Fahrenheit 451 redux

[Alec]

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2728

Hewlett-Packard has issued a recall for around 679,000 Photosmart R707 digital cameras due to a possible fire hazard. When connecting the camera to an AC adapter or docking station, non-rechargeable batteries are receiving a charge which causes them to overheat which could lead to a possible fire. There has been one report of a fire, but no injuries have been reported.

I knew digital cameras were bad
both for consumers' [no pun intended] memories
and producers' profits
but this is beyond belief!

[Socke]

It's a US thing, if you don't give ample warning that trying to charge non-rechargeable batteries my lead to fire, injury and so on, it's your fault and not the fault of the guy trying it.

Like the engraving on car mirrors that a picture in the mirror does not equal real live or that a microwave oven is not suitable to dry a dog etc.pp.

We've got a law close to the US legislation in europe, too.
It's the duty of the producer that he is not at fault if somebody is harmed, a bit like guilty if not proven otherwise.

To a degree this is a good thing, most consumers don't have the financial reach to win a lawsuit against a multinational conglomerate.

[pvdhaar]

Originally Posted by Socke

It's a US thing, if you don't give ample warning that trying to charge non-rechargeable batteries my lead to fire, injury and so on, it's your fault and not the fault of the guy trying it.

Which isn't the case here.

Having ordinary batteries in a camera is pretty usual, it's often even put forward as an option in case the recharchables are depleted. Loads of digitals even come with a set of alkalines to get you started..

Placing the camera in a docking station to download photos is pretty usual too. How should a technology illiterate user infer that combining these two completely harmless actions causes mayhem?

[Socke]

Originally Posted by pvdhaar

Placing the camera in a docking station to download photos is pretty usual too. How should a technology illiterate user infer that combining these two completely harmless actions causes mayhem?

Because it is printed on the batteries? Probably even in the user manual?

On the other hand, if it is possible for the camera to somehow sense the type of battery it should switch off the recharging option.

[Alec]

With over half a million units to be potentially fixed, the main casualty should be HP's profits and goodwill.

Reminds me of a friend whose new Peugeot convertible needed 12 (twelve) visits to dealer service - each time with a loan car - all paid for by the manufacturer's warranty.

[jlw]

You guys have caught up on the fact that the original story was incorrect, right?

H-P is not "recalling" all those cameras to fix the battery-overheating issue. They're releasing a firmware update that fixes it.