Compaq
Compaq used to be the great American success story. Yet in spite of its promising beginnings, it only lasted about two decades before Hewlett-Packard took it over. To many the beginnings of Compaq were auspicious for the greatness an American company could enjoy, in spite of simply being a small company. Probably its first claim to fame was IBM clone which catapulted Compaq into the forefront of consumer demands, and thus also spelled profitability for the company. Two years before giving up its autonomy to HP, the Compaq PDA was but the latest technology offering.

Compaq delighted the public by adding a 206 MHz processor which – when combined with the 16 MB of SDRAM memory packs quite a powerful punch. Software for Compaq’s iPAQ PDA was quite impressive as well; there were the Pocket Excel, Word, and Internet Explorer utilities as well as Windows Media Player. A variety of other applications were also added to Compaq PDA software package, such as the capabilities of a Compaq GPS PDA which was a great addition for any driver. PDAs were to be Compaq’s mode of remaining competitive in a market that suddenly appeared to be overrun with more and more cost effective gadgets, yet in 2002 the entire dream ended in a merger with HP.

At this point in time the Compaq logo is not longer proudly displayed on a number of devices, but instead it has been replaced with HP. While it is sad to see Compaq leave the market, one must have grudging admiration for the Hewlett-Packard and the company’s ability to not only run with the iPAQ but to take it from a great gadget and make it an amazing gadget. HP has added enough technology to make it one of the top models on the American as well as the international markets, and the fact that built-in Bluetooth as well as CampactFlash are part and parcel of the series only makes the company more popular.

At this point in time it is unsure where HP will take the iPAQ. What is also unsure is whether or not there will be more startup companies like Compaq who for a while dominated the market only to then go under in the midst of strife, mismanagement, and perhaps also mistakes with respect to the direction of the company itself. Perhaps the companies following in Compaq’s footsteps will be wiser in its dealings.