Word to the Wise: Traveling w/Laptop Computer

[DaveK]

...My laptop computer was stolen out of our hotel room at the Albany Courtyard Marriott sometime between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 11:50 p.m. this past Saturday.....

ALL of my data on that laptop was backed up, so I did not lose anything.

If you have used that laptop for e-commerce transactions or on-line banking, AND you use the "remember me", um, 'feature' for logging in, you may want to quickly go change passwords.

Laptop theft is a very significant computer security problem. I hope this does not go farther than the loss of an expensive piece of gear.

Dave

 

[JAM]

If you have used that laptop for e-commerce transactions or on-line banking, AND you use the "remember me", um, 'feature' for logging in, you may want to quickly go change passwords.

Laptop theft is a very significant computer security problem. I hope this does not go farther than the loss of an expensive piece of gear.

Dave

That is a very good point, Dave. I never use the "remember me" on that laptop, thankfully. Each instance I've ever used my laptop on the road, I had to actually type in my password as well as look up a new local access number to my Internet provider.

This is very good advice, indeed!

JAM

 

[td873]

According to the "The Empire State" Consumer Law Manual: An owner of a hotel or motel, or an innkeeper is liable for up to $500 for the loss of personal property while in the hotel or motel. If the loss was caused by the fault or negligence of the innkeeper, there is no liability limit.

JAM,

Just to keep you "in the know" - the above section applies to lost items that the hotel has custody of, and not items stolen from your room. NY General Business Law §200 is the relevant section, and it says (basically) that a hotel owner that provides a safe and sufficient notice to guests has no liability for the guests personal property.

Check your PM's, I'll send you some relevant info.

-td

 

[Eric.]

JAM,

Just to keep you "in the know" - the above section applies to lost items that the hotel has custody of, and not items stolen from your room. NY General Business Law §200 is the relevant section, and it says (basically) that a hotel owner that provides a safe and sufficient notice to guests has no liability for the guests personal property.

Check your PM's, I'll send you some relevant info.

-td

Damn Lawyers


Eric

 

[TheOne]

Hi JAM, sorry about the laptop. I have been travelling for years now and for the most part I was a poor backapcker and had nothing much to lose. However on my recent trip I had a very expensive laptop and over 10,000 dollars in various other electronic devices. This was a real pain as I had to carry my cameras etc with me most of the time and I was always worried about leaving my laptop in the hotel. Finally I bought a "laptop lock", These are the cable types that fit into the small hole on the side of the laptop (all laptops should have the lock hole) You can get one with a padlock or a combination. I got the most expensive one I could find and it has a combination lock on one end and a loop on the other. Now I simply loop one end around the bed post/wardrobe etc and lock the other to the laptop. I don't worry nearly half as much now when leaving my laptop in hotel rooms. I know this won't help get your laptop back but maybe worth considering if you replace it - I wouldn't leave home without it now.

Most hotel safes are too small from what I have seen.

PS
Last time I was in Vegas my friend told me they had something stolen from there room in the Circus Circus, can't remember what it was but I think it was some expensive jewelery.

 

[JAM]

Thanks for the GREAT tip about the laptop computer lock and key, The One! That is very good advice, indeed, and something I am going to purchase.

I spoke to the detective at the Colonie Police Department this morning, and the investigation is in ongoing. They are moving full speed ahead, and I am very appreciative and hopeful at the time of this writing.

JAM

 

[chefjeff]

Thanks for the GREAT tip about the laptop computer lock and key, The One! That is very good advice, indeed, and something I am going to purchase.

I spoke to the detective at the Colonie Police Department this morning, and the investigation is in ongoing. They are moving full speed ahead, and I am very appreciative and hopeful at the time of this writing.

JAM

I guessing it's either housekeeping or a maintenance person.

If someone entered your room via the electronic key, wouldn't that be the hotel's fault for not securing the lock properly?

Have any other victims surfaced?

Jeff Livingston

 

[JAM]

I guessing it's either housekeeping or a maintenance person.

If someone entered your room via the electronic key, wouldn't that be the hotel's fault for not securing the lock properly?

Have any other victims surfaced?

Jeff Livingston

This just in...the investigation is definitely moving forward, and after just speaking to the detective once more, I have complete confidence that the Colonie Police Department is making strides. To date, I am impressed with their follow-through, and to use a pool term, I think they may just "hit the object [ball] with authority" in due time.

Trying to locate the serial number for my Sony laptop computer from previous year's tax records was a chore. Most folks keep receipts with this info handy, but not me. I ended up finding it, but only after about 2 or 3 hours of combing through numerous papers.

Another word of advice in tandem with this thread is to write down all serial numbers and pertinent info and keep it in a secure place for future reference.

JAM

 

[fxskater]

Don't go to DELL for anything!! They are involved in a massive class action lawsuit for Bait and Switch charges. Look HERE. I am a computer technician and every day i deal with unhappy DELL customers. The other main problem with dell is that you get DELL modified windows, which means you have a bunch of software running in the background. Anyone willing to pay Dell a couple buck on each system gets thier software on peoples NEW computers. I HATE DELL.

 

[DaveK]

The other main problem with dell is that you get DELL modified windows, which means you have a bunch of software running in the background. Anyone willing to pay Dell a couple buck on each system gets thier software on peoples NEW computers.

'Modified' Windows and vendor-installed applications appear on many brand name computers, not just Dell dude ! fwiw

Dave, who particularly dislikes laptops, but uses a couple every day ... (a datacomm/network engineer for over 20 years)

 

[Rackin_Zack]

Don't go to DELL for anything!! They are involved in a massive class action lawsuit for Bait and Switch charges. Look HERE. I am a computer technician and every day i deal with unhappy DELL customers. The other main problem with dell is that you get DELL modified windows, which means you have a bunch of software running in the background. Anyone willing to pay Dell a couple buck on each system gets thier software on peoples NEW computers. I HATE DELL.

That's why the first thing I do when I get a computer is reinstall from scratch and configure it how I want. At least Dell includes the base windows OS CD.

 

[fxskater]

Yes, I know this man. I shoulda stated ALL BRAND NAME COMPUTERS are in general BAD, at least when compared to something you could throw together yourself in a half hour. With laptops you don't have much choice. We sell ACER and they use a standard windows disk and driver disks. I particularly dislike Dell though. I read somewhere that Dell recieves over 100% of the INDUSTRY's profit margin and everyone else operates breaking even or Losing money. I'll find the article again and post it.

EDIT
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6959937/site/newsweek/

 

[fxskater]

That's why the first thing I do when I get a computer is reinstall from scratch and configure it how I want. At least Dell includes the base windows OS CD.

Generally it looks identicle after install, but its still modified. Go into System Properties and see if it says who sold you the computer. Likely it has a big DELL logo somewhere. This proves it, but there is lots of other mods they do to.

 

[TATE]

'Modified' Windows and vendor-installed applications appear on many brand name computers, not just Dell dude ! fwiw

Dave, who particularly dislikes laptops, but uses a couple every day ... (a datacomm/network engineer for over 20 years)

I agree. I can't decide who I resent more, Microsoft, America Online, Real Networks, or the horde of manufacturers like HP and their useless applications that gum up the already gummed up Windows.

I used to hate laptops, but with the wireless networks, better screens, DVD's, large hard drives, and more powerful processors, the new generation of laptops are pretty amazing and relatively affordable devices.

Chris

 

[Rackin_Zack]

Generally it looks identicle after install, but its still modified. Go into System Properties and see if it says who sold you the computer. Likely it has a big DELL logo somewhere. This proves it, but there is lots of other mods they do to.

Well, on my personal Dell machine, I have the University of Missouri site liscensed version of the OS direct from Microsoft, but even the default install from the Dell OS CD is better than the shipped OS with the other crap they install. It's also a lot easier to pear down the different unneeded services and and startup items.

 

[fxskater]

Well, on my personal Dell machine, I have the University of Missouri site liscensed version of the OS direct from Microsoft, but even the default install from the Dell OS CD is better than the shipped OS with the other crap they install. It's also a lot easier to pear down the different unneeded services and and startup items.

True enough. But if i have the choice between buying a new PC custom built or with a brand name on it, its no choice at all. To get where you are now most people would have to BUY another windows, which doesnt come cheap. The best way to do it if you somehow accidentally put yourself through the grinders and bought a Dell, is to just borrow someone elses Windows disc and reload from scratch using the Keycode from the sticker on your PC. Now wait just a second, a few weeks ago Microsoft disabled the ability to Activate a windows install from a regular disc, if you have an original Product Key that did not require activation. So if you have a Dell computer with a Dell Win XP that does not require activation over the internet with Dell YOU CAN NOT LOAD A NORMAL WINDOWS AND ACTIVATE. But i think Microshit got a tonne of complaints and you are aloud to Activate using a different windows install disc, now.

We load every computer that comes into our shop with a WIN XP SP2 install disc. So if your computer came with SP1 or The original version you get the latest one at INSTALL when you get us to RELOAD your system. So if you had a Dell with an install disc that does not require activation, whether it was SP1 or the original, we could not reload your system with SP2. We had to use YOUR DELL disc, then update to SP2. I don't know how many of you are familiar with this, but updateing to SP2 is nowhere near the same as INSTALLING with an SP2 disc.

So many hassle's when all you had to do in the first place was SUPPORT the LITTLE GUYS.

Ryan Lynn<<<<<<I havent even started, trying to refrain from really getting into it. Sorry to all DELL users.

 

[JAM]

The Squeaky Wheel Gets Greased!

This just in...

Last time, I spoke to Detective Carey of the Colonie Police Department, the investigation was in progress. He spoke to the ONLY two other persons who entered my room at the Courtyard Marriott in Albany, New York, when my computer was stolen: a housekeeper and a maintenance man.

I began to write some letters to the Marriott Headquarters here in Bethesda, Maryland, as well as another corporate office of Bill Marriott located in Omaha, Nebraska. I was in the process of writing a letter to the editor of the Times Union, the main Albany newspaper, about my "Nightmare on Wolf Street." Great letter, too, by the way. I spent many hours creating it.

I was wronged, and the Innkeeper's Statute was thrown in my face by a Marriott employee sometime ago, stating they would not refund me for my loss. However, today I am happy to report that Marriott has had a change of heart. I have been requested to fax the receipt of my computer, and a check for its full cost will be forthcoming.

I'd rather have my laptop back, being I had it set up the way I like it, but the 600 bucks will help to mend my broken heart!

JAM

 

[chefjeff]

This just in...

Last time, I spoke to Detective Carey of the Colonie Police Department, the investigation was in progress. He spoke to the ONLY two other persons who entered my room at the Courtyard Marriott in Albany, New York, when my computer was stolen: a housekeeper and a maintenance man.

I began to write some letters to the Marriott Headquarters here in Bethesda, Maryland, as well as another corporate office of Bill Marriott located in Omaha, Nebraska. I was in the process of writing a letter to the editor of the Times Union, the main Albany newspaper, about my "Nightmare on Wolf Street." Great letter, too, by the way. I spent many hours creating it.

I was wronged, and the Innkeeper's Statute was thrown in my face by a Marriott employee sometime ago, stating they would not refund me for my loss. However, today I am happy to report that Marriott has had a change of heart. I have been requested to fax the receipt of my computer, and a check for its full cost will be forthcoming.

I'd rather have my laptop back, being I had it set up the way I like it, but the 600 bucks will help to mend my broken heart!

JAM

Keep at 'em, Jennie...maybe you'll get the computer back, the person who did this will be caught and punished and make restitution. Glad to hear Marriot made good, as it seems they were partly responsible since it was their employees who were in your room.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Sweet Marissa]

This just in...

I am happy to report that Marriott has had a change of heart. I have been requested to fax the receipt of my computer, and a check for its full cost will be forthcoming.

I'd rather have my laptop back, being I had it set up the way I like it, but the 600 bucks will help to mend my broken heart!

JAM

They know that should they not reimburse you, plenty of people would be hearing about it and choose to stay elsewhere. Word of mouth travels fast, especially with the internet now. Who knows how many people wouldn't be staying at Marriott, had they not accommodated to your loss?

 

[drivermaker]

Word of mouth travels fast, especially with the internet now. Who knows how many people wouldn't be staying at Marriott, had they not accommodated to your loss?

Yeah...especially among poolplayers. I'd have to say a total of....hell.....at least 500-600 would have opted to go to the Ritz instead. And especially the other couple of thousand that were thinking about upgrading to the Marriott from EconoLodge, Scottish Inn, and Red Carpet.