Personal Computer
Manufacture Period: 1997/98
The C120 from Compaq was a handheld PC meant to be capable of aiding a user with their everyday tasks; also known as a PDA. First released in North America in November of 1996, this product is essentially a rebranded Casio Cassieopia A-11, being produced by Casio out of Japan. Running on the then new Windows CE from Microsoft, this operating system was coded to be specifically used with palm PCs and be capable of running Microsoft programs, such as Excel or Word. The C120 could also connect to your personal computer to download or update documents for alterations on-the-go. Released alongside the C120 was the C140 and the C120+, having slightly different hardware specs. Compaq would continue to produce handheld PCs until the early 2000s.
The company Compaq was founded in 1982, being established to produce computers using IBM software and devices (ex. Monitors). Compaq found early success, in 1986 reaching the Fortune 500 and in 1987 being the “youngest company” to reach $1 billion in sales. This growth was difficult to maintain, especially holding market share against competition through the late 1990s. After closing out the millennium on a low note, Compaq was later sold to Hewlett-Packard (now known as HP) in 2002. The brand would continue as the subset of HP representing the company’s lower-end home computer systems. Though the company known as Compaq was absorbed and has stopped producing, it still exists as a purchasable license others may use to brand technology products.
On loan from Prof. Tracey Lauriault
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 in Media Museum
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