The row of Compaq portability
Posted by RetroComputeryBits@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 19 comments
This lot haven’t been powered up in a while so it’s time to get them going again. I’ve probably got too many Compaqs-are you a Compaq fan? What’s your favourite one?
grizzlor_@reddit
My first laptop was a Compaq 386 with a B&W screen that my aunt gave me after she retired it in the mid-late 90s. External trackball that clipped onto the side of the keyboard because it didn't have a built-in mouse. The keyboard being right up against the front of the case definitely made it uncomfortable to type on (no wrist rest). I definitely have fond memories of it though. Even browsed the web on it! (IE 3 via win32s on WFWG 3.11)
Crazy to think that my next laptop was a refurbed PIII-750 Thinkpad in 2000. Hardware advanced so fast in the '90s.
RetroComputeryBits@reddit (OP)
That’s really cool! Was it the trackball mouse with the curly cord? That’s amazing you even got to browse the web on it too! Technology and innovation really did move at pace during the mid 80s to the early 00s. If you look at the same gap 2010 to now, I don’t see quite the same thing….
grizzlor_@reddit
I want to say straight cable to PS/2 but honestly it's been so long that I can't confirm that. I think it may have been this model (if not, it was very similar).
RetroComputeryBits@reddit (OP)
Nice! That’s pretty sweet! I had one that was like the following but I’m pretty sure it was a serial connector and had a curly cord
https://www.thevintagecomputer.de/a-weird-mouse/
SubcommanderMarcos@reddit
I miss Compaq, and PC manufacturers until the early 2000s
RetroComputeryBits@reddit (OP)
I totally agree, there is something about this era that just seems more of interesting-certainly there were so quirks with the hardware (not to mention so questionable ergonomics) but there was definitely design flair!
SubcommanderMarcos@reddit
Plus many of those weird laptop/mobile PC keyboards of the 80s/90s were still more ergonomic than most laptops today. People became so obsessed with thin they gave up on potential performance and had to get used to 2mm travel keys...
Accurate-Campaign821@reddit
Lmao that keyboard on the first laptop "oh wait we forgot a spot for the enter key... There's a little space left... But a skinny tall key in they can use their pinky"
SubcommanderMarcos@reddit
Don't forget the mouse tracker ON THE SCREEN BEZEL
RetroComputeryBits@reddit (OP)
They made you work for moving the pointer-plus that thing feels like it’s the size of a frozen pea under your thumb when you’re trying to move it
SubcommanderMarcos@reddit
e r g o n o m i c s
RetroComputeryBits@reddit (OP)
Ergonomics in the 90s!
codykonior@reddit
The middle beige one looks amazing. What model is it?
JCD_007@reddit
Fun fact: the Contura 400 series can support audio via a PCMCIA sound card. An interesting piece of hardware from that era. Which model is yours?
And to answer your question my favorite Compaq notebook is my maxed-out top-configuration Evo N620c which is both an interesting early Pentium M machine with an unusual MultiPort interface for the WiFi card on the display cover as well as the final business notebook to be fully Compaq branded.
RetroComputeryBits@reddit (OP)
Oh nice! Mine is a 430c. Your Evo N620 is a strong choice! I had a few flavours of these over time, think the last one I have was the 1015v
JCD_007@reddit
Cool. Yeah I’m a big fan of my 620. I’ve got both the Bluetooth and WiFi Multiport modules for it and it also has the seemingly very rare 1400x1050 SXGA+ screen. I keep an eye on eBay for one for spares but I’ve never seen another one with the high res screen.
The Contura 430 was the fastest of that model if I recall. They also reused the case for the Armada 1100 series.
Silent_Blade@reddit
Do you happen to have a hard drive image of the black Contura? I have one that is the same (or very similar) model, and I would be interested in the original Compaq installation.
Ok-Web-7451@reddit
You can find floppy images of MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 Compaq OEM easily on the internet
RetroComputeryBits@reddit (OP)
This! I could do a hard drive image but I am pretty sure you can get the Compaq installation floppies from archive dot org. It’s pretty cool having it on the boot screen though :) . I’m nice you’ve done it, be sure to pop some photos up