Armada is a discontinued line of business laptops by Compaq. They started as a more affordable version of the Contura line, but after that, they replaced Contura as a mainstream laptop line, and then the high-end Compaq LTE line were merged with Armada as a premium 7300 and 7700 sub-lines.
Overview
History
The 3 generations can be classified: First gen with gray 1100 low-end lines, grey 4100/4200 midrange lines and white 7300 and 7700 high-end lines with Pentium I (or Pentium MMX) CPU's. Second gen — the design unification: new 1500/1700 and 3500 models, and redesign of previous generation high-end lines (7400 and 7800 laptops) — all-gray design and wave in a palmrest (if they exist); except early models of 1500 line, all new models have a Pentium II CPU in a base. Mid-gen 6500 laptop — first high-end model without a PointStick; the design was similar to the latest DEC laptops, as DEC was acquired in June 1998 by Compaq. Third gen — E, M and V series with all-flat design, similar to 6500 model, with dark gray case and blue touchpad (or pointstick) buttons. The last models (100s/110) is a transitive generation between the Armada and Evo lines.
Design
Armada is a line of classic business laptops, with hot-swappable bays (include the easy-removable MultiBay CD/DVD-drive), magnesium alloys (except some models), and have a dual battery and docking stations as common option. Armada E500 (with PC card) is a first laptop with optional fingerprint reader. Some models have a small lifting feet; some models could be ordered with internal power supply, and all of Armada laptops have a screen latches (except 1100 line).
Armada 1100, 4100 and 4200 series
1996-1997 lines. These haves a trackball (or touchpad option for 4100/4200 series), instead of high-end LTE 5#00 line with pointing stick. Like other Pentium I laptops, soldered RAM placed in the same replaceable board with CPU and can be easily upgraded.
Early-released base models (mid-1996) is a 1110, 1120 and 4110.
The Armada 1100 offers a mainstream feature set in order to provide a compelling price-performance equation for the target market. It is meant to give customers all they need to run standard business applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, mail, etc... For customers that desire multi-media features, Compaq offers the LTE 5000 and the new Armada 4100 family of notebook computers. Third party external CD solutions are also available.
Armada 1100 series
An affordable version of the Contura 420 & 430C(X) models with same case and base specs which started at less than $2,000. The Armada version has a larger HDD and better CPU, but less warranty and no docking port. They only have a FDD, 8 or 16 MB base RAM and one EDO SODIMM RAM slot (that limited upgradeability up to 24 or 32 MB), and a NiMH battery with up to ~2–3 hours of runtime. This is the last Compaq notebook without a sound card. T models have a TFT display, just like the Contura CX models.
290 x 260 x 38 mm; ~2.3 kg. 10.4" screen (passive for base model, active for T).
Armada 1110 − Pentium (75); CSTN 640x480 screen.
Armada 1120(T) − Pentium (100), CSTN/TN 640x480 screen.
Armada 1130(T) − Pentium (120/133), CSTN/TN 800x600 screen, 16MB RAM soldered. Cirrus Logic GD7548.
Armada 4100 and 4200 series
Mainstream lines; 2 RAM slots, CD drive option, gray plastic case with internal magnesium alloy and with speakers in palmrest. Cirrus Logic graphic. Support for up to 3 batteries with promised 12 hours of working (Li-ion batteries also as option); the transportation handle with additional battery inside of them is one of these options.
Supports full-size dock option (Convenience Base) and smallest 4100 series docking base.
302 x 226 x 57 mm (38 mm Slimline); ~2.8 kg (4.13 kg with Dock station). Up to 12.1" screen.
4200 series significant differences: Cardbus slot; non-upgradable CPU; 430TX chipset, C&T 65555 video. 2.4+ kg. Non-compatible with 4100 series 4 GB HDD option; 32 MB of soldered RAM and limit is 96 MB.
Armada 4200T − Pentium MMX (233); 12.1" (800x600).
Armada 4210T − Same as 4200T, instead hard drive.
Armada 4220T − Pentium MMX (266).
Armada 7300 and 7700 series
High-end models with conservative white cases and with similar to last gen LTE laptops design. Only Pointstick is a pointing option. Both of them have a lifting feet, multiple bay option (include MultiBay) and both of them support a same docking stations (ArmadaStation, Armada MiniStation (E and EX).). The successors with similar cases is a 7400 and 7800 models (with different case color and with facelifted palmrest).