My m570ru arrived... with a fp reader!!!

Well I just got a surprise. I have a finger print reader on my Eurocom m570ru!!! It wasn't even an option on the system configuration page when i ordered. I had been reading about how this module was delayed, and how Justin just announced its availability next week, so I was pretty happy to see it.

By the way, I had a great experience with Eurocom... ordered on monday, it arrived at my door that same friday... awsome!

D

 

does it work?

 

mind giving us a picture?

 

I got my model from Eurocom on Monday and it didn't come with a fingerprint reader.

 

What the heck? You ordered this Monday, and it reached you on Friday? I preordered my M570RU 4 weeks ago, and I still haven't gotten it!

 

What configuration did you guys order? I just checked what day I placed the order - July 10th. I went with the 7950, T7300, 2GB, 120GB drive, WUXGA and pretty much everything else standard config. I even told them to skip the fingerprint reader if it meant that it was going to delay the shipment.

I have phoned Eurocom twice to get a timeline on this - I've been told that I should have received it this week. Alas, I still have not been sent a confirmation that the computer was sent out at all yet. I desperately need this for work (I've had to borrow computers from others for the presentations that I've been doing).

 

I will have a FP on mine too from XoticPC... it was sort of worth to wait for the WSXGA

 

Damn, now I'm wondering whether or not I should return my Clevo and get one with a fingerprint reader...?

 

I do not see the big deal for fingerprint readers..

sure you get something cool that can be used for security.. but the novelty will probably wear out quick.

If the notebook gets stolen, it does not matter if there is a fingerprint reader or not.

The best protection is to keep an eye on it, or get a good notebook lock (that either has alarm or is cut-resistant).

 

I'm thinking if you use the fp reader to lock down your computer, what if something in the fp reader suddenly gone wrong and it won't detect your fingerprints? Wouldn't that completely lock down the computer?

 

The fingerprint reader is software driven, so it can always be disabled or override by BIOS reset or third-party software.

 

I wish I could... no camera here at the summer cottage (56k dialup...bleck!) I might be able to try something with the webcam, but then there are lots of photos out there of the figerprint reader already.

Actually no it doesn't... it appears that I need a bios flash or something as there are no TPM settings at all under the security tab. I'll have to inquire about a newer bios version when I get home on monday.


I wasnt going to order the fp reader, for the cost, I wansn't that concerned with security. Now that I have it, there is definately a cool factor. We'll see what I think of it when I actually get it working. I am not looking forward to flashing the bios though. I just found it strange that I got one at all, i hadn't heard of any one else that had got one yet.

D

 

I'd only want it for the "cool" factor.

 

Aye. I realize that it may actually be better without a reader. A lot of people say that it's annoying when they accidentally brush it with their finger while typing, and a window pops up saying "Incorrect Reading". So OP, you might not want to do that BIOS update.

 

Still, it does have that coolness factor.

 

this whole laptop has the coolness factor...

 

OK, just a little update to my original post, for those who care...

It turns out that the motherboard I received does not even have the TMP chip installed. The fingerprint reader software installs just fine, and works just fine, but the encryped fingerprint data is saved to the hard drive instead of the TPM chip. Less secure for sure, but still functional. I am not sure why the TPM hardware wasnt installed... a question for Eurocom I guess.

The fingerprint software is really cool. I can log into virtually anything, inlcuding this website, with the swipe of a finger. Some people expressed concerns about accidentally swiping your finger, but it takes a very deliberate swipe, with adequate pressure to activate. I was unable to accidentally activate it at all. All in all, I prefer my M570RU with the fingerprint reader than without... it is slick and it works well.

d

 

Oh yeah, the firmware is apparently the same revision number for mother boards with and without the TPM chip. So no flashing required... the bios senses the hardware and displays the appropriate options in the security menu.

 

The fingerprint reader is on the case, but the chip controlling it should be missing.

I ordered my m570ru from eurocom about 2 weeks ago, should arrive within the next 2 weeks

Delayed because of the T7300 and the matte screen.

 

haha i'd have to say a good chunk of my decision to go with the Sager NP2090 was for the fingerprint reader (and obviously reading all the good thins about the NP2090...) or else i would've sorta went with the Dell Inspiron 1520.

My friend has one on his IBM Thinkpad T60 and I was immediately sold on it when I tried swiping my finger and then he swiped it! I know it's not going to protect my laptop from being broken into (heck, you can get past the password too) but it's relatively fast for me to log in at boot up rather than typing! Plus it is pretty cool...

 

I've heard that those fp readers break after very little time tho.
Not sure if this apply to most of the fp readers.