description Compaq Portable III Overview
The Compaq Portable III, released in 1989, was a bulky, suitcase-style desktop computer featuring an Intel 80486 processor and a monochrome LCD screen, representing a significant upgrade over its predecessors.
help Compaq Portable III FAQ
What year was the Compaq Portable III released?
Compaq introduced the Portable III in 1987, not 1989. A February 1987 product bulletin documents the model and its hardware. [Compaq product bulletin](https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Compaq/Compaq%20Portable%20III%20-%20Product%20Bulletin%20-%20First%20Edition%20%28FEB87%29.pdf)
Did the Compaq Portable III use an Intel 80486 processor?
No, the Portable III product bulletin identifies a 12 MHz 80286 microprocessor. A listing that says 80486 is describing the wrong generation of Compaq portable. [Compaq product bulletin](https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Compaq/Compaq%20Portable%20III%20-%20Product%20Bulletin%20-%20First%20Edition%20%28FEB87%29.pdf)
What kind of screen did the Compaq Portable III have?
It used Compaq's dual-mode plasma display, which was a defining feature of the Portable III. The machine was a 1987 luggable PC, not a modern LCD notebook. [Compaq product bulletin](https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Compaq/Compaq%20Portable%20III%20-%20Product%20Bulletin%20-%20First%20Edition%20%28FEB87%29.pdf)
Was the Compaq Portable III really portable?
It was a bulky suitcase-style luggable PC built for business portability, not a thin battery laptop. UPI described the introduced unit as weighing less than 20 pounds, which explains why it was portable for 1987 but still substantial to carry. [UPI](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/02/17/Compaq-introduces-new-portable-computer/8964540536400/)
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