Compaq LTE
Encyclopedia
The Compaq LTE was a line of laptop computers made by Compaq
, introduced in 1989. The first models, the Compaq LTE and the Compaq LTE 286, were among the first computers to be the size of a paper notebook, spurring the use of the term "notebook" to describe a smaller laptop. They were also among the first to include both built-in hard disk
and floppy disk
drives, offering performance comparable to then-current desktop machines. The model name "LTE" is assumed by many consumers to mean "LITE", owing to the device's small size and weighthttp://www.laynetworks.com/history4.htm http://www.varbusiness.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=161601749.
version 3.31.
Little known fact: Windows 3.0 could be installed on the original LTE 286 if one secured the CGA driver from Microsoft. Installation was a little tricky because the buttons in one of the installation boxes were off the screen, but if you knew they were there, you could move the box and complete the install.
The success of the original LTE series led Compaq to apply the designation to later models. Subsequent Compaq LTE computers had a pointing stick in the middle of the keyboard, however the LTE 386 and LTE Elite 486 models had a trackball mounted to the right of the LCD screen, and were able to hook up to a docking station
to act as a regular desktop computer
. Later models are able to remove the floppy drive to add an internal CD-ROM
drive, which was an expensive upgrade option for the late LTE series.The last LTE laptops were the 5000 series ending with the 5400, which had a 150 MHz Pentium processor and was quite capable of running Windows 98SE. It also allowed for swappable Floppy Drive/CD-ROM Drive. As of April, 2009, some of these late 5000 series laptops are still being used, as the device is very reliable and easily upgradable.
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....
, introduced in 1989. The first models, the Compaq LTE and the Compaq LTE 286, were among the first computers to be the size of a paper notebook, spurring the use of the term "notebook" to describe a smaller laptop. They were also among the first to include both built-in hard disk
Hard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
and floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
drives, offering performance comparable to then-current desktop machines. The model name "LTE" is assumed by many consumers to mean "LITE", owing to the device's small size and weighthttp://www.laynetworks.com/history4.htm http://www.varbusiness.com/article/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=161601749.
Specifications
The two original LTE models differed primarily in the processor availability; however, the 286 model came with a standard 40 MB hard drive in place of the base model's 20 MB. Both computers weighed 6.7 lb (3 kg). They ran MS-DOSMS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
version 3.31.
- ProcessorCentral processing unitThe central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
: LTE: 9.55 MHzHertzThe hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
Intel 8086Intel 8086The 8086 is a 16-bit microprocessor chip designed by Intel between early 1976 and mid-1978, when it was released. The 8086 gave rise to the x86 architecture of Intel's future processors...
; LTE 286: 12 MHz Intel 80C286 - MemoryComputer memoryIn computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. The term primary memory is used for the information in physical systems which are fast In computing, memory refers to the...
: 640 KiB base RAM, additional 1-4 MiBMIBMIB may refer to any of several concepts:* Master of International Business, a postgraduate business degree* Melayu Islam Beraja, the adopted national philosophy of Brunei* Motion induced blindness, a visual illusion in peripheral vision...
using proprietary memory cards - Hard diskHard diskA hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
: LTE: 20 MB: LTE/286: 40 MB, <29 ms seek time - Floppy disk drive: 1.44 MB floppy drive
- Video adapter: Backlit grayscale CGAColor Graphics AdapterThe Color Graphics Adapter , originally also called the Color/Graphics Adapter or IBM Color/Graphics Monitor Adapter, introduced in 1981, was IBM's first color graphics card, and the first color computer display standard for the IBM PC....
640 x 200 display (80/40 x 25 lines, 4 shades of gray) with separate CGA video output - ModemModemA modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
: Internal 2400 bit/s Hayes
Little known fact: Windows 3.0 could be installed on the original LTE 286 if one secured the CGA driver from Microsoft. Installation was a little tricky because the buttons in one of the installation boxes were off the screen, but if you knew they were there, you could move the box and complete the install.
Later models
Docking station
A Docking station or port replicator or dock provides a simplified way of “plugging-in” an electronic device such as a laptop computer to common peripherals...
to act as a regular desktop computer
Desktop computer
A desktop computer is a personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Early desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while modern towers stand upright...
. Later models are able to remove the floppy drive to add an internal CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
drive, which was an expensive upgrade option for the late LTE series.The last LTE laptops were the 5000 series ending with the 5400, which had a 150 MHz Pentium processor and was quite capable of running Windows 98SE. It also allowed for swappable Floppy Drive/CD-ROM Drive. As of April, 2009, some of these late 5000 series laptops are still being used, as the device is very reliable and easily upgradable.