Compaq wanted to be on the leading edge of technology.
Even when there was nothing to lead.
And no one was asking for directions.
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The now ubiquitous USB port was once a brand new idea.
Compaq release a Presario with TWO PORTS!
First on the market.
Wow!
But there was no software to drive them.
That's right, these two ports could be used by exactly ZERO outside products.
And exactly one internal product: a mouse.
So if you bought this great, leading edge product you could be the proud owner of two absolutely useless ports.
Two years later though you could use... a mouse.
Still, Compaq was first...
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There was a day when every sound card made HAD to be Soundblaster compatible.
Boxes of games all listed Soundblaster 16 (SB16) as a requirement.
Almost all games.
All computer manufacturers used SB16 cards.
And paid a license to SB.
Except for Compaq.
Some genius got the idea of making a sound card with unique technology.
That was not SB 16 compatible.
So they would not have to pay the license.
Which means no, repeat, no games would have sound.
When it was announced every tech at Compaq, bar none, said it was a mistake.
Compaq said: Don't worry, we'll release SB16 drivers soon.
Soon.
Soon.
That was somewhere around 95 or 96.
Still waiting on those drivers.
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What kind of problems did the non-SB16 units have?
All products experience some sort of returns.
Maybe 10%. Maybe 15%. Sometimes people just don't like what they bought.
So many Presario 900s were returned that we had trailer loads standing in the parking lot.
The warehouses were full.
And they just kept coming.
So what did Compaq do with them?
Cleaned them up and sold them at their factory outlet.
Still not SB16 compatible.
