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From: sandersr@ecn-pc.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Zenith Z-100
Message-ID: <572@ecn-pc.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 13-Jul-86 13:20:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecn-pc.572
Posted: Sun Jul 13 13:20:45 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 14-Jul-86 19:26:01 EDT
References: <1269@condor.UUCP> <737@nicmad.UUCP> <524@watmum.UUCP> <521@helm.UUCP> <799@houxu.UUCP> <531@helm.UUCP> <555@mips.UUCP>
Reply-To: sandersr@ecn-pc.UUCP (Robert C Sanders)
Organization: Electrical Engineering Department , Purdue University
Lines: 48

In article <555@mips.UUCP> kim@mips.UUCP writes:
>> >I understand that the US Air Force Academy is selling Zenith Z-100's to the
>> >incoming freashman class starting this year.
>> Anyhow, if you want more gory details, let me know; I'd be happy to
>> help.  However, I do not think the '100 is not in production anymore;
>Coincidentally, I just received a new Heathkit catalog yesterday.  They are
>still listing the H-100 (the kit version of the Z-100), but it *does* sound
>like they are selling them off.  The price for the basic machine has been
>dropped from $1599 to $999 (with MS-DOS) ... might be a good time to get one
>if you're handy with a soldering-iron!

Wrongo!!  Talk to the guys in Chicago (Zenith) and Benton Harbor, MI (Heath)!
The H/Z 100 is still here to stay!  The version number I believe is H/Z 121
(check me there), but I know for a fact that they are NOT going to drop the
machine.  In fact, it is a superior machine using the 8088 than any of the
IBM compatibles, including theirs -- ask them!  And check one for yourself.

IBM made some major design flaws in their now antiquated machine.  Zenith's
is better engineered, and uses more industry-common standards than IBM --
IBM thought they would create their own (read stupid!).  The Zenith 100
was NOT made to be IBM compatible (their Z140, Z150, Z160 and Z200 are),
but to fully exploit this Intel family of chips.  Unfortnately, little
companies followed Big Blue's flag waving, and now more fully support IBM
products.

The Zenith is a S-100 bus machine, is faster, able to address more memory,
and (if you want to pay for them) has more options available.  Who had the
first Ether-Net cards (S-100 version third party) available?  Who had the
first IEEE-466 bus connections?  Who at the same time contracted for MS DOS
(though not fully PC DOS compatible)?

The lastest ZPC (as the 100 is called) is more fully souped-up and has
software galore available.  Check out the REMark magazine that the Heath/
Zenith user's group puts out.

Also, most Heathkit stores will preconstruct an Heath machine for you --
since they are sold at the same price as the Zenith version.  Besides, with
a kit, service is free!! :-)

No, I do not own a ZPC -- wish I did.  I own an H158 ...  needed that 1-2-3
at the time (sigh..).

-- 
Continuing Engineering Education Telecommunications
Purdue University 		...!ihnp4!pur-ee!pc-ecn!sandersr

Let's make like a BSD process, and go FORK-OFF !!	-- bob
(and "make" a few children while we're at it ...)