Laptop batteries recalled

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Computer Inc. recalled 1.8 million Sony-built laptop batteries Thursday that could overheat and catch fire.\nCupertino, Calif.-based Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two consumers who received minor burns after handling overheated computers. Apple has also received reports of minor property damage, but no serious injuries have been reported.\nApple's recall comes less than two weeks after Dell Inc.'s recall of 4.1 million faulty laptop batteries also made by Sony -- the largest electronics recall in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's history.\nApple's recall covers 1.1 million lithium-ion batteries in the 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptops sold in the United States from October 2003 through August 2006. It also covers an additional 700,000 laptops sold abroad, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.\nDell's recall affected about 14 percent of the Latitude, Inspiron, XPS and Precision notebooks sold between April 1, 2004, and July 18 of this year.\nApple is asking consumers to check a Web site -- http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram -- to determine whether they have a recalled battery.