I once left my laptop in hotel room in a bag with a smoked ham while travelling. Both were returned to me when I travelled back a couple of days later.
Yeah, buy the lock. You will feel so much better.
I had one that had some sort of alarm on it–which made me feel better in hotel rooms when traveling. I had it on my nightstand. And a chair propped against the door, too–I was a bit paranoid, ya think?
Anyway, a pal of mine also has these in her car when she leaves her laptop in her SUV w/o a trunk. She just locks it down and throws a cover over it (she works in some sketchy areas and has learned her lesson).
Here’s what my company’s guidelines are:
“When staying in a hotel, the laptop should be locked in your luggage and placed out of sight when leaving your room. Ask hotel personnel if they are able to store the unit in a safe deposit box or hotel safe.”
We’re also required to have all power-on and disk-protection passwords set.
Note that some laptop locks can be unlocked using nothing more than scissors, tape, and a toilet paper roll.
Again taking it with me is not an option. It would require me to hike/climb with it about 14 miles per day over mountains, and risk seroius damage to it (assuming I make it also).
I think I’m going to lock in in my luggage as suggested, and use the bios password protection.
I got a few more days for more comments before I leave.
It’s true- great minds DO think alike!
I spend on average 2-3 nights per week in a hotel room and have never had or heard of any of my work colleagues having anything stolen. Most of us carry laptops and we stay in anything from extremely crap hotels to pretty nice ones.