Chapter 9 Understanding Laptops

Question 1

Laptops vs. Desktops

Ch.9- pg.397-398

Answer 1

• Portability- Laptops run on batteries, and are designed to be portable
• Cost- Laptops cost more
• Performance- Desktops have better performance than laptops
• Quality of Construction- Laptops are more durable

Question 2

Laptop Case

Ch.9- pg.399

Answer 2

• Display- usually is LCD or LED
• Case Frame- Metal reinforcement structure inside laptop that provides rigidity and strength
• The Case- Plastic cover that surrounds the components and provides protection from elements
• Clamshell Design- Case is split into two halves

Question 3

Motherboards and processors

Ch.9- pg.399-401

Answer 3

Motherboards...
- Difference between desktop and laptop motherboards are lack of standards smaller form factor
- Designed to fit into laptop case
Processors...
- Many ways to keep it cool like...
    - Streamlined connection to the motherboard-  processor soldered to M.B
    - Lower wattage and clock speeds
    - Active sleep and slowdown modes
- Types: Intel Pentium or Core series

Question 4

Memory

Ch.9- pg.401-403

Answer 4

• Don’t use standard desktop memory chips

- SODIMM and MicroDIMM

Question 5

SODIMM

Ch.9- pg.402

Answer 5

• Small Outline DIMM

- 67mm by 32mm

Question 6

MicroDIMM

Ch.9- pg.403

Answer 6

• 45.5mm by 30mm

- No notches at the bottom

Question 7

Storage

Ch.9- pg.403

Answer 7

• Hard drives are smaller

Question 8

Keyboard

Ch.9- pg.405

Answer 8

• Removes easily

- Smaller, packed together more tightly

Question 9

Mice and Pointing Devices

Ch.9- pg.408

Answer 9

• Trackball
• Touchpad
• Touchscreen
• Point stick

Question 10

PCMCIA

Ch.9- pg.411

Answer 10

• Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
• PCMCIA Bus was designed to provide a way of expanding the memory in a small, handheld computer
• Also known as a PC Card

Question 11

Express Card

Ch.9- pg.412

Answer 11

• Launched by PCMCIA to support the PCI Express connectivity for laptops
• transfer rates 2.5 times faster that of Card bus

Question 12

Mouse and Keyboard ports

Ch.9- pg.414

Answer 12

• Can you external mouse and keyboard

- Ports PS/2 or USB

Question 13

Communication Ports

Ch.9- pg.414

Answer 13

• New laptops come with 802.11 wireless card

- Analog dial-up modem or infrared cellular, Bluetooth, or Ethernet device

Question 14

Docking Station

Ch.9- pg.415

Answer 14

• Used to connect the laptop to a laptop only peripheral known as a docking station
• Port Replicator- Is an attachment for a laptop that allows a number of devices such as a printer, large monitor, and keyboard to be simultaneously connected

Question 15

Power systems

Ch.9- pg.416

Answer 15

• Two types of sources:
  
  • Batteries
  • AC or DC source

Question 16

Batteries

Ch.9- pg.416

Answer 16

• Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)
• Lithium Ion (Li-ion)
• Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH)
• Li-Ploy
• Energy Density- Measures how much energy a battery can hold
• Power Density- How quickly the power can be accessed

Question 17

Power Adapters

Ch.9- pg.418

Answer 17

• Converts AC power to DC (AC Adaptor)
  
  • Looks Like a brick with two cords
• DC Adaptor
  
  • Allows user to plug the laptop into a cigarette lighter inside a car or airplane

Question 18

Laptop Displays

Ch.9- pg.419

Answer 18

• Top half of the clamshell
• Usually an LCD display
• Video Card
  
  • Generates and manages images sent to the screen

Question 19

Inverter

Ch.9- pg.421

Answer 19

• Turns DC currents to AC

Question 20

Wi-Fi Antenna

Ch.9- pg.421

Answer 20

• Built in the top half of the clamshell

Question 21

Cable Locks

Ch.9- pg.422

Answer 21

• Anchors your device to a physical structure
• Many laptops today have built in WiFi capabilities
• Wireless Antenna

Question 22

AC

Ch.9- pg.418

Answer 22

• Charger

- Converts AC input to DC Output

Question 23

DC

Ch.9- pg.418

Answer 23

• Allows users to plug the laptop into a power source inside a car or airplane

Question 24

Video Card

Ch.9- pg.419

Answer 24

• Generates the image on the screen