Apple laptop ignites marketing department
Faulty PowerBook catches fire
Staff at a London-based marketing firm had a lucky escape recently, when one worker’s Apple laptop caused some serious issues for the IT department.
The PowerBook, shortly before it went bang
Images courtesy of Vnunet
The machine – thought to be a PowerBook, according to a report by the Inquirer – caught the attention of nearby workers when it began billowing smoke.
By the time the IT guy arrived much of the machine’s smoke had dissipated. But it was only after he’d given the laptop a once-over and put it back down onto the desk that “it basically exploded”, sending flames and sparks shooting six feet into the air.
The IT department had a narrow escape
Thankfully, staff had enough sense to stand well back while the Apple laptop was sprayed with a fire extinguisher. The machine – which it’s thought was between three and four years old – was described as “hot and glowing” and the battery as “molten inside and glowing red”.
Hope they backed up their data
Apple’s PowerBooks are pretty old school these days, but back in 2006 – when the machine was still going strong – the company warned that some lithium-ion batteries in 12in and 15in PowerBook G4s, sold between October 2003 and August 2006, could “pose a safety risk that may result in overheating under rare circumstances”.
Apple provided owners of said machines free replacement power packs. It's not known if the owner of the detonating PowerBook took the company up on its offer. ®
COMMENTS
Whoops
I wonder if it was one of the free replacements that exploded?
They will keep having things made in China though. Oh well.
OS:Virus detected....
OS:Report to AppleCentre
AppleCentre:Report received. Virus confirmed.
AppleCentre:You are reminded of AppleMantra 22: Apple Computers don't get viruses
OS:But....
AppleCentre:You are reminded of AppleMantra 22: Apple Computers don't get viruses
AppleCentre:You know what you must do.
OS:But...
AppleCentre:You know what you must do.
OS:Accepted. Initiating self destruct sequence.
AppleCentre:You will never be forgotten. Your serial number will be recorded on the Wall of the Fallen in Apple HQ.
OS:Goodb.../CONNECTION LOST
AppleCentre:Sucker!
Apple Is All About Quality...
...curves on its cheap ass white plastic cases.
A computer explodes in marketing
Are we sure this was an accident ?? If this were MS marketing dept I would have no question that it was intentional. But then again an exploding mac at MS would always be suspect .
Fire Procedures?
The laptop starts to give off smoke, so they call the IT department ?! Well ok, they are marketing people so they can't be expected to know much.
The IT guy, having been told that the laptop (powered by a lithium battery) has been giving off smoke, then 'gives it a once-over' and puts it back on the desk (presumably turning it on to see if it works). Maybe it's because he's an Apple-IT guy, does that explain it?
What happened to common sense and the instinct for self preservation? These things are known to be a fire/explosion risk. Admittedly this risk is small but it is well documented and you can even watch examples of them going up in smoke and flames on You Tube.
