Kensington MicroSaver DS Notebook Lock Review

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Very helpful review.
I was looking at security cables last month but my thread remained unanswered. The review will certainly help.

 

Very nice review Malia. And just so everyone knows, this is the high-end lock from Kensington in the current line-up that they have. That means it's the hardest to cut through. Of course, if someone has a pair of bolt cutters they can still get through (as long as the lever is long enough you can get through just about anything with a pair of cutters) but the point with these things, as you say, is to deter and discourage -- not to 100% guarantee the thing won't get stolen.

 

Good review Malia! Very comprehensive.

 

Good review. It's great that they finally changed to a more complicated locking system, from that circular key design that could be picked with a pen top. This seems like a real step up from the current locks. The cord organizer is a nice touch, too. It's actually annoying wrapping up my current lock and twisting it around trying to prevent it from unraveling in my bag.

 

Just what I was looking for thanks Malia! I live in SF and there's been a rash of thefts at hotspots in cafes. The local news even did a brief segment on that as well.

 

I wish they had different colors tho. Very nice review, this is def. a must buy on my list.

 

It seems to me that if a thief saw a notebook with a lock on it they would just thrash it out of spite. ARRRRRRRRGH, if I can't have it no one will! SMASH, SMASH, SMASH, STOMP!!!

Now you have a broken notebook with a lock on it. I guess it's still better then them taking it, though.

 

I'm glad everyone liked my review.

I believe all the locks other than this one that Kensington offers actually use circular keys. MicroSaver (as opposed to this MicroSaver DS) which was released last month is one of them. Hopefully, the internals have been redesigned to prevent the lockpicking, but we don't have one to test. Actually, we were supposed to get one of those for review as well, but mysteriously, we didn't. Let's hope we get one soon so we can try to settle this issue!

Yeah, the guy that got stabbed (link in the first paragraph of the review) got stabbed in SF. Just wait until Google turns the whole city into a hot spot!

Different colors are always nice. I guess if it was purple and my laptop was green, I'd be angry, so I guess it's lucky for me that I have a red daisy on my lid. They have other keys that are black, which is a much more neutral color. I think they want to see how it sells, especially since there aren't many color locks on the market (or any for that matter, I think?), and then decide how to proceed.

I think thieves usually don't take it personally. And if the theft is personal, the thiev will invest some money in bolt cutters and come back next time.

Good lock buying a lock, everyone!

Malia

 

Awesome review! I saw this over at Fry's, might be something I burn my gift certificate on, for my future laptop

 

I'm kinda speaking from experience. I once had my car broken into and the thief tried taking my nice Kenwood stereo, but couldn't figure out how to take it out so he/she wrecked it along with every other button and knob in the car. The most disturbing thing was how they crumpled up a picture of Our Lady of Guadelupe I had hanging from the visor.

I think thieves are generally stupid people that have very few skills, such as picking locks, etc... That's probably why they steal. I think that most tend to be crude in thier efforts.

I'll grant you though, that if there were two simliar notebooks and one had a lock and the other didn't the thief would probably leave the locked one alone and just take the other one. I pay ADT and a sign in front of my house for this very reason.

 

Kensignton offer an interesting deal on a security cable with a notebook replacement option. That is, if the cable is cut through and the laptop gets stolen, Kensington refunds you for the laptop. I haven't read any opinions on that but it seems that having some money guarantee is the best protection .

 

Great review! I'd like to see something with a little alarm system. I actually have a masterlock alarm cable for my bike. If cut or if it is moved too much, the alarm will go off, and it is very loud! Runs off a 9V and battery lasts for a few months.

 

True.. This is not that lock, however. I haven't looked into it myself, so I wonder how they can do it. After all, how do they know what your laptop was worth - and for that matter, if you even had a laptop stolen to begin with? How do they know that you didn't buy some bolt cutters two months after buying the lock, cut the cable, threw out the other half, and then called them up to say your non-existant laptop is gone? After all, how much can bolt cutters cost...

Something to ponder, I suppose.

Malia

 

Good review...but still waiting on the review of the *hopefully* updated internals of the new Microsaver....the DS isn't available in Canada for < $100 so I'm hoping the $50 Microsaver is safe against a simple pen and roll of toilet paper...

 

Will this lock work with my e1505? It seems like the only place to put a lock is on the BOTTOM of the laptop next to the battery...Excuse my ignorance..but this confuses me.

 

is this still the best laptop lock that is out there?

 

I think this is the most expensive and highest level of security lock available. I plan to buy one for my D630.