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Chapter Overview

Types of portable computers Computer cards Portable computer hardware USB ports Batteries Power management

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Types of Portables Today’s laptops compare favorably with

desktop systems in many ways. Laptop computers feature a folding

liquid crystal display (LCD), a built-in keyboard, and a pointing device.

Notebook computers can use docking ports to overcome limitations.

Subnotebook (palmtop) computers are limited in function.

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Computer Cards

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Portable Computer Hardware

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Portable Computer Hardware (Cont.)

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USB Ports

Universal serial bus (USB) ports make it easier to add new devices to portables.

The hot-swap capability supports printers, scanners, and other products.

PMCIA USB cards also support older portables.

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Batteries Nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries are

the oldest technology. Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries

are used in low-end systems. Lithium ion batteries last longer and are

used in high-end systems. Lithium polymer, the newest

technology, increases battery life and decreases weight.

Proper battery disposal is important.

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Power Management

Suspend mode Hibernate mode Advanced Power Management (APM)

standard Advanced Configuration and Power

Interface (ACPI) standard

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Chapter Summary Portable computers include laptops,

notebooks, and subnotebooks (palmtops). Different types of PC Cards provide

support for a variety of functions. Display screens for portables are either

dual-scan or active-matrix. USB ports make it possible to hot swap

different USB devices. Power management has two modes:

suspend and hibernate.