Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

The very best advice I can possibly give is, this time, get a laptop lojack put on it.

Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

I'm shamelessly hijacking this thread, but it sounds like some technical people are interested in offering advice and I have a similar question.

My problem is that my computing is solar/wind powered and during the winter I have more free time to use a computer but not nearly enough power. The laptop I'm using is a bit of power hog (oink oink) at ~45 watts to play Dom3 and although I could beef (or pork) up my power system, the low power netbook may be the least expensive way to facilitate my addiction.

I have 3 criteria:

1) Must be graphically capable of running Dominions 3.
2) Must run Linux or BSD (probably a given).
3) Low power consumption (~10 watts?).

If anyone out there is running Dom3 on a netbook even with Windows, please tell me about it.

Thanks!

Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

Sorry, what is a lojack? Will it prevent the laptop from being stolen? Or is it just a deincentive?
thank you

Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

It's a tracking device: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoJack Though I doubt you'll find it in Germany, or any use for it.

I'd suggest getting a Key Lock Security Chain Cable, since your notebook should have a security slot for that. I tied my TFT monitor and notebook to the radiator with one. If they don't use brute force, risking to damage the device, then they'd need a bolt clipper or other equipment to remove it. It would at least buy you some time.

Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

I believe most netbooks qualify on those. Not certain about the power consumption part on some running in high performance mode but it shouldn't be too hard to find one. You might want to look into Acer Aspire One line and possibly Eee-pcs - can't remember any other (good) netbook lines just now. The earliest Eee-pcs had some trouble with battery draining even when turned off - but they fixed that quite a while back.
As you can see from the dom3 progress page, next patch, whenever it shall come, will include more compatible resolutions for netbooks.

Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

A standard lojack is a device that tracks stolen objects. It's hidden within the object, and--as I understand it--when it's activated, with it's own independent and isolated power supply, it allows police to track it via radio (which is difficult to block), provided they have a tracking device (currently operating in 27 US states plus DC, as well as 30+ countries).

Typically, it's used for higher end vehicles. It doesn't prevent theft, ofcourse, but it gives you a much better shot at recovery.

The lojack for laptops, however, is a software feature that uses the internet to keep track of the laptop. Probably not as handy as the vehicular version, but at 25-35$ for a year's protection, atleast worth looking into.

http://www.absolute.com/products/lojackforlaptops

Germany has the internet, right?

As far as chaining it to a radiator, that kind of goes a long way towards defeating the purpose of having a portable laptop in the first place, doesn't it? A lot of effort, trouble, and ugliness for a method that can be defeated in 2 seconds with bolt-cutters (or a hatchet, or a hacksaw), even if not every casual thief will have them.

And if that's going to be your solution, I'd rather invest in a heavy duty metal box with an integrated lock--as in, one that can't be cut with boltcutters. You can still secure that to whatever, and also hide it somewhere. The advantages are that it doesn't immediately visually announce "expensive laptop" to the world, it greatly reduces the impact of any brute force, as well as accidental drops/impacts (hint: pad the inside), and it's both easier to retrieve your laptop from, and a lot harder to cut open than a bunch of chains or a padlock or whatever.

If you can get one that has a decent quality integrated lock *and* that can be padlocked (double padlocked, preferrably, much harder to knock open with an axe that way, and forever to saw through), so much the better.

Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

Yes, but nobody here ever heard of it. I suppose the policemen would laugh at you if you told them to search for your stolen goods via radio. It's just uncommon. I heard of people that secure their construction site vehicles with GPS devices that they can track via satellite, though.

Software means it's useless. If I'd steal a notebook then the first thing I'd do is change/erase the harddrive, or inspect it offline.

Actually, I did have the case that a friend of mine had his notebook stolen out of his car. At some point, his sister got an IM message from his account. She talked to the guy or girl who claimed that she bought the notebook, even though she said that it was stolen. I did prepare a honeynet, a website to track visitor IPs, with photos from her, and we made the other person visit that website to get the IP address. Then we handed that to the police to get the address of the person through the ISP of that person, as ISPs are legally bound to keep the connection and account data for at least half a year. Everything's wonderful, right? Nope, nobody cared, despite all this apparently it wasn't worth the effort or something.

The best you can hope for it to get your money back through insurance.

You don't have to take the radiator with you when you want to take the notebook along, of course. The cable can be removed in an instant. You can have one stationary where you usually put it in your house, and another cable in your backpack, for example. As I said, it doesn't defeat bolt clippers or a hatchet, but not every burglar is running around with those as they're heavy.

Re: OT: Need advice with Laptop
 

Rather than get laptop specific security, I'd suggest contents insurance and a more secure abode. I mean getting burglarised itself is the issue here, not so much the laptop.

I just recently bought the best model of the Studio 15 laptop from Dell and I'm completely happy with it. It isn't a gaming rig (it's smooth as silk with basically all games from 2007 and back though) but it is an excellent all-rounder with some serious muscle and good looks.