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Affected computers have batteries with model numbers A1061, A1078, and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 to HQ507 and 3X446 to 3X510. To view the battery model and serial numbers located on the bottom of the battery, you must remove the battery from the computer. The battery serial number is printed in black or dark grey lettering beneath a barcode.

In addition, laptop owners, particularly anyone using an iBook G3, who have received or bought a new battery at any time should check whether it needs replacing. This includes batteries supplied as part of the previous PowerBook battery recall.

Apple said that affected users should stop using your battery and order a replacement battery immediately; anyone who continues to use the battery, should not leave it unattended and check for signs of overheating.

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information and to order a replacement battery go to support.apple.com/ibook_powerbook/batteryexchange.

Apple's recall followed Dell's decision to similarly replace 4.1 million batteries. Both companies have agreed to join other laptop manufacturers in establishing battery manufacturing standards, which they hope to have in place by the middle of next year.

Other leading laptop makers including HP and Lenovo said that they did not expect to have to issue recalls. Lenovo explained that although it uses Sony batteries it configures them in such a way that overheating problems are avoided.

'Lenovo designs its battery packages a different way,' said spokesman Bob Page. 'How close the battery pack is it to a heat source, how evenly can you keep the heat in battery cells, the basic geometric arrangement of the cell - all those things affect whether there will be problems.'

He added that the batteries have been rigourously tested.

Sony said that that it anticipates no further recalls and said that it as introduced a number of additional safeguards into its battery manufacturing process to address this condition and to provide a greater level of safety and security.

'We believe the issue has been addressed to the satisfaction of our customers,' the company said in statement.