Latitude E6510 Owner's Lounge

I just wanted to use a fingerprint reader to login to windows instead of entering my password.

It should work fine for this correct?

I did however notice there are two options for fingerprint reader:

Internal Swipe Fingerprint Reader and Contactless Smartcard Reader [add $45.00]
FIPS Compliant Fingerprint Reader and Contactless Smartcard Reader [add $115.00]

I was going to get the $45 addon... Whats the difference? Better security with FIPS?

 

Any digital connection is lightyears better than a VGA connection. If you have the option available on both the monitor and laptop (all LCDs should have a digital port), you should be using it.

DisplayPort to DVI converters are usually just cables with different ends on them, so don't be confused and think they there's some sort of "conversion" going on there that could be degrading the signal -- there isn't.

 

I had this dream that the fingerprint software might have a secure encrypted data store I could use to keep all my passwords for logging into websites, remote desktop, etc. with the swipe of a finger. But it's starting to look like I should keep dreaming

griffe, I've been using this for about a week now to log in to windows and honestly the read rate is so poor I'm not sure it's worth the $45. I have to try 3 to 5 times before I get it to read my finger correctly. The finger swipe has to be relatively slow and at just the right angle (sort of flat I guess) or else it doesn't work. Also Win 7 login screen is designed stupidly even if you swipe incorrectly it says "Welcome" takes a few seconds, then pops back and says "Biometric verification failed" try again. It's a waste of time. Maybe the FIPS one is better, I don't know, but probably not worth a $115 gamble.

 

Absolutely Correct. However, sadly, they are some low end monitors that only has VGA... I know why they have VGA, as they aim for users that have an old computer with a CRT, and needs a screen replacement. But AT LEAST have both, VGA and DVI. Oh well... I am not the one buying them.

The cool thing about digital signal is that you can convert the signal 20 times.. as long as it stay digital, you don't degrade quality. Hence why Display Port can be easily converted into HDMI or even DVI.

 

Well, from what I've researched, it sounds like you need "multi-mode" Displayport to be able to have a straight Displayport to DVI cable without using a converter. But, it looks like the E6510 has it, so looks like I'll finally be joining the digital age!

 

Actually it's my fault. I used converter wrongly.. I meant ADAPTER. Converter means having a special box that actually convert a signal. An adapter plays with the wires to have a different output standard such as HDMI or DVI.

With display port you can have:
- Display Port TO DVI
- Display Port TO HDMI (with audio, if Display Port has it, and if the adapter supports audio)
- Display Port TO mini-display port (mini-display port doesn't support audio. Video only.
- Display Port TO VGA* That depends on the system. Some does send VGA over Display port, some does not. Dell has an adapter form Display port to VGA, so I assume that the Latitude E series does output VGA via Display Port. It's best to contact Dell for this, just to be sure before getting such adapter.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm going to try just VGA for now, but an adapter cable is pretty cheap. I'm just curious to see if the difference from VGA to digital will be noticeable at all, particularly on relatively low-res 1680x1050 screen.

 

Man, I'm telling you, just get a digital cable. They are very cheap at a site like monoprice.com.

PS. Low res would be something like 800x600. 1680x1050 is definitely in the realm of high res and you will see a noticeably sharper picture with a digital connection.

 

Nice recommendation on monoprice. I'll definitely get one, just as soon as I see my unit...it's on the truck at the moment.

 

There's not much to say. It's a regular DisplayPort to HDMI cable connected to a TV. I don't have a receiver with HDMI so I can't tell you how it works with anything other than stereo sound.

I didn't have to tweak any settings to make it work.