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Why no fingerprint reader on Macs?

DakotaGuy

DakotaGuy

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jan 14, 2002
4,335
4,034
South Dakota, USA
I recently bought a PC notebook and this is nothing against Apple because I still love my iMac, but why don't they have a fingerprint reader on their laptops?

It is such a handy little device. I set my login and have put all my passwords to anything that has a password in it and then all I do is scan my print and it lets me in. It's really a handy feature...along with the built-in webcam. I will say however the quality of the PC webcam is not as good as the built-in iSight on my iMac.

I am just curious why Apple does not implement this at least in their Macbook Pro line. I thought it was just a gadget that I would never use until I got one. It scans perfectly every time and it's quick and easy.
 
Apple tends to always seek a minimalist design. And a fingerprint reader would add unnecessary bulk to the laptop.

Not sure for how many people this would be something helpful, but at least for me it would be unnecessary. I don't even use a password for login.:)
 
They are useless. They are so easily beaten it is not funny. All you need to beat they is a photo copy of your finger. Try it yourself;)
 
Roco said:
Apple tends to always seek a minimalist design. And a fingerprint reader would add unnecessary bulk to the laptop.

Not sure for how many people this would be something helpful, but at least for me it would be unnecessary. I don't even use a password for login.:)
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Well true enough, however I don't see where it really adds any bulk...it's nothing more then a tiny print sized indent with a small metallic sensor in the middle. I suppose many people probably would not have a use for it, but I have set all my passwords to it wherever I need to do a log-in and when I hit the page a tiny window pops up and says...scan your print...i scan and it automatically fills in the fields and hits the go button.

furious said:
They are useless. They are so easily beaten it is not funny. All you need to beat they is a photo copy of your finger. Try it yourself;)
Click to expand...

I am sure most on here will think they are useless UNTIL Apple adds one to their laptops...then they will be the best thing since the last Apple innovation...LOL...I am not making fun of you and I have already said that I like my Mac better, however that is the way it works with most 90% of people that love Apple.

I suppose you could beat it with a photocopy of your own fingerprint...but why would you copy your own fingerprint to give to someone else in the first place???
 
Abercrombieboy said:
Well true enough, however I don't see where it really adds any bulk...it's nothing more then a tiny print sized indent with a small metallic sensor in the middle.
Click to expand...

Seeing that Apple laptops only have one button in the topcase (the power button), this would definitely look out of place on a MB or a MBP.
 
If you can't justify the use to a majority of consumers, then its better off left as a third-party product. Really, I don't see any use at all in a fingerprint reader. It sounds to me to be more of a nuisance than anything, interrupting the elegant beauty of the MacBook Pro's stylish aluminum casing with the harsh dent of a superfluous appendage. (Yay words.) At least, that's how I see it. Its so easy to life someone's fingerprint, I can't see how it would be any more secure than a really good password.
 
mythbusters

even myth busters proved those things arnt too good. they tested on professional door knob ones. they faked a thumb print soooo easy. they were amazed how easy it was too.
 
Ok...well I guess its a bad feature then. Nevermind this thread, but I guess as long as it's on there I will use it...its not like I am protecting sensitive data with it...I am just using it to provide minimum security to sites where I have to log in so I don't have to remember tons of user names and passwords.
 
Abercrombieboy said:
Ok...well I guess its a bad feature then. Nevermind this thread, but I guess as long as it's on there I will use it...its not like I am protecting sensitive data with it...I am just using it to provide minimum security to sites where I have to log in so I don't have to remember tons of user names and passwords.
Click to expand...

Well I'm sure it might be a bit of a convenience in some situations so you don't have to remember and type in passwords, but as far as an actual security improvement...it doesn't go far.

Better biometrics scanners, like an iris scanner, would obviously be much more secure but I doubt we'll be seeing such expensive and "science fictionesque" type technology in portables any time soon.
 
Abercrombieboy said:
Ok...well I guess its a bad feature then. Nevermind this thread, but I guess as long as it's on there I will use it...its not like I am protecting sensitive data with it...I am just using it to provide minimum security to sites where I have to log in so I don't have to remember tons of user names and passwords.
Click to expand...

And I agree with you that this feature might be very useful, I am not saying it is a bad idea.
But seeing how Apple tends to care a lot for the looks of their machines, I see this feature far from being implemented.

Maybe if they could make the trackpad read your fingerprints, that owuld be great and wouldn't add bulk.;)
 
I just had to make this comment.

The Mythbusters were able to fool a fingerprint reader on a door with a photo copy of one of their fingers but when they were testing proof of concept using a USB fingerprint scanner with their laptop didn't they have to use a ballistic gel model of their finger.
 
isight = iris scanner?

Obviously, the built-in isight's image quality is far too noisy to be of any use, but someday (perhaps soon enough) you can login just by sitting in front of your computer.
 
This is one of the things my dad kept trying to point out about the MBP. The fingerprint reader is completely useless as far as I can see. A simple swap of the hd can allow the thief to use the stolen compuer, and get access to the vital information.
 
Fingerprint scanners discriminate against people with no arms. That's why I'd never get one. I just use a steering lock instead. I leave my laptop on a table and then wait in the bushes. When someone comes up to try to steal my emails, I rush out of the bush and beat them over the head with a steering lock. I couldn't do that with a fingerprint scanner.
 
mad jew said:
Fingerprint scanners discriminate against people with no arms. That's why I'd never get one. I just use a steering lock instead. I leave my laptop on a table and then wait in the bushes. When someone comes up to try to steal my emails, I rush out of the bush and beat them over the head with a steering lock. I couldn't do that with a fingerprint scanner.
Click to expand...

I love it! But I'd use a wrench myself (heavier and can be thrown:D)
 
mad jew said:
Fingerprint scanners discriminate against people with no arms. That's why I'd never get one. I just use a steering lock instead. I leave my laptop on a table and then wait in the bushes. When someone comes up to try to steal my emails, I rush out of the bush and beat them over the head with a steering lock. I couldn't do that with a fingerprint scanner.
Click to expand...

Can people without arms use steering locks? ;)
 
bartelby said:
But what if the thief plays dodgeball?:)
Click to expand...

I was totally thinking of that movie when I wrote the post:p But remember, just because he can doge a ball, does not mean he can dodge a wrench. If he can doge a wrench, then I'll just whack him with it;)
 
It wouldn't be too bad if Apple did something fancy with the power button symbol or with the lid latch opener on the MacBook Pro. But if your finger got stuck in an ice cube, you might freeze up the OS.
 
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