Austin
Dell Computer announced this week it was recalling 4.1 million lithium-ion batteries used in laptop PCs because they might cause the computers to catch fire. The move, said to be the consumer electronics industry’s largest-ever safety-related recall, followed several incidents involving Dell laptops, including a fire that started when an overheated computer ignited ammunition stored in a truck’s glove box. The ammunition exploded, leaving the truck a burned-out hulk. “I see Dell commercials half a dozen times a night, saying, ‘What can we build for you today?’” said Thomas Foqueran, 62, who inherited the 1966 Ford F-250 from his father. “And I say, ‘Grandpa’s truck.’”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The most anticipated movies of 2026The Week Recommends If the trailers are anything to go by, film buffs are in for a treat
-
The biggest viral moments of 2025In the Spotlight From the Coldplay concert kiss cam to a celebrity space mission, these are some of the craziest, and most unexpected, things to happen this year
-
Environment breakthroughs of 2025In Depth Progress was made this year on carbon dioxide tracking, food waste upcycling, sodium batteries, microplastic monitoring and green concrete
