Compaq Portable
Encyclopedia
The Compaq Portable was the first product in the Compaq portable series
to be commercially available under the Compaq Computer Corporation
brand . It was the first IBM PC
compatible portable computer
. Compaq derived their company name from the phrase "Compatibility and Quality".
Announced in November 1982 and first shipped in January 1983 at a price of US$3,590, this "luggable" suitcase-sized computer was one of the first all-in-one computers; an honor it shares with other products like the Commodore SX-64
, the CP/M
-based Osborne 1
and Kaypro II, and the MS-DOS
-based (but not entirely IBM PC compatible) Dynalogic Hyperion
. Its design was influenced by that of the Xerox NoteTaker
, a prototype computer developed at Xerox PARC
in 1976.
The 28 lb (12.5 kg) of computer that made up the Compaq Portable folded up into a luggable case the size of a portable sewing machine
. Compaq sold 53,000 units in the first year and set revenue records for American businesses in its first three years of operation.
The Compaq Portable had basically the same hardware
as an IBM PC, transplanted into a luggable case, with Compaq's custom BIOS
instead of IBM's. The system came with 128 kilobyte
s of memory (expandable to 640 KiB), two 5.25" floppy disk
drives or, optionally, one floppy drive and a 10 MB hard drive, a built-in 9" green screen monitor and a unique CGA
-compatible video card. The Compaq's video card extended IBM's CGA
by using 9x14 pixel character cells to generate text, rather than the usual 8x8 pixel character cells. This was made possible through the use of a display that could switch between 200 or 350 scan lines. While this was more expensive than IBM's design, it allowed Compaq to combine the graphics capability of the IBM CGA with the clearer text of the IBM MDA
, thereby making the Compaq Portable very well suited for the spreadsheet
software driving computer sales at the time. With a larger external monitor, this graphics hardware was also used in the original Compaq Deskpro
desktop computer.
Compaq's efforts were possible because IBM had used mostly off-the-shelf
parts for their PC, and because Microsoft
had kept the right to license MS-DOS
to other computer manufacturers. The only part which had to be copied was the BIOS
, which Compaq did legally by reverse engineering
through clean room design
at a cost of $1 million. Although numerous other companies soon followed its lead into the market for PC compatibles, few matched Compaq's remarkable achievement of essentially-complete software compatibility with the IBM PC (typically reaching "95% compatibility" at best) until Phoenix Technologies
and others began selling similarly reverse-engineered BIOS
s on the open market.
This machine was the first of a series of Compaq Portable machines
including the Portable Plus, Portable 286, Portable II, Portable III, Portable 386, Portable 486 and Portable 486c.
Compaq Portable series
Compaq's first computers were portable 'lunchbox' or 'luggable' computers, and as such belong to the Compaq Portable series. These computers measured approximately 1×1 foot on the side, and were approx. 2½ ft wide...
to be commercially available under the Compaq Computer Corporation
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....
brand . It was the first IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
compatible portable computer
Portable computer
A portable computer is a computer that is designed to be moved from one place to another and includes a display and keyboard. Portable computers, by their nature, are generally microcomputers. Portable computers, because of their size, are also commonly known as 'Lunchbox' or 'Luggable' computers...
. Compaq derived their company name from the phrase "Compatibility and Quality".
Announced in November 1982 and first shipped in January 1983 at a price of US$3,590, this "luggable" suitcase-sized computer was one of the first all-in-one computers; an honor it shares with other products like the Commodore SX-64
Commodore SX-64
The Commodore SX-64, also known as the Executive 64, or VIP-64 in Europe, is a portable, briefcase/suitcase-size "luggable" version of the popular Commodore 64 home computer and holds the distinction of being the first full-color portable computer....
, the CP/M
CP/M
CP/M was a mass-market operating system created for Intel 8080/85 based microcomputers by Gary Kildall of Digital Research, Inc...
-based Osborne 1
Osborne 1
The Osborne 1 was the first commercially successful portable microcomputer, released on April 3, 1981 by Osborne Computer Corporation. It weighed 10.7 kg , cost USD$ 1795, and ran the then-popular CP/M 2.2 operating system...
and Kaypro II, and the MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
-based (but not entirely IBM PC compatible) Dynalogic Hyperion
Hyperion (computer)
The Hyperion vied with the Compaq Portable to be the first portable IBM PC compatible computer. It was marketed by Infotech Cie of Ottawa, a subsidiary of Bytec Management Corp., who acquired the designer and manufacturer Dynalogic in January 1983...
. Its design was influenced by that of the Xerox NoteTaker
Xerox NoteTaker
The Xerox NoteTaker was an early portable computer. It was developed at Xerox PARC in Palo Alto, California, in 1976. Although it did not enter production, and only around ten prototypes were built, it strongly influenced the design of the later Osborne 1 and Compaq Portable computers.The NoteTaker...
, a prototype computer developed at Xerox PARC
Xerox PARC
PARC , formerly Xerox PARC, is a research and co-development company in Palo Alto, California, with a distinguished reputation for its contributions to information technology and hardware systems....
in 1976.
The 28 lb (12.5 kg) of computer that made up the Compaq Portable folded up into a luggable case the size of a portable sewing machine
Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
. Compaq sold 53,000 units in the first year and set revenue records for American businesses in its first three years of operation.
The Compaq Portable had basically the same hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
as an IBM PC, transplanted into a luggable case, with Compaq's custom BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
instead of IBM's. The system came with 128 kilobyte
Kilobyte
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. Although the prefix kilo- means 1000, the term kilobyte and symbol KB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 bytes or 1000 bytes, dependent upon context, in the fields of computer science and information...
s of memory (expandable to 640 KiB), two 5.25" floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
drives or, optionally, one floppy drive and a 10 MB hard drive, a built-in 9" green screen monitor and a unique CGA
Color Graphics Adapter
The Color Graphics Adapter , originally also called the Color/Graphics Adapter or IBM Color/Graphics Monitor Adapter, introduced in 1981, was IBM's first color graphics card, and the first color computer display standard for the IBM PC....
-compatible video card. The Compaq's video card extended IBM's CGA
Color Graphics Adapter
The Color Graphics Adapter , originally also called the Color/Graphics Adapter or IBM Color/Graphics Monitor Adapter, introduced in 1981, was IBM's first color graphics card, and the first color computer display standard for the IBM PC....
by using 9x14 pixel character cells to generate text, rather than the usual 8x8 pixel character cells. This was made possible through the use of a display that could switch between 200 or 350 scan lines. While this was more expensive than IBM's design, it allowed Compaq to combine the graphics capability of the IBM CGA with the clearer text of the IBM MDA
Monochrome Display Adapter
The Monochrome Display Adapter introduced in 1981 was IBM's standard video display card and computer display standard for the PC. The MDA did not have any pixel-addressable graphics modes...
, thereby making the Compaq Portable very well suited for the spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
software driving computer sales at the time. With a larger external monitor, this graphics hardware was also used in the original Compaq Deskpro
Compaq Deskpro
The Compaq Deskpro was a line of business-oriented personal computers manufactured by Compaq, discontinued after the merger with Hewlett-Packard...
desktop computer.
Compaq's efforts were possible because IBM had used mostly off-the-shelf
Commercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
parts for their PC, and because Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
had kept the right to license MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
to other computer manufacturers. The only part which had to be copied was the BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
, which Compaq did legally by reverse engineering
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
through clean room design
Clean room design
Clean room design is the method of copying a design by reverse engineering and then recreating it without infringing any of the copyrights and trade secrets associated with the original design. Clean room design is useful as a defense against copyright and trade secret infringement because it...
at a cost of $1 million. Although numerous other companies soon followed its lead into the market for PC compatibles, few matched Compaq's remarkable achievement of essentially-complete software compatibility with the IBM PC (typically reaching "95% compatibility" at best) until Phoenix Technologies
Phoenix Technologies
Phoenix Technologies Ltd designs, develops and supports core system software for personal computers and other computing devices. Phoenix's products — commonly referred to as BIOS or firmware — support and enable the compatibility, connectivity, security and management of the various components and...
and others began selling similarly reverse-engineered BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
s on the open market.
This machine was the first of a series of Compaq Portable machines
Compaq Portable series
Compaq's first computers were portable 'lunchbox' or 'luggable' computers, and as such belong to the Compaq Portable series. These computers measured approximately 1×1 foot on the side, and were approx. 2½ ft wide...
including the Portable Plus, Portable 286, Portable II, Portable III, Portable 386, Portable 486 and Portable 486c.