Sahara NetSlate a525 User manual

Quick Start Guide
Sahara NetSlate® a525 Tablet PC
Tablet PCs designed for business. Built to last.
Left Side
1. Carry Strap Attachment
2. 3G WWAN and GPS
Auxilary Antenna
3. Ethernet Port (RJ45)
4-5. USB 2.0
6. Headphone Jack
7. Audio In Jack
8. Stylus Pen Garage
9. SAS Button
10. Screen Rotation Button
11-12. Volume or Brightness
Control Buttons (user
programmable)
Top Side
13. DC In (Power In)
14. HDD Access LED
15. Battery Status LEDs
16. Power Switch
17. Bluetooth Switch
18. WiFi Switch
19. Webcam
20. Modular Expansion
Port with Cover
Front
21. Audio Speaker
22. Fingerprint Reader (option)
23. Microphone Array
Right Side
1. Carry Strap Attachment
24. Kensington Lock Port
25. Battery One (1)
26. Touch Screen ON/OFF
Button
27. Wireless Mode Button
28-29. Programmable Buttons
30. Battery Two (2)
Left Side Right Side
Top Side
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Congratulations on your purchase of a TabletKiosk Sahara NetSlate® a525 Tablet PC. This guide
will help you get up and running with your new Tablet PC as quickly as possible.
For more information regarding setting up and using your Sahara NetSlate a525, please
consult the digital User’s Guide located on your desktop or visit our website at www.
tabletkiosk.com.
What’s in the Box
Your Sahara NetSlate should come securely packaged in its shipping container along with the
items listed below. Contact your dealer immediately if you find that anything is missing or
damaged. Note, however, that contents may be changed without notice.
1. AC Adapter with Power Cord
2. Cleaning Cloth
3. Neoprene Slip Case
4. Simple Stand
5. Windows Getting Started Guide (not included if Linux was pre-installed)
6. This Quick Start Guide
7. Two (2) Standard Lithium-Ion Battery Packs
8. Stylus Pen (may not be included with capacitive touch only configurations)
Setting Up Your Sahara NetSlate
The following steps will guide you in powering up your Sahara NetSlate for the first time. These
steps might change slightly over time with newer revisions of the installed operating system, or
when your tablet is purchased from a systems integrator or solutions provider.
Step 1: Insert the Battery Pack(s)
Turn the tablet over and place it face down on a smooth, clean surface so the back of the system
is facing toward you.
CAUTION: When turning over the Sahara NetSlate, be careful not to place it on a surface that could scratch
or damage the touch panel. You can place the included slip case on the surface before carefully setting the
tablet down to protect the screen.
Align a battery into the battery compartment and then slide it into the computer until it clicks
securely into place. While it does not matter which battery (one or two) that you install first, if
you are only going to install one battery, it should be installed into battery bay one ( ).
Slide the battery-locking tab to the locked ( ) position. Once the locking tab clicks into position,
the battery should be securely seated. Repeat for the second battery if applicable.
Align the battery in the bay and slide it into
place. You will hear a click when the battery is
properly seated.
Slide the locking tab on the battery to the
locked position to keep the battery secured in
the bay.

Step 2: Connect the Sahara NetSlate to an External Power Source
Locate the AC adapter and the power cord. Plug the power cord securely into the AC adapter.
Plug the AC adapter’s connection cable into the“DC In”port on the top side of the Sahara Net-
Slate. Once the adapter plug is securely in place, plug the power cord into an external power
socket.
IMPORTANT: You should allow the battery pack(s) to charge fully before disconnecting the Sahara NetSlate
from the AC adapter and running it on battery power for the first time.
NOTE: When you first connect the Sahara NetSlate into an external power source, the battery charge
indicator(s) will begin to glow orange. When the battery is fully charged the indicator(s) will turn green.
See the section later in this guide and in the User’s Guide entitled Battery Care for tips on maximizing
battery life and performance.
Step 3: Connect Any Applicable Peripherals and Networking Cables
If you would like to use any external peripherals with the tablet (i.e. USB mouse, USB keyboard,
etc.), or are planning to connect to the Internet and/or a corporate LAN using a wired Ethernet
connection (RJ45), connect them now.
Step 4: Power on the Sahara NetSlate
Locate the three power switches on the top of the tablet. The switch is the tablet’s main
power toggle. Slide and hold it until it emits a blue glow (about 3 seconds) and then release it.
The Sahara NetSlate will now boot up.
Step 5: Complete the Operating System Installation
When your system powers on for the first time, you may be prompted to enter a Windows
product key to complete set-up. The key can be found on the Windows C.O.A. sticker located on
the back of the tablet underneath the battery pack in battery bay . You will then be asked to
agree to Microsoft’s licensing terms.
Plug the power cord into the DC In port on the
top of the tablet.
Plug the power cord into the AC adapter brick
and then into a wall outlet.
Locate the system Power switch on the top of
the tablet.
Slide and hold it for about three (3) seconds
until it glows blue and the system powers up.

Windows will start its configuration and optimization routine and may restart. This is normal.
Windows will then have a few questions for you to answer in order to localize and finish your
installation. Refer to your operating system’s manual for information on any of the questions you
are unsure how to answer. When done, your system will complete the first time set-up and you
will be taken to the Windows desktop.
Step 6: Navigating the Operating System’s GUI on a Tablet PC
Unlike a standard laptop or desktop PC, navigating the operating system’s graphical user inter-
face (GUI) on a Tablet PC is performed using a stylus pen or your fingers.
Touch Screen: Navigating with a touch screen is different from navigating with a mouse. You
may use either a stylus pen or your fingers. If using a stylus, hold it as if you were writing with
a standard ink pen. Instead of sliding the stylus or your fingers around the screen to move the
pointer (as you would with a mouse or track pad), simply tap on what you want to interact with.
Sliding the stylus or your finger while touching the screen will move the on-screen pointer
around as if you were using a mouse and holding down the left mouse button. In other words,
you would be performing a drag operation. Also, remember that since the screen is sensitive to
the touch, resting your hand on it while working might make the pointer react unpredictably.
Active Digitizer (pen): When using a digitizer, you may only navigate using the pen. On a dual
mode Sahara NetSlate a525 Tablet PC, the screen will intelligently sense the tip of the stylus pen
when it draws near (within 10 - 14 mm) and automatically switch on the digitizer. The pen’s tip
doesn’t need to touch the screen to activate and move the pointer.
Hold the stylus pen as you would a standard ink pen. Simply place the tip of the stylus just
above the screen and move it around. The pointer should follow it as if you were using a mouse.
In this mode your hand may rest on the screen, since this will not affect the behavior of the
pointer. Like a touch screen, when you want to select or interact with an object, simply tap on it.
Keep the stylus tip on the screen while moving it around in order to perform a drag operation.
TIP: When trying to select or activate something on the screen with the stylus pen, pay attention to the
position of the pointer icon on the screen instead of the tip of the pen. By default, the pointer is diamond
shaped in Windows 7 when using a touch screen or digitizer unless you plug-in and use a mouse, then it
will switch to the standard arrow pointer.
Whether using either a touch screen or an active digitizer, tapping lightly on the screen will
perform a standard left mouse button click. Tapping twice in rapid succession will perform a
double-click. Pressing the tip of the stylus or your finger against the screen without moving it for
about a second or so will perform a standard right mouse button click.
NOTE: When pressing and holding to perform a right-click, keep your finger or stylus tip pressed to the
screen until you see a circle draw around where you are pressing before you release.
Inputting Data: You can use the Tablet PC Input Panel in Windows 7 to enter information
via the On-Screen Keyboard or Writing Pad. You’ll find the edge of the Tablet PC Input Panel
docked on the left-hand side of your screen. When in digitizer mode, hovering the pointer over
the panel will cause it to slide outward a bit making it easier to access. Tap on it once to activate
the panel and slide it to the center of your desktop. When finished, tap the “close” icon in the
upper right corner of the panel to re-dock it.
When using a touch screen, tap once on the input panel’s edge to slide it to the center of your
desktop. You can also enable the PC Input Panel Toolbar on the Windows Taskbar by pressing
and holding (right-clicking) on a blank space on the Taskbar and choosing “Toolbars Tablet
PC Input Panel” from the pop-up menu that appears.
For more information on using the input panels, see the digital User’s Guide on your system’s
desktop (you can also download it from www.tabletkiosk.com) or check out the Tablet PC
Tutorials in Windows.

Calibrating the Screen for Improved Accuracy
If you find that the position of the on-screen pointer isn’t matching the touch of the stylus or
your finger properly, you can calibrate the screen for better accuracy.
Calibrating the Active Digitizer and Capacitive Touch Screen
1. Go to the START menu and tap on “Control
Panel” in the right hand column to open the
Windows Control Panel.
2. Tap on the “Hardware and Sound” category and
locate the “Tablet PC Settings” sub-category
and then either tap on it or tap on the “Calibrate
the screen for pen or touch input” link.
3. In the “Display” tab, tap on the “Calibrate...”
button. If a Window appears asking you which
type of screen you to want to calibrate (“Touch
Input” for the touch screen, or “Pen Input” for
the digitizer) choose the appropriate one to
continue to the calibration screen.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete
the calibration. The routine for each screen is
very similar. Tap in the center of each cross
when it appears on the screen. When you have
tapped on the last cross, you will be prompted
to save your calibration data. If you are happy
with how you tapped on each cross, save the
data. If not, choose to cancel and then rerun the
calibration routine.
NOTE: If you find that after you calibrate for the first time the screen accuracy is no better or perhaps
worse, choose to calibrate again. After the first calibration for each screen, the routine steps down to
only using 4-target points for calibration. Sometimes, the 4-point calibration can produce better feeling
calibration data for some users.
If at any point you wish to reset your calibration data and return to the Windows default
calibration state, simply tap on the “Reset...”button and choose which screen to reset if asked.
Calibrating the Resistive Touch Screen
The resistive touch screen is calibrated from the PenMount control panel. A short-cut is located
on the Windows desktop.
1. Open the PenMount control panel and,
in the “Device”tab, tap on the “PenMount
6000 USB” icon and then tap “Configure”.
Alternatively, just double-tap on the
“PenMount 6000 USB” icon.
2. Tap on the “Calibrate” tab and then tap on
either the “Standard Calibration” or the
“Advanced Calibration” button. Most of
the time, a Standard Calibration should
be sufficient to perform an accurate
calibration. Advanced Calibration allows
you to choose how many touch points will
appear in the Calibration test.
If your Sahara NetSlate a525 has a dual mode
screen, you will see this window asking you to
choose an input panel to calibrate.

NOTE: If you find the “Standard Calibration” to be too imprecise, the “Advanced Calibration”mode offers
additional points for calibrating. For both modes, it is recommended that you use the stylus pen, rather
than your finger, to produce the most accurate results.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions by
pressing and holding on each red
square that appears until you are
told to lift to proceed. To quit this
routine without saving the data, hit
on your keyboard if you have
one connected, or simply wait a
few moments without touching the
screen and the test will time out.
4. When the calibration is complete, you
can test the screen accuracy by either
tapping around the screen, or using the“Draw” test in the “Tools” tab in the main window
of the PenMount Control Panel.
Connecting to a Wireless Network
1. Turn on the WiFi transmitter using the
power switch on the top of your tablet.
2. In the Windows 7 System Tray, tap on the
“Wireless Networks” ( ) icon.
3. From the list that appears, tap to select the
network to which you wish to connect and
then tap the “Connect” button. If no wireless
networks appear after a few moments, tap on
the refresh button located on the right side of
the dialog box.
4. If the wireless network you are attempting to
connect to is security-enabled, you will see a dia-
log box requesting a network key or password.
The key/password (your network administrator
should be able to supply this to you) must be
entered correctly or you will not be able to
successfully connect to the network.
If you entered the network key correctly, you should now be connected to the wireless network.
If it appears you are connected to the network, but have limited or no actual connectivity, it is
most likely due to an improperly entered network key. Disconnect from the network by tapping
the “Disconnect” button and try to connect again. If you continue to have trouble connecting,
contact your network administrator for assistance.
Connecting a Wireless Bluetooth Device
1. Turn on the Bluetooth transmitter using the
power switch on the top of your tablet.
2. In the Windows System Tray, tap on the icon.
From the pop-up menu, choose “Add a Device”.
3. Turn on the discovery service on your Bluetooth
device. Check your Bluetooth device’s manual
for help if you don’t know how to do this.
4. When found, choose the Bluetooth device from
Touch each of the red squares that appear on-screen to
calibrate the touch screen. Remember to hold your finger or
stylus down on the square until it tells you to release.
Tap on the wireless networking icon in the
System Tray located on the task bar next to
the clock.

the “Add a device” window that you want to use and
tap the “Next” button.
5. Enter the Bluetooth passkey on the Bluetooth
device if prompted. If you are trying to connect to
a Bluetooth keyboard, hit “Enter” after typing the
passkey.
6. Your device should now be connected. If any
device drivers are required to operate your device,
if you haven’t already, you should load them now.
Otherwise your Bluetooth device should now
be functional. Tap on the “Close” button to exit.
7. To connect additional devices, repeat the
process.
NOTE:“Turn Adapter Off” in the Bluetooth pop-up menu
disables the Bluetooth functionality independent of the
Bluetooth switch on the top of the Tablet PC. When turned
off, the Bluetooth icon in the System Tray will turn red. To
reenable it, double-tap on the icon.
Using the Modular Feature Expansion System
Your Sahara NetSlate features the Modular Feature
Expansion System which allows for the easy
integration of expansion modules that enhance the
capabilities of your Tablet PC.
Based upon the Universal Serial Bus (USB), the
modules are hot swappable, meaning you do
not have to power down your system in order to
install/remove/exchange a module, and require no
additional drivers beyond those that may be required
by the device being added to the system (3G WWAN
module, etc.).
To add an expansion module:
1. Remove the two Philips head screws holding
the Modular Expansion System port cover on
the top/back of the tablet in place.
2. Remove the cover to expose the expansion port.
3. Align the plug of the module you wish to install
and slide it into place.
4. Screw the two screws back into place to hold the
module securely.
5. After a moment, Windows should detect the
module and load the required drivers, if they are
natively available within Windows, or prompt you
to install the drivers that came with the module.
To remove or swap a module, simple follow the
same procedure, except replace the module you
are removing with either another module, or the
Expansion cover plate.

Programming the Tablet Buttons
The Sahara NetSlate has four function buttons on both the left and right sides of the system.
Most of them can be reprogrammed to some degree to serve a variety of functions, including
emulating keyboard keystroke combinations, launching applications and taking a picture with
one of the built-in cameras.
To open the Tablet Button Settings Control Panel, tap on its icon
located in the System Tray’s pop-up palette.
When the panel opens you will see that the interface is divided into two
panes. The top pane represents the eight tablet buttons and lists their
currently assigned functions. The bottom pane lists all the different
functions that can be assigned to these buttons.
To reprogram a button, tap on its
icon in the top half of the interface to
select it. In the frame at the bottom, all
available functions for that button will
appear in color. Unavailable functions
will be grayed out. Hover over a
function to display a description below
the row of icons. Tap a function to
assign it to the selected button.
Certain button functions control the
state of hardware on the tablet, such as
Touch Screen on/off. Both the function
icon and button icon displays the
hardware’s current state. Pressing the
actual tablet button will toggle the state.
When programming a button to be
a keyboard short-cut, a dialogue
box will open asking for a key or key
combination and then a name for the
short-cut to appear on the button. If a
custom name isn’t entered, the keyboard
short-cut itself will be the name by
default. Special keyboard function
keys are contained in the “Add Special”
dropdown list.
Restoring Your System Using the System Recovery Partition
There may be times where you’ll encounter errors that may prevent you from booting into
Windows normally. Your Sahara NetSlate has a hidden partition on the data storage drive that
contains the files you’ll need to restore your system.
This recovery system uses Windows Recovery and enables you to restore the operating system
to a previous state in time, reinstall the operating system without losing your previous settings
or documents, or reinstall your system without saving your documents or settings.
IMPORTANT: You will need to have a mouse and/or keyboard with standard F1-F12 function keys
attached to your system in order to enter and navigate both the Advanced Boot Options menu and the
Windows Recovery System.
You enter into Windows Recovery through the Advanced Boot Options menu by hitting the [F8]
key on your keyboard when your Sahara NetSlate first starts up.

NOTE: The easiest way to enter the Advanced Boot Menu is by repeatedly pressing the [F8] key as soon
as you see the TabletKiosk logo screen and not stopping until the Advanced Boot Options menu screen
appears.
1. When the Advanced Boot Options menu
appears, select “Repair Your Computer” and
press [Enter] to launch Windows Recovery.
2. When the recovery system starts, choose
your preferred keyboard language.
3. In order to access the recovery options,
you will need to login using your current
Windows login.
NOTE: Your current account must have administrator
privileges in order to successfully login.
4. After successfully logging
in, you will be taken to
the System Recovery
Options menu. Click on
the last option “Reinstall
Windows”to restore your
system using the files
in the hidden recovery
partition.
5. A final confirmation
dialog box will appear.
Click the “Yes” button to
begin the reinstallation
procedure. If you wish
to cancel, click the “No”
button.
After you have finished restoring Windows, your system will reboot and Set-up will configure
Windows for first use. When you have returned to the Windows desktop, go to Windows Update
and install any Critical updates until your system is current. Finally, reinstall your applications
and any documents you backed up before you reinstalled.
Using the Batteries for the First Time
Before running the Tablet PC on battery power for the first time, you should fully charge both of
the batteries.
On the front of the Sahara NetSlate just above the
TabletKiosk logo are two battery status indicators.
These indicators will track the charging status of the
system’s two Lithium-Ion battery packs.
When plugged into a power outlet, partially charged
batteries will cause the indicators to glow orange.
When each battery is fully charged, its corresponding
indicator will turn green. Be sure that both indicators
have turned green before unplugging the power
plug and attempting to run the Sahara NetSlate on
battery power for the first time. The battery indicators will turn green when
their corresponding battery is fully charged.

Battery Usage
Running your system plugged in all the time, or conversely, until the batteries are almost totally
drained on a regular basis is not recommended as they can damage the battery’s ability to hold
a charge.
In general, running the system until both battery indicators are blinking, typically this is when
the batteries are down to just below 10% charged, and then fully charging the batteries (full
discharge/charge cycle) will ensure the accuracy of the battery status gauges and prolong the
batteries’ charge efficiency.
You do not need to plug in the system when only one of the battery indicators are blinking, as
the other battery may have plenty of charge remaining. Generally, waiting until they are both
blinking before charging is preferred.
When there is only one minute of battery charge remaining, the computer will suspend its
current state to the hard drive and power off (hibernate) to prevent data loss. To resume your
work, either swap in charged batteries or plug in the AC adapter and turn the system back on.
Cleaning and Caring for Your System
After sustained usage, you will probably find that your Sahara NetSlate will require cleaning.
Never use household cleaning supplies or glass cleaner with ammonia to clean the case or the
LCD screen. Additionally, you should never spray any liquid directly on the Tablet PC, especially
while it is powered on and running.
A can of compressed air can be used to remove dust and other particulate matter from crevices,
vents and I/O ports. Compressed air is also good for cleaning dust from the non-slip surface of
the Sahara NetSlates top case.
Cleaning the Touch Screen
Gently wipe the surface using a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Use as little pressure as possible.
Using your breath in conjunction with the microfiber cloth, as you would to clean the lenses on
a pair of eye glasses, is usually very effective.
To remove really tough marks and smudges:
1. Spray a small amount of non-abrasive cleanser, water or mixture of water and isopropyl
alcohol (70/30 mix) on a microfiber cloth. Make sure the cloth is only damp, not saturated
or dripping.
CAUTION: Do not spray or apply any liquids directly onto the Tablet PC. Always apply the solution to your
microfiber cloth first, not directly on the parts you are cleaning.
2. Gently wipe the display surface. Use only as much pressure as necessary to remove the
smudge. Wipe in small circular motions.
Cleaning Cloth
To clean your display, we recommend using the microfiber cloth that came with your system or
a similar double-sided microfiber cloth. They are extremely soft, non-abrasive, and are non-
electrostatic which is ideal for cleaning touch screens and other computer components.
Cleaning Solutions
For tough, greasy marks or smudges, use water, high purity isopropyl alcohol, or a cleaning
solution specifically made for cleaning LCD monitors.
Be sure not to use cleaners that contain Acetone, Ethyl Alcohol, Ethyl Acid, Ammonia, or Methyl
Chloride.

Storing the System Long-Term
If you don’t plan on using your Sahara NetSlate for more than four months, TabletKiosk
recommends that you remove the two Lithium-Ion batteries and store them with approximately
a 50 ~ 75% charge. If you store a Lithium-Ion battery when it’s fully discharged, it could fall into
a deeply discharged state which renders it incapable of holding any charge. Conversely, if you
store the batteries fully charged for an extended period of time, the battery may experience
some loss of capacity, meaning it will have a shorter life. Be sure to store your Tablet PC and
batteries in a dry, cool location to prevent damage due to extreme temperatures and/or
condensation. Charging the batteries for a short time (10-15 minutes) every few months will also
help keep the batteries properly conditioned.
Important Safety Instructions
For your own safety and the safety of your equipment, please follow these rules for the handling
and care of your Sahara NetSlate. Keep this information and the User’s Guide for future reference
by you and other users.
Never pour liquids into any opening or directly on the Sahara NetSlate. This could result in fire or
electrical shock.
Check that the voltage range of the power outlet is between 100V and 240V before connecting
the Sahara NetSlate. Exceeding the maximum rated voltage may cause damage to the AC
adapter or to the Sahara NetSlate. This could result in fire or electrical shock.
When the AC adapter is plugged into an electrical outlet, place the power cord so it will not be
stepped on or walked on. Do not place objects over or on the power cord.
Use the Sahara NetSlate in a clean, dry, temperature controlled environment. Do not use the
tablet in areas of high humidity, around water (for example: near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen
sink or laundry tub, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool) or outdoors while it is raining.
Never open or disassemble the Sahara NetSlate. For safety reasons, and to prevent permanent
damage, the equipment should only be repaired by qualified service personnel.
Contact a qualified service center if any of the following issues should arise:
1. AC adapter, power cord or plug is damaged;
2. Liquid has been spilled into the Sahara NetSlate;
3. The Sahara NetSlate has been exposed to excessive moisture;
4. The Sahara NetSlate exhibits errors and/or does not function according to specifications;
5. The Sahara NetSlate has been dropped or otherwise physically damaged.
Caution
Lithium-Ion batteries can be dangerous. There is a danger of explosion if the batteries
are incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by
the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to state or local hazardous waste
requirements.
Under no circumstances should the user attempt to disassemble the power supply. The power
supply has no user-replaceable parts and its insides contain components that are electrically-
charged with hazardous voltage levels that can cause serious personal injury. A defective power
supply must be returned to your dealer.
Safety Notices for the Power Cord
This equipment has a 2 or 3-wire power cord. Replace the power cord if it becomes damaged.
Contact your dealer for an exact replacement.

Tablet PCs designed for business. Built to last.
2832 Columbia Street, Torrance, CA 90503
310.782.1201 tel [phone] fax
www.tabletkiosk.com
©2013 Sand Dune Ventures, Inc. d/b/a TabletKiosk. All Rights Reserved. Sahara NetSlate and TabletKiosk are registered trademarks of Sand Dune
Ventures, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Windows, the Windows logo, and Windows 7 are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
rev a525.07.24.13