Zenith Z-89

The H89 was one of the first personal computer for the home user. In 1979 he was by the company under the name Heathkit H89 ( as a kit ) and WH89 ( as a finished device, W Wired ) placed on the market. Following the acquisition of Heathkit by Zenith Data Systems Zenith drove him under the name Z -89.

Technology

The computer had two Zilog Z80 processor with a clock frequency of 2 MHz each, and worked with the operating systems HDOS and CP / M. One of the processors was responsible for the terminal functions. He united a 12 " CRT monitor, keyboard and floppy disk drives in a single enclosure. Floppy disk drives were connected to a controller for hartsektorierte disks and processed hartsektorierte 5.25 " floppy disks with a capacity of 100 kB.

As accessories floppy stations were offered:

  • The models H/Z-77 and H/Z-87 presented two additional disk drives available. Connected to the controller for hartsektorierte drives were able to be written to a floppy disk 100 kB. With the Controller for softsektorierte drives they enabled a capacity of 160 kB per disk.
  • The model H/Z-37 also included two drives and supported a capacity of 640 kB per disk. A controller for softsektorierte drives was necessary for this purpose.
  • The Z -47 consisted of two 8 " floppy disk drives and needed its own controller.
  • In the Z -67 in addition to an 8 " floppy drive, a 10 MB hard drive was installed. This device also needed its own controller.

Models

In addition to the basic model variations were available. Without floppy drives, but with a Datasetteninterface he was sold as a version of H88. Under the designation H19 Heathkit sold a terminal that could be enhanced through an upgrade kit to a H89. The model H90 possessed instead of the H89 installed floppy drives on drives that could process the softsektorierte disks with a capacity of 640 kB, as well as the necessary controller.

Software

Heathkit offered for the H89 addition to the operating system a text editor, an assembler, and a version of its Benton Harbor BASIC interpreter on.

Swell

  • Roy A. Allan: A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technology, Allan Publishing 2001, ISBN 0-9689-1080-7
  • Entry through the H89 on old- computers.com (English )
Electronic visual display Controller (computing) Commodore Datasette Assembly language#Assembler Interpreter (computing)
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