Dell Latitude 6430u users complaining of cat pee smell

After months of complaints about a cat pee like smell in its Dell Latitude 6430u laptops, Dell finally figured out the source of the the laptop's stench. Since the laptop's launch earlier this year, many users complained their laptop smelled like cat urine. Many users seemed to think that the smell was coming from inside the keyboard, so Dell suggested that those complaining give the keyboard a blast of compressed air.

This trick didn't work though and now Dell admits that the problem is caused by the laptop's palm wrist. What exactly causes the smell isn't disclosed but Dell will start offering replacements to customers soon.

Curiously, ARS Technica points out that the use of urine in manufacturing is not as outlandish as yoy may think:

The Smithsonian’s Smart News blog points out that it is not unheard of for urine, which has a high concentration of nitrogen, to be used as a “strengthening agent” in manufacturing. Smart News points to Autoevolution, which describes how BMW had a set of inline 4 cylinder blocks hardened in 1983 by having some people pee on them.

Is Dell having people pee on its laptop components to firm them up before installation? Almost certainly not. Does it use a pee-like, nitrogen-rich substance to accomplish the same end? Maybe. Just maybe.