14 DAY TRIAL // Recently, the market has been flooded with remarks regarding the LiIon batteries that possess a high degree of instability. It seems that in certain conditions, the batteries can reach a high temperature and in some cases can literally incinerate the laptops. I'm not saying that this statement is not true, but it seems rather odd that now almost every story with laptops that burn down is immediately related to the "Sony effect". I recently came up across a blog that describes such an accident. Read more below:
"I ordered high speed broadband internet from the local cable company. On November 16, 2006 a technician arrived to install it. He connected the coaxial cable that was coming into the wall from outside into a cable modem for Mac. He then connected an Ethernet cable out of the modem and into my fully loaded Apple 15" Powerbook."
As it turned out, the technician had "accidentally" connected the coaxial cable to the electrical grid: "Everything on the desk was blackened with soot and burned either partially or completely. Three external hard drives, a digital camera, videotapes, papers, CD's etc. The floor, wall, and radiator cover were burned, along with the tabletop."
"Every cable that was connected to the laptop, Ethernet, Firewire, Power, and USB, was forcibly shot out of each portal, and each portal covered with the black soot. Metal bits and electronic debris from the power cable hub and other cables was scattered around the room and some wires had split apart into copper shreds. Molten silver metal flecks are still lodged in the windowsill."
The company recognized the fact that the technician was to blame and paid for all the damage. But what about the idea itself? Although such an incorrect wiring is highly improbable, the fact remains: laptops can literally burn to ashes for various reasons (batteries included). Keep that in mind when you come across a similar situation.