Dell Ultrabook owners raised complaints about their new laptops smelling like cat urine and possible health hazards. The computer manufacturer assured the smell is not caused by biological contamination.
The complaints were initiated by users of Dell’s first-rate laptop model Latitude 6430u Ultrabook.
According to one of the users, Hoteca, "I thought for sure one of my cats sprayed it, but there was something faulty with it so I had it replaced. The next one had the same exact issue. It's embarrassing taking it to clients because it smells so bad."
Another Ultrabook owner who raised the issue at Dell’s online hardware support site shared, "A few weeks ago I got a new Lattitude 6430u for work. The machine is great, but it smells as if it was assembled near a tomcat's litter box. It is truly awful!"
The first complaint came as early as June this year. At the onset, Dell’s technical support reps asked the laptop owners to check and clean the air vents of the laptops. Ultrabook owners complained however that this did not resolve the odor issue.
By September, another user named Malioz suggested that the probable culprit is the plastic material used in the Dell laptop. He inquired whether the substance that may be causing the stench of urine may cause potential biological hazards.
After Dell’s investigation of the cause of the smell, the engineers reached a conclusion that it was an issue in the process of the laptop’s manufacturing. They assured that the laptop is not a health hazard and no cat urinated on it.
Affected users were advised to send their Ultrabooks for a palm rest replacement. On the other hand, new owners need not worry about the odor issue since the problem in the manufacturing process has already been fixed.
"If you order an E6430u now, it will not have the issue," said SteveB, a Dell support technician.
