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Login liberation: forget passwords, use your fingerprint | | ||
 Justin Jaffe Senior associate editor |
Updated September 30, 2005 Do you feel like you're fighting a losing battle against your ever-expanding list of Web site usernames and passwords? Are you tired of Web sites asking for your mother's maiden name or your pet's birthday in order to be e-mailed your account information? The good news is that more and more devices are building in biometric security--a feature that identifies a person by a unique physical characteristic, most often a fingerprint. Most biometric sensors read the electrical characteristics of a fingerprint, making them equally easy to use and hard to fool. (OK, we know what you're thinking: If someone cuts off my finger, will he or she be able to log in to my e-mail? Fortunately, a severed finger will work on most sensors for only a few minutes, after which its electrical properties degrade, which is good to know.) We've rounded up laptops, keyboards, and PDAs that have biometric security. So, instead of always having to hunt for your passwords, with these devices, you'll have them at your fingertip. More resources
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| Product name |
LaCie Safe Mobile Hard Drive (80GB) |
SanDisk Cruzer Profile (1GB) |
HP iPaq hx2750 |
Lenovo ThinkPad X41 2527 (Pentium M 758 1.5 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB HDD) |
Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer with Fingerprint Reader |
Microsoft Optical Desktop with Fingerprint Reader |
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| Review date | September 28, 2005 | August 31, 2005 | November 29, 2004 | May 19, 2005 | January 12, 2005 | November 8, 2004 |
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Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained) |
7.3
Very good |
6.8
Good |
7.9
Very good |
6.7
Good |
8.2
Excellent |
8.0
Excellent |
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| Review summary | The fingerprint recognition scanner makes the LaCie Safe Mobile Hard Drive an excellent, inexpensive vehicle for moving large quantities of sensitive data. | If you can get over this flash drive's odd split design, the SanDisk Cruzer Profile is a safe place to stash all sorts of data. | Offering an impressive resume of good performance and security and wireless features, the HP iPaq hx2750 gets the job done. | Though costly and a bit heavier than the ThinkPad X40, the ultraportable ThinkPad X41 is still a great choice for the corporate road warrior's dream machine. | The stylish and comfortable set is easy to use and operates smoothly, but the only browser it supports is Internet Explorer. | With Microsoft's Optical Desktop with Fingerprint Reader, you have a simple and safe way to access password-protected Web sites through Internet Explorer. |
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| Product series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | N/A | N/A |
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| User comments | 5.0 Average (from 8 users) | 5.6 Average (from 5 users) | 8.0 Excellent (from 25 users) | 6.2 Good (from 8 users) | 6.9 Good (from 10 users) | 5.9 Average (from 9 users) |
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• Hi-Speed USB • 60 MBps • 5400 rpm • Hard drive • 0.4 lbs • 80 GB • 12 ms Full specifications |
• USB Drive • PC • Flash • 1 GB • Hi-Speed USB • None • 1 Full specifications |
• 624 MHz • IEEE 802.11b , IrDA , Bluetooth • 16-bit (64K colors) • Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 Second Edition • Speaker , Fingerprint reader , Display • Stylus , 5-way navigation button , Touch-screen • 5.8 oz • 128 MB • 4.7 in Full specifications |
• 40 GB - 4200 rpm • Intel Pentium M 758 / 1.5 GHz Low-Voltage (LV) • 2 MB - L2 cache • Microsoft Windows XP Professional • 512 MB (installed) / 1.5 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - PC2-4200 • Intel GMA 900 • 3.3 lbs • 10.5 in x 9.3 in x 1.1 in • Lithium ion • Network adapter - Ethernet , - IEEE 802.11g , - IEEE 802.11b , - IEEE 802.11a , - Gigabit Ethernet , - Fast Ethernet • None Full specifications |
• Optical • USB wireless receiver • 5 • Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer with Fingerprint Reader - Mouse • Mouse • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition , Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition , Microsoft Windows XP Professional , Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition • Wireless - RF • Scrolling wheel , Programmable buttons , Tilt Wheel technology Full specifications |
• USB wireless receiver • Keyboard • English • Fingerprint reader • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition , Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition , Microsoft Windows XP Professional , Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition • Mouse • Palm rest • Multimedia , Applications launch , Programmable , Sleep , Log off • Wireless - RF • Microsoft Optical Desktop With Fingerprint Reader - Keyboard , Mouse • 3 years warranty • 2 x AA type Full specifications |
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