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Chapter 3
Mobile Computing
This chapter covers all aspects of using your device while traveling.
Toshiba’s energy-saver design
Your device enters a low-power suspension mode when it is not being used, thereby conserving energy and saving money in the process. It has a number of other features that enhance its energy efficiency.
Many of these energy-saving features have been preset by
Toshiba. We recommend you leave these features active, allowing your device to operate at its maximum energy efficiency, so that you can use it for longer periods while traveling.
Running the device on battery power
The device contains two Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries that provide power when you are away from an AC outlet. You can recharge them many times.
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Mobile Computing
Running the device on battery power
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Battery Notice
Battery life rating is for comparison purposes only, and does not indicate the battery life that will be obtained by any individual user. Actual battery life may vary considerably from specifications depending on product model, configuration, applications, power management settings and features utilized, as well as the natural performance variations produced by the design of individual components.
The battery life rating is only achieved on the select models and configurations tested by Toshiba under the specific test settings at the time of publication and is not an estimate of a system’s battery life under any conditions other than the specific test settings.
Recharge time varies depending on usage. Battery may not charge while the device is consuming full power. After a period of time, the battery will lose its ability to perform at maximum capacity and will need to be replaced. This is normal for all batteries.
To ensure that the battery maintains its maximum capacity, operate the device on battery power at least once a month.
The Lithium-Ion battery has no memory effect so it is not necessary to let the battery fully discharge each time.
However, for better accuracy of the battery meter, it is helpful to fully discharge the battery periodically. Please see
“Maintaining your batteries” on page 78
for procedures. If the device is continuously operated on AC power, either through an AC adaptor or a port replicator (if applicable to your system), for an extended period (more than a month), the battery may fail to retain a charge. This may shorten the life of the battery, and may cause the battery meter to be inaccurate.
NOTE For best performance when playing streaming media
(especially streaming video), either power the device from its AC adaptor, or set up a power plan that keeps the device running at full performance even when powered from its battery. For more information about Windows ®
power plans, see “Power Plans” on page 75 .
The device also has an internal real-time-clock (RTC) battery.
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Charging batteries
The RTC battery powers the RTC memory that stores your system configuration settings and the current time and date information. It maintains this information for up to a month while the device is turned off.
TECHNICAL NOTE: Depending on your system, the RTC battery may only charge while the device is turned on.
Power management
Your device ships with the power management options preset to a configuration that will provide the most stable operating environment and optimum system performance for both AC power and battery modes.
Changes to these settings may result in system performance or stability issues. Users who are not completely familiar with the power management component of the system should use the preset configuration. For assistance with setup changes, contact Toshiba’s Customer Support Center.
Charging batteries
NOTE Your device has two non-accessible main batteries installed, one for the tablet and one for the keyboard. The tablet battery will charge first once your device is connected to the AC adaptor.
The batteries need to be charged before you can use them to power the device.
Always use the AC adaptor specified by Toshiba. You can order a Toshiba AC adaptor from Toshiba’s Web site at accessories.toshiba.com
.
NOTE Battery charge time may vary depending on the applications, power management settings, and features used.
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Charging batteries
69
Charging the main batteries
To charge the main batteries, plug the device into a live electrical outlet using one of the available DC-IN ports, see
“Connecting to a power source” on page 30
. The batteries charge whether the device is on or off.
TECHNICAL NOTE: The recharging of the tablet’s battery may not occur when your device is using all of the power provided by the AC adaptor to run applications, features, and devices. Your device's Power Options utility can be used to select a power level setting that reduces the power required for system operation and will allow the battery to recharge.
The batteries may not start charging immediately under the following conditions:
❖ A battery is extremely hot or cold.
To ensure that the batteries charge to their full capacity, wait until they reach room temperature (50 to 80 degrees
Fahrenheit, 10 to 26 degrees Celsius).
❖ A battery is almost completely discharged.
Leave the power connected, and the battery should begin charging after a few minutes.
HINT: Once the batteries are fully charged, we recommend that you periodically operate your device on battery power until the batteries discharge completely.
Please make a complete back up of your data to external media before discharging the tablet’s battery. For more
information, see “Backing up your work” on page 65
Charging the RTC battery
Your device has an internal real-time clock (RTC) battery. The
RTC battery powers the System Time Clock and BIOS memory used to store your device’s configuration settings.
When fully charged, it maintains this information for up to a month when the device is powered off.
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Monitoring battery power
The RTC battery may have become completely discharged while your device was shipped, resulting in a CMOS error message during startup. The error message may vary by device model.
NOTE Depending on your system, the RTC battery may only charge while the device is turned on.
To recharge the RTC battery, plug the device into a live electrical outlet and leave the device powered on for 24 hours.
NOTE It is seldom necessary to charge the RTC battery because it charges while the device is on. If the RTC battery is low, the real-time clock and calendar may display the incorrect time and date or stop working.
When Hibernation mode is enabled and the RTC battery is completely discharged, a warning prompts you to reset the real-time clock.
The device can be used while the RTC battery is being charged, although the charging status of the RTC battery cannot be monitored.
Monitoring battery power
The device’s main battery light gives you an indication of the tablet battery’s current charge.
❖
Glows amber while the tablet’s battery is being charged
(AC adaptor connected)
❖ Glows white when the tablet’s battery is fully charged
NOTE Battery life and charge time may vary, depending upon power management settings, applications and features used.
❖
Flashes amber when the tablet’s battery charge is low and it is time to recharge the main battery or plug in the
AC adaptor
NOTE The AC power light glows orange if either battery is not fully charged when connected to the AC adaptor.
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71
NOTE If the AC power light flashes amber during charging, either a battery is malfunctioning, or it is not receiving correct input from the AC power supply.
HINT: Be careful not to confuse the battery light ( ), the power light ( ), and the power button light.
When the power light or power button light flashes amber, it indicates that the system is suspended (using the Windows ® operating system Sleep command).
System indicator lights
AC power light/Battery light
ON/OFF light
Wireless indicator light
(Sample Illustration) Power and battery light locations
Determining remaining battery power
NOTE Wait a few moments after turning on the device before trying to monitor the remaining battery power. The device needs this time to check the battery’s remaining capacity and perform its calculations.
Move the pointer over the power icon in the notification area, see
“Finding your way around the desktop” on page 82 for
more information on the notification area. A pop-up message displays the remaining battery power as a percentage.
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Monitoring battery power
With repeated discharges and recharges, the battery’s capacity gradually decreases. A frequently used older battery does not power the device for as long as a new battery, even when both are fully charged.
TECHNICAL NOTE: The device drains the batteries faster at low temperatures. Check your remaining charge frequently if you are working in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
The device calculates the remaining battery charge based on your current rate of power use and other factors such as the age of the battery.
What to do when the main batteries run low
When the main batteries run low you can:
❖ Plug the device into an external power source and recharge the main batteries using one of the available
DC-IN ports, see
“Connecting to a power source” on page 30
❖
Save your work and turn off the device
If you do not manage to do either of these things before the main batteries completely run out of power, the device automatically enters Hibernation mode and turns itself off.
Hibernation mode keeps track of where you were, so that when you turn on the power again, you can continue where you left off.
Setting battery notifications
You can set two notifications. Each notification can be set to alert you when a specified percentage of remaining battery power has been reached. You can also set the device to enter Sleep mode or Hibernation mode or to completely shut down when the notification goes off.
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To change the default notification settings:
1 While on the desktop, click or touch the Battery ( ) icon in the notification area.
A window appears displaying the power level of each battery.
(Sample Image) Power Options screen
2 Click or touch More power options .
The Power Options window appears.
3 Click or touch Change plan settings under the power plan to be customized.
The Edit Plan Settings window appears.
4 Click or touch Change advanced power settings .
The Advanced settings tab of the Power Options window appears.
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Monitoring battery power
5 Double-click or touch Battery to display the battery options.
(Sample Image) Advanced settings tab of Power Options screen
6 Configure the alarm settings to suit your needs.
Conserving battery power
How long a fully charged battery lasts when you are using the device depends on a number of factors, such as:
❖
How the device is configured
❖
How much you use the internal storage drive, optical disc drive, or other optional devices
❖ Where you are working, since operating time decreases at low temperatures
There are various ways in which you can conserve power and extend the operating time of your batteries:
❖ Enable Sleep or Hibernation, which saves power when you turn off the device and turn it back on again
❖
Use the Windows ® power-saving option plans
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Monitoring battery power
75
These power-saving options control the way in which the device is configured. By using them, you can increase the length of time you can use the device before you need to recharge the batteries.
Microsoft ® has combined these options into preset Power
Plans. Using one of these power plans lets you choose between maximum power savings and peak system performance. You may also set individual power-saving options to suit your own needs.
The following sections describe how to choose a Power Plan and discuss each power-saving option.
Power Plans
You can choose a predefined Power Plan or select your own combination of power options.
To do this:
1 While on the desktop, click or touch the Battery ( ) icon in the notification area.
2 Click or touch More power options .
The Windows ® Power Options window appears.
(Sample Image) Windows
®
Power Options window
3 Select an appropriate plan for your work environment or create your own custom plan.
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Using the eco power plan
4 Click or touch Create a power plan in the left pane to set up a new plan.
NOTE To edit a plan or to edit advanced settings, continue to the following steps.
5 Click or touch Change plan settings to choose the plan you want to edit.
This screen allows you to change basic settings.
6 Click or touch Change advanced power settings to access settings for battery notification levels, internal storage drive power save time, etc.
You can click or touch the plus signs to expand each item and to see what settings are available for each item.
7 Click or touch OK to save the plan changes you have performed.
Depending on your model, the two power plans eco and
Balanced are satisfactory for most people and do not need to be edited. The eco plan is the best used for maximum battery time. The Balanced plan is a compromise between battery time and performance.
Using the eco power plan
This device is equipped with the eco power plan. Operating the device with this power plan enabled reduces electrical power consumption by slightly lowering system performance. For example, when this power plan is enabled, the brightness of the display is reduced and the interval before Sleep mode takes effect is shortened. To enable or disable the eco power plan, see
.
The eco Utility ® monitors your power savings from using the eco power plan by tracking real-time power consumption and accumulated savings over time. To learn how to access
the utility, see “eco Utility®” on page 92
.
For more information on the eco power plan, see the Help file in the eco Utility ® window.
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Changing the main batteries
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Changing the main batteries
When your main batteries have run out of power, plug in the
AC adaptor.
If you find that a new battery is needed, contact the location where you purchased the device for more information on replacing the batteries. Toshiba will not be responsible for any product damage, data loss, service, or part replacement made necessary by improper installation of a new battery.
If the device is leaking or its case is cracked, put on protective gloves to handle it.
Taking care of your batteries
The following sections offer tips on how to take care of your batteries and prolong their life.
Safety precautions
Always immediately turn the power off and disconnect the power cable/cord plug from the plug socket and stop using the device if you observe any of the following conditions:
❖ Offensive or unusual odor
❖ Excessive heat
❖ Discoloration
❖
Deformation, cracks, or leaks
❖
Smoke
❖ Other unusual events during use, such as abnormal sound
Do not expose the device to fire. The batteries could explode.
Do not turn on the device’s power again until an authorized
Toshiba service provider has checked it for safety.
Continued use could cause a fire or rupture possibly resulting in serious injury or device failure including but not limited to the loss of data.
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Disposing of your device
Maintaining your batteries
Fully discharging a battery will allow better accuracy of the battery meter.
To fully discharge your batteries:
❖ Periodically, disconnect the device from a power source and operate it on battery power until the batteries fully discharge.
Disposing of your device
Never attempt to dispose of a computer by burning or by throwing it into a fire, and never allow exposure to a heating apparatus (e.g., microwave oven). Heat can cause a computer to explode and/or release caustic liquid, both which may possibly cause serious injury.
Discard this device in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Disposal of this product may be regulated due to environmental considerations. For disposal, reuse or recycling information, please contact your local government.
For more information, see
“Device Recycling Information” on page 18
, or for complete information about Toshiba's recycling programs and initiatives, please visit http://us.toshiba.com/recycle .
Traveling tips
The environmental precautions listed in
“Selecting a place to work” on page 29 , also apply while traveling.
❖ Never leave your device on a sunny ledge or in a place where it could get wet or covered in dust.
❖
Always travel with the device in a carrying case. Toshiba offers a choice of carrying cases for the device. They all provide plenty of extra space for manuals, power cords, and compact discs. Contact your authorized Toshiba representative for more information or visit Toshiba’s
Web site at accessories.toshiba.com
.
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Traveling tips
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TECHNICAL NOTE: When traveling by air, you may be required to pass your device through airport security equipment. The X-ray equipment will not harm your device.
NOTE Before using your device aboard an aircraft, make sure the Wireless antenna is OFF (Airplane mode is ON) if your device has wireless LAN capability.
NOTE To enable or disable wireless communication, use the
F12 key .

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