Toshiba Satellite S50a Manual

							31
Chapter 1
Getting Started
This chapter provides tips for using your computer 
effectively, summarizes how to connect components, and 
explains what to do the first time you use your computer.
Please read the safety instruction information on the Quick 
Start document (that shipped with your computer) carefully 
and make sure you fully understand the instructions before 
you attempt to use your computer in order to avoid potential 
hazards that could cause bodily injury, property damage, or 
damage the computer.
Selecting a place to work
Your computer is portable and designed to be used in a 
variety of circumstances and locations.
Setting up a work environment
Place the computer on a hard flat surface that is large 
enough for the computer and any other items you are using, 
such as a printer. Leave enough space around the computer 
and other equipment to provide adequate ventilation. 
Otherwise, they may overheat. 
To keep your computer in prime operating condition, protect 
your work area from:
❖Dust, moisture, and direct sunlight. 
						

							32Getting Started
Selecting a place to work
❖Equipment that generates a strong electromagnetic field, 
such as stereo speakers (other than speakers that are 
connected to the computer) or speakerphones.
❖Rapid changes in temperature or humidity and sources 
of temperature change such as air conditioner vents or 
heaters.
❖Extreme heat, cold, or humidity.
❖Liquids and corrosive chemicals.
Keeping yourself comfortable
This section provides information for setting up your work 
environment and tips for working comfortably throughout the 
day.
Computer user comfort recommendations
Good Working Posture
❖Adjust your chair height: your feet should be flat on the 
floor and the bottom of your thighs should be evenly 
supported by the seat. If your feet cannot reach the floor, 
use a foot rest. Avoid pressure points behind the knee or 
under the thigh.
❖The space under your desk should be free of clutter so 
that your legs and feet are not restricted, and you can 
get close enough to your notebook and other items that 
you use frequently.
❖Adjust the chair back rest: it should match the curve of 
your back and provide comfortable back support.
❖Adjust the chair arm rests: they should be about the 
same height as the keyboard and comfortably support 
your arms, allowing your shoulders to relax.
❖When using the keyboard, it should be centered in front 
of you.
❖The keyboard and pointing device should be close to 
your elbow level. The keyboard should be flat so that 
your wrists are straight when typing. However, if the 
notebook is on a work surface that is above your elbow 
height you may need to slope the notebook to keep your 
wrists straight.
❖Work with relaxed shoulders. 
						

							33Getting Started
Selecting a place to work
❖When typing, keep your wrists straight and try not to rest 
your wrists on the notebook. Support your arms on your 
forearm area. The forearms can be supported by the 
chair arm supports or the desk surface.
❖The notebook display should be tilted so that the image 
on the screen is clear. 
❖Avoid glare: position the notebook so that light sources 
(lamps or windows) do not shine or reflect directly into 
your eyes. Place the notebook display away from bright 
light sources or reduce the light intensity from windows 
by using blinds. Glare on the notebook display may 
cause eye strain, eye fatigue or headaches.
❖Certain notebook displays have a brightness 
approaching that of a TV device. We recommend that 
you adjust the brightness of your notebook display to a 
comfortable level to prevent possible eye strain.
❖Keep your head level, facing forward and balanced over 
your torso.
❖Adjust the font size of text on your screen to make 
viewing comfortable.
❖Rest your eyes periodically by focusing on objects that 
are farther away.
Using the notebook with an external keyboard, 
mouse or monitor
(Sample Illustration) Correct posture 
						

							34Getting Started
Selecting a place to work
❖When using a notebook for long hours, it may be more 
comfortable to dock the notebook and use an external 
keyboard, mouse and monitor.
❖The keyboard and mouse (or trackball) should be close 
to your elbow level.
❖The mouse should be next to the keyboard to avoid a 
reach. If you have to reach, the arm should be supported 
in the forearm area by the desk surface or the chair arm 
supports.
❖Alternative keyboards, such as the split curved 
keyboard, may improve shoulder and arm comfort.
❖Select a mouse that is comfortable for you to use.
❖Don’t rest your wrists on the edge of the keyboard or on 
the work surface when typing.
❖The monitor should be about an arm length away while 
sitting back in the chair.
❖The monitor should be centered in front of your body.
❖The top of the monitor should be at or slightly below eye 
level. A monitor that is too high or too low can cause 
awkward head and neck postures and may lead to 
discomfort in the neck muscles.
❖If you use bifocals you may need to lower the monitor. 
Alternatively, you might consider customized 
prescription computer glasses.
Ty p i n g  s t y l e
❖Learn to touch type so that you don’t have to look down 
at the keyboard.
❖Type with straight wrists.
❖Type lightly.
❖Learn the keyboard shortcuts for your applications. You 
will be more productive.
❖Use the pointing device (e.g., touch pad, Accupoint
®, or 
tablet pen whichever is available with your notebook 
computer, or other optional pointing devices like mouse 
or trackball) with a comfortable hand posture. Avoid 
awkward hand postures or high gripping force.
❖It is helpful to change the type of pointing device that 
you use on a regular basis to avoid working in just one 
hand posture. 
						

							35Getting Started
Selecting a place to work
Taking breaks and varying tasks
❖Change the way you work so that you are not stuck in 
the same posture for long periods of time. Some people 
find it comfortable to occasionally stand while using the 
notebook. To do this properly, the notebook needs to be 
on an elevated surface. Make sure you follow the Good 
Working Posture points mentioned above while working.
❖Take short, strategically spaced rest breaks to avoid eye 
strain and body fatigue. For example, stand up and walk 
around or stretch for a few minutes every hour.
❖Taking regular breaks is especially important if you are 
working long hours on your computer or working on a 
deadline.
❖If stress at work is affecting your health, try to identify 
the sources of the stress and evaluate ways to reduce 
the stress.
Mobile computing tips
❖When using the notebook at airports, on airplanes or 
trains, or at meetings, make sure that you take the time 
to consider the points just mentioned.
❖When working on the road it may be difficult to set up 
the notebook in an optimal position. In these situations it 
is important that you take frequent breaks and change 
your posture frequently to relieve the excess loads on 
your body.
❖Be creative, when in a hotel room, use a rolled up 
blanket or pillows to provide back support, or to provide 
arm support. To position the computer at a good height, 
remember to operate the computer on a hard flat stable 
surface. Using your computer on a carpet, blanket or 
other soft materials can block the air vents including 
those located at the base of the computer and possibly 
cause overheating of your computer.
Transporting the notebook
Although your notebook is light, carrying it for a long time 
may lead to shoulder and arm fatigue. If you carry your 
notebook with other items, consider using an ergonomically-
designed computer case. 
						

							36Getting Started
Selecting a place to work
Seeking additional help
Follow the advice from your employer’s company health and 
safety staff. Contact them if you need assistance making 
adjustment to your workstation or adjusting the lighting.
Again, if you experience persistent or recurrent pain, ache, 
numbness, burning, or stiffness you should promptly see a 
qualified health care provider. These sensations may be 
caused by serious medical conditions that can be treated.
For more specific recommendations on the safety and 
comfort of your computer environment, customers in the 
United States may visit the United States Department of 
Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration Web site 
at: 
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/
Check list
❏Is your chair comfortable - does it support your back and 
arms well?
❏Are your feet flat on the ground?
❏Is there adequate space under your desk for your legs?
❏Are the keyboard and mouse at elbow level?
❏Are your shoulders relaxed when using the keyboard?
❏Are your shoulders relaxed when using a mouse or other 
optional pointing device?
❏Are your hands and wrists aligned in a comfortable, 
straight posture?
❏Are your arms supported in the forearm area (not at the 
wrist)?
❏Do you hold the mouse or trackball with a loose, relaxed 
hand?
❏Do you use a light touch when typing or using the 
mouse?
❏Do you clean your mouse or trackball regularly?
❏Is the top of your monitor close to eye level?
❏Is the monitor about an arm length away?
❏Have you eliminated the glare on the monitor?
❏Is the monitor tilted so that it is easy to read?
❏Do you change postures regularly?
❏Do you take breaks, at least once an hour? 
						

							37Getting Started
Selecting a place to work
Precautions
Your computer is designed to provide optimum safety and 
ease of use, and to withstand the rigors of travel. You should 
observe certain precautions to further reduce the risk of 
personal injury or damage to the computer. 
❖Avoid prolonged physical contact with the underside or 
surface of the computer. 
Never allow any liquids to spill into any part of your 
computer, and never expose the computer to rain, water, 
seawater or moisture. Exposure to liquid or moisture can 
cause electric shock or fire, resulting in damage or 
serious injury. If any of these eventualities should 
accidentally occur, immediately:
1. Turn off the computer.
2. Disconnect the AC adaptor from the power plug 
socket and computer.
3. Remove the battery pack, if applicable.
Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious 
injury or permanent damage to the computer.
Do not turn on the power again until you have taken the 
computer to an authorized service center.
❖Avoid prolonged physical contact with the underside 
or surface of the computer.
❖Computer base and palm rest can become hot! Avoid 
prolonged contact to prevent heat injury to skin.
Today’s performance computers generate heat under normal 
operating conditions, as a function of system activity. Avoid 
extended contact between the computer base or palm rest 
and your skin. Under certain operating conditions such 
prolonged contact between the computer base or palm rest 
and your skin may result in skin irritation and/or heat injury. 
						

							38Getting Started
Selecting a place to work
Consider using a hard computer insulating pad or similarly 
suitable hard insulating material when using a computer on 
your lap.
Never place a heavy object on the computer and be 
careful not to drop a heavy object onto the computer. It 
could damage the computer or cause system failure.
❖Never turn off the computer if a drive light indicates a 
drive is active.
Turning off the computer while it is reading from or 
writing to a disk/disc or flash media may damage the 
disk/disc or flash media, the drive, or both.
❖Keep the computer and disks away from objects that 
generate strong magnetic fields, such as large stereo 
speakers.
Information on some disks is stored magnetically. 
Placing a magnet too close to a disk can erase important 
files.
Handle discs carefully. Avoid touching the surface of the 
disc. Grasp it by its center hole and edge. If you handle 
the disc incorrectly, you could damage the disc and 
possibly lose data.
❖Scan all new files for viruses.
This precaution is especially important for files you 
receive via email or download from the Internet. 
Occasionally, even new programs you buy from a 
supplier may contain a computer virus. You need a 
special program to check for viruses. 
						

							39Getting Started
Setting up your computer
Important information on your computer’s 
cooling fan
Your computer may have a CPU cooling fan that cools the 
CPU by drawing outside air into the computer.
Always make sure your computer and AC adaptor have 
adequate ventilation and are protected from overheating 
when the power is turned on or when an AC adaptor is 
connected to a power outlet (even if your computer is in 
Sleep mode). In this condition, observe the following:
❖Never cover your computer or AC adaptor with 
any object.
❖Never place your computer or AC adaptor near a 
heat source, such as an electric blanket or heater.
❖Never cover or block the air vents including those 
located at the underside of the computer.
❖Always operate your computer on a hard flat 
surface. Using your computer on a carpet or other 
soft material can block the vents located at the 
underside of the computer.
Overheating your computer or AC adaptor could cause 
system failure, computer or AC adaptor damage or a fire, 
possibly resulting in serious injury.
The cooling fan location will vary depending on the 
computer.
Setting up your computer
TECHNICAL NOTE: You must complete all setup steps 
up to and including “Setting up your software” on 
page 42 before adding external or internal components 
to your computer. These components include, but are 
not limited to, a mouse, keyboard, and printer.
Your computer contains a rechargeable main battery that 
needs to be charged before you can use it.
To use external power or to charge the battery you must 
attach the AC adaptor. See “Connecting to a power source” 
on page 40. 
NOTE 
						

							40Getting Started
Connecting to a power source
Please handle your computer carefully to avoid 
scratching or damaging the surface.
Connecting to a power source
Your computer requires power to operate. Use the power 
cord/cable and AC adaptor to connect the computer to a live 
electrical outlet, or to charge the computer’s battery. 
Never pull on a power cord/cable to remove a plug from 
a socket. Always grasp the plug directly. Failure to follow 
this instruction may damage the cord/cable, and/or result 
in a fire or electric shock, possibly resulting in serious 
injury.
Always confirm that the power plug (and extension cable 
plug if used) has been fully inserted into the socket, to 
ensure a secure electrical connection. Failure to do so 
may result in a fire or electric shock, possibly resulting in 
serious injury.
Be careful if you use a multiple connector. An overload on 
one socket could cause a fire or electric shock, possibly 
resulting in serious injury.
Always use the TOSHIBA AC adaptor that was provided 
with your computer, or use AC adaptors specified by 
TOSHIBA to avoid any risk of fire or other damage to the 
computer. Use of an incompatible AC adaptor could 
cause fire or damage to the computer possibly resulting 
in serious injury. TOSHIBA assumes no liability for any 
damage caused by use of an incompatible adaptor.
To connect AC power to the computer:
1Connect the power cord/cable to the AC adaptor.
Handling the cord on this product will expose you to 
lead, a chemical known to the State of California to 
cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. 
Wash hands after handling.
NOTE