Zenith pioneered the laptop computer market in 1985, with "lunchbox" portable computer Z-171, the first MS-DOS based small portable computer fit with two 5"1/4 floppy disks and blue LCD screen.

The Z-183-92 Laptop computer is a portable, fully PC-compatible computer. It offers full computing capabilities in a small, lightweight package. In performance and power the laptop computer most closely resembles the Z-158 computer with some obvious differences. The video system uses an advanced LCD controller rather than the more common 6845. The Laptop computer also uses the low-power 8OC88 microprocessor and cannot accept expansion cards. Some of its other features are:

A 25-row, 80-column liquid crystal display with a pixel resolution of 640 x 200. This display uses a twisted-pneumatic LCD display with an advanced video controller.

A 78-key, full function PC-compatible keyboard that duplicates the functions of the standard 84-key PC keyboard. This keyboard uses several operational modes to provide maximum PC compatibility

RGB and composite monochrome video outputs.

One serial communications port (DB-25) and one parallel port (DB-25).

A real-time clock.

A rechargeable Nicad battery (1.5 A/Hr rated) for portable operation.

One or two internal 720K, 3.5-inch floppy disk drives. Our unit has one drive with an internal 10M hard disk. It has a serial number of  8371241514.

Manufacturer: Zenith Data Systems
Date: 1987

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH24719. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.