Well I find it hard to believe that you read the article and completely understand the invention.
29% are stolen at work, 36% on the road, 23% at airports, 8% in cars, 4% in hotel rooms.
Just to recap how it works: no alarm GOES OFF right when you step away from your laptop; only if you're away AND it's moved. AND at that point you're also notified on your remote.
I really think you should try it out. I don't understand why you don't think it will stop thefts in high-crime areas? There have been several cases during it's testing period where it ACTUALLY HAS! (these scenarios included 2 laptops being locked in a car trunk and 2 guys located across the street at a bar and someone broke into the trunk and attempted to grab the laptops and the guys were notified and ran outside and the thief dropped the laptops and ran off, another instance was when some laptops were locked in a building after hours and thieves came in and broke into a room and broke the locks on the cabinet and as they attemped to run off with the laptops, but were stopped by the building security who heard the siren.)
If you're in the area of Vancouver, BC, you should try one out! stelix.ca
True, it's a good idea to carry it around. But everyone forgets from time to time... So in the majority of cases you will only be about 20-40m away (which most of us can cover in no time!). I was merely stating the range of the device.
may i ask if you EVEN have a laptop? cause i do! and when i go to the washroom it's not that FUN to carry my laptop with me!!!....
Hi,
1. the motion is being made less sensitive already to account for this.
2. a NEW addition is that the part that attaches to the laptop includes a security slot to allow for people to attach their existing cable locks when they're in the office!
Thanks.
Re:Doesn't Fellowes already make one of these?
on
Stolen Laptop Alarms
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· Score: 1
Tons of false alarms... It doesn't work in many situations! Here's a couple of them: you go to the washroom that's 20 ft away, you get separated by 20 ft when going through airport security, you leave your laptop in your car when you're at a nearby store, etc etc... It requires the inhibiting factor of the motion sensor WHEN you're away.
I was really interested in this and did the GOOGLE as you suggested! It's quite an accomplishment for a grade 12 student! However, their are numerous features absent from his idea; but still a great idea!
If you're happy with your defcon you'll love this product!! (BTW: it's $95 canadian... so ~$70 US).
I've used one of the defcons too and I find it extremely annoying!! It always seems to beep and stuff, and I just totally stopped using it! You can't take it anywhere either! Very annoying!
I found more info on this INNOVATIVE product at stelix.ca!!!.... haha
However, this is extremely prone to false alarms! Because ALL it is is an alarm that goes off upon separation of you and your laptop. This may work to prevent 5% of laptop thefts.... So I don't agree that it's NEAR similar!
NOT simple to sever it! check out the website stelix.ca for pictures of the final product.
Internal to laptop: in the future with an external power supply, without adding more than 50-75grams. A tradeoff I'm sure lots would be happy to make!:) And still no monthly/yearly fees!
An intelligent person already replied to most of this comment. However, I thought I would just add to your estimations at WHERE theft occurs: 36% on the road, 29% at work, 23% at airports, 8% in cars, 4% in hotels.
I think it's quite often a theft of opportunity, like put your laptop down for 1 second at the airport or at a shop and temporarily forget and walk away a few feet and BOOM: gone...
First: IF you were to retrieve your laptop with some GPS or other software tracker that CALLS in when it's connected to the internet, you think it's gonna be in good shape? These things are passed down the ladder thru 7-8 people before someone takes a look at it.. and then begins to pick it apart!
This also may surprise you: but police aren't really interested in tracking stolen laptops, much like tracking down and punishing car thieves... There's just not enough resources!
That's a good point! However, the data on the laptop is OFTEN MOST important to the individual and not to some thief (this device isn't targeted at industrial espionage...)
It's great if your personal work/homework/contacts or anything not recently backed up is ENCRYPTED, etc, etc.... But how does that help YOU if you're laptop is gone?!
So that's why stopping the theft at the POINT OF STEALING is nearly as important!
"Most assuredly false themselves"?? Come on now?! Just a LITTLE bit of a generalization. Of course false alarms are never ZERO, but you can understand how they can be greatly reduced by
FIRST: being inhibited from alarming when you're near, and
SECOND: allowing for a ~5sec delay after being notified (so, for example, if you turn around to your laptop and see that a truck went by someone accidentally brushed by you will have an opportunity to mitigate false alarms).
Check out some more details at STELIX.CA if you're interested!
The article OF COURSE doesn't go into GREAT detail. There is an option to disable the SIREN on the laptop and JUST have the notification on your remote. This way, in a place such as a library you will still be notified right away if someone moves your laptop when you're not in the immediate vicinity!
More info at STELIX.CA
It's not JUST the alarm that deters the thief. I know LOTS of people who would be quite delighted to be notified instantly of someone stealing their laptop and CHASE them down!!
STELIX.CA for more info!
It's assumed that you won't leave your laptop MILES away from you, but if you're nearby (within 500 metres) you will be notified immediately (like paging). This allows you to RUN back and disarm the device before the alarm goes off or retrieve your laptop and chase down the filthy thief. (btw: I'm aware that not all laptop users are physically fit enough to CHASE and BEAT down the thief...)
Hey, thanks for understanding the TRUE function of the device!
Some buddies actually told me that their was a thread about our company on this site... Check out stelix.ca for more info! (unfortunately there was no mention of our company name or site in the article).
And where should I send your laptop security device? haha
Slashdot Mirror
My thoughts anyway...
29% are stolen at work, 36% on the road, 23% at airports, 8% in cars, 4% in hotel rooms.
Just to recap how it works: no alarm GOES OFF right when you step away from your laptop; only if you're away AND it's moved. AND at that point you're also notified on your remote.
I really think you should try it out. I don't understand why you don't think it will stop thefts in high-crime areas? There have been several cases during it's testing period where it ACTUALLY HAS! (these scenarios included 2 laptops being locked in a car trunk and 2 guys located across the street at a bar and someone broke into the trunk and attempted to grab the laptops and the guys were notified and ran outside and the thief dropped the laptops and ran off, another instance was when some laptops were locked in a building after hours and thieves came in and broke into a room and broke the locks on the cabinet and as they attemped to run off with the laptops, but were stopped by the building security who heard the siren.)
If you're in the area of Vancouver, BC, you should try one out! stelix.ca
may i ask if you EVEN have a laptop? cause i do! and when i go to the washroom it's not that FUN to carry my laptop with me!!!....
hey, let me know when you've got a test and I'll make one of them go off! :) and then ill be right there for you to beat up too!!
Hi, 1. the motion is being made less sensitive already to account for this. 2. a NEW addition is that the part that attaches to the laptop includes a security slot to allow for people to attach their existing cable locks when they're in the office! Thanks.
the power is external to the laptop.
more details of this device at STELIX.CA
This is my first time on here... and I am also quickly realising that many of these people didn't actually see the article.
check out more info on the product at stelix.ca
I was really interested in this and did the GOOGLE as you suggested! It's quite an accomplishment for a grade 12 student! However, their are numerous features absent from his idea; but still a great idea!
unless you ARE too cowardly...?
you actually sound like a disgruntled laptop thief!!
all you do is TURN it on at first and leave it?!. you do NOTHING else unless a theft is in progress!?....
more info on the product at stelix.ca thanks
1. did you enjoy SETTING your alarm everytime you left it? or did u quickly stop setting it when you were leaving for JUST A SEC?..
2. how fun was it to DISABLE the alarm when you came back to the laptop? (at the same time trying not to move it?)
thats all i gotta say about that! :)
I've used one of the defcons too and I find it extremely annoying!! It always seems to beep and stuff, and I just totally stopped using it! You can't take it anywhere either! Very annoying!
I found more info on this INNOVATIVE product at stelix.ca!!!.... haha
check out more info on the device at Stelix.ca
Forgetful: sometimes!
NOT simple to sever it! check out the website stelix.ca for pictures of the final product.
Internal to laptop: in the future with an external power supply, without adding more than 50-75grams. A tradeoff I'm sure lots would be happy to make! :) And still no monthly/yearly fees!
I think it's quite often a theft of opportunity, like put your laptop down for 1 second at the airport or at a shop and temporarily forget and walk away a few feet and BOOM: gone...
more info on the device @ stelix.ca
This also may surprise you: but police aren't really interested in tracking stolen laptops, much like tracking down and punishing car thieves... There's just not enough resources!
STELIX.CA for more info on the device!
It's great if your personal work/homework/contacts or anything not recently backed up is ENCRYPTED, etc, etc.... But how does that help YOU if you're laptop is gone?!
So that's why stopping the theft at the POINT OF STEALING is nearly as important!
FIRST: being inhibited from alarming when you're near, and
SECOND: allowing for a ~5sec delay after being notified (so, for example, if you turn around to your laptop and see that a truck went by someone accidentally brushed by you will have an opportunity to mitigate false alarms).
Check out some more details at STELIX.CA if you're interested!
The article OF COURSE doesn't go into GREAT detail. There is an option to disable the SIREN on the laptop and JUST have the notification on your remote. This way, in a place such as a library you will still be notified right away if someone moves your laptop when you're not in the immediate vicinity! More info at STELIX.CA
It's not JUST the alarm that deters the thief. I know LOTS of people who would be quite delighted to be notified instantly of someone stealing their laptop and CHASE them down!! STELIX.CA for more info!
It's assumed that you won't leave your laptop MILES away from you, but if you're nearby (within 500 metres) you will be notified immediately (like paging). This allows you to RUN back and disarm the device before the alarm goes off or retrieve your laptop and chase down the filthy thief. (btw: I'm aware that not all laptop users are physically fit enough to CHASE and BEAT down the thief...)
more info----->STELIX.CA
Some buddies actually told me that their was a thread about our company on this site... Check out stelix.ca for more info! (unfortunately there was no mention of our company name or site in the article).
And where should I send your laptop security device? haha