This form was automatically generated by FORMEY© Version 97.10.3
Author: Gebhard Markus | 4 Australia | 4 Austria |
| 0 Argentinia | 1 Belgium |
| 0 Botswana | 3 Brazil |
| 9 Canada | 0 Colombia |
| 0 Denmark | 2 Finland |
| 1 France | 11 Germany |
| 0 Hong Kong | 4 Italy |
| 1 Japan | 0 Luxembourg |
| 2 Mexico | 2 Netherlands |
| 0 New Zealand | 3 Norway |
| 1 Portugal | 0 Poland |
| 0 Russia | 3 Singapore |
| 0 South Africa | 0 Spain |
| 1 Sweden | 1 Switzerland |
| 3 United Kingdom | 76 USA |
| 4 form a Country not yet in the list |
| 87.5% male | 8.8% female |
| up to 16 years: 5.1% |
|
| 17 to 20: 5.9% |
|
| 21 to 27: 22.1% |
|
| 28 to 38: 32.4% |
|
| 39 to 49: 26.5% |
|
| 50 to 60: 7.4% |
|
| over 60: 0.0% |
|
| 4/33c | 4/25m |
| 4MB: 23.5% |
|
| 8MB: 29.4% |
|
| 12MB: 23.5% |
|
| 20MB: 21.6% |
|
| 4MB: 10.5% |
|
| 8MB: 15.1% |
|
| 12MB: 27.9% |
|
| 20MB: 46.5% |
|
| 72.5% original | 27.5% upgraded |
| 69.8% original | 30.2% upgraded |
| 84MB: 12.5% |
|
| 170MB: 33.8% |
|
| 250MB: 22.1% |
|
| 343MB: 1.5% |
|
| 420MB: 0.0% |
|
| 540MB: 4.4% |
|
| 810MB: 2.2% |
|
| 1080MB: 5.9% |
|
| 1300MB: 3.7% |
|
| 1440MB: 5.9% |
|
| 2100MB: 5.1% |
|
| 3000MB: 0.7% |
|
| Floppy: 88.2% |
|
| modem: 71.3% |
|
| convenience base: 43.4% |
|
| external mouse/trackball etc.: 38.2% |
|
| printer: 41.2% |
|
| external keyboard: 25.7% |
|
| monitor: 25.7% |
|
| ethernet: 25.7% |
|
| mobile port-expander: 21.3% |
|
| car adaptor: 11.0% |
|
| Zip-drive: 25.0% |
|
| cd-rom: 19.1% |
|
| external hard disk: 0.0% |
|
| sound card: 5.9% |
|
| scsi: 5.1% |
|
| PCMCIA video-card: 0.7% |
|
| 40.4% use Windows 3.x |
| 55.1% Windows 95 |
| 30.9% Dos |
| 11.0% Linux |
| 86.0% have only one Operating System on their Aero |
|
| 13.2% have two |
|
| 0.7% have three or more |
|
| 55.1% business |
| 44.9% school, college, university, etc |
| 69.1% hobby, fun |
| Opera: 6.6% |
|
| Netscape: 52.2% |
|
| Internet Explorer: 36.0% |
|
| Lynx: 0.7% |
|
| a different browser: 4.4% |
|
| always the Aero: 4.4% |
|
| most of the time the Aero: 8.8% |
|
| sometimes the Aero: 50.7% |
|
| never the Aero: 36.0% |
|
| 66.9% have opened their Aero |
| 40.4% of the hinges have broken |
|
| :-)) it is great: 66.2% |
|
| :-) it is OK: 31.6% |
|
| :-| I don't know: 1.5% |
|
| :-( It is bad: 0.7% |
|
| :-(( It is the worst: 0.0% |
|
| 41.2% say it is OK |
|
| 19.9% don't know |
|
| 39.0% think it is a bad limitation |
|
| 89.0% say it is OK |
|
| 3.7% don't know |
|
| 7.4% think it is too small |
|
| 44.1% say it is OK |
|
| 8.8% don't know |
|
| 47.1% think it is too slow |
|
| 18.4% say it is great |
|
| 58.8% say it is OK |
|
| 22.8% think it is bad |
|
| 52.9% say it is great |
|
| 33.1% say it is OK |
|
| 14.0% think 20MB is not enough |
|
| 36.0% say theirs is great |
|
| 47.1% say it is OK |
|
| 16.9% say it is bad |
|
| 61.8% say it is great (for a notebook) |
|
| 36.8% say it is OK |
|
| 1.5% say it is bad |
|
| 19.1% say it is great |
|
| 72.1% say it is OK / did never have anything to do with them |
|
| 8.8% say it is bad |
|
| another Aero: 61.8% |
|
| another laptop: 34.6% |
|
| another desktop: 3.7% |
|
Evelyn Lee pastorandy@yahoo.com wrote:Wish there were other user groups as well supported as this one. This group has saved me countless hours, and some $$ in repairing my own aero. I LOVE THIS USERS GROUP!!!
Cherie Clark justcherie@aol.com wrote:My favorite thing about my Aero Contura is the size. I'm a small person and I would hate to carry around a big heavy notebook computer when I go on trips! Oh, and that I got it the basic computer, before I added the new hard drive, extra memory (twice), a pc card modem, and a portable ethernet card, for $899 in 1995 (which included the pcmcia floppy drive)!
Franklin Eekhout frankli@online.no wrote:I would like the pin-out of the expansion port! Scanned or otherwise!
Barry Corkindale barry@corky.globalnet.co.uk wrote:A couple of questions if anyone has time to answer.
I have just bought an Aero 4/25 monocrome for $150.
My screen does not stay vertical. I think the screen clip is broken. How can I get a repacement?
When I installed windows 95, my PCMCIA Floppy drive no longer works. Is this Fixable?
Finally the machine has 12MB ram. What are my upgrade options. Will I have ant free memory ports available?
If you can answer any of these questions, please email me on
barry@corky.globalnet.co.uk
your help is much appreciated
Paulo Carvalho pedece@hotmail.com wrote:The Aero is a great machine!! I've started to work with them 4 years ago, and never stoped loving them!!! At the present time, only two items would make my Aero experience better: another CPU and the 16 colour/640-480 resolution issue worked out towards a more reasonable 256/640-480.
Besides the fact that I own another notebook (toshiba 480 CDT) and a 200 MMX desktop, I'm still using my little Aero, because of it's portability and ease of use.
Regards to you all!!
Paulo
Ryan Lucas rlucas@execpc.com wrote:I only checked the 4/25 model because it was the closes to what I have. I really own the 3/25 model with (386sx) 6 megs of ram and windows 3.1 I only use it for card games and typing college reports and it works fine for me. Purchased it through an internet ad for $125 with deluxe leather carrying case, all adapters, manuals, original parts,and it looks only slightly used. Quite a deal if you ask me.
david_singer lowels@juno.com wrote:i run linux and x-window on an aero with 4 megs ram and a 84 hd (stock aero mono). It took some doing but i have a two meg dos for booting, a six meg swap an eight meg dos-apps partition which i access thru linux-dosemu. I did all this without using the floppy, using only the interlink files and another desktop. I also had to open the case to take out the rtc battery when it died, and i lost some of the screws. Anyone have a list of the screws that hold the keyboard, and case together? and where i can get them, and how much?
Casey Lancour cjlancour@csupomona.edu wrote:I like the small keyboard (grins), I learned to type on this little
computer.
Harris haridimos.saounatsos@stud.umist.ac.uk wrote:
C. Campbell rtwingo@earthlink.net wrote:I think the my Aero is just great!!! The price / performance combination was good 3 years ago when I bought it and I am still able to get a good amount of use out of it after doing a few relatively inexpensive upgrades (33.6 modem & 20meg of RAM). The hard drive is of course too small at 170mb and that is the next problem to tackle. Overall GREAT value!!!! Check out www.buycomp.com for the Kingston 16Meg RAM upgrade for only $50.95!!!!!
Haydn Jones haydnjones@geocities.com wrote:AEROS ROCK!
DEBRA SHAFFER CRUILLA666@AOL.COM wrote:I WANT TO UP GRADE THE HARD DRIVE DOES ANYONE HAVE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISASSEMBLING ( PREFER STEP BY STEP) INSTRUCTIONS?
IS IT TRUE IS I UPGRADE THE RAM THAT I NEED A DISK FOR THE BIOS? IF SO, CAN U EMAIL ME A COPY? THANKS DEBI
Sebastian Volders hi930268@beta.ufsia.ac.be wrote:well, i do like my aero, which I only got recently and second handed, very much. It is really easy and cool to work with.
I am however a little bit disappointed in compaq because they can't provide an online version of the manual. They gave me an internet adress to go to ,but there i would have to buy the manual at a rather high price.
So, if anyone of you knows where I can find an online manual, pleas let me know.
Bye
Daniel Bentley rehnna@geocities.com wrote:For size, weight, and ability (and can't forget cost ;) ), the Aero's one -mean- lil' campaigner. My poor Aeros have taken their share of abuse, and still humm along contentedly. 486-33, less than a Gig storage, only 20M RAM, bah, I LOVE my Aero. :b :)
Just have two qualms: 1. ability to install Linux onto this puppy, RedHat 5.0 release. Two choices, external CD drive ala. Trantor cable (they don't like supporting the suker in releases) or PCMCIA Sony PRD-150. Any suggestions...?
Martin Gafner martin.gafner@swissmail.com wrote:I own the Aero since five years now. I think, for this age, it is very usable at this time, if you use not the newest software.
giovanni giovanni.locicero@marconi.it wrote:Why italian Compaq support don't suply spare part in case of screen-heinge broken
Christian Tan pigeon@xs4all.nl wrote:I collect computers. The Aero is one of themost beautifull AND usefull computers ever made. Because it's so small I would not trade it for another notebook. The keyboard works great. My primary limitation is the 84 MB harddisk, which I'd like to replace, so I can run Linux on it. In combination with the floppy, a 3com ethernetcard, a Fujitsu modem, it's a wonderfull portable workstation. Next thing I'd like to try is BeOS on it. Really love this machine.
Victor Asselberghs vcma@worldonline.nl wrote:After succesfully installing Win95-OSR2 and 16Meg's extra I'm a happy traveller again but you need to be blessed with a spare battery ( or a long extension cord )because the H-disk still eats Jiggowatts. I am eagerly awaiting my ordered Nokia Cellular Data Suite so I can Fax/E-mail where ever I go with my Nokia 3110 connected directly to the RS 232. I hope it works. I will keep all those interested up to date on this site. Perhaps I'll go for a bigger HD and maybe even a faster CPU as soon as it's available and the latter tested thoroughly ;-)
Tim Driver NASA@prodigy.net wrote:Great little machine with little investment. I like the small size and weight. Friends think it is a PDA!
Charles Garrity isszguy@prodigy.net wrote:I just placed an order for the 20 meg option and am considering getting a larger hard drive. I've had the computer for nearly 4 years (the first two it spent a lot of time on the road.) I just got around to installing Windows 95 on the machine and I like it much better this way. The only thing I don't like about the computer is the 16 color display, but that was the way things were (price wise) when I bought the unit. I recently looked at laptops and saw nothing like it (size-wise). Either they were too big or too small. I'll keep my Aero until it bites the dust.
Uli Brinkmann brinkman@uni-trier.de wrote:The Opera browser is great with my Aero!
Gabriel Barrera Delgadillo gbarrera@interflow.com.mx wrote:Well I need a battery for my Aero, but in Mexico I couldn´t Find it...
Can you help me?
Liz Nguyen enguyen@worldnet.att.net wrote:I am considering purchasing a 16 meg RAM module for my 4/25 Aero, in which case I will have to say goodbye to the 8 meg module I have been using. As long as I boot up with my floppy drive in the PC Card port, I have no problems switching to my Sony 4X CD-ROM external drive. Fortunately, I use an external USRObotics 28,8Kbps Sportster Fax modem so I can keep the port free for externals. I am still trying to perfect the use of my Logitech First scrolling mouse! I can't wait for the processor upgrade! As things are now, the low graphics display quality has been a hindrance to my use of better software for my Umax Astra 600S scanner with the computer!
David Drucker ddrucker@stny.lrun.com wrote:I use the Aero almost exclusively for writing on the road (WP51/DOS) and E-mail (compuserve via TapCIS). For that purpose, it's superb.
Marty Zavatchan mgz@canis.tacom.army.mil wrote:I am running wind95. I feel that the PCMCIA utility is much too hard in getting
it to work properly. Also it is next to impossible if a person isn't a computer analyst to switch between PCMCIA options. I have a 3.5 floppy, Sony CDROM, and a XIRCOM credit card modem/ethernet card.
Barbara Perlik bperlik@gmu.edu wrote:It served me well during many classes, for notetaking, papers, and data analysis. I have moved from the Aero to a Dell Inspiron 3000MXT (233MHz Pentium MMX). But I am giving the Aero to a long time friend who has 2 Commodore 128's (2MHz)!
Seeyoung Park wantmeet@bbs.para.co.kr wrote:I'm from South Korea.
Aero is enough to write word processing, and surf internet.
Edgard Lemos edgardle@mandic.com.br wrote:Finding this page was like fiding a hidden treasure. I was about to retire my little toy and buy a super computer when I heard about this 20 M upgrade thing. Searched the Internet for some suppliers and I ended up finding out I am a member of I world wide brotherhood! Great! I learned that I can upgrade the hard drive. Fantastic! I'll do that immediately and wait for the CPU.
Live long and prosper!
Doug K. TheMine@hotmail.com wrote:Greetings Aerolians!
Who in their right mind would buy one of the new 256 color WindowsCE handhelds for $900 plus? I just sold my Cassiopeia for $300 to some fool and bought an Aero 433C from my son. I love it!!! It's the answer to my backpacking prayers.
I use a digital camera when hiking/canoeing and need storage to dump the pics as well as document my travels. I am buying a solar recharger (for around $200 US) that hopefully will work as advertised.
Great page - thanks for all the tips and info!
Doug K. TheMine@hotmail.com wrote:Greetings Aerolians!
Who in their right mind would buy one of the new 256 color WindowsCE handhelds for $900 plus? I just sold my Cassiopeia for $300 to some fool and bought an Aero 433C from my son. I love it!!! It's the answer to my backpacking prayers.
I use a digital camera when hiking/canoeing and need storage to dump the pics as well as document my travels. I am buying a solar recharger (for around $200 US) that hopefully will work as advertised.
Great page - thanks for all the tips and info!
Todd VanNatta ToddV1997@AOL.COM wrote:The 20-meg upgrade for the RAM works well. First I tried the 8-meg but
it didn't work, so I had to send it back.
Me and My Aero PSWA1904@aol.com wrote:I upgraded my memory to by 16...It started with 4...we all know
that 4 16 = 20...right? Not my little Aero! I added the BIOS upgrade
to get DOS to accept more than 16. So when DOS starts it agrees that
It has 20 ...when I start Windows 3.1 and check on memory, it claims
to have 27 ...Saying in it's own little laptop way that: It started
with 6megs (false it was 4) and now that I've added 16megs, that makes
27874. HUH?
Q: How do I educate my little friend? Can't the Trolls add? HELP?
Mike Waldorff mwaldorf@viptx.net wrote:My screen is blank, before this was in intermittent problem that I could solve by opening and closing the case but now it is blank all the time. Is this a common problem with aero's that I might be able to fix ? If not who would anyone recommend to repair it .
bob geer bgeer@xmission.com wrote:http://www.xmission.com/~bgeer: The Compaq replacement track ball works very nicely - it's just hard to get them to send one. It took me 3 tries. Of course the CPU is too slow & the screen is too small, but for an early 90's design what can you expect? Using Linux (Slackware 3.4) & Apache 1.2 (or so) & a cheap network PCMCIA card, the Aero serves up my HTML pages & executes PERL cgi-bin's quickly & efficiently. With another laptop & a peer-to-peer 10BaseT cable my wife & I can readily demnstrate a diabetes education support program we are developing.
Peter Smith jupiter@technologist.com wrote:Great computer for working in the field - pity the CPU is hard to upgrade. A HDD upgrade is next - I've done the RAM! My keybaord and mouse buttons are getting stiff - anyone else notice this?
Shuichi NAKAMURA shuzo@cis.canon.co.jp wrote:I am really surprised that how many people loves AERO in the WORLD.
I'm now writing FreeBSD 2.2.5-RELEASE installation guide for AERO
(sorry but in Japanese now).
If you want to know how to install FreeBSD into AERO, please come to see
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~WR7S-NKMR/FreeBSD/AERO/225R/install.htm
Thanx!
Anestis apapoutsis@systematic.com wrote:The aero had been my main computer for a long time. I built alot of stuff around it. Unfortunately, I needed some speed because I am in multimedia and I started to work from home. BUT i still use the Aero for it's portability on the road and to transfer files from work to home.
I'm really looking forward to that processor upgrade that is being offered soon!
It better not cost an arm and a leg though ;)
Dimitrios Apostolou dapost@salonika.hellasnet.gr wrote:new country Greece
Jim Swann jswan@worldnet.att.net wrote:When the right hinge broke, Compaq extended the warranty to cover the repair. I had called to try and get a part number for the improved hinge and the engineer offered to cover the replacement. I felt that was excellent product support.
C0V3R c0v3r@earthling.net wrote:great page... you should put up some mods or stuff that you/other people have done other than the hdd
Jim jboros@highfiber.com wrote:I changed the screen in mine, it was worth it. I like the size and weight. Use it mainly for controlling Ham equipment and embedded controller development. You can take it with you!
Dipl.-Ing. Kurt Stubenvoll kurt.stubenvoll@stmk.gv.at wrote:I just need more than 84MB Disk-Space
Rolf Becker rolf.becker@netclub.de wrote:Endlich ein Notebook das diesen namen verdient, was Groesse und gewicht angehen.
Und das auch schoen zu bedienen ist, bis auf den Trackball
Torgeir Sanstøl torgeir@tsi.no wrote:This is a great notebook !!!! :-)))
John Navarro jnavarro@leland.stanford.edu wrote:I am loving this page. I like the questionnaire and will be using one
similar to it. Thanks for the wonderful template
Please come and answer my questionnaire and tell your friends
http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~jnavarro
Terry Stitch stitch@netrover.com wrote:I think the aero is great but I would like to upgrade the cpu, memory, and add a sound card, and a cd to it.
Pete Z pzx1@sky.net wrote:I am a Mac technican who's empyloyer has recently given up on the Macintosh platform, so I sold my personal Mac Quadra 700 (that's a desktop Mac). I wanted a laptop that I could use to learn
Windows 95, and I always had thought the Aero was way cool. I bought mine about a month ago from Dollar Computer as a "refurb" for $599..."plus S&H." One of the reasons I went with the Aero is
the vast amount of technical information on it that is available on the net and the fanaticism of it's devotees! Thanks for all the support you guys provide.
bob jenkins bjenkins@starmail.com wrote: I dont see why anyone would have problems with the tracball if it clogs take the ball out and spray the roller with electronics grade dust spray (i use endust). Just dont get the keyboar (it fried most of the number keys and the shift and enter keys) but at least the keyboard is easy to replace ;-]
Paul Hankerson phankers@insight.com wrote:I Love my Aero and I expect to be upgrading my hard drive soon. I haven't had any hinge breaking but with the unit closed the seam is seperating at the edges. Is this what is referred to as broken hinges? I sell computers and the only thing to rival the Aero in the last three years was the IBM Thinkpad 560. (recentyl discontinued). Great to hear from all of the Aerolians out there.
Kathleen oneill@cnw.com wrote:Aero is my first venture into the 'notebook world'. I like it's small size and portability. However, the keyboard is a little small and I do wish it had an internal 1.44 but, all things considered, I think it's a fine little machine.
Francesco Caldarone wired@tin.it wrote:i want to upgrade my cpu!
Jason Wong jasonwong@post1.com wrote:I hope to be the first to upgrade my AERO CPU. Any suggestions, I'm willing to risk the machine.
Chris aka@magna.com.au wrote:Great little machine
Adam Hartfiel flosdinner@hotmail.com wrote:Whoa compaq is a pain i had a simple problem that i managed to resolve before they got around to replying and now they want me to do their customer support survey what a pain.
Brian K. Dore bkd@usl.edu wrote:I mainly use my Aero to diagnose network problems and test PC Network configurations. It is a pleasure to use after having to lug a Thinkpad a mile across campus.
Jim Hicks flippy@poboxes.com wrote: Well the dream of a cpu upgrade may soon come true....................
Dragon Slayer aka Don art40417@leonis.nus.sg wrote:Well....
I am still waiting for a German Company to come up with the 586 133mHz upgrade for the Aero! And should we also do something about the video problem? In any case, I am still most attached with my Aero despite having a Pentium 200 desktop thousands of time faster. Gee.....sometimes I miss the good old days of simple DOS on my XT...the Aero would have been a rocket at that time.
Adam Hartfiel Flosdinner@hotmail.com wrote:great page
Dragon Slayer art40417@leonis.nus.sg wrote:Dear Aerolians:
The aero is great stuff! And thanks to to FAQ. Instructions in it sent me swiftly all the way to opening up my aero and changing my harddisk! You guys should try it. Nothing will go wrong if you do it real SLOW....step by step. As far as I am concerned, the trip inside my aero is certainly not fairy tale!
Steve Cianfrone steve.cianfrone@us.comp.philips.com wrote:Nice page - could have used it about 2 years ago when I started working on my companies 30 Aero's. Have upgraded about 15 of these to 20MB RAM 2.1GB HD; all with Megahertz CCEM3288 Ethernet/Modem cards. The other 15 have broken hinges and are used for parts. Am considering sending one or two in to Evergreen for the CPU upgrade.
Ian Coates ircoates@riverside.easynet.co.uk wrote:I've got a spare 4/25 system board from a dead Aero (vandalised), and I'm thinking about trying OnSite (or any other suggested supplier) for an upgrade to Pentium 75 - I don't know the cost yet, but I'm willing to risk it if the cost is reasonable. If it's not vapourware and the upgrade happens I'll pass on the results. I'd hate to risk a fully functioning Aero with a company I didn't know. I can't really be the first upgrader, can I?
Now the questions...
Has anyone found a supplier for backlights yet?
Has anyone found a cheap source of screens (direct to Citizen etc?)
Where can I get a "type convertor" (PCMCIA Y-piece) in the UK? None of the supposed portable experts seem to know what I mean!
P Sarasqueta mrstwin@cyberhighway.net wrote:Too bad Compaq gave up on this line. There is and will be a demand for very light subnotes that can run Win 95. I wish Compaq would make another Aero using the same case (size & weight are fine), but better hinge and better screen. This new unit would have the new 1.8 volt mobile Pentium (longer battery life) and room for a couple of 32 unit ram chips. My hinge is broken for second time and I am currently looking at either the Nimantics Persona or Mitsubishi Amity CN or Tishiba Libretto 60 (the 50 is marketed here, the 60 in Japan).
Rob Patti rpatti@polymail.calpoly.edu wrote:The aero is perfect for college students. You can take it to class or just about anywhere. It's smaller than most of my textbooks. The only thing that could make it better would be an affordable CPU upgrade!
Ray K mrmonk@cyberdude.com wrote:The Aero is a great and very handy laptop. Too bad Compaq made the wrong choice of having abandoned the little devil. The size and weight is just right for anyone who can't must have a computer in their possession at all times...even in the bathroom (yes, I do). Now...Toshiba has the Libretto, even smaller than the Aero and comes with all the bells and whistles. Mitsubishi also joined the band wagon with its Aero size Pentium 133, that packs 1.2G Hd, 16Mb RAM expandable to 48Mb and 7.5" passive matrix display at less than $2K and weighs only 2.4lbs!
Compaq misfocused their binoculars by focusing on the high-end corporate power user, who they thought wanted bigger, larger and faster laptops. Sure, as Aero owners, we also wanted bigger hard disk, more memory, perhaps multi-media, but we never wanted a trade off in size and weight. I have a Toshiba Pentium that weight 7.8lbs. It stays at home while the little devil Aero goes with me whenever the need for computing is desired. Of the 250Hd, it still has 115Mb available...it means I have loaded it with the minimum files that would make it run very decently. What is left of Win3.1 in my Aero is just the barebones. This is the 2nd year of service of my Aero and I think that I will use it until it just breaks apart. Hello COMPAQ...better wake up...you are being left behind!!!!
Terry Donohue tada@akamail.com wrote:Better screen colors would be great, and a track ball that doesn't clog all the time. And how about a hinge that doesn't break.
RALPH GOSSETT RGOSSETT@SEOUL-PSD.KOREA.ARMY.MIL wrote:I use a Xircom ethernet adapter, it is GREAT!
David Murray dmurray@powermedia.net wrote:The aero is a great niche computer! It isn't for everybody.. like power-users.. But there is no other computer more fascinating! Visit my Aero Page at http://www2.powermedia.net/aero
