anderson@uwmacc.UUCP (Jess Anderson) (07/30/86)
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.eduaccess@iuvax.UUCP (08/03/86)
These are my own opinions and stem from my having worked with and sold Zenith 158's for approximately 1 year at an educational institution. The 158 originally had some problems do to the nature of its newness. Those minor problems have cleared up as the machine has matured. The Jram board does not work in Zenith 158 machines. I have tried them and also talked to Tall Trees. I do know that both the Intel above board and the AST Rampage work quite well. Same with the AST 3g+ ega card. However, it was my experience that the STB ega did not work. I have been quite happy with the 158. You can get by with the 150ns chips and don't need 120ns. I prefer to buy the 2 floppy machine and add my own hard disk. I would buy either the Western Digital controller with F022 rom and Seagate ST225 20 meg disk or the Adaptec 2070a controller and ST238 30 meg. They cost around $395 or $445 depending on where you buy them. You can place this drive BELOW the two floppies. You won't see the hard disk light, but its nice having the two floppies. Bob Cole access@iuvax (uucp) I sell Zeniths, but I like lots of other machines too. The above is just to give a few ideas.