anyone really uses fingerprint reader?

[mattbiernat]

I found it to be too cumbersome. it takes at least 2-3 swipes for it to recognize my finger. Sometimes it recognizes the print and then still asks you to swipe again (software bug). then after you reformat your hard drive all of the sudden you don't know your banking passwords cause you forget them over the past 6 months!
anyways so my fingerprint reading software and driver is all gone!

[mgo]

anyone really uses fingerprint reader? I found it to be too cumbersome.

I suppose the fingerprint security could be considered useful, but there are lots of variables in the "real world", like moisture on the finger tip, temperature, swiping speed...on and on...

But really, considering that it works most of the time makes the convenience worth while to me. At least, there's always the good old "type in the password" option if I keep getting those red "X's" at power up! Besides, if I don't actually type in the password, I could forget it in time...so, it's good to jog the memory every so often I suppose.

[Turbo Audi]

I found it to be too cumbersome. it takes at least 2-3 swipes for it to recognize my finger. Sometimes it recognizes the print and then still asks you to swipe again (software bug). then after you reformat your hard drive all of the sudden you don't know your banking passwords cause you forget them over the past 6 months!
anyways so my fingerprint reading software and driver is all gone!

I'm sure your just doing it wrong. Do it slowly and firmly.

[mattbiernat]

I'm sure your just doing it wrong. Do it slowly and firmly.

yes the fingerprint does get recognized but this things wants me to scan it again no matter what. anyways im usually too impatient to do it slowly and firmly.

[ryengineer]

There's a Biometry option in Thinkvantage Fingerprint Software, make sure it's balanced on "More Convenient" than on "More Secure" side.

[bhtooefr]

I find about an 80% successful login rate on the loaner X61t that we've got...

[Melvyn]

Mine works very good with one exception:

If I wash my hands, no matter if they're dry, 5 or 10 minutes and I'm not recognized.

Aside that matter, I'm pretty happy with this. It's better, because nobody can watch you typing your password. I like, and it appear more sofisticated... like the movies

Well, for real, I don't see a matter using it. According to bhtooefr, there's 80% sucessfull, and if you use strong password, I'm sure you don't get more than 80% sucessfull.

[bhtooefr]

Yeah, and I should say that that 80% is first try. By the second or third try, I'm in.

[Toe]

Had my T60 for almost a year now, and didn't like the finger print scanner at first. (Wouldn't scan right, never worked, etc)

Changed the digit to my thumb, works 90% or better.

-Toe

[mattbiernat]

i don't even have a password on my T60. its nice cause i wake up in the morning, go to the bathroom, comeback and my T60 is all warmed up and ready to use. i guess i have no need for any kind of security on my laptop. I should have not gotten the Fingerprint reader and saved $30. oh well....

[bhtooefr]

My rule of thumb is, if a machine moves outside of the house, and/or has a network connection in use, it has a password.

[Melvyn]

i don't even have a password on my T60. its nice cause i wake up in the morning, go to the bathroom, comeback and my T60 is all warmed up and ready to use. i guess i have no need for any kind of security on my laptop. I should have not gotten the Fingerprint reader and saved $30. oh well....

That's kinda happy... 'till a day!

Hope don't arrive.


At my country we use a quote, something like "people don't use lock until they're robbed"

[mattbiernat]

At my country we use a quote, something like "people don't use lock until they're robbed"

really it doesn't take that much to crack windows password or get around the fingerprint reader.

[Melvyn]

really it doesn't take that much to crack windows password or get around the fingerprint reader.

Yes, I know. And you? Do you know?

Do you know that you can password protect your ThinkPad hardrive? Do you know that hard drive is encripted with that password? Do you know that hard drive can't be accesed without that password even if removed and placed in another computer? Do you know that IBM's (Lenovo's) CSS have enhanced protection?

By the way, do you value your data? I do coding stuff for local and foreign companies. Local, one of my more important customers is a politic party. I'm not politic, I only do programming stuff. Anyways, I receive a lot of documentation, data statistic, and so on. That piece of data cost millions...

I'm confident in hard drive protection+windows protection+css protection.

I'm much more confident in this machine than in any other dell or hp.

[mattbiernat]

Yes, I know. And you? Do you know?

Do you know that you can password protect your ThinkPad hardrive? Do you know that hard drive is encripted with that password? Do you know that hard drive can't be accesed without that password even if removed and placed in another computer? Do you know that IBM's (Lenovo's) CSS have enhanced protection?

Yes. And you? Do you know that all that protection can be cracked if you have the right tools.

[Melvyn]

Yes. And you? Do you know that all that protection can be cracked if you have the right tools.

Yes, I know. The right guy with the right tool can do it. Anyways, is more secure than with no password.

I'm pretty sure that my machine is more secure than your.

Excuse me. I'll not troll more on this...

[mattbiernat]

i have no needs whatsoever to secure my machine.

[dr_st]

I have no fingerprints (well, I do, but they are barely recognizable), so I don't use it.

I wouldn't use it anyways, because like most people, I don't need to secure my home laptop, and even my work laptop, which I am forced to secure, I prefer to secure using the standard Windows password.

[tfflivemb2]

Some people have no need to secure their machines. If it sits on a desk at home, not connected to the internet, like some of my older systems, then there is no need to secure it...as long as your house is secure.

As for the use of the fingerprint reader...I like it. Since my T61 is for a work project, though not my primary income job, I do take it to work with me, and it is nice to know that when the screen saver comes on I can just swipe my finger and not worry about someone looking over my shoulder trying to figure out my hand typed password. I have had no problems with the finger print reader. I think there were two occassions in the beginning, where I swiped my finger too quickly and I had to swipe again. I think that someone commented that it takes too long to swipe your finger properly....it certainly takes less time than to type in a 6-10 digit password....

[famman]

I've never used a fingerprint reader, but will be when my T61p arrives . For those who have used one, does your finger have to touch the device or just hover over it? If the former, does the palmrest above and below the reader get worn looking from being swiped?

[tfflivemb2]

You have to touch it. I haven't had my T61 long enough to show if there is wear, but I assume that over time, that yes, it will most likely wear, depending upon the user.

[Techgurl]

I don't use the fingerprint reader. I guess I have this fear that one day it will fail and lock me out.

[carbon_unit]

You can always hit "esc" and type in a password if the fingerprint reader fails.

[pphilipko]

I've just received my new T61 on Monday, and the fingerprint reader has always worked. Never did I have to do it twice...maybe I just happen to have an especially clear fingerprint, but it is unbelievably accurate, no matter how fast I swipe. Plus, I especially love how you can set your master boot password + hard drive password + windows password, and then simply use the fingerprint reader once to unlock it all!

A heck of a lot better than typing in my 13 digit passwords three times in a row.