After a couple of great years with our G3 ibook, one day the screen stayed black and soon smoke started coming out of it. Hopefully the hard disk is okay but what really scared me is that this computer is often plugged in for long periods of time being charged. I had assumed that it had been approved as a non-fire hazard but looking on Google there seems to be many other examples of ibooks burning up (along with other laptops).

How much of a fire hazard are these laptop computers? Can I really leave them charging when noone is at home. I can easily see where airlines would want to ban them if they are a fire hazard, I mean if smokers cannot light up who would want a lithium battery melt down ocurring in the seat next to them.

Tags: Smoking, defect