Old news but I hadn't heard it:

A)    A fire in the Matsushita factory that made 15% of all
LiIon batteries has caused worldwide shortages - apparently
expected to extend into mid 2008.

14. /...
http://www.tek.com/service/safety/tds3000b/faq.html
On September 30th of this year, a fire stopped production at
the Matsushita Battery factory which manufactures the
Panasonic Lithium-Ion battery cells used in the TDS3BATC
battery pack. This factory provided 15% of the worldwide
supply of Lithium-Ion cells and the fire instantly created a
worldwide supply shortage. We are completing the additional
UL testing needed to substitute Sanyo Lithium-Ion cells in
the TDS3BATC. Unfortunately, because of the worldwide
shortage, Sanyo (and all the other providers) has put the
cells on allocation. At the end of each month, we will be
informed how many cells we've been allocated for the
upcoming month. Matsushita is building a new factory for the
manufacture of Lithium-Ion cells but is currently publishing
a completion date of May, 2008.

Until the worldwide supply shortage is resolved, we will
continue to be unable to guarantee a delivery date for the
TDS3BATC battery packs. Tektronix regrets any inconvenience
this may cause.

B)    If your Tek scope bursts into flames, don't be
alarmed, that's what they do. A few anyway.
Total Recall (but no Arnie)(We can remember it for you
wholesale).

Only the TDS3BATB battery.

    http://www.tek.com/service/safety/tds3000b/pdfs/TDS3000_Recall_English.pdf

    http://www.tek.com/service/safety/tds3000b/faq.html

C)    BUT even though they self-immolate, and eat up scopes,
they are still safe to shop by air, as they, apparently,
"pass all transportation requirements".

Also:
http://www.tek.com/service/safety/tds3000b/faq.html
    13. Can the TDS3BATB (Lithium-Ion) battery be shipped by
air?

    Yes, the product passes all the transportation
requirements and designations for air travel.

That would SEEM to me to be the height of ignorant
stupidity. But, maybe I'm missing something somewhere.

Given that they say

        http://www.tek.com/service/safety/tds3000b/

" ...  We have identified the source of the failure. We have
performed exhaustive testing to redesign the battery pack
and make it safe for its intended use. We have added 3 new
safety features inside the battery pack to prevent any such
failure from occurring in the future. ..."



They are saying that the battery NEEDS extra internal
protection and that (a few) scopes catch fire with the
battery in them BUT it's still OK to send them by air based
on their prior approvals and "meeting all specs".  That was
October 2007 so hopefully they've sorted it all out without
incident.















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