Who uses their Fingerprint Reader?

I was just wondering how many people actually use the Fingerprint Reader on their Thinkpad

 

I use it for logging into Windows, too lazy to type my password.

 

same here, for logging in too. but i guess i shoudl take more advantage of it.

 

I use mine several times a day for logging in to Windows.

I don't use it for anything else though. I keep several hundred passwords in the same software on my laptop and phone (SplashID). I do not want to duplicate them in the fingerprint software. I would use the fingerprint reader more if I could access the passwords on my phone.

 

I only use it for logging on to Windows. I tried using the CSS, but it was too slow, buggy (it prompted me 4 times in a row before letting me access my bank account), and didn't work from some websites that I use regularly.

 

I use it for logging in. I am paranoid and always have a nice strong password, and it is easier swiping my finger to start it up then typing in like 15 characters.

 

I think its more secure to use fingerprint to log in than password, so when I had my T60p, I disabled logging in via password and use fingerprint exclusively.

 

I use it all the time to sign into Windows. I haven't used my password in ages. In fact I can't remember what it is anymore. LOL
Tim

 

I do! How about a poll ?

 

I use it all the time, it lakes me feel special for some reason.

 

you may want to change that since my FP reader started not to recognize my prints after some 6 months or so .... so I had to reload my fingers .. lol

also, it's not more secure since all the FP reader does is type the password for you, so that Windows would log you in. But the password is still there .. hello

 

I use my fingerprint reader at least 3 times a day to log on to Windows.
GREAT feature, and could never do without one again

 

LOL. How about a retina scan instead?

 

Never used it, and don't use a password for windows - more pain than it's worth for me.

 

+1

 

how do you disable to the window's log in password and only use the fingerprint reader exclusively?

 

I use it all the time but only to log in to windows.

 

Two questions...

1.) Anybody use it to log into websites?
2.) Maybe a stupid question but I will ask it. Doesn't it worry anybody that the machine has your fingerprint stored? I don't know since this is my first machine with a biometric device(but have seen them used before in other places), but my first thought was that it might not be such a good idea to have your FP stored? This is kind of why I hesitate to use mine even though I have it

 

I would like to use it for websites..

would anyone happen to know if there's a firefox extension that supports the password manager?

thanks!

 

Lenovo should really get on the ball in improving the fingerprint reader software. Implementation with the TPM chip is a wonderful thing, but when late-comers to the game like Sony offer better integration of the fingerprint reader with websites, it just shows laziness. I have to say that CTRL + F1 is inferior to an automatic prompt a la Sony software.

On another note, would it kill Lenovo to import facial recognition from the Ideapad line to the Thinkpad line? It only seems natural.

My two cents.

 

facial recognition doesnt seem like a security thing to me, only convinience. You could essentially just hold up a picture of the person and it would log them on...

 

I didn't get the fingerprint reader with mine. I figured I could type my password in. I am just worried about the right palm having flex without the reader like in the older models.

 

As far as I was concerned, it was just one more piece of software to have running. So I didn't get it. I probably should have though, seeing as how you can just uninstall the software and reload it if you ever choose to use it.

I have it on my current laptop and never use it.

 

According to people testing it....they said the picture did not work.....did you get the picture to work?

 

A picture will not have the same depth of a face. Face recognition is a very useful tool for many security/surveillance applications and is one of many biometric applications that is continually being refined. I don't know why lenovo hasn't added it as an option for the thinkpad line...though can't you just find some software or try and load the ideapad software when a camera is present? Worth a shot.

 

i used to on windows, but when i switched to ubuntu linux i didn't bother to configure it

its kinda a showoff thing for normal users

 

pretty cool way of logging in to Windows. Most importantly, it's faster and safer.

 

I use it to boot and log into windows. Only have to swipe it once though.

 

I use FPR solely for logging into Windows. I didn't install CSS to use it for other purposes.

one advantage of logging through FPR is if someone is behind you, he'll never know what password you typed because you didn't type it at all.

 

^ not that if somebody behind you could see what's in front of you though .. lol

and even if that person gets so close behind you (I would not like that but hey you may be a girl ) then you should worry about your password only if you type it with one finger and slow ....

but yes, CSS was waaaay slow .. so I uninstalled it.

 

Like some here, I use it mainly for logging into Windows, other than that, I generally don't use it...still, its nice to have just in case I ever decide I want to make full use of it someday.

TheCynical1

 

Since a few people have mentioned the ideapad face recognition software, I'd like to share my experiences with it... (a good friend of mine recently got an ideapad and we've been playing around with the face recognition software)

In short: um, it sucks.

It takes forever, especially if you're moving or if you're in a busy room. If you sit still, it still takes much longer than typing in a password.
Also, I've found that it often lets other people in. For example, my friend, who is Chinese, found that anybody squinting and smiling while getting their face scanned got in, regardless of facial geometry. And for some reason, I can always get into her computer using the facial recognition software. Note that I am a guy and she is a girl. And we look nothing alike (ok, that's an opinion.)

Also, i didn't get a fingerprint reader. i just felt that it was unnecessary.

 

I use it a couple times a day at least for logging into windows.

 

Gee, I would never have imagined that when I started this thread, it would get so many responses.....not that I'm complaining

I have used my Fingerprint reader less than 10 times and I have found it hit and miss. Sometimes it recognises my FP and other times, not.

Perhaps it's because of the way I am swiping my finger? Or because I have set the FP reader for high sensitivity?

A possible solution to improving the accuracy of the FP reader is for the user to place their finger on the pad and just leave it there, and the scanner should be scanning the finger (just like a normal scanner or photocopier).

 

I don't use it at all. Cool but useless feature IMO

 

I wanted to use it, I tried it for a little while, but it was just too unreliable on the default "balanced" setting. I didn't want to sacrifice "security" by setting the recognition to a more flexible setting, so I just type my password in. It takes all of 2 to 3 seconds from Ctrl-Alt-Del to Enter, it was about the same if not more with the fingerprint reader, with trying to awkwardly position my finger so as to get a clean scan, and that's not counting the extra swipes I would have to make every third time. I think it's a useful feature for people requiring a high security password + biometric combination for login, but for convenience, it's a useless gimmick, IMO.

 

Unfortunately I agree. I've had the same experiences.

Also, I've noticed that sometimes when you're at the logon screen or at the password screen after the system lock, the option 'Other Credentials' is not displayed. Sounds like a Vista glitch.