--- layout: post title: "COMPAQ Revisited" date: 2016-02-24 14:00:00 permalink: /blog/2016/02/24/ --- I finally obtained a [ROM Dump](/devices/pc/rom/compaq/bios/portable/) from COMPAQ's first machine, the [COMPAQ Portable](#compaq-portable). At the same time, I thought it would be a good idea to create my own roughly chronological list of COMPAQ machines from the 1980s, since they are all machines I would like to see PCjs eventually support: + [COMPAQ Portable](#compaq-portable) + COMPAQ [Portable] Plus + COMPAQ DeskPro + COMPAQ DeskPro 286 + COMPAQ Portable 286 + COMPAQ Portable II + [COMPAQ DeskPro 386](#compaq-deskpro-386) + [COMPAQ Portable III](#compaq-portable-iii) + COMPAQ Portable 386 + COMPAQ 386/20e + COMPAQ SLT Series + COMPAQ SLT/286 + COMPAQ LTE Series + COMPAQ LTE 286 + COMPAQ LTE 386 It's hard to stop at this point, because COMPAQ did produce other 80386-based systems, like those in the "LTE Lite" series. But I think I need to stick my original plan and draw a line at the end of the 1980s. Below is a random assortment of information I've gathered about some of the above models, with gaping holes for others. Currently, the *most* gaping is the [COMPAQ DeskPro 386](#compaq-deskpro-386), because that's the one COMPAQ machine that PCjs *already* supports. I just need more time to organize and fill in the details. --- COMPAQ Portable --- PCjs now has a [ROM Dump](/devices/pc/rom/compaq/bios/portable/). Reviewed in Byte Magazine, Jan 1983. Reprinted [here](http://blog.modernmechanix.com/byte-reviews-the-compaq-first-pc-clone/). Also see [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable). COMPAQ Portable Plus (aka COMPAQ Plus) --- Reviewed in Byte Magazine, Jul 1984, pp. 247-251: "The Compaq Plus". COMPAQ DeskPro --- Introduced June 28, 1984. Reviewed in Byte Magazine, May 1985, pp. 260-267. For use with MS-DOS 2.11. **Model** | **Price** | **CPU** | **Options** :-------- | :-------- | :---------------- | :------------------------------------------ Model 1 | $2495 | 4.77-7.14Mhz 8086 | 128Kb RAM, 1 FDD Model 2 | $2995 | 4.77-7.14Mhz 8086 | 256Kb RAM, 2 FDD Model 3 | $4995 | 4.77-7.14Mhz 8086 | 256Kb RAM, 1 FDD, 10Mb HDD Model 4 | $7195 | 4.77-7.14Mhz 8086 | 640Kb RAM, 1 FDD, 10Mb HDD, 10Mb Tape Drive | | | COMPAQ DeskPro 286 --- Released in 1985 at the same time as the [COMPAQ Portable 286](#compaq-portable-286). Reviewed in [InfoWorld](https://books.google.com/books?id=2i4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA15&dq=infoworld%20compaq%20deskpro%201985&pg=PA15#v=onepage&q&f=false), May 20, 1985: "Compaq Edges Past AT Speed and Memory: New Products Use Intel 80286 Processor For 30 Percent Speed Boost". Updated to 12Mhz in 1987. From [InfoWorld](https://books.google.com/books?id=yzAEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA56&ots=jBzxR3wcps&dq=%22compaq%20deskpro%20286%22&pg=PA56#v=onepage&q&f=false), June 1987: "Compaq Brings 12-Mhz Machine to 286 Market" COMPAQ Portable 286 --- Introduced in 1985. **Model** | **Price** | **CPU** | **Options** :-------- | :-------- | :---------------- | :---------------------------------------------------- | | 8Mhz 80286 | Up to 2.6Mb RAM, 1.2Mb FDD, 20Mb HDD, 10Mb Tape Drive | | | See this [COMPAQ Advertisement](http://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/mobile-computing/18/343/1658). On July 8, 1985, the [Los Angeles Times](http://articles.latimes.com/1985-07-08/business/fi-9857_1_hard-disk-drive) reported: >It's not cheap and it's not for everyone. Equipped as described, the portable lists for $10,378 and contains about $3,000 worth of extra RAM memory that cannot be utilized by any application software programs now on the market. (It can be used to simulate a disk drive to speed up programs, however.) >A standard Compaq Deskpro 286 with 512 kilobytes of RAM memory, a 30-megabyte hard disk and a monitor is priced at $6,254, compared to IBM's similarly equipped enhanced PC AT that offers only a 20-megabyte hard disk. The Portable 286 with 512K of memory and 20-megabyte hard disk lists for $6,299. COMPAQ Portable II --- The COMPAQ Portable II ("slimmed-down version of the Portable 286", as described in Byte Magazine, Oct 1986) was released on February 20, 1986. For use with MS-DOS 3.10. **Model** | **Price** | **CPU** | **Options** :-------- | :-------- | :---------------- | :------------------------------------------ Model 1 | $3499 | 6-8Mhz 80286 | 256Kb RAM, 1 FDD Model 2 | $3599 | 6-8Mhz 80286 | 256Kb RAM, 2 FDD Model 3 | $4799 | 6-8Mhz 80286 | 640Kb RAM, 1 FDD, 10Mb HDD Model 4 | $4999 | 6-8Mhz 80286 | 640Kb RAM, 1 FDD, 20Mb HDD | | | Also see [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable_II). COMPAQ DeskPro 386 --- Released in late 1986. PCjs has detailed information about the [DeskPro 386 ROMs](/devices/pc/rom/compaq/bios/deskpro386/) and system boards. I also have the hard-to-find **COMPAQ Technical Reference Guide** for the DeskPro 386/25 (Vol. 1), which I'll post at a later date. COMPAQ Portable III --- Reportedly intended to be an 80386-based machine, the Portable III was first released in 1987 as a 12Mhz 80286-based system. PCjs also has information about [COMPAQ Portable III ROMs](/devices/pc/rom/compaq/bios/portable3/). **Model** | **Price** | **CPU** | **Options** :-------- | :-------- | :---------------- | :---------------------------- | $5000+ | 12Mhz 80286 | 640Kb RAM, 1 FDD, 20-40Mb HDD | | | COMPAQ Portable 386 --- [TBD] COMPAQ 386/20e --- Released in late 1988. For use with MS-DOS 3.31. COMPAQ SLT Series --- From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_laptops#Compaq_SLT.2F286): "The COMPAQ SLT/286 debuted in October 1988, being the first battery-powered laptop to support an internal hard disk drive and a VGA compatible LCD screen. It weighed 14 lbs." COMPAQ LTE Series --- First model in 1989. Also see [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_LTE). ### COMPAQ LTE 286 Various models, such as the [Model 40](http://www.overclockers.com/compaq-lte-286-model-40/). ### COMPAQ LTE 386 *[@jeffpar](http://twitter.com/jeffpar)* *February 24, 2016*