Compaq Portable 486

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]

Compaq Portable 486

Color version, the Compaq Portable 486c
Manufacturer	Compaq Computer Corporation, United States
Product family	Compaq Portable series
Type	Portable computer
Release date	1991 (1991)
Discontinued	1999 (1999)
CPU	Intel 80486DX @ 33 MHz
Memory	4–32 MB RAM (72-pin SIMM)
Display	Active TFT monochrome[1]
Graphics	640 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]
Dimensions	39.6 (width) × 13.9 (depth) × 27.9 (height) cm[4]
Mass	7.9 kg (17 lb)[4]
Predecessor	Compaq Portable 386

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:

• Temperature operating 10–40 °C, nonoperating −30–60 °C
• Relative humidity (noncondensing) Operating 20%–80%, Nonoperating 5%–90%
• Maximum unpressurized altitude operating 3050 m, nonoperating 9150 m
• Shock 40 g, 11 ms, half sine (nonoperating Vibration, Operating 0.25 g, 5–500 Hz, 1⁄2 octave/min sweep Nonoperating 1.0 g, 5–500 Hz, 1⁄2 octave/min sweep