Review the chapter with this listing of major points just before you take your test.
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Portable computers are equipped with onboard components similar to those found in desktop computers, but the components in portable computers are usually built into the systems and replacements often use proprietary interfaces.
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PDAs differ from portable computers by using different operating systems, user interfaces, and processors.
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Active-matrix LCD displays are found on recent portable computers. They offer wider viewing angles, faster response, and better use under a variety of lighting conditions than older dual-scan LCD displays.
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Portables don't have removable graphics/video cards. However, some use graphics integrated into the motherboard chipset, whereas others use a discrete chipset with its own memory. Discrete chipsets have better 3D performance.
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Although damaged LCD display panels can be replaced , you cannot upgrade a system with a dual-scan panel with an active-matrix panel.
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Portable computers use integrated pointing devices such as pointing sticks, touchpads , or trackballs. Replacing failed pointing devices might require replacing the keyboard.
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A mouse or other external pointing device can be attached to most portables, but it might be necessary to disable the integrated pointing device if the integrated device is defective or unwanted.
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Some rechargers can be used anywhere because they automatically adjust to different voltages and AC cycles, whereas others must be replaced before the portable can be used in a location with different power standards than the original location.
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Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries provide the best combination of light weight and long life of the major rechargeable battery technologies.
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Most portables support either APM or ACPI power management. ACPI power management supports more devices and can be configured in the Windows GUI.
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There are three different types of PC Cards: Type I, Type II, and Type III. Type II cards are the most widely used, but many modem or network cards require a dongle.
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CardBus is a 32-bit version of PC Card, whereas Zoomed Video (ZV) is a version of CardBus used for video capture and display.
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Mini-PCI cards are used by many recent systems with built-in modem or network adapters. Type III is the most common variety.
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A docking station enables a portable computer to use desktop drives and add-on cards, whereas a port replicator enables a portable to connect to a variety of cables with a single connector. A media slice is used by some thin and light portables to provide optional portable optical and removable-media drives . All three rely on a proprietary expansion bus at the rear or the bottom of the system.
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Hard drives use a 44-pin version of the ATA/IDE standard to enable upgrades to larger capacities . Other drives use various proprietary connections.
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Some portables include an infrared port using the IrDA standard. It can be used for printing or data transfer with other devices having IrDA ports.
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Most portables have upgradeable memory. Recent systems usually take SODIMM modules, but older systems use various proprietary modules.
