V-tech NITRO User manual

1
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for buying the VTech®Nitro Notebook™. The VTech®Nitro Notebook™
is an awesome way to get busy with a whole world of learning fun! Get versed
in all the basics - letters, phonics, vocabulary, math, science, social studies and
more! Plus, learn to speak Spanish like a pro with fun, interactive language games.
And don’t forget your artistic side - fun music and art activities are just waiting for
your creative input. You’ll even get a whole set of cool utilities, perfect for the kid
on the go!
With additional cartridges, cool graphics, fun sounds, groovy melodies, and a high-
tech keyboard and mouse, you’ll be ready to take the learning world by storm!
INSTRUCTIONS & ACTIVITIES
INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE
•Nitro Notebook™
•User’s manual
•Real mouse
•Mouse pad
•Bonus cartridges: Story Time and Sing-Along
WARNING:
All packing materials such as tape, plastic sheets, wire ties and tags are not part
of this toy and should be discarded for your child’s safety.
On/Off button
Bonus cartridges
LCD screen
Volume switch
Contrast switch
Built-in speaker
Keyboard
Demo button
Category buttons
Progress Report button
Real mouse
Mouse pad
Cursor pad
Reset hole
Cursor pad
"enter" button Cursor pad
"enter" button
INTRODUCTION
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:201

2
GETTING STARTED
POWER SOURCE
The Nitro Notebook™ operates on 3 “AA” size batteries
(UM-3/LR6) or a VTech®9V adaptor (sold separately).
BATTERY INSTALLATION
1. Make sure the unit is turned OFF.
2. Locate the battery cover on the bottom of the unit and
open it.
3. Insert 3 new “AA” batteries (UM-3/LR6) as illustrated.
RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
4. Close the battery cover.
NOTE: For best performance, remove all factory-installed batteries and use new,
alkaline batteries.
Important: When replacing the 3 “AA” size batteries, make sure the backup batteries
are in the unit. Otherwise you will lose any information stored in the unit.
BACKUP BATTERY INSTALLATION
Your Nitro Notebook™ comes with a backup battery already
installed. To avoid damage to the unit from leaky batteries,
replace the backup battery at least once a year.
TO REPLACE THE BACKUP BATTERY
1. Make sure the unit is OFF.
2. Using a small cross-head screwdriver, loosen the battery cover.
3. Insert 1 CR2032 size battery as illustrated.
4. Close the battery cover and tighten the screws to secure it.
STANDARD FOR BATTERY TOYS
•Do not try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries;
•Rechargeable batteries are to be removed from the toy before being charged;
•Rechargeable batteries are only to be charged under adult supervision;
•Do not mix different types of batteries; Do not mix new and used batteries;
•Only use batteries of the recommended or equivalent type;
•Always insert batteries properly matching the plus (+) and minus (-) signs;
•Batteries that have run out of energy must be removed from the toy;
•Do not short-circuit the supply terminals;
•Do not use more batteries than recommended;
•Do not mix alkaline, standard(carbon-zinc) or rechargeable (nickel-cadmium)
batteries;
GETTING STARTED
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:202

3
•Remove batteries from the toy if it will not be used for an extended period of
time.
IMPORTANT: While replacing the backup battery, the 3 “AA” size batteries must be kept in the unit.
Otherwise, you will lose any saved information.
DC ADAPTOR
Use a VTech®adaptor or any other standard adaptor that complies with EN61558
AC-DC 9V 300mA center-positive adaptor.
CONNECTING THE ADAPTOR
1. Make sure the unit is OFF.
2. Locate the adaptor jack on the back of the unit.
3. Insert the adaptor plug into the unit’s adaptor jack.
4. Plug the adaptor into a wall outlet.
5. Turn the unit ON.
NOTE: When the toy is not going to be in use for an extended period of time,
unplug the adaptor.
STANDARD FOR TOYS WITH ADAPTOR
•The toy is not intended for use by children under 3 years old;
•Use only the recommended adaptor with the toy;
•The adaptor is not a toy;
•Never clean a plugged-in toy with liquid;
•Never use more than 1 adaptor;
•Do not leave the toy plugged in for extended periods of time.
NOTICE TO PARENTS
Regularly examine the adaptor, checking for damage to the cord, plug, transformer
or other parts. Do not use the adaptor if there is any damage to it.
The demo tag should be removed automatically when the product is taken out of
the packaging. If the demo tag is still in position when you begin play, please remove
it from the bottom of the unit to activate normal play mode.
REAL MOUSE
Use the mouse only on a clean, flat
surface, so that the roller ball is not
damaged and the cursor moves freely
across the screen. Use only a mouse
that is compatible with VTech®
products.
Mouse button
Mouse door
GETTING STARTED
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:203

4
CONNECTING THE MOUSE
1. Make sure the unit is OFF.
2. Locate the mouse jack on the back of the unit.
3. Plug the mouse into the mouse jack.
USING THE MOUSE
1. Move the mouse in the direction you want the cursor to move.
2. Click on the mouse button to make a selection.
CLEANING THE MOUSE
1. Following the arrows, use a screwdriver to open the cover on
the bottom of the mouse.
2. Take the ball out of the mouse and use a dry cloth to clean
the mouse and the ball.
3. Place the ball back into the mouse, place the cover back onto
the mouse and screw the cover closed.
CARTRIDGE
Insert the cartridge into the cartridge slot on the right
side of the unit to play after the unit is turned ON.
PRODUCT FEATURES
PLAY MODES
In the Nitro Notebook™, you can choose from 8 different categories of play and learning:
•Language Lab (Spanish)
•Word Zone
•Math Mania
•Science World
•Social Studies
•Game Time
•Creative Studio
•My Tools
ONE/TWO PLAYER MODE
Press on the keyboard to switch between One Player and Two Player modes.
The activities that can be played with two players are:
•Carrot Patch
•Crazy Sponge
•Hoop Spree
•Bug Squash
•Double the Fun
GETTING STARTED
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:204

5
•Ball Tumble
•Hide and Seek
•Mirror Image
•Memory Challenge
•Maze Magic
PROGRESSIVE LEARNING FEATURE
In most activities, if a question is answered incorrectly in the first round of a game,
it will be repeated up to three times in later rounds. This feature is designed to
help children learn by developing memory skills.
TURNING THE UNIT ON AND OFF
Pressing will turn the unit ON. Pressing again will turn the unit OFF.
ACTIVITY SELECTION:
When the unit is turned on, you will see a short opening scene and enter the Main
Menu. Here, activities will cycle onto and off the screen automatically. You can choose
an activity in one of these ways:
1) press when you see an activity you like.
2) use the cursor pad to cycle through the activities manually, and press to
choose one.
3) click the mouse button when you see an activity you like.
4) type the activity number and press .
If you press a category key (such as ‘Word Zone’), the menu will jump to the first
activity of that category. An activity can then be chosen in the above ways.
LEVEL SELECTION
Pressing will change the level of the current activity from level one to level
two and then level three. Press again to go back to level one. Level one
is the default setting when starting a new activity.
ANSWER
In most activities, the answer will be provided after a certain number of tries.
SHORT BREAK MODE
After you play five rounds in a row in any activity, you will enjoy a fun musical break!
CONTRAST SWITCH
Adjust the image on the screen by sliding the Contrast Switch to the right for higher
contrast and to the left for lower contrast.
PRODUCT FEATURES
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:205

6
VOLUME SWITCH
Adjust the volume by sliding the Volume Switch to the right for higher volume and
to the left for lower volume.
KEYBOARD LAYOUT
Your Nitro Notebook™ has a full typing keyboard that doubles as a music keyboard.
You will also find the following function keys.
FUNCTION KEYS:
1. Press this button to see a short preview of your Nitro Notebook™.
2. Press this button to see how you’re doing in most activities.
3.
Press one of these buttons to jump to the first activity of the selected category.
4. Press this key to go back to the previous screen.
5. Press this key to change the level in most activities.
6. Press this key to repeat the current question or instruction.
7. Press this key for help in most activities.
8. Press this key to see the correct answer in most activities.
9. Press this key to delete what you have typed.
10. Press this key to see a fun cartoon.
PRODUCT FEATURES
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:206

7
11. Press this key to turn the background music on and off.
12. Press this key to switch between One Player and Two Player modes.
13. / Press these keys to enter different players' answers in Two
Player mode.
14. Press these keys to cycle through choices in activities or
in the Main Menu.
15. Use the cursor pad to move the cursor on the screen.
Press the “enter” button on either side of the cursor pad to select.
16. Use these keys to
enter letters in letter
and word-related
activities.
17.
Use these keys to enter numbers in number activities.
18. Use these keys to enter
musical notes in music-
related activities.
19. Use these keys to change instruments in
music-related activities.
20. Press this key to change the melody tempo in music-related activities.
21. Press this key to insert a musical rest in Melody Maker.
AUTO POWER OFF
To preserve battery power, the Nitro Notebook™ will automatically shut off after
several minutes without input. The unit can be turned on again by pressing .
PRODUCT FEATURES
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:207

8
ACTIVITIES
Your Nitro Notebook™ includes a total of 80 activities.
Index Activity Names Category Name
01 Earful of Numbers
Language Lab (Spanish)
02 Number Votes
03 Picture Fun
04 Word Train
05 First Letter
06 Mouse’s Snack
07 Word Cards
08 Word Match
09 Chat Room
10 Talk Show
11 Alphabet Tumble
Word Zone
12 Letter Disks
13 Alphabet Fishing
14 Capital and Small
15 Letter Bubbles
16 Typing Fun
17 Animal Votes
18 Mouse’s Lunch
19 Rhyme Time
20 Spelling Rescue
21 Smart Choice
22 Magic Hat
23 Match Me
24 Chat Fun
25 Finish the Story
ACTIVITIES
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:208

9
26 Number Stars
Math Mania
27 Firefly Count
28 Odd One Out
29 Number Magic
30 Math Votes
31 Number Seesaw
32 Feed Fido
33 Subtract It
34 Shopping Spree
35 Mouse’s Dinner
36 Catch a Firefly
Science World
37 Mouse’s Supper
38 Animal Fair
39 Part and Whole
40 Costume Ball
41 Time to Eat
42 Animal Shadows
43 Weather Maker
44 Ticktock Time
45 Show Time
Social Studies
46 Earful of Sounds
47 Sweep It Up
48 Mouse’s Cheese
49 Surprise Gift
50 Things That Go
51 Word Group
52 Sandwich Chef
ACTIVITIES
65000 manual-back up 5/24/05, 13:209