If you haven’t heard already, there are several Dell laptop batteries that have been recalled due to the danger of spontaneous combustion. Here are a few mug shots:
If you want to know more about why your batteries may be susceptible to exploding then check it out here.
Straight from the horse’s mouth:
Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers or separately as secondary batteries:
- Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810
- Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705
- Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90
- XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710
If you have one of these – it’s time to swap. Check out the Dell Website for more details.
Be safe.
As I stood in line waiting to check-in my luggage, here are a few things that I noticed (funny how much more observant you are, when you are spending alot of time just standing around).
Interesting Things:
- Those heavy duty “rapid” x-machines run on Windows 98 - I saw the boot-up screen
- Airlines are going to take a big hit on labor expenses - Every single check-in counter has someone behind it; Many TSA workers actually doing work - they had to constantly load the conveyer belts with check-in luggage
Things to look-out for when you are traveling:
- Longer check-in lines
- Shorter security lines - since more people are checking their luggage, there is less to scan in the security lines
- Longer waits at baggage claim - some of the baggage claims were overflowing with luggage where it became difficult to pull luggage off or even find yours
- Plenty of overhead bin space for obvious reasons
- More bathroom breaks during the flight since people are finishing off their drinks before they board
Things to help make your traveling life more bearable:
- Get an EVDO card and never worry about a WiFi connection again - you’re going to spend more time in the airport because it’s harder to time when you need leave from home so get work done while you wait for your flight
- Get an extended battery for your laptop - you’re going to need it - EVDO cards (and any other wireless component) reduce your laptop battery duration
- If you are traveling to the same location every week, then leave a set of toiletries at your client site or hotel - you need to travel light
- Check-in online in advance - that’s one less thing to worry about
- Start flying on less popular airlines to reduce check-in times, since security lines are no longer the bottleneck
- Start flying on a difficult schedule if your job gives you that flexibility - avoid peak travel times like Monday mornings and Thursday evenings
- Make use of that curbside check-in - it’s usually alot shorter, especially if the airline charges $$
Coming soon - I will post what typical wait times are for various airports based on an informal poll of my peers
I’ve been a business traveler for over 10 years. When I first started out, it was all about the points. Though, I’ve never been a fan of flying, I took solace in the fact that I was reaping the rewards of this virtual currency that would allow me to purchase anything from airline tickets to hotel rooms to car rentals without spending a single dollar of my own salary.
The subject of many discussions with my fellow business travelers focused on how to best take advantage of the numerous point systems that weaved themselves into our everyday lives - best credit card point system, best deals on double counting points - you name it and we talked about it.
As I’ve entered my thirties, my priorities have changed and I’ve learned that points aren’t enough for me to make the sacrifices that business travel requires. It’s more than points now - it’s about how to spend more time with my family, waste less time waiting for flights, and improve the overall quality of my life. I want to have my cake and eat it too - and points are just the icing, not the cake itself.
Think of this place as a layover that actually gets you home faster.
Who Travels
- More than half of all long distance business travel is made by professional, managerial or technical workers
- More than half of all business travel is made by individuals age 30 to 49
- Over one-fourth of all business travel is made by those who earn $100,000 or more annually
- Almost eight out of every 10 business trips (77%) are made by men
*SOURCE: National Household Travel Survey, 2001-2002.