Acer n20 User manual

Quick Guide for
Acer n20 Handheld

COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2002 Acer Inc. or its subsidiaries
All Rights Reserved. Printed in Taiwan.
Acer n20 Quick Guide
Original issue: August, 2002
Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc.
Microsoft, ActiveSync, Outlook, Pocket Outlook, Windows, Windows NT, and the Windows logo are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft products are licensed to OEMs by Microsoft Licensing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft
Corporation.
Other company’s product names or trademarks are used herein for identification purpose only and belong to
their respective companies.
Changes may be made periodically to the information in this publication without obligation to notify any person
of such revision or changes. Such changes will be incorporated in new editions of this Quick Guide or
supplementary documents and publications.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
Acer Inc.
DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Acer and its subsidiaries makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the
contents hereof and specifically disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose. Acer and its subsidiaries assume no responsibility for any damage or loss resulting from the use of this
Acer n20 Quick Guide.
NOTES
Record the serial number, purchase date, and place of purchase information in the space provided below. The
serial number is recorded on the label affixed to your handheld. All correspondence concerning your unit should
include the serial number and purchase information.
Acer n20 Handheld
S/N: _______________________________________
Purchase Date: ____________________________
Place of Purchase: _________________________

Contents
iii
First things first v
Your guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Taking care of your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Proper care and usage of your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . vii
Resetting your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Locking your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
1 Getting started 1
Features summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Audio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Battery pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Design and ergonomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Front view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Left view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Top view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bottom view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Preparing to use your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Installing the Microsoft® ActiveSync® software . . . . . 9
Installing the battery pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Connecting the cradle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Charging your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Setting up your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Performing the first synchronisation process . . . . . . .15
Command interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Hardware buttons and the stylus . . . . . . . . . . .17
Today screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Navigation bar and command bar . . . . . . . . . . .19
Pop-up menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Notifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Customising your Acer n20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Adjusting handheld settings . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Adding and removing programs . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Expansion features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

iv
Using a Memory Stick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Acer Versatile Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
2 Entering data in your Acer n20 27
Using the input panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Writing on the screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
To write on the screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Drawing on the screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
To create a drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Recording a message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
To create a recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
To play a recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using My Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
To insert a My Text message . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

First things first
v
First things first
We would like to thank you for making Acer n20 your choice for
your handheld needs. Your new sleek Acer n20 is a multi-
functional tool packed with user-friendly features and high-
performance applications designed to make organising work-
related information and synchronising it with your personal
activities a time-efficient task. We hope you enjoy using your
Acer n20 as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.
Use your handheld to effectively manage information related to
both business and personal tasks.
• Use the Microsoft®Pocket PC 2002 software to perform
organising and computing tasks
• Synchronise the information on your computer with the
information on your handheld using Microsoft®
ActiveSync®
• Get connected to the Internet with the Microsoft®Pocket
Internet Explorer
• Create an on-the-go backup file
• Expand your handheld’s capabilities using either the
built-in Memory Stick slot or the optional expansion
sleeve
• Beam information to another IR-enabled device
• Communicate using the built-in wireless communication
feature (applicable to the Acer n20w model only)
• Customise your handheld based on your personal
requirements and preferences

First things first
Your guides
vi
Your guides
To help you use your Acer n20, we have designed a set of
guides:
Taking care of your Acer n20
This section provides information on the following:
• Proper care and usage of your handheld
• Resetting your handheld
For information on: Refer to:
Programs on your
handheld
The Acer n20 Handheld Manual.
Bundled in the Acer n20 Handheld
Companion CD, it provides online
reference for using your handheld.
The Acer n20 Handheld Help.
To view Help, tap and then Help.
Programs on your
handheld
Additional programs that
can be installed on your
handheld
The Acer n20 Handheld
Companion CD.
Connecting to and
synchronising with your
computer
The Just for Starters... poster.
ActiveSync Help on your computer.
To view Help, click Help and then
Microsoft ActiveSync Help.
Last-minute updates and
detailed technical
information
The Read Me files.
Located in the Microsoft ActiveSync
folder on your computer and on the
Acer n20 Handheld Companion CD.
Up-to-date information
regarding your Acer n20
http://www.acer.com/

First things first
Taking care of your Acer n20
vii
Proper care and usage of your Acer n20
Your handheld’s rugged and tough construction is designed to
provide you with years of reliable and trouble-free service.
Observing the following general maintenance procedures will
help ensure this:
1 Take care not to scratch the screen of your handheld. Keep the
screen clean. When working with your handheld, use the
supplied stylus or plastic-tipped pens intended for use with
touch-sensitive screens. Never use an actual pen or pencil or
other sharp object on the screen surface.
2 Your handheld is not waterproof and should not be exposed to
rain or moisture. Under extreme conditions, water may enter
the circuitry through the front panel buttons. In general, treat
your handheld as you would a pocket calculator or other small
electronic device.
3 Take care not to drop your handheld or subject it to any strong
impact. Do not place your handheld in your back pocket; if you
sit on it, you may damage it.
4 Protect your handheld from temperature extremes. For
example, do not leave your handheld on the dashboard of a car
on a hot day or on a day when temperatures are below the
freezing point. Also, keep it away from heaters and other
sources of heat.
5 Do not use or store your handheld in any location that is
extremely dusty, damp or wet.
6 Use a soft, damp cloth to clean your handheld. If the surface of
the screen becomes soiled, clean it with a soft cloth moistened
with diluted window-cleaning solution.
Resetting your Acer n20
You may have to perform a reset if your handheld no longer
responds to the buttons on the screen.
Performing a soft reset
A soft reset allows your handheld to get a fresh start, similar to
rebooting a computer. All records and entries are retained after
a soft reset.

First things first
Taking care of your Acer n20
viii
To perform a soft reset:
• Using the tip of your stylus, lightly press the reset button
inside the hole on the rear panel of your handheld.
Performing a hard reset
A hard reset will erase all records and entries stored in your
handheld. Never perform a hard reset unless a soft reset does
not correct your problem. When you perform your next
ActiveSync operation, you can restore any data that you
previously synchronised to your computer. To perform a hard
reset, do the following:
1 Detach the battery pack from your handheld.
Refer to "To uninstall the battery pack" on page 11 for
instructions.

First things first
Locking your Acer n20
ix
2 Slide up the hard reset switch located on the right side of the
battery bay (a) then slide it down again (b).
3 After resetting your handheld, reinstall the battery pack in its
bay.
Refer to "To install the battery pack" on page 10 for
instructions.
NOTE: When you perform a hard reset, the current date and time
are retained. Formats, preferences, and other settings are restored
to their factory default settings.
Locking your Acer n20
Your handheld is not just a financial investment but a wealthy
source of personal information, some of which may be
confidential so it is only logical to protect it from any
unauthorized access. The Security setting gives you the option of
assigning a lock password that will be required to access your
handheld after a set period of inactivity.

First things first
Locking your Acer n20
x
To assign a lock password
1 Tap , Settings.
2 On the Personal tab, tap Password.
3 Select a password option.
• Simple 4 digit password
• Strong alphanumeric password
4 Define the period of inactivity before the lock password will be
required for access.
5 Enter a password then retype it to confirm.

1 Getting started
Features summary
1
1Getting started
This chapter will discuss the following topics:
• Feature highlights of your Acer n20
• Acer n20 system tour
• Step-by-step procedures on how to prepare your
handheld for use
• Basic concepts in using your Acer n20
Features summary
Performance
• Intel PXA250 Application Processor with Intel XScale
technology
• System memory:
– 64 MB SDRAM for application storage
– 32 MB Flash ROM for operating system
• Microsoft®Pocket PC 2002 Premium with
Microsoft®Outlook 2000
Display
• 3.8" Reflective TFT LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal
Display)
• 240 x 320 resolution
• 16-bit or 64K colour support
• Microsoft® ClearType technology for clearer, crisper font
display
• MediaQ graphics controller for enhanced graphics
performance
Audio
• Embedded AC '97 CODEC with CD-quality stereo output
• Built-in industry standard 3.5 mm earphone jack
• Built-in microphone

1 Getting started
Features summary
2
Connectivity
• 19-pin Acer Versatile Connector
• 100-pin expansion connector
• SIR (Standard Infrared) capability
• Wireless communication function using the built-in IEEE
802.11b WLAN adapter (applicable to the Acer n20w
model only)
Expansion
• Integrated Memory Stick
• Acer Versatile Connector
• Expansion sleeve (optional, sold separately)
– CompactFlash Type II slot
– PC Card Type II slot
– Standard USB host connector
Battery pack
• Removable and rechargeable Lithium polymer battery
– Acer n20 - 1000 mAH capacity battery pack
– Acer n20w - 2000 mAH capacity battery pack
• Operation time for normal usage
– Acer n20 - 8 hours
– Acer n20w - 15 hours
NOTE: Length of battery operation will depend on power
consumption which in turn is based on system resources use. For
example, constantly using the backlight or using power-demanding
applications will shorten the length of battery operation.
• Charging time from empty to full capacity
– Acer n20 - 4 hours
– Acer n20w - 8 hours
• Built-in backup battery

1 Getting started
Features summary
3
Design and ergonomics
•Stylish, light and thin design
• User-friendly navigation features
– Scroll wheel for one-hand operation
– Directional pad for multi-directional scrolling in
various menus and applications
– Quick buttons to easily launch commonly-used
applications
– Start button for one-tap access to all available
applications
– Hold switch lets you lock all buttons from being
accidentally pressed when handheld is placed in
pocket or in a bag.
Specifications Acer n20 Acer n20w
Height 12.9 cm 12.9 cm
Width 7.9 cm 7.9 cm
Depth 1.29 cm 19.6 cm
Weight 180g 235g

1 Getting started
System tour
4
System tour
Front view
No. Component Description
1 Power button/
LED indicator
Press to turn on your handheld (LED lights
up green) if it is off and returns to the last
screen that was displayed and off if it is on.
LED status description:
• Flashing green - Charging handheld
• Steady green - Charging is complete
• Flashing red - Alarm indicator,
email is received
2 Stylus holder Secures the stylus to your handheld. To use
the stylus, remove it from its holder and
hold it the same way you hold a pen or
pencil.
3LCD
touchscreen
Displays the applications and data stored
in your handheld. It is touch-sensitive and
responds to the stylus or your finger.

1 Getting started
System tour
5
NOTE: Refer to the Acer n20 Handheld Manual for instructions on
how to reassign the hardware buttons to other applications
installed on your handheld. If your handheld is turned off, pressing
any Quick button turns on the handheld and opens the program
assigned to that button.
Using the backlight
If lighting conditions make it difficult for you to see the
information on your handheld, use the backlight to illuminate
your screen.
You can change the backlight settings. Refer to the Acer n20
Handheld Manual for instructions.
To activate the backlight:
• Press the power button and hold it down for about two
seconds. Release the button when the backlight turns on.
4 Quick button
for Today
Displays the Today screen.
5 Quick button
for Calendar
Activates the Calendar program.
6 Directional pad Enables multi-directional scrolling in
various menus and applications. Press the
center of the pad on to simulate the
function of the Enter key.
7 Quick button
for Contacts
Activates the Contacts program.
8 Quick button
for Inbox
Activates the Inbox program.
9 Microphone Inputs audio into your handheld.
10 Internal
speaker
Outputs sounds from your handheld.
No. Component Description

1 Getting started
System tour
6
To turn off the backlight:
• Press the power button and hold it down for two seconds.
Release the button when the backlight turns off.
Left view
No. Component Description
1Record
button
Activates the Microsoft®Pocket PC’s Record
program.
2 Scroll wheel Scroll one page up or down to display the
text and other information that extends
beyond the area of the LCD touchscreen.
3 Start
hardware
button
Hardware button to display the Start
menu.
4 Hold switch Slide to lock all buttons from being
accidentally pressed when handheld is
placed in pocket or in a bag.

1 Getting started
System tour
7
Top view
No. Component Description
1Memory Stick
slot
Accepts a Memory Stick, allowing you to
add more memory, install add-on
applications or use audio or text files
stored in it for use with internal
applications. You can also use it to back up
data from your handheld.
2 Earphone jack Connects to audio line-out devices
(earphones/headphones).
3 Infrared (IR)
port
Uses infrared technology to transmit and
receive data from other IR-enabled
devices.

1 Getting started
Preparing to use your Acer n20
8
Bottom view
Preparing to use your Acer n20
Perform first the following easy setup tasks to begin using your
handheld:
• Install the Microsoft®ActiveSync®software in your
computer
• Install the battery pack
• Connect the cradle
• Charge your handheld
• Set up your handheld
No. Component Description
1 Acer Versatile
Connector
Connects your handheld to the cradle,
which in turn connects to the back of your
computer and through the AC adapter to
the wall current. This allows you to
recharge your handheld and perform an
ActiveSync operation. You can also use it to
connect peripheral hardware devices, such
as an external keyboard, to your handheld.
2 Battery
release switch
Unlatch to detach the removable battery
pack from its bay.
3 Battery bay Houses the handheld’s battery pack.

1 Getting started
Preparing to use your Acer n20
9
• Perform the first ActiveSync operation
Installing the Microsoft®ActiveSync®software
The main function of the Microsoft®ActiveSync® software is to
synchronise the information on your computer with the
information on your handheld. Synchronisation compares the
data on your handheld with your computer and updates the
information on both locations. This will then served as a backup
file in case something happens to your handheld.
The following instructions tells you how to install the
ActiveSync® software.
Important installation notes
• Before installing ActiveSync, make sure that your
handheld cradle is not yet connected to your computer.
Connect the cradle only after you have finished installing
ActiveSync.
• If you don’t have Microsoft®Outlook®98 installed, please
install Microsoft®Outlook®2000 now.
• It is recommended that users choosing to install
Microsoft®Outlook 2000 from this CD do so before
installing ActiveSync.
• Do not copy the ActiveSync files to your computer’s hard
disk. You must use the Acer n20 Handheld Companion CD
to place the files in their proper locations and to
decompress the files.
To install the Microsoft®ActiveSync®software
1 Exit any open programs, including those that run at startup, and
disable any virus-scanning software.
2 Insert the Acer n20 Handheld Companion CD into the
computer’s CD-ROM drive.
The CD’s welcome page appears.
3 Click the animated forward icon to go to the next screen.
4 Click the Start Here tab on the right side of the screen.
5 Read the instructions and installation notes indicated on the
Start Here screen.

1 Getting started
Preparing to use your Acer n20
10
6 Click the buttons on the left pane to install each of the
individual applications.
• Outlook 2000 (recommended)
•ActiveSync
®3.5
After installation, the ActiveSync icon will appear on your
computer’s system tray (on the lower right-hand corner of the
screen).
Refer to the ActiveSync software online Help for information on
how to use the software. If at any time, you would like to restart
this setup program, simply re-insert the CD into the CD-ROM
drive.
Installing the battery pack
Your handheld uses a removable and rechargeable Lithium
polymer battery pack. Refer to the succeeding section for
instructions on how to install the battery pack to your handheld.
To install the battery pack
1 Turn the handheld over to access its rear panel.
2 Check that the battery release switch is in the Unlock position.
3 Slide down the hard reset switch located on the right side of the
battery bay.