USA Today Uses RESCUECOM as Source for Information on Laptop Battery Issues

Battery basics

More than 7 million Sony laptop batteries are being recalled because of a manufacturing flaw making them susceptible to dangerous overheating. Here's what you can do:

• Determine if the battery your laptop uses is under recall by Dell, Toshiba, Apple, Lenovo/IBM or Fujitsu. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for getting a replacement.



• Be alert if your battery begins to hiss, the first sign of dangerous overheating. Power down your laptop and remove the battery immediately.



• If your battery is covered by a recall notice, do not use it on airplane flights.



• If your battery is not yet covered by a recall notice, set up a free Google Alerts reminder to e-mail you about any news about your laptop. Use the manufacturer name and model number as keywords.
• Never use off-brand batteries as replacements.

Source: Rescuecom

By the numbers

Maker: Dell

Suspect batteries delivered: 4.2 million

Laptops delivered: 22 million

Dates of delivery: April 2004{ndash}July 2006

Units with those batteries: 18/textformat>

Maker: Apple

Suspect batteries delivered: 1.8 million

Laptops delivered: 5.6 million

Dates of delivery: October 2003{ndash}August 2006

Units with suspect batteries: 32

Maker: Lenovo/IBM

Suspect batteries delivered: 526,000

Laptops delivered: 8.1 million

Dates of delivery: February 2005 - September 2006

Units with suspect batteries: 6