My Dell blew up too

I'm hoping this reaches the right person. I'd like to share MY story. In late 2005, I purchased a Dell Inspiron 1150 (Which, from the photos on the page, looks like the 1150/5150 series laptop).

In February 2006, my laptop started to smoke and catch fire in my bedroom, under normal use. I contacted Dell, and they requested the laptop be sent in immediately, and a replacement would be issued.

I was told by a manager at Dell's Repair Center that the fault started on the system board, and had caused the smoke and fire. I was not released any further details, and any questions I asked were either brushed off or instructed at Dell's coprate office, in Texas.

After about 3 months, with another 1150 (The replacement), it too started the same problems I was having just before unit #1 caught fire. It was locking up constantly, and certain things on the laptop would not work. I contacted Dell that evening, and at 230am EST, the laptop began to emit smoke.

This time, I didn't have the battery in, and was able to unplug it quickly. I opened the bottom RAM door, and to my non-suprise, the RAM was covered in something I can only describe as burnt material residue and smoke residue. The metal cover inside of the door was also covered in a black film of burnt something. Again, Dell requested the laptop be sent in immediately, and 2 weeks later, the same process started. A fire occured on the system board, and no further information would be released to me.

I will NEVER own a Dell proudct again, for fear of my safety, and to see yet another laptop in flames? Another laptop that appears the same as mine? Why isn't Dell recalling the laptop, as any ethical company would? Just my two cents. Love the site, thanks for bringing us the best technology news around!

Rich S.
Pittsburgh
IT Administrator

Subject: linux and usb speakers

Actually, I've long used usb speakers to get sound on Linux from machines where the integrated audio only works on Windows. I'm typing this on my Athlon 64 hog running Fedora Core 5, and listening to "Danger Money" on my Phillips DS330 speakers: sound quality is fantastic, so long as I turn the volume up high enough to drown out the fan on the main box.

Subject: [intel discrete graphics chip] why ?

because no current integrated graphics chip is able to run Vista properly, and that means intel video will be a goner next year if it does not evolve into something discrete.

just my 2 cents

francois

Subject: The Inquirer's language autodetect

Hi, the problem with redirection is that it redirects also people coming to the web via proxy, and as my HP proxy is based on (most probably) french IP, I get redirected to the french version of Inqirer. But believe me, french EMEA management is enough, I do not need also best web in french ... Thanks,

J
HP INQ reader

Subject: The Inquirer's new language autodetect

Why don't you guys pull your thumbs out of your collective backsides and fix things?

Sheamus

Subject: The Inquirer's new language autodetect

The thing of it is, you say you can't help that not everybody speak english, but in fact most people in the netherlands can, so I can see that argument being more valid in germany or france maybe, or even london england.

Anyway I am very pleased that you guys take the annoyance serious and do something about it, that's so rare in this world and I'm quite impressed, kudos and many thanks!

There's people I pay a hefty monthly fee who would do less effort.

W.

Subject: xSidebar and GM

This is probably the single most useful article ever published in the Inq, and you can tell Mike I said so. I HATE firefox because of it's immaturity and general uselessness. I have used tabbed browsers forever, including the early versions of Opera, but my mainline browser has always been what is now Seamonkey. The only two extensions that I have really needed until now have been multizilla and IEview, but with GM, I will be able to make them do exactly what I want and have access to a jillion fixes from other people. Thankyou.

D