Acer TravelMate 2490 User Guide

TravelMate 4280/4230/2490
Series
User's Guide
Copyright © 2006. Acer Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
TravelMate 4280/4230/2490 Series User's Guide Original Issue: 08/2006
Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this manual or supplementary documents and publications. This company 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.
Record the model number, serial number, purchase date and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The serial number and model number are recorded on the label affixed to your computer. All correspondence concerning your unit should include the serial number, model number and purchase information.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Acer Incorporated.
TravelMate 4280/4230/2490 Series Notebook PC
Model number: __________________________________
Serial number: ___________________________________
Date of purchase: ________________________________
Place of purchase: ________________________________
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Incorporated. Other companies' product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purposes only and belong to their respective companies.

Information for your safety and comfort

Safety instructions

Read these instructions carefully. Keep this document for future reference. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.
Turning the product off before cleaning
Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
Warnings
Do not use this product near water.
Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand or table. If the product
falls, it could be seriously damaged.
Slots and openings are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable
operation of the product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug or other similar surface. This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat register, or in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.
Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots as
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind onto or into the product.
To avoid damage of internal components and to prevent battery leakage,
do not place the product on a vibrating surface.
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Using electrical power
This product should be operated from the type of power indicated on the
marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your dealer or local power company.
Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this
product where people will walk on the cord.
If an extension cord is used with this product, make sure that the total
ampere rating of the equipment plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the extension cord ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total rating of all products plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the fuse rating.
Do not overload a power outlet, strip or receptacle by plugging in too
many devices. The overall system load must not exceed 80% of the branch circuit rating. If power strips are used, the load should not exceed 80% of the power strip's input rating.
iv
This product's AC adapter is equipped with a three-wire grounded plug.
The plug only fits in a grounded power outlet. Make sure the power outlet is properly grounded before inserting the AC adapter plug. Do not insert the plug into a non-grounded power outlet. Contact your electrician for details.
Warning! The grounding pin is a safety feature. Using a power outlet that is not properly grounded may result in electric shock and/or injury.
Note: The grounding pin also provides good protection from unexpected noise produced by other nearby electrical devices that may interfere with the performance of this product.
Use the product only with the supplied power supply cord set. If you need
to replace the power cord set, make sure that the new power cord meets the following requirements: detachable type, UL listed/CSA certified, type SPT-2, rated 7 A 125 V minimum, VDE approved or its equivalent, 4.6 meters (15 feet) maximum length.
Product servicing
Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage points or other risks. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel when:
the power cord or plug is damaged, cut or frayed
liquid was spilled into the product
the product was exposed to rain or water
the product has been dropped or the case has been damaged
the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need
for service
the product does not operate normally after following the operating
instructions
Note: Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions, since improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to normal condition.
Replacing the battery pack
The notebook uses lithium batteries. Replace the battery with the same type as that which came bundled with your product. Use of another battery may present a risk of fire or explosion.
Warning! Batteries may explode if not handled properly. Do not disassemble or dispose of them in fire. Keep them away from children. Follow local regulations when disposing of used batteries.
Telephone line safety
Disconnect all telephone lines from the equipment when not in use and/or
before servicing.
To avoid the remote risk of electric shock from lightning, do not connect
the telephone line to this equipment during lightning or thunderstorms.
Warning! For safety reasons, do not use non-compliant parts when adding or changing components. Consult your reseller for purchase options.

Disposal instructions

Do not throw this electronic device into the trash when discarding. To minimize pollution and ensure utmost protection of the global environment, please recycle. For more information on the Waste from Electrical and Electronics Equipment (WEEE) regulations, visit http://global.acer.com/about/environmental.htm
.
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Mercury advisory
For projectors or electronic products containing an LCD/CRT monitor or display: Lamp(s) inside this product contain mercury and must be recycled or disposed of according to local, state or federal laws. For more information, contact the Electronic Industries Alliance at www.eiae.org information, check www.lamprecycle.org
. For lamp-specific disposal
.
vi

Tips and information for comfortable use

Computer users may complain of eyestrain and headaches after prolonged use. Users are also at risk of physical injury after long hours of working in front of a computer. Long work periods, bad posture, poor work habits, stress, inadequate working conditions, personal health and other factors greatly increase the risk of physical injury.
Incorrect computer usage may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tenosynovitis or other musculoskeletal disorders. The following symptoms may appear in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck or back:
numbness, or a burning or tingling sensation
aching, soreness or tenderness
pain, swelling or throbbing
stiffness or tightness
coldness or weakness
If you have these symptoms, or any other recurring or persistent discomfort and/or pain related to computer use, consult a physician immediately and inform your company's health and safety department.
The following section provides tips for more comfortable computer use.
Finding your comfort zone
Find your comfort zone by adjusting the viewing angle of the monitor, using a footrest, or raising your sitting height to achieve maximum comfort. Observe the following tips:
refrain from staying too long in one fixed posture
avoid slouching forward and/or leaning backward
stand up and walk around regularly to remove the strain on your leg
muscles
take short rests to relax your neck and shoulders
avoid tensing your muscles or shrugging your shoulders
install the external display, keyboard and mouse properly and within
comfortable reach
if you view your monitor more than your documents, place the display at
the center of your desk to minimize neck strain
Taking care of your vision
Long viewing hours, wearing incorrect glasses or contact lenses, glare, excessive room lighting, poorly focused screens, very small typefaces and low-contrast displays could stress your eyes. The following sections provide suggestions on how to reduce eyestrain.
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Eyes
Rest your eyes frequently.
Give your eyes regular breaks by looking away from the monitor and
focusing on a distant point.
Blink frequently to keep your eyes from drying out.
Display
Keep your display clean.
Keep your head at a higher level than the top edge of the display so your
eyes point downward when looking at the middle of the display.
Adjust the display brightness and/or contrast to a comfortable level for
enhanced text readability and graphics clarity.
Eliminate glare and reflections by:
placing your display in such a way that the side faces the window or
any light source
minimizing room light by using drapes, shades or blinds
using a task light
changing the display's viewing angle
using a glare-reduction filter
using a display visor, such as a piece of cardboard extended from the
display's top front edge
Avoid adjusting your display to an awkward viewing angle.
Avoid looking at bright light sources, such as open windows, for extended
periods of time.
Developing good work habits
Develop the following work habits to make your computer use more relaxing and productive:
Take short breaks regularly and often.
Perform some stretching exercises.
Breathe fresh air as often as possible.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body.
Warning! We do not recommend using the computer on a couch or bed. If this is unavoidable, work for only short periods, take breaks regularly, and do some stretching exercises.
Note: For more information, please refer to "Regulations and safety notices" on page 65 in the AcerSystem User's Guide.
viii

First things first

We would like to thank you for making an Acer notebook your choice for meeting your mobile computing needs.

Your guides

To help you use your Acer notebook, we have designed a set of guides:
First off, the Just for Starters... poster helps you get started with setting up your computer.
The printed User's Guide introduces you to the basic features and functions of your new computer. For more on how your computer can help you to be more productive, please refer to the AcerSystem User's Guide. This guide contains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities, data recovery, expansion options and troubleshooting. In addition it contains warranty information and the general regulations and safety notices for your notebook. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and comes preloaded on your notebook. Follow these steps to access it:
1 Click on Start, All Programs, AcerSystem. 2 Click on AcerSystem User's Guide. Note: Viewing the file requires Adobe Reader. If Adobe Reader is
not installed on your computer, clicking on AcerSystem User's Guide will run the Adobe Reader setup program first. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. For instructions on how to use Adobe Reader, access the Help and Support menu.

Basic care and tips for using your computer

Turning your computer on and off
To turn on the computer, simply press and release the power button below the LCD screen beside the easy-launch buttons. See "Front view" on page 11 for the location of the power button.
To turn the power off, do any of the following:
Use the Windows shutdown command
Click on Start, Turn Off Computer, then click on Turn Off.
Use the power button
You can also shut down the computer by closing the display cover, or by pressing the sleep hotkey <Fn> + <F4>.
Note: If you cannot power off the computer normally, press and hold the power button for more than four seconds to shut down the computer. If you turn off the computer and want to turn it on again, wait at least two seconds before powering up.
Taking care of your computer
Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.
Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not place it near sources
of heat, such as a radiator.
Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0 ºC (32 ºF) or above
50 ºC (122 ºF).
Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.
Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.
Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.
Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration.
Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.
Never place objects on top of the computer.
Do not slam the computer display when you close it.
Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.
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Taking care of your AC adapter
Here are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:
Do not connect the adapter to any other device.
Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on top of it.
Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from foot traffic.
When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord itself but pull
on the plug.
The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed
the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating.
x
Taking care of your battery pack
Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:
Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn the power off
before removing or replacing batteries.
Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from children.
Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations. Recycle if possible.
Cleaning and servicing
When cleaning the computer, follow these steps: 1 Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack. 2 Disconnect the AC adapter.
3 Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. If either of the following occurs:
the computer has been dropped or the body has been damaged;
the computer does not operate normally
please refer to "Frequently asked questions" on page 42.
Information for your safety and comfort iii
Safety instructions iii Disposal instructions v Tips and information for comfortable use vi
First things first viii
Your guides viii Basic care and tips for using your computer viii
Turning your computer on and off viii Taking care of your computer ix Taking care of your AC adapter ix Taking care of your battery pack x Cleaning and servicing x
Acer Empowering Technology 1
Acer eDataSecurity Management 2 Acer eLock Management 3 Acer ePerformance Management 4 Acer eRecovery Management 5 Acer eSettings Management 6 Acer eNet Management 6 Acer ePower Management 8 Acer ePresentation Management 9
Your Acer notebook tour 11
Front view 11 Closed front view 12 Left view 13 Right view 14 Rear view 15
Base view 16 Specifications 17 Indicators 22 Easy-launch buttons 23 Touchpad 24
Touchpad basics 24 Using the keyboard 26
Lock keys and embedded numeric keypad 26
Windows keys 27
Hotkeys 27
Special keys 29 Ejecting the optical (CD or DVD) drive tray 30 Using a computer security lock 30 Audio 31
Adjusting the volume 31 Acer OrbiCam 32
Launching the Acer OrbiCam 33
Changing the Acer OrbiCam settings 33
Capturing photos/videos 35
Using the Acer OrbiCam as webcam 35

Contents

Enabling the Acer VisageON (for 1.3 megapixel camera models only) 36
Using the system utilities 39
Acer GridVista (dual-display compatible) 39 Launch Manager 40 Norton AntiVirus 41
Frequently asked questions 42
Requesting service 45
International Travelers Warranty (ITW) 45 Before you call 45
Taking your notebook PC with you 46
Disconnecting from the desktop 46 Moving around 46
Preparing the computer 46 What to bring to meetings 47
Taking the computer home 47
Preparing the computer 47 What to take with you 47 Special considerations 48 Setting up a home office 48
Traveling with the computer 48
Preparing the computer 48 What to take with you 48 Special considerations 49
Traveling internationally with the computer 49
Preparing the computer 49 What to bring with you 49 Special considerations 49
Securing your computer 50
Using a computer security lock 50 Using passwords 50
Entering passwords 51 Setting passwords 51
Expanding through options 52
Connectivity options 52
Fax/data modem 52 Built-in network feature 53 Fast Infrared (FIR) 53 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 54 IEEE 1394 port 54 PC Card slot 55 ExpressCard 56 Installing memory 57
BIOS utility 57
Boot sequence 57 Enable disk-to-disk recovery 58 Password 58
Using software 58
Playing DVD movies 58 Power management 59 Acer eRecovery Management 59
Create backup 60 Restore from backup 60 Create factory default image CD 61 Re-install bundled software without CD 61 Change password 62
Troubleshooting 63
Troubleshooting tips 63 Error messages 63
Regulations and safety notices 65
ENERGY STAR guidelines compliance 65 FCC notice 65 Modem notices 66 Laser compliance statement 69 LCD pixel statement 69 Macrovision copyright protection notice 69 Radio device regulatory notice 70 General 70 European Union (EU) 70 The FCC RF safety requirement 71 Canada — Low-power license-exempt radio communication devices (RSS-210) 72 Federal Communications Comission Declaration of Conformity 73 Declaration of Conformity for CE Marking 74 LCD panel ergonomic specifications 75
Index 76
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Acer Empowering Technology

Acer's innovative Empowering Technology makes it easy for you to access frequently used functions and manage your new Acer notebook. It features the following handy utilities:
Acer eDataSecurity Management protects data with passwords and
advanced encryption algorithms.
Acer eLock Management limits access to external storage media.
Acer ePerformance Management improves system performance by
optimizing disk space, memory and registry settings.
Acer eRecovery Management backs up/recovers data flexibly, reliably
and completely.
Acer eSettings Management accesses system information and adjusts
settings easily.
Acer eNet Management hooks up to location-based networks intelligently.
Acer ePower Management extends battery power via versatile usage
profiles.
Acer ePresentation Management connects to a projector and adjusts
display settings conveniently.
Empowering Technology
2
For more information, press the < > key to launch the Empowering Technology menu, then click on the appropriate utility and select the Help
function.

Acer eDataSecurity Management

Acer eDataSecurity Management is a handy file encryption utility that protects your files from being accessed by unauthorized persons. It is conveniently integrated with Windows Explorer as a shell extension for quick and easy data encryption/decryption and also supports on-the-fly file encryption for MSN
Empowering Technology
Messenger and Microsoft Outlook.
There are two passwords that can be used to encrypt/decrypt a file: the supervisor password and the file-specific password. The supervisor password is a "master" password that can decrypt any file on your system; the file-specific password is assigned when you encrypt each individual file.
The Acer eDataSecurity Management setup wizard will prompt you for a supervisor password and default file-specific password. This file-specific password will be used to encrypt files by default, or you can choose to enter your own file-specific password when encrypting a file.
Note: The password used encrypt a file is the unique key that the system needs to decrypt it. If you lose the password, the supervisor password is the only other key capable of decrypting the file. If you lose both passwords, there will be no way to decrypt your encrypted file! Be sure to safeguard all related passwords!

Acer eLock Management

Acer eLock Management is a security utility that allows you to lock up your removable data, optical and floppy drives to ensure that data can't be stolen while your notebook is unattended.
Removable data devices — includes USB disk drives, USB pen drives, USB
flash drives, USB MP3 drives, USB memory card readers, IEEE 1394 disk drives and any other removable disk drives that can be mounted as a file system when plugged into the system.
Optical drive devices — includes any kind of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives.
Floppy disk drives — 3.5-inch disks only.
To activate Acer eLock Management, a password must be set first. Once set, you may apply locks to any of the three kinds of devices. Lock(s) will immediately be set without any reboot necessary, and will remain locked after rebooting, until unlocked.
If you do not set a password, Acer eLock Management will reset back to the initial status with all locks removed.
3
Empowering Technology
Note: If you lose your password, there is no method to reset it
except by reformatting your notebook or taking your notebook
to an Acer Customer Service Center. Be sure to remember or write
down your password.
4
Empowering Technology

Acer ePerformance Management

Acer ePerformance Management is a system optimization tool that boosts the performance of your Acer notebook. It provides you with the following options to enhance overall system performance:
Memory optimization — releases unused memory and check usage.
Disk optimization — removes unneeded items and files.
Speed optimization — improves the usability and performance of your
Windows XP system.
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Acer eRecovery Management

Acer eRecovery Management is a powerful utility that does away with the need for recovery disks provided by the manufacturer. The Acer eRecovery Management utility occupies space in a hidden partition on your system's HDD. User-created backups are stored on D:\ drive. Acer eRecovery Management provides you with:
Password protection.
Recovery of applications and drivers.
Image/data backup:
Back up to HDD (set recovery point).
Back up to CD/DVD.
Image/data recovery tools:
Recover from a hidden partition (factory defaults).
Recover from the HDD (most recent user-defined recovery point).
Recover from CD/DVD.
Empowering Technology
For more information, please refer to "Acer eRecovery Management" on page 59 in the AcerSystem User's Guide.
Note: If your computer did not come with a Recovery CD or
System CD, please use Acer eRecovery Management's "System
backup to optical disk" feature to burn a backup image to CD or
DVD. To ensure the best results when recovering your system
using a CD or Acer eRecovery Management, detach all peripherals
(except the external Acer ODD, if your computer has one),
including your Acer ezDock.
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Acer eSettings Management

Acer eSettings Management allows you to inspect hardware specifications and to monitor the system health status. Furthermore, Acer eSettings Management enables you to optimize your Windows operating system, so your computer runs faster, smoother and better.
Acer eSettings Management also:
Provides a simple graphical user interface for navigating through the
program effortlessly.
Displays general system status and advanced monitoring for power users.
Empowering Technology
Logs when a hardware component has been removed or replaced.
Permits you to migrate personal settings.
Keeps a history log of all alerts that were previously issued.

Acer eNet Management

Acer eNet Management helps you to quickly and easily connect to both wired and wireless networks in a variety of locations. To access this utility, either click on the "Acer eNet Management" icon on your notebook, or start the program from the Start menu. You also have the option to set Acer eNet Management to start automatically when you boot up your PC.
Acer eNet Management automatically detects the best settings for a new location, while offering you the freedom to manually adjust the settings to match your needs, simply by right-clicking on the icon in the taskbar.
Acer eNet Management can save network settings for a location to a profile, and automatically apply the appropriate profile when you move from one location to another. Settings stored include network connection settings (IP and DNS settings, wireless AP details, etc.), as well as default printer settings. Security and safety concerns mean that Acer eNet Management does not store username and password information.
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Empowering Technology
8

Acer ePower Management

Acer ePower Management features a straightforward user interface. To launch it, select Acer ePower Management from the Empowering Technology interface, or double-click the Acer ePower Management icon in the task tray.
AC mode
The default setting is "Maximum Performance." You can adjust CPU speed, LCD brightness and other settings, or click on buttons to turn the following functions on/off: Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, CardBus, Memory Card, Audio, and
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Wired LAN.
DC mode
To suit your usage, there are four pre-defined profiles — Entertainment, Presentation, Word Processing, and Maximum Battery. Or, you can define up to three of your own profiles.
Create new power scheme
1 Assign a name for the new scheme. 2 Choose existing scheme to use as a template. 3 Select whether used for mains (AC) or battery mode. 4 Choose which power options best fit your needs, then click OK. 5 The new profile will appear on the main screen.
Battery status
For real-time battery life estimates based on current usage, refer to the panel on the lower left-hand side of the window.
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You can also click "Advanced Settings" to:
Set alarms.
Re-load factory defaults.
Select what actions will be taken when the cover is closed, and set
passwords for accessing the system after Hibernation or Standby.
View information about Acer ePower Management.

Acer ePresentation Management

Empowering Technology
Acer ePresentation Management lets you select from two of the most common projector resolutions: XGA and SVGA.
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Empowering Technology
11

Your Acer notebook tour

After setting up your computer as illustrated in the Just for Starters... poster, let us show you around your new Acer notebook.

Front view

English
# Item Description 1 Built-in camera 1.3 megapixel or 310,000 pixel web camera for video
communication (for selected models).
2 Display screen Also called Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), displays
computer output. 3 Keyboard For entering data into your computer. 4 Touchpad Touch-sensitive pointing device which functions like a
5 Click buttons
(left, center and right)
6 Palmrest Comfortable support area for your hands when you use
computer mouse.
The left and right buttons function like the left and
right mouse buttons; the center button serves as a 4-way
scroll button.
the computer.
English
12
# Item Description 7 Microphone Internal microphone for sound recording. 8 Easy-launch
buttons
9 Status
indicators
10 Power button Turns the computer on and off.
Buttons for launching frequently used programs. See "Easy-launch buttons" on page 23 for more details.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that light up to show the status of the computer's functions and components.

Closed front view

# Icon Item Description 1 Speakers Left and right speakers deliver stereo
audio output.
2Bluetooth
communication button/indicator
3 3G switch/indicator Enables/disables the 3G function.
4 Wireless
communication button/indicator
5 Power indicator Indicates the computer's power status.
Enables/disables the Bluetooth function. Indicates the status of Bluetooth communication.
Indicates the status of 3G communication (for selected models).
Enables/disables the wireless function. Indicates the status of wireless LAN communication.
6 Battery indicator Indicates the computer's batttery status.
7 Microphone-in jack Accepts input from external
8 Line-in jack Accepts audio line-in devices (e.g., audio
microphones.
CD player, stereo walkman).
13
# Icon Item Description 9 Headphones/speaker/
line-out jack with S/PDIF support
10 Latch Locks and releases the lid.
Connects to audio line-out devices (e.g., speakers, headphones) (for selected models).

Left view

# Icon Item Description 1 Kensington lock
slot
2 Ventilation slots Enable the computer to stay cool, even
3 Two USB 2.0 ports Connect to USB 2.0 devices (e.g., USB
4 Ethernet (RJ-45)
port
Connects to a Kensington-compatible computer security lock.
after prolonged use.
mouse, USB camera). Connects to an Ethernet 10/100- or 10/100/
1000 based network (for selected models).
English
5 Infrared port Interfaces with infrared devices (e.g.,
infrared printer and IR-aware computer) (for selected models).
6 5-in-1 card reader Accepts Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick
7 4-pin IEEE 1394
port
8 PC Card slot Accepts one Type II PC Card.
9 ExpressCard/34
slot
10 PC Card slot eject
button
PRO (MS PRO), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), xD-Picture Card (xD) (for selected models).
Connects to IEEE 1394 devices (for selected models).
Accepts one ExpressCard module (for selected models).
Ejects the PC Card from the slot.
English
14

Right view

# Item Description 1 Optical drive Internal optical drive; accepts CDs or DVDs. 2 Optical disk access
indicator
3 Optical drive eject
button
4 Emergency eject
hole
Lights up when the optical drive is active.
Ejects the optical disk from the drive.
Ejects the optical drive tray when the computer is turned off.
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