Toshiba Embeds Computrace Recovery System

I've written at length about LoJack for Laptops, which makes it easier to trace a notebook computer if it's stolen, but none about the Absolute Software's other security option, Computrace. While I'm not an expert on either system, the Computrace system has a big plus going for it: It's embedded into BIOS instead of installed as regular software, making it much more difficult to disable should a laptop thief become aware of its presence. Great news today: Toshiba is now embedding Computrace firmware into its laptops [PDF link], joining Lenovo, Dell, HP, Panasonic, and other vendors in offering the service.

Because Computrace is embedded at the BIOS level, it can't be added after you buy the machine, unlike LoJack for Laptops. Computrace ships in an "off" state. You enable it after purchasing a subscription to the service, which costs $50 or more per year (depending on the level of service you want).

Computrace offers some killer extras over LoJack, specifically a $1000 recovery guarantee if the company can't recover a lost machine within 30 days. (You get 90 percent of the purchase price or the $1000, whichever is lower.) LoJack for Laptops only includes a money-back guarantee on the price of the software. Computrace is also appropriate for large companies who want to track equipment and keep a live inventory of machines. Computrace can also be instructed to remotely delete all the information on a computer if it has been stolen, a "nuclear option" that LoJack doesn't have.

If you're looking for a notebook that includes the Computrace system, check out this page. You can click each company's logo to see which specific models the Computrace system is offered on.