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I juse got my 3rd laptop in 3 years. On all 3 I have added an device which makes sure no one takes my laptop @ boarding school.. I am getting use to a laptop so when I go there and they issue me one I am use to the keyboard/pad.. I added a device called "Travelmate- Smartcard" you must have that one card to start your computer. If you try to open the coputer without the smartcard the laptop alarm will sound and it will make a big scene basiclly.

I currently have an Acer laptop when I go to school they'll give me a Dell..


-Lil' Pat

By Thenarrator (Thenarrator) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 09:28 pm: Edit

where could one get the Travelmate-smartcard? and how much does it cost?

By Welshie (Welshie) on Friday, August 06, 2004 - 10:11 pm: Edit

How do you like the Acer? I just got one and am currently just tinkering with it (breaking in the battery, setting up the display/Windows, etc.)

By Lil_Pat (Lil_Pat) on Saturday, August 07, 2004 - 01:07 pm: Edit

Thenarrator- You could go to the website... go to google and just type smart card and order it! Thats how I got mine.. Cept on my 3rd laptop I actully got it with the laptop.. Acer's is a okay-medioker company

Welshie- Well Acer is a okay company.. I seriously would perfer DELL, DELL has full service, cool laptops and fast laptops. My Acer's had a mal function last night.. :-( The CPU wouldnt work properly.. haha so I suggest returning it if possible and getting a DELL.. remember better service=better day

Lil' Pat

By Justplayin104 (Justplayin104) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 03:36 am: Edit

I got an Acer Travelmate about a month ago, and so far, i'm pretty impressed. If this is "okay-medioker" (mediocre, btw), then Dell must be eating up the competition for breakfast. Except Dell isn't, and likewise I think Acer is really an awesome deal. (I'm on a Travelmate 8003)

I have the smartcard too, but I've only had the laptop at home, so I don't know how well is fares in deterring theft or unwanted users in the middle of the night.
It is a nifty device though. Mine doesn't create a scene or make any noise or flashes - the screen just displays a big "PLEASE INSERT YOUR TRAVELMATE SMARTCARD."
But Yeah, you can get a lot of stuff protected just with that feature, and then furtermore with a password, even if they do turn on the laptop with the card in it. It -is- quite a slick piece of ingenuity.
BTW, it can also memorize your passwords and personal information. I'd be careful with that, but it can be convenient if you choose to take it that far.

So far i've got a Kensington cable lock on my Travelmate along with the smart card, so I don't know what all else I can do after that. But if anybody is looking into buying laptops, I'd recommend at at least a look into them. Also, Consumer Reports just came out with some reviews in the last issue, and CNet.com is always a good place to look for reviews.

Good Luck!

By Lil_Pat (Lil_Pat) on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 09:31 am: Edit

yea like I said Acer's was good but still DELL is the best!