3. Notebook Computers
(continued)
Same technology as PCs, with
modifications for space, portability, and
power conservation
– Thin LCD panels (active matrix and passive
matrix)
– Compact hard drives
– Small memory modules
– CPUs that require less power
4. Notebooks versus PCs
Notebooks PCs
Usually purchased as
a whole unit; unlikely
to upgrade hardware
and OS
Design is typically
proprietary
Some universal
support issues, but
procedures vary
between brands
Highly modular
Components can be
interchanged,
upgraded, and
enhanced
Cost less than
notebooks
5. Windows Notebook
Features
Multilink Channel Aggregation
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power
Interface)
Power management
Support for PC Cards
Windows 9x Briefcase
Windows 2000/XP Offline Files and Folders
Folder redirection under Windows 2000/XP
Hardware profiles under Windows 2000/XP
6. Power Management
Power sources
– Battery
– DC adapter
– AC adapter
Types of batteries
– Lithium ion
– NiMH
– Fuel cell
12. Connecting Peripheral
Devices to Notebooks
Ports on the notebook
PC Card slot with lock
switch and eject button
Headphone jack
Microphone jack
Infrared port
Secure Digital (SD)
card slot
CompactFlash Card slot
Wireless antenna
on/off switch
Serial port
18. PC Card Slots (continued)
Used by many devices
Connect to the 16-bit PCMCIA I/O bus on
notebook motherboard
Might contain a data cable to an external
drive, or might be self-contained
Can interface with a network
19. PC Card Slot Standards
CardBus (latest spec)
– Improves I/O speed
– Increases bus width to 32 bits
– Supports lower-voltage PC Cards while
maintaining backward compatibility
Three other types (Type I, Type II,
Type III), which vary in thickness
20. PCMCIA / PC Cards
Short for Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association, and pronounced as separate letters, PCMCIA
is an organization consisting of some 500 companies that
has developed a standard for small, credit card-sized
devices, called PC Cards
Originally designed for adding memory to portable
computers, the PCMCIA standard has been expanded
several times and is now suitable for many types of devices
21. PCMCIA / PC Cards –
(Continued)
There are in fact three types of PCMCIA cards. All three
have the same rectangular size (85.6 by 54 millimeters),
but different widths:
Type I cards can be up to 3.3 mm thick, and are used
primarily for adding additional ROM or RAM to a computer
Type II cards can be up to 5.5 mm thick. These cards are
often used for modem and fax modem cards
Type III cards can be up to 10.5 mm thick, which is
sufficiently large for portable disk drives
22. PCMCIA / PC Cards –
(Continued)
As with the cards, PCMCIA slots also come in three sizes:
A Type I slot can hold one Type I card
A Type II slot can hold one Type II card or one Type I card
A Type III slot can hold one Type III card or any combination of
two Type I or II cards
In general, you can exchange PC Cards on the fly (hot
swappable), without rebooting your computer. For example, you
can slip in a fax modem card when you want to send a fax and
then, when you're done, replace the fax modem card with a
memory card
26. Using PC Card Slots and
Other Slots
OS must provide two (2) services
– Socket service
Establishes communication between card and
notebook when the card is first inserted
Disconnects communication when card is
removed
– Card service
Provides device driver to interface with the
card once socket is created
Can be hot-swapped
36. Resources for
Troubleshooting Notebooks
Apply same troubleshooting guidelines as
for desktop PCs
Be especially conscious of warranty issues
Loaded OS and hardware configuration are
specific; see documentation for details
Support CDs bundled with notebook include
device drivers for all embedded devices
Download additional or updated drivers
from manufacturer’s Web site
37. Tablet PCs
Type of notebook computer that is
smaller, more graphical, more user
friendly, and more portable
Has a touch screen
Cost about the same as notebooks
41. Features of a Tablet PC
Functioning Windows XP computer with the
power of a full-sized notebook
Input can be by handwriting, voice, hardware
keyboard, or on-screen keyboard
Built-in support for wireless, wired, and dial-up
networking
AC power adapter and rechargeable battery
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
PC Card, USB ports, and VGA port for
peripheral devices
43. PDAs (Personal Digital
Assistance)
Provide more portability than a notebook or
tablet PC
Include a stylus
Powered using an AC adapter or battery
Use either a grayscale or color active matrix
or dual-scan passive matrix display
Can interface with a desktop or notebook
computer to transfer files and applications
Synchronize with PCs through a USB, serial,
or wireless port
46. Considerations When
Purchasing a PDA
Applications that are included or can be
added later
Ease of use; thoroughness of
documentation
Ease of synchronization
Availability of manufacturer support
Type of batteries and anticipated battery life
47. Considerations When
Purchasing a PDA
(continued)
Ability to use e-mail and the Web
without needing extra hardware or
software
Availability of additional devices
Ease of use of OS
Warranty and price
48. Battery Life on a PDA
Varies by model
Short battery life is the largest
complaint;
– Risk of losing data and applications if
battery runs all the way down
Use cradle and adapter
49. Variety of Ways Applications
Are Provided on a PDA
All application software preinstalled
Require user to download applications
at additional cost
Support only preinstalled applications
and cannot download others
Allow downloading email or Web site
content
Access Internet directly by way of a
modem or wireless connection
50. Connecting a PDA to a PC
Synchronization
– Process by which PDA and PC “talk” to each
other through universal cradle, cable, and
USB or serial connection – and occasionally,
wireless technology
– Capabilities
Backup information from PDA to PC
Work with PDA files on PC and download
applications from Web
51. PDA Manufacturers and
Operating Systems
Windows Mobile by Microsoft
– More versatile
– Better for downloading and running
applications similar to Windows
52. PDA Manufacturers and
Operating Systems
(continued)
Palm OS by PalmSource
– Less complex
– Easier to use
– Better choice when PDA is used for
simple tasks
Principal difference between the two
OSs is in the applications they support
53. Troubleshooting Portable
Computers
Laptop Won’t Power On
– Verify AC power by plugging another electronic device into the wall
outlet. If the other device receives power, the outlet is good
– If the outlet is good, connect the laptop to the wall outlet and try to
power on. If no LEDs light up, you may have a bad AC adapter. Swap it
out with a known-good power adapter
– A faulty peripheral device might keep the laptop from powering up.
Remove any peripherals such as USB or Firewire devices
Screen Doesn’t Come On Properly
– If the laptop is booting (you hear the beeps and the drives), first make
sure the display is on. Press the FN key and the key to activate the
screen a number of times until the laptop display comes on
– If the laptop display is very dim, you may have lost an inverter. The clue
here is that inverters never go quietly. They can make a nasty hum as
they are about to die and an equally nasty popping noise when they
actually fail. Failure often occurs when you plug in the laptop’s AC
adapter, as the inverters take power directly from the AC adapter
54. Troubleshooting Portable
Computers
Wireless Networking Doesn’t Work
– Check for a physical switch along the front, rear, or side edges of the
laptop that toggles the internal wireless adapter on and off
– Try the special key combination for your laptop to toggle the wireless
adapter.You usually press the FN key in combination with another key
– You might simply be out of range. Physically walk the laptop over to the
wireless router or access point to ensure there are no “out of range”
issues
Handwriting Is Not Recognized
– If your PDA or tablet PC no longer recognizes your handwriting or stylus,
you may need to retrain the digitizer. Look for an option in your PDA OS
settings to “align the screen.” On Windows tablet PCs, you will find a
similar option under Start | Settings | Control Panel
55. Troubleshooting Portable
Computers
Keypad Doesn’t Work
– If none of the keys work on your laptop, there’s a good chance you’ve
unseated the keypad connector. These connectors are quite fragile and
are prone to unseating from any physical stress on the laptop. Check the
manufacturer’s disassembly procedures to locate and reseat the keypad
– If you’re getting numbers when you’re expecting to get letters, the
number lock (NUMLOCK) function key is turned on. Turn it off
Touchpad Doesn’t Work
– A shot of compressed air does wonders for cleaning pet hair out of the
touchpad sensors. You’ll get a cleaner shot if you remove the keyboard
before using the compressed air. Remember to be gentle when lifting off
the keyboard and make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
– The touchpad driver might need to be reconfigured. Try the various
options in the Control Panel | Mouse applet
