• Tag Archives Apple II

  • Compute! (January 1982)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 20 – January 1982

    Compute!, at least in its earlier days, exclusively covered computers based on the 6502 CPU. In early 1982 these included the Commodore PET, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, VIC-20, and others. The January 1982 issue includes:

    Columns

    • The Editor’s Notes – Atari goes after creators of Atari game clones.
    • Ask The Readers – Questions asked and answerd about chaining programs in BASIC on Commodore computers, the future of the 6502, software protection, accessing all 48K of RAM on the Atari, and more.
    • Computers And Society – An article on the Turing test and measuring artificial intelligence.
    • The Beginner’s: Loops – A look at FOR loops, nesting loops and more in BASIC.
    • New Products – A new dental computer newsletter, new Atari software from Artworx, Cimarron releases CMAR file handling system for Commodore computers, and more.

    Applications

    • INVEST – A BASIC type-in program for helping you to calculate various things with regards to realestate investing.
    • Developing A Business Algorithm – Creating a program to perform various business calculations including things like interest, lease calculations, taxes, and more.
    • Anti-Hesitation Programming: A Tutorial on Arrays – Getting around slowness when using arrays in Microsoft BASIC.
    • How Random Are Sequences Of Random Numbers? – A look at the randomness of numbers generating using RND in BASIC.
    • Telecommunications: Getting Outside The Computer – A look at the computer parts and peripherals that let you communicate with the outside world. These include things such as the UART and MODEM.

    Education

    • Friends Of The Turtle – A new society with the goal of promoting turtle graphics with languages such as Atari PILOT, TI LOGO, and Apple LOGO.
    • Learning With Computers – A look at how computers might change schools in the future.

    The Apple Gazette

    • Apple Addresses – Hexadecimal and decimal addressing on the Apple II.
    • More Apple Hi-Res Shape Writer – A type-in program for creating hi-res shapes on the Apple II.
    • Lower Case With Unmodified Apple – A program that allow you to use lower case letters without hardware modification on the Apple II.
    • COMPUTE! Overview: Individual Tax Plan – A look at a program that helps you prepare your taxes on the Apple II.

    The Atari Gazette

    • Cryptogram – A type-in game for Atari 8-bit computers in which you mus decipher the code.
    • SuperFont – A type-in program for the Atari that allows you to create your own fonts.
    • Word Search – A type-in program for the Atari that allows you to create word search games.
    • Review: Screen Printer Interface (Version 2.0) – A review of this device for Atari computers that lets you capture and print the contents of your screen.
    • INSIGHT: Atari – Part three of a series on the Atari operating system. This part covers Atari I/O device handlers.

    The OSI Gazette

    • Part I: A Small Operating System: OS65D The Disk Routines – Part one of a two part series on using a disk drive with the OSI.

    The PET Gazette

    • A Yuletide Tale – A Christmas Carol starring the PET.
    • Renumbering An Appended Routine Only – A guide to appending one program to another on the PET.
    • BRANCH NEVER And QUIF Assembling On SuperPET – Assembly language programming on the SuperPET (which uses a 6809 CPU).
    • PET Repairs For The Amateur – A guide to various PET problems that are mostly the result of loose connections.
    • Realtime Clock On Your PET Screen – A type-in real-time clock routine for the PET.
    • Tape Load Test And Head Alignment – How to prepare and use a test tape for the cassette recorder of the PET to help align the heads.
    • MICROMON: An Enhanced Machine Language Monitor – A type-in machine language monitor for the PET.
    • Self-Modifying Programs in BASIC – Creating self modifying programs on the PET.

    VIC-20 Update

    • TINYMON1: A Simple Monitor For The VIC – A type-in machine language monitor for the VIC-20.
    • VIC Color Tips – A tutorial for using color in your programs for the VIC-20.
    • VIC Memory Map Above Page Zero – A list of memory locations and their functions on the VIC-20.
    • ZAP! – A type-in arcade game for up to six players for the VIC-20. Try to consume various shapes while avoiding the asterix.

    …and more!


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  • Compute! (March 1990)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 118 – March 1990

    Compute! Covered many computers over its long life. At one point, it specialized in 6502 based computers. By 1990, Compute! was becoming more PC centric but it was still covering other popular computers including the Apple II, Commodore 64, Amiga, and Macintosh.

    Contents

    • Buy Low, Sell High – An article on using your PC for investing. It covers dedicated software like Market Manger Plus 2.0 as well as subscription services like Value/Screen II which included software and monthly data disks. This data wasn’t cheap though. $396 for a year. There are 15 software packages and online services examined here.
    • My View – A guide to the kind of equipment and software you would need for financial planning type activities. These include a fast 8088 based to 80286 PC preferably with a hard drive, a 2400-baud modem, dot matrix printer, and various software.
    • Smart Money – An overview of six personal finance software packages to help you balance your checkbook.
    • Buyer’s Guide: Tax Preparation Software – A look at the then available tax preparation software including Andrew Tobias’ Tax Cut, DivorceTax, EasyForm W-4, EasyTax, Estate Tax Planner, J.K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 1990, MacInTax 1040, 1990 Personal Tax Preparer, Swiftax, Tax Advantage, Tax Command, Tax Command Planner, Tax Ease Individual, Tax-Magic Personal, Tax-Magic Plus, Tax Preparer, Tax Shop 1040 Personal, TaxSmith: Family, TaxSmith: Full, and TaxSmith: Quick. I think today there are like two practical choices so there has definitely been a lot of consolidation.
    • Resources – Resources for increasing your investment knowledge, including lists of TV programs, periodicals, books, and more.

    Departments

    • News & Notes – Toolworks and Mindscape merge, Xerox sues Apple, Spectrum Holobyte sues Accolade over Tetris clone, Atari and other third parties sue Nintendo over marketing and licensing practices, new TurboTax/Quicken bundle, IBM cuts 10,000 jobs, Hot Circuits video arcade museum opens in Astoria New York, and more.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about a QuickWrite review, a Zip code database, Game Blaster and Killer Kard (which became Sound Blaster before its release and was released at $239.95), and more.
    • MS-DOS – Organizing files on disk, PC-Kwik Power Disk disk optimizer, Vq2 search retrieval tool, the OmniKey/102 keyboard, and more.
    • Commodore 64/128 – The 1989 world of Commodore Show, RAMLink from CMD, GEORAM 512K memory expansion for GEOS, and more.
    • Apple II – The Oregon Trailer on sale from MECC for $39.95 (I had this for the Commodore 64), Dino Days graphics and word processing software for kids, and more
    • Amiga – VoRecOne voice recognition add-on, F-16 Combat Pilot from Electronic Arts, Jet Instrument Trainer, and more.
    • Macintosh – The Grappler and JetWriter printer interfaces, Broderbund’s Playmaker Football, and more.
    • Reviews – Fiendish Freddy’s Big Top O’ Fun (Amiga, Atari ST, DOS), Tandy WP-2 notebook sized word processor, The Cycles (Commodore 64, DOS), Laser PC3 PDA, If It Moves, Shoot It! (Amiga, DOS), Broderbund’s Bannermania (DOS), Spectrum Holobyte’s Tank (DOS), Algebra I First Semester and Algebra I Second Semester (Apple II, DOS), Activision’s DeathTrack (DOS), QuickLook (DOS), Starglider II (DOS, Macintosh), Serra’s On-Line terminal software (DOS), Broderbund’s Joan of Arc: Siege and the Sword (Amiga, Atari ST, DOS), Electronic Art’s John Madden Football (DOS), Broderbund’s The New Print Shop (DOS), Fire Brigade (DOS), Dolphin Boating Simulator (DOS), Data East’s Robocop (DOS), Eye of Horus (DOS), Toshiba ExpressWriter 301 laptop printer, and more.
    • New Products – hDC Card Designer (Windows), PowerBasic from Borland (DOS), CheckIt 2.1 diagnostic utility, Sierra’s Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectoral (DOS), Decisive Battles of the American Civil War Volume III: Wilderness to Nashville (DOS), Canon’s Navigator PC/Fax Machine/Phone/Answering Machine combo, The Norton Backup (DOS), SSI’s Dragons of Flame (DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64), and more.
    • Hotware – Top ten software titles in a variety of categories. Taking the top spots are Quicken (Home Productivity), Flight Simulator (Home Entertainment), and Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (Home Learning).

    Productivity

    • Compute! Choice – A comparison of Lotus Spreadsheet for DeskMate and Lotus 1-2-3.
    • Mail-Order Smart – The advantages and common issues with purchasing computer software and hardware via mail order. I was buying stuff for my Commodore 64 via mail order around this time. Items I know I got that way include a new power supply, modem, printer, monitor, and a couple of games.
    • PC Primer – PC hints and tips including getting cheap composite output, patching early versions of DOS to work with a mouse, and sorting.

    Learning

    • Compute! Choice – A review of Super Solvers Midnight Rescue! from The Learning Company.
    • Preschool Precepts – A guide to selecting good preschool software including an overview of various titles.
    • Homework – Creating a kid friendly keyboard with an old XT keyboard, creating note cards via the PC, and more.

    Entertainment

    • Compute! Choice – A review of Lucasfilm Games’ The Battle of Britain: Their Finest hour for DOS.
    • Take Off! – An overview of the latest flight simulators including Flight Simulator 4.0, F-15 Strike Eagle II, A-10 Tank Killer, Blue Angels, and UFO.
    • Gamescope – Gaming hints and tips for Empire and John Elway’s Quarterback.

    Columns

    • Editorial License – The results of a reader survey six months into the latest Compute! redesign.
    • Conversations – Choosing the right home educational software.
    • Impact – Using AppleLink to bring the world closer together.
    • Discoveries – Useful multimedia in education. From Print Shop to generating screen dumps to using video cameras and digitizers, and more.
    • Gameplay – Orson Scott Cards writes about what makes a good gaming sequel.
    • Off Line – Computer gremlins, phantoms, and monsters…

    …and more!


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  • Compute! (May 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 60 – May 1985

    Compute! was a popular magazine in the 1980s and very early 1990s that covered all of the home computers popular at the time. In 1985 that included the IBM PC (and compatibles), Commodore 64, VIC-20, Atari 8-bit, TI-99/4A, Apple II, and Macintosh. The May 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • GEM: A New Look for IBM and Atari – GEM was an operating system interface. Basically it was a GUI shell over DOS. It was available for both PCs and the Atari ST. However, while it was the main interface on the Atari ST, it had a fairly small market share on the PC.
    • Home Financial Calculator – A type in home budget program for the Commodore 64, VIC-20, Atari 8-bit, and Apple II.
    • Space Dodger – A type in action game for the TI-99/4A, Commodore 64, VIC-20, Atari 8-bit, and Apple II.
    • SpeedScript 3.0 – Compute! published a high quality type-in word processor for a variety of computers. Version 3.0 for Atari 8-bit computers.

    Reviews

    • Relax Stress Reduction System – Relax, is a software product that uses biofeedback and computer generated graphics to help you reduce stress. It was available for the Commodore 64, PC, Apple II, and Atari 8-bit.
    • Sidekick for PC and PCjr – Sidekick provided a series of tools, including a calculator, notepad, calendar with diary, and ASCII table, that could be accessed via a keystroke even while running other software in DOS.
    • Gateway to Apshai – This was an action/adventure game that was available for the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, and Coleco Adam. I had a lot of fun with this one on the Commodore 64.
    • Championship Lode Runner – Lode Runner is a non-scrolling platform game that is blast to play. Championship Lode Runner is essentially just additional levels but they tended to be harder. It’s reviewed here for the Commodore 64 and Apple II.
    • MacVision for Apple Macintosh – A hardware/software package for the Macintosh that lets you digitize images from a video camera.

    Columns and Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – How there tends to be resistance to new technologies. The focus here is the typewriter vs. word processor.
    • Readers’ Feedback – Readers write in to discuss baud, reading the PC keyboard from BASIC, Commodore 64s in the classroom, chaining programs on the Commodore 64, help with Deadline by Infocom, analog vs. digital joysticks, and more.
    • The Beginner’s Page – Using loops in BASIC.
    • Telecomputing Today – A tutorial on uploading and downloading files. Trivial today but not quite as much so in 1985.
    • Computers and Society: Visual Computing, Part 2 – The second part in a series on graphical operating environments.
    • INSIGHT: Atari – Bugs in various Atari BASIC versions and solutions for working around them.
    • The World Inside the Computer: Redefining Computer Literacy – The future of home computers as digital utility centers.
    • Programming the TI: Japanese Characters – A type-in program for reprogramming the keyboard to print Japanese characters on the TI-99/4A.
    • IBM Personal Computing: Titling Your Vacation – Programs for the IBM PC that can be used to create titles that can then be photographed to be used in slide shows, etc.

    The Journal

    • ScriptSave: Automatic Disk Saves for Commodore 64 Speedscript 3.0 – A type-in utility that works with Speedscript 3.0 on the Commodore 64 to automatically save your work every 10 minutes.
    • Dynamic Function Keys for VIC & 64 – A type-in program that assigns useful functions for programmers to the function keys on the VIC-20 and Commodore 64.
    • IBM Disk Rx – A type-in program for DOS machines designed for file recovery of accidentally deleted files.
    • Apple IIc RAM Disk Mover, Part I – A type-in utility to quickly move the contents of a floppy disk to a RAM disk.
    • 64 Tape to Disk Transfer – A type-in utility that makes it easy to transfer programs from tape to disk on the Commodore 64.
    • News & Products – Broderbund announces The Music Shop for the Commodore 64, The Original Boston Computer Diet available for the PC and coming soon for the Apple II and Commodore 64, Mindwheel text adventure released for the PC, Apple II, and Commodore 64, new dot matrix printers from Star Micronics, and more.

    …and more!


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