Sales by both Google and Hewlett-Packard (News - Alert) of Chromebook 11 have been halted. The newly released computer is being pulled from the market due to overheating chargers. 

Photo courtesy of arstechnica.com

 The announcement was made on Wednesday. The Chromebook 11 was unveiled by Google (News - Alert) Inc. and Hewlett-Packard just over a month ago. It was advertised as a more affordable device compared to most laptops that have similar features. The Chrome book 11 sold for $279.

 Google responded with this statement, “Google and HP are pausing sales of the HP Chromebook 11 after receiving a small number of user reports that some chargers included with the device have been damaged due to overheating during use. We are working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to identify the appropriate corrective action, and will provide additional information and instructions as soon as we can.

 In the meantime, customers who have purchased an HP Chromebook 11 should not use the original charger provided with the product. In the interim they may continue using their HP Chromebook 11 with any other Underwriters Laboratories (News - Alert)-listed micro-USB charger—for example one provided with a tablet or smartphone. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

 Google is advising those who have purchased a Chromebook 11 to not use the charger that came with the unit. Chromebook 11 is re-chargeable with power cords from many other mobile devices. The Charger that came with the computer uses micro USB to recharge the HP Chromebook 11. The charger does its job at a higher rate than a typical phone or tablet charger.

 The Chromebook 11 has been out of stock on Google Play for a weeks, but until sales were halted it was readily available at both Amazon and Best Buy (News - Alert). Both Amazon and Best buy have also removed all information about the device from their websites. Best Buy issued a memo to its retail store managers instructing them to “stop selling” the device “effective immediately.”

Edited by Cassandra Tucker