Laptop battery recalls spread to other computer companies

Not too long ago Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced a recall of Powerbook and iBook batteries. The laptops were fairly new, and the cost of replacing so many batteries had some pundits wondering if that would negatively hit Apple's stock price. The story spread throughout a number of news venues as indications of stormy waters ahead for Apple.

But the problem was with Sony-made battery packs. Apple's quality control just happened to be the first to pick up on the problem, and the first to suffer the bad news.

Now the issue is spreading throughout the laptop manufacturers. Today Lenovo announced that it was recalling 357,000 laptops batteries worldwide that posed a fire hazard to customers. These are batteries in both IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad and T series laptops sold between Feburary 2005 and September 2006.

Dell also recalled batteries at the same time as Apple did, with cost estimates for the exploding battery replacement swap being in the area of a quarter of a billion dollars. Toshiba is now also starting to exchange Sony batteries.

No doubt the greatest impact will be on Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE) and its close relationship with these major computer manufacturers. Though Sony produces a massive product line, it will have to work hard to mend fences. And also hope that no one catches fires and sues them.