Kensington Lock for MacBook Aluminum?

Question

Kensington Lock for MacBook Aluminum?

Has anyone here successfully used a Kensington cable lock on the new Aluminum MacBook?

On the Apple Store web site, they have a couple of Kensington security locks for sale but the following warning appears: "Note: This lock is not compatible with the following Apple products: Aluminum MacBook models with the Mini DisplayPort; MacBook Pro models with the Mini DisplayPort (Late ’08); or the LED Cinema Display."

I posted a specific question with Kensington tech support regarding compatibility, but got no joy. First I received a canned response with instructions for using their cable lock. After complaining, I received a response asking for my computer "model", which I had already provided. Finally, they wrote back a third time saying that if the security slot does not show the "lock with a K" symbol, then I should not purchase their product. It sounded like a blow-off, and still did not address my "if not, why not" question or my question about future plans for a compatible lock.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone here has successfully used a Kensington cable lock on the new Aluminum MacBook?

Aluminum MacBook (Late 2008)

Posted on Nov 29, 2008 7:20 PM

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Answer 1

w7ox

Level 4

2,407 points

Nov 29, 2008 7:53 PM in response to Mike Schwartz

"Note: This lock is not compatible with the following Apple products: Aluminum MacBook models with the Mini DisplayPort; MacBook Pro models with the Mini DisplayPort (Late ’08); or the LED Cinema Display."

Somewhat of a surprise. The slot for the lock is nowhere near the Mini-Display port and looks pretty normal to me (no longer have a Kensington lock around, though). Perhaps it relates to the size of the slot or the thickness of the Aluminum case.

There is what may be a relevant thread here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=603987&highlight=lockfor+almacbook

Phil

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Answer 2

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Nov 30, 2008 6:45 AM in response to Mike Schwartz

For whatever it's worth: I have a four- or five-year-old Kensington lock that works just fine with my daughter's brand-new Aluminum MacBook. I suppose the new locks might be made differently, but it seems unlikely that the shank which protrudes into the computer would have been shortened enough to prevent it from reaching through the MacBook's Aluminum sidewall — the only reason I can think of why a new Kensington lock might not work with a MacBook. There are still plenty of plastic-shelled notebook computers out there, and a plastic sidewall thinner than the MacBook's aluminum shell wouldn't provide much resistance at all against an effort to pull the lock out without unlocking it. So I suspect Kensington's lock will still reach through the MacBook case.

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Answer 3

deltatux

Level 2

491 points

Nov 30, 2008 12:11 PM in response to Mike Schwartz

Never had a Kensington lock in my life, but the port on the side looks like the old polycarbonate Macbook slots so I'd be surprised if they don't fit or lock.

deltatux

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Answer 4

Dec 8, 2008 2:24 PM in response to Mike Schwartz

Well, I got down to the local Apple store and asked one of the floor staff about compatibility. He seemed surprised and dubious that there would be an issue, so I showed him the warning note on the Apple Store web site. I asked him if he would open up one of the Kensington cable packages so we could try it out on the new MacBook. It works just fine to secure the laptop. If you try pulling up on the battery panel release tab, the lock does block the tab (as intended), but if you keep pulling on the tab, the battery panel starts to bend in a very nasty way. We weren't willing to perform destructive testing, so I can't say whether or not the battery is truly secured by the lock. But it was good enough for me that I purchased the cable.

Thanks to all of you who took the trouble to respond to my post.

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Answer 5

Jan 15, 2009 6:18 PM in response to Mike Schwartz

Which lock did you end up purchasing? I am looking to purchase a lock for my new Al. MacBook as well.

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Answer 6

Jan 31, 2009 10:59 AM in response to Mike Schwartz

I just got a late 2008 model MacBook Pro and it DOES not work with my Kensington combo saver (which I've had for more than 5 years). The T-bar fits inside the slot on the MacBook but it won't turn so that it can be locked. My guess is that the unibody chassis has slightly different tolerances and nobody at Apply paid enough attention to the Kensington slot and/or didn't work closely enough with Kensington engineers. Most annoying (and troubling, from a security perspective).

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Answer 7

Jan 31, 2009 11:00 AM in response to AkamaiGuy

I meant to all-caps the entire phrase DOES NOT WORK. Sorry about any confusion

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