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Compaq Portable

One of the first IBM PC compatible computers, a 28-pound luggable that sold 53,000 units in its first year.

Compaq announced the Portable in November 1982 and first shipped it in March 1983. It cost $2,995 with one floppy drive. It weighed 28 pounds and folded into a case the size of a portable sewing machine.

It used a reverse-engineered BIOS and a DOS compatible with IBM's PC DOS, so it ran IBM PC software. Compaq sold 53,000 units and took in $111 million in the first year.

Why it matters

It was Compaq's first product and one of the first IBM PC compatibles. IBM responded with its own Portable PC to compete.

Key facts

  • Announced November 1982, shipped March 1983.
  • Priced at $2,995 with one floppy drive.
  • Weighed 28 pounds.
  • Sold 53,000 units and earned $111 million in its first year.
  • Used a reverse-engineered BIOS.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Compaq Portable", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable, accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. Wikipedia, "Compaq", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq, background reading, accessed October 14, 2026.