Laptop/Prebuild Syllabus

Welcome!

 * Introductions
 * Name, why you're excited about the class, favorite board game
 * Present schedule for the day
 * Overview Laptop Build Program
 * Laptop build room, SDA, recycling
 * 2013: Received 2800+, given away about 250, sold 350+, recycled 1850+
 * 2012: Received 5800+, gave away 500, sold 710, recycled 310
 * Overview different kinds of mobile technologies
 * iPod
 * Palm Pilot
 * Macbook Air
 * Laptop teardown as segway into hardware ID

Hardware ID

 * Begin with questions:
 * What are the core components of a computer (laptop, desktop, whatever)
 * CPU, GPU, RAM, HDD, firmware/ROM chips
 * Peripherals: keyboard, mouse, screen, speakers, etc
 * How do these components work together?
 * What are the functions of each of the core components?
 * What makes working on laptops different from working on desktops?
 * Integrated peripherals (screen, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, etc)
 * Proprietary parts
 * Lots of variation between brand and model
 * Some require very specific RAM or HDDs
 * Less space, small parts, more likely to run into heating issues
 * Easy to loose or break small components
 * Understanding specifications:
 * CPU Specs: processors are made by companies, specs are non-standard
 * Open build binder to apppendix specifications section
 * Intel vs. AMD (Others like Motorolla, Samsung, IBM, NVIDIA, etc)
 * 2012: x86 CPUs Intel 80%, AMD 20%, all CPUs, Intel 60%, AMD 25%, NVIDIA ~16%
 * Number of Cores
 * Clockspeed
 * Cache space
 * Integrated graphics vs. non-integrated
 * Special/additional features that sound like science fiction (turbo boost, hyperthreading, virtualization, etc)
 * The important part: CPU specifications are confusing, non-standard, and not something to worry about too much at the moment. A lot of time in Laptop Build is spent working on identifying and understanding CPU specifications. It helps us decide which machines to refurbish, and which machines to recycle, how much a laptop will cost in the store, and how much RAM and HDD space to install.
 * RAM Specs (with physical examples)
 * Type: DIMM vs SODIMM
 * Type: SD RAM, DDR 1, DDR 2, DDR 3 (GDDR5 is already being used in graphics cards)
 * Speed: PC2-6400 vs 800MHz
 * Capacity: 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 etc
 * SIDE NOTE ON BASE 8
 * HDD types and specs (with physical/visual examples)
 * SATA, IDE, other
 * Capacity: measured in MB, GB, and TB
 * Other storage devices
 * Take apart labeled tear down machines and discuss parts

Assembly/Disassembly Introduction

 * Introduce tool kits
 * Notes on good tool use (how to avoid stripping screws, magnetization)
 * How it all fits together, how to think strategically about disassembly
 * What to do if you break something, or need parts or resources (at Free Geek and in the "real world")
 * Recycling practice to end of class!