Recently, both Apple and Dell have recalled batteries that went into their popular laptop computers. Recently, both Apple and Dell have recalled batteries that went into their popular laptop computers.
Due to a problem with chemicals and processes in a Sony battery plant that provided battery parts for both Apple and Dell, some batteries produced between 2003 and 2006 may have problems that can result in batteries bulging, leaking, or in rare cases, exploding while in use.
As a result, both Apple and Dell have created exchange programs for these faulty batteries, and are supplying replacement batteries to their customers.
Apple
If you own a 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4, you may be at risk. Check the Apple Battery Exchange Program website to see if your battery is in the problematic range.
Dell
If you own one of these models of Dell laptops:
You may be at risk. Check Dell’s Battery Exchange Program website for more information.
Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission may have additional information on this issue:
Here at Artisan, we’ve seen several Dell and Apple batteries that fall within the problem range, and we highly recommend you check any and all batteries that you own, even if you don’t suspect them to be problematic. If you do have a problem battery, remove it from your computer - you can continue to use the laptop with a power adapter.
We also wouldn’t be surprised to see other laptop manufacturers following suit and recalling batteries. If your laptop battery is bulging or exhibits other disconcerting symptoms, we recommend that you discontinue using it and contact your laptop manufacturer as soon as possible.
Apple has released a Public Beta of their BootCamp software, which allows any Intel-processor equipped Mac to natively use the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.
The BootCamp software includes drivers that allow for full use of the hardware in Apple’s computers - previously, many important devices like the video card did not have drivers available for them.
When using BootCamp software, please note:
As this is a Public Beta, many features may not work or be rough around the edges. Please be careful and back up before trying BootCamp.
As a computer consultant, I see virus and spyware infected computers on a regular basis. None of them are Macs. The 3/13 article entitled “UA attack highlights vulnerability of Macs” gives a distorted, empirical example that does not correctly reflect computing reality.
As with all computers, Apple’s MacOS X operating system is vulnerable to outside attacks, but unlike other many other vendors, Apple ships it’s systems in a “closed by default” configuration, which prevents network attacks. The vast majority of Mac systems that are compromised have been modified by their users to deviate from the default secure configuration, have an easy to guess password, or are modified by a malicious insider.
As opposed to Microsoft’s Windows platform which has an insecure, administrative login by default, MacOS X requires a the user to enter a password any time administrative rights are required. Most of the so-called Mac viruses in existence require that the user manually download the virus and enter their administrative password to install it! Compare this to the recent Windows Metafile bug, where simply viewing a picture on the internet could cause any number of viruses or spyware programs to automatically be installed on the computer without any user intervention.
Apple’s line of Mac computers will continue to be the best combination of ease of use and security for most computer users. I encourage everyone who wants to stop fighting with malicious software and start enjoying their computer to seriously consider switching to a Mac.
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