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-   -   Can computer manufacturers track the computer with GPS (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/general-10/can-computer-manufacturers-track-the-computer-with-gps-4175450884/)

Miranden 05-18-2013 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habitual (Post 4896927)
good one. :)

Thanks. :)

Miranden 05-18-2013 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qlue (Post 4897155)
Cellphones and tablets are embedded devices and that makes a difference. Their OS is installed and initiated in the production line because their 'hard drive' is a flash memory chip that's soldered directly to the motherboard.

In Laptops and Desktops, the OS is installed at a later point and only initiated by the end user. Wifi and GPS cards also need firmware that is loaded at bootup. They won't be functional on a machine that hasn't been booted up yet.

So it is unlikely that a laptop that is stolen while being shipped from a factory could be detected in the same way that a tablet or cellphone could.

Once an end user has received and activated their device, there are methods for tracing and recovery. But for laptops and desktops, this often relies on software that the end user installs, together with a premium service that they must pay for.

Don't a lot of tablets have their OS installed on a regular SSD? Like the 10.1 inch ones? And does it make any difference if it is an ARM or an x86 device? My friend has a Windows tablet with the OS on a regular internal SSD.

273 05-18-2013 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qlue (Post 4897155)
Cellphones and tablets are embedded devices and that makes a difference. Their OS is installed and initiated in the production line because their 'hard drive' is a flash memory chip that's soldered directly to the motherboard.

In Laptops and Desktops, the OS is installed at a later point and only initiated by the end user. Wifi and GPS cards also need firmware that is loaded at bootup. They won't be functional on a machine that hasn't been booted up yet.

So it is unlikely that a laptop that is stolen while being shipped from a factory could be detected in the same way that a tablet or cellphone could.

Once an end user has received and activated their device, there are methods for tracing and recovery. But for laptops and desktops, this often relies on software that the end user installs, together with a premium service that they must pay for.

Most laptops ship with an OS installed -- the ones I've seen have all come in factory-sealed boxes anyhow.
Some come with this product installed:
http://www3.absolute.com/lojackforlaptops/technology
Most, currently, either don't have the necessary software installed or have it deactivated in BIOS. However, that doesn't mean it can't be done, just that it is not often done.
I've also seen quite a lot of this kind of thing:
http://www.freakyacres.com/remove_computrace_lojack
Now I know it's not likely that Acer (for example) will be trying to store information about everybody's laptop but, again, there's the possibility for them to locate the machine if one of the posters is to be believed.


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