Zenith Data Systems

Zenith Data Systems (ZDS) was a division of Zenith Electronics Corporation founded in 1979 after Zenith aquired Heathkit, who at that time had recently entered the personal computer market. They sold personal computers under the Heath/Zenith and Zenith Data Systems name. Their earliest computers were based on the Z80 processor and ran the CP/M operating system. Later machines would be IBM compatible. In 1983 the United States Navy and Air Force awarded a joint contract to Zenith Data Systems to purchase 6000 Z-100 series computers. In October of 1989 Zenith s computer division was acquired by the French company Groupe Bull. They continued to sell personal computers under the Zenith Data Systems name until 1996 when Zenith Data Systems was merged with Packard Bell and NEC, creating the company Packard Bell NEC Inc.