What's a "decent" lock for a 13" MacBook?

May 4, 2008 2:19 PM

What's a "decent" lock for a 13" MacBook under around $20.00?

I just bought a nice little refurbed 13" MacBook, and am in love with it. The only problem is, that if I go to the local coffee house with it and my daughter, I'm bound to have to accompany her to the potty. Last night that meant taking the laptop with us. Which meant losing my internet connection (no wifi in the potty, apparently). Which meant the stuff I was downloading got al screwed up for awhile. Granted, it's a small price to pay for keeping both kid and computer in view.

I've spent a few days researching notebook locks, and have come to realize that they are only a deterrent to thieves of opportunity. Anyone who regularly boosts laptops is going to be able to get through just about any lock you put on the thing in one way or another.

I've also come to realize that a great many of the locks out there that don't *completely* suck, don't fit properly on MacBooks. Reviews often complain of warping of the case or just out and out incompatibility.

Taking all of this into account, I've decide that I don't want to spend more than, say $20; I don't particularly want to use a keyed (especially the round keys) lock as they seem to be a little too easily picked; and I want to avoid certain combo models because they break randomly and set their combination to something other than what the user originally set.

I do, eventually plan on buying and setting up Undercover (http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/), but I don't see it a s an actual deterrent.

So... given all of this, what's my best option, here? I turn to you, Ask MeFi. You're my only help.

posted by vertigo25 to computers & internet (7 comments total)

Kensington Microsaver Notebook.

The choice of key or combination is really about preference; either way, a thief with a Dremel will get your laptop. But you'd think a Dremel tool at a coffee shop would be conspicuous, so you should be okay with either.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:31 PM on May 4, 2008

You might want to check out iAlertU.
posted by chairface at 2:54 PM on May 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Mr. Chipendale (May I call you chairface?):

Nice! Downloading and trying out now. Free is good :)
posted by vertigo25 at 3:29 PM on May 4, 2008

a thief with a Dremel will get your laptop

I cut through a Kensington lock like that with a hacksaw blade once. It's really only a deterrent for casual thieves.
posted by meta_eli at 4:35 PM on May 4, 2008

Locking any laptop down anywhere is simply a flawed concept . Even the best possible situation I can think of being one of those Panasonic Toughbooks with the heavy duty handle and a Kryptonite bike lock isn't really a viable solution. If you are too shy to ask for improved wifi @ said coffeehouse then perhaps you should explore the many good freeware offerings for your mac that will allow you to seamlessly resume an interrupted download. Just because you've seen someone use a lock doesn't mean that it is the right thing to do. I'm not the only professional that feels this way - save your money & if you eventually do upgrade to an airbook you'll find that there is no provision for a kensington lock (or any lock for that matter) for the right reasons and by design ...
posted by 0000 at 6:13 PM on May 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

I cut through a Kensington lock like that with a hacksaw blade once.

I couldn't. I guess you need a certain kind of hacksaw blade. Or a lot of patience.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:53 PM on May 4, 2008

Those locks are definitely only there to deter casual thieves.

Macbook at the lab with a Kensignton; bloody little thief snapped the lock out of the hole in the laptop. Left behind a perfectly intact lock and small bits of the laptop.

Also a Dell C400 (metal plate + magnesium alloy case) and an Asus something-or-the-other )metal plate, plastic case). Luckily (?) none of the Thinkpads were there to undergo this particular stress test. They look like they might be a little bit more robust.

There's also a way to open keyed Kensingtons without the key and without damage to either the lock or the notebook. Combo Kensigntons don't suffer from this particular weakness. Besides, do you really want to carry an extra key around?
posted by porpoise at 8:46 PM on May 4, 2008