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11 Ways to Control Desktop Cables
My desktop right now has six cables: power cords for my laptop, monitor, printer and scanner, and cables to attach the scanner and the monitor to the computer. (My new printer, thank goodness, is wireless—eliminating one cable.) And then there are the cords for my smartphone and tablet, which need nightly charging. I’m far from alone; many people I know and work with struggle with their many cords.
Fortunately, designers have developed a number of products to help control the mess. I’ve mentioned some before, but I keep seeing more interesting options.
The Guide from Griffin Technology tackles one common problem: cords (like my laptop power cord) that fall on the floor when not in use. Guide includes a set of three bases and three magnetic cable anchors that sit on those bases.
There’s no worry about whether or not the anchor opening is the right size for the cables, because with three choices there’s going to be something that fits whatever cords the end user has. And the nonskid weighted bases can be moved around as needed.
The one possible drawback: If all three bases are used on the desktop, that will take up a bit of space. If all three are not needed (on the desktop or elsewhere in the home), the end user now has some more clutter to deal with.
Those end users who need to save space would appreciate a design like the 2+3 Cable Organizer from J&E Amosson; it’s a Kickstarter that will be funded on March 16. This organizer provides a compact way to hold up to five cables. It’s made from thermoplastic rubber and attaches with a 3M adhesive; when removed, it leaves no residue behind. With an adhesive backing, these organizers can also be attached to the side of a desk, rather than the top, if that works better. However, the adhesive is not reusable, so end users will need to be careful about the placement.
The stainless steel Pinza comes in two sizes: the small one can hold two cords while the large one holds three or four cords. (Purchasers say the large can hold even more.) Purchasers note that the rubber O-rings, along with the Pinza’s heft, keep it in place—and also keep it from scratching the desk. The one concern: A purchaser noted that the “new, smaller Apple connectors slip through.”
For end users who just need to keep a single cord in place, there’s the OXO Good Grips Cord Catch. The heavy die cast body and the non-slip base keep it in place pretty well, according to purchasers. It couldn’t be easier to use, and (like other OXO products) would probably be good for end users with arthritis. But the Cord Catch is another design that just won’t work with the new Apple cables with lightning connectors; they slip out, as many disappointed purchasers have noted.
The Cord Buddy comes in two pieces that are held together by magnets. The Glow version has a motion-activated night light, which could be useful beside the bed. However, the Cord Buddy is made of plastic and a few purchasers say it’s just not heavy enough to stay in place, even with the batteries installed. Others have had problems with the night light being too motion sensitive.
Most cable organizers reply on adhesives and/or their weight to stay in place. But the Bobino Desk Cable Clip goes another route; it will clip to desks up to 6 cm thick.
The other problem end users often encounter is the unruly mess caused by long cords. I know many people who happily use the old reliable Velcro ties to solve this problem, but there are other options.
Above the Fray has its Cableband, sold in packages of three; these elastic bands stretch to fit a wide range of small- to medium-size cables. My concern: When I watched the video, I thought that anyone with dexterity issues would probably find this harder to use than a Velcro tie.
On the other hand, the magnetic Speedy Wraps from UT Wire looked extremely easy to use. They come in 10-inch and 20-inch lengths.
The other way to handle long cables is to wrap them around something. The Bspun cable wrap is 3D printed in nylon; the slots will fit cables up to 3 mm thick. Since it only weights .3 oz, the Bspun could be a portable cable control device, moving from a desktop to a laptop bag without making the bag unnecessarily heavy.
Sometimes end users may want to hide long cables under their desks—and that’s what the Sombrero from Doug Mockett & Company, designed by Andrea Ruggiero, is intended for. This does require a desktop surface that can take a mounting screw, though.
http://www.core77.com/posts/48968/11-Ways-to-Control-Desktop-Cables