Acer s10 User Manual

Manual for

Acer s10 handheld

COPYRIGHT

Acer s10 handheld Manual Original issue: October, 2001

Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Graffiti, HotSync, and Palm OS are registered trademarks. HotSync, Palm, and the Palm logo are trademarks of Palm, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other company’s product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purpose only and belong to their respective companies.

Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this Manual or supplementary documents and publications.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Inc.

DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Acer and its subsidiaries makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Acer and its subsidiaries assume no responsibility for any damage or loss resulting from the use of this Acer s10 handheld Manual.

NOTES

Record the device ID, serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The serial number and device ID are recorded on the label affixed to your Acer s10 handheld. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial number, device ID, and purchase information.

Acer s10 handheld

Device ID: _________________________________

Serial Number: ____________________________

Purchase Date: ____________________________

Place of Purchase: _________________________

About this Manual

Welcome to the Acer s10 handheld Manual. This Manual is designed to help you get up and running quickly on your new Acer s10. It describes all you need to know about how to use your Acer s10 as well as the applications and PC-end utilities that come with it.

This Manual shows you how to:

• Identify all the parts of your Acer s10

• View and enter data

• Use your Acer s10 with your computer

• Use the applications and PC-end utilities that came with your Acer s10

• Personalize your Acer s10 with your own preference settings

After you become familiar with the basic functionality of your Acer s10, you can use the rest of this Manual as a reference for less common tasks, for maintaining your handheld and also as a source of information if you have problems operating it.

iii

About this Manual

iv

Your guides

First things first

Your guides

First things first

We would like to thank you for making Acer s10 your choice for your handheld needs. Your new sleek Acer s10 is packed with user-friendly applications and utilities designed to make organizing work-related information and synchronizing it with your personal activities a time-efficient task. We hope you enjoy using your Acer s10 as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.

To help you use your Acer s10, we have designed a set of guides:

• First off, the Just for Starters poster helps you get started with setting up your Acer s10.

• This online Acer s10 handheld Manual introduces you to the many ways your Acer s10 can help you organize and manage both business and personal information so as to make your everyday activities a more productive and satisfying experience. This Manual provides clear and comprehensive information about your Acer s10, so read it thoroughly.

• The handy Acer s10 handheld Quick guide useful for taking a quick reference glance on your handheld’s basic functionalities. Keep it in your desktop or in your backpack for easy access.

•A Graffiti strokes of this powerful writing software.

For more information about our products, services, and support information, please visit our web site at http://www.acer.com/

® pocket reference card to remind you of the standard writing

.

Package contents

Your Acer s10 comes packed in a carton box. Carefully unpack the box and remove the contents. If any of the following items are missing or damaged, contact your dealer immediately:

• Acer s10 handheld • Just for Starters

• Cover • Acer s10 handheld Quick guide

• Stylus • Graffiti pocket reference

• Cradle • Warranty Agreement

• AC adapter • Accessories Catalogue

• Earphone • Plug adapter (optional)

• Acer s10 handheld Installation CD

v

First things first

Maintaining your Acer s10

This section provides information on the following:

• Proper care and usage of your Acer s10

• Resetting your Acer s10

Proper care and usage of your Acer s10

Your Acer s10 handheld’s rugged and tough construction is designed to provide you with years of reliable and trouble-free service. Observing the following general maintenance procedures will help ensure this:

1 Take care not to scratch the screen of your Acer s10. Keep the screen clean. When

working with your Acer s10, use the supplied stylus or plastic-tipped pens intended for use with touch-sensitive screens. Never use an actual pen or pencil or other sharp object on the screen surface.

2 Your Acer s10 is not waterproof and should not be exposed to rain or moisture. Under

extreme conditions, water may enter the circuitry through the front panel buttons. In general, treat your Acer s10 as you would a pocket calculator or other small electronic device.

3 Take care not to drop your Acer s10 or subject it to any strong impact. Do not place

your Acer s10 in your back pocket; if you sit on it, you may damage it.

4 Protect your Acer s10 from temperature extremes. For example, do not leave your

Acer s10 on the dashboard of a car on a hot day or on a day when temperatures are below the freezing point. Also, keep it away from heaters and other sources of heat.

5 Do not use or store your Acer s10 in any location that is extremely dusty, damp or wet.

6 Use a soft, damp cloth to clean your Acer s10. If the surface of the screen becomes

soiled, clean it with a soft cloth moistened with diluted window-cleaning solution.

Resetting your Acer s10

You may have to perform a reset if your Acer s10 no longer responds to the buttons on the screen.

Performing a soft reset

A soft reset allows your Acer s10 to get a fresh start, similar to rebooting a computer. All records and entries are retained after a soft reset.

To perform a soft reset, use the reset tip tool that is threaded into the head of your stylus, or use an unfolded paper clip (or similar object without a sharp tip).

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First things first

Maintaining your Acer s10

To perform a soft reset:

1 Turn the head of your stylus counterclockwise to reveal the reset tip tool threaded

into it.

2 Using the reset tip tool, lightly press the reset button inside the hole on the rear panel

of your Acer s10.

Performing a hard reset

A hard reset will erase all records and entries stored in your Acer s10. Never perform a hard reset unless a soft reset does not correct your problem. When you perform your next HotSync operation, you can restore any data that you previously synchronized to your computer. To perform a hard reset, do the following:

1 Hold down the power button on the front panel of your Acer s10.

2 While holding down the power button, use the reset tip tool to gently press and

release the reset button.

3 When the Palm logo appears, release the power button.

4 A message will appear on the Acer s10 screen warning that all data stored on it is

about to be erased, do one of the following:

vii

First things first

Assigning security options

• Complete the hard reset by pressing the upper half of the scroll button on the front panel of your Acer s10. The Digitizer screen will appear.

• Press any other button to perform a soft reset.

NOTE: When you perform a hard reset, the current date and time are retained. Formats, preferences, and other settings are restored to their factory default settings.

Battery considerations

Please note the following considerations for the battery in your Acer s10.

• Under normal conditions, your Acer s10 battery should remain charged by placing it in the cradle for just a few minutes each day. You can conserve battery life by minimizing the use of the backlight feature and changing the the Auto-off setting that automatically turns off the handheld after a period of inactivity. For more information on the Auto-off setting, refer to "Setting the Auto-off interval time" on page 278.

• If the battery becomes low in the course of normal use, an alert appears on the Acer s10 screen indicating low battery status. If this alert appears, perform a HotSync operation to back up your data; then leave your handheld in the cradle to recharge the unit. This will prevent accidental data loss.

• If the battery drains to the point where your Acer s10 does not operate , it stores your data safely for about a week. In this case, there is enough residual energy in the battery to store the data, but not enough to turn on your handheld. If your Acer s10 does not turn on when you press the power button, you should recharge your unit immediately.

• If your battery drains and you have the unit in an uncharged state for an extended period of time, you can lose all the data stored in it.

• There are no serviceable parts inside your Acer s10 so do not attempt to open the unit.

• If you ever dispose of your Acer s10, please dispose it without damaging the environment. Take your handheld to the nearest environmental recycling center.

Assigning security options

Your Acer s10 includes a security application that lets you set options to protect entries from unauthorized users in a variety of ways:

The security application lets you:

• Mask or hide entries you have defined as private.

– The Mask option displays a gray bar over private records. – The Hide option completely hides private records.

• Assign a password to viewing options to enhance security.

– Assigning a password requires you to enter a password before private

entries can be viewed.

– Not assigning a password lets you view private entries when you Show

Records from the Security dialog box.

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First things first

Assigning security options

• Lock and turn off your Acer s10 so that a password must be entered before you can use the device again.

• Hide records that you have defined as private, with or without a password.

– Without a password, private records are hidden until you set the Security

application to display them.

– With a password, you must enter the password to view the private

entries.

For more information on how to set these security features, refer to "Security" on page 41.

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First things first

Assigning security options

x

1 Getting started

System requirements

1 Getting started

With your Acer s10, you’ll be able to successfully manage meetings and appointments, remember people’s names and personal details, and keep track of all the items on your To Do List, both at work and at home. You could also use it as a handy audio recorder, a three-in-one clock and an .mp3 player (talk about versatility!).

This chapter discusses your Acer s10’s basic functions, the physical and soft buttons, how to use HotSync handheld and Palm topics, you’ll easily be able to do the following:

• Enter all your schedule details in the Date Book and view them by the day, week, or month, and even set an alarm to remind you of an important event

• Keep all your contact names, addresses, phone numbers, and other details in the Address Book, so you can find them as soon as you need them

• Add your tasks to the To Do List, prioritize them so you don’t overlook them, and assign them a due date

• Ensure that you don’t lose any of this important information simply by synchronizing your data with the Palm

create a backup copy

®

technology to synchronize (exchange and update) your

TM

Desktop software. Once you familiarize yourself with these

Desktop software on your computer to

System requirements

To install and operate Palm Desktop software on Windows, your computer system must meet the following requirements:

• IBM-compatible Pentium-class computer

• Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), or Windows 2000 For Windows 95 or Windows NT, a Serial sync cable is required, sold

separately.

• 32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended))

•30 MB available hard disk space

• Monitor displaying VGA resolution or better

• CD-ROM drive

• Mouse

• One available USB or serial port

1

1 Getting started

Acer s10 tour

Front panel

Your Acer s10’s front panel consists of the following:

No. Component Description

1 Power button/

Backlight control/ LED indicator

2 Stylus holder Secures the stylus in your Acer s10. To use the stylus,

3 LCD screen Displays the applications and data stored in your Acer s10.

4 Graffiti writing area Write letters and numbers in this area using the Graffiti

5 Scroll button Press up or down to display the text and other information

6 Internal speaker Outputs sounds from your Acer s10.

As a power button, pressing turns your Acer s10 on (if it is off) and returns to the last screen that was displayed and off (if it is on). As a backlight control, activates the backlight to illuminate the screen in low-light conditions.

remove it from its holder and hold it the same way you hold a pen or pencil.

It is touch-sensitive and responds to the stylus or your finger.

alphabet.

that extends beyond the area of the LCD screen.

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1 Getting started

Acer s10 tour

No. Component Description

7 Versatile connector Connects your Acer s10 to the cradle, which in turn

connects to the back of your computer and through the AC adapter to the wall current. This allows you to recharge your Acer s10 and perform HotSync operation. Also connects peripheral hardware devices, such as a keyboard, to your Acer s10.

8 Application buttons Activates the basic applications that correspond to the

icons marked on the buttons: (from left) Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, and Memo Pad.

NOTE: Refer to "ShortCuts preferences" on page 294 for instructions on how to reassign these buttons to other applications on your Acer s10.

If your Acer s10 is turned off, pressing any application button turns on the device and opens the corresponding application.

Using the backlight

If lighting conditions make it difficult for you to see the information on your Acer s10, use the backlight to illuminate your screen.

To activate the backlight:

• Press the power button and hold it down for about two seconds. Release the button when the backlight turns on.

TIP: You can assign the full-screen pen stroke to activate the backlight. Refer to "ShortCuts preferences" on page 294.

3

1 Getting started

Acer s10 tour

Rear panel

Your Acer s10’s rear panel consists of the following:

No. Label Description

1 Infrared (IR)

port

2 Memory Stick

slot

3 Earphone jack Connects to audio line-out devices (earphones/headphones)

4 Microphone Inputs audio into your Acer s10.

5 Recorder Hot

Button

Uses infrared technology to transmit and receive data from other IR-enabled Palm OS handhelds and devices. You can also use it to perform IR HotSync operation.

Accepts a Memory Stick, allowing you to add more memory, install add-on applications or use audio or text files stored in it for use with internal applications. You can also use it to back up data from your Acer s10.

Activates the Recording mode in Recorder.

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1 Getting started

Acer s10 tour

No. Label Description

6 Accessory slot Holds your Acer s10’s miscelleanous accessories.

7 Reset button Press to perform a soft or hard reset on your Acer s10. Under

normal conditions, you should not have to use this button. Refer to "Resetting your Acer s10" on page vi for more information.

Elements of the Acer s10 interface

Your Acer s10 interface consists of the following elements:

No. Component Description

1 Applications Activates the Applications Launcher screen displaying icons for

applications stored in both your Acer s10’s internal memory and in a resident Memory Stick.

2 Contrast

control

3 Service

Launcher

4 Find Activates the Find function enabling you search text in all

5 123 Activates the numeric keyboard when the dot is tapped; note

Displays the onscreen contrast control screen. You can adjust the control for the clearest screen display according to the lighting conditions or temperature of the environment where you use your Acer s10.

Activates the Personal Service screen, displaying icons for applications included under the Service category of Applications Launcher.

available records starting with the records of the open application.

that the cursor must be in an input field for this option to work.

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1 Getting started

Acer s10 tour

1 To display the Adjust Contrast screen, Tap the Contrast icon on the upper-left

2 Do one of the following:

No. Component Description

6 Division mark Divides the Graffiti writing area into the text area for letters

and character strokes (left side) and the number area for number strokes (right side).

7 abc Activates the alphabetic keyboard when the dot is tapped; note

that the cursor must be in an input field for this option to work.

8 Menu Activates the menu bar of an open application. (Not all

applications have a menu bar.)

Using the onscreen contrast control

The onscreen contrast control further adjusts your screen illumination by changing the amount of contrast on the screen.

To adjust the contrast:

corner of the Graffiti writing area

• To change the contrast in small increments, tap to the left or right of the slider.

• To change the contrast in larger increments, drag the slider to the left or right.

TIP: You can also use the up and down scroll buttons on the front panel of your Acer s10 to adjust the contrast setting.

3Tap Done.

6

1 Getting started

Acer s10 tour

Command interface

Your Acer s10 command interface consists of easy-to-understand elements that will help you perform your tasks in the most efficient manner.

Menu bar

Toolbar

Next/previous arrows

Pick list

Check box

Command button

Element Description

Menu bar Contains a set of menu commands specific to the application.

NOTE: Not all applications have a menu bar.

Toolbar Let you tap icons to initiate a command instead of tapping a

command in the menu bar or writing a Graffiti ShortCut. The icons displayed in the toolbar vary within each application.

Command buttons Initiate a command when tapped. Command buttons appear in

dialog boxes and at the bottom of application screens.

Check box Indicates the status of the corresponding option. A check mark in a

check box indicates that the option is active. If a check box is empty, tapping it inserts a check mark. If a check box is checked, tapping it removes the check mark.

Scroll bar

7

1 Getting started

Preparing to use your Acer s10

Element Description

Pick list Displays a list of choices. Tap the black inverted triangle next to the

pick list name to display a list of choices, and then tap an item in the list to select it.

Scroll bar Lets you move through long records. Tap and hold down the scroll

bar slider to scroll through pages; tap the slider arrow at either end to move one line at a time. To scroll to the previous page, tap the scroll bar just above the slider; to scroll to the next page, tap the scroll bar just below the slider.

Next/previous arrows Tap to display the previous and next page of information.

Preparing to use your Acer s10

Before you begin using your Acer s10, perform first the following easy installation tasks:

• Connect the cradle to your Acer s10 and then to your computer

• Charge your Acer s10

• Install the Palm Desktop software

• Set up your Acer s10

Connecting the cradle

The cradle that comes with your Acer s10 enables you to synchronize the information on your handheld with those in your Palm Desktop files using HotSync technology.

NOTE: The cradle that comes with your Acer s10 fits a USB connector. If your computer does not have a USB port, or if you are using Windows 95 or Windows NT, you should secure a Serial sync cable.

To connect the cradle:

1 Plug the cradle’s USB connector into a USB port on your computer.

2 Connect the AC adapter cord to the power socket at the back of the cradle.

3 Plug the AC adapter into any AC current outlet.

8

1 Getting started

Preparing to use your Acer s10

Charging your Acer s10

Your Acer s10 contains a Lithium-ion battery that is recharged each time you place your handheld in the cradle.

To charge your Acer s10:

There are two ways to charge your Acer s10:

• Charging with the cradle Connect the AC adapter connector to the power socket at the back of the

cradle, then plug the other end of the AC adapter into any AC current outlet.

Insert your Acer s10 into the cradle. The bottom edge of your Acer s10 should align smoothly with the cradle when it is inserted properly.

9

1 Getting started

Palm Desktop software

• Charging directly from the power supply Connect the AC adapter connector to the versatile connector of your

Acer s10, then plug the other end of the AC adapter cord to an AC current outlet.

LED status during charging:

• Charging: LED indicator flashes green

• Charging complete: LED indicator steady green

For the initial charging, charge your Acer s10 for three hours before you use it. After that, you can charge it for a few minutes each day to recharge the battery to full capacity.

If the battery becomes low in the course of normal use, an alert appears on the Acer s10 screen indicating low battery status. If this alert appears, perform a HotSync operation to back up your data; then leave your Acer s10 in the cradle to recharge the unit.

If your Acer s10 shuts down (i.e., battery is completely drain out) you have about a week to recharge the battery before you lose all data on your handheld’s internal memory.

Palm Desktop software

Palm Desktop software includes the same basic applications as your Acer s10: Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, Memo Pad and Expense. You can use the HotSync feature of this software to back up and exchange data between your Acer s10 and your computer.

It’s a good idea to back up your data in case something happens to the data on your Acer s10. Changes you make on your Acer s10 or on your Palm Desktop software appear in both places after you synchronize.

With Palm Desktop software, you can do the following:

• Work with your Acer s10 applications on your computer.

• Install new applications on your Acer s10.

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1 Getting started

Palm Desktop software

• Back up the data stored on your Acer s10 with HotSync technology and synchronize it with the data on your Palm Desktop software. Synchronization is a one-step procedure that ensures your data is always safe and up-to-date.

• Import and export data, so you can easily transfer data from other desktop applications into any of your main applications.

• Print your Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, and Memo Pad information on any printer.

Installing Palm Desktop software

The main complementing function of the Palm Desktop software to your Acer s10 is its role in performing a HotSync operation so that information in your handheld and your computer remains synchronized with each other. This will also allow you to create backup data in case something happens to your Acer s10.

The following instructions tells you how to install the Palm Desktop software. After installation, refer to the Palm Desktop online Help for information on how to use the software.

Pre-installation instructions:

• Connect the cradle to your computer. Refer to "Connecting the cradle" on page 8 for instructions.

• Do not copy the Palm Desktop software files to your computer’s hard disk. You must use the Acer s10 handheld Installation CD to place the files in their proper locations and to decompress the files.

To install Palm Desktop software:

1 Exit any open programs, including those that run at startup such as Microsoft® Office,

and disable any virus-scanning software.

2 Insert the Acer s10 handheld Installation CD into the computer’s CD-ROM drive.

3 On the menu screen, click Install Palm Desktop to display the Setup window.

11

1 Getting started

Palm Desktop software

4 On the Setup window, click Next.

5 Select a Setup type depending on your choice of PIM (personal information manager)

for file synchronization then click Next. Options include:

•Palm Desktop

• Palm Desktop and Microsoft Outlook

6 Click Next.

12

Acer s10 User Manual

About this Manual

Your guides

First things first

Package contents

Maintaining your Acer s10

Proper care and usage of your Acer s10

Resetting your Acer s10

Assigning security options

Battery considerations

Contents

1 Getting started

System requirements

Acer s10 tour

Front panel

Rear panel

Elements of the Acer s10 interface

Command interface

Preparing to use your Acer s10

Connecting the cradle

Charging your Acer s10

Palm Desktop software

Installing Palm Desktop software