While it may seem funny -- exploding laptops, burning laptop batteries -- make no joke about it, this is serious business.

Dell's announcement to recall 4.1 million notebook batteries (made by Sony) is scary stuff if you have seen the destruction a burning notebook battery can cause or have read about the numerous instances of fires at factories, on plane, in cars, etc., apparently caused by these batteries.

Follow the sage advice and remove the battery and run the laptop on AC power until a replacement battery is received.

The Dell website at www.dell.com has detailed information or you can click here to read the recall notice.

Don't wait!