Products
Product: Anthro 20 Computer Charging Cart
2/1/2011 By:
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