Exploding laptops

A Dell laptop exploded at a Japanese conference last week, causing a Japanese man to be very disappointed. The Slashdot thread is overflowing with puns about "blazingly fast processors," "Windows XPlode," "dude, where's my balls?" and so on. Although I love to make fun of Dell products, one Slashdotter points out that exploding Mac, HP and other brands have also been observed. Evidently anything with a battery is subject to spontaneous combustion, leading to miscellaneous urban legends and popular fears. I recently overheard at a gas station in California: "you're using your cell phone at a gas station!? Are you crazy!!?!?" True. The phone's battery could overheat, ignite gas fumes and wipe out the whole neighborhood. But then again, it could do that regardless of whether you're making a phone call. The best approach is to avoid spilling gasoline and lingering amid the vapors.