compaq presario 1993 tft display brands

Presario is a discontinued line of consumer desktop computers and notebooks originally produced by Compaq. The Presario family of computers was introduced in September 1993.

In the mid-1990s, Compaq began manufacturing PC monitors as part of the Presario brand. A series of all-in-one units, containing both the PC and the monitor in the same case, were also released.

After Compaq merged with HP in 2002, the Presario line of desktops and laptops were sold concurrently with HP’s other products, such as the HP Pavilion. The Presario laptops subsequently replaced the then-discontinued HP OmniBook line of notebooks around that same year.

The Presario brand name would continue to be used for low-end home desktops and laptops from 2002 until the Compaq brand name was discontinued by HP in 2013.

The 1X25 monitors were paired with the Compaq Presario 4500, 4600, 4800 and a few other Series 2 designed Presarios, which featured a spaceship or rocket ship design on the front casing of the towers. The towers also had smoked-black CD bezel covers. These monitors all shared the same design cues from the towers they were meant to match: all of them had a split lower bezel which ran down the middle. The monitors had dials for brightness and contrast, plus a volume dial for speakers, which also acts as a power button when pressed. It also has a mute button for the volume on the left side of the monitor, and featured a few digital controls located behind the bottom panel. The monitor also has a built-in microphone, located on the top of the monitor.

There is also a very rare set of monitors (the FX series) which have built-in speakers and a subwoofer, plus three extra USB ports. These are designed to go with the 4800 series Presario multimedia towers (specifically the 4830 to 4882), as they were all black like the FX monitor.

The MVX00 and FPX00 monitors were designed to be sold with the Series 3 designed Compaq towers. They retained the original spaceship design of the second generation Presario towers, except most had smoked-black plastic "easy access" flip-up doors on the bottom containing USB and audio ports behind it, and a slightly squatter design that was more rounded. Like the previous monitors before it, these monitors were designed to match the design cues of the Series 3 Presarios. These monitors had their brightness and contrast dials of the previous monitors removed in favor of digital controls accessible by a button on the monitor. The volume dial (which acted as a power button) and mute buttons were also removed, with a standard power button in place of the volume dial.

The MVX20 monitors were designed for use with Series 4 designed Presarios. They retained the spaceship form factor of previous generation Presarios but in a more curvature shape, and most of them had translucent purple plastic flip-up doors that provided access to USB and/or FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports. Like previous Presario monitors, these were designed to match with the Series 4 Presarios as they shared the same design cues. The monitors featured on-screen display digital controls instead of six LED lights on previous monitors that indicated the type of control being used.

The MVX40 and FSX40 monitors were used with the Compaq Presario 5000 and 7000 series, as well as some Series 5 designed Presarios. Both the 5000 and 7000 series of towers had a brand new front case design that moved away from the spaceship-derived design of previous generation Presarios in favor of a more sleek and stylish design that featured removable translucent colored plastic faceplates, which were offered in five colors. These monitors were mostly similar in design with the previous MVX20 monitors, but with a refreshed design that featured a more curvature exterior instead of the boxy-styled angular design of previous monitors, fitting in with the design cues of the 5000 and 7000 series.

Flat-screen CRT displays were introduced alongside the MVX40 monitors and are designated with the letters FS. Flat panel LCD displays were also available, designated with the letters FP.

Compaq succeeded in getting the better of IBM throughout the 1980s. First, reverse-engineering the PC’s BIOS when creating the trailblazing Compaq Portable. Then, introducing Intel’s 80386 processor in the Compaq DeskPro computer. Finally, spearheading industry opposition to IBM’s proprietary Micro Channel architecture and developing the competing EISA bus.

Though Compaq soared through the ’80s, it suffered when PCs were commoditized in the early ’90s. Lagging sales in 1991 prompted Compaq’s chairman, Ben Rosen, to orchestrate the ouster of long-time CEO Rod Canion. Rosen and Canion disagreed on how Compaq should respond to the industry’s race to the bottom, with Canion favoring in-house technologies and Rosen wanting to purchase off-the-shelf components. In June 1992, under new CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer’s leadership, Compaq lowered prices and launched sixteen new products, including updates to the venerable DeskPro line, a new ProLinea line, and Contura laptops.

The following year, on August 27, 1993, Compaq launched the budget-minded and long-lasting Presario line. First was the $1,399 Presario 425. It was a compact and well-equipped 486SX all-in-one system that looked like a Macintosh LC molded to its monitor. They also announced the Presario 633—a conventional desktop system priced $100 less than the Presario 425.

Consumers responded enthusiastically to Compaq’s low-end offerings, with more than 100,000 Presarios selling in the first 60 days. By the end of 1993, Presario sales totaled $500 million.

Compaq continued to produce all-in-one Presarios along with conventional models. They released three versions of the original 400 series, and in 1994, Compaq jumped on the multimedia bandwagon, adding a CD-ROM with the CDS 500s and integrating a TV-tuner in the CDTV 500s.

In late 1996, the Presario 3020 became the next generation all-in-one. Built on Intel’s Pentium processor and sporting a hinged 12.1-inch flat-panel display, the 3020 was innovative and eye-catching. The design was dominated by a prominent speaker grill surrounding the LCD, with the rest of the system neatly packaged behind the display. A style Compaq debuted a few months before Apple’s sleeker Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh and eight years before the iMac made it commonplace.

The industry noticed the unusual design, giving the 3020 attention in Newsweek, the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. WSJ’s Walt Mossberg described the Presario 3020 as “a sort of novelty product, which should appeal to people with a strong desire for a radical design.” He admits it generated conversation when guests entered his office, and it was well-equipped with a 166 MHz Pentium processor, 24MB of RAM, 2MB of video RAM, a 2GB hard drive, a four-disk 8x CD-ROM changer, and a 33.6Kbps modem. He was not a fan of the “ton of useless software” and its relatively high price at $3,500. Popular Sciencewas more impressed, appreciating the design and configuration. PC Magazine was also favorable, describing the “monoputer” as a successful merger of convenience, portability, power, and functionality.

A few months later, in January 1997, Compaq bumped the 3020 to the Presario 3060, upping the processor to 200 MHz and the hard drive to 3.8GB. They also lowered the price to $3,000.

I picked up this particular Presario 3060 by chance. I arrived at a local junk dealer’s warehouse to collect a Macintosh Performa listed on Facebook Marketplace. Before I left, he said the magic words, “Do you want to see something else while you’re here?” We burrowed deeper into the dark warehouse and came out with a device I’d never seen before. It lacked a keyboard or mouse, and neither of us was quite sure what it was at first. I spotted the Compaq branding and Intel sticker on the front, so I assumed it was a PC, but it could have been a stand-alone multimedia player or a strange point-of-sale system. We struck a quick deal, and I took it home.

The Presario 3060 is powered by an Intel Pentium with MMX technology. The Pentium was Intel’s next-generation processor following the successful 80486. MMX referred to instructions Intel added to accelerate multimedia and communication applications. This technology sped up calculations needed for graphics-intensive applications such as video encoding and image compression along with music synthesis, speech recognition, data transfers, and other functions that operate in parallel with primary system functions. Technically, the 3060 has a 200MHz Socket 7 P55C processor running on a 66MHz system bus. The Pentium has an internal 32K cache and a 256K external pipeline burst cache. The system’s memory comes from 8MB of RAM soldered directly to the motherboard, with two additional 8MB SIMMs installed in two of the four SIMM sockets, providing a total of 24MB.

Expansion slots are mounted on a daughter card protruding from the middle of the motherboard. One side of the expansion card has two PCI slots and an ISA slot. One of these PCI slots is occupied by the S3 Aurora64+ video card with 2MB of video RAM. The card drives the built-in LCD at 800 x 600 resolution with 16 million colors. The active-matrix TFT flat-panel LCD is connected by a ribbon cable to the top of the video card, but a port on the side can also drive an external display at 1280 x 1024 with 256 colors. On the other side, a single ISA slot is intended for Compaq’s 33.6kbps/14.4kbps modem/fax card. The remaining PCI and ISA slots are available for user purposes.

The sound system is impressive. JBL Pro speakers are located on the sides of the display, powered by the 16-bit ESS 1888F AudioDrive sound chip. The speakers provide Spatializer 3D surround sound effects and with the built-in modem and microphone, the computer could serve as a full-duplex echo canceling speakerphone. A Wavetable header is provided on the motherboard, but not populated on my unit.

The original 3.8GB IDE drive was missing, so I installed an IDE to compact flash adapter. Ordinarily, this is not a complex upgrade, but Compaq uses proprietary configuration software, which complicates things. The computer accesses the configuration software from a hidden utility partition on the hard drive, but this unit’s hard drive is long gone. Luckily, after posting a picture of the Presario 3060 on Twitter, @DangerDook volunteered to send me images of the setup and diagnostic disks. I’ve since learned that HP still maintains an FTP sitewith all the legacy Compaq SoftPaqs. I finally booted the computer after creating the SP2141 (Setup) and SP10245 (Diagnostics) disks.

The inspection software on the diagnostic disk provided helpful information, and the system passed the full suite of diagnostic tests. Now, it was time to load the setup program to verify the settings and configure the new hard drive. The software has a friendly graphical interface, and the hard drive settings are easy to find. Unfortunately, the BIOS does not automatically detect the hard drive, so I needed to input the drive’s geometry (cylinders/heads/sectors). I learned that SP2824 patches the setup program to correct a problem related to the hard drive information. So, I installed the patch on my setup disk and then used the utility WhatIDE to verify the proper settings for the 2GB compact flash card I’d selected. After changing the settings and a reboot, the setup program recognized the new drive. It offered to create the utility partition and copy the setup and diagnostic software to the drive. After this, I could access Compaq’s software by pressing F10 at boot.

I was then able to install Windows 95. While the system recognized some of the hardware, Compaq expected users to use the System Restoration CD to reload software on the computer. I did not have the CD, and I came up empty when searching online. However, I learned Computer Surgeons, a computer repair business located in Versailles, KY, sells legacy Compaq and HP recovery kits. I was able to find what I needed on their website, and after paying $35, a CD and boot floppy were on their way.

When the new compact flash card arrived, I abandoned the automated restoration program and handled things manually. I reran the patched SP2141 setup program and decided to reset everything to factory defaults. I noticed a few things changed, including a slight adjustment to the hard drive settings. I once again created the setup/diagnostic partition. Using a Windows 95 boot disk (matching version 4.00.950a on the Restoration CD), I partitioned and formated the remaining 3.8GB on the disk. Luckily, Compaq compressed the restoration image using the standard ZIP format, so, on another computer, I unpacked the contents of the file. I then inserted the compact flash card into the other computer and copied all the files to the card. Finally, I reinserted the compact flash card into the Presario 3060. After many failed attempts, I was thrilled to see a colorful Compaq startup screen.

The Presario had a pleasant surprise. Upon starting Windows, it loaded a special introductory video. Hosted by actor John de Lancie (best known as the Star Trek character Q), he walks you through the registration process and introduces you to the special features of the Presario.

The system comes loaded with software. Skirting perilously close to bloatware, Compaq included: Windows 95; the Compaq SmartQ help system; specialized telephony software (fax, address books, speakerphone, and voicemail); a suite of multimedia software; Netscape Navigator, PointCast, and SurfWatch internet tools; trials for American Online and CompuServe; Microsoft Works and Quicken. The original packaging also included CDs for Corel Draw 5, Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia 1996, Ultimate Human Body 2, and the games Pod and The Yukon Trail.

I was able to pair the system with a period-appropriate Compaq keyboard, but the original system came with a pioneering three-button wireless mouse. While I couldn’t source a replacement, I found a wired Compaq-branded three-button Logitech MouseMan that looks comparable.

The Compaq Presario 3060 is a rare Pentium-based all-in-one. Though Presarios were often considered budget PCs, this relatively high-end system was innovative, feature-rich, and loaded with software. Today, it has been all-but-forgotten, so I’m thrilled to have stumbled across the unique example of daring design released during the boring beige-box PC era.

The Compaq Portable 486 was the last portable computer in Compaq’s original “Compaq Portable” line. By the time of its release in 1992, Compaq and other portable manufacturers knew that the days of the portable/luggable were numbered. This news was not new – portable sales had been declining with luggables fighting a losing battle as most people flocked to the much more portable and increasingly more powerful laptops.

Prior to 1992, laptops were significantly underpowered compared to luggable portables (and desktops). Still, by the mid-1990s, as computer development accelerated, the performance & price gap between laptops and portables had disappeared. The rationale to carry an 18 LBs. sewing box-style computer also vanished. Compaq Portable 486’s made after this time were relegated to more specialized use cases, such as being a network sniffer.

This is not to say that the rise of laptops took Compaq by surprise at all – Compaq knew laptops would be the wave of the future. However, they were late to the market, as they refused to follow the competition and release a more basic laptop. Though this “wait and over-deliver” strategy paid off – in 1988, they finally gave in and released the Compaq SLT/286, Compaq’s first laptop computer that was a commercial success.

As the 1990s progressed, laptops continued to get more and more powerful, and battery life improved. This article below from 1993 foresaw the future where the “luggable” portable computer would be transformed into a niche product, if not disappear altogether.

Specific use cases were definitely there; for example, to give multimedia presentations on-the-go – as video & sound presentations need large, bright, (and power-hungry) displays with accompanying speakers. People looking for portable, true desktop-class power with full-length ISA / EISA card expandability found that the Compaq Portable 486 would fit the bill.

As you can see, this computer is a bit of an oddity. It was the last of it’s kind and seemed to struggle slightly with an identity crisis. Everyone, including Compaq, knew this would be the last “computer with a handle” they would make. Compaq approached this computer with a 2-in-1 approach of “portable desktop” than other previous portable luggables. There is a clear emphasis on performance and display technology, making the Compaq Portable 486 comparable to mid-to-high-end desktops of its release year. In fact, this computer goes beyond a traditional desktop of its time and replaces the CRT with a state of the art LCD – likely a significant contributing factor to its high price. It is, however, a bit disappointing that the LCD does not support SVGA.

Here’s how the last Compaq Portable and the first Compaq Portable stack up against each other. It’s amazing how far computer technology advanced in 10 (or so) years:

Looking at the comparison above, the most obvious thing that stands out is the price of the Compaq Portable 486 (it’s another one of Compaq’s computers that cost the same price as a car at release, like the Compaq Portable 386). Though, if you take a closer look at the specs and see that for 1992, it’s a mighty computer – packing a decently clocked 486 with up to 32 MB (!!) of RAM.

Weighing in at 17 lbs, the Compaq Portable 486 was relatively light, retaining the lunchbox/suitcase form factor (with the keyboard folding up to lock over the screen), a feature that echoes throughout the design of all Compaq Portables. The Compaq Portable 486 line was the only Compaq Portable to be offered with a color screen (Model 486c – the alternate non “C” model was a monochrome TFT). It also came in 2, 486-CPU varieties, a 33 Mhz, and 66 Mhz, the latter marketed as 486/66 or 486/66c. Both variants were socketed and easily upgradeable.

The Compaq Portable 486 came stock with 4MB of RAM but could be expanded to accommodate up to 32 MB of RAM, the largest amount of RAM in any portable at the time. 32 MB of RAM in 1992 is excessive. Perhaps this RAM expandability coupled with the socketed 486 CPU was a selling point of “future-proofing” the computer to justify its relatively high price. The socketed CPU and support for a large amount of RAM meant that, when maxed out with 32 MB of RAM and an AMD 5×86 CPU running at 133 MHz, the Portable 486 can run Windows 98 (albeit a bit slowly) – but is very responsive in Windows 95.

The Active Matrix TFT LCD screen was and still is impressive – the first thing you notice about it is how bright it is (at the max setting, you get immediate eye strain). Thankfully the brightness can be dialed down through the brightness dial on the right of the display panel. The screen is backlit with a compact TFL bulb, the shape of which causes a slight shadow on-screen but is not too noticeable. I’m sure in 1992, it was a non-issue since LED backlighting was still 10 years away.

The color Active Matrix TFT screen made up a significant portion of the unit’s cost, as the technology was brand new at the time (in 1993, an external consumer flat panel TFT active matrix display cost $1,600 – $2,000). It really does suck, though, that the internal video card is not SVGA compatible. I guess you could work around this by using an external monitor and an ISA / EISA video card, but then that sort of defies the purpose of having a Compaq Portable 486.

Another neat thing about the Compaq Portable 486 was that it featured an audio input jack that allows you to feed the output of an audio card into it, which piped out the sound through its relatively large but mono internal speaker. This meant that you did not have to carry speakers around with you, as mentioned in the ad snipped above, highlighting the benefits of this computer for use in giving mobile presentations on the go.

Our test device, HP Compaq Presario CQ56-103SG (XH187EA) sets new limits in the price war. The 15.6 incher costs 299 euro in relating specialized online shops. Of course, the configuration with AMD V140 (single core with 2.30GHz), 2048 MB of RAM, 250 GB hard disk and GPU chipset, ATI Radeon HD 4250, won"t be apt for high performance flights. But is there still hope for a proper laptop for surfing and typing in Word? We make the detailed test.

The Compaq Presario CQ56 comes in a case made completely of plastic. Everything looks homogeneous because the black case elements all have the same matt surface. Merely the wrist-rest is an exception. It has a scratch resistant, perforated pattern. The slight wedge-shaped base unit gives the 15.6 incher a rock solid and suitable for everyday use look. If you are looking for sparkle and glamour, you won"t find it in this HP.

The Presario CQ56 has a very limited amount of connections for connecting peripherals, such as printer, router, mouse or external hard disk. e-SATA (external HDDs), ExpressCard or FireWire don"t belong to the array. External monitors or TVs can"t even be addressed digitally for the lack of HDMI. There is only a VGA interface available.

The mini PCIe WLAN adapter supports the fastest WLAN draft-n standard (WLAN 802.11 bgn). A Bluetooth module hasn"t been installed in this price category. The Realtek network card (RTL8102/8103/8136) isn"t up-to-date and only supports Fast Ethernet. If you use a gigabit switch at home, you won"t be able to use it to capacity with the Presario CQ56.

As always in its budget notebooks, HP grants a 12 month warranty via send in service. The buyer thus has to send in the device at his own expense. If you deem this to be too risky, you can buy the two year Care Pack Support with pickup and return service for Presario notebooks ((UM939E) for 59 euro.

We encountered the Presario CQ56"s input devices with the worst expectations. How office suitable can a keyboard be in a 299 euro laptop? We were surprised. Keyboard and touchpad can be used adequately and don"t differ from the higher priced models, HP G62 and Compaq Presario CQ62.

The 15.6 inch display (39.6 cm) already hints a reflective display with the key words "BrighView Display". The Innolux screen (model: BT156GW01) has a resolution of 1366x768 pixels (WXGA), as well as a LED backlight.

If you take the Presario CQ56 outdoors and work in direct sunlight, you"ll not have much pleasure with HP"s budget laptop. The 15.6 inch screen doesn"t have an AR coating that prevents reflections. Non glare would be the better choice for an office notebook. HP reserves this for its business models in the same price range (HP 620, HP 625). The low brightness of 179 cd/m2 also makes it difficult. The TFT is simply too dark for daylight use.

If you don"t want to be content with the single core performance and don"t want to spend a lot of money, you could look around for an Athlon II P320. The dual core achieves a respectable 3576 points in PCMark Vantage (HD 4250, HP Compaq Presario CQ62-A04sg). The Athlon II P320 is already available in HP"s 625 for 325 euro (matt display!). You should really consider this low surcharge.

The Presario CQ56 has two stereo loudspeakers above the keyboard. There is no subwoofer for improving basses. The midranges" and trebles" sound is balanced. The loudspeakers don"t render basses at all. Not even when "BassBack EXP" is enabled in the sound enhancements. The changes can only be heard slightly. The volume is good for a 15.6 incher. There aren"t any distortions or scratching at the maximum level.

Cheap laptop = short battery life? The Presario CQ56 proves the opposite with 3:26 hours (WLAN surfing, 206 minutes). The battery life is only a lot shorter under high processor load. The 25 watt AMD V140 manages to drain the 4200 mAh battery (47 Wh) after 1:17 hours (77 minutes).

299 euro – have we waited for this notebook? Yes and no. For one thing, HP proves in how far laptops have closed in on workmanship these days. No creaking, no twisting and no cheap toy look (see learn computers). If the HP Compaq Presario CQ56-103SG didn"t have the weakest hardware, it could have passed as a 600 euro device and no one would have complained. A solid case with pleasantly resistant surfaces wouldn"t be anything special. But in view of the 299 euro price, a well constructed and durable case is a remarkable achievement. In the meantime, the retail price has increased slightly to 319 euro at Amazon.de.

On the other hand, a weak single core processor can"t be blandished. Dual core alternatives are already available for 30-40 euro more and potential buyers should really consider this step (e.g. HP 625 with Athlon II P320, 2x 2.10 GHz and matt TFT). Moreover, HP has cut back on basic connections like HDMI and a cardreader.

Criticism has to be passed on, but we did quite like the Compaq Presario CQ56. A well working 15.6 incher with viable inputs can be in your home for a nominal price. You will, however, have to invest a few euro in an operating system since that isn"t included in the CQ56 (Suse Linus Enterprise Desktop pre-installed).

If you have to haggle for every euro, but want as much notebook as possible for 299 euro, you currently won"t get around the HP Compaq Pressario CQ56-103SG. Alternatives for this price are only available as a netbook with even weaker performance.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 1800 S EFORE EGIN RESARIO OTEBOOK AINTENANCE AND ERVICE UIDE ERIES...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Front of Unit Description Description Display Release Latches Integrated Speakers Display Left TouchPad Button Power (On/Off) Button Scroll Up/Down Button Keyboard Right TouchPad Button TouchPad Model Number 1800 S RESARIO OTEBOOK...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Front Bezel Components Description Description Previous Track Button Battery Gauge Next Track Button DisqPlay On/Off Button Sleep Status Icon Volume Down Button Power Status Icon Volume Up Button Battery Charging Status Play/Pause Button Icon...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Underneath the Unit Description Description Stand Feet Memory Compartment Serial Number Stand Feet 1800 S RODUCT ESCRIPTION RESARIO OTEBOOK AINTENANCE AND ERVICE UIDE ERIES...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Rear Connectors Description Description Keyboard/Mouse Port TV Out Connector AC Adapter Connector External Monitor Port Parallel Port Serial Ports QuikDock Connector Universal Serial Bus Port Fan Vent 1800 S RESARIO OTEBOOK...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 QuikDock Components Description QuikDock Interface Connector QuikDock Guide Posts QuikDock Connectors Description Description Universal Serial Bus Port Serial Port Universal Serial Bus Port External Monitor Port Power (AC Adapter) 10/100TX Ethernet Connector Keyboard/Mouse Port...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 System I/O Address I/O Address System Function (Shipping Configuration) 0000h - 000Fh Direct Memory Access Controller 0020h - 0021h Programmable Interrupt Controller 0040h - 0043h System Timer 0060h - 0060h Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard 0061h - 0061h System Speaker 0062h - 0062h ACPI Embedded Controller...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 I/O Address System Function (Shipping Configuration) 03F8h - 03FFh Communications Port (COM1) 04D0h -04D1h Motherboard Resources 0CF8h - 0CFFh PCI Bus 1000h - 10FFh Lucent 56K V.90 PCI DF Modem 1400h - 143Fh ESS SOLO-1 PCI AudioDrive 1440h - 147Fh...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Memory Address System Function F4101000h-F41010FFh Lucent 56K V.90 PCI DF Modem F4200000h-F4200FFFh RAGE Mobility AGP (English) F4200000h-F5FFFFFFh Intel 82443BX Pentium II Processor to AGP Controller F4220000h-F423FFFFh RAGE Mobility AGP (English) F5000000h-F5FFFFFFh RAGE Mobility AGP (English) F8000000h - FBFFFFFFh Intel 82443BX Pentium II Processor to PCI Bridge...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 External VGA Monitor Port Signal Signal Red Analog Green Analog Ground Blue Analog Monitor Detect Not connected DDC2B Data Ground Horizontal Sync Ground Analog Vertical Sync Ground Analog DDC2B Clock Ground Analog S-Video Connector...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 QuikDock Connector Pin Signal Pin Signal Pin Signal Pin Signal Adapter Power Serial Port DCD 43 Keyboard Clock MIDI Output Adapter Power Serial Port DSR 44 Keyboard Data Headphone Sense Adapter Power...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Full Off Off mode consumes no power. However, the battery charges while the Notebook is in Off mode if the battery is installed and the Notebook remains plugged into external AC power. Note: Unsaved information is lost if the Notebook is shutdown without saving the data.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Alarms The Notebook can be set to alarm when the battery power level is reduced or when it reaches a critically low level. The Notebook can also be set to enter a low-power mode when the battery reaches a specific power level.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Increasing Battery-Operating Life Battery pack operating life is affected by several variables. To avoid unnecessary replacement, consider the following when determining how long a charged battery pack should last: Power conservation settings •...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Clearing the Power-On Password Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: Clearing the power-on password also removes all setup attributes that are programmed in the CMOS. If you do not know the power-on password, clear it by performing the following steps: 1.

Power-On Self Test (POST) To run POST, complete these steps: Turn off the Notebook, then turn it on again. As soon as the Compaq logo appears press the ESC key to display the POST messages as they occur. Remember any POST error codes that are displayed.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 XX000YZZ 201-Memory Error Probable Cause Recommended Action Replace the memory Memory failure modules. Replace the system board. 301-Keyboard Error Probable Cause Recommended Action 1. Ensure the keys are not Keyboard failure depressed during POST.

6. Select Computer Checkup from the Diagnostics menu. The Test Option menu is displayed. 7. Select View the Device List from the Test Option menu. A list of installed Compaq devices is displayed. 8. If the list of installed devices is correct, select OK. The Test Option menu is displayed.

1. Turn on any external devices that you want to test. Connect the printer if you want to print the information. 2. Insert the Compaq Diagnostics Diskette in the diskette drive. 3. Turn on or restart the Notebook. The Notebook boots from the diskette, and after a few seconds, the diagnostics Welcome screen is displayed.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Processor Test Error Codes Error Code Description Recommended Action 101-xx CPU test failed Replace the processor and retest. Run the Configuration and Diagnostics 102-xx Coprocessor or Weitek Error utilities.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Keyboard Test Error Codes Error Code Description Recommended Action 1. Check the keyboard connection. If 300-xx Failed ID Test disconnected, turn off the Notebook 301-xx Failed Self Test/Interface Test and reconnect the keyboard.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Diskette Drive Test Error Codes Error Code Description Recommended Action 1. Replace the diskette media and retest. 600-xx Diskette ID drive types test 2. Check and/or replace the diskette failed drive cables and retest.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Hard Drive Test Error Codes Error Code Description Recommended Action Run the Configuration and Diagnostics 1701-xx Hard drive format test failed utilities and verify drive type. 1702-xx Hard drive read test failed 2.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Video Test Error Codes Error Code Description Recommended Action 1. Disconnect external monitor and test 501-xx Video controller test failed with the Notebook display. 502-xx Video memory test failed Replace the display assembly 503-xx Video attribute test failed...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Video Test Error Codes (Continued) Error Code Description Recommended Action Run the Configuration and Diagnostics 2402-xx Video memory test failed utilities. 2403-xx Video attribute test failed Replace the display assembly 2404-xx Video character set test failed...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Video Test Error Codes (Continued) Error Code Description Recommended Action Run the Configuration and Diagnostics 2419-xx ECG/VGC ROM checksum test utilities. failed 2. Disconnect external monitor and test 2421-xx ECG/VGC 640 x 200 graphics with the Notebook display.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Audio Test Error Codes Error Code Description Recommended Action 3206-xx Audio System Internal Error Replace the system board and retest. TouchPad Interface Test Error Codes Error Code Description Recommended Action Replace the TouchPad...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Battery Pack/Gauge Problem Probable Cause Solution(s) Notebook is beeping Battery charge is low. Immediately save any open and battery icon is file(s). Then complete one of the blinking.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Battery Pack/Gauge Problem Probable Cause Solution(s) Power management is Set a power management level in disabled. Setup. An external device or PC Card Turn off or disconnect external is draining the battery.

Not enough space is left on Use another diskette. the diskette. Drive error has occured. Run Checkup from the Compaq Diagnostics diskette. Diskette is not formatted. Format the diskette. At the system prompt, enter: FORMAT A: Diskette drive cannot...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Display Problem Probable Cause Solution(s) Screen is blank. Display has overheated. If the Notebook is in direct sunlight, move it and allow it to cool off. Display is blank and System is in Standby mode.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Display (Continued) Problem Probable Cause Solution(s) 1. Reseat the display cable to the Backlight (brightness) Improper display cable system board. cannot be adjusted connections. Replace the display assembly.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Hard Drive Solutions Some common causes and solutions for hard drive problems are listed in the following table. Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: To prevent loss of information, always maintain an up-to-date backup of your hard drive in case of errors or failures.

If PC Card or drivers are not compatible with Windows, install drivers and use the PC Card in MS-DOS mode. Card or card driver is not Contact a Compaq authorized supported. Service Provider for a list of PC Cards tested sucessfully in Compaq platforms.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Power Solutions See also Battery Pack/Gauge Solutions in this chapter. Power Problem Probable Cause Solution(s) Notebook will not turn Notebook is not connected to Insert battery or connect an on and the battery a power source.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Printer Solutions If you experience problems printing, run a printer self-test. Refer to the documentation provided with the printer for instructions. If the self-test fails, the problem is associated with the printer, not the Notebook.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL184, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 TouchPad/Pointing Device Solutions The following table lists some common causes and solutions for TouchPad/pointing device problems. TouchPad/Pointing Device Problem Probable Cause Solution(s) TouchPad or mouse Incorrect or no device driver Install the device driver and add does not work.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 ZIF Connector The 1800XL Series Notebooks use zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors on the system board. Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: A ZIF connector and its attached cable can be easily damaged. Handle only the connector slide when removing or replacing a cable.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Cables Most cables used throughout the unit are ribbon cables. Cables must be handled with extreme care to avoid damage. Use the following precautions when handling cables to avoid damage to the cable and Notebook: Always handle cables by their connectors.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Hard Drive Ribbon Cable The position for the hard drive ribbon cable is shown below. Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: When servicing the Notebook, ensure that cables are placed in their proper location during the reassembly process.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 CD/DVD Ribbon Cable The ribbon cable position for the CD or DVD drive is shown below. Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: When servicing the Notebook, ensure that cables are placed in their proper location during the reassembly process.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Diskette Drive Ribbon Cable The ribbon cable position for the diskette drive is shown below. Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: When servicing the Notebook, ensure that cables are placed in their proper location during the reassembly process.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Speaker Assembly Cable The cable position for the speaker assembly is shown below. The cable is routed under the battery charger (voltage converter) board and under the edge of the system board. Ä...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Keyboard Ribbon Cable The ribbon cable position for the keyboard is shown below. Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: When servicing this Notebook, ensure that cables are placed in their proper location during the reassembly process.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Disconnecting the QuikDock To disconnect the Notebook from the QuikDock, perform the following steps: 1. Lift up the handle on top of the QuikDock. 2. Lift the Notebook straight up.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Palmrest Cover with TouchPad Note: It is not necessary to remove the display panel assembly to access the interior components of the Notebook. To remove the Palmrest cover with TouchPad, complete the following steps: 1.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 4. Turn the Notebook over (right side up). 5. Pull the display release latches and open the display. 6. Lift up the front end of the Palmrest cover and remove it from the groove in the chassis.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 7. Disconnect the flex cable from the ZIF Connector on the DisqPlay module. To replace the Palmrest cover, reverse these procedures. 16 R 1800 S EMOVAL AND EPLACEMENT RESARIO OTEBOOK...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Internet Zone Cover (Status Panel Assembly) Note: Illustrations may show parts removed that are not part of this procedure. It is necessary to remove only the parts listed in the written procedure. To remove the Internet Zone cover, complete the following steps: 1.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 3. Remove two innermost screws from the display hinges that secure the Internet Zone cover to the chassis. 4. Turn the unit upside down and remove the two screws located near the back of the Notebook that secure the Internet Zone cover to the chassis.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 5. Turn the unit over (right side up) and open the display. 6. Lift up one corner of the Internet Zone cover, push forward from the back (center piece) to release the snaps on the Internet Zone cover, and remove from the chassis.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Internet Button Board Note: Illustrations may show parts removed that are not part of this procedure. It is necessary to remove only the parts listed in the written procedure. To remove the Internet button board, complete the following steps: 1.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 4. Remove two screws securing the Internet button board and remove from the chassis. To replace the Internet button board, reverse these procedures. 22 R 1800 S EMOVAL AND EPLACEMENT RESARIO...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Heatspreader To remove the Heatspreader, complete the following steps: 1. Prepare the Notebook for disassembly 11). 2. Remove the Palmrest cover with TouchPad 14). 3. Remove the keyboard 17).

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Hard Drive Mounting Brackets To remove the hard drive mounting brackets, remove two screws from each of side of the hard drive. To replace the hard drive and mounting brackets, reverse these procedures. 26 R 1800 S EMOVAL AND...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the DisqPlay Module Note: Illustrations may show parts removed that are not part of this procedure. It is necessary to remove only the parts listed in the written procedure. To remove the DisqPlay module, complete the following steps: 1.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 b. With standard screwdriver, turn screw counter-clockwise toward “0” and lift processor from the chassis. To replace the processor, perform the following: 1. Fully align the processor connector with the system board connector. 2.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the CD/DVD Drive To remove the CD/DVD Drive, complete the following steps: 1. Prepare the Notebook for disassembly 11). 2. Remove the Palmrest cover with TouchPad 14).

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 6. Turn the unit over (right side up) and remove the two screws located at the back of the CD/DVD drive. 7. Disconnect the CD/DVD drive cable and push forward from the back of the drive to slide the drive out of the chassis.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Display Panel Assembly Note: Illustrations may show parts removed that are not part of this procedure. It is necessary to remove only the parts listed in the written procedure. To remove the display panel assembly, complete the following steps: 1.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 4. Remove the two outermost screws securing the display panel to the chassis. 5. Remove the display assembly from the chassis. To replace the display panel, reverse these procedures. 1800 S RESARIO OTEBOOK...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Upper CPU Cover To remove the upper CPU cover, complete the following: 1. Prepare the Notebook for disassembly 11). 2. Remove the Palmrest cover with TouchPad 14).

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Fan Assembly To remove the fan assembly, complete the following: 1. Prepare the Notebook for disassembly 11). 2. Remove the Palmrest cover with TouchPad 14). 3.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 To remove the fan gasket, pull the gasket from the fan. To replace the fan assembly and gasket, reverse these procedures. Important: When replacing the fan assembly ensure that the arrow (located on the side of the fan near the connector) is pointing inward.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Real Time Clock Battery Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: Removing the RTC battery clears the power-on password and removes all setup attributes that are programmed in the CMOS. To remove the RTC battery, complete the following steps: 1.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 9. Locate the RTC battery on the system board behind the CD/DVD drive near the back of the unit. 10. Using your fingers or a small non-metallic object, gently pry the RTC battery upward and remove it from the battery socket.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 12. Remove the screw that connects the diskette drive bracket to the chassis. 13. Disconnect the diskette drive data cable from the ZIF Connector on the system board and lift the diskette drive from the chassis.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Removing the Battery Charger Board (Voltage Converter Board) To remove the battery charger board, complete the following: 1. Prepare the Notebook for disassembly 11). 2. Remove the Palmrest cover with TouchPad 14).

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 11. Disconnect the speaker cables from the system board and lift the speaker assembly from the chassis. To replace the speaker assembly, reverse these procedures. Ä Ä Ä Ä CAUTION: When replacing the speaker assembly, ensure that the Speaker Assembly Cable...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 17. Remove the five standoffs from the system board. Note: The four remaining standoffs located on the system board may be left in place. 18. Remove the two screws from the CD/DVD drive mounting rail and lift the mounting rail from the system board.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 19. Remove four screws from the system board. 20. Lift up the front and pull forward to remove the system board from the chassis. To replace the system board, reverse these procedures. Important: Before replacing the system board, remove all remaining cables.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 System Units Description Part No. Keyboards 171819-xxx US -001 NL -331 FR -051 IT -061 GR -041 UK -031 138180-xxx UK -031 GR -041 FR -051 Palmrest Cover w/ Touchpad 138181-001 and Button Board CPU Cover w/ Power Switch...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 System Boards Description Part No. Heatspreader 159698-001 (I) Heatspreader 171817-001 (II) Modem 56K Data/Fax w/o SRAM 400445-001 -Int’l 143848-001 Voltage Converter Board 138177-001 (I) (battery charger) 171815-001 (II) Processors PIII 500MHz 256K Cache MMC-2...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Miscellaneous Cables Description Part No. Miscellaneous Cable Kit* 138189-001 Hard Drive Cable CD/DVD Drive Cable Diskette Drive Cable Status Panel Cable DisqPlay LCD Cable Modem Cable (not shown) TouchPad Cable (not shown) *Kit includes one each of the above items unless quantity specified.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Miscellaneous Hardware Kit Description Part No. Miscellaneous Hardware Kit 138160-001 Hard Drive Mounting Bracket (right) Hard Drive Mounting Bracket (left) Reinforcement Bracket 1800 S LLUSTRATED ARTS ATALOG RESARIO OTEBOOK AINTENANCE AND...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Miscellaneous Plastics Part No. # Description Miscellaneous Plastics Kit* 138190-001 Battery Pack Door Memory Module Cover PCMCIA Door Display Hinge Cover (Right) Display Hinge Cover (Left) CD Drive Guide Latch (Right) (qty.

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Configure To Order (CTO) Parts Part No. Description Display 14.1" TFT 175324-001 15.0" TFT LVDS 171814-001 15.0" TFT LVDS MD(Special) 203698-001 Processors Pentium III 450 w/128 Cache (uPGA2) 175321-001 Pentium III 450 w/256 Cache (uPGA2) 175320-001...

Presario 1800 Series Models: XL180, XL181, XL182, XL183, XL185, and XL190, XL191, XL192 Part No. Description Hard Drive 06.0-GB 12.0-GB 18.0-GB 161544-001 30.0-GB Base Unit Floppy, 64M, 56K, ATI8M-US Battery Li-ON 3.6 AHr 177458-001 Software Windows 98 Windows 2000 Word 2000 Software Bundle FHC Package SBE Package...

Compaq was one of the first companies to successfully reverse engineer IBM technology and market it to the masses. The August 1993 release of the Presario family of PCs is an excellent case study.

At the time, manufacturers were eyeing home users as the fastest growing segment in the industry. The Presario made PCs easy for computer novices and did so at an affordable price (approximately $1,400). The all-in-one machine featured a 14-inch monitor, an Intel 486 25-megahertz microprocessor and a 200-megabyte hard disk, and it was bundled with a variety of consumer-friendly software, including games for all ages and the ubiquitous America Online startup CD.

Compaq was founded by a group of former Texas Instruments employees. The company was first publicly traded in 1983, the same year it shipped more than $111 million in portable PCs — surpassing any other first-year company to date. Compaq made the Fortune 500 in only four years. In 1987, it became the youngest company to achieve $1 billion in annual sales.

So, what happened to Compaq? Competitor HP acquired the company in 2002, and the brand was gradually discontinued, resulting in a 404 page when you visit Compaq.com — a bleak end to one of the industry’s former heavy hitters.

Apple launched the first PDA the Newton MessagePad, in 1993. In the year 2000, nearly 12 million PDA units were sold worldwide. These numbers are now expected to increase exponentially for the next decade.,,

A graduate student at the University of Utah in the 1970s, Alan Kay, first described the PDA. His idea was to have an interactive computer similar to a book with wireless communications abilities and a flat panel display. The device he described was called the Dynabook. It took technology three decades to catch up with his idea. The Dynabook prototype was actually created in the 1970s by the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), from Xerox, but was never developed to market. It did lead to the development of both laptop computers and PDAs. The PARC group is the same group that came up with the mouse (later popularized by Apple), and now running on almost all desktop computers, as well as the What-You-See-ls-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) Graphical User Interface (GUI), which Apple popularized, and which was later adopted by Microsoft.,,

Palm, Inc., founded in 1992 (and acquired by U.S. Robotics in 1995), released the first Palm Pilot device in 1996. This PDA had much improved handwriting recognition, and a refined GUI. The Palm Pilot 1000 was smaller, faster, and cheaper to make than the Apple MessagePad. Palm began licensing the Palm OS platform in 1997, and was the first to release a PDA device with wireless Internet access, the Palm VII, using its own Internet Service Provider (ISP), Palm.Net, in 1999. Palm released the wireless i705 also using the Palm.Net always-on wireless service, with unlimited coverage in almost all major metropolitan cities. This unit has 8 MB memory, and can store 400 e-mail messages, 10,000 addresses, 5 years of appointments, 3,000 memos, and runs with the lithium rechargeable battery, lasting about a week between charges. The i705 has an expansion slot compatible with Secure Digital and MultiMediaCards. The display, however, is a transreflective monochrome with a backlight. Palm then released the m515 with an improved adjustable backlight display, and 16 MB internal Random Access Memory (RAM) with the Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard capabilities. In 2002, Palm released two devices aimed at either end of the PDA market, the low-end Zire with only 2 MB RAM, and a monochrome display, and the Tungsten, with 16 MB RAM, and an improved 320 × 320 color display, and running the new Palm OSv-5.0 and a faster Open Media Applications Platform (OMAP) 1510 processor (enhanced ARM-based), from Texas Instruments, similar to the Pocket PC 2002 devices. These models were soon followed by the Tungsten T2, with an increase in the amount of RAM to 32 MB, the Tungsten W phone unit, and the Tungsten C with 64 MB RAM and built in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi). Oddly, the Tungsten series from Palm uses three different processors, with the older Motorola 33 MHz chip in the W, The OMAP 144 MHz chip in the T2, and the Intel XScale 400 MHz CPU in the Tungsten C unit.,,,,

Microsoft quickly recognized the importance of the PDA market and in 1996 launched the Windows CE OS. This was an interesting move by Microsoft, in that they created the software but relied on other companies to manufacture the hardware to run the OS. This attempt to “port” the Windows desktop OS to a PDA device was not initially successful. The first Windows CE v1.0 included a monochrome display, and was hindered by short battery life, instability problems with the OS, limited abilities, and a poor GUI. The next version, Windows CE v2.0, added color support for displays, and improved stability, and v2.1 added support for a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor a year later in 1997. A direct move by Microsoft to complete with the increasing Palm market was the release of devices without a small keyboard. These devices had similar problems with short battery change life, stability, and synchronization difficulties.,,

The much improved Pocket PC OS was then released in early 2000, followed in late 2001 with Pocket PC 2002 OS. Microsoft again called upon the vendors creating hardware for them to meet standards for the new OS. These Standards included hardware requirements for a new display standard and use of the new ARM processor. The first units on the market utilized the StrongARM 206 MHz processor from Intel, which promised lower power use, lower cost, and increased performance. They were developed by Compaq, HP, Casio, and Toshiba. The vendors also added an improved GUI, and multimedia features. These units also included a stylus for the input of data into the device. The keyboard-based Windows CE units evolved into the less popular Handheld PC Pro units still manufactured by NEC, Intermec, and HP.,,,,

Most users outside of an enterprise environment will consider cost a significant issue in PDA purchasing. Generally, devices under $200 will have a gray scale display, with minimal memory, a slow processor speed, and basic expansion capabilities such as Compact Flash (CF), Secure Digital Card (SDC), or Multimedia Cards (MMC). These PDAs will be used mostly for PIM. Devices in the $200–$400 price range will be used for PIM, but they also have the ability to handle applications such as Web browsing and multimedia. These units will have more RAM, slightly faster processors, and more expansion capabilities, such as CF, SDC, MMC, and the Sony Memory Stick. The highest priced PDAs, over $400, will include the new Pocket PC (PPC) 2002 units, with more RAM (32–128 MB), higher processor speeds (200–400 MHz and higher), and higher resolution color displays (65,000 colors). These devices feature the most expansion capabilities, often including built-in Bluetooth short range radio technology and/or Wi-Fi network capabihties.

The PDA display technology has evolved in much the same way as laptop computers. The first Psion device had a simple 16-character display. The original Palm units used a Film compensative Super Twisted Nematic (FSTN) display, which evolved to the Thin Film Transistor (TFT) reflective color display used in the Tungsten model. The first Palm Pilot 1000 had a 160 × 160-pixel grayscale touch-sensitive display. The newer Tungsten unit from Palm has a 320 × 320-pixel spatial resolution, with increased contrast resolution and support for 65,000 colors. Sony has licensed the Palm OS, and has released models with a similar 320 × 480-color backlit TFT 16-bit display, that is larger and includes a Graffiti input region on the screen for display purposes.,,,

The original Windows CE devices had a larger screen, with a 480 × 240 or 640 × 240-pixel 4-shade grayscale display. The next generation of Windows CE v2.0 devices left the keyboard behind, and have 240 × 320-pixel displays, usually with 16-shade grayscale or 16-bit color. The new Pocket PC 2002 units have a similar spatial resolution with 16-bit color, and usually a 240 × 320 backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) TFT display.,,

Since the release of the first Windows CE device, there has been an ongoing debate over the best OS for a PDA. The three most commonly used systems for PDAs are the Palm OS, Windows CE, and the Symbian OS. The Symbian OS is not as widely used as the other two, and Psion is rumored to be leaving the PDA market altogether. The entry of Microsoft into the PDA arena was unusual, because, previously, only hardware companies had been creating PDA devices. Microsoft was creating only software, and relied on others to create hardware meeting their standards for running the OS. Thus, the Pocket PC 2002 units were required by Microsoft to move to the StrongARM processors, and to use Flash ROM, to increase ease of future upgrades, and to have reflective displays.,,

Both operating systems support up to 65,000 (16-bit) colors in their display systems, although the larger Pocket PC 2002 units often have a brighter display when compared side-to-side with the Palm. The Pocket PC 2002 units have integrated multimedia support, with Windows Media Player, whereas Palm OS users must rely on third party software. Both systems can function with Windows-based desktop systems, but only the Palm OS has native Macintosh support.,,,,,

The perfect choice of a PDA is as individual as the user. The intended uses of such devices vary greatly and should be considered first when selecting a PDA. As with desktop computers, it is easy to get confused with all the features, options, display differences, and overall technology. Also, because PDA technology is advancing so rapidly, it is difficult to keep current with the models and options available. The prospective user should begin with the intended use for the device, and then look at PDAs with the necessary options. The decision of which OS to purchase will then follow. If the device is to be used in an enterprise setting, the specifications will often be determined by the enterprise itself, similar to desktop purchases.

20. Sony Style USA: Handhelds/PDAs > CLIÉ™ Hand-helds > UX Series. http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayPr-oductInformation-Start;sid=Mb7NYUKWK9jNY33lemTHag2a3BeFcYIAjn8=?CategoryName=hp_UXSeries&Pr-oductSKU=PEGUX50%2fU&Dept=hp

30. Sony Style USA: Handhelds/PDAs > CLIÉ™ Handhelds > NZ 90. http://www.sonystyle.com/isbin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=Mb7NYUKWK9jNY33lemTHag2a3-BeFcYIAjn8=?CategoryName= hp_NZ90&ProductSKU =PEGNZ90KIT1&Dept=hp

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