The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has a listing of its recalled products at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/topic.html. Computers and accessories are listed on that website under the category "Electronics and Electrical Power Devices". Several computer related recalls are listed there. It should be noted that all of the items recalled are not of recent production, but items that we may have used for years.
One of the most recent recalls, from earlier this year, is the voluntary recall of 56,000 IBM brand computer monitors. These monitors have a circuit board that can overheat, smoke, and pose a fire hazard. According to the CPSC, "The recalled IBM monitors include the G51 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and G51t Touch Screen CRT models. The G51 and G51t monitors have the following model numbers on a label on the back of the unit: 6541-02N, 6541-02E, 6541-02S, 6541-Q0N, 6541-Q0E, and 6541-Q0S. The label on the back of the recalled G51 models also has a date of manufacture between June 1997 and September 1997. The "IBM" logo can be found on the front of the units, which were manufactured in China and Malaysia. IBM, MicroTouch Systems, and major retail stores nationwide, including Best Buy, CompUSA, Office Max, and Radio Shack, sold the monitors from June 1997 through December 1998 for about $370." If you are using one of these monitors, stop using it, and contact IBM at (866) 644-3155. At no charge to you, IBM will arrange for an inspection, and repair or replacement as necessary.
Xerox is voluntarily "retrofitting" about 17,000 network laser printers. The printers were manufactured from January 1995 to September 1998 and sold under several brand names. According to Xerox, "Arcing may cause the fuser assembly to overheat, posing a fire hazard." Originally, these printers sold for between $1600 and $7000. The models being retrofitted are Xerox Engineering Systems Model 8808; Hitachi Printing Solutions America - Models Typhoon 8 and Typhoon 16; GCC Technologies - Models Elite XL408, Elite XL608, Elite XL608LC, Elite XL808, Elite XL1208, Elite XL1208 PM, and Elite XL616. If you are using any of these printers, Xerox asks that the printer be turned off when unattended, that "power save mode" be enabled, and that users contact the distributor immediately. Any necessary upgrades will be done at no charge. If you have one of the Xerox printers listed, contact Xerox at (800) 240-5816. Hitachi users can contact Hitachi at (800) 240-5497. GCC can be reached at (800) 422-7777.
Many of us in this region are aware of power problems that may affect our computers. Therefore we use one of the popular uninterruptible power supply, commonly called a "UPS". One of the top selling retail brands is American Power Conversion Corporation (APC). Earlier this year they voluntarily recalled 900,000 of their units because of the possibility of failure, causing the unit to overheat, posing a fire hazard. The models recalled are the Back-UPS CS350 and the Back-UPS CS 500 models. The recalled units have barcodes with the codes BK350, BK500, BK500BLK. The serial number ranges of the recalled units are AB0048 through AB0251, BB0104 through BB0251, and JB0125 through JB0251. If the serial number ends in "R", it is not being recalled. These units were sold between November 2000 and December 2002, and sold for $70 to $130. If you have one of these units, stop using it, and unplug it. APC will replace the units at no charge. If you have one of these units call (866) 272-7359.
Brother recalled several models of laser printers, models HL-1040, HL-1050, HL- 1060, and multi-function printers with model number MFC-P2000. These printers can overheat, creating a fire hazard. 100,000 of these printers were sold between June 1997 through December 2000 for between $300 and $700. If you have one of these printers, stop using them and have them repaired at no charge. Contact Brother at (866) 236-6835.
Digital cameras have become the rage. Nikon, known for its quality, voluntarily recalled 9100 of its popular Coolpix 2000-model digital cameras with serial numbers 3010001 to 3060980 and 3510001 to 3561916. These cameras may "short" in the battery compartment, burning the consumer if the lid is touched. These cameras were sold from July 30, 2002 through August 2002 for about $250. If you have one of these cameras, remove the batteries and contact Nikon at (800) 645-6687. They will replace the camera for free
Kodak has recalled 75,000 of its model DC5000 digital cameras. There is a chance of electrical shock when the user changes batteries, installs or removes the memory card, or uses the USB cable. Recalled cameras have serial numbers from 01800001 through 11700825. These cameras were sold between June 2000 and August 2002 for $600 - $700. If you have one of these cameras, stop using it and contact Kodak at (888) 793-2977. Kodak will arrange for a free inspection, and any necessary repairs.
These have not been the only recalls of computers and peripherals. More recalls will be covered in future columns.
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