Why T42 doesn't come with a manual?

[t_k_t_w]

I bought a T42 2378FVU, the package only contains the laptop, a trouble shooting guide and a illustration thing for easy guide. I wonder why IBM doesn't even provide a manual for the laptop?

Two questions here:

1. I even don't know when I should unplug the power when charging the battery, do I have to wait until the light becomes steady green?
2. When plugged in outlet, if I use the laptop, is battery also being used or not? Is it good to use the laptop while it's charging battery?

Thank you.

[wolfman]

Turn on the machine and when in windows, hit the "Access IBM" button. Click on "Learn". Lots of information available to you there. Think of it as an electronic manual.

[Flightvector]

I am not sure that was very helpful to the question; there is a manual/troubleshooting guide and warranty booklet packaged with your thinkpad, it has a nominal amount of information, which I really haven't found to be very out of line for recent notebooks however.

1. Because lithium ion batteries strictly must not be overcharged even in trickle, the laptop stops all charge current to the battery when it is full (or to the maximum charge that you specify). So there is no need to unplug the power at any time. If you choose to do so, there really isn't a need to unplug at any specific time, since lithium ion batteries do not exhibit memory characteristics. The green indicator will be lit continuously and the battery maximizer will read 100% upon completion (when it senses that the battery is not going to take any more appreciable energy potential, which will constantly decrease as a factor of battery age).

2. Thankfully not , I guess it would be particularly useless if the batteries ran out on AC; the current is always adequate. Using the laptop during charge has no real consequence; there is no correlation here except for slightly extended charge times. Whether or not you use it should be up to your needs.

[hausman]

Lithium batteries deteriorate from heat. When you leave a fully charged battery in your AC-powered system, you accelerate that process because of the heat thrown off from the CPU, memory, HDs, etc. You have to decide whether the UPS value of an always-inserted battery is worth the cost of reduced battery life.

IBM includes a fair bit of information about the care of batteries in their documentation. Take a few minutes to review that material. Also, see http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm

As for electronic-only manuals, one problem is that you can't read them when your system won't boot up. If you have more than one PC, I suggest you download from IBM's website all the manuals for your PC and copy them to at least one other PC (or burn them onto a CD-ROM, etc.) That way you'll have copies readily available when you most need them.

[t_k_t_w]

I see. Thanks for all the replies:)

[Kenn]

The lack of paper (and CDs) in a $3K+ machine also bothered me a bit. Despite the nice fold-out Thinkvantage flyer they include, I know several T4x owners who had no idea that they had a keyboard light

[Matt_]

Sort of on- and off- topic.

There are some .pdf files here.
If you scroll down toward the bottom, there is a great one regarding Access Connections

Access Connections: Getting Started in Windows XP Professional - 07 Oct 2003

"A white paper which details the usage of Access Connections in a simple and concise format, for user's unfamiliar with the program. It is customized for the Windows XP Professional environment."
AConnUG.pdf (1037010 Bytes)

I remember when I was trying to set it up on my family's thinkpad, I tried using the different IBM Access support and help utilities to try to learn and figure out the different settings for Access Connections. I found them useless and decided just to wing it.
This .pdf file takes you step by step through setting up Access Connections and includes screen-shots.
IMO, having documentation that you can print and read at your leisure beats any day trying to navigate and use the help software on the laptop.

[mattfromomaha]

I guess I can see the arguement for the recovery CDs and more product manuals for some users, but remember that the majority of people who have ThinkPads are given them by their company, who in most cases buys them by the dozens, has an IT department to support them, and has their own sofware image. Because of this, IBM is able to save a couple dollars (and some trees!) by not sending a manual that in most cases the IT guys would probably throw out when they open the box to set up the computer. The recovery CDs would also be of no use because they already have a sofware image that's more complete than the recovery CDs.

So, for use home users who feel the need for recovery CDs (even though they are already loaded onto the hidden partition), we can get 'em. And for all users, the Access IBM program is far more comprehensive and searchable than a paper booklet...

Just my two cents...

[JaneL]

>but remember that the majority of people who have ThinkPads are >given them by their company, who in most cases buys them by the >dozens
>

Just a small change to that. It's more like "buys them by the hundreds and thousands". We have 400+ just in the building I'm in, and we're a relatively small part of the company I work for.

[hausman]

Re paper manuals (apart from the "Quick Install" leaflets and such): Is it not absurd to provide big, heavy printed manuals with a product that's meant to be portable?

Chances are that when you need the manual you'll be sitting in some hotel room and your manual will be sitting on some bookshelf at home or in your office.

[Matt_]

I can understand the points that mattfromomoha and hausman bring up. I hope I didn't come across as a computer manual zealot. For the business-user and/or person-constantly-on-the-go, I can see where there's where there's the downside of a printed manual -- That's why I wish there was at least the .pdf equivalent of (a) manual(s). Perhaps over time I'll develop some appreciation for the on-laptop help software,; but speaking for myself, for the time being I just haven't found it as useful and helpful as a manual or book that I can pull off the shelf and leisurely thumb through.

[hausman]

I wish there was at least the .pdf equivalent of (a) manual(s).

There are. Go to http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... country=us and plug in your model number. Then look for a link to Product Information. In addition to all sorts of useful reference information about your particular model, including options/parts lists, and removal/installation videos, are links to PDFs of the User Manual(s) and the Hardware Maintenance Manual.

[Matt_]

Thank you ! I never knew about that. I feel like IBM needs to offer a mini-course on the ins-and-outs of using their website. They have a ton of information, but even after several months of dropping in on their websites, I'm still (thanks to this website) constantly learning about resources on their website that I didn't realize existed.

[JaneL]

>oops: :D Thank you ! I never knew about that. I feel like IBM needs to offer a mini-course on the ins-and-outs of using their website. They have a ton of information, but even after several months of dropping in on their websites, I'm still (thanks to this website) constantly learning about resources on their website that I didn't realize existed.
>

Perhaps it would help you to read through the FAQ at http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1689 where many useful links and tips can be found all in one place...