Compaq

Compaq Computer Corporation
Compaq
Company typePublic
NYSE: CPQ[2]
IndustryComputer hardware
Computer software
GenreComputer
FoundedFebruary 16, 1982; 42 years ago (1982-02-16)
FoundersRod Canion
Jim Harris
Bill Murto
Defunct2002 (as a separate company)
2013 (as a brand of HP; still active outside of the US)
FateAcquired by Hewlett-Packard, brand name retired by HP in 2013
SuccessorItself (as a brand of Hewlett-Packard; 2002−2013)
Hewlett-Packard/HP Inc.[b] (since 2013)
Headquarters
Harris County, Texas
,
U.S.
Area served
  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • India
ProductsDesktops, laptops, servers, telecom equipment, software
SubsidiariesTandem Computers
Digital Equipment Corporation
Websitewww.compaq.com

Compaq Computer Corporation[c] was an American information technology company founded in 1982 that developed, sold, and supported computers and related products and services. Compaq produced some of the first IBM PC compatible computers, being the second company after Columbia Data Products[3] to legally reverse engineer the BIOS of the IBM Personal Computer.[4][5] It rose to become the largest supplier of PC systems during the 1990s. The company was initially based in Harris County, Texas.

The company was formed by Rod Canion, Jim Harris, and Bill Murto, all of whom were former Texas Instruments senior managers. All three had left by 1991 under a shakeup, which saw Eckhard Pfeiffer appointed president and CEO, serving through the 1990s. Ben Rosen provided the venture capital financing for the fledgling company and served as chairman of the board for 17 years from 1983 until September 28, 2000, when he retired and was succeeded by Michael Capellas, who served as its last chairman and CEO until its merger.[6][7]

Compaq was overtaken by Dell as the top global PC maker in 1999,[8] which took Compaq several months to take the top spot again in 2000 before eventually being overtaken by Dell again in 2001.[9] Struggling to keep up in the price wars against Dell, as well as with a risky acquisition of DEC,[10] Compaq was acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HP) for US$25 billion in 2002.[11][12] The Compaq brand remained in use by HP for lower-end systems until 2013 when it was discontinued.[13] As of 2024, the brand is currently licensed to third parties for use on electronics in Brazil and India.[14][15]

  1. ^ Greene, Tim (June 15, 1998). "Compaq airs post-merger plan". Network World. 15 (24). IDG Publications: 7 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ Staff writer (January 2, 2002). "Compaq buys back $1 bln in stock". CNET. Red Ventures.
  3. ^ Aboard the Columbia, By Bill Machrone, p. 451, Jun 1983, PC Mag.
  4. ^ "Compaq I Portable computer". Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  5. ^ The Compaq computer is a full-function portable business computer that resembles the IBM PC in almost every way..., Byte review. Archived May 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Compaq Names Michael Capellas Chairman". H41131.www4.hp.com. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  7. ^ "Compaq Appoints Michael D. Capellas President and Chief Executive Officer". H41131.www4.hp.com. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  8. ^ Rivkin, Jan W., and Porter, Michael E. Matching Dell, Harvard Business School Case 9-799-158, June 6, 1999.
  9. ^ "Dell becomes world's top PC maker". April 20, 2001. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Dell Computer Corporation Online Case Archived 2013-01-04 at archive.today. Mhhe.com. Retrieved on 2016-06-10.
  11. ^ "Hewlett-Packard and Compaq Agree to Merge, Creating $87 Billion Global Technology Leader" (Press release). Hewlett-Packard. September 3, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
  12. ^ "Hewlett-Packard in Deal to Buy Compaq for $25 Billion in Stock". The New York Times. September 4, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
  13. ^ Chris Ziegler (May 23, 2012). "'HP Compaq' branding to end next year, Compaq name will live on for 'basic computing at entry-level pricing'". The Verge. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference compaqglobalk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference compawossify was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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