<p>Is anyone familiar with some of these products? I checked out a Doberman Security Laptop Defender and Belkin F5L013 Laptop Security Alarm on Amazon, but there weren’t too many reviews.</p>
<p>Obviously, an alarm is only as good as it’s battery and whether it is armed. I wouldn’t want the existence of one to lend a false sense of security to S about his soon to be purchased Mac.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on these and other products?</p>
<p>I don’t have experience with the alarms but a security cable will allow him to lock the laptop to desk, bedframe, or something and offers some deterrence in that someone else’s laptop will be easier to steal. The best advice is to not leave the laptop sitting by itself even for the ‘just a minute’ in the library, dining hall, etc. or maybe in the dorm room unless the door’s always kept secured or very few people visit.</p>
<p>I vote for insurance… this is what I set up for DS and will for DD this fall.</p>
<p>Renters insurance for his dorm room / apartment and put the computer on there as well. I think it was $50 bucks a year for the computer rider - and it is covered against spills, drops, and other accidents in addition to theft.</p>
<p>I’d also get him an external hard drive and activate time machine on his machine. That way he will have a backup in the event of a hard disk crash or other disappearance.</p>