HP gives ‘shock’ news on defective monitors

SAN FRANCISCO: Some Hewlett-Packard Co. monitors could give electric shock to

users, the firm warned on Thursday and offered to replace these monitors.

Hewlett-Packard said 0.01 percent of the 17-inch HP 71 monitors, model D8903A,

were defective, but it did not say how many in total had been sold since it

began shipping in July 2000 to the United States, Canada and some Latin American

countries.

The monitors have been sold in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican

Republic, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. "In rare circumstances,

there is a risk of electric shock if a user comes in contact with a specific and

limited area on the top of a defective monitor," Hewlett-Packard said in a

statement. The statement, however, gave no further details on the problem. The

firm’s spokeswoman was also unavailable for comment.

Hewlett-Packard said customers in the United States and Canada should call a

toll-free number for help (800 428 2446) while Latin Americans would need to

contact the local Hewlett-Packard customer care center.

(C) Reuters Limited 2001.