I remember 1997. I always brought my Kensington cable lock with me to tie down my PowerBook at the grad school library. Honestly, I don't think I've used a laptop lock since.
I'm not alone, apparently. Kensington's new ClickSafe locking system aims to somehow make the process easier. Well, at least half of the process: the new ClickSafe lock automatically snaps onto your laptop without a key, but it still requires a key to unlock--not a surprise, since a lock that could be unlocked without a key doesn't sound very safe at all.
The Kensington ClickSafe Keyed Laptop Lock costs $49.99, and doesn't look any different from previous locks, with the exception of its click-to-lock mechanism. The new cable lock works with the Kensington lock anchors that are on nearly every modern laptop (bet you probably don't even know where), but requires a new protruding knob that's fastened to your laptop with an included Allen wrench.
At this point, you might be considering skipping the process altogether. I can't say I blame you, since I don't use a laptop lock either, but Kensington promises that 9 out of 10 organizations suffer laptop theft in "epidemic proportions." Would an easy-to-lock lock make the process any less annoying, or would it make us suddenly fear snapping our MacBook to a Starbucks table and realizing we hadn't brought the keys?