1.0 Mobile Devices Flashcards
(87 cards)
Li-ion vs. LiPo batteries
Li-ion = Lithium Ion
LiPo = Lithium Ion Polymer
These are the most common batteries used in laptops
they don’t have a “memory effect”
T or F
With Li-ion and LiPo you can partially discharge the battery and then can charge it again w/out creating a “shadow” or “memory effect”
True
You can partially discharge a Li-ion or LiPo batter and charge it again without negative consequences - however every time you charge the battery it diminishes the capacity just a bit - this is why batteries wear out after awhile.
In his new video, he says that charging li-Ion and LiPo batters does NOT diminish capacity.
T or F
Keyboards are usually a single device that uses a ribbon cable to connect to the rest of the laptop.
True - also, keyboards are usually our primary input device - we use it the most.
To replace a keyboard it’s usually a few screws and and single ribbon that you plug into a port. It may not be this easy on all laptop models tho.
What is the best way to troubleshoot issues with a laptop keyboard?
Plug a USB keyboard into the laptop and see if that works. This can help you determine if the problems are with the laptop keyboard or with the OS or some other problem on the laptop.
T or F
Keycaps and the mechanism underneath can be fragile and you should use great care when replacing keycaps
True- all fragile, be careful
Also check manufacturers instructions before doing anything with the keyboard.
What is SO-DIMM and what does SO-DIMM stand for?
SO-DIMM = Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module - this is usually the type of RAM memory used in laptops and compact devices.
Desktop computers use DIMM.
RAM vs. ROM
Purpose: RAM stores data currently being used by the computer, while ROM stores permanent instructions needed for the computer to start and function.
Speed: RAM is generally much faster than ROM in terms of read and write speeds.
Modifiability: Data in RAM can be easily changed, while data in ROM is primarily read-only
RAM:
Random Access Memory (RAM): is a type of memory that stores data temporarily.
It allows for fast read and write access.
RAM is used to store the operating system, running applications, and the data they are working with.
Examples: When you open a web browser, the browser and all open tabs are loaded into RAM for fast access and manipulation.
ROM:
Read Only Memory (ROM): is a type of memory that stores data permanently.
It contains the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), which is the first software run when you turn on your computer.
ROM is used to store firmware, which are instructions that the computer uses to initialize hardware and load the operating system.
Examples: When you turn on your computer, ROM contains the BIOS or UEFI that initializes hardware before the operating system loads into RAM.
Can you upgrade or change the memory of your laptop if it has a SO-DIMM memory module?
Yes, a SO-DIMM module is by definition modular so it can be changed.
Some laptop manufacturers solder the memory to the motherboard rather than using a SO-DIMM module.
In that case you would have to change the entire motherboard to upgrade the memory of you laptop.
How do you install a SO-DIMM?
- Open the back of your laptop (it may have a special door that opens to the memory area, or you may have to take off the entire back)
- Push the SO-DIMM into the memory slot of the computer
- Push it down so it locks.
What do HDD and SSD stand for
HDD = Hard Disk Drive
SSD = Solid State Drive
Compare and contrast HDD and SSD’s
HDD -
1. Use magnetic disks to store data
2. have moving parts like a spinning platter and read/write head.
3. cheaper than SSDs
4. offer more storage capacity than SSDs
5. Easier to recover data from if they’re damaged. 6. Less durable than SSDs
7. Can be noisy and produce a lot of heat
SSD -
1. Use flash memory to store data, and don’t have moving parts.
2. faster, quieter, more durable, and use less energy than HDDs.
3. less affected by magnets.
4. generally more expensive per gigabyte
5. have lower capacities than HDDs
Can you swap out a HDD with a SSD in a laptop?
yes - SSD and HDDs for laptops are both 2.5” and have the same connectivity, so you can swap out an HDD with and SSD
Hard drives for desktop computers are 3.5”
What are the “form factor” differences between a laptop hard dive and a desktop hard drive?
Laptop hardrives (or SSD’s) are 2.5 inches
Desktop hardrives are 3.5 inches
Compare and contrast a M.2 SSD with a “normal” SSD
M.2
1. Smaller, more modular, connected to a circuit board with pins that you just plug in to the slot
2. no separate power connection
3. About 1 inch wide and 2.5 inches long
SSD
1. May have a separate SATA power connection (or some other power connection) but also might not.
2. Larger size - 2.5” wide and over 2.5 inches long.
How do you change the hard drive of a laptop? And an M.2 SSD?
- Gain access to the hard drive - either by taking off a door on the bottom of the laptop or removing the whole bottom of the laptop
- undo any necessary screws & cables - hard drive should slide out
- Slide in new hard drive, connect necessary cables and screw it down
- installing M.2 SSD hard drive is more like installing RAM, you slide it in to the slot and there is just 1 screw and no power cable.
When upgrading a computer from a HDD to an SSD, how to you transfer the OS, applications and files?
Two ways
1. Make a clone/image of the existing hard drive and put that image on the new hard drive. This is probably the best option. You will need specialized software to do this. It’s usually called imaging or cloning software. Some SSD’s come with an application to do this, there are other commercial and open source applications available as well.
2. Install the OS on the new SSD and then manually install all the applications and move over all the files manually. Simple but can be time consuming.
When it comes to system migration and backing up data, what is “drive-to-drive image” vs. “disk imaging”
With Drive to Drive image: There is no intermediary image file. It’s the process of creating a complete copy of one hard drive (the source drive) onto another hard drive (the target drive), essentially replicating all data, system settings, and partitions from the original drive to the new one. You have to have the two systems running simultaneously. You will still use imaging/cloning software for this operation.
While similar, “disk imaging” usually refers to creating a compressed file containing the entire drive contents which can be stored separately and restored later
Compare and contrast 802.11(wifi) vs. bluetooth
(5 distinctions)
Wifi and Bluetooth are both wireless communication standards
1. 802.11 is for computer-to-computer connections, while Bluetooth is for connecting all sorts of devices that are close together. Like connecting phone to speakers or external keyboard to laptop.
2. 802.11 has more bandwidth and is generally faster than Bluetooth.
3. 802.11 has a longer range than Bluetooth.
4. 802.11 transmits at a static frequency, while Bluetooth uses frequency hopping.
6. Both 802.11 and Bluetooth can interfere with each other, but this can be reduced.
What is frequency hopping? aka frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)?
FHSS transmits data over a wider bandwidth than a traditional signal.
Rapid Frequency Switching: The signal constantly switches between different frequencies within a designated band, typically hundreds of times per second.
Pseudorandom Sequence: The hopping pattern is not truly random, but rather based on a pseudorandom sequence, known by both the transmitter and receiver.
Reduced Interference: By hopping between frequencies, the signal is less likely to be affected by interference from other devices operating on the same frequencies.
Enhanced Security: The rapidly changing frequencies and pseudorandom sequence make it difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept or jam the signal.
Efficient Bandwidth Utilization: FHSS spreads the signal over a wider range, allowing for more efficient use of the available spectrum.
Tell me about Wireless Cards. Common types and 4 distinctions.
Most laptops now do NOT have a way to connect to the internet using wires - they only have wireless cards.
Mini PCI or Mini PCI express cards allow the computer to connect to wifi (802.11).
1. Usually wifi cards are connected to the motherboard.
2. These cards are usually modular (they have pins and you can remove them)
3. they have little metal connectors that connect to the built-in wifi antenna that’s in your laptop
4. You might have one wireless card that does wifi and one card that does bluetooth or you might have one card that does both.
Compare and Contrast a PAN vs. a LAN
PAN (Personal Area Network)
A PAN connects devices within a short range of a person. PANs are often used for low-data-rate uses, and can include devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, external wireless mouse or external wireless keyboard. PANs can be wired using USB or FireWire connections, or wireless using Bluetooth or infrared.
LAN (Local Area Network)
A LAN connects devices within a single site, such as a building, office, or school. LANs are typically used for applications that require rapid data transmission, such as file sharing, resource sharing, and communication. LANs can be wired or wireless, and are faster, more reliable, and easier to manage than larger networks.
PANs are usually centered around 1 person while a LAN serves multiple ppl.
What is a wifi antenna and where is it located?
- A laptop usually has multiple antenna wires. It may have a “main” and an “aux” antenna wire connection. It might also have another one just for bluetooth
- These wires connect to the wireless interface card and then usually go around the screen of the laptop so that they will be “up high” when the laptop is open.
What is FireWire?
FireWire, also known as IEEE 1394, is a (legacy) high-speed data transfer interface that connects devices to computers and other electronics.
Apple led the initiative to adopt FireWire in the late 1980s, and it became a standard on many Macintosh computers. However, Apple’s last products with FireWire were discontinued in 2016.
What is a WWAN (from older study guide)
WWAN stands for Wireless Wide Area Network, and it’s a wireless network that uses cellular technology to connect devices to the internet over long distances. WWANs are often used to connect devices like laptops and smartphones to the internet.
