Anti-Theft

Are there more convenient devices for this other than cable locks? I tried the Targus Defcon stuff but that thing was absolutely humongous, gives a lot of false alarms, and impossible to disable without setting off the alarm.

Are there maybe better motion detection devices out there? I saw a pcmcia device w/ software once a few years ago that but thing's no longer around.

 

Cable locks are not anti-theft, they are theft deterent. This is very different.

A theft deterent will "slow" them down, but will not in any way stop them if you leave your computer alone for an extended ammount of time.

If the false alarms annoy you, just get a plain ol' cable lock with either a key or a number-based lock. Remember, the best anti-theft is to keep the laptop away of sight!

 

I keep my laptop in my locked backpack and have a kensiington lock attached to a wrist lock when im on the train.

 

I haven't found anything better than the cable locks, unfortunately.

 

The best anti-theft device is common sense. Keep it locked up and out of sight it you are in an area where you think it might get stolen. Also, in a lot of the new computers they have like a lo-jack program you can enable in the bios. This can help because if it does get stolen...they can track it using that.

 

http://www.absolute.com/

Im getting that. Its just over $100 for 4 years coverage.

 

be smart about where you take your notebook...be smart about where you leave your notebook, and who it is with....for example..when im at school...i trust no one, so it goes with me everywhere....cautious, but nothing has be stolen from me since 2nd grade....from people outside my family..

pb,out.

 

That only works if they connect your PC to the internet....

Boot it up and take all your personal data off it, then wipe the hard drive.

Then you're not only out a laptop, you're out an identity. Which would you rather lose?

 

(off-topic) Let me guess....lunch money Dang bullies!

 

no i used to bring random things into school (magazines/cards mostly) and when i left at the end of the day..they just werent in my desk..lol

pb,out.

 

Wonder what people think of this device?

Tag Alert... it's basically an electronic cable. Attach one part to your laptop case, carry the other component with you. If the laptop bag moves too far away from you, the part in your pocket sounds an alarm!

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/pcatid__22/catid__676889373/sku__RP701

 

That's pretty cool. I always fear I may forget my laptop bag somewhere. That would SUCK!

For those cable locks... don't you just need some wire snips to get through it?

 

Well, I don't know if 'wire snips' would be enough to cut through the kevlar-reinforced steel cable, but some kind of bolt-cutter thing might be able to get through it. But how many people are usually walking around with those? I think that even with a lock, if a serious thief wants your laptop, he'll probably get it. Things like cable locks really have their most benefit in stopping the opportunity thief, that guy who sees an unattended computer and gets a stupid idea. It's like the club. They can still steal your car, but they'll probably just go to the next car that won't be as much of a hassle.

As for the sharper image thing. It seems like a decent idea, but it certainly wouldn't ease my mind about leaving my computer behind. Chances seem too low that knowing my laptop is being stolen is going to help too much. Better than nothing, I suppose.