindly link them to the 4.1 million Dell's being recalled. :D
Click to expand...
My girlfriend is having a field-day. Being a Dell fan-girl, I was like nyahhhh your laptop's gonna explode.

Now she's getting her own back :(
 
My laptop has been very hot to the touch recently, and my battery only holds a 24% charge. I wonder if this has anything to do with it.

Oh well, my order for a new battery has been placed. Thank you, Sony!
 
hob said:
My girlfriend is having a field-day. Being a Dell fan-girl, I was like nyahhhh your laptop's gonna explode.
Click to expand...

Gotta watch out where you apply that schadenfreude. It often comes back to bite you in the end!

That's exactly how I felt when I first heard about Dell's big safety recall, knowing it was a matter of time before Apple followed suit because of their own extensive use of Sony batteries.

My girlfriend is also a Windows user, but she's no fan-girl. She says her ThinkPad T43 will be her last PC. :)
 
Sigh. None of the batteries I have for my 12" PowerBook are covered, not even the one that the Apple store recommended I stop using due to the excessive heat (which died 5 days out of warranty and Apple would do nothing about). Sucks.
 
Wow! The battery on my october 2003 iBook completely died ages ago (killed by a faulty power supply), and I haven't been able to justify the cost of a new one. Now I'm getting a new battery free!! Sweet!

In the mean time... unplugging the little sucker. No exploding iBooks in my office! ;)

PS: iBook batteries ZZ338 - ZZ427 are also mentioned on the exchange website, but not in the MR front page story.
 
jaduffy108 said:
I *knew* there was a reason I bought the 17".... :p
Click to expand...

I wonder why it doesn't include the 17". I purchased the latest model G4 17" PB and I am sure it uses the same type of Sony batteries. It's just that the 17" runs a little cooler because there is more room and surface area to disipate the heat.

I hope this isn't just a money saving issue on Apple's part and that the 17" PB batteries aren't defective also.
 
My iBook qualifies and I just went through the process. Website says Apple will send a new battery, then I have to send the old one back. My old one is doing just fine, does anyone know what will happen if I don't send it back? I'd rather have two good batteries, even if one may explode (1 in a million chance).
 
Charleson Mambo said:
This Apple page shows much shorter serial number ranges that the original MacRumors article.

http://www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange/faq/

So which is it? The Apple page has to be considered official, but the MacRumors article would get me a brand new battery. :confused: :p


Charleson Mambo
Click to expand...

Good question. The FAQ you've linked to quotes:

FAQ.png


While the actual recall site, https://support.apple.com/ibook_powerbook/batteryexchange/ (which is linked from the FAQ site) quotes:

Recall.png


I expect the dust will settle, eventually.
 
I'm pretty surprised by coverage of these stories so far.

It's basically

Exploding DELL & APPLE batteries, manufactured by sony.



It really should be

SONY, who can't even build batteries worth a **** anymore let alone anything else, has screwed the pooch for Dell and Apple.
 
beethovengirl said:
Do we have to shut down our computer before removing the battery?

thanks! :)
Click to expand...
Nope, you don't need to shut down before removing the battery.

I was just thinking of this

So you can't take any liquids on an airplane but you can bring your exploding Dell laptop? :)
 
Sesshi said:
I'm pretty surprised by coverage of these stories so far.

It's basically

Exploding DELL & APPLE batteries, manufactured by sony.



It really should be

SONY, who can't even build batteries worth a **** anymore let alone anything else, has screwed the pooch for Dell and Apple.
Click to expand...


Well Apple certainly got more sensational coverage over their recall. Hence the Apple haters in my life barraging me with BS. :rolleyes:
 
I finally got through again.

First time, it came back and said both the computer and battery were ineligible. After checking the Pbook's serial number again, I realized I had a digit wrong. Fixed that, and it came through and asked for my address. I then got a confirmation page, and got an email a few minutes later. So keep trying.

For the record:
15 in. Powerbook G4 purchased in June 2005
Battery serial number started with: 3K521
 
eva01 said:
what do you think it means?


And i called apple, they basically told me tough luck right now and i will have to wait basically till tomorrow to check the website because they are still updating it

Because the tech tried to input everything on his side and it wouldn't accept it either.
Click to expand...

Does it mean that apple takes your battery back whether you like it or not? Because it might explode?
 
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