--- title: Compaq Portable III categories: - Computers types: - Professional Computer origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1987' cpus: - Intel 80286 params: name: Portable III image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s2.jpg company: /companies/compaq company_name: Compaq specs: - label: NAME value: Portable III - label: MANUFACTURER value: Compaq - label: TYPE value: Professional Computer - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: '1987' - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: Unknown - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None - label: KEYBOARD value: Typewriter type 92 keys with 12 function keys and numeric keypad - label: CPU value: Intel 80286 - label: SPEED value: 12 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: Socket for a 80287 math coprocessor - label: RAM value: 640 KB up to 2 MB - label: VRAM value: Unknown - label: ROM value: 16 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 640 x 200 dots (CGA resolution) - label: COLORS value: Monochrome orange - label: SOUND value: Beeper - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 41 (W) x 19.2 (D) x 24.8 (H) cm / 11 kg - label: I/O PORTS value: Serial, Parallel, Video RGB, expansion bus - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: 1 x 1.2 MB FDD, 20 or 40 MB HDD - label: OS value: MS-DOS 3.1 - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Built-in power supply unit - No battery - label: PERIPHERALS value: Expansion box with two IBM-AT card slots - label: PRICE value: $4,990 (20 MB), $5,790 (40 MB) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - links photos: - title: 'PORTABLE III #1' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s1.jpg - title: 'PORTABLE III #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s4.jpg - title: TOP VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_topview_s1.jpg - title: RIGHT SIDE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_rightside_s1.jpg - title: MOTHERBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- Only one board fulfil all of the functions of a standard AT machine, including video, FDD and HDD control and various I/O. A small daugter card is used to manage the plasma display.\ **(1)** 2 x 512 KB RAM modules. Only 640 KB is used by programs\ **(2)** Optional card slots (RAM and modem card)\ **(3)** Hard-disk drive data connectors\ **(4)** Bus expansion connector, mainly used by the external expansion box\ **(5)** FDD and HDD power connectors\ **(6)** Floppy-disk drive data connector\ **(7)** Four Fujitsu custom chips carry out most of the tasks\ **(8)** Power supply connector\ **(9)** 80286-12 CPU covered by its cooling plate (very simple system compared to nowadays massive cooling systems). image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_mainboard_s1.jpg - title: 'MOTHERBOARD #2' subtitle: '' text: |- In some versions of the motherboard, a "Dallas" clock chip (1) which also included a rechargeable CMOS battery, replaced the original CMOS battery which location was then empty (2). If you need to replace the Dallas chip, this [link](http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/appnote_number/769) may help you. image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_withoutbattery_s1.jpg - title: PLASMA DISPLAY subtitle: '' text: Rear side of the OKI plasma display. image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_display_s1.jpg - title: REAR SIDE subtitle: '' text: |- From left to right:\ • Expansion connector, covered by a sliding lid when not used,\ • RGB monitor connector,\ • Serial connector,\ • Parallel connector,\ • AC socket and switch. image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_rearside_s1.jpg - title: NYLON BAG subtitle: '' text: |- This bag could carry a complete system along with its expansion box, manuals and software.\ An expensive leather bag was also available. image: /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_bag_s1.jpg adverts: - title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #1' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s1.jpg - title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s2.jpg - title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #3' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s3.jpg - title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #4' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s4.jpg - title: '8-PAGE US ADVERT #5' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s5.jpg hardware: - title: EXPANSION BOX subtitle: '' text: This expansion box provided two 16-bit expansion slots. image: /media/museum/hardware/compaq_portableiii_expansionbox_s2.jpg - title: OPENED subtitle: '' text: The box holds a X25 network card. image: /media/museum/hardware/compaq_portableiii_expansionbox_s1.jpg links: - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com text: '' comments: - author: Chad (USA) date: Tuesday 8th June 2021 text: I have this computer in working order except missing operating system, anyone interested? - author: OLEK CHRISTOPHE (France) date: Monday 14th September 2020 text: |- This was my first student computer and \* was fond of it!\ Who would be interested in it? - author: Michael Harpe date: Tuesday 24th April 2018 text: That was also the machine that Network General used to build the first Ethernet sniffer. I worked with one of those back in the day. - author: A Random American Person date: Wednesday 18th October 2017 text: Ah man I really want one of these. - author: jim (america) date: Friday 11th August 2017 text: I have a working Compag Portable 3. is anyone looking to buy one ? - author: Pete (UK) date: Thursday 5th January 2012 text: I have one of these, an early 286 with a 287 Co-Processor and it still works. - author: BZ date: Wednesday 13rd April 2011 text: We had those for field test collecting measurementdata. The units we had started to smell burnt and sent out some puffs of smoke so do not leave it unattended...... - author: Simon Lyne (UK) date: Saturday 26th February 2011 text: boubik, the computer is probably having trouble finding the OS. You will probably find the HDD has died as it is over 20 years old. Or the HDD has some how become corrupt over the years. But I can only estimate from what you have stated. - author: Josh Robertson date: Tuesday 10th August 2010 text: I''d love one of these! If I had a choice between a new iMac and one of these I''d chose the Compaq! - author: boubik (Czech Republic) date: Thursday 23rd February 2006 text: Hi, i bought one few weeks ago - big luck, but it won't boot. After power-on it counts the memory and then stops - cursor is blinking and nothing more, could someone help? - author: j4ck (us) date: Monday 28th March 2005 text: huh? the 286 isn't powerful enough to emulate an atari - author: ashley dunham (grand junction colorado) date: Friday 4th March 2005 text: can anyone help me find an atari emulator for the intel 286? i cant seam to find one! thanks! - author: Ashley (GJ, CO) date: Friday 4th March 2005 text: Jeff, download dos 3.1 off microsoft.com or another site and put it on a floppy, it shuld work - author: Ashley (Grand Junction Colorado) date: Friday 4th March 2005 text: im geting one of these computers off ebay hopefully, i think its just a fun thing to learn dos with and play old games on, im thinkin about finding an atari emulator that will run on it and puting atari games on it, but i guess i can only hope for the best! wish me luck - author: Jesko (Germany) date: Sunday 30th January 2005 text: |- "See the "Read More" page of the Compaq Portable 386 - Same Setup diskette as the Portable III" Right, but this is not the needed "3.5 Inch Diskette" Version... Here I found it:\ http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/obsolete_diagnostics.html\ (Oh- and you need a DD Disk...) - author: Sylvain Bizoirre (old-computers) date: Monday 10th January 2005 text: See the "Read More" page of the Compaq Portable 386 - Same Setup diskette as the Portable III - author: Jeff McCright (Kansas City, Missouri, USA) date: Monday 10th January 2005 text: Excellent system, although the system battery died on mine and I need the setup disk. Anyone know where I can find a copy? - author: Jakub Offierski (Delft, Holland) date: Wednesday 22nd December 2004 text: After reading the review of this machine, I had to have it. And now I do. Very happy with it, though shame I could not obtain an expansion bay. Anyone know where to get these? related: - /museum/compaq-portable - /museum/compaq-portable-386 - /museum/compaq-portable-ii oc_id: 1064 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608222727/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1064 date: '2023-06-08' --- When Compaq launched its Portable III, the lauch was timed to occurs simultaneously in twelve countries around the world, in keeping with Compaq's showmanship style. The Portable III previously rumoured to be the smallest, lightest and fastest 386 machine but Compaq only had a 286-12 mainboard ready to be mass produced. The 386 version would follow about one year later. Compaq actually released a 286 version to restore its Number One spot in the portable market, under the pressure from Toshiba with its T-1100 and T-3100 and Zenith with its Z-181. The design of the Portable II had been deeply improved over the earlier Compaq portable machines. It was half the size and its footprint occupied half the space of the first Compaq [Portable](/museum/compaq-portable/). The most remarquable feature was its neat gas plasma display wich lifted up and swiveled so that it could be placed in a good position for reading. The machine shipped with either a 20 MB or 40 MB hard-disk. Two internal cards could be added, a RAM card (up to 2 MB) and a 1200-baud modem card. An external expansion box allowed to add two standard IBM-AT cards and carry them along with the computer. --- **Ryan Schweitzer** adds:\ It also has a proprietary graphics mode that allows it to run at true 640 x 400 mode. I ran both a copy of Windows/286 2.11 (yes, 2.11 :) ) that had a Compaq Portable display driver for 640 x 400 (if I recall correctly), and also had an installation of GeoWorks Ensemble 2.0 on it, that could make the display run perfectly at 640 x 400 if the display drivers for the AT&T 6300 (also 640x400) were used!!!\ I think ensemble's AT&T driver might of used the same calls/registers/interrupts/whatnot to the Portable's graphics chipset, or maybe even possibly the Portable used the same graphics chipset as the AT&T 6300. **Nancy Hackett's** bad experience:\ Oh, did this machine have problems! I went through four of those nifty plasma monitors, several hard drives, two factory rebuilds, and an uncounted number of motherboards trying to track down internal error codes that Compaq said didn't exist!\ It came (not so) lovingly to be known as "The Compaq from Hell" with the motherboard rumored to be numbered "666". Both the maintenance manager's and the Compaq regional rep's hands would sweat every time I lugged it in. The spectacular finale was when the power supply blew, shooting blue flames 18" out the side! LOL! That was an experience!