Personally, I Wouldn’t Put That On My Lap

Dell Computers is officially investigating a report of an exploding laptop computer, pictures of which were posted on the internet. (Pictures are here – and it really is quite impressive).

"We have captured the notebook and have begun investigating the event," Dell spokeswoman Anne Camden said, confirming the computer was made by Dell but declining to specify the model. No one was hurt in the incident, she said.

The report of an exploding laptop at a conference in Osaka, Japan, accompanied by digital photos, was first published on technology industry news Web site The Inquirer last week.

Dell in December 2005 issued a battery recall for some of the batteries in its laptop due to overheating issues, according to the company's Web site.

Camden said it was too early to draw any conclusions and added that it did not appear that the incident had anything to do with the battery issues related to the recall.

"From here it's going to be a very methodical and meticulous process to figure out what happened," Camden said.

In the meantime, we here at Blue Crab Boulevard strongly (with a distinct cringe) recommend that our readers NOT put their Dell laptops (heck, any laptops!) on their actual laps. Unless you actually want to be built like a Ken doll, of course. In which case, carry on.