LoJack: It's Not Just For Cars
Written: Nov 03 '05 (Updated Jan 01 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Allows laptop owners to stay fearlessly mobile
Cons: No promises from law enforcement officials
The Bottom Line: I felt much safer purchasing a laptop knowing that LoJack for Laptops allows you to wipe your hard drive and recover the unit remotely.
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| meagandowney's Full Review: Absolute Software Computrace LoJack for Laptops |
Finally, Big Brother’s on my side.
I purchased LoJack for Laptops (formerly known as Computrace) directly from Dell as part of my Dell Latitude D610 customization process. It guarantees stolen laptop recovery within 30 days, using hidden software that will likely go undetected by most idiots who think themselves so savvy for lifting the laptop in the first place.
Why Should I Buy LoJack for Laptops?
It probably only takes one “What If” becoming a “Why Me” for the $49.95 you’ll spend on LoJack for Laptops to make sense. About 2 years ago, a laptop was stolen from our nonprofit organization. Our building was secure and people had to sign in and out in order to enter outside of office hours. In our case, I’m 95% sure the culprit was one of the security staff. Of course, that really got under my skin and I wanted him caught. In spite of our best efforts, the proof just wasn’t there and we couldn’t do anything about it. We became understandably wary about purchasing another laptop for the same office. All that changed when I found LoJack for Laptops. I only wish that it came with a sticker that shows it’s protected by the software to ward off thieves, though I realize that that would mean they could just lift it anyway and find a way to disable the software.
According to the product’s label, a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds! Of course, that may include theft on a grander scale but nevertheless, this is a scary figure. You basically need security in order to make the most out of your mobility and LoJack for Laptops offers that. Furthermore, you keep sensitive information on your computer! We use ours for business and have to maintain client confidentiality. Client confidentiality, not to mention sensitive information about our employees, could be compromised with the loss of just one laptop.
Absolute Software’s website states that over 90% of laptops located with our software are recovered. Our patented software is hidden and virtually tamperproof, surviving most hard drive reformats and operating system reinstallations. It even works on desktop computers. These are big promises, but according to a recent Forbes article, LoJack for Laptops will deliver. The author of the article called the 800 number from several locations and his laptop was traced immediately (though he used the Canadian number – mine would be in Bellevue, WA). And what’s more, LoJack for Laptops has taken steps to ensure that the software will remain pretty much indestructible.
According to David A. Andelman of Forbes:
This is also one tough little piece of software. LoJack for Laptops--Absolute licensed the Lojack name from the car theft recovery company--can survive the entire stripping and reformatting of the hard disk. And, to make it even more invulnerable, most of the big laptop makers . . .have just begun embedding a recovery chip on their system boards, so that even if the thief replaces the hard drive, the computer will still be able to make that SOS call.
How Does LoJack for Laptops Work?
First you purchase the software and decide how many years of protection you’d like. We selected a three-year subscription, as three years is probably about as long as this laptop will be used for our business.
Then you make sure your computer is connected to the internet and insert the CD. You follow the installation process which connects directly to Absolute Software’s installation and registration website. You simply enter the Registration Code that came with your CD and create your own unique password that you can never never never never ever forget (isn’t that the way with every password?) which you will use if your laptop is ever stolen.
After that, nothing else is needed. You’ve got a silent thief catcher on your hands. There are no shortcuts on your desktop and there is no icon in the add/remove programs list. If your laptop is ever stolen, you file a police report and call the laptop recovery unit at 1 (604) 676-3642. They send a signal to your laptop which causes it to emit an S.O.S. call with its location.
According to Absolute Software, When your stolen laptop contacts our Monitoring Center, it is placed on high-alert and starts calling in every 15 minutes, allowing our Recovery Team to closely track your laptop’s location. Our Recovery Team provides law enforcement with tracking information and documentation essential for procuring search warrants and leading them to the location of your laptop. Law enforcement recovers your laptop and returns it to you!
If the company cannot return the laptop to you within 30 days, you get your money back for the software. That’s a pretty good deal! You can also request that the remote support location wipe your hard drive for you, which is nice for agencies concerned with client confidentiality.
Thankfully, I haven’t had the need to use the support number, but I can tell you I feel much more confident leaving the office at night with this software. If the same culprit strikes again, we may even get 2 laptops back!
What are the System Requirements?
LoJack for Laptops requires Windows XP, Internet connection and/or Hayes-compatible modem, Internet Explorer 6 or above, and a CD-ROM drive. There is no version for Macs yet, but one is expected by December 2005.
Absolute Software
10655 NE 4th Street
Suite 400
Bellevue, WA 98004
info@absolute.com
www.absolute.com
www.lojackforlaptops.com
Available subscriptions and their prices are $49.99 for 1 year, $79.99 for 2, $99.99 for 3 years and $119.99 for a 4 year term (far less than most Presidents pay). Computrace also offers other products designed for corporate/multiple laptop use.
Special thanks to Neal (nc10) for putting this product in the epinions database for me to review.
Copyright 2005 meagandowney
Dreamweaver MX 2004
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
meagandowney
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Member: Meagan Downey
Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 358
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