Compaq Deskpro

{{Short description|Family of desktop computers}} {{Infobox computer | name = Compaq Deskpro | logo = Compaq Deskpro wordmark.svg | logo_caption = | image = | image-size = | caption = | invent-date = | invent-name = | conn1 = | via1_1 = | class-name = | class1 = | manuf1 = | designfirm = | developer = [[Compaq]] | release_date = {{start date|1984}} | discontinued = {{end date|2002}} | cost = | type = [[Desktop computer]] | cpu = {{hlist|[[Intel 8086]]|[[Intel 80286]]|[[i386]]|[[i486]]|[[Pentium (original)|Pentium]]|[[Pentium II]]|[[Pentium III]]|[[Pentium 4]]}} | frequency = | memory = | slots = | rom = | coprocessor = | connection = | ports = | power = | color = | dpi = | speed = | language = | weight = | dimensions = | successor = [[Compaq Evo]] }} {{multiple image | align = right | total_width = 300px | image1 = Compaq Deskpro 6333(crop).jpg | alt1 = Compaq Deskpro tower | image2 = Compaq deskpro EP - 1999 desktop.jpg | alt2 = Compaq Deskrpo desktop | footer = Compaq Deskpro EP PCs from the late 1990s. The case could be converted between [[Computer tower|tower]] (left) and desktop form factors. }} [[File:DeskPro 386S.jpg|thumb|right|The Compaq DeskPro 386S currently on display at the [[Living Computer Museum]] in [[Seattle, Washington]]. [[Microsoft PowerPoint]] is running on the computer.]] [[File:Compaq CR120 Processor Board-3193.jpg|thumb|Compaq Deskpro motherboard (1997) with [[Pentium II]] processor and three different slot types ([[Accelerated Graphics Port|AGP]] for graphics adapter, three [[Conventional PCI|PCI]] and three [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] slots for legacy cards)]] [[File:Compaq 011347-001 processor board-3049.jpg|thumb|Compaq Deskpro Evo motherboard (2001) with [[Pentium 4]] processor (hidden by cooler fan), three [[DIMM]]s, one [[Accelerated Graphics Port|AGP]] and three [[Conventional PCI|PCI]] slots]] The '''Compaq Deskpro''' was manufactured by [[Compaq]] as a line of business-oriented [[desktop computer]]s until replaced by the Evo brand in 2001, with the latter being originally produced up until Compaq merged with [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]] in 2002, making it (alongside other models at the time) the last computers sold by Compaq prior to the 2002 merger.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Compaq Deskpro Model 1 - Computing History|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/7793/Compaq-Deskpro-Model-1/|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> Models were produced containing microprocessors from the [[Intel 8086|8086]] up to the [[x86]]-based Intel [[Pentium 4]].<ref>Information from {{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010604204030/http://www.compaq.com/products/desktops/index.shtml |archive-date=4 June 2001 |url=http://www.compaq.com/products/desktops/index.shtml |title=Compaq .Com - Compaq desktops |website=Compaq}}</ref> Compaq later merged with [[Hewlett-Packard]] in 2002, and subsequently the company began producing computers under the [[HP ProDesk]] brand, a product line that is still in use.{{as of?|date=July 2025}}

==History== ===Deskpro (8086) and Deskpro 286{{anchor|Deskpro (8086)}}{{anchor|Deskpro 286}}=== The original Compaq Deskpro (released in 1984), available in several disk configurations, is an [[IBM Personal Computer XT|XT-class]] PC equipped with an 8 MHz 8086 CPU and Compaq's unique display hardware that combined [[Color Graphics Adapter]] graphics with high resolution [[IBM Monochrome Display Adapter|Monochrome Display Adapter]] text. As a result, it was considerably faster than the original [[IBM]] [[IBM Personal Computer|PC]], the XT and the [[IBM Personal Computer AT|AT]], and had a much better quality text display compared to IBM PCs which were equipped with either the IBM Monochrome Display Adapter or Color Graphics Adapter cards.<ref name=":0" />

Its hardware and [[BIOS]] were claimed to be 100% compatible with the IBM PC, like the earlier [[Compaq Portable]]. This compatibility had given Compaq the lead over companies like [[Columbia Data Products]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the Microprocessor and the Personal Computer, Part 3|url=https://www.techspot.com/article/893-history-of-the-personal-computer-part-3/|access-date=2021-08-23|website=TechSpot|date=8 May 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=14Kfbrc6cbAC&pg=PA451 Aboard the Columbia], By Bill Machrone, Page 451, June 1983, PC Mag</ref> [[Hyperion (computer)|Dynalogic]],<ref>David Thomas, ''Knights of the New Technology: The Inside Story of Canada's Computer Elite'', Key Porter Books, 1983 {{ISBN|0-919493-16-5}} pp. 172-179</ref> [[Eagle Computer]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Pournelle |first=Jerry |author-link=Jerry Pournelle |date=September 1983 |title=Eagles, Text Editors, New Compilers, and Much More |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-09/page/n321 |magazine=BYTE |page=307 |access-date=2021-05-14}}</ref> and [[Corona Data Systems]].<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Corona advertisement | magazine = [[InfoWorld]] | pages = 50 | date = July 18, 1983 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xi8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50 | access-date=14 May 2021 | volume=5 | issue=29 | type = Advertisement}}</ref> The latter two companies were threatened by IBM for BIOS [[copyright infringement]], and settled out of court, agreeing to re-implement their BIOS.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/09/business/eagle-s-battle-for-survival.html EAGLE'S BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL]</ref> Compaq used a [[clean-room design]] with a [[reverse-engineered]] BIOS, avoiding legal jeopardy.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,21218,00.asp |title = Loyd Case: A Trip Down Memory Lane with Hewlett-Packard & Compaq |access-date = 2008-01-31 |work = extremetech.com |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120121139/http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0%2C1697%2C21218%2C00.asp |archive-date = 2008-01-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/1999/pulpit_19990930_000400.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011122000/http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/1999/pulpit_19990930_000400.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 11, 2007 |title = Real Trouble: How Reverse Engineering May Yet Kill Real Networks |access-date = 2008-01-31 |author = Robert X. Cringely |publisher = PBS }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1982.htm |title = Chronology of Personal Computers (1982) |access-date = 2008-01-31 |author = Ken Polsson }}</ref>

In 1985, Compaq released the Deskpro 286, their clone of the [[IBM PC/AT]].

===Deskpro 386=== {{main|Compaq Deskpro 386}} In September 1986, the Deskpro 386 was announced<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=7 June 2017|title=compaq deskpro 386|url=https://dfarq.homeip.net/compaq-deskpro-386/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611030617/http://dfarq.homeip.net:80/compaq-deskpro-386/ |archive-date=2017-06-11 |access-date=2020-12-03|website=dfarq.homeip.net}}</ref> after [[Intel]] released its 80386 microprocessor, beating [[IBM]] by seven months on their comparable 386 computer, thus making a name for themselves.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exhibits - Living Computer Museum|url=http://www.livingcomputermuseum.org/The-Collection/Exhibit-Hall.aspx|website=www.livingcomputermuseum.org|accessdate=6 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205125519/http://www.livingcomputermuseum.org/The-Collection/Exhibit-Hall.aspx|archive-date=5 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The IBM-made [[386DX]] machine, the [[IBM PS/2 Model 80]], reached the market almost a year later,<ref name="lewis19891022">{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Peter H. |date=1989-10-22 |title=THE EXECUTIVE COMPUTER; The Race to Market a 486 Machine |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/22/business/the-executive-computer-the-race-to-market-a-486-machine.html |access-date=2020-05-20 |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=limited }}</ref> ''PC Tech Journal'' honored the Deskpro 386 with its 1986 Product of the Year award.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Deskpro 386 at 30 {{!}} OS/2 Museum|url=http://www.os2museum.com/wp/deskpro-386-at-30/|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.os2museum.com|language=en-US}}</ref> The Deskpro 386/25 was released in August, 1988 and cost $10,299.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[InfoWorld]] |date=1 August 1988|page=53|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dDoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53|title=Speed and Quality Design Highlight New System |first=Stephen |last=Satchell |volume=10 |issue=31}}</ref>

===Other=== The [[form factor (design)|form factor]] for the Compaq Deskpro is mostly the desktop model which lies upon a desk, with a monitor placed on top of it. Compaq has produced many [[Computer tower|tower]] upright models that have been highly successful in sales, and are usually convertible to a desktop form factor. An SFF ([[Small form factor (desktop and motherboard)|small form factor]]) desktop version was also produced during the Deskpro's lifetime. The Deskpro was replaced by the [[Compaq Evo|Evo]] in 2001.

==Models== The many different models include the: * Deskpro 286e * Deskpro 386: released as the first [[MS-DOS]], PC-compatible [[32-bit]] computer with [[i386|386]] processor. * Deskpro 386S: second generation 386 introducing 16-bit bus [[i386SX]] processors * Deskpro XE 486 [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] and [[Parallel ATA|IDE]] * Deskpro XL: high-end [[workstation]] with [[Extended Industry Standard Architecture|EISA]] and [[SCSI]] either [[i486]], [[Pentium (original)|Pentium]] or [[Pentium Pro]] processors * Deskpro M: 386, 486 and early Pentium models * Deskpro 2000: Pentium, Pentium Pro and [[Pentium II]] * Deskpro 4000: [[Pentium MMX]] or Pentium II * Deskpro 6000: Pentium, Pentium Pro or Pentium II and SCSI * Deskpro DX * Deskpro EXD, SB, EN, ENL: [[Pentium III]]-based * Deskpro EVO500 series: the last of the range with [[Pentium 4]] processors * Deskpro Workstation: workstation-class computers<ref>''Čtyřka od Intelu''. Aktualityː hardware. ''Chip''. Praha: Vogel Publishing, 19 December 2000, vol. 11, issue 01/01 (january 2001), p. 6. Retrieved 01 July 2023. {{ISSN|1210-0684}}. (czech)</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * Compaq Computer Corporation. ''Reference Guide: Compaq Deskpro 2000 Series of Personal Computers''. 3rd edition, January 1998. Part Number 278019-003. * Compaq Computer Corporation. ''Reference Guide: Compaq Deskpro 4000 Series of Personal Computers/Compaq Deskpro 6000 Series of Personal Computers''. 2nd edition, September 1997. Part Number 270844-002. {{refend}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/10/business/the-executive-computer-a-top-machine-carries-a-top-price.html |title=THE EXECUTIVE COMPUTER; A Top Machine Carries a Top Price |first=Peter H |last=Lewis | date=10 January 1988 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | url-access=limited}}: NYT article about the DeskPro 386–20.

[[Category:x86 Compaq computers|Deskpro]] [[Category:IBM PC compatibles]] [[Category:Business desktop computers]] [[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1984]]