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Compaq LTE

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LTE
LTE 5100, from 1995
DeveloperCompaq Computer Corporation
Manufacturer
TypeLaptop(notebook)
Release dateOctober 1989;35 years ago(1989-10)
Lifespan1989–1997
DiscontinuedJune 1997;27 years ago(1997-06)
Units soldOver 2 million
PredecessorSLT
SuccessorArmada
RelatedContura

TheLTEis a line ofnotebook-sizedlaptopsmanufactured byCompaq Computer Corporation,introduced in 1989 and discontinued in 1997. It was the first notebook computer sold by Compaq and the first commercially successful notebook that wascompatiblewith theIBM PC.

Development of the LTE line began in 1986; the company conceived it as their first attempt at a truly lightweight portable computer, aiming to replace theirPortableandSLTlines. The first two models in the LTE line—theLTEandLTE/286—competed with other notebook computers such asNEC'sUltraLiteandZenith'sMinisPort.However, whereas the UltraLite and MinisPort failed to gain much uptake due to their novel but nonstandard data storage technologies, the LTE succeeded on account of its use of the conventional floppy drive and spinning hard drive, allowing users to transfer data to and from theirdesktop computerswithout any hassle. As well, Compaq began offeringdocking stationswith the release of theLTE/386sin 1990, providing performance comparable to then-current desktop machines.

The first LTEs received glowing praise among technology reviewers, who saw it as a revolution inmobile computing.It was a direct influence on bothAppleandIBMfor the development of their own notebook computers. The first generation of LTE gave way to succeeding lines, including theLTE Litein 1992, theLTE Elitein 1994, and theLTE 5000 seriesin 1995, all of which received mostly positive reviews. Compaq sold over two million units across the LTE's lifespan. They succeeded it with theArmadaline in 1997.

Background

[edit]

The concept for the LTE line was originally drafted for Compaq in 1986 by Christopher J. Gintz, who was director of technical and planning development for the company at the time.[1][2]Between this time and the unveiling of the LTE in October 1989, Compaq released thePortable 386in 1987, another entry in Compaq's longline of portable computersthat werecompatiblewithIBM'sPersonal Computerplatform. In 1988, they released theSLT/286,Compaq's first everlaptop.[3]

Thenotebook computeremerged as a size category of portable computer starting withEpson'sHX-20in 1982. It was further popularized byRadio Shack'sTRS-80 Model 100in 1983.[4][5]In terms of footprint, these notebooks measured roughly the size of a sheet ofANSI Letterpaper—8.5 by 11 inches (215.9 by 279.4 mm)—making them easy to slip into an average-sizedbriefcase,and were relatively lightweight, making them easy to lift with one hand.[6]The first notebook on the market compatible with the IBM PC wasNEC'sUltraLitein 1988.[6][7]Weighing in at 4.4 pounds (2.0 kg), the UltraLite eschewed from conventional floppy and hard disk drives for software and data storage, in favor of proprietaryROMandRAMcards. This approach was technically impressive but led to slow adoption rates by consumers due to the difficulty of transferring data to and from IBM PCs and compatibles because of the lack of an internal floppy drive.Zenith Data Systems' notebook-sizedMinisPort,released slightly after the UltraLite in 1989, did little to ameliorate this issue despite offering an internal floppy drive due to its non-standard, 2-inch format.[6]

Development and specifications

[edit]

First generation

[edit]
LTE/286, from 1989

The LTE and LTE/286, released in October 1989, were true notebooks, each occupying exactly the footprint of ANSI Letter paper while measuring 1.9 inches (48 mm) thick.[8]: 33 [9]: 56 The LTE was the first notebook on the market with conventional 3.5-inch floppy disk drives, as well as the first with optional hard disk drives.[6][10]Compaq sourced their floppy drives fromCitizen Watchand their hard drives fromConner Peripherals.Despite the drive's platters measuring 3.5 inches in diameter, as had been typical ofdesktop computerssince the late 1980s, the drive's casing measured 0.75 inches (19 mm) thick—much thinner than the desktop drives of its day. This allowed Compaq to fit a spinning hard drive within the confines of the notebook-sized computer.[8]: 34 Compaq offered the baseline,8086-equipped LTE with either an internal 20-MB Conner hard drive or no hard drive at all (while still possessing a floppy drive). On the other hand, Compaq offered users the option to buy the286-based LTE/286 with a 40-MB hard drive, a 20-MB hard drive, or no hard drive.[8]: 34 [a]

The LTE and LTE/286 feature monochromeLCDscreens manufactured by Citizen Watch. The LCD measures 7.7 inches wide by 3.7 inches tall and is capable of displayingCGAgraphics in four shades of gray. The screens contain a blueelectroluminescentbacklight, allowing users to read off the laptops in low-light conditions.[8]: 34 [11]The LTE sports an80C86clocked at 9.54 MHz, while the LTE/286 is based on the80C286clocked at 12 MHz. Both are respectivelyCMOSversions of Intel's 8086 and 80286 processors, intended for low-power applications such as battery-powered portable computers.[8]: 33 [b]The LTE and LTE/286 are equipped with 640 KB of internal RAM, expandable to 1.6 MB (for the LTE) or 2.6 MB (for the LTE/286) of RAM with the use of the use of 1- and 2-MB proprietary RAM cards that were sold by Compaq.[8]: 34 [13]: 112 

The Compaq LTE and LTE/286 were primarily manufactured by Compaq at their Houston campus. Compaq later signed a contract with Citizen to allow the latter to manufacture models of the LTE and LTE/286 for distribution in certain territories.[10][14]This was the first time that Citizen, primarily a manufacture of timepieces and precision electronics, had manufactured an entire computer system.[14]

LTE/386s, from 1990

In October 1990 the company unveiled the LTE/386s, featuring theIntel 386SXprocessor clocked at 20 MHz.[15]The stock memory was bumped up to 2 MB, expandable to 10 MB, with the same proprietary RAM cards as its predecessor; the number of card slots was increased to two for the LTE/386s.[16]The LTE/386s also replaced the stubbly display panel of the older models with a full-sized, 9-inch-diagonal LCD capable of displayingVGAgraphics in sixteen shades of gray, in a return to form from the SLT.[17][18]: 81 The designers behind the LTE/386s made heavy use ofrigid-flexinterconnects between the differentprinted circuit boards,as well as customASICs,in order to save weight and reduce the amount of fragile wires and cables.[17][11][15]Furthermore, the LTE/386s was the first of Compaq's laptops to use Conner's portable-oriented hard drives, whose platter diameters measured 2.5 inches across as opposed to 3.5 inches across.[19][20]

LTE Lite

[edit]
LTE Lite 4/33C, from 1993

The LTE Lite, released in 1992, improved the battery life and quality of its predecessors' LCD panels while reducing weight. The LTE Lite/20 and LTE Lite/25 introducedsuspendandhibernationmodes, as well as aBIOSpassword and aKensington slotfor added security.[21]Starting with the LTE Lite/25C and LTE Lite/25E, atrackballwas built into the display housing on the right side, with the left- and right-click buttons on the reverse side of the housing.[22]The LTE Lite/20 and LTE Lite/25 used Intel's low-powered, portable-specific80386SLprocessor.[23][24][25][26]The LTE Lite 4/25, announced in November 1992, was the first laptop to feature Intel's later portable-specifici486SL.[27]

Manufacturing of the LTE Lites was initially performed at Compaq's plant in Houston, Texas. As with the preceding LTEs, Compaq used Citizen Watch of Japan as manufacturer for its monochrome passive-matrix LCDs and as asecond sourcefor manufacturing of the entire systems.[22][28]Citizen later became its sole manufacturer.[29]Meanwhile, Compaq purchased the monochromeactive-matrix panels used in the Lite/25E and Lite 4/25E fromHosiden.[30][c]Production of the LTE Lite was again moved from Citizen in Japan to Compaq's overseas plant inSingaporein 1994—Compaq citing wanting to fill vacant production lines in that plant, which also manufactured itsConturaline of budget notebooks.[29]The LTE Lite sold very well and quickly became Compaq's flagship mobile computer, overtaking sales of their earlier luggable portables.[32]

LTE Elite

[edit]
LTE Elite 4/75 CX, from 1994, in the SmartStationdocking station

The LTE Elite series, released in March 1994,[33]was Compaq's first product with slots forPC Cards(known contemporaneously as PCMCIA cards, after theassociationwho founded the card standard).[34]Unlike other vendor's implementation of PC Cards, the LTE Elite's was largelyplug and play,allowing cards to be removed and new cards to be inserted without rebooting the machine. Compaq worked closely withMicrosoftto develop the necessary support drivers for plug-and-play PC Cards inWindows 3.1and the forthcomingWindows 95.[35]VLSI Technology,whose largest customer at the time was Compaq, worked closely with the latter to design the PC Card controller ASIC.[36]The LTE Elite also integrated theAC adapterinto the main body of the laptop, eliminating the need for an externalpower brick.This was the first time this approach had been done in a notebook-sized computer.[37][38]: 37 Another new feature of the LTE Elite was the ability of its processors to be upgraded and replaced, owing to its use of asocketrather than a soldered-onsurface-mountpackage typical of laptops in the mid-1990s.[34]The laptops' hard drives are also easily removable by the end user with the press of a button and can also be locked into the chassis with a security tab built into the drive's caddy.[34][39]The LTE Elite retained the built-in trackball of the LTE Lite.[40]

The LTE Elite series was manufactured in large part in Compaq's facility in Singapore.[41]Certain surface-mount PCBs were manufactured in Compaq's factory inErskine,while final assembly of each LTE Elite was completed inHouston.[36][42]The LTE Elite line was plauged with manufacturing issues and technical faults, leading to several recalls.[43][44][45]These factors and more contributed to a proportional shrinkage in Compaq's laptop market share, despite the company's total market share slightly increasing from 1993. In 1994,Toshibaovertook Compaq as the top manufacturer of laptops in the United States, helped along with theirSatelliteline of laptops.[43][46]

LTE 5000 series

[edit]

The LTE 5000 series, released in September 1995, was a top-to-bottom redesign. The last in the LTE line,[47]: C2 [48]the LTE 5000 series was the debut ofIntel's multimedia-orientedPentiumprocessor in a Compaq laptop. It was also Compaq's first laptop with built-in 16-bit audio synthesis and playback (beyond thePC speaker);hardware accelerationfor video; and aninfrared portfor communicating withPDAs.[49][50]: 124 An optionalMPEG decodercard also allowed the laptop to stream MPEG video in real-time as well as output video to television sets and projectors.[46]Compaq abandoned the ambitious internal AC adapter of the Elite line in favor of the familiar power brick.[51][52]In its stead was what Compaq termed theMultiBay:a multipurpose,hot-swappable[53]: 41 expansion slot in the front of the machine that allowed users to slot in a floppy drive, aCD-ROMdrive (a first for the LTE line), a second hard drive for more disk storage, or a second battery for frequent travelers.[49]Compaq also offered a full-feature docking station that added several other MultiBay units to the machine, on top of additional PC Cards and anEthernet port.[54]The LTE 5000 series also abandoned the monitor-mounted trackballs of older models in favor of an implementation ofIBM's keyboard-mountedpointing sticktechnology.[46][55]

Because of the disappointing performance of the LTE Elite, Compaq hiredInventecofTaiwanto co-design and manufacture in full the LTE 5000 series. The partnership not only hastened development of a successor but also gained Compaq access to Taiwan's more cutting-edge technologies in the field of mobile computer production.[43][56][44]It was the first time in several years that Compaq relied on an outside company to design a portable computer of theirs and was the first machine Compaq had manufactured entirely in Taiwan.[57][58]

Docking stations

[edit]

The LTE range was marketed as adesktop replacement;with its optionaldocking stations,it allowed peripherals to be permanently connected. The LTE laptop would be simply removed from the docking station to be used on the go and then docked to use in the office.[54]

The LTE/386s was the first LTE offered with an optional docking station, allowing the computer to be used more or less like a desktop computer. The docking station added a pair of full-length, 16-bitISAslots to the machine and two 5.25-inch drive bays. Compaq shipped their docking station with a VGA monitor and a standard desktop keyboard.[16]: 141 [17]The docking station connected to the back of the LTE/386s via a new specialized connector on the rear of the laptop.[59]Compaq also sold an internal CD-ROM adapter for the LTE/386s that fits into its modem expansion slot, allowing the computer to be used with an optional external CD-ROM drive, making it one of the first laptops to natively support CD-ROM.[17]: 1 

Compaq introduced four new docking stations for the LTE Elite line: the SmartStation, the MiniStation/EN, the MiniStation/TR, and the OptiByte Media Station.[38]: 37, 39 The SmartStation was the second-most-expensive and feature-packed; likeApple'sDuo Dock,the SmartStation loaded the LTE Elite into a rectangular,VCR-like slot, allowing the laptop to be used like a desktop computer, with an external monitor perched on top of the docking station. The SmartStation added two 5.25-inch drive bays, twoISAslots forIBM PC–compatible expansion cards,SCSI-2ports for parallel peripherals and external storage, and Ethernet ports for networking. The MiniStation/EN and MiniStation/TR meanwhile were simpleport replicatorsadding one of each of the aforementioned SCSI-2 ports and networking ports. The MiniStation/EN provided a Ethernet port, while the MiniStation/TR provided aToken Ringport. The OptiByte Media Station, meanwhile, was the most expensive but added a 16-bit sound card, a double-speed CD-ROM drive and built-in speakers, as well as providing a free ISA slot.[38]: 39 This added sound synthesis capability to an otherwise silent laptop (barring the internal PC speaker).[34]The OptiByte Media Station was designed and manufactured by AccuMem Systems and resold by Compaq.[38]: 39 

Sales and impact

[edit]

The LTE was the first commercially successfulIBM PC–compatiblenotebook computer and helped jump-start the burgeoning notebook industry. Compaq was helped in no small part by their decision to incorporate both a 3.5-inchfloppy diskdrive and a conventional spinninghard disk driveson higher-end models—data storage mediums that the majority of customers using desktop computers had built their entire computing ecosystem around by that point in 1989.[60]From its introduction in 1989 to its discontiuation in 1997, Compaq sold over two million units of the entire LTE lineup, generating over US$1.5 billion in revenue for the company.[61]The company sold the first 100,000 units of the LTE in December 1990.[62]: 71 The LTE Lite in particular sold very well for Compaq,[63]Citizen manufacturing between 20,000 and 25,000 LTE Lite units each month between 1992 and 1993.[29]

The unexpected success of the LTE line was a major factor in the development of notebook computers at bothAppleandIBM.[64]: 59 [65]: 75 Apple released their first laptop, theMacintosh Portable,in September 1989—a little over a month before the LTE debuted. While in development longer than the LTE and with a far larger sales backlog, the LTE outperformed the Macintosh Portable in the marketplace by an order of magnitude due to customer preference for the LTE's smaller footprint and lower weight.[64]: 59 In response, Apple developed what would become thePowerBookin 1990.[64]: 60 Likewise, the LTE also spurred IBM to rush the development of a smaller laptop to compete with Compaq. This initiative eventually bore thePS/2 Model L40 SXin 1991—a predecessor to theThinkPadline.[65]: 75 

Reception

[edit]

The first generation of LTE received glowing praise in the computing press, where multiple reviewers dubbed the machines breakthroughs inmobile computing.[9]: 56 [18]: 81 [8]: 35 Mitt Jones ofPC Magazinecalled the LTE and LTE/286, "without reservation, the most exciting and usable laptops on the market", albeit expensive at launch.[8]: 35 Of the 80C86-based LTE, Jones wrote called the machine "somewhat miraculous... In the same way the UltraLite seemed impossible for its size [in 1988], the LTE seems impossible now".[66]Fredric Burke of the same publication, reviewing the LTE/286 a year after its release, called it "the class act in its field", praising its expandability, the legibility of the LCD, and the performance of the battery.[13]: 112, 125 BothPC MagazineandInfoWorldrated the LTE/386s the fastest 386-class notebook those magazines had reviewed up to that point in early 1991.[67][68]: 117 

Critics rated the initial LTE Lites among the top-performing 386 laptops in terms of graphics performance and among the top five of 386 laptops in terms of rendering graphics within Windows.[69][23]The battery life of these machines received mixed assessments, however,[70][28]as did the feeling of the keyboard switches and the quality of the passive-matrix LCDs.[28][70][26]Reviewers preferred theactive-matrix LCDsof the later LTE Lites, which they gave high marks for their greater viewing angles and sharpness.[24][25][26]

Despite the LTE Elite's technical issues, the lineup received generally positive reviews from the technology press,[71]: 182 withPC Worldwriting that the LTE Elites "push[ed] beyond the basic requirements of mobile computing" and "move[d] the mobile computing standard forward".[72]Critics generally appreciated the convenience of the integrated AC adapter,[34][73]: C5 [74][35][75]withPC Weekwriting that "the convenience of carrying just the notebook and small power cord is instantly apparent... the Elite is more convenient to carry than some of the so-called subnotebooks".[34]Multiple reviewers also judged the battery life of the LTE Elite an improvement over the LTE Lite.[76][40]: C5 Some considered the LTE Elite too expensive on launch.[40][37]

The LTE 5000 series' redesigned chassis and added multimedia capabilities received high marks.[77][52][78][79][80]Dwight Silverman of theHouston Chronicledubbed the machines "an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to computer design [that] virtually bludgeons the competition with a mass of features".[77]Many reviewers found the active-matrix LCDs of the higher-end models uncharacteristically dim,[77][81]due to Compaq coating their polarizers with a dark film intended to increase contrast when looked at straight-on while reducing visibility from far angles.[58][77]Compaq replaced thebacklight inverterof successor models with a higher-voltage unit in response to this criticism.[55][82]

Successor

[edit]

Compaq began retiring the LTE line with the 5000 series after introducing theArmadaline in 1996. The final LTE 5000 models rolled off the line in the middle of June 1997.[47]The Armada series marked the return of Compaq manufacturing their own laptops; following the end of the LTE 5000 series, Compaq severed ties with Inventec.[83]

Models

[edit]
Compaq LTE series lineup
Model Release date Processor Clock
speed
(MHz)
LCD technology LCD
size
(in.)
LCD
resolution
Stock
memory (max.)
External
cache
(KB)
HDD Internal
pointing
device
Notes/ref(s).
LTEModel 1 October 1989 Intel 8086 9.54 Passive-matrix monochrome 8.8 640×200 640 KB (1.6 MB) None None [d][e][8]
LTEModel 20 October 1989 Intel 8086 9.54 Passive-matrix monochrome 8.8 640×200 640 KB (1.6 MB) 20 MB None [e][8]
LTE/286Model 1 October 1989 Intel 80286 12 Passive-matrix monochrome 8.8 640×200 640 KB (2.6 MB) None None [d][e][8]
LTE/286Model 20 October 1989 Intel 80286 12 Passive-matrix monochrome 8.8 640×200 640 KB (2.6 MB) 20 MB None [e][8]
LTE/286Model 40 October 1989 Intel 80286 12 Passive-matrix monochrome 8.8 640×200 640 KB (2.6 MB) 40 MB None [e][8]
LTE/386sModel 30 October 1990 Intel i386SX 20 Passive-matrix monochrome 9 640×480 2 MB (10 MB) 64 30 MB None [e][84][85]
LTE/386sModel 60 October 1990 Intel i386SX 20 Passive-matrix monochrome 9 640×480 2 MB (10 MB) 64 30 MB None [e][84][85]
LTE/386sModel 84 November 1991 Intel i386SX 20 Passive-matrix monochrome 9 640×480 2 MB (10 MB) 64 30 MB None [e][84][85][20]
LTE Lite/20 Model 40 January 1992 Intel i386SL 20 Passive-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 2 MB (18 MB) 16 40 MB None [86]
LTE Lite/20 Model 60 January 1992 Intel i386SL 20 Passive-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 2 MB (18 MB) 16 60 MB None [86]
LTE Lite/25 Model 60 January 1992 Intel i386SL 25 Passive-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 2 MB (18 MB) 16 60 MB None [86]
LTE Lite/25 Model 84 January 1992 Intel i386SL 25 Passive-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 2 MB (18 MB) 16 84 MB None [86]
LTE Lite/25 Model 120 January 1992 Intel i386SL 25 Passive-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 2 MB (18 MB) 16 120 MB None [86]
LTE Lite/25C Model 84 June 1992 Intel i386SL 25 Active-matrix color 8.4 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 64 84 MB Trackball [87]
LTE Lite/25C Model 120 June 1992 Intel i386SL 25 Active-matrix color 8.4 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 64 120 MB Trackball [87]
LTE Lite/25E Model 84 November 1992 Intel i386SL 25 Active-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 64 84 MB Trackball [88]
LTE Lite/25E Model 120 November 1992 Intel i386SL 25 Active-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 64 120 MB Trackball [88]
LTE Lite4/25C Model 120 November 1992 Intel i486SL 25 Active-matrix color 8.4 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 8 120 MB Trackball [88]
LTE Lite4/25C Model 209 November 1992 Intel i486SL 25 Active-matrix color 8.4 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 8 209 MB Trackball [88]
LTE Lite4/25 Model 120 May 1993 Intel i486SL 25 Passive-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 8 120 MB Trackball [89]
LTE Lite4/25E Model 120 May 1993 Intel i486SL 25 Active-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 8 120 MB Trackball [89]
LTE Lite4/25E Model 209 May 1993 Intel i486SL 25 Active-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 8 209 MB Trackball [89]
LTE Lite4/33C Model 120 May 1993 Intel i486SL 33 Active-matrix color 8.4 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 8 120 MB Trackball [89]
LTE Lite4/33C Model 209 May 1993 Intel i486SL 33 Active-matrix color 8.4 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 8 209 MB Trackball [89]
LTE Elite4/40C March 1994 Intel i486DX2 40 Passive-matrix color 9.5 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 170 MB Trackball [90][35]
LTE Elite4/50E March 1994 Intel i486DX2 50 Active-matrix monochrome 9.5 640×480 8 MB (24 MB) 250 MB Trackball [90][35]
LTE Elite4/40CX March 1994 Intel i486DX2 40 Active-matrix color 8.4 640×480 4 MB (20 MB) 170 MB or 340 MB Trackball [90][35]
LTE Elite4/50CX March 1994 Intel i486DX2 50 Active-matrix color 9.5 640×480 8 MB (24 MB) 340 MB Trackball [90][35]
LTE Elite4/75C March 1995 Intel i486DX4 75 Passive-matrix color 9.5 640×480 8 MB (32 MB) 340 MB or 510 MB Trackball [35][91]
LTE Elite4/75CX March 1994 Intel i486DX4 75 Active-matrix color 9.5 640×480 4 MB (24 MB) 340 MB or 510 MB Trackball [90][35]
LTE Elite4/75CXL March 1995 Intel i486DX4 75 Active-matrix color 10.4 640×480 8 MB (32 MB) 510 MB or 810 MB Trackball [91][35]
LTE 5000Model 510 CSTN September 1995 Intel Pentium 75 Passive-matrix color 10.4 640×480 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 510 MB Pointing stick [92][93]
LTE 5000Model 810 CSTN September 1995 Intel Pentium 75 Passive-matrix color 11.3 640×480 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 810 MB Pointing stick [92][93]
LTE 5000Model 810 CTFT September 1995 Intel Pentium 75 Active-matrix color 10.4 640×480 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 810 MB Pointing stick [92][93]
LTE 5100Model 810 CTFT September 1995 Intel Pentium 90 Active-matrix color 10.4 800x600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 810 MB Pointing stick [92][93]
LTE 5100Model 810 CD CTFT September 1995 Intel Pentium 90 Active-matrix color 10.4 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 810 MB Pointing stick [92][93]
LTE 5150Model 810 CSTN 800×600 June 1996 Intel Pentium 100 Passive-matrix color 11.3 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 810 MB Pointing stick [94][93]
LTE 5200Model 1350 CTFT September 1995 Intel Pentium 120 Active-matrix color 10.4 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 1.35 GB Pointing stick [92][93]
LTE 5250Model 810 CTFT 800×600 June 1996 Intel Pentium 120 Active-matrix color 10.4 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 810 MB Pointing stick [94][93]
LTE 5280Model 810 CTFT 800×600 April 1996 Intel Pentium 120 Active-matrix color 11.3 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 810 MB Pointing stick [95][93]
LTE 5280Model 1350 CTFT 800×600 April 1996 Intel Pentium 120 Active-matrix color 11.3 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 1.35 GB Pointing stick [95][93]
LTE 5300Model 1350 CTFT 800×600 April 1996 Intel Pentium 133 Active-matrix color 12.1 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 1.35 GB Pointing stick [95][93]
LTE 5300Model 2160 CTFT 800×600 April 1996 Intel Pentium 133 Active-matrix color 12.1 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 2.16 GB Pointing stick [95][93]
LTE 5380Model 2160 CTFT 1024×768 November 1996 Intel Pentium 133 Active-matrix color 12.1 1024×768 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 2.16 GB Pointing stick [96][93]
LTE 5400Model 2160 CTFT 800×600 November 1996 Intel Pentium 150 Active-matrix color 12.1 800×600 8 MB or 16 MB (80 MB) 2.16 GB Pointing stick [96][93]

Explanatory notes

[edit]
  1. ^Compaq also sold external 360-KB and 1.2-MB 5.25-inch floppy drives compatible with the LTE as means of removable storage.[8]: 35 
  2. ^For the LTE/286 only, the laptop supports an optional math co-processor, the80C287.[12]
  3. ^These were the same LCDs used by Apple in some entries of theirPowerBook 100 series.Compaq were the only notebook manufacturer besides Apple to make use of active-matrix monochrome LCDs.[31][25]
  4. ^abEquipped with only a single 3.5-inch, 1.44 MB floppy disk drive
  5. ^abcdefghRAM expandable through proprietary memory cards

References

[edit]
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