Smoking may harm your Apple computer

Last week the American Cancer Society held its 34th annual "Great American Smokeout." Perhaps they should have sent notices to owners of Apple computers letting them know that their second-hand smoke may be ruining their computers.

A post on the Consumerist blog details two separate incidents where Apple owners were told that their warranties were void because the computers were used in a house were smoking took place. (The blog only identifies the people involved by their first names.)

In a e-mail to Apple shared with the blog, owner Derek wrote that he took his computer to his local Apple store to have it checked out for an overheating issue. A few days later the store "called and informed me that due to the computer having been used in a house where there was smoking, that has voided the warranty and they refuse to work on the machine, due to 'health risks of second hand smoke.'"

Ruth detailed that her son brought his Apple computer to an authorized Mac service center after it stopped working. After a few days with no word from the service center Ruth called and was told that the "computer can't be worked on because it's contaminated." She asked for an explanation and was told "he's a smoker and it's contaminated with cigarette smoke which they consider a bio-hazard!"

Derek was able to fix his computer by disassembling it and cleaning it out with a can of compressed air. Ruth was not so lucky: her Apple store determined that the computer was beyond repair due to tar from cigarette smoke.

Both computer owners sent their e-mails to Steve Jobs, the high-profile CEO of Apple, but received no response. The computers were still under Apple Care warranties, though the warranties do not mention anything about smoking.

The Consumerist also attempted to get a statement from Apple about the claims but received nothing on the record after months of waiting.

A blog on PC World offers a few solutions on how Apple could handle the contaminated computers. One way, Apple could build a containment chamber, like one of those that "lab workers use, inserting their hands through holes in the box into permanently attached gloves." Or they could just open the computers up and let them air out for a while. Or Apple could have a worker that is already a smoker work on the machine.

Yahoo Tech blog noted that "Apple's failure to mention this issue in its warranty materials is out of line." It leaves consumers responsible for repairs though it does not inform them that cigarette smoke exposure could void their warranty.

Though the policy seems harsh, second-hand smoke can harm computers. Squidoo posted photos and an explanation of what damage can happen to your computer from smoke.