Jotto Desk cables too short?

[Mark Blue]

I purchased a Jotto Desk for my storm chasing activities earlier this summer. The nylon coated cables that are supplied with the cable dock system wound up being somewhat short, since my laptop is a 17" model. Trying to lock down the latches to keep my laptop in place was very, very difficult at best. At first I thought I would go to the hardware store, buy 2 new springs and replace the manufacturer supplied springs on the underneath side of the mounting desk with longer ones. After purchasing 4 different lengths of springs, I found out the hard way that the short cables are the problem no matter how you slice it. Night after night I searched the internet hoping to find a solution. I finally decided to order some custom made cables that would better fit my application. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, check out the folks at Montague Latch Company: http://www.montaguelatch.com/cable/cableindex.htm

They were very friendly, helpful, and fabricated cables to my exacting specifications. Just thought I'd pass this along for those who may be dealing with the same problem. Save yourself some time and check them out!

 

[Tony Laubach]

Same issue; I went to Ace Hardware and bought a longer spring; worked perfectly and still in use to this day! Give that a shot! Take your springs in and ask a rep about getting something similar and longer.

 

[Mark Blue]

Same issue; I went to Ace Hardware and bought a longer spring; worked perfectly and still in use to this day! Give that a shot! Take your springs in and ask a rep about getting something similar and longer.

Tony - I did buy longer springs (four different lengths - see original post) and all that accomplished was a little of nothing. No matter how far in or out I adjusted the length on the underneath side of the desk, I wound up with the round metal eyelet on the end of the nylon coated cable scratching the dickens out of the side of the Jotto Desk. The cables were so blame tight that they were making a dent in the top of my laptop that made me want to cringe! I fiddled until I was blue in the face - no pun intended - but those days are over now that I had two custom cables made for around $15.00. I'm happy for those who have had luck with the longer springs approach, however, if longer springs haven't worked out for you like they didn't for me, look no further than my original post.

This makes me wonder - why doesn't Jotto Desk offer a solution for those who have wider laptops? Therein lies the real problem!!!!

 

[Tyler_Costantini]

One word "Velcro" i use it on my laptop insted of a strap...

I works like a charm..

I have a laptop just for the car I don't know how it would do if you take the car in and out all the time...

 

[Jay Cazel]

Call Jotto Desk....They should (well they did it for me) send you the next size up for the larger laptops.

Or do what Tyler said...Velcro

 

[Skip Talbot]

What models are you guys using? I have a 17 inch Inspiron and it fits perfectly with the cables the Jotto came with. It took me awhile to set them up correctly and use them properly, however (the girlfriend figured it out first). That Dell is not a compact machine, I can't imagine there are 17 inch models much bigger than it.

 

[Mark Blue]

Call Jotto Desk....They should (well they did it for me) send you the next size up for the larger laptops.

Or do what Tyler said...Velcro

Now I'm pi$$ed!! I checked with Jotto and they said I had the longest one they make. From end to end (including the eyelets) the cable that came with the cable dock system is 22.5" long. The one's I had made are 24.5" long and work like a charm. Velcro wasn't an option for me.

Skip to answer your question my laptop is a Toshiba P105-S9339 or a 17" model.

I really tried every possible adjustment and spring length to no avail. I'd like to know how long the cables Jotto sent you are from end to end Jay.

 

[Jay Cazel]

Now I'm pi$$ed!! I checked with Jotto and they said I had the longest one they make. From end to end (including the eyelets) the cable that came with the cable dock system is 22.5" long. The one's I had made are 24.5" long and work like a charm. Velcro wasn't an option for me.

Skip to answer your question my laptop is a Toshiba P105-S9339 or a 17" model.

I really tried every possible adjustment and spring length to no avail. I'd like to know how long the cables Jotto sent you are from end to end Jay.

Well the ones I had where 20inch long....Then Jotto sent me 26.5 inch long replacment ones....Almost too long but after I adjusted the spings the laptop fits fine. It is a Gateway laptop with a (I think) 15.4 screen.

 

[Tony Laubach]

Interesting... (and forgive my not reading entire post); for the few people I've suggested that to (I believe Amos was one as well), it seemed to work. Must be new cables or something. Best of luck!

 

[Amos Magliocco]

The longer springs worked for me, but, this year, I took the cables off completely and used some elasticized bands that worked just as well and were easier to deal with. Not to mention they don't rattle like the buckles on the Jotto cables.

A friend gave me the bands and I don't know where he found them. I'll ask. Basically like bungee cables except connected.

 

[Greg Stumpf]

One word "Velcro" i use it on my laptop insted of a strap...

I works like a charm..

I've heard that using velcro as a fastener place torque stresses on the laptop each time you remove it from the desk, which can be damaging to the internal components such as the motherboard.

 

[John Wetter]

I would always try to stay away from the velcro solution as the stresses on the laptop, not to mention that I like to keep it looking nice for when the laptop isn't sitting on the desk.

-John

 

[Eric Flescher]

can you post photo of the setups for me to look at

I am a little confused as how the spring, velcro and latches actually appear on your units as they work on a jotto.

As one who may want to buy a jotto like set up:

(1) can you post photos in this thread about what the spring, velcro and/or latches set up look like?
(2) I am not particularly interested in screwing the jotto system into my bottom board. I see that some actually curl under consols in between the seats? how does that work for any of you ?
(3) some people have made their own jotto like desk etc? anyone pleased with those? better or not? reasons etc
(4) some people take their tripods and have them in between the seats for camcorder stuff mostly ? any tricks about this ?

thanks

 

[fplowman]

The mechanisms under the desk are easily adjusted to accomodate maybe 2" extra length for the cables. ?Has anyone determined this yet before buying and modifying etc.. ??? I can only assume so..

 

[Mark Blue]

I am a little confused as how the spring, velcro and latches actually appear on your units as they work on a jotto.

As one who may want to buy a jotto like set up:

(1) can you post photos in this thread about what the spring, velcro and/or latches set up look like?
(2) I am not particularly interested in screwing the jotto system into my bottom board. I see that some actually curl under consols in between the seats? how does that work for any of you ?
(3) some people have made their own jotto like desk etc? anyone pleased with those? better or not? reasons etc
(4) some people take their tripods and have them in between the seats for camcorder stuff mostly ? any tricks about this ?

thanks

Attached are some pictures of what we have been talking about. Picture #1 is of the bottom of the Jotto Desk. Picture #2 is the bottom of the Jotto Desk, but with one of the original springs that came with the setup placed next to the one I bought and replaced for comparision purposes. Picture #3 has one of the original cables laying next to one of the cables I had fabricated to my specs. Picture #4 is of the top of the Jotto Desk.