So, hands up if..

[doodab]

yes locks need changing & yes my details are on the laptop but it is password protected. there is a letter in the bag with my details on it and my works swipe pass with name and photo on as well as the usb has my last invoice on it, so yes.

If someone hands it in they will be given your name and address so they can claim their reward anyway.

[chef]

Something I have learned today is that there is a statutory reward of 2.5% of the value for items over €50 up to €500, with 1.5% payable on everything over the €500.

damn you're right

Finder’s entitlement to a reward:
In accordance with Sections 978 ff. German Civil Code, the finder of the item is entitled to a reward.
The finder is entitled to a reward only if
− the item found is worth at least € 50,00
− the finder is not an employee of Deutsche Bahn AG, a subsidiary or associated company of DB AG
− the finder has not agreed to forego a reward.
The finder's reward shall amount to
− 2.5 % of a value between € 50,00 and € 500,00 and
− 1.5 % of the value in excess of € 500,00.
When returning lost property to its lawful owner, we are obliged to disclose the owner's name and
address to the finder to enable the latter to assert his claims to a reward as finder of the item.

sounds good but it's only 10€ they receive
OR
they sell the macbook with a new install of the OS for 500€ and the bag for 25€ on ebay

[chef]

That has me wondering. Which version of OS X are you using? If it's running Snow Leopard or earlier, a knowledgeable thief could simply stick in the OS DVD and hold "C" while powering on, and reinstall. Or do you have a hardware password set?

Not sure what happens with OS X Lion. In theory you could report your serial number to Apple and they would mark it as stolen. Dunno if the serial number is anywhere in the ROM though.

OSX Lion. Yes, I've just found that out the hard way as well. No bios/firmware password set and no guest account created. So the thief would have 2 options:

1) try and hack the admin account password
OR
2) hold down c and reset the admin password via an install disc. This would let them then
a) login to the machine (here's hoping) and see what's on it. NOT GOOD. Hidden would only kick in and report there location with a nice webcam pic if they connect to a network.
OR
b) re-install the OS, my option is I was a thief, although it might be that curiosity might get the better of me, not sure I would connect to the net on a stolen laptop though.

Most likely I think that if it's stolen it gets sold down the pub for cheap to someone who might know more about computers and that person would (if sensible) go with option 2b and resell the thing making a quick bit of money.

[TheFaQQer]

Most likely I think that if it's stolen it gets sold down the pub for cheap to someone who might know more about computers and that person would (if sensible) go with option 2b and resell the thing making a quick bit of money.

That would be my guess - that's what we were hoping when MrsF had her laptop knicked.

Her passwords these days are pretty filthy because she set them in a rage after the little ****s had nabbed it!!!