If it's Sony, it's more dangerous laptop batteries

Toshiba announced today that it's recalling 1,400 laptop batteries because they pose a risk of overheating. The recall affects the company's Satellite A100, Satellite A105, and Tecra A7 notebook models. This small recall comes just a month after Toshiba reissued 10,000 batteries that it said could catch fire. In all cases, the batteries were made by -- who else? -- Sony.

During the past couple years, Sony has become synonymous with bad portable batteries. Last year it recalled nearly 10 million units that powered a range of notebook brands; the recall cost the firm $418 million.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says Toshiba is putting out this latest recall after receiving three complaints -- outside the U.S. -- of overheated batteries; no injuries were reported.

If you own one of the affected Toshiba models, download the diagnostic software here to see if you're entitled to get a free -- presumably safe -- battery from the company.

Posted in: Sony

Farhad Manjoo is a Salon staff writer covering technology and tech culture. He lives in San Francisco.

E-mail Farhad at
machinist@salon.com

About Machinist

Farhad’s new book, “True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society,” examines propaganda on the Web, cable news and talk radio.

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