14 DAY TRIAL // After restricting the use of Dell portables on airplanes, Qantas is now looking into Apple portables to determine whether or not to extend the same restrictions. This follows the Apple recall of 1.8 million batteries for the old PowerBook and iBook models.
Apple has informed customers that this is not a safe risk, and that these batteries are simply not up to Apple's standards of quality. Those who have batteries allegeable for recall have been told that there is no risk and that they may continue to use their current batteries until they can send them in for replacement.
So far, Qantas is awaiting answers from Apple before taking a decision. "We have put limitations on Dell computers and at this stage we are awaiting further information from Apple," said the spokesman. If there will be restrictions, users are fearful that they may not be properly applied as Apple's current portable MacBook Pro and MacBook does not have any battery issue, being a completely different battery technology. Regardless, due to the similarity in appearance between PowerBooks and MacBook Pros, there may very well be arguments with flight attendants who confuse the two models. Similarly, those who have already changed their battery through the recall program are wondering whether they will be able to make use of their portables or not.