User's Manual Learning Laptop 2003 © VTech Printed in China 91-01256-043 Dear Parents, At VTech®, we know that young kids are eager to get started learning and exploring tools that their older counterparts are already familiar with. That's why we created the Electronic LearningTM Series ­ an engaging set of stylized, interactive computers that have been especially designed for children aged 3 and up. Packed with loads of fun, every product in the Electronic LearningTM Series covers a variety of subjects including English, math, science, and geography. The learning is cleverly disguised in age-appropriate games that kids love to play and master. The Electronic LearningTM Series features the Progressive Learning System, a technique proven to help children learn. If the child answers a question incorrectly, the program will randomly repeat the question until a correct answer is entered. This intuitive technology automatically adjusts skill levels in order to build knowledge and confidence in a fun environment. At VTech®, we are committed to creating fun learning toys that foster a child's intellectual and social development. We thank you for trusting VTech®, with the important job of helping your child learn and succeed! Sincerely, Your Friends at VTech® To learn more about Electronic Learning Series and other VTech® toys,visit www.vtechkids.com INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing the VTech® Learning Laptop®! The Learning Laptop® is an exciting electronic learning aid. It offers 40 exciting, educational activities for children to learn. With these activities, your child will discover that learning can be fun. LOCK KEY LCD SCREEN POWER BUTTON CONTRAST BUTTON VOLUME BUTTON FUNCTION KEY LIGHT-UP KEY KEYBOARD TOUCH PAD LIGHT-UP KEY GETTING STARTED BATTERY INSTALLATION 1. Make sure the unit is turned OFF. 2. Locate the battery covers of the two battery boxes on the bottom of the unit. 3. Install 2 new "AA" batteries (UM-3 / LR6) in each battery box following the diagram inside the battery box. (The use of new alkaline batteries is recommended RM for maximum performance.) Introduction 1 USING AN AC ADAPTOR Use VTech® 9V 300mA AC center-positive adaptor. (sold separately). 1. Make sure the unit is turned OFF. 2. Locate the adaptor jack on the left side 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. If the unit cannot be turned on, unplug the adaptor, remove all batteries and wait for 15 seconds. Plug the adaptor in and try again. Do not leave the adaptor plugged in for long periods of time if the unit is not in use. PRODUCT FEATURES 1. ON/OFF BUTTON Press the power button ( it again to turn the unit off. ) to turn the unit on and press LM 2 Instructions & Activities 4. Replace the battery covers and make sure that they are secured. · Install batteries correctly observing the polarity (+, -) signs to avoid leakage. · Do not mix old and new batteries. · Do not use batteries of different types. · Remove batteries from equipment when the unit will not be in use for a long time. · Do not dispose of batteries in fire. · Do not attempt to recharge ordinary batteries. · Do not short-circuit supply terminals. 2. AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF If there is no user input to the unit for about 5 minutes, it will automatically shut off to save the power. 3. VOLUME CONTROL SWITCH To adjust the volume control, slide the volume control switch ( ) to the left for lower volume or to the right for higher volume. 4. CONTRAST SWITCH To adjust the contrast of the LCD screen, slide the contrast switch ( ) to the left for lightness or to the right for darkness. 5. MOUSE INSTALLATION Locate the mouse port on the back of the unit and plug the mouse into it. 6. KEYBOARD DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTIONS Press this key to turn the unit on and press it again to turn the unit off. Press this key to launch the Challenge Yourself activity. Press this key to select the level of an activity. There are two levels for most activities and one level for all games. Press this key to go to the main menu screen for selecting a category. Press this key to repeat a question in an activity. Press this key to enter the activity screen to select an activity. Press this key to delete the input. Press this key to see the correct answer. RM3 Instructions & Activities Press this key to get help. Press this key to switch between 1-player mode and 2player mode. Press this key for Player A to answer a question. Press this key for Player B to answer a question. Press this key to launch the Freeze Dance activity. Press the corresponding light-up keys to answer questions in most activities. Press these keys to move the cursor left/right/up and down. 7. PROGRESSIVE LEARNING SYSTEM The Progressive Learning System in our unit is designed to help you retry those questions in which you received wrong answers. When answering a question, the system will remember the questions with wrong answers and these questions will reappear so that you have an opportunity to practice them again. 8. AUTO-LEVELING The leveling feature can be applied in the 1-Player mode only. When you answer five questions correctly in two consecutive rounds in Level 1, you will be promoted to Level 2. If you answer no questions correctly after two consecutive rounds, you will decline to a lower level. Then the activity will return to Level 1. ACTIVITIES CHOOSING A CATEGORY 1. Turn the unit ON. 2. After the opening animation and welcome screen, it will go to LM the main menu screen with categories. Activities 4 3. Use the mouse or press the left/right keys to select a category. 4. Press the ENTER key or mouse button to confirm your selection. 5. You can also press the MENU button on the keyboard to enter the main menu screen and select a category directly. 6. Use the mouse or press the up/down keys to select an activity and then press the ENTER key to confirm the selection. 7. You can also press the ACTIVITY button on the keyboard to go to the activity screen. 8. In the activity screen, input the number of the activity with the number keys or select the number with the mouse or left/right arrow keys. 9. Then press the ENTER key to go to the game opening screen of your selected activity. LETTER SOUNDS Input the letter displayed on the LCD screen by pressing the letter keys. If you input correctly, the screen will show you a corresponding animation and the letter will be announced. ODD ONE OUT Select the odd one from the lowercase letters on screen. Then use the mouse or left/right arrow keys to select the different one. Then press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. You can also press the corresponding flash keys to answer. WRITE THE WORD Spell the word correctly according to the picture of the word provided. Use the mouse or left/right arrow keys to move the cursor, then input a letter. Once you have finished typing, press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. KEYBOARD CHALLENGE A letter appears on the screen. You will be asked to input the displayed letter by pressing letter keys. RM Activities 5 WORD FUN REMEMBER IT Input a letter according to the voice of the letter you hear. CAPITAL ORDER Sort capital letters into alphabetical order. Use the mouse or left/ right arrow keys to move the cursor and then input the letter. Once you finish typing, press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. To sort letters quickly, press the corresponding light-up keys. LOWERCASE ORDER Sort lowercase letters into alphabetical order. For the details of this activity, please refer to Capital Order. CAPITAL PICK LOWERCASE PICK Pick out the lowercase letter from the letters on the screen. For the details of this activity, please refer to Odd One Out. WORD MATCH A word will appear on the screen and you must select a picture that matches the word from different pictures supplied. Use the mouse or left/right arrow keys to select a picture. Then press ENTER to confirm the answer. PICTURE IT The name of an object will appear on the screen. Then a picture of the object with four parts facing down are displayed. You must face up all parts by pressing the corresponding light-up keys within a time limit. Use the arrow keys to change the picture of the cards. Also, you can use the mouse to face up parts one by one. FIRST LETTER A picture of a word will appear on the screen. Then the word with its first letter missing is shown. The objective is to complete LM 6 Activities Pick out the capital letter from the letters on the screen. For the details of this activity, please refer to Odd One Out. the word that matches the picture. Type letters with the letter keys and press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. PICK A VOWEL Complete a word with a vowel missing so it matches the picture that is shown. For the details of this activity, please refer to First Letter. MISSING LETTER Complete a word with one or two letters missing so it matches the picture that is shown. Press the left/right arrow keys to move the cursor and then input the letter. Once you have finished typing, press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. MATH MANIA PERFECT 10 Choose the pair whose sum is equal to 10 from the pairs of numbers displayed on the screen. Use the mouse or left/right arrow keys to select a pair. Then press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. To select quickly, you may press the corresponding light-up keys. COUNT OUT Some objects will appear on the screen one by one. Your task is to count the number of the objects displayed. Select the correct answer with the mouse or left/right arrow keys. Then press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. ADD IT An addition equation will appear on the screen and you must input the sum of the numbers by pressing the correct number key. To confirm your answer, press the ENTER key. SUBTRACT IT A subtraction equation will appear on the screen and you are expected to input the correct answer. For the details of this activity, please refer to Add It. RM 7 Activities FIND THE NUMBER One card with a number appears on the screen and then faces down and mixes with three other cards. Your task is to find the card with the number. Use the mouse or left/right arrow keys to select a card. Then press the ENTER key to confirm your answer. NUMBER ORDER Numbers will appear on the screen and you are required to sort these numbers into the correct number order. Use the mouse or left/right arrow keys to move the cursor and then input the number. Once you have finished typing, press the ENTER key to confirm your answer. To sort the numbers quickly, press the corresponding light-up keys. MISSING NUMBER GREATER THAN Choose the greater number from two numbers appearing on screen. Use the left/right keys to select the number. Press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. Also you can press the two left light-up keys to select the number in the left or press the two right light-up keys to select the number in the right. LESS THAN Choose the lesser number from two numbers appearing on screen. For the details of this activity, please refer to Greater Than. FLASH COUNT The light-up keys on the keyboard will flash randomly. You must count how many times the keys flashed. Select the correct answer with the left/right arrow keys. Then press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. LM 8 Activities A sequence of numbers with one or two numbers missing will appear on the screen and you are asked to input the missing numbers in ascending order. Use the mouse or left/right arrow keys to move the cursor and then input the number. Once you have finished typing, press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. WHICH IS MORE? Different groups of objects will appear on each side of the screen and you must choose which side has more objects. For the details of this activity, please refer to Greater Than. WHICH IS LESS? Different groups of objects will appear on each side of the screen and you must choose which side has less objects. For the details of this activity, please refer to Greater Than. NAME THAT SHAPE One picture shape will appear on the screen. You must select the shape's name from three choices. Use the mouse or left/right keys to choose a selection. Then press the ENTER key to confirm the answer. SHAPE MATCH One picture shape will appear on the screen and you must find a shape which matches the original shape. For the details of this activity, please refer to Name that Shape. BIGGER SHAPE Select the bigger shape from two pictures of shapes appearing on the screen. For the details of this activity, please refer to Greater Than. SMALLER SHAPE Select the smaller shape from two pictures of shapes appearing on the screen. For the details of this activity, please refer to Greater Than. WHAT TIME IS IT? A clock will appear on the screen and you must select the correct time from the three choices provided. Use the mouse or left/right keys to select an answer. Then press the E ...