Agents urge laptop users to get replacement batteries

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 10/19/2006 10:39 AM | Business

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Amid a massive worldwide recall following the discovery that defective Sony-made batteries could cause laptop computers to overheat and catch fire, local agents of major laptop producers have asked their customers here to seek replacement batteries.

Dell Indonesia country manager Megawaty Khie said in Jakarta earlier this week that the company's Indonesian customers had been informed about the recall of certain types of Sony-made batteries used in Dell laptops.

""We have provided information on the PC models and battery serial numbers that are subject to the recall, and about how to get free replacement batteries from Dell,"" Megawaty said, adding that customers should visit www.dellbatteryprogram.com for more details.

She also expressed the hope that customers would take the initiative in bringing their batteries to the nearest distributor or authorized service provider in order to get replacements.

""Customers may have to wait for up to two months to get replacements. But, in the meantime, they can continue using their notebooks using the AC adapter power cord provided with them,"" Megawaty said.

Dell, the world's largest PC maker, has announced the record-setting recall of 4.2 million laptop batteries that could cause a Dell machine to overheat and even catch fire, Associated Press has reported.

The batteries, which were supplied by Japan's Sony Corp, were shipped in notebooks sold between April 1, 2004, and July 18, 2006.

On Sept. 28, Sony announced a voluntary replacement program for the affected batteries.

Besides Dell, other laptop makers, including Fujitsu, Apple, and Sharp have also recalled their Sony-made battery packs.

AP earlier reported that Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. had recalled 28,000 Sony-made battery packs in its domestic market alone, while Fujitsu Ltd. said it would replace 51,000 Sony-made laptop batteries around the world following a similar move earlier this month involving 287,000 batteries.

Apple Computer Inc. said it had recalled 1.8 million batteries worldwide.

Aulia Masna, the manager of E-store, an Apple distributor and service provider in Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post that he had announced the recall on the two-biggest Apple community mailing lists in Indonesia --id-mac@yahoogroups.com and id-apple@googlegroups.com.

""A lot of people have contacted the store and asked about the battery problem and possible replacements,"" he said, adding that the store had so far received 100 complaints. He estimated that about 1,400 Apple laptops sold in Indonesia had defective batteries.

Aulia advised Apple laptop users to check on the Apple website to see whether their battery serial number was listed or not. ""If it is, they must bring us the battery and computer serial numbers, and fill out the form for a replacement by an authorized Apple service agent,"" Aulia explained.

However, due to the Apple confirmation that the affected batteries installed in MacBook Pro do not pose a safety risk, Aulia suggested customers to continue using their current batteries until replacements arrived as it could between 4 and 6 weeks for the replacement batteries to get here.

There are only three Apple computer models -- iBook G4, PowerBook G4 and MacBook Pro -- subject to the recall.

Fujitsu Indonesia marketing representative Aris said that his company had also announced the possible recall of certain types of Sony batteries used in Fujitsu laptops.

""We are still awaiting Sony's confirmation of the details, which means we don't have a time estimate as to when the replacements will arrive. But, we would ask our customers to put their names and contact numbers on our waiting list so that we can contact them as soon as we get an answer from Sony,"" he said.

Indonesia's laptop market has expanded rapidly in the past few years, with total laptop sales this year expected to reach 200,000. (09)

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