Dell, Inc. recalls batteries
Faulty hardware contains high risk for explosion
by Kelly Conniff, contributing writer
Posted on August 28, 2006

Dell, Inc., the world’s largest personal computer maker, recalled about 4.1 million computers on Aug. 14 due to the risk of overheated batteries potentially causing the appliance to catch fire.

This recall is considered the largest electronics-related recall issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

The recall specifically affected Dell laptops shipped between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006. Popular notebook models such as the Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Precision were affected.

“I was really upset when I heard about the recall,” said junior Kim Marchuk. “I never thought I would be affected because so many people have Dells.”

The recall is specifically tied to the Japanese-made Sony batteries used in Dell computers. The affected batteries have extra shards of loose metal in the cells, which can cause them to short circuit and overheat.

This news was frightening to many, but especially to JMU students who have purchased Dell computers, many through the JMU Bookstore Computer Purchase Program.

“I had a scary moment when I was watching the news and saw that Dell laptops were overheating,” said junior Ashley Gutshall. “I ran upstairs and unplugged it until I figured out if my computer was one of the ones they were talking about.”

In order to figure out if their battery is damaged, users have been prompted to call a provided phone line or visit dellbatteryprogram.com. The Web site presents a guide where affected computers are named. If the battery is defective, users can request a new battery through the Web site.

Dell, Inc. promises a new battery, free of charge, to any user with an affected battery.

Despite this, getting in touch with the company has proved to be frustrating for many students. “I called a few times, but I kept getting a busy signal, so finally I went online and requested a new battery through the Web site.

Dell Inc. promises a new battery, free of charge, to any user with an affected battery.

Despite this, getting in touch with the company has proved to be frustrating for many students. “I called a few times, but I kept getting a busy signal, so finally I went online and requested a new battery through the Web site,” Marchuck said. “I was surprised at how easy the process was.”

Although replacing batteries can be done, many worry about the fate of Dell Inc. and the possible profit loss that could come from this entire recall. The Washington Post quotes analysts who estimate a cost between $200 and $400 million.

Even though there are many potential outcomes for the company, some consumers are happy that Dell recognized the problem and how they handled it.

“They realized they made a mistake and were willing to own up to it and fix it,” Gutshall said. “I don’t think we can ask for much more than that at this point.