Source: PC Magazine – July 24th, 1984

PC Magazine was among the earliest magazines to cover the IBM PC (and compatibles) exclusively. The July 24th, 1984 features over 380 pages and includes:

Cover Story

• Getting the Picture with CAD – An article on the move of CAD software to microcomputers. Some of the software looked at here includes AutoCAD 1.4, VersaCAD 3.0, Drawing Processor 1.01, and CADplan 1.35.

Features

• A Sporty Compatible – A look at a (mostly) PC compatible called the MAD-1. It features an 80186 CPU, 256K RAM, and two 5.25″ 360K floppy drives for $4195 or a version with a hard drive for $6295. It had a unique high-tech look for the time in various shades of grey.

• The First Integrated Printer – A look at the Envision VectorPrinter 430 which combines letter and draft quality printing, color graphics, and plotting capabilities.

• Jack2 Sprints to the Fore – An integrated software package that combines word processing, graphs and spreadsheet data in one document.

• A Scope for Your Micro – A review of Infoscope, a database management system from Microstuf, Inc.

• Stitching Creative Designs by Pixel – Using Laleida Designs to create needlepoint patterns on the PC.

• A Casino Puts Its Chips on the PC – How Resorts International Casino Hotel in Atlantic City is using a combination of minicomputers and PCs to manage gaming operations.

• On the Road to Africa – One user’s experience using a PC in the challenging environment of Gaborone, Botswana, Africa.

• Project: Database, Part 4 – The fourth part in a six part series on database software. This part covers InfosStar, TIM IV, Aladin, R:BASE Series 4000, PC-File ‘N Report, ASAP Five, 10 Base, Keep It, and KeyBase.

• An Automatic Approach to Networks – Using PFS:ACCESS to automate retrieval of data from remote informational databases.

• Tailoring DOS to Fit – An excerpt from chapters 15 and 16 of the book Running MS-DOS.

• COBOL with a Personal Touch – A review of Personal COBOL from Micro Focus, Inc.

Pro Columns

• For Crowded Courts: PC Spells Relief – One New York court participates in a pilot project to test how the PC can be used to reduce the paperwork load.

• Balancing Act – Using a PC and spreadsheet to determine the appropriate minimum balance for banks.

• An Eclectic Program Collection – A review of Science and Engineering Programs for the IBM PC. This is a paperback with a floppy disk that includes various mathematical, engineering and graphics programs.

• Beyond Essentials – A look at features needed for a complete medical management system.

• Enhancing PC-DOS – Modifying the PC-DOS environment with the “SET” command to create custom abbreviations.

• Looking It Up on Knowledge Index – A review of The Knowledge Index, an online service that provided access to hundreds of computer publications at a rate of $35 + $24/hour.

Departments

• PC News – A look at COMDEX; Morrow’s new ‘The Pivot’ portable computer; and more.

• Year of the Onion – “Onion” here is used as an analogy for multi-function software.

• It’s Time for a Change in MIS – How a change is needed generally in MIS departments. I guess they ultimate did change becoming IT departments.

• Letters to PC – Letters from readers about macros, Lotus 1-2-3 sales, reducing electromagnetic interference, comparing the PC with a super computer, and more.

• When DOS Is Not Enough – How not all programs that run on DOS will run on all computers that run DOS.

• A Brush with Fun – A look at a few games for the PC including Rollo and the Brush Brothers, B-1 Nuclear Bomber, and Computer Football Strategy.

• Where to Turn – Reviews of computer reference books including The Reader’s Guide to Microcomputer Books, The Addison-Wesley Book of IBM Software, 1984 Microprocessor Market Place: A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Microcomputer Industry, and Word Processing on the IBM.

• New on the Market – A brief look at new products including new 3.25″ floppy disk drives with 500K to 1MB capacity, DataTalker II terminal emulator processor, STRATA:G strategic financial planning software, PLOT88 FORTRAN graphics library, Jury Trial II courtroom strategy game, Docuwriter jr word processor for the IBM PCjr, and much more.

• User-to-User – A routine for selectively scrolling a rectangular window.

• PC Tutor – Questions answered about getting an updated 8088 chip, printing graphics screens, graphics on the TRS-80 Model III, and more.

…and more!