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

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Compaq Portable III	Computers	Professional Computer	U.S.A.	1987	Intel 80286	name image company company_name specs tabs photos adverts hardware links comments related oc_id source Portable III /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s2.jpg /companies/compaq Compaq label value NAME Portable III label value MANUFACTURER Compaq label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 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 80286 label value SPEED 12 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Socket for a 80287 math coprocessor label value RAM 640 KB up to 2 MB label value VRAM Unknown label value ROM 16 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 640 x 200 dots (CGA resolution) 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, 20 or 40 MB HDD label value OS MS-DOS 3.1 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 $4,990 (20 MB), $5,790 (40 MB) photos adverts hardware links title subtitle text image PORTABLE III #1 /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image PORTABLE III #2 /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_system_s4.jpg title subtitle text image TOP VIEW /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_topview_s1.jpg title subtitle text image RIGHT SIDE /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_rightside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD 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). /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_mainboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD #2 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. /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_withoutbattery_s1.jpg title subtitle text image PLASMA DISPLAY Rear side of the OKI plasma display. /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_display_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR SIDE 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. /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_rearside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image NYLON BAG This bag could carry a complete system along with its expansion box, manuals and software.\ An expensive leather bag was also available. /media/museum/photos/compaq_portableiii_bag_s1.jpg title subtitle text image 8-PAGE US ADVERT #1 /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s1.jpg title subtitle text image 8-PAGE US ADVERT #2 /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s2.jpg title subtitle text image 8-PAGE US ADVERT #3 /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s3.jpg title subtitle text image 8-PAGE US ADVERT #4 /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s4.jpg title subtitle text image 8-PAGE US ADVERT #5 /media/museum/pubs/compaq_portableiii_pub_s5.jpg title subtitle text image EXPANSION BOX This expansion box provided two 16-bit expansion slots. /media/museum/hardware/compaq_portableiii_expansionbox_s2.jpg title subtitle text image OPENED The box holds a X25 network card. /media/museum/hardware/compaq_portableiii_expansionbox_s1.jpg title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com author date text Chad (USA) Tuesday 8th June 2021 I have this computer in working order except missing operating system, anyone interested? author date text OLEK CHRISTOPHE (France) Monday 14th September 2020 This was my first student computer and * was fond of it!\ Who would be interested in it? author date text Michael Harpe Tuesday 24th April 2018 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 date text A Random American Person Wednesday 18th October 2017 Ah man I really want one of these. author date text jim (america) Friday 11th August 2017 I have a working Compag Portable 3. is anyone looking to buy one ? author date text Pete (UK) Thursday 5th January 2012 I have one of these, an early 286 with a 287 Co-Processor and it still works. author date text BZ Wednesday 13rd April 2011 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 date text Simon Lyne (UK) Saturday 26th February 2011 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 date text Josh Robertson Tuesday 10th August 2010 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 date text boubik (Czech Republic) Thursday 23rd February 2006 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 date text j4ck (us) Monday 28th March 2005 huh? the 286 isn't powerful enough to emulate an atari author date text ashley dunham (grand junction colorado) Friday 4th March 2005 can anyone help me find an atari emulator for the intel 286? i cant seam to find one! thanks! author date text Ashley (GJ, CO) Friday 4th March 2005 Jeff, download dos 3.1 off microsoft.com or another site and put it on a floppy, it shuld work author date text Ashley (Grand Junction Colorado) Friday 4th March 2005 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 date text Jesko (Germany) Sunday 30th January 2005 "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 date text Sylvain Bizoirre (old-computers) Monday 10th January 2005 See the "Read More" page of the Compaq Portable 386 - Same Setup diskette as the Portable III author date text Jeff McCright (Kansas City, Missouri, USA) Monday 10th January 2005 Excellent system, although the system battery died on mine and I need the setup disk. Anyone know where I can find a copy? author date text Jakub Offierski (Delft, Holland) Wednesday 22nd December 2004 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? /museum/compaq-portable /museum/compaq-portable-386 /museum/compaq-portable-ii 1064 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608222727/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1064 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. 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.

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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!