Palm M500 Handheld Instructions Manual
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About This Book Page 1 About This Book Welcome to the Palm™ m500 series handheld. This handbook is designed to help you get up and running quickly on your handheld. It describes all you need to know about how to use your handheld and the applications that come with it. It walks you through: nLocating all the parts of your handheld nViewing and entering data nWorking with expansion cards nUsing your handheld with your computer nPersonalizing your handheld with your own preference settings After you become familiar with the basic functionality of your handheld, you can use the rest of this handbook as a reference for less common tasks, for maintaining your handheld, and also as a source of information if you have problems operating it.
Chapter 1 Page 3 Chapter 1 Introduction to Your Handheld This chapter explains the physical buttons and controls on your Palm™ m500 series handheld, how to use your handheld for the first time, how to add expansion cards to your handheld, and how to use HotSync ® technology to synchronize your handheld and Palm™ Desktop software. Getting to know your Palm m500 series handheld What is a Palm m500 series handheld? Palm™ m500 series handhelds will help you stay organized and on time, and keep up with daily tasks while you are away from your desk. Use your new handheld to do the following: nEnter your schedule in Date Book nKeep all your contact names, addresses, and phone numbers in Address Book nPrioritize and assign your tasks a due date in To Do List nJot quick notes directly on the screen in Note Pad nSet alarms from Clock, Date Book, and Note Pad, to keep yourself on schedule and remind yourself of appointments and notes nSet preferences for how you receive alarms, by hearing a sound, seeing an LED blink, or feeling your handheld vibrate nView, edit, and compose email on the run nTrack expenses for your expense report nSynchronize your data with Palm™ Desktop software on your Windows or Macintosh computer so you always have a copy nInsert MultiMedia Card (MMC) or Secure Digital (SD) cards to add additional software or memory, or to back up your data nAttach and use peripheral hardware devices, such as a modem nBeam information to another Palm OS® handheld that is close by and has an IR (infrared) port
Page 4 Introduction to Your Handheld System requirements To install and operate Palm Desktop software, your computer system must meet the following requirements: Minimum requirements: Windows nIBM-compatible Pentium-class computer nWindows 98/Me/2000 (Windows 95/NT operating systems require a serial cradle, sold separately) n16 MB RAM (64 MB recommended with Windows 2000) n30 MB available hard disk space nVGA monitor or better (the Quick Tour requires 256-color video display; for best results, use High Color:16 bit) nCD-ROM drive (you can also download the Palm Desktop software from http://www.palm.com) nMouse nOne USB port or available serial port (serial cradle sold separately) Minimum requirements: Macintosh nApple Macintosh or compatible with a Power PC processor nMac OS 8.6 to 9 for USB support (OS 7.5.3 or later for serial support) nOne USB port or available serial port (serial cradle and adapters sold separately) n25 MB available hard disk space n6 MB free RAM Optional equipment nModem (such as an add-on modem accessory) nPrinter (compatible with your computer and its operating system) nInfrared communication device nSecure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia Card (MMC) expansion cards (sold separately) nHotSync Cable, which enables you to perform HotSync operations without your cradle (sold separately, available with either a USB or serial connector)
Chapter 1 Page 5 Palm m500 series components Locating front panel controls IR portUses infrared technology to transmit data to and receive data from other Palm OS handhelds, and to perform HotSync operations. See “Beaming information” in Chapter 6 and “IR HotSync operations” in Chapter 7 for more information. Power button/ Backlight control / LED indicator Turns your handheld on or off and controls the backlight feature. If your handheld is turned off, pressing the power button turns the handheld on and returns you to the last screen you viewed. If your handheld is turned on, pressing the power button turns the unit off. Pressing the power button for about two seconds turns the backlight on or off. The power button also lights steadily when the handheld is charging in the cradle and blinks to indicate alarms. Some applications enable you to set alarms to remind yourself of events or notes. You can set preferences for non-audible alarm notification. See “General preferences” in Chapter 8 for details. Screen Graffiti writing area Application buttons Scroll buttons Power button/ Backlight control/ LED indicatorIR port
Page 6 Introduction to Your Handheld Using the backlight If lighting conditions make it difficult for you to see the information on your handheld, you can use the backlight to illuminate your screen. To activate the backlight: nPress the power button and hold it down for about two seconds. Release the button when the backlight turns on. Tip: In addition, you can assign the full-screen pen stroke to activate the backlight. See “Pen preferences” in Chapter 8 for details. To turn off the backlight: nPress and hold the power button for about two seconds. The backlight also turns off automatically (after a period of inactivity) with the Auto-off feature. See “Auto-off delay” in Chapter 8 for more information. Handheld screenDisplays the applications and information stored in your handheld. It is touch-sensitive and responds to the stylus. Graffiti® writing areaThe area where you write letters and numbers using the Graffiti® alphabet. See Chapter 2 to learn how to write Graffiti characters. Scroll buttonsDisplays text and other information that extends beyond the area of the handheld screen. Pressing the lower scroll button scrolls down to view information below the viewing area, and pressing the upper scroll button scrolls up to view the information above the viewing area. Application buttonsActivates the individual handheld applications that correspond to the icons on the buttons: Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, and Note Pad. See “Buttons preferences” in Chapter 8 for details on reassigning these buttons to activate any application on your handheld. Tip:If your handheld is turned off, pressing any application button activates the handheld and opens the corresponding application.
Chapter 1 Page 7 Using the onscreen contrast control Some Palm m500 series handhelds allow you to further adjust your display by changing the amount of contrast on the screen. To adjust the contrast: 1. Tap the Contrast icon in the upper-right corner of the Graffiti writing area. 2. Do one of the following: To change the contrast in small increments, tap to the left or right of the slider. To change the contrast in larger increments, drag the slider to the left or right. Tip:You can also use the up and down scroll buttons on the front of your handheld to adjust the contrast setting. 3. Tap Done.
Page 8 Introduction to Your Handheld Locating back panel components Side channelsThe right side channel holds the stylus, which slides in and out and clicks into place. To use the stylus, remove it and hold it as you would a pen or pencil. The left side channel holds the front cover, which also slides in and out. Expansion card slotAccepts Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia Card (MMC) expansion cards, enabling you to add more memory or applications. You can also back up data to an expansion card. Reset buttonUnder normal use, you should not have to use the reset button. See Appendix A for information about when and how to use the reset button. Reset button Universal connector Side channel for stylus Expansion card slot Side channel for cover
Chapter 1 Page 9 Upgrading from another Palm OS handheld If you already own a Palm OS handheld, you must install the version of Palm Desktop software that comes with your new handheld. To upgrade quickly and easily, perform the tasks described in the following sections. Some tasks are specifically for upgrading. Preparing to use your handheld Before you begin using your handheld and Palm Desktop software, you must complete a few easy installation tasks. To use your handheld and Palm Desktop software, complete the following: n(If upgrading) Perform a HotSync operation using your old handheld and cradle. This ensures all data on your handheld is on your desktop computer. nConnect the HotSync cradle that comes with your Palm m500 series handheld to your computer. See “Connecting the HotSync cradle” later in this chapter for details. nCharge the battery in your new handheld. See “Charging your handheld” later in this chapter for details. n(If upgrading) You may want to create a copy of your old Palm Desktop software folder and its contents before installing your new Palm Desktop software. If you do this, rename the copied folder (for example, Palm Old), and store it outside the Palm Desktop software folder. This step is optional. nInstall the Palm Desktop software that comes with your Palm m500 series handheld. See “Installing Palm Desktop software” later in this chapter for details. nPerform a HotSync operation. See “Exchanging and updating data: Universal connectorConnects 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 as well as update the information between your handheld and computer using HotSync technology. The universal connector also connects peripheral hardware devices, such as a modem, to your handheld.
Page 10 Introduction to Your Handheld HotSync operations” in Chapter 5 “for details, or refer to Getting Started with Palm™ m500 Series Handhelds. n(If upgrading) Rename your old handheld. To prevent unexpected results during HotSync operations, each handheld must have a unique name. We recommend that you perform a hard reset on your old handheld. See “Performing a hard reset” in Appendix A for details. Connecting the HotSync cradle Important:The HotSync cradle supplied with your handheld fits a USB connector. If your computer does not have a USB port, or if you are using Windows 95, Windows NT, or an older Macintosh, you can order a serial cradle and a 25- pin serial adapter, if necessary, from http:// www.palm.com . Follow the documentation that accompanies the serial cradle before attempting to complete the installation tasks. 1. Shut down and turn off your computer. 2. Plug the USB connector into a USB port on your computer. 3. Connect the power cord that attaches to the back of the cradle’s USB port connector to the AC adapter cord.