
<PAGE>


                                                                EXHIBIT 4.4

                                STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

              THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT dated as of INSERT GRANT DATE 
("Grant Date"), is between ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, a Delaware 
corporation (the "Company"), and INSERT FULL NAME, (the "Participant").

       WHEREAS, the Company desires, by affording the Participant an 
opportunity to purchase shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par 
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), as hereinafter provided, to carry 
out the purposes of the ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN 
(the "Plan"); and

       WHEREAS, the Committee has duly made all determinations necessary or 
appropriate to the grants hereunder;

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual 
covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable 
consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto 
have agreed, and do hereby agree, as follows:

1.     GRANT OF OPTION, OPTION PRICE AND TERM.

       (a)    The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as a matter of 
separate agreement and not in lieu of salary or any other compensation for 
services, the right and option (the "Option") to purchase INSERT # OF SHARES 
shares of the Common Stock of the Company ("Option Shares") on the terms and 
conditions herein set forth.

       (b)    For each of the Option Shares purchased, the Participant shall 
pay to the Company $INSERT STRIKE PRICE per share (the "Option Price"). 
Accordingly, the aggregate Option Price to exercise all of the Option is 
$INSERT TOTAL MARKET VALUE.

       (c)    The term of this Option shall be a period of ten (10) years 
from the Grant Date (the "Option Period").  During the Option Period, the 
Option shall be exercisable in accordance with the following schedule:


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           PERCENTAGE OF
       GRANT DATE ANNIVERSARY                            OPTION EXERCISABLE
       ----------------------                            ------------------
<S>                                                      <C>
Prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date                 0%
On or after the first anniversary of the Grant Date             15%
On or after the second anniversary of the Grant Date           17.5%
On or after the third anniversary of the Grant Date             20%
On or after the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date           22.5%
On or after the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date             25%
</TABLE>

       Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Participant incurs a 
Termination of Employment due to death or Disability as an employee of the 
Company or an Affiliate but prior to the fifth anniversary of Grant Date, all 
or any portion of the Option which is not exercisable on the date immediately 
proceeding the date the Participant incurs a Termination of Employment due to 
death or Disability shall become exercisable on or after the date the 
Participant incurs a Termination of Employment due to death or Disability.

       (d)    The Option granted hereunder is designated as a nonqualified 
stock option.

       (e)    The Company shall not be required to issued any fractional 
Option Shares.

2.     TERMINATION OF OPTION.

       Subject to Section 1(c):

       (a)    If a Participant has an involuntary (as to the Participant) 
Termination of Employment for reasons other than Cause, Disability or death, 
or if a Participant has a Termination of Employment due to Retirement, this 
Option shall be canceled ninety (90) days after the date of such Termination 
of Employment or after the remaining Option Period if shorter.

       (b)    If the Termination of Employment is on account of the 
Disability or death of the Participant, this Option shall be canceled ninety 
(90) days after the date of the occurrence of the Disability or the 
appointment of a Representative in the case of death or after the remaining 
Option Period if shorter.

       (c)    If the Participant has a voluntary Termination of Employment 
(other than due to Retirement), this Option will be canceled thirty (30) days 
after the date of such Termination of Employment.

       (d)    If the Participant has a Termination of Employment for Cause, 
this Option will automatically be canceled simultaneously with the date of 
such Termination of Employment.

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       A Participant's Termination of Employment due to death or Disability 
will result in the Option's being fully exercisable.  A Participant's 
Termination of Employment due to other than death or Disability does not 
accelerate the percentage of the Option otherwise exercisable with respect to 
the Participant. Any portion of the Option which is not exercisable as of a 
Participant's Termination of Employment other than due to death or Disability 
is canceled simultaneously with the date of such Termination of Employment.

3.     EXERCISE.

       The Option shall be exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only 
by the Participant (or his or her Representative), and after the 
Participant's death only by a Representative.  The Option may only be 
exercised by the delivery to the Company of a properly completed written 
notice, in form satisfactory to the Committee, which notice shall specify the 
number of Option Shares to be purchased and the aggregate Option Price for 
such shares, together with payment in full of such aggregate Option Price.  
Payment shall only be made:

       (a)    in cash or by check;

       (b)    by the delivery to the Company of a valid and enforceable stock 
certificate (or certificates) representing shares of Common Stock already 
owned by the Participant for a period of at least six (6) months prior to 
such payment;

       (c)    if the Committee shall so permit, by delivery to the Company of 
a full recourse promissory note or other full recourse evidence of 
indebtedness;

       (d)    if the Committee shall so permit, by a "cashless" exercise as 
described in the Plan; or

       (e)    in any combination of (a), (b), (c), or (d).

If any part of the payment of the Option Price is made in shares of Common 
Stock, such shares shall be valued by using their Fair Market Value as of 
their date of delivery.

       The Option shall not be exercised unless there has been compliance 
with all the preceding provisions of this Section 3, and, for all purposes of 
this Stock Option Agreement, the date of the exercise of the Option shall be 
the date upon which there is compliance with all such requirements.  The 
Committee may deny any method of exercise permitted hereunder if such method 
would result in liability under federal securities law to the Participant or 
the Company, result in an expense charge to the Company or prevent the use of 
pooling of interest accounting.

4.     PAYMENT OF WITHHOLDING TAXES.

       If the Company is obligated to withhold an amount on account of any 
tax imposed as a result of the exercise of the Option, the Participant shall 
be required to pay such amount to the

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Company, as provided in the Plan.  The Participant acknowledges and agrees 
that he or she is responsible for the tax consequences associated with the 
grant of the Option and its exercise.

5.     REQUIREMENTS OF LAW; REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS.

       The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares under 
the Option if the issuance of such shares shall constitute a violation of any 
provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority.  This 
Option and each and every obligation of the Company hereunder are subject to 
the requirement that the Option may not be exercised or performed, in whole 
or in part, unless and until the Option Shares are listed, registered or 
qualified, properly marked with a legend or other notation, or otherwise 
restricted, as is provided for in the Plan or required by the Committee.

6.     CHANGES IN COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

       The existence of an Option will not affect in any way the right or 
authority of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize (a) any or 
all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the 
Company's capital structure or its business; (b) any merger or consolidation 
of the Company's capital structure or its business; (c) any merger or 
consolidation of the Company; (d) any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred 
or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or the 
rights thereof; (e) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; (f) any 
sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business; or (g) any 
other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or 
otherwise.  In the event of a Change in Control or other corporate 
restructuring provided for in the Plan, the Participant shall have such 
rights, and the Committee shall take such actions, as are provided for in the 
Plan.

7.     NONTRANSFERABILITY.

       The Option and any interest in the Option may not be sold, assigned, 
conveyed, gifted, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred in any 
manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Stock Option Agreement, any such 
attempted sale, assignment, conveyance, gift, pledge, hypothecation or 
transfer shall be null and void and shall nullify the Option immediately.

8.     PLAN.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of this Stock Option Agreement, 
the Option is granted pursuant to the Plan, as in effect on the date hereof, 
and is subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may 
be amended from time to time.  The interpretation and construction by the 
Committee of the Plan, this Stock Option Agreement, the Option, and such 
rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Committee for the purpose of 
administering the Plan, shall be final and binding upon the Participant.  
Until the Option shall expire, terminate or be exercised in full, the Company 
shall, upon written request therefor, send a copy of the

                                       4

<PAGE>

Plan, in  its then-current form, to the Participant or any other person or 
entity then entitled to exercise the Option.  Participant hereby acknowledges 
receipt of a copy of the Plan.

9.     STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS.

       Until the Option shall have been duly exercised to purchase such 
Option Shares and such shares have been officially recorded as issued on the 
Company's official stockholder records, no person or entity shall be entitled 
to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any 
Option Shares, and adjustments for dividends or otherwise shall be made only 
if the record date therefor is subsequent to the date such shares are 
recorded and after the date of exercise and without duplication of any 
adjustment.

10.    EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

       No provision of this Stock Option Agreement or of the Option granted 
hereunder shall give the Participant any right to continue in the employ of 
the Company or any Company Affiliates, create any inference as to the length 
of employment of the Participant, affect the right of the Company or Company 
Affiliates to Terminate the Employment of the Participant, with or without 
Cause, or give the Participant any right to participate in any employee 
welfare or benefit plan or other program (other than the Plan) of the Company 
or any of the Company Affiliates.

11.    DISCLOSURE RIGHTS.

       The Company shall have no duty or obligation to affirmatively disclose 
to the Participant or a Representative, and the Participant or Representative 
shall have no right to be advised of, any material information regarding the 
Company or an Affiliate at any time prior to, upon or in connection with the 
exercise of an Option or the Company's purchase of Common Stock in accordance 
with the terms of this Stock Option Agreement.

12.    INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENT.

       The Committee may require the Participant to furnish to the Company, 
prior to the issuance of any shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of all 
or any part of this Option, an agreement (in such form as such Committee may 
specify) in which the Participant represents that the shares of Common Stock 
acquired by him upon exercise are being acquired for investment and not with 
a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

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<PAGE>

13.    GOVERNING LAW.

       This Stock Option Agreement and the Option granted hereunder shall be 
governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the 
State of Illinois (other than its laws respecting choice of law) except to 
the extent the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware would be 
mandatorily applicable.

14.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

       This Stock Option Agreement, together with the Plan, constitute the 
entire obligation of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter 
hereof and shall supersede any prior expressions of intent or understanding 
with respect to this transaction.

15.    DEFINITIONS.

       Wherever initial capitalization of a term is used in this Stock Option 
Agreement, it shall have the same meaning as that given to it by the Plan, 
except to the extent such meaning should conflict with any meaning afforded 
to such term in this Stock Option Agreement.

16.    AMENDMENT.

       Any amendment to this Stock Option Agreement shall be in writing and 
signed by the Company.

17.    WAIVER; CUMULATIVE RIGHTS.

       The failure or delay of either party to require performance by the 
other party of any provision hereof shall not affect its right to require 
performance of such provision unless and until such performance has been 
waived in writing. Each and every right hereunder is cumulative and may be 
exercised in part or in whole from time to time.

18.    COUNTERPARTS.

       This Stock Option Agreement may be signed in two counterparts, each of 
which shall be an original, but both of which shall constitute but one and 
the same instrument.

19.    NOTICES.

       Any notice which either party hereto may be required or permitted to 
give the other shall be in writing and may be delivered personally or by 
mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Secretary of the Company, at its then 
corporate headquarters, and the Participant at his address as shown on the 
Company's payroll records, or to such other address as the Participant, by 
notice to the Company, may designate in writing from time to time.

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<PAGE>


20.    HEADINGS.

       The headings contained in this Stock Option Agreement are for 
reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of 
this Stock Option Agreement.

21.    SEVERABILITY.

       If any provision of this Stock Option Agreement shall for any reason 
be held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability 
shall not effect any other provision hereof, and this Stock Option Agreement 
shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

22.    SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

       This Stock Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be 
binding upon each successor and assign of the Company.  All obligations 
imposed upon the Participant or a Representative, and all rights granted to 
the Company hereunder, shall be binding upon the Participant's or the 
Representative's heirs, legal representatives and successors.

23.    CONDITIONAL GRANT.

       This Option is granted upon the conditions and the Option Shares 
hereunder shall be forfeited unless each and any person who is a spouse of 
the Participant at any time on or after the Grant Date (including any person 
who becomes a spouse after the Grant Date) executes a Consent of Spouse form 
provided by the Committee, unless the Committee shall waive either such 
condition.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Stock Option Agreement 
to be duly executed by an officer thereunto duly authorized, and the 
Participant has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above 
written.

ON BEHALF OF THE OPTION COMMITTEE:        PARTICIPANT:


_________________________________         ________________________________
Charles R. Whitchurch                     [NAME]
Chief Financial Officer


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                CONSENT OF SPOUSE (FOR COMMUNITY PROPERTY STATES ONLY

       The undersigned, as spouse of the Participant, hereby acknowledges 
that the undersigned has read and understands the foregoing Agreement.  The 
undersigned hereby consents and agrees to each and every term and condition 
set forth in the Agreement.  The undersigned hereby further agrees that his 
or her spouse may join in any future modification or amendment of the 
Agreement without any further signature, acknowledgment, agreement or consent 
on his or her part, and that any interest he or she may have in the award of 
the Option or issuance of Common Stock (as defined in the Agreement) shall be 
subject to the provisions of the Agreement.

DATED: __________________ , 199__

                                                 Participant's Spouse

STATE OF __________________)
___________________________)SS:
COUNTY OF _________________)


       On the ___ day of __________________ , 199__, _______________________
appeared before me and acknowledged and executed the foregoing instrument.



NOTARY PUBLIC



My commission expires: ______________________________



