module 5 portable computers

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Hardware Essentials II

Module 5 - Portable Computers


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Module 5 - Portable ComputersHardware Essentials II

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Module 5 - Portable Computers

Overview Portable computers have become popular due to two reasons,

which are compactness and lightweight. One more importantfeature in portable computer is it comes with battery packs.This is more comfortable for the traveling employees or user.This module explains the features, types, and components of

the portable PC.

Lessons Covered in this Module

Portable Computers


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Lesson 1 - Portable Computers

Introduction The portable computers were first introduced by Compaq and

have been in the market for a long time. The two mainfeatures of portable computers are its compactness andlightweight when compared to a desktop computer. Anotherimportant feature in portable computer is it comes with

battery pack. This module explains the features, types, andcomponents of the portable PC.

Topics Covered in this Lesson

Features of Portable Computers

Types of Portable Computers Components of Portable Computer

Troubleshooting Portable Computers


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Topic 1 - Features of Portable Computers

Size The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen is the main source for the

slim model of todays portables. The drive is very tiny which fits easily into portable computer and it

has a higher capacity to hold more data.

Weight Many systems designed for more convenient portability will weigh

three pounds.

Power Low-power components: When the size and weight of the

components are reduced eventually the power consumption alsoreduces.

Power management protocols: It supports power Advanced PowerManagement (APM) and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface(ACPI).

Battery technology: The new battery technology has increased thebattery duration of a portable system.

Heat One of the problems in PCs is the heat produced by them.


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Topic 2 - Types of Portable Computers

Desktop Docking Station It has almost all the features

found in a typical desktop.

For this type of system adocking station is used toprovide network connectivity

when not traveling.

Laptop

The size of the Laptop isapproximately 9 x 12 x 2 and

weighs 9 pounds or more. By using docking station the

Laptop can be replaced as adesktop.


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Notebook A notebook is smaller than a

laptop in size, weight, features,and cheaper too.

These types of systems have lotof memory and a high-capacity

hard drive.

SubNotebook

The subnotebook is smaller thanlaptops and notebooks.

It has large, good quality display,plenty of hard drive space, and acomplete size keyboard.


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Personal Digital Assistant(PDA)

It is a small hand held device.

It can be used to performcalculations and computations

It can function as a mobilephone and a fax sender.

It uses a pen based stylusdevice for providing input.

The figure displays an image ofa palmtop or a pocket PC.


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Topic 3 - Components of Portable Computer

A - LCD Screen

B - Power and battery LEDs

C - Keyboard D - Power button

E - Touch pad

F - Status Indicators


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Microprocessor Intel introduced a new technology called SpeedStep,

which enables the desktop and mobile processors to

meet each other in performance

Depending on either the computer is connected to AC or batterypower, the processor can run at two different speeds.

The processors can run in high speed that is Maximum PerformanceMode when it is connected to AC power.

The processor switches to Battery Optimized Mode when it is running onbattery power.

The table below displays that the voltage is decreasing and as aresult the processors consumes less power and generate less heat.

Processor Speeds Voltage Packages

Mobile Celeron 266-466 MHz 1.6V MMO, BGA, micro-PGA

Mobile PentiumIII

400, 450, 500MHz

1.35V MMO, BGA, Micro-PGA

Mobile PentiumIII

600-850 MHz + 1.1- 1.7V MMO, BGA, Micro-PGA


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Memory More RAM has to be installed into the portable computer so

that virtual memory is not used frequently.

Portable computer commonly use Small Outline Dual InlineMemory Module (SO-DIMM).

The SO-DIMM module comes in two sizes, which are 2.375inch with a 72-pin connector and 2.625 inch with a 144-pinconnector.


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Hard drives The IDE drives are built in almost all the portable computer.

The hard drive is mounted in a special case, which attaches tothe drives data connector.

In the bays a second hard drive, a second battery andanother drives, like floppy or CD-ROM can be attached.


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Personal Computer Memory Card InternationalAssociation (PCMCIA)

The PC card fits into a slot in a case of a portable computeror a docking station.

The slot in the computer has the male 68-pin connector at

its bottom and it accepts the short side of the card. CardBus is suitable for Fast Internet connection that is 100

Mbps network.


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Types of PC Cards Type I cards- It is 3.3mm

thick.

Type

IIcard- This card is5mm thick and is intended

for I/O devices.

Type III card- This card is

10.5mm thick and is usedby tiny hard disk drives.


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Displays If the LCD of the portable computer is spoiled then the user

need to buy a new one.

Now the displays come in two forms, these are Dual Scan andThin Film Transistor (TFT).

Internal Modem

There are two types of internal modems, which are an internalunit or a card.

Internal NIC

Network Interface Card (NIC) is used to connect a PC to anetwork.

An important function of NIC is to make an access methodeasy to the network.


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Batteries Nickel Cadmium Batteries It is heavy and it has short

life.

Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries (NiMH) It givesapproximately 30 percent longer run time than NiCadbatteries.

Lithium Ion Batteries It has longer life and cannot beovercharged.

Keyboards

There is no separate numeric keypad

in portables like in the keyboards of a

desktop computer.


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Pointing input devices Trackball - You can move the ball directly

instead of moving the whole mouse.

Trackpoint - It is like pencil eraser located

between the G, H, and B keys.

Trackpad - It is an electromagnetically

sensitive pad, which responds to the finger

across its surface.


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Rear Panel Connectors Most PCs have a standard I/O ports, an external VGA monitor

connector, an external keyboard connector, and a docking-portexpansion bus.

Software Support

The software is configured by the Card Services driver.

Proper Battery Disposal

Since batteries contain metals, acids and other explosive compounds,it is important to learn proper battery disposal and its recycle.


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Topic 4 - Troubleshooting Portable Computers

PCMCIA Problems and Troubleshooting The PC card device will appear in Device Manager, if there is a

problem with PC card.

If the card is not performing properly, the PCMCIA adapters iconshows an exclamation mark on a yellow background.

Battery Problems and Troubleshooting

If the system does not start up while running on battery power, thebattery needs to be charged or it might be in bad condition.

The battery should be fully discharged and then recharged to correctthe battery memory problems.

Docking Stations/ Port Replicators Problems andTroubleshooting

Check the portables documentation to ensure whether the externaldevice is activated if a peripheral device is not working.

If a single docking station connection does not work, find a wayaround the docking station/ replicator and try to run the peripheraldirectly with the portable unit.


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Conclusion

Summary The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen is the main source for

the slim model of todays portables.

The size of the Laptop is approximately 9x12x2 and weighs 9pounds or more.

The components omitted by the subnotebook are floppy drive,CD-ROM and other huge mechanism.

The Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module (SO-DIMM) is acommon memory module used in portable systems.

The displays come in two forms, that are dual scan and thinfilm transistor (TFT).

module 5 portable computers

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