DECIDING TO MOUNT UP!
Now that you have your new Toughbooks and are ready to roll, how are you going to install the laptops in your vehicles? If you already have a mounting system great, if not, there are some things to think about. There is more to selecting a mounting system than first meets the eye and it is not just price! Pete Teague, Sales and Marketing Manager at Bob Johnson’s Computer Stuff recently summarized his four key selection criteria and listed them here.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: This one comes even before cost and budget
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Where in the vehicle you are going to place the mount? Is it in the airbag deployment zone?
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If the answer is yes; make sure the mounting system has rounded contours to avoid airbag puncture.
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Check with your automobile manufacture for airbag disablement procedures if need be. But be careful!
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Inertia comes from many points – is the laptop likely to become a missile during sudden stops etc?
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How many warning labels are on the unit? A lot of manufactures warnings could mean there is more risk.
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS: Fundamental questions but worthy of thought
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Does the system depend on lighter weight gauge steel at the base to support heavier gauge steel at the top?
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How is the laptop secured? Is it with metal, plastic, wires and at what points?
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Toughbooks are shock and vibration resistant but ask how the mounting system enhances that feature.
Are your needs custom? If so, we suggest you visit the Selection Wizard at www.ram-mount.com for help.
RESTRAINT CONSIDERATIONS: Will the laptop stay where you put it
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How is the laptop secured to the docking station? Does it include front, rear and side restraints?
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Without front restraints will airbag deployment make the laptop a missile?
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How are the restraints housed? Are they an integral part of the docking station? How likely are they to fail?
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What are the restraints made of? Metal, plastic, wire? Plastic and wire may have a lower point of failure.
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How easy is it to remove the laptop from the docking station? It should be painless and as easy as 1, 2, 3.
SECURITY CONSIDERTIONS: There’s a lot of IT investment sitting on that Docking Station
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Is there a key lock on the docking station? Where is the lock positioned – is it easy for you to access?
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Are their bolts or nuts within the entire solution that a thief could easily access and remove?
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Think beyond the docking station –is the rest of the system "thief proof?"
These are some of the top considerations Pete suggests you think about when purchasing a mounting system. Helping you make the correct decision is important to us at Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff. That’s why we write these articles and in this case, why we recommend use of the RAM Mount Wizard. Bob Johnson’s Computer Stuff carries the full line of RAM Mount mounting solutions. We have found that RAM Mount products answer the above considerations more than adequately. Check out our selection of mounting solutions at Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff and see the complete line of RAM Mount solutions for your marine, RV and other applications by visiting RAM Mount.
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