Compaq SLT/286

The Compaq SLT/286 was Compaq’s first battery-powered laptop. It paired a 12 MHz 80286 with a folding grayscale VGA display, internal hard disk and a full-size keyboard in a portable clamshell case.

Its desktop-style performance and display made it an influential early business laptop, although its size and weight still reflected the transportable era.

Notable Features

• Compaq’s first battery-powered laptop
• VGA-resolution monochrome LCD
• Removable battery and desktop expansion options through a base

Historical Significance

• Its desktop-style performance and display made it an influential early business laptop, although its size and weight still reflected the transportable era.

Collector’s Notes

• Original rechargeable batteries should be treated cautiously and removed before leakage damages the case or electronics.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Compaq SLT/286
Manufacturer	Compaq
Launched	Saturday, October 1, 1988
Launch Price	From $5,399
Country	United States
CPU	Intel 80286
Units Sold
Form Factor	Laptop
Power	Rechargeable NiCd battery or AC adapter
Networking	Via modem or expansion base
Operating System	Compaq MS-DOS
Expansion / I/O	Serial, parallel, VGA and expansion-base connector
Keyboard	Full-size integrated keyboard
Storage	1.44 MB 3.5-inch floppy and 20 or 40 MB hard disk
Sound	PC speaker
Colours	16 grayscale shades
Graphics	640 x 480 VGA
Display	Built-in 10-inch grayscale VGA LCD
ROM	Compaq BIOS
RAM	640 KB conventional plus extended memory options
CPU Speed	12 MHz