Business
Compaq steals march on RAM thieves
Compaq today took steps to stamp out memory theft from its PCs.
The four initiatives comprise putting hologram labels on all its chips, using tamper-proof packaging, stamping unique serial numbers on adhesive labels, and entering data into ROM. The protection measures will cover memory modules in all Compaq desktops and notebooks.
On-chip ROM information involves Serial Presence Detection (SPD), a means of tracking details of installed memory. It is currently being developed with international standards organisation JEDEC to include data such as manufacturing dates, module configuration and serial numbers.
The hologram is already being implemented, and the other three measures will appear between the end of 1996 and the first half of 1997.
Compaq can be contacted by telephone on 0990-134456.