There are an excess of Laptop trolleys available on the market, with a plethora of different designs and price tags. Which one is right for your requirements? Here are some simple tips to help you avoid the pitfalls of buying the wrong Laptop Trolley.

Size matters

Ensure there is plenty of room.

Shelf height should be minimum 25mm more than the thickness of your laptop for ease of loading and unloading the trolley.

Will the device have an extended battery you’re going to be storing/charging?

This can add several centimetres to the height and depth of device.

Where does the power supply/LAN socket plug in to the device?

Don’t forget this could add more width to your device.

What’s the total weight of your devices you’re going to be storing/charging?

The average laptop weighs around 2.5kg. When you are storing 32 this makes for a heavy load to push. Consider who is using the laptop trolley, or purchase 2 smaller trolleys to reduce load and increase flexibility.

How many devices are you going to be storing/charging?

The average class size in UK education for example is 32 pupils and the majority of laptop storage units hold either 16 or 32 devices (Other configurations are available of course) Data and Other

Will you need to use the storage/charging unit for additional peripherals?

You may wish to consider using the laptop trolley to hold additional peripherals like a wireless printer. With this in mind you will need to ensure the unit has additional power sockets available.

Practicalities

What if I lose my keys?

Will they be traceable and if they are, how much will it cost for a duplicte set?

Consider if you may need to change or replace laptops in the future.

Chances are the model you are using now will have been upgraded or you may use another manufacturer when you purchase new laptops. If a single laptop is damaged and needs replacing, will a different make/model still work in your trolley? Can I charge an iPad next to a netbook next to a laptop in the same trolley? Investigate the costs and complexity of swapping out laptops in the future.

What is the battery life of the devices you’re going to be storing/charging?

Remember batteries lose as much as 50% of their capacity in the 1st 12 months. If you need to remove the power supplies from the trolley, this needs to be a simple process which can be done by a member of staff, not an Engineer.

Do you require networking in your trolley?

Networking your trolley enables the transfer of data directly to the devices without the practicalities of having to remove every device from the trolley. This will save significant amounts of time by uploading or downloading data simultaneously for all your shared devices without removing them and turning on the devices. Networked ready trolleys have all the necessary cabling in place for you to manually install your aftermarket network switch.

Where on the network will you be plugging the storage/charging unit into?

To ensure efficient data transfer where on the physical network you plug your trolley into will be critical, as a guide the most efficient way is to patch the trolley into the same switch as your server.

Can the room electrics handle the power requirement?

If you intend to charge large numbers of devices, the power they need can trip electrics in the room. This is especially important in older buildings but still relevant in new buildings. Look into soft start devices to spread the charging load. 

Where are you going to be plugging the product into?

Some products have more than one mains plug and therefore a double socket will be needed.

Will the storage unit need to go between buildings?

Consider the overall weight and how easy the trolley is to push. Whether it’s having good handles and large diameter easy glide wheels, durability will be extremely important as the unit is used over time.

Will your insurance be affected by what you store your devices in?

Some insurance companies have small print when insuring IT equipment and require a certain degree of security specifications. Check for secure docking options and overall security levels.

What if a part needs to be replaced?

Investigate the availability and costs of any parts which may need to be replaced in the future. Will an Engineer have to visit site or are they user friendly replacements?