Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hi,

My daughter wants to secure her Inspiron 8600 at college, and we've been
looking at cable locks online. She prefers the combination locks.

We've looked at Kensington, but users report that it's hard to use since
the combination faces down toward the desk, so you have to turn your
laptop upside down to use it, and it only has 3 tumblers
http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html

We see Targus has cable combination locks, too, such as the DEFCON CL.
It has a security plate that you can bolt to a desk surface, which I sort
of like in case we get to her dorm and see there's no way to wrap the
cable around a bed or desk leg.
http://www.targus.com/us/product_d [...] sku=PA410U

Then we see Fellowes cable combination locks, that have encryption
software. What is that? Also, it has stainless steel bridge that
prevents rounding of security slot, and expansion arm for snug fit. What
are these?
http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Bro [...] u=FEL99432

(Sorry for all the questions, but I can't see these at a store, I have to
order online and hope I like them.)

Or, if you have any other suggestions, we're open to any and all.

Sincerely,
Bruce

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Bruce wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> My daughter wants to secure her Inspiron 8600 at college, and we've been
> looking at cable locks online. She prefers the combination locks.
>
> We've looked at Kensington, but users report that it's hard to use since
> the combination faces down toward the desk, so you have to turn your
> laptop upside down to use it, and it only has 3 tumblers
> http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html
>
> We see Targus has cable combination locks, too, such as the DEFCON CL.
> It has a security plate that you can bolt to a desk surface, which I sort
> of like in case we get to her dorm and see there's no way to wrap the
> cable around a bed or desk leg.
> http://www.targus.com/us/product_d [...] sku=PA410U
>
> Then we see Fellowes cable combination locks, that have encryption
> software. What is that? Also, it has stainless steel bridge that
> prevents rounding of security slot, and expansion arm for snug fit. What
> are these?
> http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Bro [...] u=FEL99432
>
> (Sorry for all the questions, but I can't see these at a store, I have to
> order online and hope I like them.)
>
> Or, if you have any other suggestions, we're open to any and all.

DON'T RELY ON A CABLE LOCK!!!

Cable locks are, for all intents and purposes, nothing more than
a deterrent.

They're great in an office, where others might see the thief removing
the "locked" laptop. In an otherwise unoccupied room, they're pretty
close to worthless.

Use a closet, a safe, something that will not only protect the laptop,
but also keep it out of sight.

Notan

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Notan <notan@ddress.com> wrote in news:414719B7.FE44CBA9@ddress.com:

> Bruce wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> My daughter wants to secure her Inspiron 8600 at college, and we've
>> been looking at cable locks online. She prefers the combination
>> locks.
>>
>> We've looked at Kensington, but users report that it's hard to use
>> since the combination faces down toward the desk, so you have to turn
>> your laptop upside down to use it, and it only has 3 tumblers
>> http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html
>>
>> We see Targus has cable combination locks, too, such as the DEFCON
>> CL. It has a security plate that you can bolt to a desk surface,
>> which I sort of like in case we get to her dorm and see there's no
>> way to wrap the cable around a bed or desk leg.
>> http://www.targus.com/us/product_d [...] sku=PA410U
>>
>> Then we see Fellowes cable combination locks, that have encryption
>> software. What is that? Also, it has stainless steel bridge that
>> prevents rounding of security slot, and expansion arm for snug fit.
>> What are these?
>> http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Bro [...] u=FEL99432
>>
>> (Sorry for all the questions, but I can't see these at a store, I
>> have to order online and hope I like them.)
>>
>> Or, if you have any other suggestions, we're open to any and all.
>
> DON'T RELY ON A CABLE LOCK!!!
>
> Cable locks are, for all intents and purposes, nothing more than
> a deterrent.
>
> They're great in an office, where others might see the thief removing
> the "locked" laptop. In an otherwise unoccupied room, they're pretty
> close to worthless.
>
> Use a closet, a safe, something that will not only protect the laptop,
> but also keep it out of sight.
>
> Notan
>

Yes, I agree 100%.

I was planning on telling her to lock it up in her desk or closet when
she's gone for an extended period, or when no one else is in her room.

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

My son started college on August 26th. I got a personal articles
floater added to our homeowners insurance for a variety of stuff in his
dorm room (including a laptop, desktop, printer & digitial camera),
about $4,000 worth of stuff, for $40.

So, in that regard, there's only the data to worry about.

[It would have been covered under our homeowners policy for nothing,
subject to the deductible ($500), but the personal articles floater has
a zero $ deductible].



Bruce wrote:
> Notan <notan@ddress.com> wrote in news:414719B7.FE44CBA9@ddress.com:
>
>
>>Bruce wrote:
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>My daughter wants to secure her Inspiron 8600 at college, and we've
>>>been looking at cable locks online. She prefers the combination
>>>locks.
>>>
>>>We've looked at Kensington, but users report that it's hard to use
>>>since the combination faces down toward the desk, so you have to turn
>>>your laptop upside down to use it, and it only has 3 tumblers
>>>http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html
>>>
>>>We see Targus has cable combination locks, too, such as the DEFCON
>>>CL. It has a security plate that you can bolt to a desk surface,
>>>which I sort of like in case we get to her dorm and see there's no
>>>way to wrap the cable around a bed or desk leg.
>>>http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA410U
>>>
>>>Then we see Fellowes cable combination locks, that have encryption
>>>software. What is that? Also, it has stainless steel bridge that
>>>prevents rounding of security slot, and expansion arm for snug fit.
>>>What are these?
>>>http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/Sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=FEL99432
>>>
>>>(Sorry for all the questions, but I can't see these at a store, I
>>>have to order online and hope I like them.)
>>>
>>>Or, if you have any other suggestions, we're open to any and all.
>>
>>DON'T RELY ON A CABLE LOCK!!!
>>
>>Cable locks are, for all intents and purposes, nothing more than
>>a deterrent.
>>
>>They're great in an office, where others might see the thief removing
>>the "locked" laptop. In an otherwise unoccupied room, they're pretty
>>close to worthless.
>>
>>Use a closet, a safe, something that will not only protect the laptop,
>>but also keep it out of sight.
>>
>>Notan
>>
>
>
> Yes, I agree 100%.
>
> I was planning on telling her to lock it up in her desk or closet when
> she's gone for an extended period, or when no one else is in her room.

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Barry Watzman <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in news:41472175.5070601
@neo.rr.com:

> My son started college on August 26th. I got a personal articles
> floater added to our homeowners insurance for a variety of stuff in his
> dorm room (including a laptop, desktop, printer & digitial camera),
> about $4,000 worth of stuff, for $40.
>
> So, in that regard, there's only the data to worry about.
>
> [It would have been covered under our homeowners policy for nothing,
> subject to the deductible ($500), but the personal articles floater has
> a zero $ deductible].
>
>
>
> Bruce wrote:
>> Notan <notan@ddress.com> wrote in news:414719B7.FE44CBA9@ddress.com:
>>
>>
>>>Bruce wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>My daughter wants to secure her Inspiron 8600 at college, and we've
>>>>been looking at cable locks online. She prefers the combination
>>>>locks.
>>>>
>>>>We've looked at Kensington, but users report that it's hard to use
>>>>since the combination faces down toward the desk, so you have to turn
>>>>your laptop upside down to use it, and it only has 3 tumblers
>>>>http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html
>>>>
>>>>We see Targus has cable combination locks, too, such as the DEFCON
>>>>CL. It has a security plate that you can bolt to a desk surface,
>>>>which I sort of like in case we get to her dorm and see there's no
>>>>way to wrap the cable around a bed or desk leg.
>>>>http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA410U
>>>>
>>>>Then we see Fellowes cable combination locks, that have encryption
>>>>software. What is that? Also, it has stainless steel bridge that
>>>>prevents rounding of security slot, and expansion arm for snug fit.
>>>>What are these?
>>>>http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/Sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=FEL99432
>>>>
>>>>(Sorry for all the questions, but I can't see these at a store, I
>>>>have to order online and hope I like them.)
>>>>
>>>>Or, if you have any other suggestions, we're open to any and all.
>>>
>>>DON'T RELY ON A CABLE LOCK!!!
>>>
>>>Cable locks are, for all intents and purposes, nothing more than
>>>a deterrent.
>>>
>>>They're great in an office, where others might see the thief removing
>>>the "locked" laptop. In an otherwise unoccupied room, they're pretty
>>>close to worthless.
>>>
>>>Use a closet, a safe, something that will not only protect the laptop,
>>>but also keep it out of sight.
>>>
>>>Notan
>>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, I agree 100%.
>>
>> I was planning on telling her to lock it up in her desk or closet when
>> she's gone for an extended period, or when no one else is in her room.
>

Thanks for reminding me, Barry. I'll have to call my insurance agent to
see if they offer a similar rider. I could also have it covered under my
basic homeowners, but just like you, my deductible is too high.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Bruce <parcxman@netscape.net> wrote:
>My daughter wants to secure her Inspiron 8600 at college, and we've been
>looking at cable locks online. She prefers the combination locks.

Dunno about cable locks, seems like the tongue of it would probably
snap off pretty easily. Lock it in a sturdy drawer, as others have
suggested.

You'll also want to implement the BIOS-level hard disk password, to
prevent anyone who does take her laptop from being able to read her
data. Setting up a BIOS level setup password would help too. I also
used the Dell tools for my new laptop to make a custom boot screen
with my name, phone number, and Email address, so there's no way to
easily make any use of it unless you're me.

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

>
> So, in that regard, there's only the data to worry about.

My kid got a 40 GB iPod and backs up her laptop onto it. Good thing,
too--the laptop had to be sent in for major surgery this week, but she had
everything backed up. iPod's make backups almost cool.

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 15:36:59 +0000 (UTC), Bruce
<parcxman@netscape.net> wrote:

>We've looked at Kensington, but users report that it's hard to use since
>the combination faces down toward the desk, so you have to turn your
>laptop upside down to use it, and it only has 3 tumblers
>http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html
>

Perhaps those users need to drink less. I have that cable lock. The
combination only faces down towards the desk if that's the way they
turn it when they insert it into the slot. If they turn it with the
combination facing up, however...

Archived from groups: comp.laptops,comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I wouldn't get a combination - you can undo them in just a few seconds if
you have the right technique.

I think the best option is I think the 68xxxe or something - from
Kensington, it has a larger than normal cable (kevlar threaded), and alloy
construction.

You can get it through IBM for cheaper if you have one.

Duncan.


<nospam@atall.xatt.net> wrote in message
news:4ufrk0lt41tdjp4e5kn468vth5u87lcvin@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 15:36:59 +0000 (UTC), Bruce
> <parcxman@netscape.net> wrote:
>
>>We've looked at Kensington, but users report that it's hard to use since
>>the combination faces down toward the desk, so you have to turn your
>>laptop upside down to use it, and it only has 3 tumblers
>>http://www.kensington.com/html/2217.html
>>
>
> Perhaps those users need to drink less. I have that cable lock. The
> combination only faces down towards the desk if that's the way they
> turn it when they insert it into the slot. If they turn it with the
> combination facing up, however...