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.
Gaston, 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 Gaston. "It is only
a matter of time until such an incident breaks out on a plane," he
suggests.
Our witness 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.
See Also
Dell recalls 22,000 batteries
Dell recalls a million faulty AC adaptors
Dell notebook adaptor fault: Not many killed
Dell probes incendiary laptop incident
By Tony Smith
28th June 2006 13:05 GMT
Dell is investigating allegations that one of its laptops underwent
spontaneous combustion in Japan earlier this month. Pictures
purporting to show the machine in conflagrante, as it were, popped
up on the internet last week.
According to Reuters, the naughty notebook is now back in the
manufacturer's hands. Dell technicians have begun to dissect the
machine's remains to see if they can figure out why it apparently
proved so flammable.
No one was hurt in the small blaze, which took place during a
conference held in Osaka. Speculation has centred on an issue with
the notebook's battery. However, a Dell spokeswoman told the
newsagency no conclusions had yet been drawn. ®
So,
you still dare to buy Dell laptops? 
