Apple PowerBook 2400c User Manual

part

Chapter 1 Getting Started Chapter 2 Get ting Help Chapter 3 Using PC Cards and Additional Equipment Chapter 4 Installing and Using Application Programs Chapter 5 Power Manag e ment

The information and illustrations in this chapter provide an overview of your Macintosh PowerBook system and get you started using the computer. To begin, take a few moments to review some important details about the computer’s hardware, software, and learning materials.

Becoming familiar with your Macintosh PowerBook

Your PowerBook is designed to keep you working productively in any location. With a PowerBook, you have

m easily expandable hardware m specialized programs for mobile computing and versatile productivity

applications, in addition to Macintosh system software

m interactive online instructions for using the computer, a manual for setting

up and troubleshooting, and electronic manuals for application programs provided with the computer

Hardware at a glance

The illustration on the next page shows the built-in features of your computer, including the slots for PC Cards, and the ports for connecting to an external floppy disk drive, a printer, a nd other external equipment.

Getting Started

Follow the instructions in this

chapter to set up your computer

and learn the basics.

SCSI port (HDI-30)

™

External monitor port

(VGA-style connector)

External floppy

disk drive port

Apple Desktop Bus

(ADB) port

Printer/external

modem port

PC Card eject holes

Two PC Card (PCMCIA card) slots

Trackpad

Trackpad button

Microphone

PC card eject buttons

Power key

Battery cover

Sleep indicator light

Sound in port

Infrared window

Sound out port

Speaker

Reset button

Power adapter port

Brightness

control

Software for mobility and efficiency

Your PowerBook comes with a variety of applications, utility programs, and control panels that provide broad functionality and flexibility. These include

In the Applications folder

m Apple Inter n et Connection Kit, complete software for using the Internet m ClarisWorks, for word processing, graphics, spreadsheet, database, and

telecommunications

m America Online, for electronic mail, information services, and

Intern et browsing

m MacLink Plus, for translating files between Mac OS and PC formats m Remote Access Client, for connecting to a computer located elsewhere m Apple Telecom software, for sending faxes and making modem connections

In the Apple Extras folder

m Apple IR File Exchange, for sending and receiving files using the

computer’s infrared window

m PowerBook File Assistant, for synchronizing file contents when you have

several versions of a file

m MoviePlayer, for viewing QuickTime movies m Tools and instructions for AppleScript scripting

In the Utilities folder

m Drive Setup, for testing, formatting, and partitioning hard disk drives and

drives for removable media, such as optical disks

m Disk First Aid, for testing and repairing floppy disks and hard disks or

removable media (except SRAM storage PC Cards)

Each folder contains other items as well.

Getting Started

Control Strip for quick changes

The Control Strip appears on the desktop when you start up your PowerBook. This strip lets you change common settings quickly—by pressing an icon and then choosing the option you want from a pop-up menu.

(The Control Strip on your PowerBook may not look exactly like the illustration, depending on your computer’s settings.)

You can adjust the Control Strip and add or remove items from it. For instructions, see “How do I use the Control Strip?” in the “Customizing Your Computer” topic area of Mac OS Guide, available from the Guide (h) menu.

Learning materials and other information about the computer

Your PowerBook comes with this user’s manual, which provides the information you need for setting up the computer, caring for it, and finding solutions to problems with the hardware. Depending on the PowerBook model you have, other manuals may be included as well.

The majority of instructions for using your PowerBook are online—i n the Mac OS Tutorial, which introduces new users to the computer, and Mac OS Guide, which offers step-by-step instructions for the primary tasks you perform with the computer.

Chapter 1

Monitor

battery’s charge

Play

audio CD

Turn file

sharing

on or off

Put computer to sleep

Set screen’s

colors or grays

Set screen’s resolution

Turn

AppleTalk

on or off

Adjust sound volume

Change default printer

Adjust for

conservation

or performance

Spin down the hard disk

Save system settings

The Guide menu

You use the Guide menu to open Mac OS Tutorial or Mac OS Guide.

The Guide menu contains online instructions for using Macintosh system software when the Finder is the active program. In addition to Mac OS Guide and the tutorial, the Guide menu contains an explanation for using the Guide online instructions (About Apple Guide) and a summary of shortcuts.

The Guide menu usually provides online h elp for other applications when they are active.

You also use the Guide menu to turn balloons on or off. When turned on, balloons display a description of the item on the screen at the pointer’s location. The illustration shows the balloon for the Trash.

Getting Started

When you have questions about the computer

When you have questions about using your Macintosh PowerBook, you can look for answers in several places. These include

m Mac OS Guide and other online instr uctions available in the Guide menu m electronic manuals and Read Me documents on your computer’s hard disk m files that provide demonstrations and tours of the hardware and software

(on the hard disk)

m the printed manuals that came with your computer and with any additional

application programs or equipment you’re using

m Apple’s World Wide Web sites and other information sources on the

Intern et (by modem or network connection)

m the Apple support center (by telephone)

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Where to find answers

The summary that follows indicates the type of information you can expect to get from each information source.

On the computer’s hard disk

In the Guide menu

The Guide menu (marked with the hicon) is your main source of information about the Macintosh. You can learn basic skills in the tutorial and get interactive, step-by-step help for tasks in Mac OS Guide.

In electronic manuals

For some programs, condensed instructions and reference information are supplied in an online manual. This type of document usually contains illustrations and bookmarks you use for quick access to the items you need. You can print this manual also.

In Read Me documents

The Read Me files that come on your computer’s hard disk contain late-breaking information about your PowerBook and some of the software that comes with your PowerBook.

In the printed materials

In this book

Use this book to set up and learn about your computer and for useful tips and suggestions if you have problems while using your computer.

In other manuals

For answers to questions about other equipment or about application programs you have purchased, see the manuals that came with them.

continued

User’s ManualUser’s Manual

Macintosh PowerBookMacintosh PowerBook

Getting Started

On the Internet

At Apple’s Web sites

Apple maintains a number of sites on the World Wide Web that provide software updates, product information, and technical information. The central site is http://www.apple.com/. Several other Apple sites (linked to the central one) provide PowerBook updates, product details, and mobile computing solutions, including http://powerbook.apple.com/.

Over the telephone

From Apple’s customer support line

If you can’t find an answer in any of the materials provided, call the Apple Assistance Center. (See the service and support information that came with your computer for the phone number.)

Preparing to set up the computer

Now that you know some essential details about your PowerBook, you’re ready to set it up and begin using it.

To set up your computer for the first time, you need the power adapter and the power cord that came with it.

When setting up your computer, place your computer on a sturdy, flat surface near a grounded electrical outlet. Before following the setup instructions in this chapter, you may want to read “Arra nging Your Work Area and Equipment” in Appendix A for tips on adjusting your work furniture and computer so that you’re comfortable when using the computer.

Chapter 1

Plugging in the computer

Pluggi ng in the power adapter recharges the computer’s battery. Be sure to plug in the power adapter in case the battery has drained during shipping or storage. (If the battery was completely drained, the power will come on automatically when the power adapter is attached.)

When you are ready to begin, follow these steps:

1 Plug one end of the power cord into the power adapter and the other end into an outlet

or power strip.

2 Plug the power adapter plug into the power adapter port (marked with the icon

) on the

back panel of the computer.

Power adapter plug

Power adapter port

Power adapter

Power cord

Your power adapter may look slightly different.

WARNING

Use only the power adapter that came with your Macintosh PowerBook computer. Adapters for other electronic devices (including other Macintosh PowerBook models and other portable computers) may look similar, but they may damage your computer.

Getting Started

Chapter 1

Opening the display

1 Push the latch in and lift up the display.

2 Position the display at a comfortable viewing angle.

You can adjust the angle of the display at any time by tilting it toward or away from you.

Press the latch to open the display.

Turning the computer on

Press the Power key at the upper-right corner of the keyboard to turn the computer on.

You should hear a tone when you turn on the computer. It takes the computer a few moments to start up. You’ll see the Mac OS startup screen as the system software is loaded on the computer. After your computer starts up for the first time, a picture similar to this appears on the screen:

Note: Your screen should look very similar to this, but it may not look exactly the same.

Power key

Getting Started

Problems turning the computer on?

Nothing happened when you pressed the Power key.

The battery may be drained. Make sure you plugged in the power adapter, and that the power adapter is firmly connected to both the computer and a power source. If the power adapter is plugged into a power strip, make sure the power strip is plugged in and turned on. If the computer doesn’t make a sound when you press the Power key, press the reset button (marked with I) on the back of the computer. Once the battery has charged you should be able to use the Power key normally.

If the computer still doesn’t turn on, see “Problems Starting Up the Computer” in Chapter 6.

The computer made a sound, but you can’t see anything on the screen.

Adjust the brightness control until an image appears and the screen is easy to read.

Press ¿ to increase brightness.

Press

to decrease brightness.

Chapter 1

You see a picture of a disk with a blinking question mark on the screen.

This icon usually means that the computer can’t find system software on the hard disk or any disks attached to the computer. You may need to reinstall system software. See “Reinstalling System Software” in Chapter 7.

What’s next?

You’ve now finished setting up your Macintosh PowerBook. Continue with one of the following steps:

m If you are new to the Macintosh, turn to the next section, “Learni ng

the Basics.”

m If you are an experienced Macintosh user, turn to Chapter 2, “Getting

Help,” to learn about Mac OS Guide, your main source of information when you’re working with the Macintosh computer.

m If you have additional equipment to connect to your computer, see

Chapter 3, “Using PC Cards and Additional Equipment,” for instructions. (If you are a new Macintosh user, you should complete “Learning the Basics” before connecting additional equipment.)

m If you have application programs that you want to install on your computer,

see Chapter 4, “Installing and Using Application Programs,” for instructions. (If you are a new Macintosh user, you should complete “Learning the Basics” before installing application programs.)

IMPORTANT

If you need to turn off your computer at any point, read the instructions in “Tur ni ng the Computer Off” later in this chapter to learn the correct procedure for turning off your Macintosh PowerBook computer.

Getting Started

Learning the basics

If you are new to the Macintosh, you should begin by looking at the easy-touse program called the Mac OS Tutorial. The tutorial teaches you the basic skills you’ll need to use your computer.

To start the tutorial, follow these steps:

1 Move your finger on the trackpad to move the arrow pointer (

) on the screen.

Place your index finger on the trackpad and your thumb on the trackpad button. Don’t press the trackpad button yet.

Move your finger across the trackpad, watching the arrow on the screen. Notice that the arrow on the screen moves in the same direction that you move your finger on the trackpad.

The trackpad is sensitive not only to the direction you move your finger, but also to how fast you move your finger. If you want the pointer to move a short distance across the screen, you move your finger slowly across the trackpad. The faster you move your finger, the farther the pointer moves on the screen.

Trackpad Trackpad button

Chapter 1

2 Move your finger on the trackpad so that the tip of the arrow (

) points to the question

mark in the upper-right portion of the screen.

3 With the tip of the arrow (8) on the question mark, press and hold down the

trackpad button.

A list of choices (called a menu) appears. This is the Guide (h) menu, which is the place to go when you have a question about how to use your computer.

4 While holding down the trackpad button, move the arrow (

) until the words “Mac OS

Tutorial” are highlighted, then release the trackpad button.

A window appears welcoming you to the tutorial. You can set aside this book for now and follow the instructions you see on the screen. When you have completed the tutorial, return to this book.

Tips for using the trackpad

For best results when using the trackpad, keep in mind these tips:

m Use your index finger (left or right hand). Use only one finger. m Use only your finger on the trackpad. Do not use a pen or any

other object.

m Sometimes humidity or condensation may cause moisture to gather

on the trackpad. If this happens, gently wipe the trackpad with a clean cloth before you use it.

Getting Started

Reviewing the basics

You can use the following illustrations to review the elements you use on your screen to do work with your computer.

Menus

The strip across the top of the screen is called the menu bar. The symbols and words in it represent menus of commands. To open a menu, place the pointer on the symbol or word for the menu and press the mouse button.

Chapter 1

Control Strip

Icons

Window

Printer menu

You can see a list of printers and choose

any of them as the default printer.

Application menu

You can have several application programs open at once. To see which program is active or to switch from one program to another, use this menu (called the Application menu).

Guide menu

To find an answer to a question, look in the Guide (

) menu.

Icons

Icons are small pictures that represent disks, programs, documents, and folders. You can double-click any icon to open it and see what it contains.

This icon represents your computer’s internal hard disk.

Icons like this one represent application programs, which you use to create documents and do other work.

Icons like this one represent documents, which you can create and edit.

Icons like this represent folders. A folder contains other icons.

To throw away an item you no longer want, drag it to the Trash icon and choose Empty Trash from the Special menu.

Windows

Windows are boxes that display text, graphics, or icons. To change the shape or position of a window, or to close the window, use the elements shown here.

Getting Started

Scroll arrow

To bring hidden portions of a window’s contents into view, click one of the four scroll arrows.

Close box

To close a window, click the close box.

Title bar

To move a window, drag it by the middle of the title bar (anywhere in the bar except the small boxes).

Size box

To change the shape or size of a window, drag the size box.

To make a partially

covered window

active, click

anywhere in it.

Control Strip

The Control Strip gives you a quick and easy way to monitor and update your PowerBook’s power management options and other useful features. For instructions on using the Control Strip, see “How do I use the Control Strip?” in the “Customizing Your Computer” topic area of Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide (h) menu.

Turning the computer off

Always use one of the following methods to shut down the computer. If you don’t, you risk losing any work you haven’t previously saved on a disk. You also risk losing any open documents.

Turning the computer off with the Power key

To turn the computer off, press the Power key. Detailed instructions follow.

1 If the computer is in sleep, press the Power key (or any key on the keyboard except Caps

Lock) to wake it.

For information on the sleep feature of your Macintosh PowerBook, see “Putting the Computer to Sleep,” later in this chapter.

2 Press and hold the Power key for about two seconds.

The following dialog box app ears on the screen:

3 Press the Return key on the keyboard (or click the Shut Down button in the dialog box).

Chapter 1

Turning the computer off with the Shut Down command

You can also turn your computer off by using the Shut Down command in the Special menu.

Follow these steps:

1 If the computer is in sleep, press the Power key (or any key on the keyboard except Caps

Lock) to wake it.

2 Move the tip of the arrow to the word “Special” at the top center of the screen.

If the word “Special” does not appear at the top of the screen, you’re not working in the Finder. Choose Finder from the Application menu at the far-right end of the menu bar.

3 With the tip of the arrow on the word “Special,” press and hold down the trackpad button. 4 While holding down the trackpad button, move the arrow until the words “Shut Down”

are highlighted, then release the button.

Trouble? If a problem with the computer prevents you from using the Power key or choosing Shut Down—for example, if the computer “freezes” so that the pointer does not respond to the trackpad—you can restart the computer by pressing the Command (x), Control, and Power keys simultaneously. If the computer doesn’t restart, press the reset button (marked with I) on the back of the computer. Use this method only if you cannot choose Shut Down or Restart when you press the Power key, or if you cannot choose either command from the Special menu.

Getting Started

Putting the computer to sleep

Sleep is a power conservation feature of Macintosh PowerBook computers that lets you instantly restart the computer and bypass the startup process. You can extend the period of time your battery will power the computer by putting the PowerBook to sleep when you won’t be using it for several minutes or hours. The length of time the computer can be left in sleep depends on the charge state of the battery.

To put the computer to sleep, follow these steps:

1 Press and hold the Power key for about two seconds. 2 Click the Sleep button.

Other ways of putting your computer to sleep

m You can choose the Sleep command from the Special menu to put your

computer to sleep.

WARNING

Once you put your computer to sleep, listen for the hard disk to stop spinning before you move your Macintosh PowerBook. Moving your Macintosh PowerBook with the hard disk spinning can damage your computer.

Chapter 1

m You can also put your computer to sleep by closing and latching the display.

When the computer is in sleep, a small green light flashes in the center of the latch.

For information on other ways of putting the computer to sleep, see the “Batteries & Power” topic of Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide (h) menu. (You can learn more about using Mac OS Guide in Chapter 2 of this manual.)

Automatic sleep

If you don’t use the computer for several minutes, it goes to sleep automatically. This conserves battery power.

To wake the computer, press any key on the keyboard (except Caps Lock). The screen will reappear as it was before the computer went to sleep.

You can control the automatic sleep feature. For more information on sleep and automatic sleep, see the “Batteries & Power” topic of Mac OS Guide, available in the Guide (h) menu. (You can learn more about using Mac OS Guide in Chapter 2 of this manual.)

Sleep indicator

Getting Started

Restarting a computer that’s already on

You need to restart your computer—turn it off and back on again—when you want to make certain changes to settings, use a newly installed system software file, or start up the computer using a different disk.

You may also need to restart if you see a “system error” message on the screen (indicating a temporary software problem). In this case, use the trackpad to click the Restart button that appears.

Follow these instructions to restart your computer:

1 Press and hold the Power key for about two seconds. 2 Click the Restart button.

You can also do this to restart:

Choose Restart from the Special menu.

If the Special menu does not appear in the menu bar, you’re not working in the Finder. Click anywhere on the desktop to return to the Finder.

When you choose Restart, the computer prompts you to save your work, closes all open programs, a nd restar ts itself.

Restarting using either of the methods outlined above does not affect your RAM disk (if you created one) or its contents.

Chapter 1

Trouble? If a problem with the computer prevents you from using the Power key or choosing Restart—for example, if the computer “freezes” so that the pointer does not respond to the trackpad—you ca n restar t the computer by pressing the Command (x), Control, and Power keys simultaneously.

If the computer doesn’t restart, press the reset button (marked with I) on the back of the computer.

(If the computer is on but “frozen,” pressing the reset button will turn off the computer. You will then need to press the Power key to turn it on.) Use this method only if you cannot choose Shut Down or Restart from the dialog box that appears when you press the Power key, or if you cannot choose either command from the Special menu.

Reset button

Getting Started

The Guide menu contains online help and i nformation and is your main source of information when working with your computer. The menu is identified by a question mark (

h) in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Getting Help

Use the instructions in this

chapter to learn about the help

available to you in the Guide menu.

Getting answers to your questions

When you have a question while working with your computer, you can get the answer by choosing Mac OS Guide from the Guide menu.

To get answers to your questions, follow these steps:

1 Open the Application menu (in the upper-right corner of the screen) and choose Finder

to make it the active application program.

A checkmark in the menu indicates that the Finder is the active program.

2 Open the Guide menu (marked with the

icon) and choose Mac OS Guide.

The Mac OS Guide window appears.

Whenever you use Mac OS Guide, its window remains in front of other windows. If the wi ndow gets in your way, you can move it by dragging its title bar (the gray bar across the top of the window).

Chapter 2

3 Notice the three buttons at the top of the window: Topics, Index, and Look For.

Mac OS Guide gives you three ways of finding information:

Topics

lets you choose from a list of general subjects; it is like the table of

contents in a book.

Index

lets you choose from an alphabetical list of more specific subjects; it

is like the index in a book.

Look For

lets you search for information related to a specific word or

phrase that you type. In the sections that follow, you will practice using each method. If you have problems while using Mac OS Guide, see “Tips for Using Mac OS

Guide” later in this chapter.

Getting answers with the Topics button

1 In the Mac OS Guide window, click the Topics button.

A list of general topics appears on the left side of the Mac OS Guide window. (Depending on the hardware and software you have, the list of topics may look different.)

Getting Help

2 In the list of topics, click “Customizing Your Computer.”

When you click any topic area, a list of related questions appears on the right side of the Mac OS Guide window.

3 Click the question “How do I set the time and date?” and then click OK. Or double-click

the question.

A small window appears with instructions for you to follow.

4 Read and follow the instructions in this window.

Mac OS Guide provides step-by-step instructions to answer the question you selected. When you have completed each step, click the right arrow in the lower-right corner to see the next step.

5 When you have completed all the steps, click the Topics button in the lower-left corner to

return to the main Mac OS Guide window.

Now continue with the next section.

Chapter 2

To get instructions, click a question…

…and then click OK.

Click here to see the next step (if there is one).

If you want to

return to the main

Mac OS Guide

window, click

this button.

Getting answers with the Index button

1 In the Mac OS Guide window, click the Index button.

An alphabetical list of subjects appears on the left side of the window.

2 Scroll through the alphabetical list until the phrase “background pattern” is visible.

You can scroll through the list either by dragging the slider to the letter “B” or by using the scroll bar at the right of the list.

3 Click the phrase “background pattern” in the alphabetical list.

When you click any index entry, a list of related questions appears on the right side of the Mac OS Guide window.

Getting Help

Scroll bar

Slider

To get instructions, click a question…

…and then click OK.

4 Click the question “How do I change the background pattern?” and then click OK.

Or double-click the question.

A small window appears with instructions for you to follow.

5 Read and follow the instructions in the window.

Mac OS Guide provides step-by-step instructions to answer the question you selected. When you have completed each step, click the right arrow in the lower-right corner to see the next step.

6 When you have completed all the steps, click the Topics button in the lower-left corner to

return to the main Mac OS Guide window.

Now continue with the next section.

Chapter 2

Click here to see the next step (if there is one).

If you want to

return to the main

Mac OS Guide

window, click

this button.

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