Quick fingerprint reader questions

Quick questions here - for anyone using a ThinkPad with a fingerprint reader.. does its location make resting palms on the unit while typing any less comfortable? (ie; is it recessed enough to cause discomfort during extended use)

Secondly.. what is its power draw like? Can it be entirely disabled in say, the BIOS?

Thirdly.. is it actually useful at all? As a prospective Windows/Ubuntu dualbooter anyhow. Is this just for logging into the system?

Reason for the questions (if anyone is interested).. I'll be incurring a delay in my order if I go with the fingerprint-free option. Just wondering if having one will get in the way.

Thanks!

 

Nice sig.! IBM TP's rock!

FR:
From my experience with W510, the FR location was never an issue for comfortable typing.
As of its usefulness, - I liked that the swipe does also initiate the booting, you don't need to press the power button then enter the credentials. Just open the lid, swipe and you're set to go. Handy, IMHO.
It shouldn't affect the power draw in a noticeable way.
As for disabling it in the BIOS, - will have to check...

 

What laptop? The T410? No it doesn't make resting the palms uncomfortable. That's unlike the HP 6930 I sometimes use at work. Someone decided it didn't need to be recessed enough because brushing my palm against it would activate it. It got really annoying, really fast. The new T Thinkpads don't have this issue. Also the chip current Thinkpads use seem to be more accurate, yet more secure than the Authentec chip in the 6930p and also in the T400/T500.

I would say it has negligible power draw. I wouldn't worry about that aspect. According to UPEK, the OEM of the chip the power draw is:
Imaging: 60mA
Selective Suspend: 1.3mA. I'm pretty sure the Tx10 series uses the TCS5 chip from UPEK. Though more likely the unit is the sensor only so:
Imaging: 10mA
Selective Suspend: 140uA

It can be disabled in the BIOS, but I see no point. I find it definitely useful. You can substitute passwords in Windows 7, plus you can integrate it with a hardware-based encrypting HDD like I do (assuming you specifically buy a drive version that has this feature).


Assuming you get the FP reader with the T410/T510, if you use your laptop with the lid closed often (like with a docking station) you may consider also getting an external unit. The UPEK Eiken Digital Privacy Manager works well in addition for this. It's the corded USB model, i can't vouch for the "To Go" version. The model number should be "TCRD4CA1H6A3"/TCRD4 or something like that. It's the most common version out there from Eiken/UPEK (and don't get the Mac version). The external reader and the internal reader share the exact same device ID so the Lenovo based FP driver works well for both and the BIOS also recognizes the external unit, too.

Unfortunately, neither of them work stellar in Linux compared to Windows. Bare in mind though the Biometric framework (WBF) for any version of Windows is new starting with Windows 7/2008 R2 Server. So I wouldn't give too much grief to UPEK with that in mind.

I wouldn't consider the FP secure enough to try and encrypt data, just for use in biometric authentication.