Zenith TurbosPORT 386 keyboard - Alps low profile common mount

snuci · 04 Jun 2016, 01:26

This is a recent acquisition of a neat historic laptop. It's a Zenith TurbosPORT 386 that is reportedly one of the first laptop computers that has rechargeable batteries. Previous to this model, all portable computers would have been called "luggables" since they needed to be plugged in. This laptop has a "paper white" LCD display that I'd love to see but sadly, the power supply isn't working and there is very little information on the Internet about this model. It was quite expensive at the time being Zenith's top-of-the-line model.

The keyboard on this laptop is interesting because I don't believe I've seen a black PCB design before this. It looks quite striking with these Alps low profile common mount key switches. These are the white slider version that are obviously PCB mounted. The keyboard mechanism was made by Alps in Japan but you can see the board has a Zenith specific keyboard controller. This keyboard also has a switch but I'm not sure what that is for. It may switch from XT to AT but why would it be possible if this keyboard id specifically for this model? Unfortunately, there is no manual online so I will never know.

Anyway, here are some pics. Enjoy.

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - keyboard top; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - keyboard top.JPG (247.3 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - keyboard bottom; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - keyboard bottom.JPG (171.12 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - keyboard with key caps removed; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - keyboard with key caps removed.JPG (280.85 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB top keyswitches; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB top keyswitches.JPG (335.39 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB bottom; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB bottom.JPG (359.56 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB bottom; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB Alps identification.JPG (336.93 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB markings; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - PCB markings.JPG (336.36 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key switches; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key switches.JPG (367.91 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key switch profile; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key switch profile.JPG (311.62 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - Keyboard controller with date; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - Keyboard controller with date.JPG (272.54 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key switch close up; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key switch close up.JPG (224.07 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key caps; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key caps.JPG (192.8 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key cap close-up; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - key cap close-up.JPG (223.25 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - laptop keyboard attached; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - laptop keyboard attached.JPG (196.32 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - laptop keyboard detached; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - laptop keyboard detached.JPG (207.75 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

elecplus · 04 Jun 2016, 01:30

What power supply came with it? Should be an external AC adapter of some sort?

snuci · 04 Jun 2016, 01:40

elecplus wrote: What power supply came with it? Should be an external AC adapter of some sort?

It's a bit of an odd power supply. Here are the specs in pics in case you have one (never thought to ask)? (note: normal PC plug goes into the bottom of power supply in the first pic)

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - power supply; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - power supply.JPG (200.47 KiB) Viewed 3071 times

: Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - power supply bottom; Zenith TurbosPORT 386 - power supply bottom.JPG (414.22 KiB) Viewed 3071 times

elecplus · 04 Jun 2016, 02:49

https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlesta ... tore_find/ Another guy found one at a thrift store, and describes how to fix the AC adapter

Feel like soldering some capacitors?

emdude · 04 Jun 2016, 03:16

That's a very interesting-looking laptop. The key caps look particularly nice, dye-subbed PBT from the looks of it.

The layout appears to be identical to that on the Zenith SupersPORT, which looks like the only Zenith laptop currently documented on the DT wiki. But that seems to have pad-printed legends on doubleshot key caps and Alps Integrated Dome.

snuci · 04 Jun 2016, 13:44

elecplus wrote: https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlesta ... tore_find/ Another guy found one at a thrift store, and describes how to fix the AC adapter Feel like soldering some capacitors?

I replace caps on a regular basis

As the Reddit poster stated, all looks well in my power supply too but I know there is no output (even though I'm not sure what pins provide what output). I think I will have to start replacing caps. THanks for the post. I had found those pictures but not the Reddit comments.

terrycherry · 04 Jun 2016, 18:06

Great rare Alps common mount low profile switch.
Is that contact legs can fit on the alps SKCM/SKCL PCB mount?