Compaq Portable 3
| Description | |
| Manufacturer | Compaq Computer Corporation |
| Model | Compaq Portable III |
| Date Announced | 1987 |
| Date Canceled | Unknown |
| Number Produced | Over 10,000 |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Price | $5,000 plus for a typical configuration |
| Current Value | $25-$100 |
| Specifications | --- |
| Processor | Intel 80286 |
| Speed | 12 MHz |
| RAM | 640K |
| ROM | Unknown |
| Storage | |
| Expansion | One IBM PC/AT compatible slot |
| Bus | ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) |
| Video | |
| I/O | Parallel and Serial |
| OS Options | MS-DOS, CP/M-86, Windows 286 and others |
| Notes | Compaq was one of the first successful IBM PC clones and they eventually took a brief technological lead of the clone marketplace when they released the first Intel 80386 based PC. The Compaq Portable III was introduced prior to that as an AT class machine. |
| Related Items in Collection | Guide To Operations Manual, Compaq MS DOS 3 reference manual, Compaq expansion (2 slots), Compaq Portable Computer, IBM PC AT |
| Related Items Wanted | Other Compaq models with software, manuals, etc. Compaq Setup/Diagnostics disk. |
Compaq Computer Corporation was started in 1982 by three men and a place mat. These men, Rod Canion, Jim Harris and Bill Murto conceptualized a portable version of IBM's new PC (drawn out on the place mat) and formed the company around the idea.
The Compaq Portable followed the recent tradition of portable machines like the Osbornes and Kaypros of the day while shunning CP/M in favor of MS-DOS and PC compatibility. The idea was a hit and catapulted Compaq to the lead in the PC Clone market.
Over time Compaq introduced many innovations to the PC industry. Amongst these was the Compaq Portable III which weighed a mere 20 pounds but offered full IBM AT compatibility. It was a self contained unit that sported a tilt-up gas plasma display and a built-in keyboard.
My Portable III is a fully functional, clean example that came with most of the original documentation and the 2 slot expansion chassis. All it needs is the setup disk to be useful!.