* Finally, vendors add in options we want
Too many PC vendors load new systems full of CrapWare, a trend no one likes. A nice change comes from HP, Absolute and Parallels which add stuff users like.
Let’s start with HP, since it has been tagged with the CrapWare label on occasion. Its small business notebook computers (I reported on the launch in April), include two added attractions that are often add-ons on more expensive units. The new 6715b line includes hard disk encryption and a biometric fingerprint reader, even on the least expensive ($629) models.
Think how much the Veterans Administration and a few other government agencies and large companies would love to have been able to say, “Sure, the laptop was stolen but our standard protection profile includes pre-boot disk encryption so even if you take the disk out of the laptop the data remains encrypted.”
OK, that’s a bit long for a sound bite on the evening news. But if the VA and others had preboot disk encryption on the lost laptops, there would be no data loss story for reporters to chase. If you’re in charge of security for your company, no story is by far the best story.
For the base price, HP includes two advanced security features: the biometric fingerprint reader and the preboot disk encryption. I’d say that’s a heavy metal gauntlet thrown at the other notebook vendors.
And at least one other vendor joined the gauntlet throwing: Toshiba. Its new Portege and Tecra models will include Computrace code in the BIOS chips. Sold by Absolute Software, Computrace acts like LoJack for Laptops (it even licensed the LoJack for Laptops name).
Officially the Computrace Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking solution (with appropriate trademarks here and there), the code in BIOS must be activated by purchasing a Computrace license. Although Toshiba just joined the embedded Computrace program, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Motion and Panasonic also have the tracking code in their BIOS as well. The service isn’t free, but the retail cost starts at $50 for one computer for the first year. Bulk licenses added at the time of purchase drop the cost way down.
Computrace does offer a data scrambling option, but the laptop must make connection to the Internet after being reported stolen to engage that feature (that background connection is how Computrace knows where your stolen laptop is). So pre-boot disk encryption protection should also be part of the purchase package (if you don’t get an HP model with encryption built in, try WinMagic.com and PGP.com for add-on encryption).
Here’s a nice guarantee: if Computrace can’t get your laptop computer back in 60 days, they’ll pay up to $1000 for your loss. Since the company claims 600,000 laptops are lost each year, and 97% of them without tracking software stay lost forever, you may feel the yearly monitoring fee worth the guaranteed results.
Look at it this way: disk encryption and tracking software cost money, but the continuing drop in laptop computer costs more than makes up the difference. If your laptop goes more places than your desk at the office and your desk at home, put your pencil to the recovery statistics and see if encryption and tracking services make sense. Having the features built in makes the activation more convenient.
Finally, those folks who prefer Macintosh systems but still need to run Windows programs will have a bit of relief if they buy the new bundled systems from resellers using the huge distributor Tech Data. Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Macintosh will come preloaded and preconfigured on systems bought through Tech Data, saving an hour or more per unit for software installation and configuration. Out of the box, these Intel-based Macintosh systems will include Windows XP Professional (your needed Windows apps aren’t in the box, sorry). TechData gets a discount, so ask your reseller for a piece of that discount on your computers.
If you only configure a handful of systems, you may not care about this time saving. If you configure a handful or more every day, or receive a double handful as part of a desktop upgrade cycle, the time saved will likely be your own. Better than just the time savings, systems configured at the factory or distributor tend to be well tested and solid. You may get your time for configuration to just over an hour on the third or fourth system, but that first system may take a day or more to tweak like you want it. Here, the computers come pre-tweaked.
Adding features people want, whether totally free or just as a way to save time, strikes me as a step in the right direction. Let’s hope this trend to replace CrapWare with GreatWare continues.
