I think use the solenoid to keep a pin in place that prevents the battery from falling out. When the battery falls out, it has a large red sticker that says "Dead Battery - Call 555-DUMB for replacement".<br><br>
Or the solenoid keeps a pin in place that prevents the "any" key from being ejected from the keyboard...<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 11:24 AM, Jeff Lightner <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jlightner@water.com">jlightner@water.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">By the way it might be possible to satisfy Dilbert's PHB.<br>
<br>
If you had a solenoid that was held open by power (battery or AC) all<br>
the time that closed on a piezoelectric device when that power was off<br>
the piezoelectric device could be used to power a light to tell him the<br>
battery was dead. I'm wondering how many PHBs would ignore the extra<br>
weight of all that for the "benefit" of such a light.<br>
<div class="im"><br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: <a href="mailto:ale-bounces@ale.org">ale-bounces@ale.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:ale-bounces@ale.org">ale-bounces@ale.org</a>] On Behalf Of<br>
Preston Boyington<br>
</div><div class="im">Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:52 AM<br>
To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts - Yes! We run Linux!<br>
Subject: Re: [ale] lojack for laptops?<br>
<br>
</div><div><div></div><div class="h5">Bob Toxen wrote:<br>
<snipped><br>
> Seriously, this would be a device physically attached to this but not<br>
> electrically connected -- since all such PCMCIA cards and such don't<br>
> have power unless the laptop is running. Hence, it's not really<br>
laptop<br>
> related as you could just as easily attach it to your pen (if it were<br>
> small enough).<br>
<br>
well my thought was more of something that was small and self powered<br>
that would be inside the laptop. that way the laptop in question would<br>
not need to be powered on for it to activate.<br>
<br>
if a laptop gets stolen a software solution is not good since it has a<br>
high chance of being wiped. if parted out then the wiped drive would<br>
just go on eBay along with the ram, mobo, screen, etc.<br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
<br>
Arrant Drivel - really, it's just trash...<br>
<a href="http://www.arrantdrivel.com/" target="_blank">http://www.arrantdrivel.com/</a><br>
<br>
Where the road takes me - a highwayman's perspective<br>
<a href="http://www.prestonboyington.com/" target="_blank">http://www.prestonboyington.com/</a><br>
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