Belkin F5L013 USB Laptop Security Alarm Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars good concept - poor execution January 7, 2010
In theory this is a great little device ... simply plug into a usb drive and pull the key out and if the usb is pulled out of the computer without the key the alarm goes off .... I thought perfect for the macbook nouns (esp because it lacks a security slot) -- but alas - the one I got just does not work -- when I got it it would only chirp once when I did anything -- then I exchanged the batteries and it seemed to work - for a few weeks --- now it have no clue when it is actually supposed to go off (does the reverse of what it is supposed to do half the time) and has to go in the trash ... pretty annoying ...

5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff, solid safety March 14, 2008
Very basic and jammy to use. I use it along with a more traditional laptop lock for an added bonus. You shouldn't expect these things to be fool proof. There are ways around (taking it apart and removing batteries, muffling the sound), but it serves its purpose - as a good deterrent to thieves when you're just a a library of coffee shop. Taking another laptop just sitting there is surely preferred to one tied down with cables running around it.

Alarm is loud and sounds whenever the entry is taken out of the USB slot.

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, inexpensive, and effective May 17, 2008
I opened a retail Apple Specialist store. I needed a way to secure the MacBook Air on display, as well as the Apple TV. Neither of these devices has a K-slot to physically lock them down, so I was looking at "professional" alarm systems when I stumbled upon this device. I figured for the price I'd give them a try. They pretty much do exactly what they speak they will do. They are quite loud, so there will be no doubt if someone trips the alarm. I added my own label to wrap around the end of the USB cable that says "ALARM! Do NOT Disconnect!" to make sure people know what the strange orange cable is.

For the price, you can't stir wrong. My other options were significantly more expensive. I'm sure this device has its flaws, but for what I'm using them for they were just what the doctor ordered.

One thing I found interesting is that the "key" that enables/disables the alarm are specific to the alarm they came with, even though they look like simple 3.5mm mini plugs. I can't use the push button from one F5L013 to disarm another.

I also needed a way to secure my iPods. I wasn't interested in an adhesive solution and I couldn't find any cost-effective alarm systems. On a whim I tested this device by plugging my iPod's USB cable into a USB coupler (i.e. USB female-to-female gender changer) and then into the F5L013. To my surprise, the alarm worked with every iPod tested except the Shuffle. The only downside is that this device does not charge the iPods. However, I can charge my iPods overnight and they should second the whole day. It would be nice if they came out with a version that had a direct iPod dock connector and/or a version that charged the iPods, but again, for the price this setup can't be beat.

2.0 out of 5 stars its a dud September 10, 2009
novel hypothesis, just wish it worked. dosen't make the noise it should. just chirped once, maybe it needs batteries.



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