www.anthro.com Retail price: $1,479
The Anthro Corporation’s new laptop storage-cart family consists of models designed to securely store, transport, and charge 10, 20, or 30 notebook computers.
Quality and Effectiveness : The Anthro 20-computer charging cart’s case is very well built, and a variety of features make it worth considering when purchasing laptop storage units. While the case’s solid metal, vented structure provides security and durability, the overall weight of the cart remains reasonable, so it’s easier to move than many other carts on the market. The Anthro includes 360-degree five-inch turning caster wheels that can be locked into a single direction for easy transport and maneuverability. Rubber bumpers around the bottom four edges of the cart protect doorways and halls, though the wheels extend beyond the bumpers when the cart is turning, so the wheels’ locks may scratch doors and walls.
Ease of Use: Besides being designed well in terms of providing storage and being easy to transport, the cart offers a speed control for the internal cooling fan; access to external charging outlets that can be activated by a switch, transferring power consumption from the laptops charging in the cart to peripheral equipment plugged into the outlets; and grommeted cable openings that protect and organize all power cords. The cart is solid, generally easy to maneuver, and simple and effective to use overall.
Creative Use of Technology: While the Anthro cart has no specific set of features or technological innovation that makes it unique, the unit’s overall design and build make it an appealing option for laptop storage. The storage area is well designed, and larger shelf openings in this newest cart make it easier to put laptops in the cart and take them out of it, though it’s still a bit of a tight fit. Individual shelves can be removed to provide space for equipment larger than laptops, giving the cart flexibility. The exterior doors articulate 270 degrees to fold flat against the side of the cart, permitting easier access to the storage bay. Anthro also provides a thoughtful solution for securing cables in the rear of the unit and eliminating clutter: Notebook power bricks and cords are organized and secured in a compartment separate from the notebooks behind lockable doors. A dedicated recessed pocket on the back of the cart keeps the main power cord tidy.
Suitability for Use in a School Environment : The cart lists for $1,479 as we go to press, squarely in the middle of the laptop-cart field for price. Considering the unit’s price and overall feature set, as well as its quality and design, the Anthro 20 laptop cart is an excellent option for schools looking for a laptop-storage solution.
Top Features
¦ Transportability
¦ The storage space is designed to keep cords and power bricks organized, and its removable shelves allow it to be customized.
¦ Quality of overall construction
—Ben Grey
