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From: anderson@uwmacc.UUCP (Jess Anderson)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Zenith 158 & Add-On Boards
Message-ID: <99@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Jul-86 14:25:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.99
Posted: Wed Jul 30 14:25:46 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 31-Jul-86 02:48:22 EDT
Distribution: na
Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center
Lines: 39

Educational discounts for the Zenith 158 make it a very attractive
alternative to the IBM XT. For $1599 one gets a Z-158 that runs at
4.77/8 MHz (switchable), 256K RAM on system board, one 360K 5.25"
floppy drive w/ controller, one 20 MB hard disk w/ controller, one
serial and one parallel port, battery-powered clock/calendar, a
Paradise Hi-Res video card, and a hi-res TTL amber monitor. In this
configuration, 5 expansion slots remain.
   Although I have worked in the field for 31 years, this is my
first computer purchase, and I'm a bit nervous. The primary uses
will be word-processing a/k/a personal publishing (60%), terminal
access (via modem & Bell switched network) to my office mainframes
and various bulletin boards (25%), and software development (15%).
   I have several questions that I hope those on the net who are
more experienced/knowledgeable than I can answer. Please E-Mail
responses, and I will summarize to the net if there is enough 
interest.
   1. There have been reports of problems with the video board
      in graphics mode. Know anything about that, how it can be
      handled/fixed/lived with?
   2. My office XT has a Mircosoft bus Mouse, which I use mainly
      with MS Word. I like Word real well, and wonder if the mouse
      will work well with a Z-158.
   3. The office XT has 640K on the motherboard. It also has a
      Tall Tree JRAM-2 memory expansion board w/ 2 MB, which gives
      me lots of RAMdisk space (*fast*!). Anyone used JRAM boards
      in a Z-158? What experiences did you have. Note well: I'd
      naturally like to drive at 8 MHz. Could I get away with
      150 nsec RAM chips, or would I have to go to 120 nsec chips?
   4. Eventually (though not right away) I'll probably want to go
      to color. The EGA board situation is changing fast, I know,
      but relevant accounts/recommendations/etc. would be useful.
   5. The Z-158 is said to have excellent compatibility. Reports
      on compatibility failures would be helpful.

ADVthanksANCE,              Jess Anderson
                            Academic Computing Center
                            1210 W. Dayton Street
                            Madison, WI 53706
                            anderson@unix.macc.wisc.edu