All,
My original question was seeking recommendations for the following:
a laptop storage cart which is securable, durable, and easily moveable, and
a wireless network access point which is strong enough to be accessed through at
least two walls. Although there were negatives than positives, here are the
responses I received. Thanks to all.
We have a 20 station portable laptop lab. We have two different carts -- we
started with a 16 station lab where the computers were set on their edge and
there was a lot of wiring issues. This cart was made by Bretford. We just
recently purchased a new cart which holds 20 laptops which slide in flat access
from the back where the power cords are stored isn't convenient and the cart is
really heavy to move around, but we like it much better than the 16 station lab.
We ordered this lab from APD catalog.
I know you are tied to your wireless laptops and I wish you well with them. We are
hopefully getting rid of them next year if we get e-rate grant money. The laptops
are nothing but headaches. The carts are difficult to move in and out, we had one
laptop stolen while the cart was out on the library floor , they don't hold the
charges any more and keep dropping the ip addresses. Our tech guy is always in
taking care of them.
The carts are what we hate the most.
One thing to look for is that the actual plug is in front of the cart with easy
access. Ours plug in the back wall of the cart and it is difficult to plug in
without getting a ton of twisted wires. We have to stick our hands in the slot and
try to find the plug on the back wall. It's not easy to do and the classroom
teachers who use the cart in the library don't want to do it so they leave many
unplugged and WE have to fix it. I spend more time taking laptops in and out and
solving problems than I do on library work.
I'm sorry to be so negative. Having a better cart than we have would solve a lot
of headaches.
It all depends on what the walls are made of. We paid bif bucks for a
wireless consultant, when constructing a new building. He ended up telling us that
you just move around
the hubs and see what happens.
Our school has purchased several labs with storage carts in the past. The carts
were never used for very long. Laptop batteries don’t last the entire day. Before
the day is over you needed to connect them to a power source to continue using
them. Removing the power cords from the carts we had was a hassle and putting them
back was even more so. Couple that with the carts being big and bulky and difficult
to move around and get through doors and no one wanted to mess with them. I would
prefer the wireless access points. Students can move their own computers
individually.
We have a laptop cart (Compaq) and though I didn't have any say in the
purchasing, I am now in charge of it. We have had some issues that you
should be aware of:
1. Get a cart where the computer "slots" pull out and there is easy
access to plug in the computers. Ours is just a metal, stationary
"slot" for each computer which means I have to get on my hands and knees
to put them away properly!
2. Look carefully at the power supply cords and ac adaptors. Pick
some that can withstand LOTS of abuse. We're buying new ones constantly
because they short out or the ends pop off. I don't know if there is a
better solution, but a lot of it is how the kids (and teachers) toss
them back in their slot without much care!
3. Get your IT department to give you a ghost disk so you can fix any
issues without having to call them. It may be the Compaq brand, but we
get a lot of strange computer failures (work fine 1 minute and dead the
next) and they simply need to be ghosted to fix the problem.
They can be a pain, but overall they're a great investment! They're
used constantly in our school and the kids really love them. Teachers
say they work a lot harder when they're using the laptops.
I forwarded your message to our head technician. This is what he had to say. I
would have to concur on the carts. The are the biggest thorn in my side. If you
could find one that opens from the front and back, it would be a big improvement.
Good luck!
I would recommend only Cisco access points. I have not seen a cart that I would
recommend yet.
We have a 20 station portable laptop lab. We have two different carts -- we
started with a 16 station lab where the computers were set on their edge and
there was a lot of wiring issues. This cart was made by Bretford. We just
recently purchased a new cart which holds 20 laptops which slide in flat access
from the back where the power cords are stored isn't convenient and the cart is
really heavy to move around, but we like it much better than the 16 station lab.
We ordered this lab from APD catalog.
--
Betty Wolfe
Library Media Specialist
Avon Middle School
Avon, CT
blwwolfe@comcast.net
bwolfe@avon.k12.ct.us
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