And so I received this from Apple:
Dear Apple Customer:
Apple has determined that certain lithium-ion rechargeable batteries containing cells manufactured by Sony Corporation of Japan pose a safety risk that may result in overheating. The affected batteries were sold worldwide, in systems and separately, from October 2003 to August 2006 inclusive for use with the following computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4, 15-inch PowerBook G4.
Apple is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries and has initiated a worldwide exchange programme and will provide you with a new replacement battery, free of charge. This programme is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities.
Issue: The affected batteries could overheat, posing a fire hazard. Apple received nine confirmed reports in the United States of these batteries overheating. Apple urges you to stop using your battery and to order a replacement battery immediately. After removing the recalled battery from the iBook or PowerBook, you should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.
Product: Please use the chart below to match your computer with the affected battery model number and serial number range. To view the model and serial numbers labelled on the bottom of the battery, you must remove the battery from the computer. The battery serial number is printed in black or dark-grey lettering beneath a bar code.
No other Apple notebook computers are affected by this recall.
Computer model
Battery model
Battery serial number range
12-inch iBook G4
A1061
ZZ338–ZZ427
3K429–3K611
6C519–6C552 ending with S9WA, S9WC or S9WD12-inch PowerBook G4
A1079
ZZ411–ZZ427
3K428–3K61115-inch PowerBook G4
A1078 and A1148
3K425–3K601
6N530–6N551 ending with THTA, THTB, or THTC
6N601 ending with THTCNote: If your battery’s serial number does not match any of the ranges listed below, you do not have to exchange your battery.
What to do: To begin the battery exchange process, go to the Apple website at http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram/ . You will be asked for the serial number of your computer, the serial number of your battery, and a ship-to address. After serial number verification, a new battery will be shipped to you free of charge. You may exchange up to three batteries through the website. When you receive the replacement battery, please use the same shipping packaging and the included prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery to Apple. If you do not have access to the website listed above, you can call Apple at 0870 876 0753 between 8am -7.45 pm (Mon to Fri), 10 am - 5.45 pm (Sat), for further assistance.
Thank you for your cooperation with this exchange program.
Apple
Luckily my 12″ Powerbook is not one of those in this batch. The battery does get warm, but not as warm as the underside where the processor is. I wish I had been in the batch, then I could have gotten a new battery. I only get about 2 hours life out of the poor thing now. The 12″ Powerbook has served me well. And grandad TiBook is in the cupboard, hasn’t even been powered up for over a year now. Once I’ve moved house (yes I will relay the story of my house move) I think I’ll treat myself to something new. Maybe one of those beautiful MacBook things. Shiny…. 