Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!sbcs!helm!dave From: dave@helm.UUCP (David Goldblatt) Newsgroups: net.micro.pc Subject: Re: Zenith Z-100 Message-ID: <539@helm.UUCP> Date: Sun, 20-Jul-86 19:14:34 EDT Article-I.D.: helm.539 Posted: Sun Jul 20 19:14:34 1986 Date-Received: Tue, 22-Jul-86 01:21:20 EDT References: <1269@condor.UUCP> <737@nicmad.UUCP> <524@watmum.UUCP> Reply-To: dave@helm.UUCP (David Goldblatt) Organization: helm, Farmingdale, Long Island, NY Lines: 66 [ eat this line and I'll have 30 lawyers on your back, line eater! ] [ Does that fall under the statute of 'cruel and unusual' punishment? ] In article <572@ecn-pc.UUCP> sandersr@ecn-pc.UUCP (Robert C Sanders) writes: >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 ...) Well, as I mentioned, I go to Clarkson, the Zenith school. :-) Every student gets a Z-100 computer.. Or DID get one. As of this fall, Zenith will be supplying a Z-200 with '100 emulation to Clarkson, the reason being that Heath/Zenith is not manufacturing the machine any longer, since the military contract ran out and was replaced by the '200. They are going to support the machine; they'd be nuts not to with all of them still out there, but I don't think they are making NEW machines. My Z was the latest made as far as I know - a Zenith Z-118 <8MHz, 256K, 2 drives>. I agree; the '100 is by FAR technically superior, but as you said, everyone jumped on the IBM bandwagon. Too bad. My gripe: I can get a PC hard drive controller for $99. To get one for my '100 from Zenith is $899, and with a 10 meg hard drive it's $999. That's ridiculous, especially when I can buy a 40 meg hard drive for $450! Anyone know of other hard drive controllers for the Z-100 with MS-DOS? -dg- ...!ihnp4!chinet!helm!dave ...!philabs!sbcs!helm!dave Note: I do not represent anyone other than myself. I'm greedy that way.