The Contura was a line of
notebook computers produced by
Compaq. Released in 1992, the Contura was Compaq's first attempt at making an affordable, entry-level laptop computer.
Contura series
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)
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.
External trackball attached to the side of the laptop
3/25c
386SL running at 25 MHz
Display: VGA color
RAM: 4 MB
80 MB or 120 MB hard disk
External trackball attached to the side of the laptop
4/25
486SL running at 25 MHz
Display: VGA monochrome
RAM: 4 MB
120 MB or 200 MB hard disk
External trackball attached to the side of the laptop
4/25c
486SL running at 25 MHz
Display: VGA color
RAM: 4 MB
120 MB or 200 MB hard disk
External trackball attached to the side of the laptop
4/25cx
486SL running at 25 MHz
Display: VGA color (active matrix)
RAM: 4 MB
120 MB or 200 MB hard disk
Integrated trackball
Contura Aero series
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.
Display:Passive matrix gray scale
VGA (16 shades (640x480) high resolution, 64 shades (320x200) low resolution, color capable when using an external VGA monitor)
RAM: 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)
256 KB video memory (512 KB exists in the system, but is not accessible by the GPU.)
Display: Passive matrix color VGA (16 colors (640x480) high resolution, 256 colors (320x200) low resolution)
RAM: 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)
256 KB video memory (512 KB exists in the system, but is not accessible by the GPU.)
This line of notebook PCs from Compaq was first succeeded by the Compaq C-Series[5] and then by the Aero 1550 Pocket PC.[6] 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.
In popular culture
The Compaq Contura 4/25cx was used and seen in the 1995 Season 2, Episode 8 of Friends.
The Compaq Contura 4/33c was used and seen in the 2000 Season 4, Episode 4 of La Femme Nikita.