Chapter 6: Laptops and Portable Devices

1. Chapter 6: Laptops and Portable Devices IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0

2. Purpose of this Presentation To provide to instructors an overview of Chapter 6: • List of chapter objectives • Overview of the chapter contents, including • student worksheets • student activities • some potential student misconceptions • Reflection/Activities for instructors to complete to prepare to teach • Additional resources

3. Chapter 6 Objectives • 6.1 Describe laptops and other portable devices • 6.2 Identify and describe the components of a laptop • 6.3 Compare and contrast desktop and laptop components • 6.4 Explain how to configure laptops • 6.5 Compare the different mobile phone standards • 6.6 Identify common preventive maintenance techniques used for laptops and portable devices • 6.7 Describe how to troubleshoot laptops and portable devices

4. Chapter 6 Worksheets • 6.1.2 Worksheet: Research Laptops, Smart Phones, and PDAs • 6.2.3 Worksheet: Laptop Docking Stations • 6.3.4 Worksheet: Laptop Expansion • 6.4.1 Worksheet: ACPI Standards • 6.7.2 Worksheet: Research Laptop Problems

5. Optional Virtual Laptop Activities • 6.2.1 Explore the different views of the virtual laptop • 6.2.2 Explore the virtual laptop keyboard • 6.2.3 Explore the different views of the docking station • 6.4.2 Replace components and devices in the virtual laptop

6. Introduction • Do you know when the first laptops were developed? • Who do you think used the early laptops? • One of the original laptops was the GRiD Compass 1101. It was used by astronauts on space missions in the early 1980s. • It weighed 11 lb (5 kg) and cost US $8,000 - $10,000! • This chapter focuses on the differences between laptops and desktops and describes the features of PDAs and Smartphones.

7. Laptops and Portable Devices • Notebooks, laptops, and tablets are types of portable computers. • For clarity and consistency in this course, all portable computers will be called "laptops". • Today, laptops are very popular because advances in technology have resulted in laptops that cost less, weigh less, and have improved capabilities. • PDAs offer features such as games, web surfing, e-mail, instant messaging, and many other features offered by PCs. • Smartphones are cell phones with many built-in PDA capabilities.

8. Common Uses of Laptops • Taking notes in school or researching papers • Presenting information in business meetings • Accessing data away from home or the office • Playing games while traveling • Watching movies while traveling • Accessing the Internet in a public place • Sending and receiving email in a public place • Can you think of other uses for laptops?

9. Common Uses of PDAs and Smartphones • The PDA is an electronic personal organizer with tools to help organize information • The Smartphone is a mobile phone with PDA capabilities. • Other uses of PDAs and Smartphones are to take phone calls, voice memos, taking notes, text messaging, browsing the internet, reading eBooks, playing games, internet chat, music, contacts, calendar and GPS.

10. The Components of a Laptop Common laptop features: • Small and portable • Integrated display screen in lid • Integrated keyboard • AC power source or rechargeable battery • Hot-swappable drives and peripherals • Some type of docking station or port replicator to connect to peripherals

11. Bluetooth status LED Standby LED Battery status LED Components Outside of a Laptop • Top view of virtual laptop

12. Parallel port AC power connector Battery bay Components Outside of a Laptop • Rear view of virtual laptop

13. Ventilation grill RJ-11 modem Network LEDs Microphone jack Ethernet port USB port PC card slot Headphone jack Security keyhole S-video port Components Outside of a Laptop • Left side view of virtual laptop

14. Latch Infrared port Speakers Ventilation grill Components Outside of a Laptop • Front view of virtual laptop

15. Optical drive VGA port Drive bay indicator Components Outside of a Laptop • Right side view of virtual laptop Optical drive indicator

16. Battery latches Docking connector RAM access panel Hard drive access panel Components Outside of a Laptop • Underside view of virtual laptop

17. Volume controls Power button Pointer controller Fingerprint reader Keyboard Touchpad Components Inside of a Laptop • Open laptop

18. Hard drive Battery Num lock Bluetooth Caps lock Wireless Standby Power on Components Inside of a Laptop • LEDs inside laptop

19. Power button Components on a Docking Station • Top view of docking station Eject button Docking connector

20. Headphone connector USB port Line In connector PC card slot VGA port DVI port AC power connector Parallel port Keyboard port Ethernet port Exhaust fan RJ-11 port Serial port Mouse port External-diskette-drive connector Components on a Docking Station • Rear view of docking station

21. Key lock Components on a Docking Station • Right side view of docking station

22. Compare Laptop Components and Desktop Components • Desktop components tend to be standardized. They usually meet universal form factors. • Laptop manufacturers focus on refining laptop components to make them more efficient and compact as a result, laptop components are proprietary.  • You may not be able to use components made by one laptop manufacturer to repair a laptop made by another manufacturer.

23. Compare Motherboards

24. Compare CPUs

25. Compare Power Options Laptop Power Options Desktop Power Options

26. Compare Expansion Capabilities

27. Compare Expansion Capabilities

28. Configure Laptops • To allow applications and processes to run smoothly: • Configure and allocate system resources • Install additional components and plug-ins • Change environmental settings to match software requirements. • A laptop can be customized for specific purposes by adding external components. • Adding external components is usually accomplished through the use of Plug and Play, but occasionally driver installation and additional configuration may be required. • Follow safe removal procedures when disconnecting hot-swappable and non-hot-swappable devices.

29. Configure Laptop Power Settings

30. Checking the ACPI Settings in the BIOS Here are the steps to check the ACPI settings in the BIOS: • Enter BIOS setup by pressing the appropriate key or key combination while the computer is booting. Typically this is the Delete key or the F2 key, but there are several other options. • Locate and enter the “Power Management settings” menu item. • Use the appropriate keys to enable ACPI mode. • Save and Exit BIOS setup.

31. Power Settings in Windows XP To configure your power settings, click:Start > Control Panel > Power Options

32. Replacing Laptop Components • CAUTION: Always disconnect power and remove the battery before installing or removing laptop components that are not hot-swappable. 

33. Mobile Phone Standards Internet Standard Purpose • Short Message Service (SMS) • Multimedia Message Service (MMS) • Packet Switching • Used for text messaging • Used for sending and receiving photos and videos • Used for accessing the Internet

34. Proper Cleaning Procedures • Follow proper cleaning procedures to clean a laptop. • CAUTION: • Do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the LCD display. • Use products specifically designed for cleaning LCD displays. • Use a soft, lint-free cloth with an approved cleaning solution to avoid damaging laptop surfaces. • Apply the cleaning solution to the lint-free cloth, not directly to the laptop. • Keyboard • Ventilation • LCD display • Touch pad • Floppy drive • Optical disk drive • CD or DVD disc

35. Optimal Operating Environments • Pack for transport • Clean properly • Ventilate • Air temperature • Humidity

36. Troubleshooting • Determine if a repair is cost-effective. • The cost of the repair should be compared to the replacement cost minus the salvage value. 

37. Troubleshooting Process Step 1 Gather data from the customer Step 2 Verify the obvious issues Step 3 Try quick solutions first Step 4 Gather data from the computer Step 5 Evaluate the problem and implement the solution Step 6 Close with the customer

38. 1. Gather Data from the Customer • Customer information • Company name, contact name, address, phone number • Laptop information • Manufacturer, model, OS, network environment, connection type • Description of problem • Open-ended questions • What was happening when you first experienced the problem? • Closed-ended questions • Is the laptop currently using the battery as the power source?

39. 2. Verify the Obvious Issues Examine the most obvious causes of a problem. • Loose or improper connections • Check the Device Manager; remove and reinsert components • Power issues • Check power LEDs and power source • Wireless network issues • Check network LEDs, Network Connections and wireless signal strength • Sound and audio issues • Stylus issues

40. 3. Try Quick Solutions First A quick solution can save time and money. • Reboot the computer. • Verify BIOS settings. • Remove or unplug unnecessary peripherals. • Use the Last Known Good Configuration option.

41. 4. Gather Data from the Computer Data gathered from the laptop can be used to confirm the problem description given by the customer.

42. 5. Evaluate Problem & Implement Solution • Evaluate the information gathered from the customer and from the laptop • Determine possible solutions • Implement the best solution • Previous experience of solving problems with computers • Other technicians • Internet search engines • News groups • Manufacturer FAQs • Computer manuals • Device manuals • Online forums and chat • Technical websites

43. 6. Close with the Customer • Discuss with customer the solution implemented. • Have customer verify problem is solved. • Provide all paperwork to customer. • Document steps of solution. • Document components used in repair. • Document time spent to resolve the problem.

44. Common Problems and Solutions

45. Chapter 6 Summary Laptops and Portable Devices • Description of portable devices • Laptop components • Configuration procedures • Preventive maintenance techniques

46. Instructor Training Activities

47. Activities for Instructor Training • Take the Quiz provided in Chapter 6 course content. • Conduct Internet research to pre-screen online resources for students to use in completing the student worksheet, 6.7.2 Research Laptop Problems. • Complete the virtual laptop instructor activities and participate in discussion or journal your answers to discussion questions.

48. Virtual Laptop • Virtual laptop is a stand-alone tool designed to: • supplement classroom learning • provide a virtual “hands-on” experience where real equipment is limited

49. Objectives for Virtual Laptop Activity • Describe the three modes of the virtual laptop. • Remove and install laptop components in the virtual laptop. • Participate in discussion of various teaching strategies to use with the virtual laptop.

50. Virtual Laptop Activity • Launch virtual laptop • Complete all four layers of the Learn Mode • Work through the Test Mode • While using the virtual laptop, begin thinking of ways to use this in teaching (both students and instructors). • Participate in discussion or journal your answers to discussion questions.