No security slot in the MBA Rev. B? Epic Fail!

[waywardsage]

So, i guess Apple assumes everyone who buys a Macbook Air has enough money to replace it when its stolen. I consider it an epic fail for Apple to not have a standard security lock slot on the Air.

And before people say, "oh just bring it with you everwhere." It's kinda hard to take it into a restroom.

I just find it foolish that they never included it. I work in a public office, so i have to lock my Macbook Pro down all the time.

 

[manhattanboy]

So, i guess Apple assumes everyone who buys a Macbook Air has enough money to replace it when its stolen. I consider it an epic fail for Apple to not have a standard security lock slot on the Air.

And before people say, "oh just bring it with you everwhere." It's kinda hard to take it into a restroom.

I just find it foolish that they never included it. I work in a public office, so i have to lock my Macbook Pro down all the time.

i agree 100%

I now have to hide the air under papers and pray its still there when I return

 

[DeuceDeuce]

So, i guess Apple assumes everyone who buys a Macbook Air has enough money to replace it when its stolen. I consider it an epic fail for Apple to not have a standard security lock slot on the Air.

And before people say, "oh just bring it with you everwhere." It's kinda hard to take it into a restroom.

I just find it foolish that they never included it. I work in a public office, so i have to lock my Macbook Pro down all the time.

Your office doesn't desk have a drawer with a lock?

If you need a laptop with a lock option you realize you do have options correct?

 

[nick9191]

Kensington locks take <20 secs to break by those in the know.

Or 5 seconds with a simple cutter as is demonstrated here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2WYUtrcRqw

OT: Second comment down on that video, wtf.

 

[NewGenAdam]

Kensington locks take <20 secs to break by those in the know.

Or 5 seconds with a simple cutter as is demonstrated here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2WYUtrcRqw

OT: Second comment down on that video, wtf.

In favour of locks
1) they more secure than nothing
2) they're a deterrent to thieves who would likelier choose an easier target

Against them
1) they could lead to complacency, leaving your computer out for ages unattended!
2) they take up that precious space of whice we Air-ers are so short.

For goodness sake we only have ONE USB PORT
that means no DVD ripping to external hard drives. I almost cried when I figured that out.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

That's the main reason why I'm not considering the Air for school next year. That and my iTunes library...

 

[Scottsdale]

I think those kensington locks lead to false sense of security. Simple for a thief just like a bike lock with a chain...

I like iAlertU which is like a siren for a car alarm. The siren goes off instantly when is moved. Can set it to snap a photo and email it to you. For me, if I am going farther away than my ears can hear that, I would take it with me or truly lock it up anyways (in a drawer).

I really believe they leave an extremely bad false sense of security with just how simple they are to get through.

 

[HLdan]

For goodness sake we only have ONE USB PORT
that means no DVD ripping to external hard drives. I almost cried when I figured that out.

Ha ha, you can rip to the Time Capsule. You have options.

 

[gotzero]

You just have to learn about the advantages of toilet-browsing with the MBA...

 

[1rottenapple]

Just take it to the rest room. Its small enough to do so. That's what I do with my air when I am at the lob or starbucks for example.

 

[gjw4u]

In favour of locks
1) they more secure than nothing
2) they're a deterrent to thieves who would likelier choose an easier target

Against them
1) they could lead to complacency, leaving your computer out for ages unattended!
2) they take up that precious space of whice we Air-ers are so short.

For goodness sake we only have ONE USB PORT
that means no DVD ripping to external hard drives. I almost cried when I figured that out.

You can always attach a USB hub to the MBA in order to attach more USB devices than just the DVD drive.

 

[FireArse]

You just have to learn about the advantages of toilet-browsing with the MBA...

This is so true. It's all about the iLog!

 

[isoMorpheus]

You just have to learn about the advantages of toilet-browsing with the MBA...

GOLD

 

[r6girl]

I am also disappointed that there's no lock slot on the MBA since I had made good use of the ones on previous Mac laptops. Through another thread here, I found out about a lock bracket for the Macbook Air made by a seller on eBay that will allow you to use a Kensington lock to secure it. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than nothing. The seller is Turn Around Technologies (I'm not affiliated with this seller in any way) and I wrote a review of it that's posted on my site. It works well enough, though you must keep your MBA open to use it, which isn't a big deal in an office environment.

 

[bobbleheadbob]

I've had my MBA since December and hadn't even noticed the lack of a lock until now. I take it with me everywhere, and it's small it's easy to hide when I don't.

 

[Disavowed]

Through another thread here, I found out about a lock bracket for the Macbook Air made by a seller on eBay that will allow you to use a Kensington lock to secure it. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than nothing. .

r6girl, do you feel like this could possibly exacerbate an already delicate situation as far as the hinge(s) itself is concerned?

 

[aaquib]

I think those kensington locks lead to false sense of security. Simple for a thief just like a bike lock with a chain...

I like iAlertU which is like a siren for a car alarm. The siren goes off instantly when is moved. Can set it to snap a photo and email it to you. For me, if I am going farther away than my ears can hear that, I would take it with me or truly lock it up anyways (in a drawer).

I really believe they leave an extremely bad false sense of security with just how simple they are to get through.

Hey thanks for the heads up on that app! I just installed it and it works great.

 

[r6girl]

r6girl, do you feel like this could possibly exacerbate an already delicate situation as far as the hinge(s) itself is concerned?

Only if the MacBook Air is handled very roughly while that bracket is inserted. Otherwise, I don't see any problems with using the bracket and haven't seen any adverse effects on the hinges on mine at all.

 

[dudup]

I think that would really suck to work in a place like that, but anyway, there are plenty of options (including NOT buying a MBA).

I understand that it's a simple slot, but as you can see, lots of people around here doesn't care about that. Myself included. Lucky lucky me.

 

[snberk103]

I think Apple's thinking (thats a double 'think', eh?) was that the Air was designed for people who were travelling as light as possible, and didn't want to bring a lock along. If you have a bag big enough for a lock, then its likely big enough for a regular MacBook. And if you are using the Air in situation where you can leave a lock, then you likely aren't worried about having the lightest possible notebook.

Not saying I agree - just that the logic does make sense. I also don't know what would have been involved to structurally beef up the case where the slot would fit. If it wasn't beefed up then a firm tug would have seriously deformed the aluminum, if not pulled the lock right out.

And since I'm ranting anyway Dear OP.... an "Epic Fail", IMHO, should be reserved for collapsing bridges, possibly involving loss of life, or the accidental escape of a fatal terminal virus from a bio lab because someone designed the fans wrong. No security slot on a MBA does rather rank down near the bottom of things that can go wrong in your life, I would say.

 

[Andre1980]

Although I like the Kensington cable which ties my PB to the heating pipes in my office, I think I could live with Belkin's solution, too:

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5L013...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1241472473&sr=8-1

To my mind this is the only feasible way to protect an MBA. That metal thing looks solid, but when attached it is too much in the way to work on the MBA properly.

 

[iSee]

Not really an "Epic" fail, but it does shrink the MBA's niche (which is already pretty small).

 

[molala]

i'm disappointed too. i've always used the kensington lock on my laptops. i know the cable can still be cut, but bringing a cable cutter while i'm at lunch break or in the bathroom takes planning. whereas an unattended, untethered laptop is just easy temptation.

 

[Scottsdale]

i'm disappointed too. i've always used the kensington lock on my laptops. i know the cable can still be cut, but bringing a cable cutter while i'm at lunch break or in the bathroom takes planning. whereas an unattended, untethered laptop is just easy temptation.

Don't need a cable cutter. Really a pair of the right hand tool will get right through where the piece attaches to the computer. It's super small. Go watch a few videos on YouTube. I watched one a while ago and it was like one twist of pliers and the computer is free. Don't know if the video link in the thread is to that.

 

[alphaod]

I usually just ask the person sitting next to me to watch my computer for a few moments.