[net.micro] zenith Z150 as a kit?

alt@ecsvax.UUCP (08/17/84)

   Recently I accompanied a friend who is in the market for a  PC
clone  to a local computer store. We saw the Zenith Z150 and were
very impressed.  The machine has guaranteed 100% PC compatibility
and  is  built like a tank. Apparently one can purchase this same
machine in kit form from Heath at a  considerable  savings.  Does
anyone  on the net have any experience with putting the Heath kit
version of the Z150 together. I've heard it  is  rather  straight
forward  and can be done in a couple of evenings. Any information
would be very welcome.

                                           Larry Taylor
                                           Duke Biophysipedic
                                           ecsvax!alt

CSTROM@SIMTEL20.ARPA (08/20/84)

My experience is that the discounted price on assembled Heath
Computers is little more than the kit price of the unit. There are a
number of dealers for the assembled units; Heath charges list while
the others discount, so unless your friend feels that every cent is
important, he can probably successfully purchase an assembled unit and
not bother with building.

I can suggest a dealer who mail orders and is quite reasonable. If you
would like such information, let me know and I will send it in a
private message, since I would like to avoid blatant advertising on
the net.

-Charlie

kfl@hoxna.UUCP (Kenton Lee) (08/20/84)

xxx
The latest Heathkit catalog lists the Z150 and Z160 kits for about
$1500 to $1600 each.  That is a great price for a quality
PC-compatible.

I built a Z100 kit a couple of years ago.  All of the critical
boards came pre-assembled, so you just have to bolt them in.  Fit
and finish on the cabinet were excelent, so everything went
together very easily.  Almost all of the soldering was on the
floppy controller card, which took a couple of evenings.  I think
the whole machine took me about 10 or 12 hours to build, and saved
$1000 over the assembled price.  I expect that the Z150 and Z160
are similar to the Z100.  You can check out the kit at your local
Heathkit store.  Sales people there are usually very helpful and
technically competent.
-- 
Kenton Lee, Bell Labs - WB
wb3g!kfl or hoxna!kfl

dave.e@proper.UUCP (Dave Edick ) (08/24/84)

There's a review in the latest issue of Computers and Electronics
(formerly Popular Electronics) which also reviews the kit assembly.
They found it to be more challenging than the Z-100, but not too hard.
I just ordered a Z-150 from a mail order dealer for about the same
price as Heath charges for the kit.

/Dave Edick/