[ipad] iPad trolley charging and lockable...

[Koldov]

How much should we be looking to spend on a basic trolley (my business manager just emailed me a link for one that costs £679 ex. VAT - it's been a long time since I looked, but that can't be right surely)?

 

Must be lockable and able to charge 30 iPads.

 

Any suggestions from experience appreciated (not just random links)?

[Oaktech]

https://www.kensington.com/en-gb/c/products/security/charge-sync-tablet-cabinets/?srt=relevance

 

We have sets of wheels to make multiple 3 stacks of the cabinet. Each class has 10 ipads and if they want a whole class set they collect the other cabinets on the wheels.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Trollies are really expenisve at the moment!

 

Secure all-steel ones like the Loxit TabCart 32 are over £1k, but will last a lifetime and are available on short lead times

 

You can pay less for a lower quality trolley like a Lapcabby/Tabcabby. However, their supply chain is an absolute mess at the moment and you'll be waiting 3-4 months for one.

 

Bottom-end cabinets from the likes of Xioxi will be more affordable, but usually static and the least secure of all your options. They should also be available on shorter lead times then Lacabby.

[Cat_Jam148]

We've got quite a few trollies dotted about the site - we tend to favour LockNCharge (for iPads) & LapCabby (for laptops).

 

We've been using a mix of them for about 10 years and each time find the build quality to be excellent. Not had any issues with the built-in charging systems either.

 

Have used a couple of lower quality trollies like Zioxi - they do the job but its worth paying the extra for one mentioned above as you get a cheap 'ikea' type vibe from Zioxi and the charging system usually comprises of just standard extension leads without any protection. Although, I do believe they now offer some sort of extra protection.

Edited November 4, 2021 by Cat_Jam148

[Koldov]

We currently have a mixture of LockNCharge for the iPads (with the baskets and combination padlocks) and Ergotrons, both steel with programmable power and I do really like them, build quality is top notch... but they do cost a lot!

 

Also we had a couple of Lapcabby trollies for laptops which we gave away a few years ago once we moved to iPads (regretting this now obviously - and why I try to never get rid of anything)! I seem to remember they were MDF rather than metal construction though.

[DavR]

I'm a fan of Lock N Charge, mainly for the basket solution they use, where five devices sit in a basket that can be carried to the classroom by a child. I've been waiting six months now for the last one I ordered though, as @ICTDirect_Dave mentions above, the supply chains are a mess right now. Somehow, it always seems to be another two weeks away.....

 

I have ordered a cheapy Zioxi solution for our new iPad set, as I only need charging on that one, and that was about £700. It looks like a laminated chipboard jobby, but it's going to live behind a locked door so I'm not too worried.

 

In my experience for iPad solutions, £700 mark is about right for a charge only, and you'll be looking at £1k and above for a GOOD trolley, and/or, one with charge and sync. They've always been silly money, I guess because they're such a specialist product.

[MrEprise]

Just as an FYI, I don't recommend anyone buy Lapcabbys at the moment as their lead times are horrendous. We ordered a 20-bay one 2 months ago and was given an ETA of the 3rd of November but is now the 19th, but this could change again as some orders have been pushed back as far as Feb 2022.

 

EDIT: Just read some of the other replies on lead times, now I see why ours is taking its time.

Edited November 4, 2021 by MrEprise