Zenith Z-Star 433

Packard Bell Statesman

Company type	Product line
Industry	Computer hardware
Founded	1993
Products	Entry-level laptops
Parent	Packard Bell

The Packard Bell Statesman represented an entry-level laptop series introduced in 1993 by Packard Bell. Positioned as a budget-friendly option, it delivered modest performance and fewer capabilities compared to rival products, but was offered at a more affordable cost. This lineup was developed in partnership with Zenith Data Systems, effectively rebranding Zenith's Z-Star 433 notebooks, primarily differentiated by Packard Bell branding on the front bezel.

History

In June 1993, Zenith Data Systems acquired a roughly 20% stake in Packard Bell, establishing a partnership to collaboratively design and produce personal computers. While Packard Bell handled the marketing of the Statesman series, Zenith maintained sales of its original Z-Star laptops.

The Statesman was officially launched on October 4, 1993, with pricing beginning at $1,500. Initial configurations included a 33 MHz Cyrix Cx486SLC processor, 4 MB of RAM, a 200 MB hard disk drive, an internal 1.44 MB floppy drive, and came pre-installed with MS-DOS 6.0 alongside Windows 3.1. The system featured a "J mouse" pointing device resembling the TrackPoint and offered display options in both monochrome and color DSTN LCDs. Shipments were anticipated soon after the announcement.

Hardware

Processor

The original models—designated 200M and 200C—were equipped with the Cyrix Cx486SLC, Cyrix's inaugural CPU. This hybrid chip operated at 33 MHz with a 16-bit architecture and was pin-compatible with the 386SX socket. It incorporated a built-in 1 KB L1 cache and supported I486 instruction sets. The motherboard also featured a socket for an optional Cyrix FasMath math coprocessor to boost floating-point calculations.

Later variants, the 200M Plus and 200C Plus, upgraded to the Cyrix Cx486SLC2, which ran at 50 MHz—delivering a 50% speed increase over the original—while maintaining identical cache size and pin compatibility.

Graphics and Display

Each model utilized graphics controllers from Chips & Technologies’ 655xx family: CT65520, CT65525, or CT65530. The CT65520 supported Super VGA resolutions up to 1024x768 in either 16 colors or grayscale, as well as 800x600 resolution with 256 colors. The CT65530 added support for mixed voltage operation (5V/3.3V) along with linear frame buffer addressing.

The displays measured 9.5 inches diagonally with DSTN LCD panels at an 800x600 resolution. Monochrome screens were standard on the 200M and 200M Plus models, while color DSTN panels were featured on the 200C and 200C Plus units.

Audio

Sound capabilities were minimal, relying solely on a piezo speaker integrated into the motherboard without any dedicated audio controller.

Memory

Standard memory configurations ranged between 4 MB and 8 MB of EDO RAM installed on proprietary SIPP modules, with upgrades possible up to a maximum of 12 MB using compatible SIPPs.

Storage

Internal storage options included hard drives of either 100 MB or 200 MB capacity, expandable up to 500 MB, complemented by an internal floppy disk drive supporting 1.44 MB disks.

Connectivity and Expansion

Available ports consisted of one serial port, one parallel port, VGA output for external displays, and a combined PS/2 port for keyboard and mouse connections. Expansion possibilities were limited to a single PCMCIA Type II slot.

Keyboard and Pointing Device

The compact keyboard incorporated control keys along with a distinctive J key that functioned as a pointing device akin to IBM’s TrackPoint system. Additional keys labeled S, D, F, G, and spacebar enabled mouse actions including right-clicking, left-clicking, double-clicking, and middle-clicking functions.

Software

The lineup was delivered with MS-DOS alongside Windows 3.1 as the operating system options.

Model Comparison

Statesman 200M — The original variant came equipped with a monochrome DSTN display and a Nickel-cadmium battery providing up to four hours of usage. It weighed approximately 7.4 lb and was offered at a price point of $1500.

Statesman 200C — This model resembled the 200M but featured a color DSTN screen, with battery life reduced to roughly three hours. It was priced at $2200, which is $700 higher than the 200M.

Statesman 200M/200C Plus — These enhanced versions matched their base counterparts but incorporated a Cyrix Cx486SLC2 processor operating at 50 MHz. In 1994, the 200C Plus retailed for about $2,295 with 4 MB of RAM; upgrading to 8 MB added an extra $400.

	200M	200C	200M Plus	200C Plus
Display	9.5in 800x600 Monochrome DSTN	9.5in 800x600 Color DSTN	9.5in 800x600 Monochrome DSTN	9.5in 800x600 Color DSTN
CPU	Cyrix Cx486SLC - 33 MHz		Cyrix Cx486SLC2 - 50 MHz
RAM	4-12 MB
Video Controller	CHIPS 65520/525/530
Audio Controller	None
Storage	100 or 200 MB Hard Disk Drive
Operating System	MS-DOS/Windows 3.1
Retail price	$1500	$2200	$1599	$2295

Reception

The Statesman series garnered mixed reactions, earning commendation for its cost-effectiveness and battery endurance but receiving criticism regarding its overall performance and screen clarity.

Reviewers from PC World highlighted the 200M’s attractive $1500 price tag and its four-hour battery capacity, yet they considered its performance subpar and described the monochrome display as somewhat dim. The J mouse required some acclimation but was found to be functional. The 200M secured third place on PC World's list of top twenty budget laptops.

The color display on the 200C was regarded as a slight advancement, earning it ninth position on PC World's budget rankings.

In September 1994, Compute! Magazine evaluated the 200C Plus, noting its affordable price and acceptable screen quality but pointing out drawbacks such as sluggish operation, absence of a trackball, and inadequate support for external monitors.

See also

• PB286LP, Packard Bell's inaugural laptop

External links

• LGR: $2,400 Laptop From 1994: Packard Bell Statesman, YouTube, May 8, 2020
• Statesman drivers and software