At the launch of Intel’s ultrabook line today, Dick Smith Electronics was announced as the first Australian retailer to offer Intel’s Anti-Theft service.
Anti-Theft is a mandatory part of the Ultrabook specification — and something that Intel’s been working on for some time — that allows for remote wiping of ultrabooks as well as sending a recovery message to any internet-connected ultrabook. Any remotely wiped laptop, if recovered, can be unlocked via a server based login. Anti-theft is built into the hardware at the silicon level, rather than simply being a software add-on.
Intel anti-theft is a subscription-based service, and today at the launch of the ultrabook line, Intel announced Dick Smith as the first Australian retailer who will offer the service on ultrabooks sold.
According to Dick Smith’s Deborah Singh, Dick Smith sees the service as
A wonderful opportunity as an attachment. Yes, all of our competitors will have this in the future but we got ourselves sorted early. It is going to be a tablet Christmas, no question… but we’re excited about what these machines will do.”
The subscription service that Dick Smith will offer will cost $49.95 for a two year single machine subscription according to Singh, although if you buy before January it’ll be a free inclusion with any ultrabook sold.
Deshan
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:13 PMi hate this. pretty soon all you android (for phones) and windows (for laptop os) people will be saying that apple did not create this sort of device when it clearly did – macbook air.
how do i know almost everyone will? well when apple introduced the iphone it was all fun and joyful then when google released android everyone simply forgot ios and said android is superior.
like they say, the original and first, is always the best. apple will be the best no matter what.
Roachless
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:26 PMApple fanboism at its worst.
I own an iPhone and an iPad.
I prefer them over Android devices.
But that is my opinion. Some people, LOTS of people, prefer Android devices. You saying that Apple is the best does not make it true.
MotorMouth
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:33 PMI have a question for you – why? Why would you buy two devices that do pretty much exactly the same things? To me it would be like buying a 17″ laptop and a 13″ one and carrying them both around. I really can’t see any sense in it at all.
klops
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:46 PMBecause they’re nothing alike, i have an iPhone 4 and iPad 2 and i can safely say that they’re used for totally different purposes.
Would I sit on the couch and surf the web on my iPhone ? No
Would I on my iPad? YEP! and do it a lot!
One could argue that i use my MacBook Pro for this, but its heavy & hot. I was doubtful about how much use my iPad would get, but I use it all the time, especially around the house.
lambomann007
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 5:27 PMIt’s a lot easier and more fun to go swimming in a pool than a bath tub.
Jordan
Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 2:00 AM+1 that is brilliant
smurfydog
Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 1:38 PM+2
Nick
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 7:39 PMAn iPad is so much different than an iPhone. I used to think otherwise, as well.
MotorMouth
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:30 PMThe issue with MacBook Air is that it was about 3 years too soon. The first two models were pathetic, because the hardware just wasn’t ready to support this kind of machine. It is only with this year’s third release that they finally have a product worth buying (and at a very competitive price). But at the end of the day it is just a laptop and that was invented by an Australian company last century, so nobody else gets to claim anything.
smurfydog
Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 2:38 PMNot arguing, just curious – you got a link that explains the ‘laptop invented by an australian last centurary’ comment? I can’t find anything.
RJ
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:30 PMWrong, the competitions version is always better, cause they look at what was missing that the customers want and give it to them. yes apple, kind of came up with, the iphone but they locked it down like a max security prison and you could only do things that apple approved (without jailbreaking the phone), but android you can do what you like out of the box. not to mention that apple steals a program from a teenager that developed wifi sync, used the same icon and called it there own. just because apple developed the first thin computer doesn’t mean their own the right to thin computers, an intel windows machine is far superior to the mac for a farless cost hands down.
Sam
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:31 PMSounds very Find my Mac-esque to me, apart from the ‘built into the hardware at the silicon level’ bit.
Stil…
Roachless
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 3:18 PMI think that is the point of it.
The thieves cant get around it by just wiping the software from the laptop. Even if they completed erased the drive and reinstalled the OS, this theif chip would still be running. As soon as the theif, or whoever the theif sells it to jumps on the net, BUSTED!
MotorMouth
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:39 PMI’d be interested to know how many laptops get stolen every year. I would never leave mine where that could happen, it would be worse than having my keys stolen, as my entire life is in there, so I look after it really well.