Customer Reviews

Kensington 64050 ComboSaver Notebook Lock and Security Cable (PC/Mac)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

* Took me 10 mins to figure out how it works. Not a very good design.

* It is easy to lock it so that the combination indicator/arrow points downwards - which means you cannot see the combination to set to so that you can unlock it. If you land up in this situation, the only way is to lift the laptop along with the lock and set the combination to unlock the lock - while you are lifting the laptop.

I know - my second observation is hard to understand unless you actually experience it.

Dump this Kensington lock. Instead, go with the Targus DEFCON CL Cable Combination Lock.

http://www.security.org (under Alerts section) gave a poor ratings for this kind of Laptop locks. "Each of these locks can be easily bypassed, which can result in the theft of laptop computers within seconds, and without any forensic trace". Locks such as Kensington ComboSaver, Microsaver and Master Lock including Targus Defcon CL and Compucage Benji.
MacWorld Magazine (May2005) Gave poor ratings to this kind of lock also.
http://www.macworld.com/2005/04/features/macmobility/index3.php

As has been mentioned in several of the reviews for this product, the lock has a tendency to "forget" the combination you have set. On THREE occasions, I had to start at 000 and try each combination one by one until I reached the new "mystery" combination that the lock had set by itself.

If the manufacturer has already admitted this defect, Amazon should not carry this product.

Somehow, the combo got changed on mine, making for an interesting afternoon with a wire-cutters and then a locksmith.. Thankfully, Kensington paid me back, after saying that this problem came up a decent amount with this model... no good..

I bought the Kensington ComboSaver to secure my laptop at work. The product was easy to use and the combo easy to change. I used it for about a week, and then needed to change the combination. I set the correct combo, flipped the lever, set the new combo, and flipped the lever back. I then locked my notebook as usual. At the end of the day, I set the new combo and the lock would not unlock. I set the old combo and that didn't work either. Maybe I did something wrong?

The kicker is that I got some regular wire cutters and was able to pretty easily cut through the security cable, nipping at it bit by bit for a few minutes. I was shocked it was that easy. Next, to detach the lock from my laptop I used a regular battery powered drill with a regular drill bit and drilled through the end of the lock. Within just 5 minutes the end of the lock came off and using some needle nose pliers I pulled of each of the rings. Voila!

Like other reviews, it took me a while to figure it out. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the lock off. I even tried every possible combination! Tech support informed me I had a defective lock, which I understand will happen with any product. Sometimes a bad egg gets put in the basket. Kensington offered to pay for my locksmith charges AND send me a new lock. That was great except this:

I had to get my laptop to the locksmith. I was wondering how I was going to cut the cord. Scissors? Nah, too flimsy. Wire cutters? Maybe, but I'm sure I'll have to saw through it.

It took one snip to cut the cable. Think of this item as a theft deterrent at best. Not secure at all.

Not a particularly easy lock to use (combo part rotates freely when not in computer, making it difficult to set the combo). Also changing combo is very easy to do accidently. However this is usually not a problem because it is incredibly easy to figure out the combo. I am not a professional lock picker, and I am able to break the combo without any difficulty (which is a problem with many low quality combo locks, but this design try to avoid it at all).
I've noticed a lot of people have a problem with the lock "spontaneously" changing combinations. It's probably not because the lock is defective. It's probably because they inadvertently changed the combination because the mechanism to change it is so easy to engage.
I would definitely never suggest this product to anyone (unless I really wanted their computer).

Very difficult to lock and unlock--I have to hold my MacBook Pro on edge to get a grip on the lock while I spin the wheels. Also the mechanism used to set new combinations is a lever that flips very easily. In locking or unlocking the lock, it is all too easy to inadvertently set a new combination.

I have no gripes with the security the device provides, but it is basically unusable. Very frustrating.

I bought this lock for my laptop at school. After locking it to my desk, it would not unlock. I couldn't figure out the new combination so I contacted Kensington, who said that they would reimburse me for a locksmith. I ended up opening the part of the lock that stores the cable with a pair of scissors. Once that part was opened I was able to easily remove the cable and unattach the laptop from my desk. If I could do this, any idiot with a pair of scissors and five minutes would have been able to as well.

Like other people here my lock spontaneously changed its combination on me....Surprise! My laptop is currently locked up at my desk at work which ruined my day and is ruining my night. Another stressor I do not need to deal with...do not get this lock if you value the mobility of your laptop over a theft deterrant.