Zenith Data Systems Corporation (ZDS) was an American computer systems manufacturing company active from 1979 to 1996. It was originally a division of the Zenith Radio Company, after they had purchased the Heath Company and, by extension, their Heathkit line of electronic kits and kit microcomputers, from Schlumberger in October 1979. ZDS originally operated from Heath's own headquarters in St. Joseph, Michigan. By the time Zenith acquired Heathkit, their H8 kit computer already had an installed fanbase of scientific engineers and computing enthusiasts. ZDS' first offerings were merely preassembled versions of existing Heathkit computers, but within a few years, the company began selling bespoke systems, including the Z-100, which was a hybrid 8085- and 8088-based computer capable of running both CP/M and MS-DOS.
Top: Logo used from 1990 to 1996 Bottom: Site of former headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, from 1990 to 1996
The Zenith Data Systems Z-19 CRT-display terminal
Zenith's ZP-150, released in 1984, was one among the first wave of laptop computers.
Zenith's Z-171 portable computer, based on the Morrow Pivot II, made headlines when it beat IBM for a contract with the IRS in 1986.
Zenith Electronics, LLC, is an American research and development company that develops ATSC and digital rights management technologies. It is owned by the South Korean company LG Electronics. Zenith was previously an American brand of consumer electronics, a manufacturer of radio and television receivers and other consumer electronics, and was headquartered in Glenview, Illinois. After a series of layoffs, the consolidated headquarters moved to Lincolnshire, Illinois. For many years, their famous slogan was "The quality goes in before the name goes on". LG Electronics acquired a controlling share of Zenith in 1995; Zenith became a wholly owned subsidiary in 1999. Zenith was the inventor of subscription television and the modern remote control, and was the first to develop high-definition television (HDTV) in North America.
Zenith radio, Chicago Radio Laboratory
A Zenith Model 5-S-220 "cube" radio circa 1937
A Zenith Space Command 600 remote control
A box advertising a remote control system often referred to as "Space Command Tuning"