• Category Archives Apple ][
  • Apple ][

  • The Best Of Hardcore Computing (1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: The Best Of Hardcore Computing

    Hardcore Computing started life primarily as a magazine that provided information on circumventing disk based copy protection (mostly for the Apple II) though it did contain some other, mostly technical, content. This “Best Of” issue from 1984 includes all such information published by the magazine up until that point in organized, condensed, updated and corrected form. Contents include:

    • Getting into DOS with DISKEDIT
    • An inside look at disk formats using DISKVIEW
    • Deprotecting disks with SUPER IOB
    • A quick and easy way to UNLOCK HYPERSPACE WARS
    • Taking a peek at BOOT CODE TRACING
    • List of Publisher abbreviations and INTRODUCTION TO ‘PARMS’
    • The Compleat Guide to LOCKSMITH PARAMETERS
    • Step-by-step guide to making backups using NIBBLEs AWAY II PARAMETERS
    • Technical notes and making backups using BACK-IT-UP II+ PARAMETERS
    • How to make backups using COPY II PLUS PARAMETERS
    • Curing those Auto-Start ROM blues HARDWARE SOLUTIONS
    • A MENU HELLO PROGRAM
    • USING BOTH SIDES OF YOUR DISKETTES
    • Advanced Playing Techniques, or how to get INSIDE CASTLE WOLFENSTEIN
    • Learn to use and understand Strings wtih TEXT INVADERS
    • Getting into Hi-res with ZYPHYR WARS
    • CHECKSOFT/CHECKBIN

    …and more!


    Apple ][ Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Hardcore Computist (August 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment


    Source: Hardcore Computist – Issue Number 58 – August 1988



    Hardcore Computist was a technically oriented magazine that mostly covered the Apple II. It was controversial for its emphasis on circumventing the disk-based copy protection of the time. The August 1988 issue includes:

    • Editorial
    • Bugs
    • Most Wanted Softkeys

    Features

    • Mixing ProDOS with Thexder – Here’s how to put Thexder on a disk with ProDOS.
    • Infocom Decoder Revisited – Here’s how to add semi-automatic decoding to the Infocom Decoder. No more tedious hand decoding.
    • Cracking on the IIe – Another look at using the auxiliary memory on the IIe to remove copy protection.
    • Might & Magic Revisited – More information on what’s where and how to get a little more. Also included, a complete item list with the various equipping/use effects and bonuses.
    • Might & Magic Character Editor – Some much needed help for the adventurer in a neat and easy to use format.
    • An indepth guide to Ultima IV – A fairly comprehensive look at the excellent adventure.
    • Computing for 1-3 year olds

      • – How to use your computer to teach your child in the formative years.

    • The Product Monitor

      • – Games, Bugs and fixes, and some juicy rumors and propaganda.

    Notes

    • A better way to print Starter Kit DOCs
    • Curing Fatal System Error #0911
    • Realtime Situation Control using CDAs
    • Chuck Yeager’s Advanced Fight Trainer
  • Softkeys
    • A.I.
    • BoulderDash
    • BoulderDash Construction Set
    • DeathSword
    • Design Your Own Home: Architecture
    • Design Your Own Home: Interior
    • Design Your Own Home: Landscape
    • Facemaker
    • Gauntlet
    • Kings Quest II
    • Mastery Arithmetic
    • Microzine #26
    • Muppet Slate v1.0
    • PFS: Graph
    • Rad Warrior
    • Rings of Ziflin
    • Seaspeller
    • Smart Eyes
    • Spell It!
    • Wings of Fury

    APT’s

    • Castle Wolfenstein
    • Marble Madness IIgs
    • Might & Magic
    • Ultima IV
    • Ultima V

    Playing Tips

    • Coveted Mirror
    • Deathlord
    • Might & Magic
    • Oo-Topos
    • Ultima IV

    IBM Notes

    • Help Wanted!

    …and more!


    Apple ][ Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • VersaWriter (Apple II)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment


    Source: Micro – Issue Number 64 – October 1983



    VersaWriter is a drawing tool that was released for the Apple II and other computers sometime in 1983. It consists of software and a tablet with an articulating arm to aid in drawing or tracing. All of this could have been yours for the low price of $299. Accounting for inflation, that would be more than $770 today.

    The software that went along with VersaWriter was fairly sophisticated despite being written (mostly?) in BASIC. You could use this for art, drafting type drawing, diagrams and tracing other things easily. Unfortunately, the very high price of this product meant that few could afford it. As far as artistic uses, there were other far cheaper products that worked just as well and if you were doing professional drafting or something similar I would imagine there were better prodcuts for that as well. In other words, the market for this product was probably very small.

    Although this ad emphasizes the Apple II, it also mentions availability for the Atari 8-bit and DOS based PCs. I’m not sure if there are any price differences but if there were it was likely a higher PC price. The ad also mentions additional software products other than what comes with the tablet that adds additional functionality. There are three Expansion Packs mentioned, the last of which adds animation capabilities. However, I don’t know if these were all released.

    There isn’t much use for this product today except as a historical curiosity. I imagine that this item complete with software and hardware is probably quite rare so it may be of interest to collectors. The above ad is from the October 1983 issue of Micro: The 6502 Journal.


    Apple ][ Computer Arcana 📎and tagged