Abstract: A manufacturer installs software by first partitioning storage media of the computing system into a first partition and a second partition. The manufacturer installs software bundles Into the second partition. Each software bundle is stored in form as an image. The manufacturer also installs bootable software and a user interface into the first partition. The bootable software and the user interface when run, operate to receive from a user a selection as to which of the software bundles to install in the computing system. The software bundle selected by the user is installed into the first partition while overwriting the bootable software and the user interface. After installation of the software bundle selected by the user, the bootable software, for example, can erase the installation software bundles in the second partition. This is done, for example, by overwriting the second partition with a blank file system.

Abstract: Software to be installed is transferred from a software provider to a manufacturer. The operating system software is transferred in image-based format. Hardware specific software is transferred in file-based format. The manufacturer installs the software into the computing systems. Multiple operating system software bundles can be transferred to the manufacturer. In this case, the manufacturer selects which of the multiple operating system bundles and which of the hardware specific software bundles to install into each computing system. Alternatively, the manufacturer installs software by first partitioning storage media of the computing system into a first partition and a second partition. The manufacturer installs software bundles into the second partition. Each software bundle is stored in form as an image. The manufacturer also installs bootable software and a user interface into the first partition.

Abstract: A manually activated docking station that readily receives a generally horizontally inserted mobile computing device. Movement of a manual activation member causes engagement fingers to positively engage a mobile computing device and pull the port of the computing device onto the port of the docking station. Also disclosed are a unique locking method that impedes movement of the manual activation member and an uninterrupted power supply.

Abstract: A first application running on a portable computer is accessible even when a cover of the portable computer is closed. This is done by providing a spontaneous use display on the cover of the portable computer. The spontaneous use display is visible to a user even when the portable computer is closed. A first subset of pixels within the primary display for the portable computer is mapped to the spontaneous use display. For example, the first subset of pixels within the primary display are located in a first rectangular region of the primary display.