NEC rolls out LaVie laptops with "face pass"
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 3rd 2007 3:51PM
posted Sep 3rd 2007 3:51PM
It looks like NEC is keeping all its bases covered today, backing up those water-cooled desktops with a range of new laptops boasting some less-than-common specs of their own. Likely to attract the most attention in that regard is the laptops' "face pass" feature, which makes use of the integrated 2.0 megapixel camera to ensure that only you (or someone that looks an awfully lot like you) can access the laptop. Otherwise, the laptops boast a range of fairly standard specs, including your choice of Core 2 Duo processors on the top-end LaVie C model or your choice of Core 2 Duo or Celeron processors on the LaVie L model. Both models also pack 15.4-inch displays, with a Blu-ray drive reserved for the very top-end laptop. Look for the whole lot to hit Japan later this month, with prices ranging from ¥150,000 to ¥310,000 (or about $1,300 to $2,675).
CAN I HAVE ONE?
looks awesome
Looks good, but i never even had a fingerprint reader work right, now they expect a face scan? Retina FTW!
I wonder if someone can get in with a life-size HD photo of my face held infront of the webcam... =P
so what happens when its really dark?
You use a flashlight or the light from the screen?
useless? what happens if you need to use the computer and it's dark? or you took out your contacts and are wearing glasses? or someone gets a picture of your face? isn't a password just simpler and more effective?
Man, NEC makes the best stuff. I still use (periodically) an old laptop from a good 15 years ago.
That's pretty neat, but I'll stick with the fingerprint scanner built into my Toshiba. It would be nifty to try and crack this, though.
sweet i want one
I would use "face pass". Looking forward to it
Heh ;) Will it work with Linux installed?
All that face pass thing is is software. We can make our own. Then all you need is any laptop with a webcam. Make sure your hardware is supported, and be on the lookout for GNU face recognition software.
Computers that watch us? Nonsense.
Heh. It's harder to get paranoid when you're a penguin.
Awesome, although my laptop already has a camera built in.
Can't wait for a haircut to lock me out of my comp for 2-3 months..
Just clear yourself before you get the haircut. Or have a password as backup.
cool
Thats cool
no hd dvd drive? shooting yourself in the foot NEC if you want your format to thrive
Do they have one with voice recognition that you have to "say LaVie" to?