* HP and Lenovo aims security-focused notebooks at SMBs
The notebook PC market reached a new milestone this past May. For the first time ever, notebook PCs outsold desktop PCs in the U.S. over a full month period. According to research firm Current Analysis, notebook sales climbed to 53.3% of the total PC retail market in May 2005, compared to 45.9% last year.
It’s obvious why notebooks are so popular. They are now as powerful as desktop devices; they offer the convenience of taking your work with you anytime, anywhere; and even the prices have come down to a much lower premium over desktop PCs.
I also can add that built-in notebook security features are getting better. As I pointed out in an earlier article, a lost or stolen portable computer can have consequences ranging from a relatively minor inconvenience to a major breach of security (see: http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/techexec/2005/0221techexec1.html)
Some of the features now making their way into notebooks – as standard equipment or as options – include integrated biometric fingerprint sensors, smart card readers, Kensington lock slots, hard drive locks, memory change alerts, power-up passwords and setup passwords.
Of the major notebook manufacturers, HP and Lenovo (formerly IBM’s PC unit) really seem to understand that everyone – not just large companies that buy thousands of units at a time – wants security features for their notebooks.
For instance, HP just announced a notebook PC aimed at mobile professionals working at small and midsize businesses (SMB). The HP Compaq nx6125 notebook PC includes an embedded fingerprint sensor that augments or replaces the need for passwords. Authorized users can easily and quickly access their files by simply sliding their finger across the sensor surface. The sensor is manufactured by AuthenTec, one of the leading makers of biometric fingerprint sensors for computers and access control.
The security features of the nx6125 don’t stop with the touch of your finger, though. HP also has included a preinstalled copy of Norton AntiVirus; select features of the HP ProtectTools family that help protect against unauthorized access to networks and business critical data; HP Drivelock, which helps prevent the data on your hard drive from being compromised even if your notebook is lost or stolen; and the option to add a smart card reader if desired.
And the best news about the nx6125? The base model – loaded with security features – starts at $999. That places this feature-laden portable PC within range of even small businesses that often have to sacrifice security due to the high cost of implementing it.
Lenovo also understands the need for security for mobile workers. It offers the ThinkPad T42 model, which compares nicely to the HP nx6125 but starts at $1,295. Standard security features include a hard disk drive password, a power-on password, a supervisor password, an IBM Security Slot, and the IBM Embedded Security Subsystem 2.0 (but no biometric sensor). The Embedded Security Subsystem, however, is a patented ThinkVantage technology that offers some of the strongest embedded security features in the industry through the use of an integrated security chip and downloadable software.
Dell notebooks for SMBs offer pre-loaded anti-virus software, as do Gateway notebooks (but only for a 90-day trial period). Security doesn’t figure prominently in Toshiba’s notebook line for SMBs, and Sony doesn’t even mention the word “security” in its SMB notebook product specs. It seems these manufacturers haven’t caught on to the fact that all business professionals want to know that their notebooks are secure devices. If security matters to you, it’s wise to see what HP and Lenovo have to offer before you purchase.
Linda Musthaler is vice president of Currid & Company. You can write to her at mailto:Linda.Musthaler@currid.com
