[micker377]

Dell acknowledged that users might feel a "tingling sensation" but said that the voltage is harmless.
What about pacemakers? Has Dell considered the lawsuits?

[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Dell: Don't Worry About Laptop Electric Shocks here

[mjd420nova]

I have run across a few installations that were done in older homes that did not have grounded outlets. These systems were operated using ground busters and extention cords that were not grounded . In a few cases, the full 120 volt AC was present between the cases of the computer and the monitor. This can be lethal to some people. I have not seen this with laptops as the cases were plastic and isolated by an AC adapter. Some cases I saw had a half leg voltage between their cases, meaning only 60 volts was present but this can still cause a shock and in most cases not a severe threat but can cause users to drop things or jump uncontrollably which does pose a threat.

[Cosmo]

Don't worry about those exploding batteries either...

Seriously!

[rkinne01]

what do you expect from a company with crappy service?

[redofromstart]

"100 volts of power"?! Watts up with that? Volts aren't the measurement of power.

[drrexx]

Of course I do not worry! A few months ago I replaced my Dell laptop with a ThinkPad. Never been happier. No way I'm ever going to going to go back to Dell.

[puterdood]

It looks like Dull users will have to purchase an explosion proof hazmat suit just to use their computers. This is completely ridiculous of Dull to say "don't worry about it". It guess Dull is waiting until a certain number of people become horribly disfigured before they fix the problem.

[rgreen4]

As you aluded, it's not the Voltage, but the Amperage that kills. Actually, Dell has been using 2 pronged AC adapters for more than a year and a half. Our local Boy Scout Council bought a 17" Dell laptop about the same time I got my older HP. I was surprised to see a 2 prong plug while HP still uses a grounded (earthed) 3 prong plug (at least as late as Sept).

Dell's reassuring memo was probably an attempt to forstall the issue until the get a fix into the supply chain.

[merdith]

I lived in Austin where Dell is and It seemed that too many people went to meetings and did little to nothing. I would think that proper grounding for a computer especially an alluminium as the brits say computer. Coundn't that cause problems in circuts and HD's. My brother had a dell and it was ok.Did you see the exploding battery on tv. It was a 4ft wide sphere fireball. The new Lithium Polymer batteries can explode too. They are really light and hold lots of power but too new and not yet stable.I like the NIMH batteries better than the Lithium Ion. Batteries are getting good faster.

[dannysdailys]

Hey Dude, you just got shocked by a Dell. Maybe you should buy another one!

[lmenchaca]

Matthew: Besides Apple, there's also people that mention that the same thing happens on HP, Sony and other notebooks as well. Anyone interested can take a look at my updated post on this topic from yesterday:
direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/01/18/41538.aspx
Thanks,
Lionel Menchaca
Chief Blogger, Direct2Dell

[RNR19952]

LOL good for you
Aren't those ThinkPads just incredible?
I don't know why people buy anything else!

On another note aren't the plugs polarized?

Shame on Dell letting it's users get zapped and then claiming it is OK!

If I got zapped by a product every time I used it, the manufacturer would be receiving it back!

[Yert]

Yes, you should be worrying more about exploading batteries!

[dfrano]

OK, I am a writer by trade and so, I wonder, when did "grounded" or "ground" suddenly become "earthed" or "earth"? I'm sorry, it just sounds and reads so badly and "earthing" just does not have the same connotation as "grounding". I am not seeing any new usage rules regarding "ground" vs "earth". Explain this usage please?

[della]

I have an Inspiron, not the ones mentioned above. It is giving me electrical shocks from the keyboard and from the side of the casing. my techie said the 'h' key gets hot too...I cannot think this is a good thing. It just started doing it. I have noticed since I have had it however, that the ports on the left side, will bleep in and out on being workable, sometimes they do...sometimes they don't and I have to switch things around...

this is my 4th computer in one year I had ordered and tried out....color me getting disguxted with computers from ANYONE!....

[matchbox2022]

A circuit going to earth is the same thing as to ground. The ground and the earth (in a very terra firma sense) are the same for this stuff. Earthing and Grounding are also done to houses to prevent damage from lightning strikes or the electrical charge in the wiring (if there is a voltage potential somewhere).

[amitaggarval]

Hi Guys, We have created a small video showing the Electric Shocks :



we have also proved that it's not due to any issue with adapter but due to some internal issue.

Cheers,
Amit Aggarwal





Edited by MPHEnterprises - Corrected youtube embedding coding

[mjd420nova]

Earthing and grounding are the same thing, only just a difference in your location. Earthing is used in the UK and has some usage in Canada. Grounding is an American term. True grounding is most often provided by the "up to date" electrical outlets installed in newer generation houses. I operate a ham radio station and have a seperate ground provided by a six foot copper clad iron stake driven into the ground and brought into the house by flat one inch, nickel plated copper braid. It first goes to a triple stage of filters for my transmitter, lightning arrestor and roof spikes, to a ground loop for a work bench and work mat, the server chassis, two PC chassis, UPS chassis and back to the ground. All outlets have a ground provided by the electric cables from the power pole and the main distribution box also has a ground fault interuptor as well as ground faults on outlets in the kitchen and each of the bathrooms. Each power strip has suppressors and pass through for phone lines and coax that come into the home from outside. I cannot imagine any voltages in a laptop that would be large enough to be felt by anyone because most are isolated by adapters and unless the adapters are faulty, no AC voltages should get passed from primary to secondary circuits. I suspect that either non-existant or faulty outlet grounding to be the cause. Unless both hands are available to make a complete circuit, someone must be standing in water in their bare feet.

[WinTard]

What a great name! Instead of only one fruit concept based computer company, now we can compare Apples and Oranges! Great! Hmmm Why didn't Dull think of that?

"It's Orange, It's Orange"... MMMM

Now, how did you make the orange neon tube glow? I tried, and it doesn't work for me...? And I have a Dull Latitude D830. I tried it plugged in, and working only on batteries...

"It's Orange, It's Orange"... MMMM

Please let us know your methods of testing. I must verify that for myself. Just for fun!

"It's Orange, It's Orange"... MMMM

I want to have fun too!

"It's Orange, It's Orange"... MMMM

It's shocking, I can't get it to shock me... How comes?

"It's Orange, It's Orange"... MMMM

I also want to see the battery explode! Cool!

"It's Orange, It's Orange"... MMMM