Thinkpads Forum

I am doing a report for work on these 2 features the Fingerprint reader and the Powermanagment utilities on the thinkpad.We want to determine what features will be useful for our users getting new machines this yr.

I would like to know what you think of it: pros and cons, ease of use, was it easy to install, and benefits to you as the end user.

Thank you in advance

No answer, so no one uses these?


I turned it into a Poll for you, moderator.

i don't use the fingerprint thing at all, never have, deleted the software to run it. I think it's just something else that could go wrong and i have no reason to secure my machine like some do.

Powermgmt, yes, everything is wide open all the time as i don't care about conserving battery power or making the battery last for 10+ years. If it gets low, I plug in.

I use the fingerprint reader, and would like it more if I could use it for logging in to password protected web sites, but this feature stopped working for some reason.

The power management utility is working fine, I have set it to maintain the battery for long lifetime so it won't get worn out so fast. And normally run the computer in my own configuration for "Silent" mode, since I got annoyed with the sound from the fan running too much in high performance mode.

zurfer65 wrote:I use the fingerprint reader, and would like it more if I could use it for logging in to password protected web sites, but this feature stopped working for some reason.

zsurfer65, I have managed to get the fingerprint logon feature for secure Web sites working with Client Security Solution 8.0 (CSS)and Fingerprint Software 5.6 (FS). [/quote="zurfer65"]

But I had to perform a complete uninstall/reinstall of CSS and FS and a registry cleanup before fingerprint logon would work. Even so, I still have to swipe my finger twice about 85% of the time to log onto password-protected Web sites. I'm still trying to troubleshoot that irritating issue. Otherwise, logging onto Windows at bootup is working better with CSS 8.0 and FS 5.6, which previously required two fingerprint swipes under the earlier versions of CSS and FS.

MeanGene, the Fingerprint Software (FS) has improved somewhat with v5.6. I no longer have to use two fingerprint swipes to log onto WindowsXP, as was the case with the earlier editions of Client Security Solution (CSS) and FS. However, some of my password-protected Web sites now require two swipes about 85% of the time (I am still troubleshooting this issue). In an enterprise environment, your success with FS may depend largely on whether you also deploy CSS 8.0 with it. I have never run my machine without both of them installed.

I can attest to the value of the Power Manager, as I just performed my first battery reset on a T43 2687-D3U last night. This machine was purchased in October 2005, so I was pleased to see the battery capacity recalibrated to 70.60 Wh from 58.68Wh after only 11 battery charge/discharge cycles (design capacity is 77.76 Wh).

Just make sure that Battery MaxMiser, an older power management utility, is not installed at the same time with the latest edition of Power Manager. I still had remnants of MaxMiser installed, which prevented my previous version of Power Manager from functioning properly prior to the latest upgrade.

I vote "Maybe/It depends" for FS, and a definite "Yes" for Power Manager.

I have never used the fingerprint reader, and the thought of using it has never even crossed my mind, because I don't need the security.

Power management utilities I use very rarely.

The fingerprint reader is a hammer in search of a nail. It is, speaking only for myself, please understand, a useless apendage that provides a too-great likelihood for me that I will be locked out of my own computer. YMMV.

I use the standard Windows Power Management utility and stick with ThinkPad default. I have BMM installed and have no issue with it. ... JDH

Thank u Mod for changing this to a poll.

Thank u guyz for ur responses.