Tech Brief 09/10/08

Consumer electronics company Sony has recalled 440,000 Vaio laptop computers due to the risk improper wiring could short circuit and overheat, according to the Associated Press and Sony’s eSupport Web site.

The recall is due to the abnormal wear of improperly placed wires near the hinge of the laptop, which could cause a short circuit and localized overheating, burning users who touch the portion of the laptop where the short circuit has occurred.

The company has received 209 reports of overheating worldwide, including seven cases in which people received minor burns.