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Dell users in for hassle Down Under

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
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Tom Krazit
2 min read

Dell notebook users flying to Australia over the next few weeks on a Qantas flight will face a little extra scrutiny going through security and on board the plane.

Qantas has issued an advisory to its passengers and crew regarding the use of Dell laptops affected by last week's battery recall. As of yesterday, Dell laptops with model numbers listed in Dell's press release announcing the recall can only be used on battery power or by removing the battery and plugging into the outlets available on some Qantas planes. You will not be allowed to use your Dell laptop if the battery is still hooked into the laptop while the system is plugged into the outlet.

A Qantas representative in the U.S. confirmed the policy, saying airline officials in Sydney had evaluated the situation and come up with this policy to ensure the safety of passengers.

Unfortunately, the policy doesn't make any sense. Even though Dell provided a list of some models that used the recalled batteries, only certain notebooks within a given model-line use the bad batteries. My Dell Latitude D600 is one of the models listed in Dell's initial press release, but my battery's serial number is not one of the ones listed as subject to the recall on Dell's battery recall Web site.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Wednesday that early in the week, passengers in Canberra were required to remove the batteries from any Dell laptop associated with the recall, even that particular battery wasn't subject to the recall. That policy was relaxed later in the week, but Dell users now have to identify themselves to flight attendents once they get on board.

There's a slightly greater chance that the recalled batteries could explode while they are being charged, as opposed to when they are discharging while operating in battery mode. But these batteries aren't safe to use under any circumstances. Any battery affected by the recall could potentially short circuit and cause a fire, even if the notebook is turned off and stowed in an overhead compartment.

If the battery's serial number checks out on the recall site (assuming that is entered correctly), Dell says, the battery is as safe to use as any other lithium-ion battery used in notebooks from HP, Apple or any other PC company.