Compaq Extends Customer Support for Third Party PC Cards -- New Program
Also Simplifies Customer Selection and Use of PC Cards

HOUSTON, October 10, 1995 -- With customer satisfaction as its primary
goal, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced the Compaq
PC Card Solutions Program, which facilitates its customers' use of PC
Cards. The program enables customers to choose their PC Cards from a list
of tested and approved cards and ensures them that Compaq will support
select cards as if they were Compaq products.

The Compaq PC Card Solutions Program helps customers choose PC Cards that
meet Compaq's highest quality standards and are proven to be compatible
with Compaq computers. The program represents a two-tiered list of 95 PC
Cards -- including network cards, fax modems, sound cards, memory cards,
emulation cards, SCSI adapters and others -- that have either been tested
and approved by Compaq and the PC Card vendor or tested by the vendor
using Compaq guidelines. Beginning immediately, customers purchasing
Compaq PCs have access to the list (see attached) of PC Cards that meet
the program's strict qualification criteria. The list is updated quarterly
and is available in North America by calling Compaq's FaxBack System at
(800)345-1518 (option 1, then select document #4600) or worldwide on
Compaq's Home Page on the Internet (http://www.compaq.com).

"Compaq is taking the lead in addressing the needs of PC users looking to
take advantage of the growing number of PC Cards on the market today by
establishing a program that promotes optimum compatibility and support
with Compaq PCs," said Hugh Barnes, senior vice president and general
manager, Compaq Portables Division. "As PC Card technology evolves and
creates new industry challenges, Compaq will continue to provide its
customers with the solutions and support that meet their changing needs."

The Compaq PC Card Solutions Program -- an extension of the existing Compaq
PCMCIA Tested Solutions Program -- is divided into two categories: Premier
PC Card Solutions and Standard PC Card Solutions.

Premier PC Cards, which have met a rigorous set of testing criteria and
have wide customer acceptance with Compaq customers, are jointly- tested
and supported by Compaq and the PC Card vendor. PC Cards in the Premier
group are thoroughly tested on all Compaq PCs that have PC Card slots and
on all Compaq pre-installed operating systems including Windows 3.1/DOS
and Windows 95, to promote optimum compatibility and quality. By mid-1996,
Compaq and these vendors plan to support these PC Cards in additional
environments -- including Windows NT, OS/2, OS/2 Warp and Windows for
Workgroups. Compaq has formed Technical Support Alliances with vendors in
the Premier PC Card category to offer seamless customer support to the
user. The customer benefits from "one-stop resolution" of support
questions relative to a Premier PC Card installed in a Compaq PC.
Currently, more than 20 PC Cards have qualified as Premier, and carry the
Compaq PC Card Solutions logo on product packaging and in advertising.
Once tested and approved, Premier PC Cards are also used as test tools to
develop new Compaq PCs.

More than 70 PC Cards that comprise the Standard PC Card Solutions group
have been vendor-tested at Compaq's PC Card Lab, using Compaq
specifications. These cards are qualified on Windows 3.1/DOS and tested on
an ongoing basis on Windows 95 and other popular operating systems. The
Standard PC Cards play an important role in the Compaq PC Card Solutions
Program by offering additional PC Card solutions to Compaq customers.

In 1993, Compaq established the Compaq PCMCIA Tested Solutions Program to
test PC Card compatibility on all Compaq PCs with PC Card slots. By
inviting PC Card vendors worldwide to conduct compatibility tests in
Compaq labs, the program has set the standard for PC Card quality and
compatibility throughout the industry.

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Compaq Computer Corporation is the world's largest supplier of personal
computers, offering desktop PCs, portable PCs and servers. Founded in
1982, the Company reported 1994 worldwide sales of $10.9 billion. Compaq
products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries throughout the
world. Compaq also sells directly to customers through Compaq Direct Plus
at 1-800-888-5858. Compaq provides 24-hour customer support and can be
reached through the Compaq forums on America Online, CompuServe, Internet
(http://www.compaq.com), and Prodigy, or by calling 1-800-345-1518.
 
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