Comments on: Help your USB key find its way home http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/ My opinions about convergence, consumer technology, gadgets, Web, and more. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:51:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Daily Cup of Tech » Graphic Version of Lost USB Drive Program http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-70365 Daily Cup of Tech » Graphic Version of Lost USB Drive Program Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:01:16 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/#comment-70365 [...] Jeremy Toeman from LIVEdigitally had a nifty idea when he wrote about my lost USB drive program. He thought a graphic would be helpful. Jeremy writes: Although if I were doing it, I’d probably try to find a way to get a picture of my face in the warning dialog. I think the personal touch is more likely to evoke a response from people. [...] [...] Jeremy Toeman from LIVEdigitally had a nifty idea when he wrote about my lost USB drive program. He thought a graphic would be helpful. Jeremy writes: Although if I were doing it, I’d probably try to find a way to get a picture of my face in the warning dialog. I think the personal touch is more likely to evoke a response from people. [...]

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-69056 Dave Zatz Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:41:55 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/#comment-69056 Considering all the wheels on your car and your buddies laptop were stolen this year, you're surprisingly optimistic. I do agree that most people would be considerate/helpful (if not always honest) when given the chance... as long as it doesn't require too much effort/inconvenience on their part. But a lost-then-found device is different than a stolen device - I don't think we should lump these together... and if we do, we create an extortion market. For example, the person stealing a laptop can now sell your data back to you AND sell the hardware - making the crime even more profitable. I recall a few years ago the Washington Post dropped a few wallets throughout the subway system and a majority of them were 'returned.' Considering all the wheels on your car and your buddies laptop were stolen this year, you’re surprisingly optimistic. I do agree that most people would be considerate/helpful (if not always honest) when given the chance… as long as it doesn’t require too much effort/inconvenience on their part.

But a lost-then-found device is different than a stolen device – I don’t think we should lump these together… and if we do, we create an extortion market. For example, the person stealing a laptop can now sell your data back to you AND sell the hardware – making the crime even more profitable.

I recall a few years ago the Washington Post dropped a few wallets throughout the subway system and a majority of them were ‘returned.’

]]> By: Jeremy Toeman http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-68930 Jeremy Toeman Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:46:10 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/#comment-68930 Dave, This time, I don't agree with ya. Yes, your point on Mac/Linux is fair, but its also the minority of computer users. I think there are two reasons people would do it: 1) I believe (maybe naively) that <i>most</i> people choose to be honest when given the option 2) adding a personal touch increases the likelihood of honesty (see #1 above) -jt Dave,

This time, I don’t agree with ya. Yes, your point on Mac/Linux is fair, but its also the minority of computer users. I think there are two reasons people would do it:
1) I believe (maybe naively) that most people choose to be honest when given the option
2) adding a personal touch increases the likelihood of honesty (see #1 above)

-jt

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-68882 Dave Zatz Thu, 19 Oct 2006 17:32:33 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2006/10/19/help-your-usb-key-find-its-way-home/#comment-68882 I doubt an alert like that on the USB would generate much response. Especially if I plugged it into a Mac or Linux computer. If someone wants to look for their stolen goods, ebay is their best bet. Assuming a laptop hard drive isn't immediately wiped, LoJack - the car alarm people - has a software solution for you... http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/ I doubt an alert like that on the USB would generate much response. Especially if I plugged it into a Mac or Linux computer. If someone wants to look for their stolen goods, ebay is their best bet.

Assuming a laptop hard drive isn’t immediately wiped, LoJack – the car alarm people – has a software solution for you…
http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/

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