You dont see this happening with any HPs thats forsure.

Microsoft and Yahoo Connect Instant Messaging Clients In a tacit acknowledgement that they are failing...

The 'Exploding Dell Laptop' is symptomatic of all that is wrong with the once pre-eminent PC Seller. Service/Support is an abomination. Product lines are less than innovative. Pricing has stagnated.... I do hope that Dell will be capable of reclaiming its place as a market leader in the PC Seller arena.

What do they expect, Batteries from China (substandard) and Service reps in India HMM... or is that HP, or both???

Dell has been engulfed by the beareacratic culture of big business. It has become a wobbling giant. It seems to have lost its north, if it ever had one. I used to be a Dell customer, but I soon became disappointed with its products. Little expansion possibilities in too many of the more affordable models, repair limitations because motherboards, PSUs, etc. just wouldn't fit in their made to order boxes (not to mention the exasperation of its often weird installed software curable only with a clean install). Then customer service degraded significantly with outsourcing (initial trials were atrocitious, apparently was given up for a while, then renewed). Its hardware and sofware combinations are frequently atrocious and quite limited. Their store was just too expensive, especially for spare parts. So one moves on to try luck elsewhere. I have no ill will against Dell. I still look at what they have to offer, and just don't like what they have to offer. Besides, their website is just too 'uncomfortable' to surf. It could be easier and much more pleasant and inviting. Dell, like so many other American companies, took the so-called "company loyalty" for granted. They forgot that loyalty, like love, has to be reciprocated with good products, good service, good warranties, good everything relevant to a healthy and mutually beneficial business relationship. Unfortunately, I found that Dell didn't understand this, or just lost its customer loyalty as it grew bigger ---and older---. Dell went its way and so did I. I then decided to build my own PC. It it has lasted me much longer than my Dell. Sure, eventually a PSU, motherboard and my floppy went south. A few calls and a short trip was all it took me to fix it within 24 hrs. Maybe there are too many stories like mine, or worse, that have made so many feel vindicated in their decision to part ways with Dell, and with many other American companies. If price is going to be the main parameter for consumers, so be it. It's ironic, American industry had one of its COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES in the service areas and it has given it up for cheap labor, more profits (mostly to impress Wall Street and increase the price of their stock), while neglecting their products and their customers. This, in turn, isn't helping the biggest economy the world has ever seen. The very same economy that made them rich and prosperous. In conclusion, who can really blame those who relish a Dell mishap? After all, anger and frustration can be effective motivators.... James C. Kinard Urban Planner-Sytems Analyst

Dell's business model has changed to where they don't trust their own product to outlast even a 1 year warranty. So why is a laptop exploding any surprise. A standard laptop battery contains as much as 90 watt hours of energy. Couple that with the desire for rapid charge and discharge capability and you now have a chemical energy stored charge that can be measured in microtons of tnt. Now add the fact that Dell doesn't actually warranty their product, they only insure them for loss of product. Loss of data does not matter to them and is not insured or guaranteed in any way. What little their warranty (which is mostly a disclaimer anyways) covers specificly does NOT cover collateral damage caused by using cheaper process methods and unrated batteries.

Dells exploding laptop I don't think it should be any surprise to anyone that a battery exploded, come on every battery you see has the warning on it. We generally don't concern ourselves with the warnings because it doesn't often hit the news when one explodes. At least Dell was interested enough to look at it, I had a monitor burst into flames once and the well known manufacturer had no interest in why at all. I suspect they already knew the monitors burst into flames now and again. My son has a portable computer, again by a well known manufacturer that gets so hot that you can't keep it on your lap, even wearing jeans. It's at the point now such that it won't stay on. I think it's something we have to accept, as we do know that our television sets can start on fire anytime, as they often do. We're hearing about this one, likely because it was recorded on video and the need for some people to bash someone at every chance. PC Mag doesn't have enough space to write about every electronic piece of equipment that burns or explodes in the US and Canada daily.

Jim D has a good point. Also, I thought that the Laptop was plugged into an AC adaptor, which gives a short-circuit access to a lot of power.

Doesn't surprise me that a battery blows once in a while. They do have warnings on them. I wonder if inadequate ventilation of the laptop bottom was a problem. The photo posted shows the laptop was placed on a tablecloth -- a few wrinkles under the unit and ventilation is kaput. I have always placed laptops on hard surfaces, even propped the backs up on something to ensure good bottom ventilation. They get hot under there! I bought a Dell laptop over a year ago which has given me good service. A key came off the keyboard a week after I recieved it, and I had a replacement keyboard the next day. I was impressed that this was very easy to swap out as well. The tougher stuff was having to reinstall Norton Antivirus after its "uploader" died. That was a far more protracted hassle, and it wasn't a Dell product, nor was it modified for Dell. Can't blame Dell for that. Years ago I heard Dell made a desktop unit with mainboard and power supply which had non-standard ATX power connectors. If either failed and you installed a retail unit, you blew it up, along with remaining Dell PSU or mainboard. I've steered clear of buying anybody's retail desktop since 1995 in favor of building my own anyway. Avoids crippled BIOSes and other hidden "proprietary" weirdness designed to lock you into high priced replacement parts!

Exploding and/or spontaneously burning Li batteries have been a persistent problem for laptop manufacturers going on for decades. HP has had several as has Compaq before their marriage, Mac is in the crowd, along with several others. In a few cases there have been general "battery recalls," with consistent "damage control" anti-publicity to avoid general knowledge or more than incidental publicity. The real problem lies with the battery makers, whose "wall of silence," even for qualified technical (OEM buyers) questions make the Watergate crowd look like amateurs.

I have 2 Dell notebooks that lasted less than 1 1/2 years. Both were used by my 2 kids, 21 and 18. Being a PC user for the last 25 years, I taught them how to "fix" the problems they encountered. Nothing I taught them helped when they called Dell. They both gave up saying "How do you do it, Dad?" Turned out both problems were with the batteries, which somehow messed up other things to the point that a MB went bad and the other wasn't worth the repair bill. My oldest daughter bought another Dell 1 year ago because of great pricing thru the Navy. The constant problems she has had (replaced HD), reinstalling all software, missing drivers, etc. has convinced No Dell from now on.

I have a Dell 8600 laptop that I have had for a couple of years. After I had it for about 9 months, the computer would get super hot which would make the fan run. Sometimes the fan would run when I was not even using the computer. I contacted Dell and they did some Bio thing and it quit happening. Several months later, my battery failed and I had to get a new one. I contacted Dell and tried to tell them that my battery failed due to it being used so much due to the fan running both when I was using the computer and also just when the laptop randomly overheated. It seemed to me that if it did not have the Bio problem then then the fan would not have had to run and the battery would not have been used so much and it would not have failed so soon. I know that it eventually would fail, but I do not really even use it that much. First, of course, I spoke with some foreign customer svc person who said his name was Charlie or Bill when I am sure it was some name that I would be unable to pronounce. He could not help me, so I got sent to the "escalation dept" which is, I think, where the devil works. I had to talk to some horrible customer service person that tried to make me feel like a complete idiot and also feel like I was trying to steal something from Dell. He gave me to some other voicemail where I had to leave a message and no one ever called me back. Go figure. I hate Dell, and I will never buy another product from them.

Jim D wrote: "My son has a portable computer, again by a well known manufacturer that gets so hot that you can't keep it on your lap, even wearing jeans. It's at the point now such that it won't stay on." Does the manufacturer's name begin with the letter "A," and is the exhaust vent placed such that a right-handed mouse-user will toast his or hand? If so: place coasters under the corners, making sure not to block the fan grille on the underside. (I use Legos, actually.) My company has since replaced my overheating laptop, but it still works when rigged for improved air circulation. (Well, sort of works. The CD/DVD drive also died.) HTH.

I own a portable computer, HP, with the same problem. The air doesn't circulate if it sits on a desk. Sometimes it gets so hot I have to turn off the computer for a while. It helped (not much) to connect a cooling tray- one that connects thru USB, it goes under the computer -

I have to add this, in most any large computer store, including tiger direct on the web, there is a vast number of cooling fans for laptops. Since there are so many of them, starting at $25 I have to assume that laptop overheating is a normal problem. I bought a Dell laptop and before I used it I had a cooling fan. It consists of two fans, they have 3 speeds, and I went a little further and got an all in one card reader and 4 USB ports on the unit. This one, with the extras was about $60 Can., it is powered by a USB port on the laptop, it has no weight, it folds for easily putting it into a bag. After seeing my sons laptop (which I also got him a fan for, but was likely too late) heat so hot, I wouldn't even buy a laptop with out having a cooling fan for it. They don't sell replacement drives because drives never go bad. I have to assume they wouldn't sell cooling fans unless it was a fairly normal problem for laptops to get hot. Often stores will sell a system and claim, "This is all you need" I think that is likely because that's all they have in stock. When they should be suggesting a cooling fan. I have to add that I have used every brand of laptop I can think of and they all get hot. I would suspect that the older they get the more likely they are to get hot. Sometimes a call to Dell service can help resolve overheating I guess, and I understand the service has improved in the past while. However, if I have a problem with dell that cannot be resolved by phone calls, I write to the dept. at Dell and make myself perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, I have always got satisfaction after an email to the correct Dept. at Dell, give it a try if you have problems.

Yea !! I wasnt suprised I had done all the proping for the vents and still mine overheated, and to the point I decided it was to dangerous to run anymore. I even bought a new one rather than take the risk anymore. Gone back to desk top..I called for help and couldnt get a straight answer, the customer service person acted like they didnt understand what I was talkin about {Maybe they didnt?} No speak a english when you have a serious problem. The rep looked in his book and said no answer in book? Well I am the fool. Cause I didnt know it was a problem I thought I had just wore it out and dicided to get a new one. Now I dont know if I want to repair it even. My loss , right Dell??

consider the huge numbers of notebook pcs out there this is the only one I've heard explode. Like any product there are some lemons. ALso we don't know exactly what was the cause of this incident, had the owner done some things to the unit? off market battery? maybe it had been dropped, mishandled, etc. We don't know for sure.

Whenever we have problems with customer service, we invariably complain that it is because of outsourcing. In fact, it is the companies' attitude towards their customers that causes poor service. If a company emphasises "quality customer service", the outsourcing provider will be compelled to provide quality customer service to retain business.

Given the condition of the power supp;y to laptop cord on my Dell, the problem may really be with the AC side over charging. All of the Dells at my work space have some problem with the AC units, cabling or killing the batteries.

While seeking the Perfect Laptop after my last one was murdered by a Fry's Electronic tech and the other struck down in it's prime by a lightning storm, I found the Dell products line reaching out to me through every form of media - it almost seemed like destiny! I was intrigued by the superior durability, state-of-the-art wireless connectivity and 4:3 large standard screen size which is paramount in my work, inside and outdoors. While researching Dell, I too was shocked to see the flash article and photo of the Dell laptop ablaze during a standard semimar. (I was even more amazed by the nearby suits standing by just staring, seemingly too mesmerized by the flames to actaully to douse it!) At that time, Dell reported there was no battery issue. However, in 2005 there was "potentially dangerous" battery warning so large Dell recommended that owners call in to see if their model was affected, instead of just recalling the laptop batteries in question. (Dell: Good PR!) Stubborn to the core, I squirreled these facts and and pressed on. Yet tonight it's over: this comment area, brim-filled with well-intended customers has finally pushed me off the fence...I'm buying soon, and it will not be one from Michael Dell.

THE CORD ON MY AC ADAPTER FOR MY 2000$ INSPIRON EXPLODED AS I SAT ON THE COUCH! WHEN I TOLD THE SERVICE REP - I WAS TREATED LIKE AN IDIOT AND CONVINCED TO JUST PURCHASE ANOTHER! NOW I SEE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I CALLED AND TALKED TO EVERY PERSON WHO WORKS FOR DELL AND FINALLY GOT THROUGH TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. (BY THE WAY - IF I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THEM - I ASK TO SPEAK TO AN AMERICAN - AND I AM TRANSFERRED) THE REP TOLD ME THAT DELL WAS GOING TO SEND ME A COUPON FOR THE 75$ I HAD SPENT ON THE AC ADAPTER. I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS THAN A FULL REFUND - SHIPPING INCLUDED! WE WENT THROUGH ABOUT TEN "HOLD ON'S" AS SHE SPOKE TO HER MANAGER.THE BEST THEY COULD DO IS HAVE ME SEND THE EXPLODED ADAPTER TO THEM AND WITHIN A MONTH THEY WOULD REFUND MY MONEY. ONE MORE TRIP TO THE MANAGER TO EXPLAIN THAT I WOULD NOT PAY SHIPPING TO MAIL THE BATTERY TO THEM AND FINALLY WE CAME TO AN UNDERSTANDING. NOW MY CONCERN IS THAT I SHOULDN'T SEND THEM THE ADAPTER UNTIL I GET MY REFUND. I ALSO WILL SEND THE INTERNAL BATTERY AS IT IS PART OF THE RECALL TOO. FUNNY - THERE IS AN AD FOR DELL AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE!

my computer is dell?!?!

I tend to believe that 3rd party thingies can also be involved in this. e.g. if your power supplier has peaks in it, it will surely pass them through to the laptop battery and all that.. And what about the biggest variable? The Human! PS Funnily enough at the moment I type this, a Dell Laptop commercial message is being displayed at the bottom of this page heheheheh

I'm shopping for a laptop, and it looks like Dell won't be on the list. Too bad, because I know people who owned Dell products in the past, and they were quite happy with them. But, recent purchasers have told me they hate the outsourced customer service, and would not buy a Dell again. I own a number of old PCs, none of them proprietary, and they are still humming right along. I don't consider a computer as a disposable item, the way most big manufacturers seem to view them now. The only proprietary machine I ever bought, a Compaq, died less than 90 days afer I bought it. I had to deal with outsourced customer service reps with them, too. Never again.

If you find yourself in this gap between DELL support and Verizon Wireless support and both keep telling you that it's not a problem on their end is on the other company's end, let me tell you exactly what you have to do. The problem is with Verizon Wireless. Ask them to reset your DMU and mobile number. PERIOD!!!! That was the only thing that solved my problem and I need to give credit to the great Verizon sales person called Joseph Frawley. He was the only one not trying to push me around. Good luck!

I just bought A535, but one day, it was black, but hear it runs. Please help me out what the problem is ? screen or CPU problem. I have tried another HD, but it is not that case. Please help, and email ..lastlove4ever@yahoo.com