study unit- mobile computer devices

Study Unit

Mobile ComputingDevicesReviewed By

Troy McMillan

All terms mentioned in this text that are known to be trademarks or service markshave been appropriately capitalized. Use of a term in this text should not beregarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

About the Reviewer

Troy McMillan is a product developer and technical editor forKaplan IT and a full-time professional trainer for Cisco, Microsoft,Comptia, and wireless classes. He is the author of Change YourCareer: Computer Network Security as Your New Profession. Mr.McMillan has also served as a contributing subject matter expert,and prep question writer. He currently creates certification practicetests and study guides for the Transcender and Self-Test brands.Mr. McMillan lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Printed in the United States of America

05/21/13

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Preview

Preview

As a personal-computer (PC) repair technician, you’ll becalled upon to support not only desktop computers, but also mobile computing devices such as notebook computers,laptop computers, netbooks, personal digital assistants(PDAs), smart phones, and tablet computers. In this studyunit, we’ll use the term notebook to describe all notebookcomputers and laptop computers.

On the subject of notebook PCs, we’ll discuss basic mainte-nance and upgrades as well as how to set the power options.We’ll explain how to connect a notebook computer to the Web,with and without wires. This discussion involves connectinga computer to a wireless local area network (WLAN).

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) include a multitude ofdevices that range from address organizers to fully func-tional tablet PCs designed to replace notebook computers.We’ll discuss the maintenance of PDAs, upgrades to PDAs, andshow you how to connect PDA-type devices to a network ofyour choice.

When you complete this study unit, you’ll be able to

• Discuss the similarities and differences between desktopand laptop PCs

• Explain how the Windows operating system (OS) supportsnotebooks

• Set up the power management using your version ofWindows

• Change and dispose of your notebook’s batteries

• Describe how to upgrade the memory on a notebook

• Explain how to use PC cards to add devices to a notebook

• Discuss the use of wireless networks with a notebook

• List the many types of products that fall under the categoryof a Personal Digital Assistant

• Identify the operating systems that support PDAs

• Add devices to a PDA

• Connect a PDA to the Internet

v

MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES 1

Definition 1History 2Windows Operating System Features 6

POWERING YOUR NOTEBOOK 10

Power Management 10Batteries 20

UPGRADING A NOTEBOOK 26

Memory Upgrade 26Add-on Devices 29Troubleshooting Notebook Problems 38

COMMUNICATING WITH NOTEBOOKS 41

Remote Desktop 41Networking 49Practical Exercise 1 50

SMALLER PORTABLE DEVICES 52

Devices 52Operating Systems 63Wireless Networking and Mobile Computing 65Practical Exercise 2 65

SELF-CHECK ANSWERS 69

Contents

Contents

1

As soon as the PC was developed, people wanted to take theirPC away from their desk. Ideally, this PC would contain all oftheir favorite software, could be brought to meetings, andcould travel wherever they went. To this end, the notebookcomputer was designed.

As stated before, in this study unit we’ll use the term notebookto describe all notebook computers and laptop computers.

Definition

A notebook PC is a computer that’s designed for travel (Figure 1). Notebook PCs have a liquid crystal display (LCD)instead of a monitor and include various compact devices.The hard drive can withstand some movement while beingused. Memory modules and central processing units (CPUs)have been designed for lower power consumption. The case(on most models) is designed to protect the working partsfrom damage caused by bumps and bangs. The mouse hasbeen replaced by a touch pad or stylus on most notebooks.The miniaturization and specialization of the parts on a note-book has made its cost almost double that of a comparablyfeatured desktop PC.

With all of these differences, you may think that the note-book is significantly different from a desktop PC, but thisisn’t the case. Notebooks use the same Windows operatingsystems as the desktop PCs. Programs that run on a desktopPC will work on a similarly featured notebook. There are noprocedural differences in connecting a notebook to a networkand connecting a desktop to a network.

Mobile Computing Devices

Remember to regularlycheck “My Courses”on your studenthomepage. Yourinstructor may postadditional resourcesthat you can accessto enhance yourlearning experience.

The major difference, from the point of view of a person who needs to work on a notebook, is the lack of modularity.Notebooks are usually purchased with the hardware and OSinstalled. Most people don’t upgrade the hardware or OS on anotebook as they may on a desktop PC. In fact, many manu-facturers won’t support a notebook with updated hardware orOS. In contrast to a desktop PC with different componentscoming from a multitude of different manufacturers, a note-book’s design is often very proprietary in nature. To make up for this lack of modularity, notebooks support PC Cards,FireWire™, and USB ports, which make the addition (notupgrade) of features easy.

History

The history of the notebook is summarized by following thedevelopment of two items:

1. A small, portable computing device

2. A portable, fully functional PC

Mobile Computing Devices2

FIGURE 1—Notebooks aredesigned for travel.

Mobile Computing Devices 3

Small Portable Computing Devices

The 1982 GRiD 1100 Compass represents the first smallportable computing device. Housed in a magnesium alloyclamshell case, the GRiD 1100 Compass came with an Intel8086 CPU, bubble memory, electroluminescent display(ELD), QWERTY keyboard, a peripheral port for connectingmodules, and the GRiD OS. Since the introduction of theGRiD 1100 Compass, every notebook produced has copied itsbasic design with the LCD display panel closing down overthe keyboard.

The next year, Radio Shack introduced the TRS-80 Model100 portable computer. This was essentially the first note-book-sized computer that could run on AA batteries. Theunit had an 8-line by 40-character LCD display and 8 to 24KB of RAM. Since it can run on disposable batteries, it hascontinued to be used as a portable word processor in remotelocations.

These devices, though looking a lot like current notebooks,had limited processing power and often used proprietaryoperating systems. Through the years, these small portablecomputing devices have evolved into PDAs.

Fully Functional PCs That Are Portable

The other direction that the modern notebook came from is the desktop PCthat’s portable. The first example of thistype of PC is the Osborne I (Figure 2). The Osborne I weighed over 30 pounds, so it was more of a “luggable” PC than aportable. This PC made mobile computinga reality for many people back in 1981.The 3-inch CRT, keyboard, dual floppydisk drives, modem, and disk holder wereall installed in a hardshell case that foldedup into a suitcase-shaped package. Thismachine originally cost nearly $2,000 when it was introduced.

FIGURE 2—The Osborne I


Another notable portable PC was the Philips P2000C, whichwas released in 1982 and weighed in at 33 pounds. ThePhilips P2000C featured a ZILOG Z 80A CPU and had 64 KBof RAM with a maximum amount of 512 KB.

A well-known PC that fits into this category is the CompaqPortable (Figure 3). This was the first IBM clone and wasreleased in a portable case. The Compaq came with 128 KB(with a maximum of 640 KB) of RAM and used the same Intel8088 CPU that was used on the IBM desktops. The biggestselling feature was the 9-inch monitor that supported a textresolution of 80 � 25 and graphical resolutions with theHercules/CGA of 720 � 350 or 640 � 200. The CompaqPortable could use the MS DOS 2.0 OS and came with thelanguages BASIC, C, PASCAL, FORTRAN, FORTH, andAssembler built in.

From this direction came the idea that a portable PC shouldbe compatible with desktops, using the same OS and pro-grams. From the two divergent directions came the modernnotebook and desknotes that are as powerful and fully fea-tured as a desktop PC with the portability of a notebook.

The typical modern notebook, shown in Figure 4, has a 15.6-inch LCD display and an Intel Core i3 or i5 CPU with 4 GBRAM (expandable to 8 GB). The notebook shown in the figure has an integrated 500 GB hard drive for storage and a DVD/CD-RW burner. It comes standard with an HDMIconnector, one Kensington Lock port, 2 USB 2.0 ports, one

4

FIGURE 3—TheCompaq Portable


headphone, one microphone, one RJ-45, and a 7-in-1 mediacard reader. At this point, you should review the followingterms:

PCMCIA Slot. Thin slot for credit card–sized hard drives, net-work cards, or modems. These aren’t as common as theyonce were.

FireWire™. Hot-pluggable serial port similar to USB

Kensington Lock. Locks notebook to prevent theft and pro-tect data

S-Video, TV Out. Connections to run video on a TV

RJ-45. Network interface card (NIC) connector similar to atelephone jack but larger

RJ-11. Telephone jack connector

The notebook measures 13.5 � 9.7 inches wide, 1.2 inchesthick and weighs 6.1 lbs (with battery). This is quite a stepup from the Osborne I.

FIGURE 4—A TypicalNotebook

The other type of notebook, called a desknote, is a combina-tion of notebook and desktop PC (Figure 5). These desknotesare less rugged than a standard notebook but offer larger dis-plays and standard-sized keyboards.

Windows Operating System Features

Since Windows 98, Microsoft has supported notebooks withspecial features included with its OS. These features aredesigned with the special needs of notebooks in mind. Someof these features are used on desktop PCs, but not to theextent a notebook uses them.

Windows XP

Windows XP has features for home and business users. Thenotebook features that were upgraded or included in theWindows XP OS consist of

• ClearType support, a text display technology that triplesthe horizontal resolution for text, resulting in a clearerdisplay of text on a standard LCD screen with digitalinterface


FIGURE 5—A desknote isa combination of note-book and desktop PC.


• A feature called Automatic Configuration for MultipleNetworks, which provides easy access to network devicesand the Internet without having to manually reconfigureTCP/IP settings. If a DHCP server isn’t found, TCP/IPwill use an alternate configuration.

• A Favorites feature for Connection Manager that lets youeliminate repetitive configuration of the ConnectionManager properties when switching between dialing loca-tions. You can choose between saved settings to quicklyset up network connections from each location.

• Infrared (IrComm) modem support, which allows use oflegacy cellular telephones that have IrComm virtualserial ports. If you have a cellular telephone that usesthe IrComm protocol and want to use it as a modem, thenotebook will recognize the cellular telephone, enumer-ate it, and install it as a modem.

• Built-in support for the fastest notebook CPUs andnative supports for the Intel SpeedStep technology. Thiscombination will support a high-speed Intel PentiumProcessor-M and allow it to step down speed to conservepower while on batteries.

• Additional device drivers for large hard drives

• Native support to copy files to writable CDs

Vista/Windows 7

While not introducing any groundbreaking features forportable computers, Windows Vista improves on many of thefeatures introduced with XP and rearranges the location of anumber of features related to managing a portable computer.Among the changes introduced are

• Network and Sharing Center. Available for desktop systems as well, this centralizes all networking activities,including wireless connections, which is where its valuelies for portable computers. Wizards make setting up a wireless connection easier and wireless security andfirewall settings can also be made here.

Legacy—As it applies toPC technology, legacyrefers to applicationsand hardware itemsinherited from earlierthan current technology.


• Synch Center. This is a central location for managingthe synching of other devices with the portable com-putes. This includes smart phones, audio players,desktop computers, even music services.

• Windows Mobile Device Center. A new application thatreplaces the Active Synch function in XP, this synchro-nizes files and Outlook data between the portablecomputers and smart phones. It works better and provides an easier interface than ActiveSync.

• Windows Mobility Center. A feature that will appear onlywhen Windows Vista is installed in a portable computer,this tool centralizes many disparate settings in oneplace. Some examples are presentation settings andpower management.

• Bit Locker Drive Encryption. Designed to mitigate datatheft as result of laptop theft, this feature provides theability to encrypt entire drives, including the system drive.

Native—In computersystems, native means“original” or “basic.”Having native supportmeans you don’t needadditional programmingto access this feature.


Self-Check 1

At the end of each section of Mobile Computing Devices, you’ll be asked to pause andcheck your understanding of what you have just read by completing a “Self-Check” exer-cise. Answering these questions will help you review what you’ve studied so far. Pleasecomplete Self-Check 1 now.

Match the items on the left with their description on the right. Indicate your answers inthe space provided.

______ 1. Credit card-sized slots

to add functionality

______ 2. Speedstep

______ 3. Upgrading your OS

______ 4. A notebook’s design

______ 5. Hot-swapping

______ 6. Bit Locker

______ 7. Windows Mobile Device Center

______ 8. Used to set up a wireless confection

______ 9. Technology inherited from earlier

than current technology

______ 10. A feature that’s present in the

OS without additional programming

Check your answers with those on page 69.

a. Can void your notebook’s warranty

b. Slows down the speed of the IntelPentium Processor-M to conservepower while on batteries

c. Allows replacement of a devicewhile the computer is on

d. PCM/CIA

e. Often very proprietary

f. Legacy

g. Native

h. Used to synchronize files andOutlook data between the portablecomputers and smart phones

i. Network and Sharing Center

j. Encrypts entire drives, includingthe system drive

POWERING YOUR NOTEBOOK

Notebooks can run on conventional power using an AC converter or on batteries. When running on batteries, thenotebook uses an assortment of hardware and software features to minimize power usage.

Power Management

One of the features you’ll need to configure for a notebook PCis the power management feature. When properly configured,this feature can increase the amount of time before the bat-tery pack needs recharging. The Power Options Propertiesbox is accessible by doing the following:

1. Click on Start, point to Settings, and click on Control Panel.

2. Double-click on Power Options to open the PowerOptions Properties dialog box (Figure 6).


FIGURE 6—The PowerOptions Properties Box


From the Power Options Properties box, it’s easy to set theway your notebook performs when you aren’t using it. Thefollowing instructions are offered as a starting point for yourindividualized power management scheme.

1. On the Power Schemes tab, shown in Figure 6, set thetimes for the power scheme settings. The better yourbatteries, the longer you can wait until the systemhibernates.

2. On the Alarms tab, set the values for when youwant the notebook tonotify you that the batter-ies are running out(Figure 7). If hibernate is chosen for the PowerMode of the second set-ting, the notebook willautomatically go intohibernate mode when the batteries are depletedto the set value.

3. The Power Meter tabshows the amount of battery power left in eachof the batteries (Figure 8).The Windows OS supportstwo batteries.

FIGURE 7—Power Options Alarm Tab

4. The Advanced tab allows you to set the way the poweroptions properties are used on your notebook. There are options that allow the display of the power meter,password protection after the notebook goes off standby,and what the notebook will do if the power off switch ispressed, or the cover is closed. The first two settings are personal choices, but the last two affect battery life. It’s recommended that you set the When I close the lid of my portable computer to Hibernate and the When I press the power button on my computerto Shutdown (Figure 9).

5. The Hibernate tab is present only when all of the devicesand components on your notebook support the hibernatefunction (Figure 10). There’s a check box to allow yournotebook to hibernate. The advantage of hibernate overstandby is that all of the information in memory is storedonto the hard drive before shutting down. When acti-vated out of the hibernate state, the notebook returns tothe state it was in before the hibernate state started.

6. Depending on the configuration of your notebook andthe OS you’re using, there may be more tabs on thePower Options Property box. Refer to the documentationthat came with your notebook for setting these tabs.


FIGURE 8—The Power Options Power Meter Tab

FIGURE 9—The Power Options Advanced Tab


The following steps detail the procedure to set your notebookto hibernate after a specified period of time. You must belogged onto your PC with an owner account to complete thisprocedure.

1. Click Start, point to Settings and click on ControlPanel.

2. Double-click on Power Options.

3. Select the Hibernate tab, click on the Enable hibernatesupport check box, and then click on Apply. If theHibernate tab is unavailable, your computer doesn’tsupport the hibernation feature.

4. Click the Advanced Power Management (APM) tab,select Enable Advanced Power Management support,and then click Apply. If the APM tab is unavailable,then you’ve an Advanced Configuration and PowerInterface (ACPI) compliant PC. ACPI automatically enablesAdvanced Power Management, which disables the APM tab.

FIGURE 10—TheHibernate Tab on thePower Options PropertyBox


5. Click the Power Schemes tab, and then select a time inSystem hibernates. Your notebook will hibernate after ithas been idle for the specified amount of time.

There may be times you want your notebook to go into hiber-nate mode without waiting until it does this automatically.This choice is often made when the batteries are low and youdon’t want to go through the process of closing all of youropen applications. To manually put the notebook into hiber-nate mode, just close the cover (if you’ve set this option onthe Advanced tab) or use the following procedure. To completethis procedure, you must be logged onto the PC as an admin-istrator or a member of either the Administrators or PowerUsers group. If your computer is connected to a network, net-work policy settings can also prevent you from completingthis procedure.

1. Click on Start, point to Settings, and click on ControlPanel.

2. Double-click on Power Options.

3. Click the Hibernate tab, click on the Enable hibernatesupport check box, and then click on Apply. If theHibernate tab isn’t available, your computer doesn’t sup-port this feature.

4. Click on OK to close the Power Options Properties dialogbox.

5. Click on Start and then Shut down.

6. In the “What do you want the computer to do?”drop-down list, click Hibernate (Figure 11).

FIGURE 11—Set the notebook to Hibernate.


Windows XP Power Management Features

The following power management features for notebooks wereadded or enhanced with the release of the Windows XP OS:

• The notebook can be made to run with lower CPUspeeds while on battery power. The reduced CPU speedssave on battery power, giving notebooks extended use.

• With CardBus Wake-on-LAN, notebook computers inStandby mode can be woken up for administrative taskslike system updates, and then returned to Standby. Thisfunction allows system administrators to work remotelyon notebooks without requiring them to be left on fullpower.

• When batteries are running low, Windows XP can auto-matically put your computer in hibernate mode to saveyour open work before battery failure. This is called thewake on battery feature.

• When the lid of the notebook is closed, an additionaloption allows you to choose to have the display poweredoff to conserve battery power.

• When a notebook is running on battery power, a newfeature dims the LCD monitor. When the notebook isreconnected to AC power, the LCD monitor returns to itsoriginal brightness.

Technical Note

If you’re using Windows XP with “Fast User Switching” turned on,the Shut Down menu will present the options “Stand by,” “Turn off,”or “Restart your computer.” Hold down the Shift key, and the “Standby” button will change to “Hibernate.”


Power Management in Windows Vistaand Windows 7

Vista Laptop/Portable Power Options Improvements

With the release of Windows Vista, more power option improve-ments were made. They include the following:

• All power off options are set to send the computer intosleep mode, not shutdown.

• Sleep is the only option (no hibernate) but it does every-thing you need it to do.

• Both sleep and resume produce immediate results, with nowaiting.

Windows 7 Laptop/Portable Power OptionsImprovements

With the release of Windows 7, more power option improve-ments were made. They include

• More granular control of various power settings

• Significant increase in the battery life

• More efficiency in the entire power management system

In these two operating systems all the same functions exist asin Windows XP, but the layout of the dialog boxes is completelydifferent from XP.

Windows Vista/Windows 7 automatically put a computer intohibernation. To stop this behavior, you must be logged on as anadministrator or a member of the Administrators group. If yourcomputer is connected to a network, network policy settingsmay also prevent you from completing this procedure.

To manually put your computer into hibernation, you must belogged on as an administrator or a member of either theAdministrators or Power Users group. If your computer is con-nected to a network, network policy settings might also preventyou from completing this procedure.

1. Click the Start button, click the small arrow next to theLock button, and then click Hibernate.


Managing Power Plans (Schemes) in Windows 7

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button, clickingControl Panel, then Power Options (Figure 12).

2. On the Select a power plan page (Figure 13), clickChange plan settings under the selected plan. Thereare three plans, but only one can be in effect at a time.

3. On the Change settings for the plan page, click Changeadvanced power settings (Figure 14).

4. On the Advanced settings tab, expand Sleep, expandSleep after, and then do one of the following:

FIGURE 12—Click PowerOptions.

FIGURE 13—Click Change Plan Settings.


• If you’re using a mobile PC, click On battery orPlugged in (or both), click the arrow, and then click Never.

• If you’re using a desktop computer, click Setting,click the arrow, and then click Never (Figure 15).

FIGURE 14—ChangeAdvanced Power Settings

FIGURE 15—AdvancedSettings, Adjust SleepAfter


5. Expand Hibernate after, and then do one of the following:

• If you’re using a mobile PC, click On battery or Plugged in (or both), click the arrow, and thenclick Never.

• If you’re using a desktop computer, click Setting,click the arrow, and then click Never (Figure 16).

To Set the Alarms Feature

By default, Windows Vista/Windows 7 users are notifiedwhen a computer's battery runs low. No action is required.To stop this, use the following procedure:

1. Open Power Options by clicking the Start button, clickingControl Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and thenclicking Power Options.

FIGURE 16—Click Never.


2. On the Select a power plan page, click Change plan settings under the selected plan. There are three plans,but only one can be in effect at a time.

3. On the Change settings for the plan page, click Changeadvanced power settings.

4. On the Advanced settings tab, expand Sleep, expandAllow wake timers, and then click the arrow next toSetting: and set it to Disable (Figure 17).

Batteries

If you use your notebook while it’s unplugged, you’re usingbatteries to power it. It’s recommended that you carry a fullycharged spare battery or battery pack at all times. The costof a spare battery pack is small compared to the loss of pro-ductive time on your notebook PC while you’re waiting forthe batteries to recharge. We’ve already covered the setup ofthe power management features to make the most of yourbatteries. Now let’s discuss the batteries themselves.

FIGURE 17—Adjust AllowWake Timers.


Replacing Notebook Batteries

Batteries and battery packs, as well as their installation procedures, are manufacturer specific. To prevent damage to the notebook you’re working on, make sure that you’reinstalling the correct replacement battery or battery pack.Many of the battery connectors are similar, even though voltages could be different.

Included here is an example of instructions for exchanging abattery pack. Refer to the documentation that was includedwith the notebook to replace the batteries.

The following symptoms indicate that battery life is nearingan end. Replace batteries that display these symptoms:

• Shorter work times

• Discoloration, warping

• Hot to the touch

• Strange odor

Replace the battery pack as follows:

1. Save your files, exit Windows, and turn off system power.

2. Close the LCD panel and turn over the system.

3. Find the battery release latch (Figure 18). Slide it towardthe right side of the notebook, holding firmly.

Battery BayReleaseLatch

Lithium–Ion Battery

FIGURE 18—The batteryrelease latch is locatedjust above the batterybay.


4. Continue to hold the battery release latch as you slidethe old battery pack out of the notebook (Figure 19).

5. Locate the alignment groove on the edge of the battery back.

6. Locate the alignment groove inside the battery bay.

7. Align the grooves on the new battery pack with thegrooves in the bay.

8. Slide the new battery pack into the bay until securelylocked into place.

9. Turn the system over.

Types of Batteries

There are three major types of replaceable battery productsfor notebook PCs:

• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) is one of the common materialsused in rechargeable battery packs for notebook PCs.NiCad batteries can provide considerable power, but theyneed to be recharged every three or four hours. Fullrecharging can take as much as twelve hours, althoughnewer batteries can be recharged in just a few hours.

Battery BayConnectors

Battery BayReleaseLatch

Lithium–Ion Battery

FIGURE 19—Removingthe Battery Pack


Older NiCad batteries suffer from a phenomenon knownas the “memory effect.” If the batteries were only partiallydrained and then recharged, they lose their capacity tobe fully charged. This isn’t such a problem with modernNiCad batteries. Even with full drainage (called deep discharging), all batteries have a limit to the number oftimes they can be recharged. The maximum for mostNiCad batteries is about one thousand recharges.

• Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) is another common mate-rial used in battery packs for notebooks. NiMH batteriesdon’t use heavy metals that may have toxic effects. Inaddition, they can store up to 50% more power thanNiCad batteries and don’t suffer from “memory effects.”The drawback is that they’re more expensive than corre-sponding NiCad batteries.

• Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Li-ion batteries use lithium com-pounds and are designed to be recharged hundreds oftimes. These batteries can store more energy than otherrechargeable batteries. They also operate at higher volt-ages than other rechargeables (about 3.7 volts for Li-ionas opposed to 1.2 volts for NiMH or NiCad). This meansa single cell can often be used rather than multipleNiMH or NiCad cells.

Lithium-ion batteries will retain their charge for a longer timethan other types of rechargeable batteries. NiMH and NiCadbatteries can lose anywhere from 1–5% of their charge perday, even if they aren’t installed in a device. Lithium-ion batteries will retain most of their charge even after months of storage.

Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive than similar-capacity NiMH or NiCad batteries. This is because they havespecial circuitry to protect the battery from damage due toovercharging or undercharging. Lithium-ion batteries alsorequire sophisticated chargers that monitor the chargingprocess.

Even though Li-ion batteries can hold a charge for manymonths, its best to store them with a partial or full charge. If a Li-ion battery with a very low charge is stored for a long


period of time, its voltage will drop below the level at whichthe built-in safety mechanism will allow the battery to berecharged. If the battery is going to be stored for severalmonths, it’s a good idea to take it out and recharge it after a few months.

Disposal

The proper disposal of used, nonrechargeable batteries is theresponsibility of the person doing the replacement. Thoughrechargeable battery packs have a long life, they’ll wear outover time and will need to be properly disposed of. Allrechargeable batteries are recyclable and should be recycled.Most places that sell rechargeable batteries will also acceptthem back for recycling. They should never be incinerated,since they might explode.

Check with local ordinances for lists of locations that willproperly dispose of used batteries and battery packs. This isa particular concern with batteries and battery packs thatcontain heavy metals like lithium and cadmium.


Self-Check 2

1. What type of batteries can suffer from memory effect?

a. Ni-Cad c. Lithium-ionb. NiMH d. AAA

2. Which control panel applet is used to navigate to power options in Windows Vista?

__________________________________________________________

3. What is one symptom of a battery that needs replacing?

__________________________________________________________

Indicate whether the following statements are True or False.

______ 4. In XP, when running low on power the display dims.

______ 5. If your battery is hot to the touch, you should replace it.

______ 6. Return your worn-out battery packs to the store where you bought them.


______ 7. CardBus Wake-on-LAN

______ 8. Hibernate

______ 9. Lithium-ion batteries


a. Should never be deep-discharged

b. Allows system administrators towork remotely on notebooks

c. Saves your data before poweringdown the notebook


UPGRADING A NOTEBOOK

Notebooks are designed with a proprietary design that doesn’tallow for inexpensive upgrades. Memory and many of thestorage devices are manufacturer specific. It’s prudent to buya notebook with all of the features you need. Purchasing alow-end model with the anticipation of upgrading often endsup being more costly.

If you do have a notebook that needs upgrading, carefullyweigh the expense of the upgrades against the purchase priceof a notebook with the features you need. Upgrades are quitestraightforward from a mechanical and electrical point of viewbut are quite expensive.

Memory Upgrade

Most memory upgrades use proprietary memory modules.These Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules (SODIMMs)are used in a majority of notebook computers. The new IntelCore i7 products use Double-Data-Rate SynchronousDynamic Random Access Memory (DDRSDRAM) chips tosupport their faster speeds. In specification sheets, it willmore likely be referred to as simply DDR. This memory ismost often found in 144- and 200-pin configurations, withthe 200 pin the most common. SO-RIMMs are made byRambus and, having a different technology, have 160 connector pads.

There are three generations of DDR, two of which are still in use. DDR2 is still in use but are much more likely toencounter DDR3. Memory speeds can be designated by the

26

WARNING

Failure to remove power from the system may cause personal injury,shock, or even death. In addition, failure to wear an electrostatic discharge(ESD) wrist strap during this proceduremay cause electrostatic damage to theequipment.

Electrostatic discharge(ESD)—This is a releaseof stored static electric-ity traveling fromsomething (such asyour body) into a con-ductor (such as the PCyou’re working on).

Electrostatic discharge(ESD) wrist strap—A safety device used tochannel static electric-ity to a proper ground,typically the computer’schassis, while handlingsensitive computerequipment.

You’ll find additionalresources for computerrepair athttp://electronics.howstuffworks.com/tech


memory type and its clock rating, like DDR3 1066. It canalso be designated by listing the type along with the band-width, as in PC3-8500.

Available types, from fastest to slowest, are as follows:

• DDR3 1600 / PC3-12800

• DDR3 1333 / PC3-10600

• DDR3 1066 / PC3-8500

• DDR2 800 / PC2-6400

• DDR3 800 / PC3-6400

• DDR2 667 / PC2-5300 or PC2-5400

• DDR2 533 / PC2-4200

• DDR2 400 / PC2-3200

Remember that almost all memory upgrades will be specificto the manufacturer and model of your notebook. Also, keepin mind that the installation procedures for upgrading memorydiffer depending on the notebook you’re working on. Alwayscheck the documentation that came with the notebook computer.

The following instructions are an example of memory upgradesfor a notebook.

Use the following steps to upgrade the system memory.

1. Power off the system, disconnect AC power, and discon-nect any peripheral devices.

2. Locate the screw securing the memory bay cover to thebottom of the notebook (Figure 20).

3. Remove the screw and lift off the memory bay cover.


4. If you’re replacing a memory module, remove theinstalled memory module as follows:

• Press the locking tabs away from the sides of themodule until the module pops up at an angle (Figure 21).

• Pull the memory module out of the slot along thesame angle and store it in a static-free bag.

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Alignment Notch

Locking Tabs

FIGURE 21—Locking tabssecure the memory modulein its bed.

FIGURE 20—Opening theMemory Bay Cover


5. Install the new memory module as follows:

• Locate the alignment notch on the module.

• Align the notch with the key in the slot connector.

• Holding the memory module at a 40-degree angle tothe notebook, insert the module connector into thesocket. Firmly push the module into the socket.

• Press down on the edge of the memory module untilthe locking tabs on the sides of the socket snap intoplace, securing the module.

6. Replace the memory bay cover and secure it with the screw.

7. Turn the system over. Reconnect peripherals and the ACadapter power cable.

Add-on Devices

Notebooks are designed with highly proprietary inner compo-nents. To make up for this, notebooks support add-ondevices to upgrade the features of the base notebook. Theseadd-on devices are designed to connect to the notebook infour separate ways:

• Communication ports

• Drive bays

• PC Cards (previously known as Personal ComputerMemory Card International Association [PCMCIA] Cards)

• Flash memory

Communications Ports

The most conventional way to add a device to a notebook isusing a communications port. Most notebooks come with alarge number and variety of communications ports (Figure 22).These ports support add-on devices the same way a PCwould. The illustration shows a laptop with a wider varietythan you might find on most notebooks. Today you wouldless likely to see a parallel connector as most printers useUSB connections. You also would be less likely to find an


RJ-11, slot which is used for a phone line to be used with amodem. Among the connector types you’re likely to find thataren’t pictured are HDMI connections and a slot for SD/MMCmemory cards.

Drive Bays

The drive bays (Figure 23) on a notebook are used for largebuilt-in devices. These devices are commonly hard drives,optical (CD/DVD) drives, and floppy drives. Traditionally,these devices are very brand specific. CD, and/or DVD drivesare normally part of a notebook’s purchased configuration.

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Secure DigitalMedia Card CD/DVD Drive USB Ethernet

Power USB VGA USB

USB Microphone Headphone Digital Audio/VideoConnector (HDMI)

FIGURE 22—A Notebook’sCommunications Ports

FIGURE 23—Most drivesremove from a notebookfairly easily. Sliding thisfloppy drive out from thedrive bay is simple oncethe release catch is manip-ulated.


Being installed into one of the notebooks’ bays allows thesedevices the use of the notebook’s power supply. This is bothan advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that youdon’t need to charge these devices separately as required onexternal and PCMCIA devices. In addition, you don’t need topurchase spare battery packs for these devices. The disadvan-tage is that by always being connected, these devices drainpower from the notebook even when the device isn’t running.

Changing, upgrading, or replacing these devices involvesunplugging the old device from the drive bay and then plug-ging in the new device. This can be done without turning offthe notebook.

PC Cards

Notebook computers use PC Cards (previously known asPCMCIA cards) to add and upgrade features (Figure 24). PC Cards are credit card–size memory or I/O devices that fitinto a notebook. There are 16-bit, 32-bit(CardBus), and zoomed video (ZV) porttypes of PC Cards. A PC Card has a 68-pinconnector that connects into a slot in thenotebook. There are three different sizes (ortypes) of PC Card adapters on notebookPCs, referred to as Type I, II, and III. Theseadapters are used across brands and con-figurations of the notebook PC industry.

The three sizes (or types) of PC Cards aredescribed in Table 1.

PC CardSlot

FIGURE 24—PC Cards, which are used toenhance existing features in a notebook, slideconveniently into the PC Card slot.

Zoomed video (ZV)port—A port thatenables data to betransferred directlyfrom a PC Card to real-time multimediadevices such as videocameras.

Table 1

PC CARD TYPES

Type Thickness Typical Use

I 3.3 mm Memory

II 5.0 mm Modem, Ethernet, LAN, SCSI,and Sound

III 10.5 mm Hard drive

The Type I and II cards work in a Type III slot, and a Type Icard will work in a Type II slot. It’s also possible to put aType I card with a Type II card in a Type III slot. The PC Cardisn’t to be confused with another credit card–size electroniccard, the smart card.

A Type IV card measuring 16 mm has been introduced byToshiba but hasn’t been standardized or sanctioned by thePCMCIA. At one time the most common use of a PC Card ona notebook was for a modem. As the use of modems largelydisappeared, the most common use for these ports becamewireless adaptor cards. Then when built-in wireless functionalitybecame common and many of the devices that used theseconnections converted to USB, these ports became less common in laptops.

Flash Memory

Flash memory is a type of removable media that’s used tomove data from one portable device (notebook or PDA) toanother (Figure 25). There are two major flash memory components:

• The read/write device

• The flash memory card


FIGURE 25—FlashMemory Cards


The read/write device is a small mechanism that accepts theflash memory card. Inside the read/write device there are ter-minals that connect with the contacts on the flash mediacard. The other end of the read/write device connects to thenotebook or other device.

The flash memory card is a small device that contains a flashmemory chip and often a controller chip. The data on a flashmemory card is stable and isn’t dependent on external poweror periodic refreshes of the data stored. This type of memoryis considered “solid-state” and has a low failure rate if theflash memory card is handled correctly. With the lack of moving parts, the flash memory card isn’t going to experiencemechanical failures like most other types of removable storagemedia. (The IBM Microdrive and the switch on Secure Digitaland MemoryStick flash memory cards are the only movingparts on these devices.)

Flash memory cards are used by a multitude of different devices.It’s good to either get a universal flash memory adapter for yournotebook so you can use most of the six different types ofcards, or get flash memory devices that all use the same type of card. (Good luck!) It’s best to wait to get flash memorywhen it’s required in performing a job or to support an externaldevice.

You may think that flash memory technology is new, but thistechnology has been used in the BIOS of your PC. There aremany advantages to flash memory over most other forms ofremovable storage. Flash memory cards are

• Small and light

• Extremely portable

• Completely silent

• Good for fast data access

• Almost immune to mechanical damage

With flash memory cards offering so many advantages overmost other removable storage devices, why don’t we converteverything over to flash memory? Actually, laptops with solid-state drives are coming to market but generally cost 400–500dollars more than the same laptop with a conventional harddrive. The SSDs do provide better performance than the

conventional drives, but whether the difference is worth theprice is still under debate. Even with their comparatively highcost, the flash memory card has reduced the size and cost ofmany portable devices. Moreover, with no moving parts, theSSDs are undeniably more rugged.

There are six major types of flash memory cards.

CompactFlash. Sandisk developed CompactFlash cards in 1994. CompactFlash consists of a small circuit board withflash memory chips and a controller chip. These are encasedin a plastic shell. CompactFlash cards are 43 mm (1.7 in.)wide and 36 mm (1.4 in.) long, and come in two thicknesses.Type I cards are 3.3 mm (0.13 in.) thick, and Type II cardsare 5.5 mm (0.19 in.) thick.

CompactFlash cards support either 3.3 volts or 5 volts. Thethickness of the card allows for greater storage capacity. Low-cost CompactFlash sizes currently range from 1 GB to 16 GB.These range in price from $10 to $50. The Extreme III intro-duced in 2008 is 32 GB. Another company, Pretec makes acard that holds 64 GB and even one that holds 100 GB!

CompactFlash cards adhere to PCMCIA standards. The PCM-CIA is an industry group that promotes standards for creditcard–size memory or I/O devices that fit into a notebook orlaptop computer. The initial standard and its subsequentreleases describe the PC Card. By adhering to these stan-dards, it’s easy to use CompactFlash products in a variety ofdevices. You can also buy adapters that allow you to accessthese cards through a USB port, or PCMCIA card slot.


Professional Tip

Type II read/write devices can take both Type I and Type IICompactFlash memory cards. A Type I read/write device willaccept only Type I CompactFlash memory cards. If you’re purchasing a CompactFlash memory read/write device, or aportable device that contains a CompactFlash memory read/writedevice, it’s recommended that you get one that accepts Type IICompactFlash memory cards.


IBM Microdrive. The IBM Microdrive isn’t a flash memorydevice but is marketed as one. We’ve put this device with theflash memory cards because it’s used in the same ways asflash cards, and many of the universal readers treat and sup-port the IBM Microdrive as a type of flash memory card. Withthose disclaimers, we’ll proceed with the description of theIBM Microdrive.

The IBM Microdrive doesn’t use flash memory, but uses thesame technology as the hard drive in your PC. Because of thisfact, it’s a bit slower and less stable than flash memory cards.

There are other drawbacks to the IBM Microdrive. The IBMMicrodrive draws more power from the device it’s connectedto. You can expect the battery life on a laptop to be shortenedon the average of three hours if using the IBM Microdrive ascompared to most flash memory products. Another problemis the fact that the IBM Microdrive has moving parts inside.Where there’s movement, there’s wear and eventual failure.The read/write device connects like any other flash memorycard device and has no moving parts. The IBM Microdrive is also a bit slower, so if you work a lot on speed-critical programs, you may notice the difference when using the IBM Microdrive as compared to flash memory.

An advantage to the IBM Microdrive is that it’s much lessexpensive (approximately $0.06 per MB of storage compared to $0.13 per MB for flash memory).

MemoryStick. The MemoryStick is a Sony product. TheMemoryStick hardware consists of a flash memory, a controlintegrated circuit, a write-protect switch, and crystal oscilla-tion attached to the control integrated circuit (Figure 26).These are encased in a plastic shell. The MemoryStick’swrite-protect switch allows the card to be accessed in read-only mode. MemoryStick cards are 21.45 mm (0.84 in.) wide,50 mm (2.0 in.) long, and 2.8 mm (0.11 in.) thick. Cards arecurrently available in sizes ranging from 1 GB to 32 GB.

MultiMediaCard. SanDisk Corporation and SiemensAG/Infineon Technologies AG jointly developed theMultiMediaCard, which was released in November 1997.MultiMediaCards are 24 mm (0.87 in.) wide, 32 mm (1.3 in.)long, and 1.4 mm (0.055 in.) thick. They weigh less than two grams (0.071 oz) and are the smallest removable solid-state flash memory card. The MultiMediaCard currentlycomes in sizes ranging from 64 MB to 2 GB.

MultiMediaCards use ROM technology for read-only applicationsand flash technology for read/write applications. The moldedpackage has a seven-pad (pin) serial interface for easy-to-install serial integration into various devices, regardless ofthe microprocessor used.

Secure Digital. The Secure Digital (SD) card is a highlysecure stamp-sized flash memory card jointly developed byMatsushita Electronic (best known for its Panasonic brandname products), SanDisk, and Toshiba. The Secure Digitalcards were introduced in the fall of 2000. The card is 24 mm


Write–Protect Switch

MemoryStickI/F

FlashI/F

ControlIntegrated

Circuit

OSCX’TAL

FlashMemory

FIGURE 26—Sony’sMemoryStick


(0.87 in.) wide, 32 mm (1.3 in.) long, and 2.1 mm (0.083 in.)thick and weighs approximately two grams (0.071 oz). The SDCard currently comes in sizes ranging from 2 GB to 32 GB.

The Secure Digital card offers cryptographic security forcopyrighted data, based on concepts from DVD audio. It alsohas a mechanical write-protect switch on the exterior cardcasing. Another feature is the Secure Digital card’s relativelystrong case with an operating shock rating of 2,000 Gs,which is equivalent to a 10-foot drop to the floor. New SecureDigital read/write devices will accept MultiMediaCards. Thisis a one-way compatibility. MultiMediaCard read/writedevices won’t accept Secure Digital cards.

A unique feature of the Secure Digital card is the card’s security level. It’s the only flash card that complies with the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) portable devicerequirements. The SDMI is developing specifications that willprotect the playing, storing, and distributing of digital music.

SmartMedia. The solid-state floppy-disk card (SSFDC), better known as SmartMedia, was originally developed by Toshiba. The card itself is small, 45 mm (1.8 in.) long, 37 mm (1.5 in.) wide, and less than 1 mm (0.039 in.) thick.SmartMedia cards are available in capacities ranging from 16 MB to 128 MB. The thin packaging of SmartMedia cardsrequires the user to take special care in handling the cards.

SmartMedia cards adhere to standards developed by thePersonal Computer Memory Card International Association(PCMCIA). By adhering to these standards, it’s easy to useSmartMedia products in a variety of devices. Adapters areavailable that allow you to access these cards through astandard floppy drive, USB port, or PCMCIA card slot.

Troubleshooting Notebook Problems

With the exception of the differences listed in this study unit,notebooks work the same as desktop PCs. Troubleshootingskills and strategies used for desktop PCs should be appliedto notebooks.

When working on notebooks, be very aware of warranty issues.What you can do to the notebook and still have it covered bythe factory warranty differs from notebook to notebook and canchange depending on where you live. The documentation thatcame with your notebook should outline the warranty. This documentation often has a troubleshooting section that will give you guidelines for your notebook. Remember, the OS andhardware configurations that are loaded are specific to yournotebook, making the manufacturer your best source for sup-port. As with a regular PC, keep software applications, antivirussignature files, operating-system patches, Internet browsers,and device drivers up to date. Table 2 offers a partial list ofnotebook manufacturers’ Web sites.



Table 2

NOTEBOOK MANUFACTURERS’ WEB SITES

Manufacturer Web Site Manufacturer Web Site

Acer www.acer.com Hewlett-Packard www.hp.com

Advent www.advent.com HyperData www.hyperdatadirect.com

Akia www.akia.com IBM www.ibm.com

AJP www.ajp.co.uk Jetta www.jetta.com

Alcam www.alcam.com Lenovo www.lenovo.com

AlienWare www.alienware.com Lynx www.lynxnet.com

ASUS http://usa.asus.com MaxData www.maxdata.de (in German)

Averatec www.shopaveratec.com MotionComputing www.motioncomputing.com

BSI www.bsicomputer.com PaceBlade www.paceblade.com

Chembook www.chemusa.com Packard Bell www.packardbell.co.uk

Clevo www.clevo.com.tw PegoCom www.pegocom.de (in German)

Compal www.compal.com ProStar www.pro-star.com

Compaq www.compaq.com Rock Direct www.rockdirect.com

DELL www.dell.com Sager www.sagernotebook.com

EuroCom www.eurocom.ca Sony www.sony.com

Falcon Northwest www.falcon-nw.com Tadpole www.tadpole.com

FIC www.fic.com.tw Targa www.targa-online.com

Fujitsu (US) www.fujitsupc.com Toshiba www.toshiba.com

Gateway www.gateway.com Twinhead www.twinhead.com

Gericom www.gericom.com( in German) Uniwill www.uniwill.com

Hitachi www.hitachipc.com Voodoo www.voodoopc.com


Self-Check 3


______ 1. ESD can ruin a memory module.

______ 2. Memory module replacement is unique to the notebook you’re working on.

______ 3. Memory modules are hot-swappable.

______ 4. IBM Micro drives cost more than Compact Flash drives but perform better.

______ 5. The maximum size of MemorySticks is 32 GB.

______ 6. Memory for laptops usually comes in 175- and 250-pin configurations.


______ 7. Flash card

______ 8. Drive bays

______ 9. Communications port

______ 10. PC Cards


a. Credit card–size memory or I/O devices

b. The most conventional way to add adevice

c. A type of removable media that’s usedto move data from one portable deviceto another

d. Used for large built-in devices


COMMUNICATING WITH NOTEBOOKS

The portability of notebooks often means the information onyour notebook won’t match the information on your office orhome desktop computer. Features are included in the WindowsOS to help bridge the information gap between the PC you useand the PC you have in the office or at home. Windows XP’sOnline Files, and Windows Vista and Windows 7 Synch Center,discussed earlier in this study unit, allow for the synchronizationof data between computers.

This section details the communication tools you can usewhen you’re using a remote network connection to shareinformation.

Remote Desktop

With the Remote Desktop feature, you can remotely controlyour computer from another office, from home, or while trav-eling. This allows you to use the data, applications, andnetwork resources that are on your office computer withoutbeing in your office. To use Remote Desktop, you need

• Windows XP Professional or later installed on your officecomputer, or whichever computer you plan to operateremotely. This computer is known as the host.

• A remote computer running Windows XP or a morerecent version of Windows. This computer is known as the client and must have the Remote DesktopConnection client software installed. For Windows XP and later, the client software is included in the operating system.

• A connection to the Internet. A broadband Internet con-nection improves performance, but it’s not necessarybecause Remote Desktop transfers only the minimal data(such as display data and keyboard data) to remotelycontrol your host computer. Therefore, even low-band-width Internet connections allow you to remotely controlyour office computer.

Host—A device or program that providesservices to some smalleror less capable device orprogram.

Client—The requestingdevice or program in aclient/host relationship.


Setting up an Office Computer to Use RemoteDesktop

Windows XP. The following instructions assume your computer is part of a network in which Remote Desktop con-nections are permitted. If you’re unsure, ask your systemadministrator.

You must first enable the Remote Desktop feature on youroffice computer so that you can control it remotely fromanother computer. You must be logged on as an administra-tor or a member of the Administrators group to enableRemote Desktop on your Windows XP Professional-basedcomputer.

1. Click on Start, then Control Panel, and double-click onthe System icon.

2. Click on the Remote tab and then click on the Allowusers to connect remotely to this computer check box(Figure 27).

42

FIGURE 27—SystemProperties Remote Tab


3. Ensure that you’ve the proper permissions to connect toyour computer remotely, and click on Apply.

4. With your computer running and connected to the network with Internet access, lock your computer and go to a remote site.

Vista and Windows 7

1. Click on Start, then Control Panel, and double-click onthe System icon.

2. In the menu on the left side of the screen select RemoteSettings (Figure 28).

FIGURE 28—Changing System Properties for Vista and Windows 7


3. In the System properties dialog box, check the Allowconnections from computers running any version ofRemote desktop (less secure) if the computer that willbe connecting to this computer is XP or older or checkAllow connections only from computers runningRemote desktop with Network Level Authentication(more secure) if the computer that will be connecting tothis computer is Vista or newer.

Establishing a Virtual Private Network Connection

You can make your Internet communications secure andextend your private network with a Virtual Private Network(VPN) connection. VPN uses a technique known as tunneling.Tunneling is a technology that enables the remote desktopconnection to send its data over a public network’s connec-tions. Tunneling works by encapsulating a network protocolwithin packets carried by the public network. Microsoft’sPoint-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) will transfer datasecurely on the Internet to a remote access server on yourhome or workplace network. Using a VPN helps you savemoney by using the public Internet instead of making long-distance phone calls to connect securely with your privatenetwork.

The connection over the Internet is encrypted and secure.The remote access server enforces new authentication andencryption protocols. Sensitive data is hidden from the pub-lic, but it’s securely accessible to the appropriate usersthrough a VPN.

There are two ways to create a VPN connection: by dialing anInternet service provider (ISP) or by connecting directly to theInternet. If you dial into an ISP, your ISP then makes anothercall to the private network’s remote access server to establishthe PPTP tunnel. After authentication, you can access the work-place network. If you’re already connected to the Internet on alocal area network, a cable modem, or a digital subscriber line(DSL), you can make a tunnel through the Internet and connectdirectly to the remote access server. After authentication, youcan access the workplace network.

44


Making a VPN Connection in Windows Vista andWindows 7

VPN connections in Windows Vista and Windows 7 utilize allthe same concepts as that in XP; that is, they use a tunnelingprotocol and require an Internet connection to be establishedprior to the VPN connection, however the procedure to establishthe connection is different. Use the following steps:

1. Click on the Start button and click Control Panel.

2. Click on Network and Internet in Control Panel.

3. As shown in Figure 29, select Connect to a Network.

4. If you’re currently connected to a network when you’re per-forming this procedure, you’ll be informed of that, butyou’ll be offered an option at the bottom of the screencalled Set up a connection or Network, Click on this.

5. As shown in Figure 30, on the Connect to a Network dialog box, select the option Connect to a workplacethen click Next.

FIGURE 29—Connect to a Network

6. In the Connect to a Workplace dialog box select Use myInternet connection (VPN).

7. In the Type the Internet Address to Connect to dialogbox, fill in the address of the VPN server which youshould get from the network administrator. In theDestination box, type what you want to appear in theConnect to a network screen when you’re done. Lastly,make sure that the checkbox labeled Don’t connectnow; just set it up so I can connect later is checked.Then click the Next button.

8. When the screen shown in Figure 31 appears, type inyour username and password and click Create.


FIGURE 30—Connect to a Workplace


Creating a New Remote Desktop Connection

The following procedure will establish a new Remote Desktopconnection:

1. Click on Start, point to Programs or All Programs,Accessories, Communications (in Vista and Windows 7go directly to Remote Desktop Connection) and then clickon Remote Desktop Connection.

2. In the Computer box, type the computer name for yourhost PC (Figure 32).

3. Click Connect and the Log On to Windows dialog box willappear (Window Security box in Vista and Windows 7).

FIGURE 31—Type in your Username and Password, and click Create.

4. In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your username, password, and domain (if required), and thenclick OK. The Remote Desktop window will open andyou’ll see the desktop settings, files, and programs thatare on your office computer. Your office computer willremain locked. No one will be able to work at your officecomputer without a password, nor will anyone see thework you’re doing remotely on your office computer.

To change your connection settings such as screen size,automatic log-on information, and performance options, click Options before you connect.

Opening a Saved Connection

When a remote desktop connection is established, a file is created. This Remote Desktop (.rdp) file contains all of the information for this connection to your remote computer,including all of the Options settings that you selected. You can have many, customized versions of .rdp files including ones for connecting to the same computer with different set-tings. For example, you can save a file that connects to acomputer in 1024 � 768, 24 binary digit (bit) color mode, andanother file that connects to the same computer in 800 � 600screen resolution, which better matches your notebook.Normally, .rdp files are saved in the My Documents\RemoteDesktops folder. To edit an .rdp file and change the connectionssettings it contains, right-click the file and then click Edit.To establish a connection with an existing Remote Desktop, in Windows Explorer, open the (My) Documents\RemoteDesktops folder and then click on the associated .rdp file.


FIGURE 32—RemoteDesktop ConnectionWindow

Binary digit (bit)—Thisis the smallest unit ofdata in a computer. Abit has a single binaryvalue, either 0 or 1.


Logging Off and Ending the Session

Logging off and ending a remote desktop session is easy. Justfollow these steps:

1. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, click Startand then Shut Down. The Shut Down Windows dialogbox appears.

2. In the drop-down menu, select Log Off <username>, andthen click OK.

Networking

Networking on a notebook is the same as on any other PC.Wireless networking is being used more often with notebooksbecause of the low cost of wireless modems. Wireless Internetconnections have become one of the most popular options fornotebooks. There are many Internet service providers (ISPs)providing wireless services to their subscribers.

To take advantage of the wireless Internet option, you can pur-chase a wireless phone that will take data from a computer, orpurchase a PC Card that supports wireless networking. In mostcases today this is unnecessary because wireless support comesas a standard feature. Contact your local wireless ISP for moreinformation regarding the types of devices supported.

One of the other options available to notebook users is theconnection to a WLAN. This is increasingly popular in andaround college campuses. Again, you can purchase either awireless phone that will take data from a computer, or pur-chase a PC Card that supports wireless networking but thisprobably unnecessary. In this case, a direct connection to theWLAN’s access point or wireless router is required, so thephone or wireless modem must meet the requirements of theestablished WLAN. Check with the network administrator forspecific communication requirements.

Practical Exercise 1

We strongly suggest that you test your skills by performingthe following Practical Exercises.

Practical Exercise 1A

Reset the power management tools on a notebook to put thecomputer into the hibernate mode after one minute. Wait tosee if this works and then reset the hibernate mode back tothe original settings.

Practical Exercise 1B

Use the Internet to research an ISP that has a wirelessInternet option in your area:

1. Use your search engine to find wireless Internet providers.

2. Check the local availability of this service.

3. Find out which communications protocol this ISP is using.

4. Research PC Cards that support this protocol.




Self-Check 4


______ 1. Tunneling

______ 2. WLAN connections

______ 3. The client

______ 4. Remote desktop

Indicate whether the following statementsare True or False.

______ 5. Setting up a network with a notebook is very similar to performing the same task on a

desktop PC.

______ 6. All wireless networking cards are universal and support all wireless networks.

Fill in the blank.

7. The communication protocol used for a remote desktop connections _______.

8. VPN connections make use of _______ protocols.

9. Offline file management in Windows 7 and Vista is done in the _______.


a. Require a direct connection to the hub

b. The requesting device or program

c. Used to control your computer from home

d. A technology that enables a notebook tosend its data over the Internet


SMALLER PORTABLE DEVICES

Notebooks are fully functional portable PCs. With few exceptions, a notebook can run the same programs as a desktop PC. A notebook even uses the same base OS that’s used on desktops.

Now we’re going to discuss another group of portable com-puting devices. These devices aren’t able to use the same OSas desktop and notebook PCs. Most of these devices requirespecialized versions of programs that have reduced or modi-fied features. Some are able to run only the programsinstalled when the device was purchased.

These devices range in size from the basic personal organizerto the tablet PC. What separates this group from the note-books is the need for specialized operating systems that havemodified and often limited functions. The other criteria usedin separating these devices from notebooks are the lack ofsupport for off-the-counter applications.

Devices

The field of PDAs was pioneered by Apple Computer, whichintroduced the Newton MessagePad in 1993. Shortly there-after, several other manufacturers offered similar products,like the PDA shown in Figure 33. These relatively affordabledevices are still highly available.

Professional Tip

Using a monitor wipe, or a cloth containing antistatic and anti-glare cleaner, isn’t recommended for any device in this section.


PDA

Initially, devices that used the PDA name were used as personal organizers for storing and managing addresses and appointments. These devices have evolved since then and now work as cellular phones, fax senders, and Webbrowsers. Unlike portable computers, most PDAs began aspen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input.This means that they also incorporated handwriting-recogni-tion features. Some PDAs can also react to voice input byusing voice recognition technology. For many years PDAdevices commonly used either proprietary operating systems(OS) or the Palm OS. In 2007, the Palm OS became Linux-based and became known as the Palm webOS. Now this OSis available in a version called an emulator that will run onWindows-based mobile devices.

Maintenance on a typical PDA is often limited to chargingand changing batteries, and keeping the device clean. Whenchanging a PDA battery, some models require backing up thedata onto a PC because all data is lost. Other models don’t,so you must read the documentation. You can purchasememory and software upgrades for a PDA. However, the cost of upgrading should be weighed against the cost of purchasing a new PDA.

FIGURE 33—A TypicalPDA

One of the early drawbacks of PDA technology occurredwhen connecting it to the Internet. Because of the small displays and the device-specific software used to achieve this connection, most Web pages wouldn’t display properly on a PDA. This problem has largely remedied, due to thewidespread practice of accessing the Internet on PDAs andsmartphones.

The evolution of PDAs sparked a number of PDA spinoffproducts including the Palm Pilot, pocket PC, Smartphone,handheld PC, and tablet PC.

Keep in mind, many of these functions have begun to convergeinto a single product and the lines between them have becomeblurred. For example many smartphones now continue most orall functions of the devices listed. These multipurpose devicesare sometime being referred to as smart mobile devices now.

The Palm Pilot

The Palm Pilot is worth mentioning from a historical standpoint,but Palm Pilots or Palm PDAs of any type are no longer beingmade. The Palm operating system was used on devices otherthan the devices produced by Palm. Even after Palm stoppedmaking the devices, the operating system lived on and con-tinued to evolve. It’s currently owned by HP and is called the HP Web OS. It’s currently used on touch screen devicescalled touchpads.

The Pocket PC

At about the same time Palm Pilots were being developed,devices that worked like Palm Pilots but didn’t use the Palm OS were being created. Unlike the Palm devices, these devices have survived and are still being producedtoday. Microsoft, Palm, and the companies manufacturingthese devices reached an agreement that these devices wouldbe called pocket PCs.



Pocket PCs had the same features as the competing Palmmodels. Some pocket PCs were equipped with internal wire-less modems to connect with wireless Internet providers andWLANs. Microsoft released many of its desktop programs in amodified, limited-feature version for pocket PCs.

The pocket PC used the Windows-powered pocket PCs productas its operating system. This OS was a subset of MicrosoftWindows CE 3.0 and/or Windows CE .NET. Figure 34 showsan HP iPAQ 211 that would fall into this category. It uses theWindows Mobile 6.0 operating system and comes with 128 MBof RAM and 256 MB of Flash memory (ROM). It can also con-nect wirelessly via either 802.11b/g or with Bluetooth.

FIGURE 34—HP iPAQ 211


Maintenance for a pocket PC includes charging and changingbatteries, and keeping the device and its docking base clean.When changing the battery, you must back up the data onto aPC because data stored on the internal ROM will be lost. Youcan obtain software upgrades through your PC connection andthe USB port, or through wireless Web connections. Whenupgrading, keep in mind the needs of the user because not allupgrades will be of great benefit, and some have caused lostROM data. Upgrading a pocket PC to one that supports wire-less communication requires you to purchase a wirelessphone that will support a wireless Internet connection, andconnect it to the pocket PC. Upgrading the amount of ROMusing flash memory is an easy option to expand the amountof storage on these devices. When upgrading a pocket PC,you need to weigh the cost of the upgrade against the pur-chase price of a new pocket PC with the desired features.

The Smartphone

The Smartphone has a small, high-resolution, graphical color screen that fits on a mobile phone. The screen has high enough resolution and is large enough to play games,view e-mail, view images, and browse the Internet. Thisphone supports some of the software that Palm or WindowsPDA users are familiar with.

Smartphones have experienced an incredible evolution and in many ways have become the ultimate handheld assistant.Many of these devices can do anything a PDA or pocket PC cando and can make phone calls and surf the Web! In Figure 35 isthe Apple iPhone, perhaps the most popular model. It canconnect to both Wi-Fi and 4G (cell phone) networks and hasBluetooth capability as well. It has 32GB of flash capacity.

56


Another example is theMotorola Atrix as shown inFigure 36. It uses the Androidoperating system, which isused by many Smartphones. It can also come with up to 32 GB of external memory and is quite similar features set to the iPhone.

Maintenance of a Smartphoneis limited to charging andchanging batteries, and keep-ing the device clean. Again,when changing the battery, youmay need to back up the dataonto a PC because all data issometimes lost. Memory andsoftware/operating systemupgrades are planned for these

FIGURE 35—Apple iPhone

FIGURE 36—Motorola Atrix


devices, but before upgrading, be sure to weigh the cost ofupgrading against the cost of a new Smartphone with thedesired features.

The Handheld PC

Handheld PCs were the next step up in mobile devices.Handheld PCs incorporate features that complement note-book PCs, pocket PCs, and Smartphones, rather than replacethem. To complement a wide range of mobile devices, hand-held PCs were originally available in a half-sized VGA screenwith an integrated keyboard, or “clamshell” device, as shownin Figure 37. The rear hinging of these computers is whathas earned them the nickname clamshell.

A still small but full-screen device with an integrated key-board is shown in Figure 38.

All handheld PCs are wireless-ready, so users can pick thewired and wireless connectivity options that best fit theirdaily work patterns. Handheld PCs work best in scenarioswhere typing is the most efficient way of capturing data, andwhen displayed, the data appears on a screen big enough to

58

FIGURE 37—A Handheld PC


keep the data in context. A handheld PC is typically used asa mobile device, and is used for running text-intensive appli-cations, for data collection, and for running full desktopapplications. Handheld PCs can also operate as a wirelessInternet or WLAN device. Handheld PCs have features thatset them apart from notebook or laptop computers in thatthey work more like an appliance, such as a TV. For example,

• They have instant on/off.

• They have a battery life that supports a full day’s work,especially when wireless-connected.

• They’re rugged, with no moving parts.

• They have a core operating system and applications thatare protected from accidental removal in read-only memory.

• Items such as e-mail, documents, the calendar, con-tacts, and tasks can be immediately available away froman office, and synchronized upon your return.

FIGURE 38—HandheldPC With IntegratedKeyboard


Maintenance for a handheld PC includes charging and changingbatteries, and keeping the device clean. A device made for harshenvironments with stringent shock and vibration-resistantrequirements, which is also called a rugged device as shown inFigure 39. You can obtain software upgrades through yourPC connection and the USB port, or through wireless Webconnections. When upgrading, keep in mind the needs of the user, because not all upgrades will be of great benefit.Updating a handheld PC’s wireless communication protocol is a software update and should be coordinated with the ISPor WLAN administrator. Upgrading the amount of ROM isperformed using flash memory, which is an easy process.Some handheld PCs also support PC Card ports for deviceand connection upgrades.

The Tablet PC

Until the development of the Apple iPAD and like devices,tablet PCs were the largest and most feature-rich devices thatare included in the PDA category (Figure 40). These deviceswere created to replace notebooks. There are many styles oftablet PCs with each design having its own benefits.

60

FIGURE 39—A RuggedDevice


One type of tablet PC, called a convertible tablet PC, has anattached keyboard and looks much like today’s notebookPCs, until you want to use it as a writing pad. Then, yousimply rotate the screen and lay it flat against the computerfor easy note-taking and pen input. The convertible offers the advantages of a tablet PC with immediate access to theintegrated keyboard.

Pure tablet PC models, like the one shown in Figure 40, areultra-slim and lightweight, with the ability to easily dock at a desktop to gain access to a keyboard and mouse. Puretablets are ideal for people like medical support personnel,doctors, and lawyers who spend much of their day away from their desks seeing patients and clients. These devicescan also support people who spend much of their days inmeetings, where “jotting” notes is preferable to typing.

One advantage of tablet PCs is that they allow a quick change of screen orientation. A tablet PC can switch from portrait tolandscape modes to meet changing work needs. For example, a Microsoft Word document lends itself to portrait mode, whilean Excel spreadsheet may be better viewed in landscape mode.Though most tablet PCs are wireless Internet or WLAN ready,some do require a PC Card to support this feature. Optionaldevices and support are also required for specific secure

FIGURE 40—A Tablet PC

WLAN applications. Tablet PCs can use the Windows 7 operating system, which has built-in capability to manage all tablet functions.

Maintenance for a tablet PC includes all the standard PDAcharging and changing of batteries, and cleaning of thedevice. When changing the battery, you must back up thedata onto a PC because data stored on the internal ROM willbe lost. Software upgrades are planned and will be availablethrough your PC connection and the USB port, or throughwireless Web connections. Updating a tablet PC’s wirelesscommunication is planned to be a software update andshould be coordinated with the ISP or WLAN administrator.PC Cards are used to upgrade memory and other options.

Apple iPAD

Apple created a new category of portable compilers with thetouch screen iPAD, which is shown in Figure 41.


FIGURE 41—Apple iPad


Apple released the first iPad in April 2010, and sold 3 million ofthe devices in 80 days. During 2010, Apple sold 14.8 millioniPads worldwide representing 75 percent of tablet PC sales atthe end of 2010. By the release of the iPad 2 in March 2011,more than 15 million iPads had been sold—more than all othertablet PCs combined. It was followed later by other companiesmaking touch pad computers.

Operating Systems

Up to this point, we’ve mentioned several different operatingsystems that run PDA devices. Now we’re going to discussthree major types of operating systems:

• Proprietary software

• Palm OS

• Microsoft OS

Proprietary Software

Many of the original PDAs had proprietary software thatworked only on the PDA you purchased. Apple Computers,on the Newton MessagePad, introduced this type of software.Proprietary software often doesn’t connect to other computersand runs only very basic programs used to store and manageaddresses and appointments. Most of the current proprietaryoperating systems are extensions of Palm or Microsoft OSand were developed to enhance features on a specific device.Making the proprietary software an extension of a commonlyused OS gives it compatibility with more products.

Palm OS

In 1996, Palm introduced its version of the PDA and its ownoperating system (as a proprietary product). The Palm OSruns on almost two out of every three PDAs. More than 80%of businesses include the Palm OS on their handheld stan-dards lists. The users of the Palm OS include many majorname PDA and Smartphone manufacturers.


The Palm OS allows users to import and modify Microsoft Wordfiles, but the data transfer between Palm OS and Windows OSrequires software to be loaded onto the Windows-based PC. ThePalm OS also allows users to work with Apple applications withfew compatibility problems. The manufacturers supporting PalmOS have created add-on hardware, including digital cameras,MP3 players, cell phones, GPS, and high-speed LAN/WLANconnectivity (802.11b). The Palm operating system softwarewas designed for mobile devices. It uses memory and batterypower efficiently. Batteries on a Palm device can last forweeks without needing to be recharged, which make themeasy to carry around. Knowing that the Palm OS can sharedata with applications using both the Windows and Appleplatforms is a deciding factor when purchasing a PDA.

Microsoft OS

Microsoft offers a multitude of different operating systems for PDAs. The operating systems are device-type dependentand aren’t always cross compatible. You can often upload aWindows file to a desktop PC and then download the samefile to a different category of PDA without damaging the data,but you may not be able to share a Windows file with a dif-ferent category of device on a WLAN.

The operating system products that Microsoft currently supports are

• Windows CE 5.0, which is marketed towards the embed-ded device market and independent device vendors. It ispreferable in situations where wireless and multimediademands will be faced.

• Windows Phone 7, which offers a new user interface withits design language named Metro, integrates the operat-ing system with third-party and other Microsoft services,and controls the hardware it runs on. This will be the pri-mary operating system in Nokia phones starting in 2011.


Wireless Networking and MobileComputing

One of the most popular options for mobile computing is theoption for a wireless Internet or WLAN connection. There aremany ISPs providing wireless services to their subscribers. At one time, to take advantage of this option, you purchasedeither a wireless phone that would take data from a mobiledevice, or a purchased a mobile device (such as the Smartphoneor handheld PC) that already supported wireless networking.Today, most devices have wireless capability, and the firstoption isn’t required.

One of the other options available to notebook users is beingable to connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN). Thisoption is popular in any area where hot spots or wirelessaccess points are located.

Most mobile devices have this capability, but PC cards andUSB adaptors can be purchased to provide this functionalityto mobile devices that have these connection types. In thiscase, a direct connection to the WLAN is required, so the connection method meet the requirements of the establishedWLAN. In this case, check with the network administrator for specific requirements.


Practical Exercise 2

We strongly suggest that you test your skills by performingthe following Practical Exercises.

Practical Exercise 2A

From a PC, transfer a text document with imbedded graphicsonto your mobile device (Smartphone, PDA, etc.). View theresults. Make some minor modification of the text on the document and then transfer it back to your PC using anotherfilename. View the results.

Practical Exercise 2B

Using the Internet, compare the cost of notebook and tabletPCs. Try to find devices with the same amount of adapterslots (both PC Card and drive) and the same amount of memory and features.



Self-Check 5


______ 1. Palm OS

______ 2. HP webOS

______ 3. Windows CE 5.0

______ 4. Handheld PC

______ 5. Windows 7


______ 6. Handheld PCs support wireless networking.

______ 7. Very few Web sites are set up for display on a PDA.

______ 8. There’s no way to provide wireless capability if it isn’t built in to the device.

______ 9. The Palm operating system software was specifically designed for mobile devices.

_______10. The iPAD is the top-selling tablet computer of all time.


a. Work best where typing is the best way ofcapturing data

b. Works with Apple applications

c. Successor to the Palm OS

d. Latest Windows for tablet PCs

e. Targeted to the embedded-device market


NOTES

69

Self-Check 11. d

2. b

3. a

4. e

5. c

6. j

7. h

8. i

9. f

10. g

Self-Check 21. a

2. Hardware and Sound

3. Shorter work times, discolorations or warping, hot,strange odor

4. True

5. True

6. True

7. b

8. c

9. a

Self-Check 31. True

2. True

3. False

4. False

Answers

Answers

Answers70

5. True

6. False

7. c

8. d

9. b

10. a

Self-Check 41. d

2. a

3. b

4. c

5. True

6. False

7. VPN

8. tunneling

9. Synch Center

Self-Check 51. b

2. c

3. e

4. a

5. d

6. True

7. False

8. False

9. True

10. True

Answers 71

Practical Exercise 1AThe procedure for your operating system should workwell for almost all notebook PCs. If you weren’t able toaccess the “Hibernate” tab on the “Power OptionsProperty” screen, this means the notebook you’re work-ing with, or one of its hardware devices, doesn’t supportthe hibernate option. This isn’t a software problem.

Practical Exercise 1BYour results will depend on the type of OS and make ofPC you’re using.

Most communication protocols are becoming standard-ized under the IEEE 802.11b specification, also referredto as 802.11 High Rate or Wi-Fi. If the history of thisstandard is of interest to you, go to the Wi-Fi Web sitewww.weca.net/OpenSection/index.asp?TID=1.

Practical Exercise 2AYour results will depend on the type of OS, make of PC,and software you’re using to create the text document.

Practical Exercise 2BYour results will depend on the type of OS and make ofPC you researched.

At the time of this writing, a tablet PC costs about 105times as much as a notebook PC.

study unit- mobile computer devices

Documents

notebook computers

term notebook

subject of notebook

laptop computers

tablet computers

addon devices

desktop computers

pdatype devices