Business Notes Computers

When people hear the name Zenith, they usually think of television sets. But these days, Zenith is making a name for itself in computers. Last week the Glenview, Ill., company (1985 sales: $1.6 billion) struck pay dirt twice. First it scored a surprise victory over IBM and ten other firms, winning a $27 million contract to supply the Internal Revenue Service with some 15,000 portable Z-171 computers. Compact enough for users to hold on their laps, the Z-171s will be standard equipment for IRS field auditors. Three days later, Zenith landed a $242 million contract to supply the Pentagon with 90,000 of its Z-200 desktop personal computers.

The two deals were dramatic evidence of Zenith's growing reputation as a computer maker. Together with earlier contracts signed since 1983 with the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, the new sales bring the value of Zenith's total computer business with the Government to $500 million. Says Andrew Czernek, marketing manager for Zenith's computer subsidiary: "Someday, we hope to be known as widely for our computers as for our TVs. At the Pentagon, that's already happened."