MB Air - No Security Slot??

[quantumbits]

ive never fully understood the concept. so you connect the cable to the laptop, and then loop the other end around the desk or chair or what not? If they want the laptop, break the table leg, and un-hoop the cable-lock. Hell, steal the entire table.

...and then they draw the collective attention of everyone in the coffee shop, library, etc.

Its a strawman argument. No, the lock doesn't provide 100% security from theft. Trusting your laptop to a wire lock in an open, but fairly isolated area is a dumb idea. But it is an effective deterrent in a number of public settings, including those I mentioned above. IOW, locations with a number of other people around, many of whom would certainly take notice of someone smashing a chair, table leg, etc.

 

[chubad]

I actually called and spoke to an Apple Store rep today and he confirmed that there is no security slot. He said I was the first person he spoke to that asked that question.

I would love to have a MacBook Air but the lack of a security slot is a deal breaker for me. I take my current laptop to the office and school and have to leave it unattended at times. I do it knowing that it is locked down.

Maybe they will have it in the next model ... that's the hope but I'll probably have a newer MBP by that time because I'll be tired of waiting

Where do you work. I'll bring my wire cutter. Seriously laptop locks are a joke. One snip with a good wire cutter and its gone. I would never leave a laptop unattended anywhere. Your just asking for it to disappear.

 

[RedTomato]

Pretty much any car can be broken into in 20 seconds.

When my dad lost his keys at a music festival, I saw the repair man open his old locked up Volvo car in 5 seconds with a special tyre iron with not a scratch on anywhere.

Last year I rented a car in Florida, a brand new car with 5 miles on the clock. I forgot exactly what car it was but it was the new 2007 Dodge or Chrysler or something like that. One day I stupidly locked the keys in the boot.

The repair man used a small rubber wedge to open the locked the car door in about 8 seconds (that's progress for you), again without a scratch.

That said, would I still bother locking my car doors? Of course I would. It wouldn't stop a determined tea-leaf, but these few extra seconds, and needing a bit of extra equipment, cuts out a lot of people and a lot of theft opportunities.

Same for the Kensington cable slot.

 

[mac 2005]

I can't imagine this lock being much of a deterrent. A lock is only as strong as its weakest component; I imagine a few twists of the locking mechanism would snap it from the laptop housing.

 

[mac 2005]

lol
i dont think anyone is gunna be stealing this underpowered excuse of a laptop

Sure they will. Here in Chicago, they'd steal the plaque from your teeth if you stood still long enough.

 

[Toe]

there are far too many ways to get rid of the lock, its a waste of time, so I have never used one.
Ive seen all sorts of methods, such as this one using a toilet roll:
http://www.toool.nl/kensington623.wmv
(sorry about the wmv!)

I just tried this on my Kensington lock and could not get it to work. The roll fits the lock, but I can see that I would have to add extra components to the pick to get it to work.

I don't know lock mechanics or lockpicking, so I don't know how easy it is to construct a pick for that sort of lock, but it certainly doesn't seem to be as easy as the video shows.

Can anyone pick their Kensington lock with a toilet paper roll?

Also, if you really want to steal the laptop, it just takes some wire cutters.

I'm pretty sure the point here is that the cable is strong enough that a small pair of wire-cutters won't cut it. You need ones with a big handle, and that will draw attention in a coffee shop.

I'm pretty sure it's the same with bikes. Any bike lock can be cut with the right cutter, but the cutters themselves are big and difficult to conceal.

 

[snej]

Kensington Lock too big for the Macbook Air?

Looking at the physical requirements of the Kensington Lock (19mm diameter of the lock, a flat part of the case to lock against, 7mm space into the device) I wonder if such a place exist on the Macbook Air, and if it exist, if it's not on the bottom of the notebook, making the lock a bit impractical.

 

[crazy legs]

Maybe its so thin with the lock it could some how damage the casing just a thought

 

[koobcamuk]

I have NEVER seen anyone lock a laptop and the last place I worked had over 13,000 employees. My current location has about 100 and there are dozens of laptops and NO ONE ever locks theirs up. I wonder tho - why don't you take it home with you? Most of the people I know who need laptops for their job need laptops for a reason - they need to have it with them. Do you just have a laptop because your boss doesn't realize that you'd be perfectly well off with an iMac?

Read below...

I think we're focusing far too much on corporate: almost every college student I know uses a Kensington lock for their MBP/MB. This could (potentially) shut out a very large potential group.

I use mine on my desk because when I go to the lab, I don't want to have to carry my laptop with my if I am just getting a spanner.

The uni got me an iMac, that's great. The PowerBook is my own and I have insured it. I think it rides better with the insurance people if I make this small effort. Not only that, but it will stop someone from just lifting it off the desk and running away.

I wouldn't leave it alone in a coffee shop - but then I don't go there for a toilet break and neither do I ever go alone...

Pretty sure USB solutions exist?

You're "pretty sure" yet you put a question mark at the end...

 

[koobcamuk]

I can't imagine this lock being much of a deterrent. A lock is only as strong as its weakest component; I imagine a few twists of the locking mechanism would snap it from the laptop housing.

If I was going to steal a laptop and I was walking around the uni campus, looking in the windows... I would grab one without a lock. Keep looking until you find someone that thinks like you... I wouldn't look for someone that thinks like me because it'd be more hassle.

Where do you work. I'll bring my wire cutter. Seriously laptop locks are a joke. One snip with a good wire cutter and its gone. I would never leave a laptop unattended anywhere. Your just asking for it to disappear.

How about in your office whilst you go to the toilet?

 

[DMann]

lock

Maybe its so thin with the lock it could some how damage the casing just a thought

Surely, it would...... the hole into the side of my iPhone, Home Depot drilled for me, slightly affected the multi-touch response on the upper left-hand corner. I still lock it when ever I go out to feed quarters into the parking meter, but I constantly worry about someone tugging at it, making matters worse.

 

[amac4me]

Where do you work. I'll bring my wire cutter. Seriously laptop locks are a joke. One snip with a good wire cutter and its gone. I would never leave a laptop unattended anywhere. Your just asking for it to disappear.

To some degree your comments are valid but in an office environment it would look very strange for someone to be walking around with a wire cutter. Not only that, it would surely make significant noise for someone to actually cut through the wire. Besides, I sit in a very visible location so my colleagues would surely notice anyone attempting to steal my laptop.

There are times when I need to step away to address issues that arise during the day. I feel somewhat assured that my system is locked down and the fact that it is serves as a deterrent.

Overall, I think it is unfortunate that the MacBook Air doesn't have a lock slot.

 

[gescom]

There's no need for a security slot. Apple designed this to be thin like the stealth bomber so it is invisible to passerby!

Or you could always file under "Apple" in your filing cabinet!

 

[DMann]

File it

There's no need for a security slot. Apple designed this to be thin like the stealth bomber so it is invisible to passerby!

Or you could always file under "Apple" in your filing cabinet!

I'll file mine under 'Zune.'

 

[zync]

I completely agree with you, and am actually surprised by others who find it ridiculous or pointless to lock their MBPs/MBs whilst in college. Whenever my MBP is in my room, automatically the FIRST thing I do when I enter is lock it. I also activate iAlertU when I'm off to the bathroom. One room down the hall got broken into a few weeks ago, and an unknown intruder tried to wrench-away the lock from his MBP; it didn't work, and although the owner later had to send it in to repair the damaged casing, it did not get stolen. This is a $50,000+ per year institution, and I really don't think switching schools would make a difference; it's college and there are unfortunately both good and bad folks around. Call me paranoid, but I'm not willing to risk loosing both a $3000 investment, as well as all my data, essays, etc., FileVault or not.

Quite frankly, many of my classmates/friends who are currently interested in the MacBook Air (somehow it's still wierd for me to write 'MBA') probably will stop considering it once they find out the missing security slot; they ALL have locks on their MBPs/MBs, believe it or not, even the "Paris Hilton" types. Unless Apple rectifies this relatively-simple issue, it is highly unlikely I will ever consider purchasing one in the near future. It is that serious of an omission on Apple's part, coming from a college student's perspective, which I would imagine is quite a large market.

To be fair—as I think you're mostly talking about me—I was mostly joking. I don't find it pointless in the open, but if it's needed in a dorm that's a little extreme. Where I went there wasn't rampant laptop theft, and I even saw people leave them on tables in the student union unattended. I didn't just go to some podunk school either, there were over 40k students. I am, however, surprised that there weren't more thefts, given the area and the expansive campus.

I've never used the slot, but I've never really left my computer anywhere that I wasn't. When I have, it was in a class where I had multiple friends around it. I watched their stuff, they watched mine. Someone did steal a professor's computer out of his office, but that was the only time I had heard of anything being stolen.

To be honest, you guys sound a little paranoid to me. The school should have some sort of security in place to protect you from burglary. Like I said, if you have to lock your computer down in a dorm, you shouldn't be living there. If I were going to a school where this was common enough that I felt unsafe to leave my posessions, I'd be moving off campus. I can see it if you are unfamiliar with your roommates and you're leaving the dorm or something.

I like the fact that my PowerBook has a security slot, but the omission of one wouldn't deter me from buying a computer. Also, as cool and useful as this would be to a student, I don't think that students are the target market for the MacBook Air. The MBA is priced like a pro model.

 

[zync]

Seems like an oversight by Apple, such a simple facility to include, and likely to put off corporate workers/executives who actually know this before buying.

I don't know how many times you guys are going to say it, but Apple isn't run by people who just forget things. If they didn't put it in, there was a reason. It was probably because the lock would be too big for it. It's not like they whipped this thing up willy-nilly a day before Macworld. They have made laptops for years, I'm sure there's some sort of checklist or design process that includes adding a lock slot, and I'm sure there was a good reason for not including it.

 

[flyinmac]

I don't know how many times you guys are going to say it, but Apple isn't run by people who just forget things. If they didn't put it in, there was a reason. It was probably because the lock would be too big for it. It's not like they whipped this thing up willy-nilly a day before Macworld. They have made laptops for years, I'm sure there's some sort of checklist or design process that includes adding a lock slot, and I'm sure there was a good reason for not including it.

Yep, wouldn't fit with the strategy of removing everything you can to decrease cost of production while increasing the sale price

 

[SeaFox]

I think you're just meant to hide it in a manila envelope.

Dammit! I wanted to make an envelope joke, too.

Did you miss him mention Filevault? Just getting access to the boot volume will not get someone into the filevault.

As far as I know, there's no crack/backdoor for Filevault/encrypted disk images, so the data should be safe (as long as you use a good password that can't be easily cracked and is not on a sticky note on the bottom of the MPA ).

I think most thieves would consider a replacement hard drive a small price to pay for an $1800 laptop.

I have PERSONALLY seen a laptop walk from my desk in a large fortune 500 company.

And here I've always thought laptops having legs would help with the air circulation underneath, I guess there's a flip side to it.

Cameras are usually in entrances and lobby's. you won't spot a .76 inch thin laptop in someones bag!

And a guy carrying a stack of manila envelopes wont raise suspicions, either.

Pretty sure USB solutions exist?

A USB cable you can't unplug, a thief trying to get away with a laptop. What could possibly go wrong!

I think we're focusing far too much on corporate: almost every college student I know uses a Kensington lock for their MBP/MB. This could (potentially) shut out a very large potential group.

I don't think many college students want a laptop with mono sound and one USB port.

I'll file mine under 'Zune.'

No, don't put it there. Someone might throw the whole file in the trash by mistake.

 

[bigmc6000]

Read below...



I use mine on my desk because when I go to the lab, I don't want to have to carry my laptop with my if I am just getting a spanner.

The uni got me an iMac, that's great. The PowerBook is my own and I have insured it. I think it rides better with the insurance people if I make this small effort. Not only that, but it will stop someone from just lifting it off the desk and running away.

I wouldn't leave it alone in a coffee shop - but then I don't go there for a toilet break and neither do I ever go alone...




You're "pretty sure" yet you put a question mark at the end...

Well maybe things have changed IMMENSELY since I graduated 2.5 years ago but I never saw a single person use a kensington lock, not people living in dorms not people in the lab, no where (and yes, "back then" they had them, my laptop has one). It really just seems like an excuse to be haphazard with your laptop. Don't leave it anywhere, locked or not. Just because you locked it doesn't mean it's even REMOTELY safe. Oh great, so no one will steal it. What about some guy who trips and knocks it off the table or some other idiot who accidentally spill soda or something on it. I'm just saying there are SOOOO many things that can go wrong with leaving your laptop somewhere unsafe that even if it's locked you still shouldn't leave it. If you're in the dorm room put it in your locked cabinet when you go to the restroom, or, heaven forbid, room with someone you trust to keep an eye out and not let some stranger come in yank your laptop. It's really not that hard to prevent, just use your brain and don't be lazy.

 

[SheriffParker]

Try stealing THIS laptop!:

Yeah I know you'd think twice.

 

[gescom]

I would dress in a blue suit and just use that as my head! Cookie Cookie Cookie!!! Lol... nice pic.

 

[zync]

Pretty much any car can be broken into in 20 seconds.

When my dad lost his keys at a music festival, I saw the repair man open his old locked up Volvo car in 5 seconds with a special tyre iron with not a scratch on anywhere.

Last year I rented a car in Florida, a brand new car with 5 miles on the clock. I forgot exactly what car it was but it was the new 2007 Dodge or Chrysler or something like that. One day I stupidly locked the keys in the boot.

The repair man used a small rubber wedge to open the locked the car door in about 8 seconds (that's progress for you), again without a scratch.

That said, would I still bother locking my car doors? Of course I would. It wouldn't stop a determined tea-leaf, but these few extra seconds, and needing a bit of extra equipment, cuts out a lot of people and a lot of theft opportunities.

Same for the Kensington cable slot.

I once locked my keys in my trunk—getting a lot of stuff out—and had a guy come out to get them out—with my grandmother's roadside assistance. Of course, as soon as he opened it I had to scramble inside to the trunk the get my keys to turn off the alarm. Just because you can get into it in a matter of seconds doesn't mean that you can get away with it. That is the other required half of stealing things successfully—getting away. He couldn't have easily entered my car with the alarm on.

That said, without so much as a sound audible more than a foot or so away, a locked laptop can be snatched, and it's much less noticeable and much quicker.

 

[gescom]

That's why if you can hook a cable to your laptop you should get the Defcon!!!

 

[e12a]

well, get a kensington lock and combine it with iAlert, and activate the email feature that takes a picture of the user.

i have a friend whose macbook pro was almost stolen from his dorm room. The lock slot was slightly gouged and bent but the lock still held strong.

i major part of these locks is that it is a theft deterrent. The longer you can have someone out with their wire clips the easier they'll be noticed. Plus its kind of easy to spot someone holding a laptop with the lock attached with its cable cut. Just like someone driving in a car with its alarm blaring (iAlert).

 

[dan7592]

I was just thinking of this today, lol.