ZP-150

.

Market life

The ZP-150 was offered for US$1995 when bundled with the $800 Microsoft Works software, but could be found in the Fall 1985 Heathkit catalog for US$1195. The price came down to $999 in the Winter 1986 edition of the same catalog and $699 in the Fall 1987 edition, as it was being phased out with the release of the Z-181 and Z-183. The main target market was the U.S. government and "the mobile executive", for on-site applications. Its relatively small dimensions and light weight allowed it to be easily carried in a standard briefcase or the included carrying case.

Hardware specifications

*Weight: 7.7 lb
*Dimensions: 13"W x 11.1"D x 1.8"H
*RAM: 32K, expandable to 416K
*ROM: 224K, plus 2 sockets for software expansion
*CPU: Intel 80C88
*Power: 12VDC or 10 AA alkaline batteries (providing 15 hours run-time w/o modem), plus internal nickel-cadmium battery for retaining memory while off, up to 8 days
*Ports:::Parallel printer::RS-232C::Telephone line (300 baud modem)::System bus::BCR (for a bar code reader)::CMT (for data cassette recorder)::ACP (for acoustic coupler)::Handset (of telephone)
*LCD display (80 characters/line with 16 lines), contrast control, volume control, and low-battery indicator
*75-key typewriter-style keyboard

The stock 32K RAM could hold up to 10 typewritten pages. The main methods of file transfer were via the modem or the RS-232C port and a file transfer program.

oftware specifications

The ZP-150 came with a built-in System Manager and calculator program, as well as a special version of Microsoft Works 1.10 stored in ROM. Most programs are very similar to the desktop versions, but with reduced functionality.

:Word word processor:Plan electronic spreadsheet, similar to Multiplan (spreadsheet size up to 255 rows x 63 columns):Calendar appointment organizer with alarm :File database manager :Telcom telecommunications package :BASIC program editor and compiler

Accessories

*ZP-150-1 power transformer
*ZP-150-2 32K RAM module
*ZP-150-4 Parallel to Centronics printer cable
*CB-5063-27 File transfer software

Historical significance

The most significant aspect of the ZP-150's history is that it is not remembered as one of the first portable computers, despite its relatively early appearance in the marketplace and being referred to in advertising as a "laptop". Like the IBM PC and Apple II computers, the ZP-150 was quickly copied. The most well-known clone is the Tandy 600, which was very similar in packaging, software, and hardware except for the addition of a floppy drive and the lacking of BASIC. This was not the first laptop that Tandy manufactured, but was one in the TRS-80 line.

ee also

*History of computing hardware
*Laptop

References

*ZP-150 User's guide, (1985) Zenith Data Systems Corporation, St. Joseph, MI and Heath Company, Benton Arbor, MI
*Heathkit catalogs, Fall 1985 (No. 870R) pp90-91, Winter 1986 (No. 201) p89, Fall 1987 (No, 207) p84
* [http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1066 OLD-COMPUTERS.com Museum] TRS-80 Model 600
* [http://www.8bit-micro.com/trs-laptop.htm 8bit-Micro.com - TRS-80 Laptops]

External links

* [http://www.computer.org/portal/site/annals IEEE Annals of the History of Computing]
* [http://webpages.charter.net/curtismc/zp_t.html Tandy 600 and Zenith ZP150] photographic comparison of the internal hardware of the Tandy 600 and the Zenith ZP-150
* [http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/01HISTORYCD-Glossary.htm#Z Zenith Data Systems company timeline]