Another Macbook Pro Fire!!!

[darrensen]

EDIT: I found this on the Macforums this morning!!!!

Another one!!!!

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32779

Ok so we've all seen the story of the guy who came home to find this: <PICTURE REMOVED>



Well a similar event happened to me 2 weeks ago. I have been at boarding school since the event and most websites are blocked so I could not post this any sooner.

I was sitting on my bed listning to music with itunes when the MBP suddenly turned off (screen, hard drive etc). Sraight after, a glowing red circle appeared in the left speaker (where the MagSafe is plugged in) and it disappeared almost instantly but then smoke and fumes started coming out of the speaker. It was an electrical fire. I unplugged the MagSafe from the MBP and blew out the fire then removed the charger from the mains. [I am afraid I do not have impressive photos because I was there to put the fire out before the thing was completely burned - the only visible damage on mine was small holes in the plastic on the side of the MBP where it had melted]

I got on the phone right away to Apple and they asked me a lot of questions about whether anyone was injured in the area etc. Then they told me that the MBP was to be collected during the week and it was being shipped off to Apple in Cork, Ireland.

I received my new MBP just yesterday without the old hard drive backed up (which they should be able to do - Im pretty sure that the HD was not damaged from that fire). I spoke to them again today and they said it is unlikely that they will be able to save my data and that it has now been shipped to Apple HQ in California so even if they can back it up, it will be a long wait.

They also gave me a number to call to claim a 'gift' which I am yet to call but I imagine they will offer me an ipod or something but I dont really think that is enough since I was in a school boarding house with 60 people in it. What if the fire had occured at night and people had been killed? It is unlikely that I would not have smelt the dreadful fumes that came out of it when it was alight but still, the scenario exists and I think that they owe me more in compensation that a measly ipod.

The other guy who had this problem is very lucky he had his cats there to pull the plug. I just hope that this problem doesnt ever cause anyone serious harm.

[Nemeliza]

Oh dear....

Your alive and unhurt so that is a good thing. That prize had better be good after they just toyed with your life.

[darrensen]

Oh dear....

Your alive and unhurt so that is a good thing. That prize had better be good after they just toyed with your life.

It wasnt mine....I just got that post from the macforums. Thought i'd make the mac members of Hexus aware.

Best keep your Power Supply unplugged at night, or when you are not around.

[Jonny M]

I really don't believe that post. Don't ask me why, it just doesn't read right.

[loki]

Not relating directly to the macbook but more laptops in general. You have to be careful how you use them, laptops require a bit of air circulation underneath them as the bottom can get VERY hot if you cover it, for example by placing in on a quilt cover you stiffle all the air and things get very hot very quick.

My laptop is pentium M based and if i pick it up adter using it on a quilt cover it's deffinately hot enough to burn if held too long. I'd hate to think what core duo and pentium 4s are like as they put more heat into the case.

[atrull]

laptops are usualy designed to fail to a permanent 'off' state before a fire occurs

[loki]

I don't see how a laptop can stop a fire better than any desktop computer part can. They may be tested to a higher heat tolerance but if it exceeds tollerance or there is part failure then the laptop could well likely end up in flames.

[darrensen]

I really don't believe that post. Don't ask me why, it just doesn't read right.

Just posting from what i've seen on mac forums.

There was another fire by the way, this time it just fried the magsafe and didn't get into the notebook.

Anyone considering these machines (like me) should keep an eye out for these issues. Looks like Apple are sorting any problems out quickly.

[Jonny M]

I think the main problem with the Magsafe things is that the magnet will attract all kinds of crap to stick to it, like metal filings and small bits of wire, and then short out when you plug it in.

It's a great idea but needs some work.

[Gordy]

I have to say in use its great I've not noticed a single problem with it at all.

Far better than any other connector