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Smoking Near Apple Computers Creates Biohazard, Voids Warranty

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sun Nov 22, 2009 4:51 PM EST
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Unless you've just arrived in 2009 on a time machine, you know that smoking isn't good for you. Did you know, that smoking isn't good for your computer, either? It's true, at least according to Apple. Two readers in different parts of the country claim that their Applecare warranties were voided due to secondhand smoke. Both readers appealed their cases up to the office of God Steve Jobs himself. Both lost.

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{"commentId":10834886,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
Brian Ford

I'm not sure I get the "second hand smoke" argument, but I can certainly understand why the effects of heavy smoke on the internals of a computer could be a problem.

In my view, if someone cracks open a computer and can tell that the owner is a smoker, there's probably a pretty good reason why the machine isn't performing as expected.

Apple (and almost no one else) would cover a computer dropped into a bucket of water, so expecting them to cover one gummed up by smoking residue seems silly.

This article in particular mentions that the owner was able to alleviate the problem by cleaning out the internals. Apple isn't his technology maid.

{"commentId":10834886,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"brianford"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:11 PM EST
{"commentId":10835090,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}
hemphill

If smoking around a mac for 2 years is enough to kill it, they need to seriously up their quality control. No other machine seems to have that kind of problem.

{"commentId":10835090,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"hemphill"}
    Reply#2 - Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:27 PM EST
    {"commentId":10835213,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
    Brian Ford

    I used to work in a tech support, and you'd be pretty disgusted about what you'l find when opening up some computers, mac or not. We had cockroaches spill out of one.

    Given that this is two cases out of millions, I'm not so sure we can say with certainty "what" they saw when they opened it up, or that we can assume that it wasn't above and beyond acceptable wear and tear.

    {"commentId":10835213,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"brianford"}
    • 1 vote
    #2.1 - Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:38 PM EST
    {"commentId":10839575,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}
    hemphill

    True, you do find some disgusting things inside computers. The worst I saw was a piece of molded over bologny.

    I do think it should give business purchasers pause. If the purchased support contracts can be dismissed on a whim, that kind of defeats the purpose.

    {"commentId":10839575,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"hemphill"}
      #2.2 - Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:47 PM EST
      {"commentId":10839740,"authorDomain":"brianford"}
      Brian Ford

      Again, I don't really like the reasoning they gave, but if the computer wasn't working, and if the reason was because it was clogged up with smoke, or whatever, how is that different than someone spilling, say, a coke onto their computer? Or, they live in the rainforest and their computer is constantly exposed to ridiculously high humidity, so it builds up moisture?

      {"commentId":10839740,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"brianford"}
        #2.3 - Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:07 AM EST
        {"commentId":10839948,"authorDomain":"hemphill"}
        hemphill

        If they define normal wear and tear up front there is no issue.

        When something that people would expect to be normal wear and tear ( using the computer in a home) gets redefined it seems there would be a problem. With the warranty they failed to live up to their end of the deal. If we let companies renegotiate the contract's after the fact, then we are in for a world of hurt.

        Partially their logic fails because the machine itself is made of materials that osha defines as hazardous substances. So they can refuse to repair any machine at all, because all of them would fall under their "Apple would not require an employee to repair anything deemed hazardous to their health" quote. If I was purchasing for a company right now, that would scare me away from apple.

        {"commentId":10839948,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"hemphill"}
        • 1 vote
        #2.4 - Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:34 AM EST
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        {"commentId":10845546,"authorDomain":"Stumpjumper"}
        Stumpjumper

        Dell will not take back bad keyboards from laptops or desktops because they are deemed a "biohazard". Which is true. Many, if not most, keyboards are "dirtier" than toilet seats! Especially in a multi-user environment.

        As for the smoke in the apple, I have seen this on fans. They get gummed up from dust and tar and quit working properly.

        {"commentId":10845546,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"Stumpjumper"}
          Reply#3 - Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:42 AM EST
          {"commentId":10853005,"authorDomain":"rascal2pt0"}
          Rascal 2.0

          the fans get gummed up and the caking of tar on the processor, heat-sinks and everything else prevent proper heat dissipation. All that will prematurely kill your laptop.

          {"commentId":10853005,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"rascal2pt0"}
          • 1 vote
          Reply#4 - Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:16 PM EST
          {"commentId":10853573,"authorDomain":"SirThinkswaytoomuch"}
          Sir. Thinkswaytoomuch

          Well, this has to be done so I might as well do it: Hell on Earth (The pictures related to the article is a little ways down the first post.

          I apologize, in advance, for any nightmares because of this.

          {"commentId":10853573,"threadId":"730558","contentId":"3532239","authorDomain":"SirThinkswaytoomuch"}
            Reply#5 - Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:40 PM EST
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