VTech PRECOMPUTER POWERPAD PLUS User Manual

Precomputer Power Pad

User’s manual

Plus

Dear Parent:

At VTech

we know that children have the ability to do great

things. That’s why all of our electronic learning products

are uniquely designed to develop a child’s mind and allow

them to learn to the best of their ability. Whether it’s learning

about letters, numbers, geography or algebra, all VTech

learning products incorporate advanced technologies and

extensive curriculum to encourage children of all ages to reach

their potential.

When it comes to providing interactive products that enlighten,

entertain and develop minds, at VTech

we see the potential

in every child.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ............................ 1

CHAPTER 2 GETTING STARTED ........................ 2

MAIN BATTERY INSTALLATION ...............................2

BACKUP BATTERY INSTALLATION ........................... 2

AC ADAPTOR CONNECTION ................................... 3

PRINTER CONNECTION ..........................................4

MOUSE CONNECTION ............................................ 4

GENERAL OPERATION .......................................... 4

CHAPTER 3 THE KEYBOARD ............................ 6

SPECIAL KEYS ........................................................6

ACTIVITY SELECTOR ............................................... 9

CHAPTER 4 ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS ........ 11

HOW TO PLAY..................................................... 11

CHAPTER 5 WORD PROCESSOR .................... 20

FILE OPTIONS...................................................... 21

EDIT OPTIONS ..................................................... 22

FORMAT OPTIONS .............................................. 23

TOOLS OPTIONS .................................................24

PRINT OPTIONS .................................................. 24

HELP ................................................................... 25

EXIT..................................................................... 25

CHAPTER 6 SYSTEM SETUP ............................. 26

PRINTER SETUP ................................................... 26

TIPS OF TODAY ...................................................26

SCREEN SAVER ....................................................27

CLEAR LAST SCORE .............................................. 27

ICON BOX ...........................................................27

QUICK MENU SETUP ............................................ 27

CUSTOMIZE SETUP ............................................... 27

DEMO MODE ...................................................... 28

RAM CART MANAGER.......................................... 28

POWER LINK ....................................................... 29

CHAPTER 7 BASIC.......................................... 30

INTRODUCTION ................................................... 30

GETTING STARTED .............................................. 32

BASIC COMPUTER TUTORIAL................................ 34

REFERENCE SECTION ........................................... 47

ARITHMETIC FUNCTIONS ......................................52

STRING FUNCTIONS............................................. 53

GRAPHICS FUNCTION ..........................................54

SUBSTRINGS .......................................................54

LOGICAL OPERATORS ......................................... 59

APPENDIX ...........................................................65

THE ERROR MESSAGES ....................................... 74

CHAPTER 8 CALCULATOR.............................. 76

BASIC CALCULATOR OPERATIONS ....................... 76

USING THE MEMORY FEATURES........................... 76

ADVANCED FUNCTIONS .......................................77

TRIGONOMETRY FUNCTIONS .............................. 78

CHAPTER 9 TIME LIMITS............................... 79

CHAPTER 10 SCORING .................................. 79

CHAPTER 11 POWER LINK ............................ 81

CONNECTING THE CABLE ..................................... 81

CONTROLLING VTECH POWER LINK™ ................. 81

CHAPTER 12 HOW TO USE AN EXPANSION

CARTRIDGE ............................... 83

CHAPTER 13 CARE AND MAINTENANCE ......... 84

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Thank you for buying the PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS learning toy by VTECH®. We at VTECH® are committed to providing the best possible products to develop a child’s mind. Should you have any questions or concerns, please call our Consumer Services Department at 1-800-521-2010 in the U.S. or 1-800-267-7377 in Canada.

PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS is a powerful learning computer tool featuring 120x32 full dot matrix LCD screen and a standard sized computer style keyboard that gives the user the look and the feel of a real laptop computer. PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS offers 38 activities that include tenses, antonyms, synonyms, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, basic and advanced mathematics, 1000 trivia questions, logic games, a word processor, BASIC programming with tutorial, a built-in calculator, a 75,000 word spell checker and more. Get ready for hours of learning fun with the PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™

PLUS learning unit.

CABINET LOCKS

9 LED STATUS DISPLAY BAR

MEMBRANE

ACTIVITY

SELECTOR

EXPANSION CARTRIDGE DOOR

LCD SCREEN

CONTRAST SWITCH

VOLUME SWITCH

SPEAKER

ON SELECTOR

OFF SELECTOR

COMPUTER KEYBOARD

AC ADAPTOR PORT

PRINTER PORT

MOUSE PORT

PULL OUT CARRYING HANDLE

CHAPTER 2: GETTING STARTED

The PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS learning unit operates on 4 “AA” (UM-3/LR6) size batteries for the main compartment or a 9V AC adaptor. 2 “AA” (UM-3/LR6) batteries are required to backup the unit.

MAIN BATTERY INSTALLATION

1. Make sure the unit is OFF.

2. Locate the main battery cover on the back of the unit and open it.

3. Insert 4 “AA” (UM-3/LR6) size batteries as illustrated. DO NOT USE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES in this unit. (The use of Rayovac Renewable/Rechargeable Alkaline batteries is encouraged.)

4. Replace the battery cover.

5. Turn the unit ON.

BATTERY NOTICE

• Install batteries correctly observing the polarity (+,-) signs to avoid leakage.

• Do not mix old and new batteries.

• Do not use batteries of different types.

• Remove exhausted or new batteries from equipment when you are not going to use it for a long time.

• Do not dispose of batteries in fire.

• Do not attempt to recharge ordinary batteries.

• The supply terminals are not to be short-circuited.

• Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be recharged.

• Rechargeable batteries are to be removed from the toy before being charged.

• Rechargeable batteries are only to be charged under adult supervision.

NOTE: If the unit suddenly stops working, or the sound seems weak, turn the unit off for

15 seconds, then turn it back on. If the problem persists, it may be caused by weak batteries. Please install a new set of batteries and try the unit again.

BACKUP BATTERY INSTALLATION

1. Make sure the unit is OFF.

2. Locate the backup battery cover on the back of the unit and open it.

3. Insert 2 “AA” (UM-3/LR6) size batteries as illustrated. DO NOT USE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES in this unit. (The use of Rayovac Renewable/Rechargeable Alkaline batteries is encouraged.)

4. Replace the battery cover.

5. Turn the unit ON.

NOTE: While replacing the backup batteries, the 4 “AA” size

batteries must be kept in the unit or the unit must be connected to the 9V adaptor while the adaptor is plugged in. If not, the information stored in the following activities will be lost:

•Word Processor

• BASIC

• User Name and Personal Message

• Last Scores

• Quick Menu Icons

AC ADAPTOR CONNECTION

Use a standard 9V 300mA AC adaptor.

1. Make sure the unit is OFF.

2. Locate the adaptor jack on the back of the unit.

3. Plug the adaptor into a wall outlet.

4. Plug the adaptor into the unit’s adaptor jack.

5. Turn the unit ON.

NOTE: Do not leave the adaptor plugged in for a long period of time if the unit is not

in use. If the unit suddenly stops working or the sound seems weak, it may be the result of the adaptor connection. Turn the unit off and unplug the adaptor from the unit for 15 seconds. Next plug the adaptor back in and turn the unit on. If the problem persists, it may be the result of the adaptor's wiring or the unit. Please call our Consumer Services Department at 1-800-521-2010 in the U.S., 1-800-2677377 in Canada and a service representative will be happy to help you.

The VTECH® AC adaptor is perfectly suitable to operate this product. Many retailers carry the adaptor, however, if you are unable to find one locally, you can send $10.00 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling (Illinois residents please add an 8.25% sales tax.) to:

Adaptor c/o

VTECH® Industries, LLC

101 E. Palatine Road Wheeling, IL 60090-6500

Please do not send cash.

PRINTER CONNECTION

The PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS learning unit can support 12 different kinds of printers. For details, please refer to Chapter 6.

MOUSE CONNECTION

Use our standard mouse, included with the PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS.

1. Make sure the unit is OFF.

2. Locate the mouse jack at the back of the unit.

3. Slide open the mouse port door and insert the mouse connector into the unit.

4. Turn the unit ON.

5. The mouse will work best if it is kept on the mouse pad.

Left Mouse Button

Right Mouse Button

This 'ARROW' shows the unlocking direction.Lock by pushing to the opposite side of the 'ARROW'

The mouse functions the same as a real computer mouse. Move the cursor on the screen by moving the mouse in the direction you would like the cursor to move. The Left mouse button functions as a select key (Enter key) while the Right mouse button functions as an Esc key.

GENERAL OPERATION

ON BUTTON & OFF BUTTON

Tu rn on your PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS learning unit by pressing the ON button located at the upper right-hand side of the Membrane Activity Selector. A welcome animation will be displayed and you can begin play. Turn the unit off at any time by pressing the OFF button.

Automatic Shut Off

If there is no input into the PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS unit for about 20 minutes, the unit will automatically shut off to save power. To turn the unit back on after an automatic shut off, press the ON button again. We recommend turning the unit OFF when not in use. If the PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS unit is not in use for a long period of time, remove the main compartment batteries or unplug the adaptor.

CONTRAST SWITCH

Depending on your lighting conditions, slide the Contrast Switch to the left or right to allow for better viewing.

VOLUME SWITCH

Adjust the volume by sliding the Volume Switch to the left or right.

LED STATUS DISPLAY BAR AND LCD SCREEN

LED Light

There are 9 icons on the LED status display bar. Each icon represents an activity or function.

LCD SCREEN

On top of the LCD screen, a status bar is displayed.

Left Player's

Right Player's

CHAPTER 3: THE KEYBOARD

The computer keyboard on PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS combines the operation of a standard computer keyboard with several other functions described below.

SPECIAL KEYS

Enter Key:

Press this key after typing or choosing an answer to input your selection.

Shift Key:

Press this key to type capital letters or the symbols shown on top of the number keys.

Esc Key:

Press this key to exit an activity. By repeatedly pressing the ESC key, y ou can return to the main menu.

Caps Lock Key:

Press this key to make all letters appear in upper case. Press this key again to return to normal typing mode. When the Caps Lock function is activated, the Caps Lock light will turn on.

Answer Key:

Press this key to see the correct answer to any question.

Right Player/Left Player Keys:

Press these keys with activities featuring a 2-player mode. The first person to hit his or her appropriate left or right player button will get the opportunity to answer the question first.

Cursor Keys:

Press the key to move the cursor to the right.

Press the key to move the cursor to the left.

Press the key to move the cursor downward.

Press the key to move the cursor upward.

Help Key:

Press this key at any time and you will see helpful hints to assist you with the current screen.

Hint Key:

Press the Shift key and this key simultaneously when inputting text in Trivia activities when you need a hint. You will be given three multiple choice answers to choose from. In Rocket Fuel, you may replay the current stage.

Break Key:

Press the Shift and Break keys simultaneously when you want to interrupt a program in the BASIC activity while it is running.

Alt Key:

Press this key and the letter ‘P’ to activate the printing function in the activities. Press this key and the “3” key to get the symbol “#”.

Erase Key:

Press this key when you are inputting text. This will clear the entire input line so that you can re-enter the text.

AC Key:

Press this key for an ‘All Clear’ screen in the Calculator activity.

Insert Key:

Press this key when you want to insert text in the Word Processor, BASIC and Design A Card activities.

Delete Key:

Press this key when you want to delete the character at the cursor position.

Backspace Key:

Press this key when you want to delete the character before the cursor position.

3, #, and £:

Press this key to type the number “3”. Press Shift and this key simultaneously when you want to type the symbol “£”. Press Alt and this key simultaneously when you want to type the symbol “#”.

ACTIVITY SELECTOR

There are 38 activities in the PRECOMPUTER POWER PAD™ PLUS unit and they are divided into 5 categories. This includes Word Games, Mathematics, Computer Skills, Games and Trivia. Press any one of the activities to go into the activity directly.

MAIN MENU

/DEMO

Mystery

Letter

Word Recall

Plurals

Tenses

WORD GAMES MATHEMATICS

Word

Puzzles

Comparatives

Synonyms

Antonyms

Letter Drop

Word

In Word

Vocabulary

Builder

Word

Maker

Sentence

Scrambler

Grammar

Quiz

Addition

Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

Fractions

Flip Flop Fractions

Ratios

Algebra

Story

Problems Equation

Builder

COMPUTER SKILLS

Keyboard

Skills

Typing

Challenge

Word

Processor

BASIC

Tutor

BASIC

GAMES TRIVIA FUNCTION

Spy Trap

Rocket

Fuel

Design A Card

Spell

Checker

Calculator

Science

English

Geography

General

Screen

ON OFF

Level

Player

Cartridge

On Key:

This key is used to turn the unit ON. When the unit is OFF, press this key to turn the unit ON.

Off Key:

This key is used to turn the unit OFF. When the unit is turned ON, press this key any time to turn the unit OFF.

IMPORTANT:When using an AC adaptor, always make sure to FIRST PRESS THE OFF

KEY on the unit before unplugging the adaptor.

Player Key:

Press this key to change from 1-player mode to 2-player mode and vice versa for activities with 2-player mode. If you want to change the player mode, press this key first and then select a player mode by typing the number 1 or 2. If you select the 2-player mode, you will be prompted to enter the names of the first player and second player.

Level Key:

The unit provides 4 levels of challenge in most of the activities. If you want to change the level, press this key first and then select a level by typing a number 1, 2, 3, 4. The first level is the easiest and the fourth level is the most difficult.

Cartridge Key:

This key is used to access VTECH® PRECOMPUTER expansion cartridges that are compatible with the unit. An expansion cartridge must be inserted into the unit to operate the cartridge feature.

NOTE: Cartridges are sold separately. Please refer to Chapter 12 for details and a listing

of VTECH® PRECOMPUTER expansion cartridges.

Print Screen Key:

This key is used to print the current screen. Press this key at any time, and the current screen will print through the connected printer.

Main Menu/DEMO Key:

This key is used to return to the main menu. Press this key at any time and you will return to the main menu immediately. When you are already in the main menu, pressing this key will show the demo of this unit.

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