---
title: Zenith Data Systems Z-171 PC
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Portable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1985'
cpus:
- Intel 80C88
params:
  name: Z-171 PC
  image: /media/museum/photos/zenith_z140pc_1s.jpg
  company: /companies/zenith-data-systems
  company_name: Zenith Data Systems
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Z-171 PC
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Zenith Data Systems
  - label: TYPE
    value: Portable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1985'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard. 76 mechanical keys and 14 touch-sensitive functions keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 80C88
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4,77 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 256 KB (640 KB max.)
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 x 25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 640 x 200 (CGA)
  - label: COLORS
    value: back-lighted monochome blue LCD display
  - label: SOUND
    value: Sound 80 Ohm, 2-inch built-in speaker
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: '32,5(W) x 25,1(H) x 14,1(D) cm. Weight : 6 Kg.'
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Parallel connector, Serial connector, Monitor video output, RGB video output (located on the optional video board), phone (built-in modem), expansion bus
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x 5.25'' disk-drives (360 KB each)
  - label: OS
    value: MS-DOS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External AC adapter or battery powered
  - label: PRICE
    value: 27 500 F (France, september 1985)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - links
  forum_thread: 877
  photos:
  - title: Z-171 PC
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/zenith_z140pc_1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (1987)
    subtitle: ''
    text: '"Students have a heap particularity which we cared about"'
    image: /media/museum/pubs/zenith_campus_pub_1.jpg
  links:
  - title: Nick Holland's web site
    url: http://www.nickh.org/warstories/floppy.html
    text: Funny story about a broken Z-171 !
  - title: Review in Infoworld 1986 issue
    url: http://books.google.com/books?id=XC8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=quadram+corp+lunchbox+pc&source=bl&ots=uFb_tIFXdi&sig=iU7xiZSjbhmvu40dLZ6t5N0bCxc&hl=en&ei=KsVWTK_0O4u8sQP7jpjaAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
    text: ''
  oc_id: 897
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221205121615/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=897
    date: '2022-12-05'
---

This innovative portable computer was one of the first to have a LCD display which was back-lighted! It also was one of the very earliest battery powered portable IBM compatible computers.

This lunchbox system was in fact made by Vadem and OEM'd by Zenith (Z170/Z171), Morrow (the Pivot), Osborne ([Encore](/museum/osborne-corp-encore/)), and maybe others.

It was an excellent IBM compatible portable system, and was sold in considerable quantities to the US government and Navy.\
Amazingly, this machine was Year 2000 compliant. In fact, the internal clock goes up to 2015.

Read the [Osborne Encore](/museum/osborne-corp-encore/) for more info.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>