IBM Introduces Biometric Thinkpad

An anonymous reader writes "IBM has added biometric security to its thinkpad notebooks. The next generation of T series thinkpads will have an integrated fingerprint scanner for added security. The latest machines will also include some pretty cool encryption software, that will keep your hard disk safe, but still let you backup and restore images. This guy managed to get his hands on an early prototype T42 with the new security features integrated."

hal

[TedCheshireAcad]

I tried one of these laptops for a while, took me weeks to get the thing to stop calling me Dave.

I feel sorry for...

[cbw82]

...John Doe from Se7en. If he buys one of these how in the world will he ever get past the added security?

Can't Access My Computer Please Help!!!

[PetoskeyGuy]

I can't wait to see all the support websites.

"Cut my finger slicing tomoatoes, can't access my Thinkpad, HELP!!"

The Mafia loves it already!

[Schreckgestalt]

Now the Mafia have finally got another reason to cut your fingers off! And they can shoot you before you talk, as you don't have to talk.

Are genitals unique?

[Anonymous Coward]

"Please push your scrotum on the biometric sensor to login."

Re:Micron has biometric support

[Anonymous Coward]

Then why didn't they post this on slashdot earlier? You are a shameless liar! If it's not on slashdot, it doesn't exist.

Re:Remember your friends

[swordboy]

A new definition for "hacking":

Pronunciation: 'hak-ing
Function: verb
The process of removing someone's finger so that you can gain access to their Thinkpad.

I'm just glad it isn't retina scanning. Ouch!

Re:I feel sorry for someone who loses a finger.

[BeBoxer]

I know there's room for 21 different fingerprints, but I wonder how many end users are going to think to register more than one of their fingers...just in case.

21 fingerprint slots, eh? That's enough for all my fingers and all my toes with one leftover. What's the 21st one for?

Made for Men Only?

[mykepredko]

I know it's lame, but the first thing that came to my mind when I read the number of prints that could be stored in the laptop was that women don't have the 21 "digits" that men do...

Weird on a Monday,

myke

Re:Remember your friends

[Anonymous Coward]

You can store a total of 21 profiles in the scanner, which should be more than enough, unless you share one notebook between a score of users.

I guess they don't realize a score is 20?

Re:swipe scan

[Anonymous Coward]

... and has a smaller footprint than ...

I'm afraid you completely misunderstood the article. You are supposed to swipe your finger across the scanner, not your foot!

I hope this helped!