The Best Way to Prevent Laptop Theft
Low End Mac Reader Specials
TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com
Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how
to download and install a native Mac poker application such as Full
Tilt Poker Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, apple laptops, apple macs, and LCD Monitors side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for new mobile phones, sat nav systems, or MP3 players. The Ciao online shopping community makes searching products easy for you.
Eric Schwarz - 2001.08.02
Need a laptop but don't want it to get stolen? Here's the solution.
All of us have heard horror stories of people getting their brand new laptops stolen, even when they have the special security locks and cables or security software. What can you do to prevent laptop theft?
Use for an older PowerBook. Most older, less colorfully-cased PowerBooks can be bought for a lot less than a brand new PowerBook or iBook. Most people don't need the newest 'Books, even if they think they do. Most people use computers in general for the following tasks:
- Web browsing
- word processing
- other business software
- digital music (CDs or MP3s)
- graphics
- a backup computer
You generally don't need a new iBook or PowerBook G3/G4 to do these tasks. In fact, a 5300 or 1400 would work fine. With enough RAM, these will run Mac OS 9.1, so you can use the latest non-OS X software.
What does this have to do with laptop theft? Well, there is proof that newer laptops (especially expensive 'Books) are stolen more often, so just get an older PowerBook (the older the better) and use that. "Uglifying" the PowerBooks helps, too. As many people know, the 500 series had a really easy-to-break plastic piece below the screen bezel, so I used duct tape to hold it in place. It's perfectly usable, but it makes the laptop look more like a piece of junk to the average thief.
But the best thing is to never let the computer out of your sight. And if you have to go somewhere, just take it with you.
Correction: In my last article, I stated that most of the early Power Macs ran System 7.5.2. After correction from Daniel Decker and some further investigation, I learned that the 8100/110 shipped with System 7.5, not 7.5.2. System 7.5.2 was a special version that only ran on a limited number of Power Macs.
Eric Schwarz has been using Macs and other computers for a few years. His personal website - dealing with Macs (of course) - is at <http://schwarztech.macweekly.com/>. You can learn more about his current computer setup in Eric Schwarz's iBook.
Recent Power of Mac
- TextEdit, a hidden powerhouse that comes free with OS X, 03.26. Although easily overlooked, TextEdit could be all the word processing software a lot of Mac users ever need.
- Whether you call it AirPort, WiFi, or 802.11 wireless networking, your portable should have it, 03.19. With more wireless hot spots popping up, there are more reasons to have an AirPort card in your 'Book every day.
- Are older Macs lower than low end?, 03.14. Are low-end Mac users finding happiness with newer low-end Mac?
- Back to school software, 2002 edition, 08.01. Practical software for students (and others) using Mac OS X.
- More in the Power of Mac index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 'WallStreet' PowerBook G3, May 1998 - WallStreet offered 3 screen sizes and CPU speeds from 233 to 292 MHz.
- Group of the Day: Mac UK is for Mac users in the United Kingdom.
- February 9 in LEM history: 00: Think choices - Promoting the Macintosh - 01: Apple vs. Mac clones - 05: Apple and the $100 laptop - Yojimbo - Core Duo vs. G5 - 07: The story behind After Dark - Microsoft Office 2007
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Do We Really Need Another Mac Email Client?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 02.08. Mac users have a host of free and low-cost email clients to choose from. Does Brent Simmons' 'Letters' project make any sense at all?
- MacBook Pro a Revelation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 02.08. After using G4 Macs for over a decade, spending a weekend prepping a first generation MacBook Pro was a real eye opener.
- 42 Reasons a Netbooks Is Better than an iPad, Hard Drive Upgrade Value, Faster Netbooks, and More, The 'Book Review, 02.05. Also why the iPad can't compete with netbooks, 802.11n WiFi card for older Intel MacBooks and Mac minis, and a DJ keyboard cover for MacBooks.
- iPad Perfect for Handheld Computing, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 02.05. You can hold the iPad in one hand and operate it with the other, giving it real advantages over a laptop computer.
- iPad Targets Netbook Users, iPad 'Flaws' Don't Matter, In-page Search for iPhone Safari, and More, iNews Review, 02.05. Also FSF considers iPad 'iBad' for freedom, Touch Mouse app turns iPhone into wireless keyboard and trackpad, privacy screen for iPhone, and more.
- Touch Shifts the Apple Empire, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 02.05. Apple dominates mobile computing, and it will be difficult for competitors to match the value of the iPad.
- 90% of Premium PCs Are Macs, OS and Browser Market Share, Chrome Browser to Dominate, and More, Mac News Review, 02.05. Also 27" iMac too popular for supply, eco-friendly 2 TB hard drive, Puppy Linux for PowerPC Macs, 6-core Mac Pro rumored, and more.
- iPad Should Support a Stylus, CoolBook Quiets MacBooks, Puppy Linux for PowerPC Macs, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 02.03. Also the iPad as a genie in a bottle, Eudora Classic 6.2, notebook battery life, and more uses for 'obsolete' technology.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 02.02. Used 2 GHz, $700; 2.4, $999; refurb 2.53, $1,449; 2.8, $1,699; 3.06, $2,199; new 2.53, $1,610; 2.66, $1,839; 2.8, $2,109; 3.06, $2,550; more.
- Best G3 iMac Deals, 02.02. 500 MHz CD-ROM, $40; 450 MHz DVD-ROM, $60; 600 MHz CD-ROM, $230 shipped; 700 MHz CD-RW, $300 shipped.
- Best eMac Deals, 02.02. 1 GHz SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 Combo, $100; SD, $360; 1.42 GHz Combo, $299; SD, $439.
- Best Mac mini Deals, 02.01. Used 1.25 GHz G4 Combo, $369; 1.5, $399; Core Solo, $399; 1.83 GHz Core Duo SD, $439; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $759; Server, $985.
- Best iBook G4 Deals, 02.01. 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $200; 1.33 GHz, $259; 14" 1.42 GHz SuperDrive, $399.
- Best Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, 02.01. 800 MHz Combo, $285; 867 MHz SuperDrive, $400; 1 GHz Combo, $549.
- Best 13" MacBook & MacBook Pro Deals, 01.29. Used 1.83 GHz, $570; 2.0, $599; 2.4 GHz, $800; 2.26 MB, $849; new, $925 after rebate; Pro, $1,108, 2.53, $1,399 a/r.
- Best Power Mac G5 Deals, 01.29. 1.8 GHz single, $399; dual, $479; 2.0, $549; 2.5, $609; 2.7, $799; 2.3 GHz dual-core, $709; 2.5 GHz Quad, $939.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, 01.29. Mac OS X 10.0, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $50; 10.3, $50; 10.3 Server, unlimited users, $130.
- More deals in our archive.
Channels
Power Macs
iMac Channel
iBook/PowerBook
MacInSchool
Computer Profiles
iMac
Power Mac
PowerBook/iBook
Performas
Mac Clones
Older Macs
Lisa • NeXT
Editorial Archive
Mac Daniel's Advice
Email Lists
LEMchat (uses
AIM)
Online Tech Journal
Consumer
advice, reviews
guides, deals
Software
Apple History
Best of the Web
Best of the Mac Web
surveys
Miscellaneous Links
Used Mac Dealers
Video Cards
Mac OS X
Mac Linux
Macspeak
RAM Upgrades
About Low End Mac
Site Contacts
Support LEM
Affiliates
The Apple Store
.mac
iTunes Store
Club Mac
MacMall
iResQ
ExperCom
eBay
Amazon.com
PayPal
PCMall
PC
Zone
Crucial
Memory
Our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For detailed price quotes and advertising information, please contactat BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.