Dell is still one of the top selling computer makers on the market today, but one of the laptop models that has recently started to ship comes with a smell that is different from what many users remember a brand new laptop should smell like. The Dell Latitude 6430u has been the center of complaints from users that claim it comes with the “smell of cat urine”. While some users might get out the hazmat suites, Dell assured users that it is not a problem with biological contamination, rather part of the manufacturing process.
Dell engineers have been working to solve the issue and claim the process has been changed to eliviate the pungent smell. If you have owned a cat that would not remember where the litter way, you know exactly the smell that consumers are complaining about. If you never had the liberty of smelling the horrible odor, considering yourself lucky and go from there. Dell users posted things like, “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!”
Another user claimed that they “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.” Dell support was trying to help users before knowing what the problem was, advising that consumers clean the laptop air vents with compressed air, but the odor did not go away with that solution. One customer came forward claiming that a polymer used in the production of the laptop could be to blame.
After a short investigation, Dell found that the problem was not hazardous saying the “The smell is not related to cat urine or any other type of biological contaminant, nor is it a health hazard.” New orders placed for the laptop will not have the issue, however, if you own a smelly one, you can return the unit to Dell for a placement palm rest. News about the problem spread like wild fire on sites like Reddit and others. Dell is still trying to win back fans loyal to the brand with new products, but this is not going to help the short term.
