Apple recall laptop batteries

Owners of some Apple computers are being urged to check their batteries because of a possible fire risk.

Apple Computer Inc made the plea yesterday and is recalling 1.8 million Sony-built laptop batteries that could overheat and catch fire.

The company, based in Cupertino, California, has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two consumers who suffered minor burns after handling overheated computers.

The recall comes two weeks after Dell Inc's recall of 4.1 million faulty laptop batteries also made by Sony - the largest electronics recall in the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's history.

Dell's recall covered about 14% of the Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Precision notebooks sold between April 1, 2004 and July 18 of this year.

The UK is Dell's second biggest market outside the US.

An Apple statement said: "We discovered that some Sony batteries in previous models of PowerPC-based iBooks and PowerBooks do not meet Apple's standards for safety and performance.

"None of Apple's Intel-based notebooks are affected, only certain models of previous iBooks and PowerBooks.

"Our number one priority is to recall and replace the affected batteries free of charge.

"Complete details regarding the exchange programme can be found at http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram/

"We do not anticipate this recall to have a material financial impact on Apple."