Powerbook/iBook Battery Recall

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced a product recall of batteries used in various models of it's portable line sold between October 2004 and May 2005. According to the recall, an internal electrical short can occur in the battery cells causing it to overheat, posing a fire threat. The models affected are:

12-inch iBook G4 A1061 HQ441 – HQ507
12-inch PowerBook G4 A1079 3X446 – 3X510
15-inch PowerBook G4 A1078 3X446 – 3X509

Powerbook batteries have previously been subject to recall in August of 2004.

 

[JonMaker]

Yet another good reason to wait for the next rev., IMHO.

 

[uv23]

I was hoping it would be a recall of older batteries. My 1GHz 12" PB now gets 45 min on the battery if I'm lucky. POS.

 

[mainstreetmark]

Man, my eyes didn't get much passed "Powerbook" as the first word of the first rumor before I began to get a bit excited.

Sadness ensued, as battery recalls are not exciting.

 

[Sophipod]

Thats Me

Cool, New I guess i get a new battery

 

[MacNeXT]

I have one of these. Does it also Apply to Europe? Can't find it on www.apple.nl.

 

[mymemory]

Yeah, my 1Ghz is not giving too much time neither but I am having lost of troubles with the Blue Tooth lately. The computer does not recognize my keyboard and mouse and I have to turn it of, take of the batery, unplug the machine and hold the strt button for 5 seconds to reset the internal memory and then is all fine.

I am really waiting for a 12" with lighted keyboard though.

 

[Gizmotoy]

I was hoping it would be a recall of older batteries. My 1GHz 12" PB now gets 45 min on the battery if I'm lucky. POS.

I know of not a single person with a 12" RevB PowerBook that has not had their battery crap out on them. We got screwed on that one... Mine died 3 days after the 1 year warranty was up, obviously Apple chose not to do anything (the AppleCare you purchase does not cover batteries). It literally went from 3 or so hours of life to about 30-40 minutes in something like 2 days. A cell or two must have broken. I had to buy another battery off eBay just to be able to use the machine. Looks like they haven't made any progress in the poor quality battery department... they really need to start pushing whoever supplies these things.

 

[longofest]

Well, at least Apple is taking care of the problem. I know Dell has had to issue similar types of recalls that has affected the school that I work at, so don't think that Apple is the only company that has to issue these kind of recalls from time to time. All companies do. And hey, if you get your lap set on fire, you can get yourself a lawsuit! Just no finger claims please 😉

 

[derspringer]

My serial number not accepted :|

My 12" PB's battery has serial number 3X4530XXXXXX, which seems to be in the recalled range, but Apple's website says it's not valid. Anyone else have that problem?

 

[Grunt]

I hope they get this fixed for the incoming iBook update... would hate to have to delay a purchase because of this 😱

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Yet another good reason to wait for the next rev., IMHO.

Why? I have the rev A iBook G4 and that's not included in the recall. It's just a bad batch of batteries, not a design flaw... 🙄

 

[~Shard~]

Let's hope ths is another improvement (battery quality control) Apple makes when it eventually updates the iBook/PowerBook lines. (Of course, these things do happen...)

I'm still hoping for an announcement by WWDC...

 

[swissmann]

Cool, New I guess i get a new battery

Exactly new free batteries are always nice.

 

[longofest]

My 12" PB's battery has serial number 3X4530XXXXXX, which seems to be in the recalled range, but Apple's website says it's not valid. Anyone else have that problem?

Look for the MODEL number, not the serial number. The Model number will be indicative of if your battery is in the recall.

 

[virividox]

yikes!!! no flaming laptops hopefully

 

[narco]

Well, next time my sister complains that her powerbook is so hot it's burning her leg, I will pay a little more attention to the matter.

Fishes,
narco.

 

[NevadaJack]

Easy solution..buy the 17" PB. I have one for sale on the Marketplace forum and it includes not only the installed battery, but a spare as well. They must be using a different manufacturer or different hook up with the 17" PB because it has not been subject to this problem.

 

[munkle]

I know of not a single person with a 12" RevB PowerBook that has not had their battery crap out on them. We got screwed on that one... Mine died 3 days after the 1 year warranty was up, obviously Apple chose not to do anything (the AppleCare you purchase does not cover batteries). It literally went from 3 or so hours of life to about 30-40 minutes in something like 2 days. A cell or two must have broken. I had to buy another battery off eBay just to be able to use the machine. Looks like they haven't made any progress in the poor quality battery department... they really need to start pushing whoever supplies these things.

Count me in with the crap battery crew. My Rev B gets about 1-1.5 hours of battery time, if I'm not doing anything intensive.

 

[hob]

Count me in with the crap battery crew. My Rev B gets about 1-1.5 hours of battery time, if I'm not doing anything intensive.

In the last 3 months I've noticed the battery's just crapped out on my Rev B (I think it's Rev B - 1GHz G4 Powerbook 12"...) anyhoo - yes. Only 1:20 or so when just using it normally... And I will have to buy a new one eventually - I'm not covered on this recall... Unless... 😀

 

[shambolic]

Look for the MODEL number, not the serial number. The Model number will be indicative of if your battery is in the recall.

It's a combination of both - my 15" Powerbook (latest model) does have the model of battery that's being recalled (A1078), but my serial is 3K501, whereas the recalled range is 3X446-509.

Which apparently means I'm safe from having my desk/pants/whatever burst into flame while using my PB. *fingers crossed* 😱

 

[johnnowak]

Mmmhm. Same here. 1:20 when idling, as low as 0:40 under heavy stress. Bleh!

 

[nFinity]

My model number is A1079 but my serial starts with 3K50 - so this doesn't apply to me?

 

[munkle]

In the last 3 months I've noticed the battery's just crapped out on my Rev B (I think it's Rev B - 1GHz G4 Powerbook 12"...) anyhoo - yes. Only 1:20 or so when just using it normally... And I will have to buy a new one eventually - I'm not covered on this recall... Unless... 😀

Yeah, that's the Rev B, sounds like we got a bum deal. I was hoping the recall would cover us lot as well...bugger!

 

[SiliconAddict]

Recalls are good. Less you have the following happen..... 😱

Sorry if I made people cry or faint. Poor PowerBook. Where do PowerBooks go when they die? 😕 😀