website/content/museum/compaq-portable-386.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Compaq Portable 386	Computers	Professional Computer	U.S.A.	1987	Intel 80386	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts links docs related oc_id source Portable 386 /media/museum/photos/compaq_portable386_running_s1.jpg /companies/compaq Compaq label value NAME Portable 386 label value MANUFACTURER Compaq label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR October 1987 label value END OF PRODUCTION Unknown label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Typewriter type 92 keys with 12 function keys and numeric keypad label value CPU Intel 80386 label value SPEED 20 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Socket for an Intel 80387 math coprocessor label value RAM 2 MB up to 10 MB label value ROM 16 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES Up to 640 x 400 pixels - CGA resolution (640x200) in DOS mode label value COLORS Monochrome orange label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 41 (W) x 19.2 (D) x 24.8 (H) cm / 11 kg label value I/O PORTS Serial, Parallel, Video RGB, expansion bus label value BUILT IN MEDIA 1 x 1.2 MB FDD, 40 or 100 MB HDD label value OS MS-DOS 3.3 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit - No battery label value PERIPHERALS Expansion box with two IBM-AT card slots label value PRICE From $12,000 to $14,000 photos adverts links docs 1038 title subtitle text image LARGE VIEW The Portable 386 is running GEM OS and its graphical user interface. /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_running_s1.jpg title subtitle text image SAME CASING Only the Compaq logos allow to distinguish a closed Portable III from a Portable 386. /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_twosystems_s1.jpg title subtitle text image TOP VIEW /media/museum/photos/compaq_portable386_topview_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD Although the mainboard was the same size and had same connectors as the Portable III, the design was radically different. **(1)** Intel 80386-20 and socket for a 80387 math coprocessor\ **(2)** 2 x 1 MB RAM modules. Up to 4 MB RAM could be installed. See the Compaq III's motherboard picture for more information. /media/museum/photos/compaq_portable386_mainboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image US ADVERT NOV. 1987 Advert said:\ Compaq has long been recognized as the world leader in both 80386 technology and portable computing. Si it's not surprising that we would combine the two.\ But no one expected the new Compaq Portable 386 to run at 20 MHz. And no one even dreamed that it would offer 100 MB of storage, disk caching, and much, much more... /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portable386_pub_1.jpg title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com title url cover text MAINTENACE & SERVICE GUIDE http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual&lang=en&cc=us&docIndexId=179111&taskId=101&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=96333 /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif [**MAINTENACE & SERVICE GUIDE**](http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual&lang=en&cc=us&docIndexId=179111&taskId=101&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=96333)written by Compaq  compiled/archived by Compaq\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Compaq Support Center](http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?lang=fr&cc=fr&taskId=135&prodClassId=-1&contentType=SupportManual&docIndexId=179821&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=96333) /museum/compaq-portable /museum/compaq-portable-ii /museum/compaq-portable-iii 1065 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230601075306/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1065 2023-06-01

Apart from the Compaq logo, the Compaq Portable 386 was externally identical to the Portable III, but the inside was a true revolution in the portable computers field of the time. Its Intel 386-20 processor offered more speed, power and capabilities than ever before.

About the Portable 386, PC Magazine said in its review:
Its the hottest thing you can pick up with a handle. At 20 MHz, it outperforms everything else on the market but its deskbound sibling . Yet it's rugged enough for on-the-go computing, takes standard PC cards in an elegantly engineered span-on expansion chassis, and weighs less than 20 pounds. Some folks may not like the styling, but everyone loves the way it performs.

The portable 386 and Portable III had great success around the world, as well as the desktop versions, Compaq Deskpro 286-12 and 386/20. At about the same time as the 386 launch, Compaq announced having manufactured its 1- millionth personal computer.

Later, this robust machine was upgraded by third companies up to 486/80 CPU, 10 MB RAM and 9 GB hard-disk.

We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.