Datasheet

two or four slots is common.) These modules are usually industry-standard
sizes and shapes; you don’t ordinarily have to buy memory that bears the
logo of the manufacturer of your laptop. Be sure, though, to exactly follow
the required specifications.
 Battery compartment: Your laptop comes with a battery, and depending on
your patterns of use, it may last for a year or two and sometimes longer
before it fails or no longer holds a charge long enough to make it useful. You
can purchase a replacement battery from your laptop manufacturer or a third
party. Some users go to the trouble of buying and charging a second battery
to take with them on long airline trips or for other situations where they
might not be able to recharge the device or run the laptop from AC current.
 Hard drive compartment: Many laptop makers now attach their storage
disks to quick-connect, quick-remove pockets or bays. This allows easy
upgrading or replacement of a failed unit. As with other components, you
may be able to obtain a replacement drive from sources other than the
laptop manufacturer. Be sure to follow all instructions about removal and
installation procedures; in almost every machine, you should never
remove the hard drive while the laptop is powered up. The drive is usually
locked in place with one or two small screws.
 Optical drive compartment: Some manufacturers make it easy for you to
remove and replace the CD or DVD drive. You may be limited in your
options for replacement here because of nonstandard carriers or connec-
tors used by some makers, and you also must have the proper software
driver to work with the machine. The drive is almost always held in place
by several small screws.
 WiFi module compartment: You may find access to a small compartment
that holds a matchbook-size circuit board that serves as a transmitter and
receiver for wireless communication. Most manufacturers advise users
against even opening the compartment because of regulations set by the
FCC meant to limit spurious radio frequency emissions. Check instructions
carefully before you consider removing or replacing this circuit board.
 ExpressCard slot: Most laptops can accept one or two credit-card-size
enhancements here. The range of devices you can install here include WiFi
transceivers for laptops that don’t have built-in facilities, tiny hard drives,
modems, Ethernet network interfaces, and many other devices. The older
size and design for such plug-ins was called a PC Card; the newer and more
flexible system is known as the ExpressCard.
Attachments
The Swiss Army knife of the modern laptop is the USB port, and you may find one
or as many as six ports. For many users the USB and the wired Ethernet or wire-
less ports are all you need to work with just about any external device or network.
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