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Hardware

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

By Bill Detwiler January 26, 2012, 4:49 AM PST Bill Detwiler on Twitter billdetwiler

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Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300

ntLong before Intel dreamed up the term “ultrabook”, computer makers were selling laptops designed to be highly portable. These machines were thinner and lighter than traditional laptops with only slightly less power.

n

ntI used one such machine when I first started at TechRepublic–the Compaq Armada M300. It served me well for many years, and I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute than to crack it open.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Hardware specifications

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Hardware specifications

ntThe Compaq Armada M300 was available with either an 11.3″ or 12.1″ display and came in a variety of hardware configurations.

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Dimensions

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Dimensions

ntThe 11.3″ Compaq Armada M300 measures 10.4″ W x 0.9″ H x 9.0″ D and weighs ~3.1 lbs.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Keyboard and track pad

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Keyboard and track pad

ntAccording to Compaq, the Armada M300’s keyboard is 95 percent the size of a standard laptop keyboard.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Rear ports

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Rear ports

ntThe Compaq Armada M300’s battery could be rotated downward. This positioned the laptop at a slight incline for easier typing.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Docking station

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Docking station

ntAs the Compaq Armada M300 had no built-in optical or floppy drives, Compaq sold a docking station with a 1.44 floppy drive and a CD-ROM or DVD drive.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Floppy and CD-Rom drives

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Floppy and CD-Rom drives

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy drive and CD-ROM

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy drive and CD-ROM

ntThe docking station’s floppy and optical drives are removable.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Docking station ports

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Docking station ports

ntThe docking station also had a variety of ports.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Mounted on docking station

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Mounted on docking station

ntAttaching the Compaq Armada M300’s docking station nearly doubled its height.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Side-by-side with the Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Side-by-side with the Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook

ntCompared to a modern ultrabook, the Acer Aspire S3, the Armada M300 deeper but also narrower.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Not quite as thin as an ultrabooks from 2011

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Not quite as thin as an ultrabooks from 2011

ntThe Acer Aspire S3 is slightly thinner than the old Compaq Armada M300.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the battery

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the battery

ntThe first step in cracking open the Armada M300 is removing the battery.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD lock screw

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD lock screw

ntAfter removing the battery, I removed the hard drive locking screw.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD

ntWith the its locking screw removed, the Armada M300’s HDD slides out.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 6.4GB 2.5" IBM Travelstar hard drive

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 6.4GB 2.5" IBM Travelstar hard drive

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem board cover screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem board cover screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem board cover

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem board cover

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Ambit Microsystems U98.003.C.00 modem plus 10/100 NIC combo card

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Ambit Microsystems U98.003.C.00 modem plus 10/100 NIC combo card

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the system battery cover

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the system battery cover

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the system battery

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the system battery

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the bottom case screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the bottom case screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the rear case screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the rear case screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Popping loose the keyboard

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Popping loose the keyboard

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the keyboard

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the keyboard

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Compaq Model 120238 keyboard

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Compaq Model 120238 keyboard

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Keyboard

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Keyboard

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the upper lid/display hinge cover

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the upper lid/display hinge cover

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the lid/display hinge screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the lid/display hinge screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the lid/display

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the lid/display

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 11.3" display

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 11.3" display

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Lid/display removed

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Lid/display removed

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Disconnecting the trackpad connector

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Disconnecting the trackpad connector

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the upper half of the case

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the upper half of the case

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Upper case and trackpad

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Upper case and trackpad

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Internal hardware

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Internal hardware

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the RAM

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the RAM

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 128MB Toshiba THLY6416G1FG-80 SD RAM 100MHz

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 128MB Toshiba THLY6416G1FG-80 SD RAM 100MHz

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD and modem PCB screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD and modem PCB screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem connector PCB

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the modem connector PCB

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD connector PCB

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the HDD connector PCB

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: HDD and modem connector PCBs

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: HDD and modem connector PCBs

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Disconnecting all the motherboard connectors

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Disconnecting all the motherboard connectors

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the motherboard screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the motherboard screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Lower case with internal speaker, fan, modem, and Ethernet ports

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Lower case with internal speaker, fan, modem, and Ethernet ports

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Motherboard and power supply PCB

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Motherboard and power supply PCB

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Power supply PCB - Top

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Power supply PCB - Top

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Power supply PCB - Bottom

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Power supply PCB - Bottom

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the cooling assembly screws

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Removing the cooling assembly screws

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 333 Mhz Mobile Pentium II CPU (L003A091 SL32S KC 333/256)

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: 333 Mhz Mobile Pentium II CPU (L003A091 SL32S KC 333/256)

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Intel PCIset FW82443DX

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Intel PCIset FW82443DX

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Intel PCIset FW82371EB

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Intel PCIset FW82371EB

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ATI 3G Rage LT Pro GPU

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ATI 3G Rage LT Pro GPU

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Integrated Circuit Systems (ICS) 9148F-12 9936 CA930410

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Integrated Circuit Systems (ICS) 9148F-12 9936 CA930410

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: NEC D4811650GF-A10-9BT

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: NEC D4811650GF-A10-9BT

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Texas Instruments PCI 7A 98N7RVJ

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Texas Instruments PCI 7A 98N7RVJ

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ESS ES1921S CB3S15 C 449

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ESS ES1921S CB3S15 C 449

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: P15C 34X245B Y9941A0C

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: P15C 34X245B Y9941A0C

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: SMSC FDC37N971 B9938-B7556 8F17777

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: SMSC FDC37N971 B9938-B7556 8F17777

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ESS MAESTRO-2E ES1978S B409 TAV32121S

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ESS MAESTRO-2E ES1978S B409 TAV32121S

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Intel E28F004 B5T80 U9450424Y

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Intel E28F004 B5T80 U9450424Y

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: NEC D4811650GF-A10-9BT 9947EEA22

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: NEC D4811650GF-A10-9BT 9947EEA22

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ADM3311EARU 9947 F112081.1

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: ADM3311EARU 9947 F112081.1

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Misc. chips

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Misc. chips

Cracking Open an ultrabook ancestor the Compaq Armada M300

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Completely disassembled

Cracking Open the Compaq Armada M300: Completely disassembled

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By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
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