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no kensington lock on new MBP?

TheMacBookPro said:
It's actually been implemented in many retail outlets (I've seen them in most Japanese retail outlets). They sell a number of tiny computers (sub-10") that do not have Kensington locks so they're using a system that consists of a loudspeaker and a bunch of USB cables sprouting out of it.

If the USB cable is unplugged the speaker then starts a loud siren sound. It works fairly effectively but I don't really see how it would work in a Starbucks type environment, people would just push the mute button before unplugging the USB cable (unless there's a way to override the buttons with software?).

There's actually a similar solution but that relies on the sudden motion sensor (does the Retina Pro still have one?). Look up iAlertU, it used to lock and unlock by pushing a button on the Apple Remote so it was like a car key for your laptop, but now that there's no IR sensor, you can manually lock it and type in your password to unlock it.
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You have a neat concept, but you need the logic/sound on the other end. Small adapter fits into powered accessory slot (TB, USB) and then charges a small battery in the adapter. The adapter locks to something with a tether and just detects current (supplied by MBP even when asleep) - when it is unplugged without the proper input then the adapter needs to make the noise.

Pack all that into something that looks halfass cool and you would have a good product.
 
Fry-man22 said:
You have a neat concept, but you need the logic/sound on the other end. Small adapter fits into powered accessory slot (TB, USB) and then charges a small battery in the adapter. The adapter locks to something with a tether and just detects current (supplied by MBP even when asleep) - when it is unplugged without the proper input then the adapter needs to make the noise.

Pack all that into something that looks halfass cool and you would have a good product.
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Haha, not 'my' concept, just relaying over information about the system that's already installed in several retail stores I've been to.

Does the MacBook still provide current to the USB ports when it's asleep though? AFAIK the MacBook's USB ports doesn't have the sleep&charge functionality like several Windows based computers do.
 
HardBall said:
I doubt that there is one;

There does not seem to be enough clearance, if you center a kensington lock slot at the center of the height of the chassis. Meaning that if you have a lock slot at the normal position in terms of the height of the chassis, there won't be enough room for a regular sized lock to be present in the slot, and for the notebook to lay flat on the surface. Most ultra-thin notebooks don't seem to have one, including the MBA, of course.
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Actually, this has been the case for a lot of the Pro models for a while now, at least with older Kensington locks. In fact, I have to keep my 13" 2011 MBP resting on its Incase sleeve while it's secured with a Kensington lock. Otherwise, the machine would rock on one side.
 
Monkeyat said:
Come on guys... do you really think a kensington cable will avoid someone to steal your MacBook? Are you serious ? This cutter can be found in ANY warehouse for less than $10. Take a look :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88LVofiBl5A&feature=g-upl
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I lol'd at the title of that video. It certainly didn't look that easy to cut!

As I'm sure people have mentioned already, these locks really only prevent opportunistic stealing. I don't think very many people walk around with wire cutters in hand.
 
Seriously you guys are probably better protected by using some of the theft-recovery software. Picking locks is incredibly easy and it appears like the kensington lock has one of the easiest mechanism for picking.

I know it'd prevent the "oh hey a laptop is right there" type theft but I'd suggest if you are in a public place where theft could happen, never let your laptop leave your sight.

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ryanide said:
I looked at one today at the Apple store and there is definitely no slot - as I'm sure anyone who already has one can confirm.

Kensington locks suck when you forget the combo!! I can't get this one off my monitor.
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You can google it but the basic method is:

Go buy a soda in a can, drink the soda, cut a little square out of the side of the can, a little less than the circumference of the lock itself. Roll the square up into a little tube, pop it into the end of your lock and the lock should pop off in a 2 seconds. I also saw a video of a guy doing it with a roll of toilet paper.

The method I learned was with an aluminum can because I guess it is reusable and takes 2 seconds once you have it. You can open a bunch of different type of locks with the aluminum can trick though.
 
leenak said:
Seriously you guys are probably better protected by using some of the theft-recovery software. Picking locks is incredibly easy and it appears like the kensington lock has one of the easiest mechanism for picking.

I know it'd prevent the "oh hey a laptop is right there" type theft but I'd suggest if you are in a public place where theft could happen, never let your laptop leave your sight.

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You can google it but the basic method is:

Go buy a soda in a can, drink the soda, cut a little square out of the side of the can, a little less than the circumference of the lock itself. Roll the square up into a little tube, pop it into the end of your lock and the lock should pop off in a 2 seconds. I also saw a video of a guy doing it with a roll of toilet paper.

The method I learned was with an aluminum can because I guess it is reusable and takes 2 seconds once you have it. You can open a bunch of different type of locks with the aluminum can trick though.
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You can do it with UK-style train tickets as well. Kensington locks are pointless, all they will stop is an opportunistic thief, for which you shouldn't be leaving your laptop unattended.
 
peskaa said:
You can do it with UK-style train tickets as well. Kensington locks are pointless, all they will stop is an opportunistic thief, for which you shouldn't be leaving your laptop unattended.
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Yeah, I imagine any thicker paper that bends would work. Temporary metro/subway cards would probably work well for those in the US. The locks I've tried this on were a bit sturdier/thicker than kensington locks so maybe that is why aluminum was recommended.
 
TheMacBookPro said:
I think Engadget just assumed it was there. The Kensington lock slot is shown very clearly under Connections and Expansions for the regular Pro but is not listed in the same category for the Retina Pro- the K-lock is gone.



LOL. That could work actually, if the thunderbolt lock is unplugged from the computer without the password being entered, have the laptop activate a loud sound from the speakers. After all, the new Pro's speakers have 'a wide dynamic range, optimal balance, and a crisp, expressive quality', meaning the siren should be loud and clear :p
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What a creative imagination loll
 
sprawl2 said:
I'm using the Griffin TechSafe lock right now on my rMBP, and it does work.
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I was wondering if this would work. Can you leave it on when the display is closed?

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ryanide said:
Kensington locks suck when you forget the combo!! I can't get this one off my monitor.
Image
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It's only a 3-digit combo lock. You could trial-and-error that bad boy in 30-45 minutes tops... and that's if you take your time and verify each number (which I recommend).

I work in a guitar store and people come in all the time with guitar cases where their kid set the combo or they just forgot. We charge normal bench rate and if it takes us 30 minutes, I charge for 30 minutes of work. ;-) The reason I mentioned to take that extra half-second per turn is because when I first started doing it, I would rush through them... and what do you know... after 1000 turns, none of them worked. That's because I was going so fast I didn't line up the cylinders perfectly on all combos.
 
ryanide said:
I looked at one today at the Apple store and there is definitely no slot - as I'm sure anyone who already has one can confirm.

Kensington locks suck when you forget the combo!! I can't get this one off my monitor.
Image
Click to expand...

Seriously, dude? You couldn't spend the time to brute-force the combination? (Rather than the cable...) There's only 1000 combinations.
 
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