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Portable Computing

Portable Computing. Chapter 19. Overview. In this chapter, you will learn to Describe the many types of portable computing devices available Enhance and upgrade portable computers Manage and maintain portable computers Troubleshoot portable computers. Essentials. CompTIA A+ Essentials.

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Portable Computing

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  1. Portable Computing Chapter 19

  2. Overview • In this chapter, you will learn to • Describe the many types of portable computing devices available • Enhance and upgrade portable computers • Manage and maintain portable computers • Troubleshoot portable computers

  3. Essentials CompTIA A+Essentials Getting the Right Sound Card Portable Computing Devices

  4. LCD Screens • Major contributor to cost • Most range from 12 inch to 17 inch • Aspect ratio changing from 4:3 standard • For comparison, 16:9 is standard for widescreen • 16:10 is the standard for 17-inch LCD screen

  5. LCD Screens • Two types of finishes • Matte • Traditional standard • Reduces glare • Washes out a lot in bright light • Hopeless in bright daylight • High Gloss • Relatively new • Offers sharper contrast, richer colors and wider viewing angles

  6. Desktop Replacements • Typical laptops can function as a fully standalone PC • Can be used as a desktop replacement • Input devices • Trackballs on early laptops • IBM’s TrackPoint—pencil eraser–sized joystick in the middle of the keyboard • Touchpads

  7. Desktop Extenders • Desktop extenders are portable devices • Not intended to take the place of a desktop • Think of them as a smaller, lighter, less-powerful laptop for less intensive use

  8. PDAs • Personal digital assistants (PDAs) • Tiny, handheld portable computing devices • Address book, personal notes, appointments, word processors, image viewers • Often use handwriting recognition with a pen-style stylus for pen-based computing • Use specialized OS such as Windows CE, PocketPC, PalmOS, and Linux • Made by Palm, Sony, Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and other companies

  9. HotSync Can synchronize data between PDA and office PC PalmOS calls it HotSync Beaming PDAs typically have IR ports Can transfer data (beam) between PDAs PDA Memory Internal flash ROM of 1 MB or more CompactFlash cards that are removable and upgradeable for removable storage needs PDA Features

  10. Tablet PCs • Combines handwriting benefits of PDAs with power of traditional laptops • Use a stylus to write • Applications can use digital ink to capture pen strokes

  11. Portable Computer Device Types

  12. IT Technician CompTIA A+Technician Enhance and Upgrade the Portable PC

  13. PC Cards • PC Cards are commonly known as the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) • Hot-swappable devices • Easy to use, inexpensive, and convenient

  14. PC Cards • Parallel PC Cards • 16-bit or CardBus (32-bit 3.3V cards) • Three sizes: Type I (thinnest), II, and III (thickest) • Cards can have one or many functions • ExpressCard • High-performance serial version • Can connect to USB 2.0 slot (480 Mbps) or PCIe (2.5 Gbps)

  15. Card Types

  16. PC Cards • Two levels of software drivers • Socket services • Device drivers that enable the system to detect when a PC Card is inserted or removed • Provide necessary I/O to the device • Standardized and handled by the system BIOS • Card services • Recognize the function of a particular PC Card and provide the specialized drivers required to make the card work • Handled by Windows • Accessed via PCMCIA option in Control Panel

  17. Limited-Function Ports • All portable PCs and many PDAs come with a variety of ports • VGA connection for hooking up an external monitor • PS/2 port for an external keyboard or mouse • Built-in NICs and modems for network support • All of these work the same as in desktop PCs • Video ports • External monitor, projector,or a combination of both • Speaker ports • Extra function key

  18. General-Purpose Ports • Legacy ports • PS/2, RS-232 • USB and FireWire • Work same as in PC • Port replicators • Plug into a single port • Offer common PC ports such as serial, parallel, network, and PS/2

  19. Docking Stations • Gives laptops access to PC resources • Large monitors, regular mice, network connections, and full-size keyboards • Provides an easy way to take your laptop in and out of the office • Basically a port replicator with extra features such as a DVD drive or PC Card slots

  20. Replacing RAM • No standard method • You usually have to unscrew or pop open a panel on the underside of the portable

  21. Shared Memory • Reduces cost of video cards • Reduces amount of memory on the video card • Shared memory technologies • TurboCache (NVIDIA) • HyperMemory (ATI) • System RAM will report less RAM available • Not shared as much as taken from OS • Once taken, OS no longer has access to the RAM

  22. The Modular Laptop • Common components that can be replaced or upgraded in a portable PC • Hard drives • 2.5-inch ATA drives most common • Cable select often required • Otherwise the same as regular 3.5-inch drives • Modular CPUs • Just replace with a newer module from Intel or AMD • Video cards • Least standardized

  23. The Modular Laptop • Common components that can be replaced or upgraded in a portable PC • Modular Drives • CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R/W, hard drives • Mobile NICs and Mini PCI • Most laptops have dial-up modems and Ethernet • Many also come with integrated wireless networking support • Many devices can be toggled on and off with key combinations such as FN-F2

  24. Managing and Maintaining Portable Computers

  25. Maintenance • Everything you normally do to maintain a PC applies to portable PCs • Windows patches and Service Packs • Upgrading drivers • CHKDSK • ScanDisk • Defragment • Disk Cleanup

  26. Batteries • Three types of commonly used batteries • Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) • Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) • Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)

  27. Nickel-Cadmium Batteries • Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries • First batteries commonly used in mobile PCs • Battery memory is the tendency of a Ni-Cd battery to lose a significant amount of its recharge ability • Conditioning charge could sometimes resolve battery memory problem • At best, can only be recharged about 1000 times • Toxic—dispose of at recycling centers

  28. Nickel Metal Hydride • Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries • Next generation of mobile PC batteries • Less susceptible to memory problems and last longer between recharges • Still susceptible to heat • Popular replacement for Ni-Cd systems

  29. Lithium Ion • Lithium Ion batteries • Most common type of battery used today • Powerful • Completely immune to memory problems • Built-in circuitry to prevent accidental overcharging

  30. Other Portable Power Sources • Smart batteries • Tell the computer when they need to be charged, conditioned, or replaced • Fuel cells • Promising new technology that could power a laptop for up to 40 hours before refilling • Hasn’t yet reached the consumer market

  31. Battery Maintenance • Batteries should be stored in a cool place • Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries should be conditioned by using a special charger • Battery contacts should be kept clean using a little alcohol or dry cloth • Used or old batteries should be recycled

  32. Power Management

  33. Power Management • Power management goals • Shut down unused devices selectively • Define a maximum period of inactivity • Shut down the entire system during longer periods of inactivity • Ready to restart if triggered by a wake-up event • Sensitive to potential hazards like shutting down the hard drive in the middle of a write operation • Keep the system cost about the same

  34. System Management Mode • System Management Mode (SMM) • Set of features that enables the CPU to slow down or stop its clock without deleting information • Stops the CPU and all of the peripherals • Requires a specialized BIOS and OS • To further power management capabilities, Intel introduced • Advanced Power Management (APM) in 1992 • Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) in 1996

  35. Requirements for APM/ACPI • APM and ACPI require the following in order to function properly • An SMM-capable CPU • APM-compliant BIOS • Devices that will accept being shut off (“Energy Star”) • A system OS that knows how to request the shutdown of a particular device

  36. APM/ACPI Levels • Full On • No power management—everything running • APM Enabled • CPU and RAM running at full power • Unused devices may or may not be shut down • APM Standby • CPU is stopped (can easily be restarted) • RAM still stores all the programs • All peripherals are shut down • APM Suspend • Everything is shut down or at its lowest power-consumption • Hibernation (stores everything in RAM on the hard drive before powering down)

  37. CMOS settings Windows Overrides CMOS settings Display applet in Control Panel Settings  Advanced  Monitor tab Power Management applet in Control Panel APM/ACPI Configuration

  38. Configuration of APM/ACPI— Windows

  39. Cleaning Use a screen cleaner to clean the LCD screen (not a glass cleaner) Use compressed air to clean out the keyboard and PC Card sockets Heat Use power management Keep air space between the bottom of the laptop and the surface it sits on Don’t use a keyboard protector Listen for fan running a lot or stopping Cleaning & Heat

  40. Protect the Machine • Protect your investment with best practices • Tripping Watch the power cord • Storage Protect from damage and dirt • Travel Remember foreign power is 230 V • Shipping Protect from damage and theft • Security Protect from theft

  41. Troubleshooting • Laptop won’t power on • Verify the outlet is good • Verify the adapter is good • Remove all peripherals • Screen doesn’t come on properly • Make sure the display is on • Press FN key combination to activate the screen • Wireless networking doesn’t work • Check for physical or software switch to turn it on • Ensure you’re in range

  42. Troubleshooting • Handwriting is not recognized • May need to retrain the digitizer • Keypad doesn’t work • Probably unseated keypad connector • Check manufacturer’s disassembly procedures • Touchpad doesn’t work • Clean with compressed air • May need to reconfigure touchpad driver

  43. Beyond A+ • Intel’s Centrino Technology • Extremely low power • Fast CPUs • Integrated wireless networking • Origami—Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPC) • Small form factor tablet PC • Runs full-fledged OS such asWindows XP or Vista

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