Compaq Portable 486

Compaq Portable 486
Color version, the Compaq Portable 486c
ManufacturerCompaq Computer Corporation, United States
Product familyCompaq Portable series
TypePortable computer
Release date1991; 34 years ago (1991)
Discontinued1999; 26 years ago (1999)
CPUIntel 80486DX @ 33 MHz
Memory4–32 MB RAM (72-pin SIMM)
DisplayActive TFT monochrome
Graphics640 X 480 resolution 8-bit VGA, 80 X 25 text
SoundPIT using a mini speaker
ConnectivitySCSI 2x EISA expansion bus
Dimensions39.6 (width) × 13.9 (depth) × 27.9 (height) cm
Weight7.9 kg (17 lb)
PredecessorCompaq Portable 386

The Compaq Portable 486 is a computer released by Compaq Computer Corporation in 1991. It was the last portable computer/"luggable" released under the Compaq Portable series of computers.

The computer was released in several models with different hard disk configurations and in two screen types, a cheaper monochrome version and a more expensive active matrix color version, known as the Compaq Portable 486c. The street price with a 120 MB hard disk was US$5,899 (equivalent to $13,200 in 2023) for the monochrome version and US$9,999 (equivalent to $22,400 in 2023) for the active matrix color version. For a model with a 210 MB hard disk, the price was US$6,899 for the monochrome version and US$10,999 for the active matrix color version, available after May 1992.

Both versions are equipped with a socketed 33 MHz Intel 80486DX CPU, 4 MB DRAM (72-pin SIMM), 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy, 120 - 1000 MB hard disk drive (P-ATA), and SCSI port for CD-ROM or tape. On the front of the unit there two dials underneath the PC-speaker to adjust the brightness of the screen and the volume of the PC-speaker. The PC-speaker in the Compaq Portable 486 is unique in that there is a 3.5 mm audio input jack on the side of the unit to allow a third party ISA sound card to pass through its audio output to the PC speaker.

Compaq released two versions of the Compaq Portable 486 with a faster, 66 MHz Intel 80486DX2 CPU, named the Compaq Portable 486/66 for the monochrome version and the Compaq Portable 486/66c for the color version.

Compaq worked with Network General which released branded versions of the Compaq Portable 486 as "Network Sniffers".

A case-modified version of the colour screen variant with replaced internals was used as a prop in the 1995 film Hackers. With its internals replaced by those of a Macintosh laptop, it served as the character Dade Murphy's (Aliases: Zero Cool and Crash Override) primary computer for the first half of the film.

Environmental limits are:

  • Temperature operating 10–40 °C, nonoperating −30–60 °C
  • Relative humidity (noncondensing) Operating 20%–80%, Nonoperating 5%–90%
  • Maximum unpressurized altitude operating 3050 m, nonoperating 9150 m
  • Shock 40 g, 11 ms, half sine (nonoperating Vibration, Operating 0.25 g, 5–500 Hz, 1⁄2 octave/min sweep Nonoperating 1.0 g, 5–500 Hz, 1⁄2 octave/min sweep

References

  1. ^ a b c d loreoutlet.dyndns.org - Computer COLLsite: Portables Archived 2012-04-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c 1000bit.it - ---+ 1000 BiT +--- Computer's description
  3. ^ a b c d mcamafia.de - My Portable Computers
  4. ^ a b c helpowl.com - Compaq Portable 486 compaq portable 486
  5. ^ a b c d e f g admin (2019-11-13). "The Compaq Portable 486". Retropaq. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  6. ^ a b c d books.google.com - InfoWorld 1992-05-04
  7. ^ "The Last Portable - Meet the Compaq Portable 486". 13 November 2019.


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