Donation For School Wanted

From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Sat Dec 13 02:04:36 1997

>That CPU daughterboard ones always has SIMM slots and has
>IDE/FD/Video on board as standard feature except for early LP 286 has
>one video card in one of the 3 slot.

It's been well over a year since I saw a Z-248, and even longer since I saw
inside one, but I seem to recall everything being on cards. With the cards
all plugging into a backplane. I remember thinking this was a inefficent
way to do it because it meant the CPU had to go through the mess to get to
the memory.

I'm not sure why but for some reason I think the Z-248 was made
specifically for the DOD, although DOD employee's could purchase them for
themselves.

Some of them were Tempest machines, externally they looked the same, and
I'm pretty sure the parts were the same. I've no idea what it takes to
make a tempest machine, but I think it's basically the case. All I know is
they weigh a ton!

Now what I'd like to know is why on earth was it called a Zenith 248? I've
always thought that made no sense!

>Those cases are all breige, 3

They're at least beige in front, but I think they've got another colour,
just don't remember.

>motherboard usually. The PSU switch is little neater recessed rocker
>in a countersunk bezel on right side towards back.

Now there is a feature I definitly don't remeber anything about. Probably
in part because they were always left on. I've seen both on computers and
won't even hazard a guess.

>The older pcs starting with 8088 and early 286's used 3 5.25" HH bays
>in one cage and a large power cube behind it, all are passive slot,
>used 3 or 4 taller special size brackets for the needed processor,
>memory and i/o w/ video combo. Top shell is light grey, base is
>painted black.

This pretty much sounds like what I'm thinking of, though I'm fuzzy on the
internal layout. I know it had at least 3 bays, I thought it had 4. There
are two bays for floppies on the top right side. Of course they were 5.25"
floppies, but I've seen 3.5" added.

>Which one we're are now talking about: newer one or the older model?

I'd say older, as I've said I saw the first one in I believe late 1987.
The Z-248 was the first and I think only 286 I've ever used.

                        Zane


| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh_at_ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh_at_holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
| For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. |
| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html |
Received on Sat Dec 13 1997 - 02:04:36 GMT

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