Zenith Data Systems became between 1979 and 1999 one of the world computer beacons; mostly from inventing the laptop market and from being one of the top tier manufacturer of laptops.
Exploiting a renowned brand such as ZDS to build laptops would give a strong competitive edge to any manufacturers. Because of its reputation and its total sale (1.5 million units sold), Zenith Data Systems can help you gain time and market share in the laptop business, the biggest of all computer markets.
ZDS American start (1984 – 1989)
ZDS history started in the United States back in 1979, with computers from the Heathkit company. Bought back in 1981 and renamed Zenith Data Systems by the Zenith Company. Thanks to the first laptop (Zenith 181 in 1987), ZDS was extremely successful. Success was easily confirmed with further laptop models such as Zenith Minisport in 1989.
Thanks to several contracts to provide laptops to the US Army, ZDS became the first laptop manufacturer in the world in 1987 and then again in 1988. This year the total turn over was 1.4 billion USD with a total of 445.000 computers sold.
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Zenith 181 - chip 8088 - 640K RAM, Dual 3.5" Floppy, with WordPerfect 5.0 |
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ZDS French development (1989 – 1996)
ZDS was acquired by the French group BULL in 1989, the distribution channel and the sale were improved: in 1992 the total turn over was 900 million USD. Zenith Data Systems was gaining market share in Europe: 55% of sale were in Europe, the 45% remaining in America.
BULL added to the ZDS laptops, a complete professional range: servers, network, etc. Targeting more and more the business computer market, Zenith Data Systems sold in 1995 800.000 units. Interested by the positioning and the potential of ZDS, NEC Company approached BULL and acquired the brand in 1996.
ZDS European brand (1996-1999)
NEC Group uses 3 trademarks to cover all computer markets spectrum:
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PACKARD BELL for Mass Market |
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NEC for SME through direct sale (internet and phone) |
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Zenith Data System for professional market |
During 1999, NEC faced financial difficulties and had to make cost cutting decisions: stopping ZDS was one of them. The ZDS successful range, like the VERSA laptop models, was obviously kept but under the NEC trademark. Marketing wise, this decision was not good, because Zenith Data Systems sale a year earlier were excellent: 330.000 units and a constant growth (+50% in France). Thus ZDS kept this very good image and ranked among the best computer brands as the 01Net ranking from December 2000 shows below:
A poll in 2000 was ranking number one ZDS before Apple and HP, using reliability and after sale service:
« The trust in the laptops Bull-Zenith is outliving the ZDS brand. Since all models changed label to NEC, the trust is going to the Versa models from former ZDS». For more info
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ZDS in 2009 ready for a relaunch
Still today, Zenith Data Systems is an important computer brand in Europe. Exploiting again this trademark will give two main advantages to a manufacturer.
ZDS has a strong leadership in laptops
Laptop market is the future because of the innovation and of the constant growth for years; According to 01Net forecasting, 750.000 laptops were sold from August to mid October 2008. It means a 30% volume growth and a 13% value growth compared to 2007. Desktop computers should be left behind with 360.000 units sold, at the best.
ZDS has a quality and professional reputation
Having been acquired and managed by two major electronic groups NEC and BULL, Zenith Data Systems has a great image and can reinsure customers in an ever changing market.
Great computer brands such as HP and ACER tried so much in the past to target every possible customer that they are slowly going back to different positionings using for this different brands: HP uses for its entry level range the COMPAQ brand and ACER uses PACKARD BELL for its entry level computers. Even in the professional computer market, brands are changing Thinkpads are not IBM anymore but LENOVO.
More than ever, the computer market is changing fast: technological innovation is increasing, creating new trends (for example sale boost of netbooks like eeePC) and trademarks are appearing or changing. Zenith Data Systems with its clear positioning, its great history and its laptop leadership is ready for a relaunch!
