Acer Extensa 390 Specification sheet

1
Getting Familiar with your Computer
1-1
This computer combines high-performance,
versatility, power management features and
multimedia capabilities with unique style and
ergonomic design. Work with unmatched
productivity and reliability with your new power
computing partner.
This chapter gives an in-depth “tour” of the
computer’s many features.

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1.1 Features
This computer was designed with the user in
mind. Here are just a few of its many features:
Performance
Intel Pentium®processor with MMX™
technology
64-bit main memory and external (L2) cache
memory
Large LCD display and PCI local bus video
with graphics acceleration
Internal CD-ROM drive and external 3.5-inch
floppy drive, or internal 3.5-inch floppy drive
High-capacity, Enhanced-IDE hard disk
Lithium-Ion or Nickel Metal-Hydride battery
pack
Power management system with standby and
hibernation power saving modes
Multimedia
16-bit high-fidelity stereo audio with 3-D
sound
Built-in dual speakers
Ultra-slim, high-speed CD-ROM drive

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Connectivity
High-speed fax/data modem port1(on some
models)
Fast infrared wireless communication
USB (Universal Serial Bus) port
Human-centric Design and Ergonomics
Lightweight and slim
Sleek, smooth and stylish design
Full-sized keyboard
Wide and curved palm rest
Ergonomically-centered touchpad pointing
device
Expansion
CardBus PC card (formerly PCMCIA) slots
(two type II/I or one type III) with ZV (Zoomed
Video) port support
Port replicator option for one-step
connect/disconnect from peripherals
User-upgradeable memory and hard disk
1This feature is available only in the U.S., Canada, Japan and
Taiwan. For other regions, you can connect a PC Card modem.
Consult your dealer for details.

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1.2 Display
The large graphics display offers excellent viewing,
display quality and desktop performance graphics.
The computer supports two different display
configurations — DSTN or TFT.
Video Performance
PCI local bus video with graphics accelerator and
2MB EDO video RAM boost video performance.
Simultaneous Display
The computer’s large display and multimedia
capabilities are great for giving presentations. If
you prefer, you can also connect an external
monitor when giving presentations. This computer
supports simultaneous LCD and CRT display.
Simultaneous display allows you to control the
presentation from your computer and at the same
time face your audience. You can even connect an
LCD projection panel for large-audience
presentations.
Power Management
The power management system incorporates an
“automatic LCD dim” feature that automatically
decides the best settings for your display and at
the same time conserve power. See section 2.2 for
more information on power management.

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Opening and Closing the Display
To open the display, slide the display lid latch to
the left and lift up the lid. Then tilt it to a
comfortable viewing position. The computer
employs a microswitch that turns off the display
(and enters standby mode) to conserve power
when you close the display cover, and turns it
back on when you open the display cover.
Note: If an external monitor is connected, the
computer turns off the display (but does not enter
standby mode) when you close the display cover.
To close the display cover, fold it down gently until
the display cover latch clicks into place.
!
Warning: To avoid damaging the display, do not
slam it when closing. Do not place any object
on top of the computer when the display is
closed.

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1.3 Indicators
The computer has six easy-to-read indicator lights
(LEDs) near the display cover.
Two of these LEDs, Power and Standby, are visible
even when you close the display cover so you can
see the status of the computer while the cover is
closed.
1
2
3
4
5
6

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# Icon Function Description
1Power Lights when the computer is
on.
2Standby Lights when the computer
enters Standby mode.
3 Media Activity Lights when the floppy drive,
hard disk or CD-ROM drive
is active.
4Battery Charge Lights when the battery is
being charged.
5Caps Lock Lights when Caps Lock is
activated.
6Num Lock Lights when Num Lock is
activated.

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1.4 Keyboard
The keyboard has full-sized keys that includes an
embedded keypad, separate cursor keys, two
Windows 95 keys and twelve function keys.
1.4.1 Special Keys
Lock Keys
The keyboard has three lock keys which you can
toggle on and off.
Lock Key Description
Caps
Lock When Caps Lock is on, all alphabetic characters typed are in uppercase.
Fn-
NumLk When Num Lock is on, the embedded keypad is in numeric mode. The keys function as a
calculator (complete with arithmetic operators
+, -, *, and /). Use this mode when you need to
do a lot of numeric data entry. A better solution
would be to connect an external keypad.
Fn-ScrLk When Scroll Lock is on, the screen moves one
line up or down when you press ↑or ↓
respectively. Scroll lock does not work with
some applications.

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Embedded Keypad
The embedded keypad functions like a desktop
numeric keypad. It is indicated by small
characters located on the upper right corner of the
keycaps. To simplify the keyboard legend, cursor-
control key symbols are not printed on the keys.
Desired Access Num Lock On Num Lock Off
Number keys on
embedded keypad Type numbers in a normal manner.
Cursor-control
keys on
embedded keypad
Hold Shift while
using cursor-
control keys.
Hold Fn while
using cursor-
control keys.
Main keyboard
keys Hold Fn while
typing letters on
embedded keypad.
Type the letters
in a normal
manner.
Note: If an external keyboard or keypad is
connected to the computer, the numlock feature
automatically shifts from the internal keyboard to
the external keyboard or keypad.

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Windows 95 Keys
The keyboard has two keys that perform Windows
95-specific functions.
Key Description
Windows
logo key Start button. Combinations with this key performs special functions. Below are a few
examples:
 Windows + Tab Activate next Taskbar
button
 Windows + E Explore My Computer
 Windows + F Find Document
 Windows + M Minimize All
 Shift + Windows + M Undo Minimize All
 Windows + R Display Run dialog box
Application
key Opens the application’s context menu (same as right-click).

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Hot Keys
The computer employs hot keys or key
combinations to access most of the computer’s
controls like screen contrast and brightness,
volume output and the BIOS setup utility.
Hot Key Icon Function Description
Fn-Esc Esc Hotkey
Escape Exits the hotkey control.
Fn-F1 ?Hotkey
Help Displays the hotkey list and help.
Fn-F2 Brightness
Control
Contrast
Control
Toggles between brightness
control and contrast
control.
Press the scale hotkeys (Fn-
→, Fn-←) to increase and
decrease the brightness or
contrast level.
Computers with TFT
displays do not show the
contrast control icon.

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Hot Key Icon Function Description
Fn-F3 Display
Toggle Switches display between the following:
•LCD
•CRT
•Both LCD and CRT
•TV (if the computer is
attached to the optional
port replicator)
Fn-F4 Battery
Gauge Displays the battery gauge.
Fn-F5 Volume
Control Press the scale hotkeys (Fn-
→, Fn-←) to increase and
decrease the output level.
Fn-F6 Setup Gains access to BIOS setup
utility’s power management
settings and system
information reference
screens. See section 5.3.5.
Fn-F7 Sleep Enters hibernation mode if
the hibernation function
(Sleep Manager) is installed,
valid and enabled;
otherwise, the computer
enters standby mode. See
section 2.2.1 to know more
about standby and
hibernation modes.
Fn-→→→
Scale
Increase Increases the setting of the current icon.

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Hot Key Icon Function Description
Fn-←←←
Scale
Decrease Decreases the setting of the current icon.
Fn-T Toggle
Touchpad Turns the internal touchpad on and off.
Note: If you want to use an external PS/2 mouse,
first enable the touchpad, connect the external
PS/2 mouse, then disable the touchpad if
necessary.
Activating and Using Hot Keys
When activating hot keys, press and hold the first
key Fn before pressing the other keys in the hot
key combination.
Some hot keys pop-up an onscreen icon as shown
in the previous table. For hot keys with pop-up
icons, press the scale hot keys (Fn-→and Fn-←) to
increase and decrease the setting of the icon.
Exiting Pop-up Icons and Screens
Press hot key escape (Fn-Esc) to exit a pop-up
icon resulting from a hot key. Press Esc to exit a
screen resulting from a hot key.

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1.4.2 Keyboard Ergonomics
Located below the keyboard, the wide and curved
palm rest gives you a place to rest your hands
while you type.

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1.5 Touchpad
The built-in touchpad is a PS/2-compatible
pointing device that senses movement on its
surface. This means the cursor responds as you
move your finger on the surface of the touchpad.
The central location on the palm rest provides
ample comfort and support.
Note: When using an external mouse, you can
press Fn-T to disable the internal touchpad.
If you want to use an external PS/2 mouse, first
enable the touchpad, connect the external PS/2
mouse, then disable the touchpad if necessary.
Touchpad Basics
The following items teach you how to use the
touchpad:
Move your finger across the touchpad to move
the cursor.

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Press the left and right buttons located on the
edge of the touchpad to do selection and
execution functions. These two buttons are
similar to the left and right buttons on a
mouse. Tapping on the touchpad produces
similar results.
Function Left
Button Right Button Tap
Execution Click
twice
quickly
Tap twice (at the same
speed as double-clicking
the mouse button)
Selection Click
once Tap once
Drag Click and
hold to
drag the
cursor
Tap twice (at the same
speed as double-clicking
the mouse button) and
hold finger to the
touchpad on the second
tap to drag the cursor
Access
Context
Menu
Click
once
Note: Keep your fingers dry and clean when using
the touchpad. Also keep the touchpad dry and
clean.
The touchpad is sensitive to finger movements.
Hence, the lighter the touch, the better the
response. Tapping too hard will not increase the
touchpad’s responsiveness.

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1.6 Storage
High-capacity storage comes in the form of a 2.5-
inch Enhanced-IDE hard disk. The computer also
has either an internal 3.5-inch, 1.44MB floppy
drive or an internal high-speed CD-ROM drive.
1.6.1 Hard Disk
The hard disk module can be upgraded when you
need more storage space. See section 3.11.2.
1.6.2 Internal Drive
The computer comes with a floppy drive or CD-
ROM drive. The CD-ROM drive gives you portable
multimedia access. An external floppy drive is
included for models with built-in CD-ROM drives.
Ejecting the CD-ROM Tray
To eject the CD-ROM
drive tray when the
computer is turned on,
press the CD-ROM
eject button .

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Connecting an External Floppy Drive
Connect the larger end
of the floppy drive
cable to the parallel
port and the other end
to the connector on the
external floppy drive.
Note: The external floppy drive is hot-pluggable.
You do not need to turn off the computer to
connect and use the floppy drive.

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1.7 Ports
Ports allow you to connect peripheral devices to
your computer as you would with a desktop PC.
The ports are found on the rear panel; PC card
slots and audio ports are found on the left panel of
the computer.
Note: See Chapter 3 on how to connect external
devices to the computer.
1.7.1 Left Ports
# Icon Port Connects to...
1Modem Jack Phone line
2PC Card Slots PC Cards
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# Icon Port Connects to...
3Line-out Port Line-out device (e.g.,
speakers, headphones)
4Line-in Port Line-in device (e.g., audio
CD player, stereo walkman)
5Microphone-in
Port External 3.5mm minijack condenser microphone
Fax/Data Modem Port (on some models)
The computer has an optional built-in fax/data
modem.1
!
Warning: This modem port is not compatible
with digital phone lines. Plugging this modem
into a digital phone line will damage the
modem.
To use the
fax/data modem
port, connect a
phone cable
from the modem
port to a
telephone jack.
Start your communications software program. See
your communications manual for instructions.
1This feature is available only in the U.S., Canada, Japan and
Taiwan. For other regions, you can connect a PC Card modem.
Consult your dealer for details.