The “Z-COLUMN” is a new and regular (hopefully) feature of TIME DESIGNS. We will cover news and helpful tidbits of information for the Z88 Laptop Computer…the newest addition to the Sinclair family tree. On occaison, we may also accompany this column with an article or product review.
What better way to kick off a new column than to make a major announcement! Yes, that’s right…just as Cambridge Computer (Sir Clive’s new company) promised…the Z88 has passed the FCC test, and is now available here in the U.S.!
While some details were sketchy at press time, we do know that Cambridge Computer has signed a deal with a U.S. distributor, and that the new computers are being assembled by SCI in Huntsville, Alabama, with foreign parts. SCI is a U.S. based corporation that has worldwide concerns, and is in fact manufacturing the European Z88 for Cambridge, in a Scotland factory.
The U.S. Z88 is reported to have an updated ROM. It also has a steeper retail price than what most of us anticipated…$549.90. No getting around this, the weak dollar has driven prices up. (In fact all personal computers are going up in price for the first time in years. And Japaneese RAM chips are once again expensive.) Some folks will certainly shy away from the price, but this is the most powerful (for its size and weight) laptop computer currently on the market.
1/2 Meg RAM cartridges are now available for right around $400. With three of them installed, it gives the user 1 1/2 Meg to play with “on the go”. The 1 Meg. cartridges, are still supposed to be released in a couple of months.
Lots of third-party support taking off now in Europe. Here are a few of the most recent developments:
Z-TERM is a new telecommunications package (a U.S. version is available) that supports XMODEM, it autodials, and can drive virtually any modem, including the new miniature Z88 modem from Miracle Systems.
Cummanah will have their disk drive interface (with RGB monitor output) available soon for $199. It works similar to the Radio Shack floppy drive system for the Model 100.
Focus Magazines (the publishers of QL WORLD Magazine, will launch their new Z88-specific magazine this month.
The Z88 Users’ Club of Great Britain has formed, and already has four club newsletters published, called the Z88 EPROM. For further information, write to: Roy Woodward, [address omitted], Long Eaton, Nottingham, England NG10-4NG. (Thanks to Larry Chavarie of Canada for supplying this information.)
While I attended the SUNSTATE TS WINTERFEST in Orlando, Florida, I had the privilege of meeting Stan Veit, who is the Publisher/Owner/Editor-in-Chief of COMPUTER SHOPPER. While Mr. Veit had attended the Fall Comdex in Las Vegas, a representative from Cambridge gave him a Z88 for review (see the March ’88 issue of Computer Shopper). Stan uses the Z88 as his “electronic notebook” wherever he goes. Now here is someone who has access to virtually any PC or laptop…and actually prefers the Z88 for some applications over the others. He mentioned that the “silent keyboard” is a big plus in conferences.
Well, no doubt, many of you are skeptical about this new computer, and the price alone will drive a big share of the “hardcore” Sinclair types away. But nevertheless, this is an excellent laptop computer, and the finest computer for Sir Clive to date. It’s not another Sinclair “Boondoggle” (as one newsletter editor called it…yet admitted he had never used one before). While at the Florida Winterfest, the same comment was heard time, and time again at the SHARP’S booth: “This is what the QL should have been!” (I’m not knocking the QL though, as it does have merits of its own.)
Sir Clive himself is very serious about this computer, and wants to insure its success. Bryan Davies, a columnist for QL WORLD, recently told me on the phone, that the last MICROFAIR (a trade show open to the public) he attended, found Sir Clive up on the stands demonstrating the little “Z” to attendees.
That’s about it for this issue. Hope to be back next issue with more stuff. Until then, you can send a S.A.S.E. to me in care of TIME DESIGNS, and I’ll send you some info on a user group starting up here in North America. (If you have already sent your envelope…I will fianlly have responded to your request by the time you read this–promise!).