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Amstrad PenPad PDA600 User Manual (French)

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The French user manual for the Amstrad PenPad PDA600 (cover: PenPad PDA 600, "User friendly") is Amstrad's step-by-step tutorial for the pen-based organiser, published in France by Amstrad S.A. and copyright 1993. The hosted scan has 46 PDF pages with no text layer; printed page numbers run one ahead of the PDF page numbers (printed p. 6 is PDF p. 5). The inside cover credits the scan to Charles da Silva for the amstrad.cpc.free.fr site. The last page credits the manual to Sue Maybee, the software design to Cliff Lawson, the French translation to Christian Leroy and the layout to Janet Kiddier, and gives the recognition method as copyright 1992 Texas Instruments.

Contents

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The manual is arranged in numbered steps (étapes) followed by reference sections. Printed page numbers:

  • Step 1, contents of the box: the PenPad, a dummy card in the memory card slot, two spare styluses, the manual and three AA alkaline cells (MN1500/LR6) (p. 5)
  • Step 3, fitting the AA cells (p. 5); replacing the AA cells and the CR2032 lithium backup cell, with drawings (p. 6)
  • Steps 4 and 5, removing the stylus, opening the cover, switching on, automatic switch-off and the contrast control (pp. 7–8)
  • Step 6, first-time set-up: language, pen calibration, date and time, and handwriting training (pp. 9–12)
  • Steps 7 to 11, the address book, diary, to-do list, notes and converter (pp. 13–29)
  • Desk functions: clock, anniversaries, line thickness, world times, gauges (battery and memory levels), memory card, input/output, search, calendar, regular events, alarms, configuration (pp. 30–40)
  • Troubleshooting table (pp. 41–42)
  • On-screen messages (pp. 43–44)
  • Care of the PenPad and accessories (p. 44)
  • Appendix A, PCMCIA memory cards (pp. 45–46)
  • Appendix B, the serial connector pinout and a null-modem cable (p. 46)

What it settles

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  • Power: three AA alkaline cells and a CR2032 lithium backup cell. Never remove the cells with the machine switched on, and never remove the AA cells and the lithium cell at the same time. Fit the lithium cell with its positive side facing you (outwards); Amstrad warns that a reversed cell risks explosion (pp. 6, 33, 41).
  • Battery gauge levels: BON, JUSTE, FAIBLE and REMPLACER! At REMPLACER! the menu opens by itself (p. 33).
  • Internal memory: 128 KB. Memory cards from 32 KB to 2 MB work; cards are not a backup medium, since data can be copied to a card but not back (pp. 45–46).
  • Serial printing runs at 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, fixed on the PenPad (p. 36). Pin 1 of the 8-pin serial connector carries +5 V (p. 46).
  • Pen calibration is redone from the configuration menu when the stylus tip does not appear directly under the line drawn (p. 40).
  • Cleaning: a soft dry cloth, or one lightly dampened with spectacle cleaner, and no detergents. Use only the supplied stylus; Amstrad says the hard, pointed tip of a pen would damage the sensitive surface (p. 44).

What it does not contain

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There is no specification table, circuit description, schematic, parts list or disassembly information. This is the French edition. Byte's August 1993 review gives the hardware outline: three Z80-equivalent microcontrollers, 128 KB of memory, a 240 × 320 screen and a PCMCIA Type I slot.

Pages that cite this document

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Download: Amstrad PenPad PDA600 User Manual (French).pdf

Source: Internet Archive, Pen_Pad_PDA600_1993_Amstrad.


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