Gapz rule

6.1

This chapter was based around portable devices. These included such devices like, smart phones, PDA’s, laptops and desktops. The chapter also went on to describe their uses.    E.g. Laptops – a small portable device that has all the same functions as a Desktop computer with integrated peripherals.

6.1.1

This area of the chapter spoke about some of the uses of a Laptop and what its common features were like its portability and how it works when it is not connected to an AC power source. It also spoke about the first uses of a laptop and reasons they were chosen by their owners E.g The first laptops were used primarily by business people who needed to access and enter data when they were away from the office. This area also went on to talk about the common uses of Laptops :

• Taking notes in school or researching papers
• Presenting info in business meetings
• accessing data while away from home or the Office
• playing games & watching movies while traveling
• accessing the internet in a public area
• sending & receiving E-mails in public

6.1.2 This are spoke about some common uses of smart phones and PDA’s. This included some information on the idea of smart which had dated back to the 1970, this also carried on to speak about the uses of PDA’s, and said that the earliest PDA’s were to  have a touch screen or have a keyboard. Another name for the smart phone was an electronic personal organizer. Here are some tools the PDA came with to help organize information;

• address book
• calculator
• alarm clock
• internet connection
• E-mail
• global positioning

Smart phones were also a topic discussed inside this area of this chapter. Smart phones were mobile phones with PDA capabilities. Smart phones basically were said to combine cell phone and computer functions in a single, hand held device, and that the technology of the PDA and the technology of the Smart phone continue to merge. Here are some capabilities of smart phones;

• built-in camera
• Document access
• E-mail
• Abbreviated note taking
• television

Smartphone connectivity and PDA connectivity methods include Bluetooth and regular USB cable connections.

6.2

This chapter was based on some of the laptop component and common features. Some features included were;

• They are small and portable
• Integrated display screen
• They have an integrated keyboard at the base
• run on AC power or on a rechargeable battery

6.2.1

External laptop components were the main focus in this area of the chapter. the ports of a laptop are  the same type of port on that of a desktop, so that the peripherals used would be interchangeable. It may seem amazing that although the specific size of a laptop is fixed a laptop would contain ports  that support peripherals, network connectivity, and  audio access. Ports, connections, and drives are located on the front, back, and sides of the laptop because of it’s compact design. Laptops contain PC Card or Express Card slots to add functionality such as more memory, a modem, or a network connection. There are status indicators, ports, slots, connectors, bays, jacks, vents, and a keyhole on the exterior of the laptop, you may now agree with me when i said that the amazing amounts of ports that are included in a laptop although it’s size is compact to make it portable.

6.2.2

Describing the components found within a laptop. when the laptop is opened there are several different components within the laptop which are input devices E.g : the on/off switch, the volume control and  the keyboard.  the part of the chapter then goes on to talk about the LCD screen of a laptop and desktop and how its visual effectiveness can be controlled, E.g resolution, brightness and contrast settings can be changes  on a laptop using software settings and a desktops’ height and  can be changed where as a laptops connot be because of it’s screens fixed position. This chapter also goes on to talk about a small pin on the laptop cover which makes contact with a switch when the case is closed, called an LCD cutoff switch. The LCD cutoff switch tells the CPU to conserve power by stopping the backlight and turning off the LCD. If this switch breaks or is dirty, the LCD will remain dark while the laptop is open so to fix this issue carefully clean this switch to restore normal operation.

6.2.3

Finding the components found on a laptop docking station.

this chapter says that a base station is a device that attaches to AC power and to desktop peripherals and that When you plug the laptop into the base station, you have convenient access to power and the attached peripherals. It also says that there are two types of base stations; docking stations and port replicators. Docking stations and port replicators are used for the same purpose, port replicators are usually smaller than docking stations and do not have speakers or PCI slots. There are 3 components found on top of a docking station :

1. Power button
2. Eject button
3. Docking connector

Some docking stations include the following drive bays and ports to provide additional functionality:

1. Parallel
2. USB
3. Ethernet
4. Video
5. Audio

The back of the docking station has ports and connectors used to attach to desktop peripherals such as a mouse, a monitor, or a printer. A vent is also necessary to expel hot air from the docking station.  Here are some ports on the docking station:

1. AC power connector
2. PC Card/ExpressCard slot
3. VGA port
4. DVI port
5. Headphone connector
6. USB port
7. Mouse port
8. Keyboard port
9. Parallel port
10. Serial port
11. Ethernet port

6.3 – 6.3.1

Comparing  the differences between desktop and laptop components. This chapter was basically focused on showing the differences between laptops and desktops E.g the basic functions and the way that they would initially be built. This fist part of the chapter says that although the parts of a laptop and desktop are standardized they both will do the same job although they would be put together differently. As a matter of fact this chapter says that laptop components are much more specialized than desktop components. This difference is because laptop manufacturers are more focused on refining laptop components to make them more efficient while the laptop is compact. As a result, manufacturers make the laptop components to follow their own specific form factors. laptop components are built for the specific laptop so as a result, you may not be able to use components made by one laptop manufacturer to repair a laptop made by another manufacturer.

6.3.2

Compare and contrast desktop and laptop processors. The CPU, or processor, is the brain of the computer. The CPU interprets and processes instructions that are used to manipulate data. Laptop processors are designed to use less power and create less heat than desktop CPU’s. As a result, laptop processors do not require cooling devices that are as large as those found in desktops. Laptop processors also use CPU throttling to modify the clock speed as needed to reduce power consumption and heat. This results in a slight decrease in performance. It also increases the lifespan of some components. These specially designed processors allow laptops to operate for a longer period of time when using a battery power source.

6.3.3

Comparing desktop and laptop power management. this part of the chapter explains how the power management controls the flow of electricity to the components of a computer. Desktops are usually set up so they remain plugged into a power source. Desktop power management distributes electricity from the source to the components of the desktop. There is also a small battery in the desktop that provides electricity to maintain the internal clock and BIOS settings when the desktop is powered off.       Laptops are small and portable. This portability feature is achieved by combining the small size and weight of a laptop with the ability to operate from a battery. When the laptop is plugged in, laptop power management sends electricity from the AC power source to it’s components. The laptop power management also recharges the battery. When the laptop is unplugged, laptop power management takes electricity from the battery and sends it to the laptop components.

6.3.4

Comparing and contrast desktop and laptop expansion capabilities. Expansion capabilities add functions to a computer. Many expansion devices can be used with both laptops and desktops: External drives ,Network cards ,Wireless adapters and Printers.   Expansion devices are attached to laptops and desktops differently. E.g a desktop attaches devices with serial, parallel, USB, and Firewire ports. A laptop attaches these devices with the same ports and PC Cards.   The standardized use of USB and Firewire ports makes it possible to connect many types of external components to laptops like docking stations, port replicators, and desktops. The USB and Firewire standards makes it possible to connect and remove external components without turning off the system. USB and Firewire ports are used to connect a range of external peripherals: Printers ,Scanners ,Floppy disk drives ,Mice etc.                Laptops and desktops have similar expansion capabilities. It is the difference in form factor between the computers that determines which type of expansion device is used. Desktops have internal bays that support 5.25 and 3.5 inch drives. Additionally, there is space to install other permanent expansion drives. Laptops have limited space; therefore, the expansion bays on laptops are designed to allow different types of drives to fit into the same bay. Drives are hot-swappable and are inserted or removed as needed.              Laptops use the PC Card slot to add functionality. The PC Card slot uses an open standard interface to connect to peripheral devices using the Card Bus standard. Here are some examples of devices that connect using PC Cards: Memory ,Modems ,Hard drives and Network cards

PC Cards follow the PCMCIA standard. They come in three types: Type I, Type II, and Type III. Each type of PC Card is different in size and can attach to different devices. A newer type of PC Card is called the PC ExpressCard. Figure 2 shows a comparison of PC Cards and PC ExpressCards. The PC ExpressCard comes in 34mm and 54mm widths. Figure 3 shows an example of a PC Card and PC ExpressCards.

6.4

Configuring laptops. This part of the curriculum spoke mostly about enhancing computer performance for example, to enhance a laptop  it may be necessary to configure and ‘allocate’ system resources, install additional components and plug-ins, or change environmental settings to match software requirements, adding external peripherals  can usually be managed easily through the use of Plug ‘n’ Play, and sometimes driver installation and additional configuration may be needed. It is also possible to manage the power settings of a laptop to make it even more energy saving. This full chapter also explains that when using laptops, it may be necessary to exchange components as needed to accomplish different tasks and respond to changing situations and needs E.g A laptop can be customized for specific purposes by adding external components; a second hard drive can be installed in a laptop to provide additional storage.

6.4.1

Configuring power settings. Battery life is a main point in laptop , whether it can last for a certain amount of time while not being connected to an external power source, if you have noticed power management and battery technology is increasing all the time so that laptop users can remain disconnected from AC power for longer. Current batteries can last anywhere between 2 to 10 hours without recharging, managing the power by configuring the power settings on a laptop is important to ensure that the battery charge is used efficiently. The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standards create a bridge between the hardware and OS and allow technicians to create power management schemes to get the best performance from the computer. The ACPI standards can be applicable to most computers, but they are particularly important when managing power in laptops. Technicians are usualy required to configure power settings by changing the settings found in BIOS. Configuring power settings in BIOS has an affects on the following conditions: System states, Battery and AC modes ,Thermal management and CPU PCI bus power management.

6.4.2

Describing the safe installation and removal of laptop components.There are a many components on a laptop that may need to be replaced. IT is always good to remember to always make sure that you have the correct replacement component and tools as recommended by the manufacturer. Some components are hot-swappable, which means that they can be removed and replaced while the computer is on. These are some components that may need to be replaced: Battery, Optical drive ,Hard drive ,Memory and PC cards.       Remember that each laptop manufacturer uses unique hardware installation and removal procedures, to be sure when changing parts always check the laptop manual for specifications in  installation and information and always follow safety installation and ESD precautions.

6.5

Comparing different mobile phone standards. When mobile pones were first being used and began getting known there were few industry-wide standards applying to mobile phone technology. Without  the standards, it was difficult and expensive to make calls to people that were on another network E.g making calls from T-mobile to O2 would would have been very difficult. Today, mobile phone providers use industry standards,which makes it easier to use mobile phones to make calls. When the industry started, most mobile phones used analogue signals which were normally suffered interference which made it  hard to listen to when making calls. Today,mobile phones use mostly digital signals which are much clearer when making calls because even when they suffer interference or noise they still sound high quality.A cool fact is mobile phone standards have not been adopted uniformly around the world which means that some mobile phones are capable of using multiple standards, whereas others can use only one standard, so as a result, some mobile phones can operate in many countries and other cell phones can only be used locally.      

1G (the first generation) started in the 1980′s, using mostly analogue signals. In an analog system, the voice information is sent by varying the radio signals used by the phone in the same pattern as the speakers’ voices. Unfortunately, this meant that interference and noise, which also vary the signal, cannot easily be separated from the voice in the signal. This factor would limit the usefulness of analog systems.        Digital signals convert the speakers’ voices into a series of ones and zeros a method also known as Binary. This technology degrades the signal a little, because ones and zeros are not a faithful representation of your voice but It can be fixed using error correction routines if there is interference , digital signals can also be compressed, making the systems much more efficient than analog.

In the 1990′s,  2G (the second generation) of cell phones was marked by a switch from analog to digital standards. Second-generation mobile standards included Global System for Mobile (GSM), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

Third-generation standards enabled mobile phones to go beyond simple voice and data communications. It is now common for mobile phones to send3G and receive text, photos, and video. It is also common for 3G cell phones to access the Internet and to use the Global Positioning System (GPS).      A cool fact is that (3G) cell phone standards were being developed, extensions to the existing 2G standards were added. These transitional standards are known as 2.5G standards.

Fourth-generation (4G) standards have been championed by many users, in response to the availability of increased data rates. Higher data rates will allow users to download files, such as video and music, faster than what was available with standards of previous generations.

6.6

Identifying common preventive mechanical techniques for laptops and portable devices . this spoke about potential hazards that should be noted whenever a a portable device is being used. because of the portability of laptops they can be used in different places or areas of work, this means that some areas can be hazardous, even when eating or drinking around a laptop you must be careful because there is a hazard. there are points that should be considered when using a laptop, e.g. if you drink near a laptop, what could be the effects if it is to spill onto the laptop itself. Because of the compact build of the laptop space would be found by placing component in spaces available this means that even under the keyboard itself there are components that could be effected by liquid spillages. to be safe always keep your laptop clean and free of any debris or dirt.

6.6.1

This was about laptop cleaning procedures, as a fact it is good and expensive way to extend the life of laptops and is the least expensive way to maintain them. Make sure that when you actually use a laptop cleaning product it is the correct one. This is because that the components are very sensitive and should be cleaned carefully. To always be sure make sure you take a look at the laptops manual.

There are separate areas needed to be cleaned laptops, you can clean the: keyboard, ventilation areas, LCD screen,Touch Pad,Floppy Drive ,Optical Drive and CD or DVD Disc.

IT may seem a lot but it is necessary to clean if you expect your laptop to run smoothly.

6.6.2

Clean and spotless basically is a great place for a laptops to be , with the perfect temperature and room humidity, specified by the manufacturer.Most desktop computers can have their environment controlled , but since the laptop is portable the environment it’s not always possible to choose it’s working conditions Laptops are built to resist adverse environments, but technicians should always take precautions to protect the equipment from damage and loss of data.           It is important to transport or ship laptops carefully. Use a padded laptop case to store your laptop. When you carry it, use an approved computer bag. If the laptop is shipped, use sufficient packing material. Figure 2 shows examples of laptop carrying cases and packing boxes.

6.7

Troubleshooting laptops and portable devices, when troubleshooting problems with laptops or portable devices, you should determine if a repair is cost-effective. To make the correct choice , compare the cost of the repair with the replacement cost of the laptop or portable device less the salvage value. Because portable devices change rapidly in design and functionality, portable devices are often more expensive to repair than to replace. For this reason, portable devices are usually replaced, whereas laptops can be replaced or repaired. 

6.7.1

The troubleshooting process, this spoke about computer problems that can result from a combination of hardware, software, and network issues. Computer technicians must be able to analyze the problem and determine the cause of the error in order to repair the computer a method called called troubleshooting.

6.7.2

Identifying common problems and solutions .Computer problems can be attributed to hardware, software, networks, or some combination of them. You will resolve some types of computer problems more often than others. Figure 1 is a chart of common laptop problems and solutions.