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#1 2006-06-21 11:53 am
- mo' ron
- PS3 4 EVA

- From: NC, USA
- Registered: 2002-10-15
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Dell laptop literally explodes
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=32550
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.
...


I know Apple had the Powerbook 5300 that people said "explode" but one never actually exploded, and the problem supposedly was merely overheating. But if true, this is an all-out explosion! haha!!
What is the difference between Vista and OSX?
- Microsoft employees are excited about OSX.
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#2 2006-06-21 12:33 pm
#3 2006-06-21 12:53 pm
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Awsome. But now I'm afraid to use a dell computer. 
ll bet those barely-protected fans on the bottom got snagged on a table cloth or something. Dell's get SUPER hot. and it is never a good idea to use them on any completely non-solid object, like a table-cloth.
#4 2006-06-21 1:02 pm
- jonycrash
- Member
- From: US
- Registered: 2005-06-08
- Posts: 69
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
That's a feature.
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#5 2006-06-21 1:05 pm
- tomfoolery
- Zu-Zu-Zune!

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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Observers noted the incident took place only minutes after company president, Mr Wu Shen, entered the room with an Apple MacBook Pro. Many attending the conference speculated the Dell had merely opted to take its own life, after realising it was hopelessly outclassed.
Japanese security officials are still investigating the possibility the laptop had been brainwashed by Islamic militants into taking part in a suicide bombing. No known organisation has yet claimed responsibility for the act, and details remain sketchy at this time. There were no reported casualties, except for the Dell itself, which was pronounced dead at the scene.
tF
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#6 2006-06-21 1:12 pm
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Since everyone is posting in here and it has a clearer title I'm going to make an exception this time and keep this topic open instead of the original topic on this subject.
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#7 2006-06-21 1:15 pm
- mahakali
- anti-razor

- From: easter egg
- Registered: 2002-11-06
- Posts: 5611
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
lol
This time it's funny but it wasn't when it actually burnt a girl!
1. Instill fear.
2. ???????? (use your imagination)
3. Profit!
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#8 2006-06-21 1:53 pm
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
tomfoolery wrote:
Observers noted the incident took place only minutes after company president, Mr Wu Shen, entered the room with an Apple MacBook Pro. Many attending the conference speculated the Dell had merely opted to take its own life, after realising it was hopelessly outclassed.
Japanese security officials are still investigating the possibility the laptop had been brainwashed by Islamic militants into taking part in a suicide bombing. No known organisation has yet claimed responsibility for the act, and details remain sketchy at this time. There were no reported casualties, except for the Dell itself, which was pronounced dead at the scene.tF

#9 2006-06-21 9:14 pm
- reece_james
- TheLAD

- From: Wollongong, Australia.
- Registered: 2001-12-01
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
jonycrash wrote:
That's a feature.
Yep, it was a feature when I saw a Dell catch fire at a University Trade show 2 years ago. The guy was telling me how the laptop was crunching the numbers (a 3D stitching program) faster than the G5 beside it when it caught fire. Basically it just went whooph and the tablecloth and everything caught fire. A couple of ppl had enough sense to move the G5 b4 pointing extinguishers at it.
It has happened before.
Apple 5300's anyone?
Oh and I know a guy who set his bed on fire with his Apple yo-yo! Replacement adaptors that catch fire for ones that might catch fire. Go figure.
Reece [/IMHO]
"All posts on the internet are postfixed by an invisible 'IMHO'", tito
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#10 2006-06-21 9:44 pm
- Czachorski
- Member

- Registered: 2002-12-20
- Posts: 5601
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
You guys are blaming Dell, when really that is a new feature Microsoft recently added. If Windows detects that your software license is not current, it now causes your computer to spontaneously combust. All part of the new MS DRM. 
Tracking the Tech
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#11 2006-06-21 9:55 pm
- HackerJax
- Previous Poster

- From: *unknown*
- Registered: 2002-07-13
- Posts: 4871
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
There were a string of dell's released, the D600 series laptops bought by many companies that had a known issue with exploding batteries.
The company I work for had a big trade-in program going where dell came out and swapped all the batteries for free.
I'm willing to bet this baby was a D610. hehe

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#12 2006-06-21 10:12 pm
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Wait...do you actually believe this happened? Can anyone find a source just slightly more reliable than the smurfing Inquirer?
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#13 2006-06-21 10:25 pm
- reece_james
- TheLAD

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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
pottymouth wrote:
Wait...do you actually believe this happened?

Reece [/IMHO]
"All posts on the internet are postfixed by an invisible 'IMHO'", tito
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#14 2006-06-21 10:56 pm
- wpholmes
- Member

- Registered: 2005-05-31
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
jonycrash wrote:
That's a feature.
Yup, a computer and a show
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#15 2006-06-21 11:05 pm
- Shadowless
- Cpl, USMC

- From: Jacksonville, NC
- Registered: 2005-10-10
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
I wonder if there's software out there that can actually cause a computer to do that. That would be an interesting virus if it started going around.
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#16 2006-06-21 11:40 pm
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
I guess the Dell can't be a new Mac, so it's trying to be a PowerBook 5300 instead...
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#17 2006-06-22 12:58 am
- Freezer mac
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Shadowless wrote:
I wonder if there's software out there that can actually cause a computer to do that. That would be an interesting virus if it started going around.
you'd have to short circuit the battery.... pretty sure that can't be done with code.
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#18 2006-06-22 1:32 am
- D'Eyncourt
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Here is a Google Video (so Java is required) showing what happens to an overcharged lithium-polymer battery (make sure to watch beyond the initial >pop<).
BOYCOTT SONY
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#19 2006-06-22 5:12 am
- ColourClassic
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
I once had a 95' ThinkPad do that, only difference was that I put it a light on purpose.
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#20 2006-06-22 6:17 am
- reece_james
- TheLAD

- From: Wollongong, Australia.
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Well all you would have to do is hack the firmware/EFI to ignore the battery's status and keep applying current. There is normally another safety to prevent that from happening though. Before lithium metal forms it should have suicided to prevent that.
However, lithium polymer ones can go off if you look at them weirdly, some of those guys do have weird expressions on their faces...
Reece [/IMHO]
"All posts on the internet are postfixed by an invisible 'IMHO'", tito
Intel iMac CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 17" + 20", 1160GB HD, 10.5.2.
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#21 2006-06-22 6:30 am
- Pariah
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
D'Eyncourt wrote:
Here is a Google Video (so Java is required) showing what happens to an overcharged lithium-polymer battery (make sure to watch beyond the initial >pop<).
Holy CRAP!! I had no idea they could go off like that!
Can NiMh batteries do the same thing? Cuz I always have three, 4 AA battery chargers going 24/7.
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#22 2006-06-22 6:51 am
- reece_james
- TheLAD

- From: Wollongong, Australia.
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Not really. It's the Lithium that goes boom. You think Sodium goes off with a bang when it hits water? Check out Lithium. There is enough moisture in the air to make it go boom.
Reece [/IMHO]
"All posts on the internet are postfixed by an invisible 'IMHO'", tito
Intel iMac CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 17" + 20", 1160GB HD, 10.5.2.
MacBook CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 60GB HD, 10.5.2.
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#23 2006-06-22 12:54 pm
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
iBook explodes, no coverage at MAF.
Dell explodes and now people are afraid to use one.
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#24 2006-06-22 4:42 pm
- reece_james
- TheLAD

- From: Wollongong, Australia.
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Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?sto … 2103345459
Reckon you could go commando fishing with that one?
Reece [/IMHO]
"All posts on the internet are postfixed by an invisible 'IMHO'", tito
Intel iMac CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 17" + 20", 1160GB HD, 10.5.2.
MacBook CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 60GB HD, 10.5.2.
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#25 2006-06-22 5:37 pm
- mo' ron
- PS3 4 EVA

- From: NC, USA
- Registered: 2002-10-15
- Posts: 14472
Re: Dell laptop literally explodes
Gipetto wrote:
iBook explodes, no coverage at MAF.
Dell explodes and now people are afraid to use one.
That one didn't really explode though, it just burst in to flames.
In any case, I never heard of that story, otherwise I would have probably posted it 
What is the difference between Vista and OSX?
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