Zenith MinisPort
| Industry | Computer hardware |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Zenith MinisPort subnotebook |
The Zenith MinisPort (marketed as minisPORT) is a compact subnotebook introduced in 1989 by Zenith Data Systems (ZDS), equipped with an 80C88 CMOS processor capable of operating at either 4.77 or 8 MHz.
This device came with either 1 MB (model ZL-1) or 2 MB (model ZL-2) of RAM, utilized MS-DOS 3.3 Plus stored in ROM, and displayed visuals on a 640×200 LCD screen supporting both CGA and composite monochrome output. The MinisPort was among the earliest genuine subnotebooks, comparable to a contemporaneous offering from NEC.
Technical Details
- Equipped with an internal 2-inch "LT" floppy disk drive featuring 793 KB formatted capacity, double-sided, double-density, 80 tracks, and 245 tpi; it used Fujifilm LT-1 media. These disks were generally priced around $80 per pack of ten and were not compatible with the two-inch "VF" video floppy disks.
- An optional external standard 3.5-inch double-density floppy drive with a capacity of 720 KB was also offered.
- The included FastLynx software facilitated file transfers via serial cable without requiring any software on the remote DOS machine beforehand. By initiating a specific command, the Zenith could control the remote command prompt and copy files, addressing the challenges posed by its unique 2-inch floppy format.
- The system supported a battery-backed RAM disk located in upper memory, typically within the 384 KB range between 640 KB and 1 MB, appearing as in DOS. This functionality enhanced battery efficiency and reliability by enabling diskless operation while retaining data with minimal power consumption.
- Subsequent versions featured an internal 20 MB hard disk, adequate for running applications such as WordPerfect, spell-checking utilities, and diagnostic programs.
Physical Specifications
When closed, the MinisPort measures 12.5 × 9.8 × 1.29 inches (318 × 249 × 33 mm), expanding to a height of 7.75 inches (197 mm) when opened. Its weight is approximately 5.9 lb (2.7 kg) including the battery.