The fire in the article is before they put ’em in the computers

Dell says the personal-computer industry was experiencing a shortage of laptop batteries partly because of a recent fire at a major supplier, but the company was working with other suppliers to limit any price increases.

Dell also said prices of its separately sold batteries used as replacements or for surplus power had gone up because of the shortage caused partly by the March 3 fire at LG Chem’s Ochang plant…

LG Chem is the second biggest South Korean battery maker. The fire contributed to a worldwide battery shortage that could affect up to 40 percent of second-quarter shipments at Asustek Computer, Taiwan’s No. 2 PC maker…

He added that Dell is “not commenting on what impact, if any, that this is having on the prices of our products,” referring to notebook PCs.

This affects Apple and Lenovo, as well.

Of course, everyone could switch over to batteries from Samsung – and [gulp] Sony.