Notebook owners should know there are important security issues other than data security. Like any expensive electronic device, notebooks themselves are huge targets for thieves.

According to the FBI, laptop theft is up by almost 30 percent from last year. Life on the road with your notebook can raise other issues, too. Here are some notebook security devices and tips for boosting battery life.

Security software

To combat the increase in computer theft, there are lots of tracking software packages on the market today. If you own a laptop, it's a good idea to install one, such as CompuTrace by Absolute Software. If your laptop is stolen, the $50 software can trace its location anywhere in the world, increasing the chance for recovery.

CompuTrace will aid law enforcement in determining exactly where the computer is. When the stolen machine is hooked up to a phone line or connects to the Internet, the software automatically calls a 24-hour monitoring center. This accurately pinpoints where the missing computer is calling from.

Another feature the thief will despise: Once CompuTrace is installed, it's completely undetectable in standard directory listings or through queries of currently running applications and cannot be removed or deleted without the supplied CD-ROM.

Lock that laptop

How can you deter a thief from taking your computer in the first place? You can use a cable lock. Most of these are compatible with any portable computer that has a security lock slot. One of our favorites is the $50 Defcon 1 from Targus (see it up close).

It's a standard 4-foot cable lock with a 3-digit combination, but what's really cool is the alarm and motion sensor feature. They're activated when the cable is severed or when the motion sensor is armed and triggered by an intruder who gets too close.

Battery life options

Being on the road with your computer not only brings the risk of thievery, but battery depletion can create a major problem, too. A backup power source can come to the rescue.

Electrofuel's PowerPad 120 can extend the run time of your laptop battery by up to 12 hours. Charge the PowerPad ahead of time, and when you're on the on the road, hook it up to your laptop for additional battery power anywhere.

For a less expensive form of backup power, there's PowerQwest's Sun Catcher (see it up close). The $300 device captures sunlight for an almost endless supply of energy.

In addition to using these backup power sources, optimizing your internal battery usage should always be a priority. For instance, economize battery consumption by invoking the power management settings of your portable. And if you're not using it, shut it down completely instead of using the sleep mode.

Also, copy the files you need from a CD or floppy to your hard drive beforehand. It takes more power for your laptop to access floppy or CD-ROM drives.