An original Compaq "portable"

From: Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
Date: Wed Jan 8 14:01:00 2003

On Wed, 8 Jan 2003, Ethan Dicks wrote:
> I have both an original dual-floppy Portable and a 286 Portable II. I
> was recently attempting to use the Portable II to drive my UP600A
> device programmer, but the PSU isn't strong enough to power the CRT,
> the hard disk *and* a box of linear ICs. When you flip the UP600A
> on, the PSU in the Portable shuts down for a moment, then comes back on.
> I didn't think that it would survive lots of that treatment, so I
> turned my attentions to the Compaq SLT/286 that's doing just fine.

If that has one of the original hard disks, then a disproportionate amount
of the power is goingto thehard disk. Replacing it with a more
"modern" hard disk might free up enough power to dothe job.

I found that using an ST-4096 was pushing the limits for Compaq portable
power supplies.


> At one time, I, too, entertained putting a more modern motherboard in
> a portable. Given the keyboard issues and the mono CRT, it just doesn't

Be aware that the internal CRT is EGA compatible! Although normally
shipping with CGA, Compaq had an EGA board available. (Compaq video
boards are recognizable by the extra dual row header in the middle of the
board for connecting the internal monitor). There was also a special
Compaq adapter available for the ATI "EGA Wonder".

> seem worth the effort. Laptops aren't expensive anymore. I did notice
> that the fellow who put a modern board in an SX-64 used a wireless
> keyboard/mouse to get around the keyboard issue, but that means that
> you have to lug around two parcels instead of one.

IF you abandon the keyboard latching onto the case (in which case, why
bother with the Compaq Portable at all??), then you could certainly cable
any regular keyboard, such as a Keytronics.
Received on Wed Jan 08 2003 - 14:01:00 GMT