IBM ThinkPad 380 or 380D User's Guide

Getting Familiar with Your Computer

This chapter provides basic information about your computer.

Partial Table-of-Contents

Identifying the Hardware Features

Identifying the Hardware Features

In this section, you can review the hardware features of your computer.  

Front View

(1)

The LCD latches open the LCD when they are slid outward.

(2)

The color LCD screen displays computer output. (See reference #30.)

(3)

The contrast control moves up or down to adjust the clarity of the picture. (For DSTN models only.)

The brightness control moves up or down to adjust the brightness of the display. (For TFT models only.)

(4)

The headphone jack, a 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) diameter jack, is where you connect a stereo headphone or external speakers. This jack can be used concurrently with the microphone/line-in jack. (See reference #39.)

(5)

The microphone/line-in jack, a 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) diameter jack, is where a stereo microphone or external audio device is connected. This jack can be used concurrently with the headphone jack. (See reference #39.)

(6)

The volume control adjusts the sound level for the built-in speakers. (Ref #6.)

(7)

The diskette-eject button ejects the diskette from the diskette drive.

(8)

The diskette drive reads data from or writes data to a diskette.

(9)

The CD-ROM eject button ejects the CD-ROM tray from the CD-ROM drive. This button is functional only when the computer power is turned on.

(10)

The CD-ROM drive reads data from a CD-ROM.

(11)

The CD-ROM emergency eject hole ejects the CD-ROM tray when it does not open with the CD-ROM eject button. Insert a pin into this hole to eject the tray.

(12)

The palm rest is where you rest the palms of your hands when using the keyboard.

(13)

The built-in speaker reproduces sound for your application programs.

(14)

The TrackPoint III is a built-in pointing device that provides a function similar to that of a mouse. (See reference #11.)

(15)

The built-in microphone captures sound and voice when it is used with an application program.

(16)

The Fn key is used with the function keys to activate the Fn key functions. (See reference #12.)

(17)

The keyboard is used to enter data into the computer. (To use the numeric keypad on the keyboard, see "Operating the Numeric Keypad".)

(18)

The indicator panel consists of the system-status indicators and their associated symbols. (See reference #10.)

Rear and Side View

(1)

The external-monitor connector is where you attach an external monitor. (See reference #32.)

(2)

The parallel connector is where you usually connect a parallel-printer signal cable. (Ref #7.)

(3)

The serial connector is where you connect a 9-pin, serial-device cable.

(4)

The power jack is where the AC Adapter cable is connected.

When the AC Adapter cable is disconnected from the computer with a battery pack installed, the LCD brightness decreases slightly to conserve battery power.

(5)

The external-input-device connector is used to attach a mouse, external keyboard, or external numeric keypad to the computer. (See "Attaching an External Numeric Keypad or a Mouse"-"Attaching an External Keyboard".)

(6)

The fan louver is used to cool the inside of the computer. Do not place anything in front of the louver, that might block air flow.

(7)

The suspend mode indicator shows the condition of the suspend state.

(8)

The battery indicator shows the condition of the battery.

(9)

The infrared port allows the computer to communicate with other devices that have infrared data-transfer capability. (See reference #38.) (Ref #8.)

(10)

The power switch turns the computer on and off.

(11)

The PC Card slots accept one or two PC Cards, or one Zoomed Video port card only in the lower slot. (To use a PC Card, see reference #35. To insert a PC Card, see "Using the PC Card Slot".)

(12)

The PC Card eject buttons eject PC Cards from the PC Card slots. (See "Removing a PC Card".)

(13)

The security keyhole is used with a Kensington **  MicroSaver **  Security System lock (hereafter called a security system lock) or a compatible lock. (See reference #77.)

Bottom View

(Ref #9.)

(1)

The expansion connector is where you attach a port replicator (available as an option).

(2)

The memory-slot cover covers the memory slot.

(3)

The memory slot accepts a dual inline memory module (DIMM) option. (See "Increasing the Memory Capacity".)

(4)

The battery-pack lock locks or releases the battery pack.

(5)

The battery pack is a built-in power source for the computer.

(6)

The power shutdown switch is used to turn the computer off when an application locks up or the computer will not accept any input. Use the tip of a pen to press this switch.

(7)

The serial number (S/N) identifies your computer.

System-Status Indicators

The system-status indicators on the computer show the current status of your computer by their on or off states and colors (green, yellow, and orange). Each indicator is identified with a symbol. The following shows the location and the meaning of each icon:





            

Symbol	Color	Meaning
(1) Battery	Green	Enough battery power remains for operation.
	Orange	The battery pack is being charged.
	Blinking orange	The battery pack needs charging.
(2) Drive in use	Orange	Data is being read from or written to the hard disk, the diskette drive, and the CD-ROM drive (380D). Do not enter suspend mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on.
(3) Numeric lock	Green	The numeric keypad on the keyboard is enabled. You enable or disable the keypad by pressing and holding the Shift key, and pressing the NumLk key. For details, see "Operating the Numeric Keypad".
(4) Caps lock	Green	The Caps Lock mode is enabled. In that mode you can enter all alphabetic characters (A-Z) in capital letters without using the Shift key, the Caps Lock mode by pressing the Caps Lock key.
(5) Scroll lock	Green	You enable or disable this function by pressing the ScrLK key. The Arrow keys can be used as screen-scroll function keys, and the cursor cannot be moved with the Arrow keys. Not all application programs support this function.
(6) Suspend mode	Green	The computer is in suspend mode. (See reference #57 for details about suspend mode.)
	Blinking green	The computer is entering suspend mode or hibernation mode, or is resuming normal operation.
(7) Power on	Green	The computer is operational. This indicator is on when the computer is on and not in suspend mode.
(8) CD-ROM drive in use	Orange	Data is being read from a CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive. Do not enter suspend mode or turn off the computer when this indicator is on.

Operating with the TrackPoint III

Note:
No other software is required for the TrackPoint III; it works with the PS/2 mouse driver.

Note:
The cap (1) on the end of the TrackPoint III is removable. You can pull the cap off the stick, and replace it with one of the spares shipped with your computer.  

The keyboard contains a unique cursor-pointing device called the TrackPoint III. Pointing, selecting, and dragging all become part of a single process you can perform without moving your fingers from their typing position.

The TrackPoint III consists of a stick (1) on the keyboard and a pair of click buttons (2) below the keyboard. The motion of the pointer on the screen is controlled by the amount of pressure applied to the nonslip cap on the stick in any direction parallel to the keyboard; the stick does not move. The speed at which the pointer moves corresponds to the amount of pressure on the stick. The function of the click buttons depends on the software that is used.

If you are not familiar with using the TrackPoint III, these instructions will help you get started:

Note:
Remember that the stick does not move, and your finger should not move on it.

Note:
The mouse pointer may drift. This is not a defect. Do not use the TrackPoint III until the pointer stops moving.

1. Place your hands in the typing position and press gently on the stick with either index finger in the direction in which you want the pointer to move.

   Pressing the stick away from you moves the pointer up the screen; pressing it toward you moves the pointer down the screen. You can also move the pointer side to side by pressing sideways.
   
   

2. Press the click buttons with either thumb to select as required by your software.