Summary of Zenith Data Systems Z286 (1)

This is a high-level summary of general characteristics of the machine. For details (which are of course subject to change) the machine itself, and the manuals concerning it, must be consulted.

Owner, if known:

UC Irvine

CPU:

80286

Operating system:

Zenith-resold DOS (v 3.2?)

Bus architecture:

ISA, probably AT-compatible

Physical memory:

640K conventional, up to 512K expanded; but software support for the expanded memory is not in place.

"High" ("adapter", trans-640K) memory usage:

none. Although it runs PC-NFS, the components cannot be mapped into high memory as on a 386.

Memory management:

QRAM has been attempted, but not with good results.

Local storage:

20MB hard disc; both 3.5" and 5.25" floppy drives. The characteristics of the drives, and indeed of many CMOS configuration items, are editable in the firmware setup program.

Important local Software or Data:

None known. The machine resources are too limited for program development under DOS; however, the machine can be useful for editing, and for testing (non-multimedia) dialogue software.

Graphics adapter:

EGA; however, it appears to be a non-standard EGAcard, which misleads at least Borland's graphics software into analysing it as a VGA. This machine also uses Zenith's flat-screen colour monitor. ALthough not comparable to a trinitron monitor, it is nevertheless of higher quality and truer colours than almost all other monitors now in the lab. It is also very heavy and has its own fan built into it.

Network:

PC-NFS, loaded in conventional memory.

Remote drives (by network):

D: and E:; DOS' ASSIGN command is (or is supposed to be) used to set G: and H: equivalent to them.

Notable features

Firmware setup program

accessed by booting with ctrl-alt-ins instead of ctrl-alt-del, then entering SETUP<RETURN> at the prompt. Adjustable features (retained in CMOS) include capacities and sizes of floppy disc drives; "type" number of the hard drive; date and time; which disc to try first when booting; and one or two others.
Since the CMOS-retention battery is now going flat, these settings are not well retained, and will need resetting by hand more and more often until the battery is replaced (or the machine disposed of).

Narrow keyboard with electronic "click"

There is a tendency for touch typists to place the right hand about a key too far to the right. However, the keyboard is in general light and responsive.
For those who find the "click" tone generated at each keystroke to be annoying, pressing alt-~, using the "~" key in the upper left corner, will toggle it on and off. There seems to be no way to make this the default setting.

RS-232C serial port

The serial port is of an unusual size and will need an adapter for use with 25-pint D-ring RS232C cables.