Notebooks, Tablet PCs, and PDAs

1
Chapter 20

• Notebooks, Tablet PCs, and PDAs

2
You Will Learn

• How to support, upgrade, and add peripheral
  devices to notebooks
• About technologies relating to personal digital
  assistants (PDAs)

3
Notebook Computers
4
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

5
Notebooks versus PCs
6
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

7
Power Management

• Power sources
• Battery
• DC adapter
• AC adapter
• Types of batteries
• Lithium ion
• NiMH
• Fuel cell

8
Power Management (continued)
9
Power Management
10
Power Management (continued)
11
Power Management (continued)
12
Power Management (continued)
13
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

14
Ports on a Notebook
15
Connecting Peripheral Devices to Notebooks
(continued)
16
Connecting Peripheral Devices to Notebooks
(continued)
17
Dell Notebook Computer on FIRE
This is a bad thing!
18
Connecting Peripheral Devices to Notebooks
(continued)
19
PC Card Slots
20
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

21
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

22
PC Cards
23
PC Cards (continued)
24
Using a PC Card to Interface with a Network
25
Using PC Card Slots and Other Slots

• OS must provide two 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

26
Hot-Swapping
27
Types of Memory Used by Notebooks
28
Upgrading Memory
29
Upgrading Memory (continued)
30
Upgrading Memory (continued)
31
Other FRUs for Notebooks

• Optical drive
• Floppy drive
• Sound card
• Pointing device
• AC adapter
• Battery pack
• DC controller

• Hard drive
• LCD panel
• Motherboard
• CPU
• Keyboard
• PC Card socket assembly

32
Hard Drive Comparison
33
Replacing a Hard Drive
34
Installing a Mini-PCI Card
35
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
  manufacturers Web site

36
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

37
A Tablet PC
Locked up again! Darn
38
Three Tablet Form Factors

• Convertible tablet PC
• Slate model tablet PC
• Tablet PC with a docking station

39
Convertible Tablet PC
40
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

41
Writing on a Tablet PC
42
PDAs

• 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

43
A PDA
44
Optional PDA Accessories
45
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

46
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

47
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

48
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

49
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

50
PDA Manufacturers and Operating Systems

• Windows Mobile by Microsoft
• More versatile
• Better for downloading and running applications
  similar to Windows

51
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

52
Summary

• Portable devices and how to support them
• Notebook computers
• Tablet PCs
• Personal digital assistants (PDAs)
• Personal mentally challenged assistant