Short few questions on options for new ThinkPad

Some options for my new T530 that I need help with:

Pointing Device
1. UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader
or 2. UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader for Color Sensor, Smart Card

Both are "no extra charge" but I have to pick one. Maybe the 2nd? Is Smart Card useful?
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Integrated WiFi Wireless LAN Adapters
1. Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN (no charge)
2. Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN [add $20.00]

Is the Ultimate version worth an extra $20?
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Integrated Mobile Broadband
WWAN is not compatible with Micro hard drive (mSATA)
Mobile Broadband upgradable
Integrated Mobile Broadband (Sierra Wireless MC8355 - Gobi 3000 (TM)) [add $125.00]

Can I buy a Gobi 3000 later for $125 or less?
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LoJack $57.96 for 1 year
ramping up to $91.09 for 3 year

Is LoJack useful?
Does LoJack mean that Lenovo puts extra hardware into the notebook?
Or is LoJack purely software?

Thanks for any help with these questions.

 

1. Is the Ultimate version of Intel Centrino worth an extra $20 over getting the Advanced version? Perhaps more important are there any serious downsides? Like more heat and not getting that much extra performance?

2. Searching on Amazon for "Gobi 3000" and "Gobi 3000 Lenovo" shows I can buy a new Gobi 3000 that is somehow branded by Lenovo for about $110, which is less than the $125 that Lenovo wants.

I also see a new Gobi 3000 (in Amazon's computer section) by Ericsson, which is labeled by the seller as being "for Dell Asus ACER" and only costing $64, which is tempting. But would it work in a Lenovo T530?

3. I didn't do any searching on LoJack. My memory is that it got started with cars? So it's hardware that it attached to the equipment.

Does anybody have any clue to what extent LoJack helps with recovering a lost or stolen notebook computer?

Thanks for any help with these questions.

 

Oh, and one more question.

Can one change the title of a thread that they themselves started?

If yes, how do I do it?

 

You know, there is such a thing as the "Edit Post" button

Anyway...

1) If you're not a graphics designer or other person making their living on accurate color representation, the color sensor isn't needed.

2) It's only worth the $20 if you have a router with three antennae on it to support the three antennae on the 6300. Otherwise, the 2x2 6205 is more than enough.

3) Not sure, but if you don't have a data plan with your wireless carrier and/or don't plan on getting one, the Gobi is useless.

4) LoJack, iirc, is a hardware+software solution. The question of if it's useful is a question of if you think your laptop has a likely chance of being stolen. I didn't buy one, even though I'm on a college campus, because I'm not an idiot with my notebook. Just so long as you keep your laptop with you, keep it within eyesight, and don't leave it unattended (even with friends), you shouldn't have to worry about loosing it. A free alternative would be to write down your laptop's serial number and reporting the crime to the police in case it ever does get stolen, and also to have remote webcam software installed on your computer so you can see who stole it. That's basically the jest of what LoJack does. Absolute Software | LoJack for Laptops

*No, you can't change the title of your own thread. You'd have to ask a mod to do that for you (green, pink, or purple username).

 

Smart Cards are generally used in corporations that need Access Control authentication, most casual users will unlikely need to use it. But since it's free there's no harm having it, I mean it could reach a wider demographic of buyers should you wish to resell the system in a couple of years time.

The Advanced-N 6205 card is a decent Wi-Fi card, I used both and found little difference in terms of wireless performance. The Ultimate-N 6300 may help slightly in crowded Wi-Fi spots due to the extra antenna but I never found this to be significant enough to warrant over the 6205 card - I would save the $20 personally.

You should be able to find the Gobi WWAN cards on eBay for less than $125, make sure to get the right version as I think Lenovo implements an vendor lock on those cards.

LoJack is an subscription based anti-theft software that constantly monitors your notebook in conjunction with the system's BIOS. Should it be stolen, LoJack will then blacklist the notebook and attempts to find it when the thief connects it to the internet. It is then reported to the authorities who then attempts to capture the thief and return your notebook.

Simple as it sounds it actually can be a bit of a hassle, it will always install additional software that will "phone back home" to Absolute Software regardless if you do clean installs and is only useful if the thief actually do connect it to the Internet. If it's broken down for parts (like the screen, processor etc.) then LoJack is pretty much useless in that perspective. Plus it can put some people off from the second hand market should you wish to re-sell it on later, personally I wouldn't feel comfortable to find out that such feature is enabled without my consent.