Compaq Portable 486

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Compaq Portable 486
Compaq Portable 486c.jpg
Color version, the Compaq Portable 486c
Manufacturer Compaq Computer Corporation, United States
Product family Compaq Portable series
Type Portable computer
Release date1991;33 years ago (1991)
Discontinued1999;25 years ago (1999)
CPU Intel 80486DX @ 33  MHz
Memory4–32  MB RAM (72-pin SIMM)
DisplayActive TFT monochrome [1]
Graphics640 X 480 resolution 8-bit [2] VGA, [1] 80 X 25 text [2]
Sound PIT using a mini speaker
Connectivity SCSI [3] 2x EISA expansion bus [3]
Dimensions39.6 (width) × 13.9 (depth) × 27.9 (height) cm [4]
Mass7.9 kg (17 lb) [4]
Predecessor Compaq Portable 386

The Compaq Portable 486 is a computer released by Compaq Computer Corporation in 1991. [2] It was the last portable computer/"luggable" released under the Compaq Portable series of computers. [5]

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. [5] [6] The street price with a 120 MB hard disk was US$5,899(equivalent to $12,700 in 2022) for the monochrome version and US$9,999(equivalent to $21,500 in 2022) for the active matrix color version. [5] [6] 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. [5] [6]

Both versions are equipped with a socketed 33  MHz [5] [6] Intel 80486DX CPU, 4  MB DRAM (72-pin SIMM), [1] 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy, 120 [4] - 1000 MB hard disk drive [1] (P-ATA), [3] and SCSI port for CD-ROM or tape. [3] 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. [5]

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. [5]

Compaq worked with Network General which released branded versions of the Compaq Portable 486 as "Network Sniffers". [7]

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:

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 1000bit.it - ---+ 1000 BiT +--- Computer's description
  3. 1 2 3 4 mcamafia.de - My Portable Computers
  4. 1 2 3 helpowl.com - Compaq Portable 486 compaq portable 486
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 admin (2019-11-13). "The Compaq Portable 486". Retropaq. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  6. 1 2 3 4 books.google.com - InfoWorld 1992-05-04
  7. "The Last Portable - Meet the Compaq Portable 486". 13 November 2019.