Fingerprint-scannerIve been using this laptop of mine for almost a year and the fingerprint scanner is one feature that I have really grown to love. Its funny, when I first bought that notebook, I didn’t really pay much attention to the fingerprint scanner, felt like it was a “throw away” feature that looks good when you go down the list of features, but something I never use. Like how some notebooks have a built in web cam, I’ll never use it. My previous notebook had a built in web cam and I put a piece of black tape over it so I don’t make a mistake and broadcast video of me when I was using Yahoo messenger or some other chat proggie that had web cam support.

The problem I have now, as far as growing quite fond of the fingerprint scanner… what do I do when I start using a desktop PC again? (which I plan to build a nice one for myself one day soon).

First let me explain what I like about the fingerprint scanner.

The software that came with my notebook is called Protector Suite QL. There isn’t much to it, and I actually would like to see better implementation of some of the features. The main feature I like is using the fingerprint scanner to log into my computer. Once set up, all I have to do when I turn my notebook on is swipe my finger and it automatically log me into windows. If another user is logged into Windows, and I swipe my finger, it will switch users to my Windows login. The second feature that I really like (which doesn’t always work like it should), is the password bank. at any time when I’m using my computer, when I swipe my finger, a options menu will pop up with a list of websites that I have accounts with (that I have set up with password bank). I select the website and it automatically logs me in.

Both of those features I have become very attached to using and now I’m thinking about life after the notebook. So I was checking around and there isn’t many choices for a standalone Fingerprint scanner. I figured the best way would be to have a scanner built into a keyboard. I found a few but they all look like older products. Then there is the one that is built into a mouse which also seems like the perfect place for a scanner, but I have this nifty Sidewinder Mouse that I also love and do not want to get rid of.

The best option I see so far is the F-SCAN-K0W2US keyboard with built in fingerprint scanner, but that cost way more than Ive ever paid for a keyboard ($117 at Amazon)