IPAQ (desktop computer)
Encyclopedia
The iPAQ Desktop Personal Computer in its various incarnations was a Legacy-free PC
produced by the Compaq Computer Corporation
around the year 2000.
The Compaq
iPAQ was primarily designed to be a portable desktop computer
that could be used as a simple internet capable computer.
, CPU
and 'Multi-Bay' drives can be readily interchanged, although the iPAQ did not contain sockets for expansion cards.
It featured an interchangeable 'Multi-Bay' slot that could accept a 3.5 inch LS SuperDisk drive (the only way to read a floppy disk - standard Multi-Bay floppy drives do not work), optical drives, or a secondary hard disk device. The slot was the same as those found on many Compaq Armada and many other HP/Compaq laptop computer systems.
By a method of convection
for cooling, these computers are commonly found in office
environments due to their low noise (dB
) output.
The iPAQ ran on either an Intel Pentium III processor or on an Intel Celeron processor; ranging from 500 MHz
to 1 GHz
processor in a PGA370 socket.
The internal RAM was upgradable to 512 MB
s of 100 Mhz 168pin SDR SDRAM. Strangely enough, the BIOS in the iPAQ actually prevents the system from booting if there is more than 512 MBs of RAM installed (a message displays during POST instructing the user to decrease the amount of RAM in the system to no more than 512 MBs). The reason behind this forced RAM limitation is unknown.
The first version came in two different models, "Legacy free" which had no parallel, serial, or PS/2 ports and instead 3 additional USB ports on the back; and the traditional one which included the parallel, serial, and PS/2 ports but only had USB ports on the front. The second version had different styling and had a backpack which added the "legacy" ports. Both models would make good headless servers, except that a bug or oversight in the BIOS requires that a keyboard must be connected in order for the computer to boot. This can be bypassed with a couple of BIOS tweaks
iPAQ Desktops were typically sold with Windows 98 or Windows 2000 already installed. They are easily upgraded to Windows XP and can also technically run Windows Vista and Windows 7 despite the low RAM limit. In the case of Windows 7, the only way to utilize the onboard video chip is to install the Intel815 Windows XP Drivers.
released a few models of an iPAQ that functioned as internet appliance
s. They did not have a CD-ROM
drive and offered very few ports to connect to for very basic use.
There were two variants of the flat-panel iPAQs, a common Windows CE based version in a white case, and the less common blue version known as the 'Clipper'.
The Windows CE version was sometimes called the 'MSN Messenger version' and worked exclusively with the Microsoft Network over a dial-up connection using the Windows CE
version of Internet Explorer
.
The Clipper appeared to be designed more for commercial environments and used a compact Unix
-like operating system called BeIA
. The built-in "Wagner" web browser application was a customized version of the Opera
browser.
The Clipper also included a standard 10baseT ethernet
port, and shipped with the ability for the end-user to access the command line in order to tailor the device to use a company logo on the start-up screen. It also included a Minitel
client for use where Minitel was available (mainly Canada and France).
Legacy-free PC
A legacy-free PC is a type of personal computer that lacks a floppy drive, legacy ports, an ISA bus...
produced by 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....
around the year 2000.
The Compaq
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....
iPAQ was primarily designed to be a portable desktop computer
Desktop computer
A desktop computer is a personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Early desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while modern towers stand upright...
that could be used as a simple internet capable computer.
Hardware
The iPAQ had very few limitations on upgradability; hard drives, RAMMemory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
, CPU
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
and 'Multi-Bay' drives can be readily interchanged, although the iPAQ did not contain sockets for expansion cards.
It featured an interchangeable 'Multi-Bay' slot that could accept a 3.5 inch LS SuperDisk drive (the only way to read a floppy disk - standard Multi-Bay floppy drives do not work), optical drives, or a secondary hard disk device. The slot was the same as those found on many Compaq Armada and many other HP/Compaq laptop computer systems.
By a method of convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
for cooling, these computers are commonly found in office
Office
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
environments due to their low noise (dB
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
) output.
The iPAQ ran on either an Intel Pentium III processor or on an Intel Celeron processor; ranging from 500 MHz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
to 1 GHz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
processor in a PGA370 socket.
The internal RAM was upgradable to 512 MB
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
s of 100 Mhz 168pin SDR SDRAM. Strangely enough, the BIOS in the iPAQ actually prevents the system from booting if there is more than 512 MBs of RAM installed (a message displays during POST instructing the user to decrease the amount of RAM in the system to no more than 512 MBs). The reason behind this forced RAM limitation is unknown.
The first version came in two different models, "Legacy free" which had no parallel, serial, or PS/2 ports and instead 3 additional USB ports on the back; and the traditional one which included the parallel, serial, and PS/2 ports but only had USB ports on the front. The second version had different styling and had a backpack which added the "legacy" ports. Both models would make good headless servers, except that a bug or oversight in the BIOS requires that a keyboard must be connected in order for the computer to boot. This can be bypassed with a couple of BIOS tweaks
iPAQ Desktops were typically sold with Windows 98 or Windows 2000 already installed. They are easily upgraded to Windows XP and can also technically run Windows Vista and Windows 7 despite the low RAM limit. In the case of Windows 7, the only way to utilize the onboard video chip is to install the Intel815 Windows XP Drivers.
Internet Appliance
For a short time, around the year 2000, CompaqCompaq
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....
released a few models of an iPAQ that functioned as internet appliance
Internet appliance
An Internet appliance is a consumer device whose main function is easy access to Internet services such as WWW or e-mail. The term was popularized in the 1990s, when it somewhat overlapped in meaning with an information appliance, Internet computer, network computer, or even thin client, but now it...
s. They did not have a CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
drive and offered very few ports to connect to for very basic use.
There were two variants of the flat-panel iPAQs, a common Windows CE based version in a white case, and the less common blue version known as the 'Clipper'.
The Windows CE version was sometimes called the 'MSN Messenger version' and worked exclusively with the Microsoft Network over a dial-up connection using the Windows CE
Windows CE
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
version of Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
.
The Clipper appeared to be designed more for commercial environments and used a compact Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
-like operating system called BeIA
BeIA
BeIA, or BeOS for Internet Appliances, was a minimized version of Be Inc.'s BeOS operating system for embedded systems.The BeIA system presents a browser based interface to the user. The browser was based on the Opera 4.0 code base, and was named Wanger...
. The built-in "Wagner" web browser application was a customized version of the Opera
Opera (web browser)
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
browser.
The Clipper also included a standard 10baseT ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
port, and shipped with the ability for the end-user to access the command line in order to tailor the device to use a company logo on the start-up screen. It also included a Minitel
Minitel
The Minitel is a Videotex online service accessible through the telephone lines, and is considered one of the world's most successful pre-World Wide Web online services. It was launched in France in 1982 by the PTT...
client for use where Minitel was available (mainly Canada and France).
External links
- Drivers and Software: Hewlet Packard website with official Compaq iPAQ drivers
- PC Magazine: Article describing the functionalities of a Compaq iPAQ Internet Appliance
- 3DMark.com: A benchmark result of an iPAQ running PCMark05 under Windows XP