Security Through Uglification - some questions bout painting

[Txiasaeia]

Okay, so here's the plan: when my new thinkpad arrives, I'd like to personalise it a bit with a painted logo on the cover. I've got a few questions about this, however:

1) Is the back cover a replacable part? In other words, if I need to send in the sucker to get fixed or replaced, can they switch off my old cover and put it on a replacement thinkpad? Those repair diagrams make my head swim...

2) What kind of finish do modern Thinkpads have? I've got an old Thinkpad 300c that's no longer working in any sense of the word that I'd like to practise on; is the plastic upon which I will be painting the same?

3) For those of you who have done this before, what type/brand/kind of paint would you recommend?

I'm a firm believer in Security through "Uglification": if my new thinkpad has a custom logo painted onto it, a potential thief will have a harder time to try to sell it, which also increases my chances of me getting it back. This doesn't replace ordinary security measures, of course, but any additional form of deterrence IMHO is good. My wife, of course, thinks I'm just paranoid.

[edelrc]

Gosh, that is something I would ever think I will see a Thinkpad with... Paint!

Have you heard that IBM is in the project to bring colour Thinkpads for autumn (fall)? I read it in eWeek or some magazine like that.

[Leon]

for that purpose, this is better

http://www.stoptheft.com/prodset.htm

[Txiasaeia]

Well, I'm planning on registering the thinkpad with the local cops and getting a security number etched onto it; here in Saskatchewan, if you want to resell used goods you need to register the serial number with the cops and wait fourteen days before you can resell it, so I think I'm covered from that end.

I'm just talking about a little logo, maybe 2" by 2" on the cover. Nothing spectacular, nothing fancy, just... personalised. I love the black colour and wouldn't want to get one in silver or blue or anything. Anyway, if anybody has any info I'd love to hear it!

[G-Man]

The back cover is replaceable. If you need an FRU number just let me know. The price is around $45, depends on what model you have. The cover material is kind of rubberized, not plain plastic.

Regards,
G-Man

[K. Eng]

A custom logo sounds like a neat idea, but I dunno how it will affect your machine's resale value should you choose to sell it.

[erik]

you could always have vinyl decals cut instead -- much less permanent and much easier to remove when it's resale time.   considering how cheap and readily-available FRU parts are these days, it would be easy for someone who knows thinkpads to replace an etched (or painted) top cover or bottom case.

unfortunately, your best security is to keep your laptop with you at all times or use a cable lock while at work to deter casual walk-off theft.

-erik

[Txiasaeia]

A custom logo sounds like a neat idea, but I dunno how it will affect your machine's resale value should you choose to sell it.

Resale value's not a problem. I generally use computers until I run them into the ground (case in point: my 300c) and then just get a new one. I don't need a hyperfast mobile computer - that's what my desktop is for

Flatdraft: how would I go about getting vinyl decals cut?

[erik]

Flatdraft: how would I go about getting vinyl decals cut?

most sign shops offer vinyl decal service.   better shops can create both machine-cut and printed decals in any size and small quantity shouldn't be a problem.   machine-cut vinyl in a single color (such as white or silver) would be the cheapest and easiest since they can run it with another customer's order of the same color.   check the yellow pages (or yellow.ca) for sign shops in your area.

or you could always buy enough vinyl to completely cover your TP lid.   powerdesign offers vinyl cover kits for thinkpad subnotebooks and will give you a good idea of what i'm talking about.   another idea would be to buy clear vinyl and sandwich random pictures underneath.

-erik

[sswany]

Here is a place that will do it too. I was thinking about going through this one.


http://www.polygfx.com/

[Txiasaeia]

I've been doing some reading - some users say that the newer thinkpads are "mushier" than the old ones. My 300c is a hard textured plastic, but definitely hard, no "mush." What are the newer ones like, then? Would you think there would be a problem with the right kind of paint?