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Mobile Laptop Labs
The Cart(s)
In all likelihood, the laptops will be housed in a mobile security cart
when they're not in use. Look for the following basic design features:
Overall construction of solid and durable metal.
Locking doors that open a full 270 degrees so they can be kept out of the way.
Casters that are large, heavy-duty, and rubberized.
Laptop bays with have non-scratch surfaces, access to AC adapters from within, sized to accommodate larger laptop designs.
Electrical
plugs that are surge-protected, with an outlet for each laptop's
adapter and a few extra ones accessible from the outside.
Padded handles, because the carts are heavy when fully loaded.
Raised lip on the upper surface, to help keep any top-mounted equipment in place.
Another factor to consider is the number of laptop bays. A 30-bay cart can minimize the
overall cost, because each cart will need just one access point and one
printer. Moreover, should all 30 laptops be in use at the same time, it
is easier to manage one cart than two. A 15-bay cart, on the other
hand, is more flexible for lessons requiring only one laptop for every
two students. This frees the other cart for another class to use. In
addition, twice as many carts can mean fewer reservation conflicts for
teachers. Finally, smaller carts are easier to navigate down corridors.
Click here to read the original article
Source: by Cary Hellman, College Park High School, Pleasant Hill, California and Matt Hiefield, Sunset High School, Beaverton, Oregon