Notebook Guardian ULTRA

The tough Notebook Guardian certainly appears sturdy on initial visual contact - from lock to cable. It is made of steel with a strong looking keyed lock function, although PC Guardian does manufacture other locking choices such as the combination version illustrated. The cable is black vinyl coated and blends into the surroundings. We are still waiting for a manufacturer to use Day-Glo colors, which would certainly say "hands off."

The lock itself rotates in the cable so the thief cannot get a grip to dislodge it. The plastic-coated, galvanized cable offers far more strength than most of the rival security cables; even the price is competitive. With the fixed loop at one end, securing a laptop takes moments. All that is needed is an immovable object to wrap the cable round. The lock-end is passed through the loop and into the universal security slot at the rear of most laptops. The only drawback was having to key-lock it, not just click-lock it.

A Velcro strap is supplied so it can be neatly coiled for travel. Another nice touch is the zipped nylon carry bag. The Notebook Guardian boasts a pull strength of over 2,000lbs, so a saloon car could be suspended from it. A heavy-duty bolt cutter would be needed to sever the cable.

This cable proved more than a simple deterrent, but it was a nuisance to have to use the key to lock and unlock it, so we recommend the combination lock version.