Compaq Contura

"Contura" redirects here. For the brand of stove, see Hawkins Cookers.

The Contura is a line of notebook-sized laptops produced by Compaq from 1992 to 1996. The Contura was Compaq's first attempt at making an affordable, entry-level laptop.

Contura

Contura 430C
Developer	Compaq
Type	Laptop (notebook)
Release date	1992–1996
Successor	Compaq Armada
Website	compaq.com/support/portables at the Wayback Machine (archived 1999-04-21)

Models

Clockwise from upper left: Top-down view of 430C with case closed; detail of keyboard and trackball; rear ports (from left to right: DC power, parallel, docking base, serial, PS/2, VGA)

Compaq Contura 420C running scientific software

Contura Aero 4/33c

The main Contura series included models 3/20, 3/25, 3/25c, 4/25, 4/25c, 4/25cx, 400, 400C, 400CX, 410, 410C, 410CX, 420C, 420CX, 430C, and 430CX. These were standard-size notebooks, not ultra-portable subnotebook computers. The "X" designation denoted an active matrix screen.

The Compaq Contura Aero 4/25 and 4/33c were among the earliest subnotebook computers that acted as a precursor to netbooks. They were released in 1994 and originally ran MS-DOS and Windows 3.1. They were also able to run Windows 95 after its release in 1995. They were similar to the Armada line of laptop computers, but smaller. Although the 4/25's GPU can produce color, the datasheet for the device states it is incapable of producing color graphics. This does not apply to the 4/33c.

This line of notebook PCs from Compaq was first succeeded by the Compaq C-Series^[1] and then by the Aero 1550 Pocket PC.^[2] The line of handheld devices starting from the Aero 1550 Pocket PC were finally moulded into the iPAQ line of handheld devices, which was handled by Hewlett-Packard, after their acquisition of Compaq.

Series	Model	CPU	Display	RAM	Disk	Misc
Contura	3/20	20 MHz 386SL	VGA monochrome	2 MB	40 or 84 MB	External trackball
	3/25c	25 MHz 386SL	VGA color	4 MB	80 or 120 MB
	4/25	25 MHz 486SL	VGA monochrome		120 or 200 MB
	4/25c		VGA color
	4/25cx		VGA color, active matrix			Integrated trackball
Contura Aero	4/25	i486SX-S (SL enhanced 486SX) running at 25 MHz	Passive matrix gray scale VGA (16 shades (640x480) high resolution, 64 shades (320x200) low resolution, color capable when using an external VGA monitor)	4 MB built-in (expandable to a maximum of 8 MB or 12 MB using an optional 4 or 8MB Compaq branded module, or 20 MB using a third party 16 MB module)	84 MB, 170 MB or 250 MB 2.5" IDE hard disk drive	256 KB video memory (512 KB exists in the system, but is not accessible by the GPU.), 1 PCMCIA slot (Type II), 1 ECP/EPP 1.9 capable parallel port, 1 RS-232, 1.5 x 10.25 x 7.5 inches (3.8 x 26 x 19 cm)[3], Integrated trackball
	4/33c	i486SX-S (SL enhanced 486SX) running at 33 MHz	Passive matrix color VGA (16 colors (640x480) high resolution, 256 colors (320x200) low resolution)	4 MB built-in (expandable to a maximum of 8 or 12 MB using an optional 4 MB or 8 MB Compaq branded module, or 20 MB using a third party 16 MB module)	84 MB, 170 MB or 250 MB 2.5" IDE hard disk drive	256 KB video memory (512 KB exists in the system, but is not accessible by the GPU.), 1 PCMCIA slot (Type II), 1 ECP/EPP 1.9 capable parallel port, 1 RS-232 serial port (16550 UART), 1.7 x 10.25 x 7.5 inches (4.3 x 26 x 19 cm), Integrated trackball
Aero handheld	Compaq Aero 1500 Palm-size PC[4]
	Compaq Aero 2100 Color Palm-size PC[5]
	Compaq Aero 8000 Handheld PC Pro[6]