[all4one]

I was thinking the same thing this morning. It would be a good idea for laptops to have an integrated GPS chip that would enable the owner to find their computer. I wonder if such technology exists and if not an enterprising techie could create a niche company that installs GPS tracking for security.

[blackdog]

Actually it would be better to let them take the laptops. You do realize these are seminars attended by former burger flippers now working for the TSA. Do you really think they feed important info to that bunch? With all the secured federal office space in Philadelphia, do you really think booking seminars in Hotels is wise? Of course not! The Federal Royalty does not even want these people smelling up their hallways.

They should plant millions of false and inacurate data files in federal employees laptops. When stolen (or abandoned in a hotel or cab) the data stolen will serve national security just fine. TSA employees don't even know a laptop from an ATM. I'm sure a laptop giving a power point presentation on how to search granny and other high risk passengers to a room full of people who work for the TSA holds very little in the way of much more than porn files, chat room trails, and endless solitare games.

[Andy from Chapel Hill]

They should use laptops with a fingerprint chip that will prevent anyone else accessing data.
See: www.authentec.com
Disclosure: I am one of the VC's that started this company and was Chairman for 4 1/2 years.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

There are 3 ways to track. The cheapest would be a built in GPS.
The other 2 are type of smart card, this would not require
power.
The next is a small transmitter that puts out would transmit a unique serial number once a minute. This could be done for less then $20. a pop. The power would have an internal battery which could last the shelf life.

[pageonetoo]

the GPS technology certainly already exists... but if they did that, they might find all of those g'umt employees who have decided to convert them to "personal use"! And that probably includes most of the laptops issued to g'umt employees...
Of course they would be investigated by "g'umt" employees, who have "borrowed ' one themselves!