Packard Bell Statesman
Economy laptop rebranded from Zenith Z-Star, low price but slow.
The Packard Bell Statesman was a budget-friendly line of notebook-sized laptops that hit the market in 1993. It came from a partnership between Packard Bell and Zenith Data Systems, and was basically a rebadged version of the Zenith Z-Star 433 series—the only real change was swapping out the logos and text on the front. Compared to competing machines, the Statesman was slower and skimped on features, but it cost less.
In June 1993, Zenith Data Systems announced an alliance with Packard Bell, with Zenith buying about 20% of the company. The two firms agreed to design and build PCs together, and Zenith supplied Packard Bell with private-label versions of its portables. The Statesman was a rebrand of Zenith’s Z-Star notebook line, though Zenith kept selling the Z-Star alongside it. The Statesman debuted on October 4, 1993, with prices starting at $1,500 for a monochrome or color DSTN model. That base configuration included a 33 MHz Cyrix Cx486SLC processor, 4 MB of RAM, a 200 MB hard drive, a built-in 1.44 MB floppy drive, and MS-DOS 6.0 with Windows 3.1. It also had a “J mouse” pointing device, similar to IBM’s TrackPoint. Shipping was expected within a few weeks.
The first two models, the 200M and 200C, used the Cyrix Cx486SLC—Cyrix’s first processor, a 386SX-compatible chip with 1 KB of L1 cache and 486 instructions, often called a hybrid. It ran at 33 MHz and was a 16-bit chip. The motherboard had an empty socket for a Cyrix FasMath co-processor to boost floating-point math. The 200M Plus and 200C Plus models used a 50 MHz Cyrix Cx486SLC2, which was 50% faster, with the same 1 KB cache and pin compatibility.
For video, all models used one of three Chips & Technologies controllers: the CT65520, 65525, or 65530. The 65520, introduced in early 1992, was the first Super VGA controller, supporting up to 1024x768 in 16 colors or 800x600 in 256 colors. The 65525 and 65530 were essentially the same, with the 65530 adding mixed 5V/3.3V operation and linear video memory addressing. All models had a 9.5-inch 800x600 DSTN LCD—monochrome on the 200M and 200M Plus, color on the 200C and 200C Plus. Audio was basic: just a piezo speaker soldered to the motherboard, with no sound controller.
Standard RAM was 4 to 8 MB of EDO RAM on a proprietary SIPP package, upgradeable to a maximum of 12 MB with compatible modules.
- Introduction date
- October 4, 1993
- Starting price
- $1,500
- Base processor
- Cyrix Cx486SLC at 33 MHz
- Standard ram
- 4-8 MB EDO RAM
- Maximum ram
- 12 MB
- Hard drive sizes
- 100 or 200 MB (upgradable to 500 MB)
- Display size
- 9.5-inch DSTN LCD at 800x600 resolution
Lore & Background
In June 1993 Zenith Data Systems announced an alliance with Packard Bell, with Zenith acquiring about 20% of Packard Bell. They worked together to design and build PCs, and Zenith provided Packard Bell with private-label versions of their portable PCs. The Statesman was first introduced on October 4, 1993, with prices starting at $1,500 for a monochrome or color DSTN model with a 33 MHz Cyrix Cx486SLC, 4 MB of RAM, 200 MB hard disk drive, internal 1.44 MB floppy disk drive, and MS-DOS 6.0 with Windows 3.1. A 'J mouse' pointing device was included, similar to the TrackPoint.
The first two models, the 200M and 200C, used the Cyrix Cx486SLC, a 386SX pin-compatible chip with on-board L1 cache and 486 instructions. The processor was clocked at 33 MHz and had 1 KB of L1 cache. The 200M and 200C Plus models had a Cyrix Cx486SLC2 clocked at 50 MHz. All models used a 9.5-inch 800x600 resolution DSTN LCD, with monochrome on the 200M and 200M Plus, and color on the 200C and 200C Plus. Audio was limited to a piezo speaker soldered onto the motherboard with no sound controller.
The Statesman received fair reception, with most reviewers giving positivity for the low price and high battery life, but mainly criticizing the performance and screen quality. A PC World review noted the 200M had a good price and battery life, but performed 'noticeably below the average' and its monochrome display was 'cloudy and a bit dim'. The 200M was listed as number 3 on PC World's top 20 budget PC list, while the 200C placed 9th.
Reader's Guide
The Packard Bell Statesman is notable as an early example of a budget laptop from a major brand, created through a strategic alliance between Packard Bell and Zenith Data Systems. Its significance lies in its role as a rebranded Zenith Z-Star, offering a lower-cost alternative to competitors at the expense of performance and features. The article describes the Statesman as slower and less feature-rich than most competitors, but its low price made it appealing to budget-conscious buyers. The series used Cyrix processors, which were hybrid chips combining 386SX pin compatibility with 486 instructions, and offered both monochrome and color DSTN displays. The inclusion of a 'J mouse' pointing device, similar to IBM's TrackPoint, was a distinctive feature. The Statesman's legacy is tied to its modest reception: reviewers praised its affordability and battery life but criticized its sluggish performance and mediocre screen quality. It appeared on PC World's budget PC lists, indicating some market success despite its limitations. The article notes that the Statesman was sold alongside the still-available Zenith Z-Star series, highlighting the co-branding strategy of the era.
Did You Know?
- The Packard Bell Statesman was a rebrand of the Zenith Data Systems Z-Star 433 series, differing only in the logo and text on the front bezel.
- The 'J mouse' pointing device on the Statesman worked similarly to IBM's ThinkPad TrackPoint, and on some models additional keys like S, D, F, G and space allowed mouse actions.
- The Statesman 200M had a monochrome DSTN display and a Nickel-cadmium battery pack that could last up to 4 hours.
- The Cyrix Cx486SLC processor used in the first Statesman models was a 16-bit chip pin-compatible with the Intel 80386SX, with 1 KB of L1 cache.
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