The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size: Select small text. Select medium text. Select large text.

DealsOnTheWeb Daily Deal: OneCall's Weekend Sale - 20 Great Items at Great Prices All Weekend Long

IBM, Lenovo Recall 526,000 Laptop Batteries

by , 3:30 PM EDT, September 28th, 2006

IBM and Lenovo on Thursday joined the recall of laptop batteries manufactured by Sony, announcing that 526,000 batteries found in ThinkPad portables worldwide are part of the program. On Monday, the news broke that a ThinkPad with a Sony battery burst into flames at the Los Angeles International Airport last weekend.

According to an Associated Press article, 168,500 of the recalled batteries were sold in the United States. IBM and Lenovo are both involved because the batteries in question were sold between February 2005 and September 2006, and IBM sold its computer division to Lenovo in May 2005.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that last Saturday's incident didn't appear linked to the problems plaguing Sony-made batteries used in Apple and Dell laptops that have been recalled, but IBM and Lenovo initiated the action "as a precaution, given Sony's past problems."

Lenovo has set up a Web page where consumers can receive more information.

Digg!

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:brett_x Posts: 312 Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:57 pm Subject: Spanking time.

This must be what it's like to have your company's pants down. Everyone should form a line for a chance at the spanking.

"..given Sony's past problems". Nice of them to blame Sony for them not recalling their product like the other responsible manufacturers did.

I wonder if it would have been any different if IBM hadn't sold that devision to Lenovo.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Terrin Posts: 357 Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:29 pm Subject: Understanding How Things Work

The only reason Apple and Dell recalled the defective product is because 1) Sony agreed to reimburse them for the battery replacement costs, and 2) the US government pressured them to do so.

IBM is not going to recall a product just because one person's battery catches on fire. No company is. Instead, it acted responsibily by reporting the incident to the appropraite US government agency. If the agency sees a trend, it will likely pressure the parties to agree to a recall.

The only reason IBM is making a joint statement with Lenovo is likely because as a condition of the sale, IBM agreed to be responsible for any damages caused by products prior to the sale.



Quote
brett_x wrote:
Nice of them to blame Sony for them not recalling their product like the other responsible manufacturers did.

I wonder if it would have been any different if IBM hadn't sold that devision to Lenovo.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:deasys Posts: 259 Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:22 am Subject:

Quote
Terrin wrote:
The only reason Apple and Dell recalled the defective product is because 1) Sony agreed to reimburse them for the battery replacement costs, and 2) the US government pressured them to do so...

IBM...acted responsibily by reporting the incident to the appropraite US government agency.


Hmm...let me see if I understand what you're saying: Apple and Dell did it because there was no cost to them and they were forced; IBM did it because it's an upstanding, ethical company. Have I got that right?

Say what?


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:brett_x Posts: 312 Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:30 pm Subject: Re: Understanding How Things Work

Quote
Terrin wrote:
The only reason Apple and Dell recalled the defective product is because 1) Sony agreed to reimburse them for the battery replacement costs, and 2) the US government pressured them to do so.


I think you need to cite your sources. I haven't been able to find that information anywhere.


 Reply | Quote
Comment on this Article

Show:   comments per page.   Save Settings
Guest Posts Hidden. View Them.
Back to top  Page 1 of 1    

You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.
Log in | Register | Having Problems? Reset TMO Cookies & Try Again
Username:   Password:   Log me on automatically each visit   

You are not logged in, and this post will appear as "Guest." Log in with your username and password from the TMO forums. If you do not have a username, you can register here.
Please note that guests are limited to including a maximum of two URLs per post.

Post A Comment
  Subject


  Your Comments



Please enter the word exactly as you see it in the image above. Registered users aren't prompted for this. Having trouble reading the image get a new one.

Recent Headlines - Updated Friday, July 4th, 2008

Fri., 7:30 AM
Happy Fourth of July!
Thu., 4:50 PM
Apple Slashes $400 from SSD Drive in MacBook Air
4:05 PM
It's Official - Firefox Sets Guinness Record for Downloads
3:30 PM
Apple Files Patent for a Multi-touch Gesture Language
2:20 PM
Editorial - Mac's Market Share and the Cascade Failure of Windows
1:35 PM
iPodObserver - Apple Slurps Up Samsung's NAND Flash for iPhone 3G
1:05 PM
WSJ: Tips for Switching from Windows to Mac
12:05 PM
iPodObserver - Google Intros Google Talk for iPhone
11:35 AM
iPO Just a Thought - iPod nano Versus iPhone: Decisons, Decisions...
10:55 AM
YouTube Ordered to Turn Over All User Records to Viacom
10:10 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Apple vs. Cell Carriers: Who's Winning the Game
9:25 AM
iPodObserver - Rumor: Best Buy, Radio Shack to Sell iPhone 3G
8:45 AM
.Mac Bookmark Sync Deadline Extended to July 6
8:10 AM
Adobe Reader 9 Hits the Streets
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials
  • Special Report: WWDC 2008
  • Special Report: iPhone
  • __________
  • Help TMO Grow
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!
  • New Media Expo 2008

Apple Stock Quote

  • AAPL: $170.12. Change Today: +1.94.
  • (Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
  • Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

What's the buzz? These articles have TMO readers talking.

Apple iTunes

Top Deals From DealsOnTheWeb