Source: Compute! – Issue Number 54 – November 1984

Throughout the 1980s, Compute! was one of the best multi-format computer magazines. It always had tons of content and covered a huge variety of computers. In 1984 this included but was not limited to the PC, PCjr, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Apple II, TI-99/4A, TRS-80, Color Computer, and Atari 8-bit.

The November 1984 issue had around 200 pages and included the following:

Features

• On-Line Shopping: Today’s Computer Catalogs – Shopping on-line has of course become the norm but in 1984 it was just emerging from the realm of science fiction. Shopping on-line then meant via a service like CompuServe.

• Understanding Modems – Of course, just going “on-line” felt very science-fiction like in 1984. Do do that, you needed a magical device called a modem that allowed your computer to communicate over the phone lines.

• The Bulletin Boarding of America – While you could always use one of the big services like CompuServe for your online fix, these were fairly expensive. What was much better was calling a local BBS (or many of them) that were often run by average users and were usually free. They had already been around a while at this point but their popularity was really starting to ramp up.

• Bulletin Board Basics – To dial a BBS (or any online service) you needed terminal software and to understand the various settings available available.

Education and Recreation

• Reflection – A type-in version of Reversi called Reflection for the Atari, VIC-20, TI-99/4A, Apple II, IBM PC, PCjr, and TRS-80.

• Spiders – A type-in game that is a bit like Space Invaders for the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Apple II, IBM PC, and PCjr.

Reviews

• KoalaPad For PCjr – A graphics application that combines software with a drawing pad. The Commodore 64 version had been around for quite a while and this version was virtually identical.

• OmniWriter & OmniSpell – A workd processor and spell checker for the Commodore 64.

• WizType – A program for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and Atari that provides an entertaining way to learn how to type.

Columns and Departments

• The Editor’s Notes – The end of the analog age and the differences between analog and digital.

• Readers’ Feedback – Letters from readers about reverse video characters, Commodore 1541 head alignment, laser discs, Commodore Plus/4 vs. Commodore 64, and more.

• The Beginner’s Page – Questions answered about emulators and erasing tapes on the TRS-80 Color Computer.

• On The Road with Fred D’Ignazio: More Ways Computers Made Me Smarter After Only Thirteen Years of Daily Use – Making a show about robots and making a robot alarm clock.

• Computers and Society – The psychology of video game.

• INSIGHT: Atari – Comparing the use of various printers on Atari 8-bit computers. Plus some info on the Atari 1200XL and Atari 1050 disk drive.

• Machine Language: Stack Tricks – Some tips for managing the stack when using machine language on a 6502 processor, including some sample code.

• Programming the TI: Algebra Tutorial, Part 2 – Part 2 of a type-in Algebra Tutorial program with detailed explanation.

• IBM Personal Computing – Info on color printers available for the IBM.

The Journal

• PC Monochrome Graphics – Some BASIC code to generate pretty graphics using only a monochrome monitor.

• Update On COMAL: A SuperBASIC – An overview of COMAL which was an offshoot of BASIC.

• All About The Status Register, Part 2 – Part 2 of an article on the status register in 6502 processors. Included this month is a sample program for Commodore 64, PET/CBM, Apple and Atari computers (all of which use the 6502 or a variant).

• Enhanced Commodore 64 DOS Support – Adding APPEND and VERIFY commands to the Commodore 64 DOS Wedge.

• IBM Screen Formatter – A BASIC programming trick to make it easier to write programs on the IBM that are compatible with both 40 and 80 column screens.

• Apple Disk Verify – A short program for verifying that BASIC programs are saved on disk correctly.

• Commodore Potpourri – Some Commodore programming tricks for randomly accessing DATA statements, embedding carriage returns in a string, using graphics symbols in REMark statements, making backups of machine language code on tape, reset the computer, create unlistable programs, and defining joystick functions.

• Atari Easy Scroll – Some short programming routines for scrolling text on the Atari.

• FOR-NEXT Loop Etiquette – Proper ways to end loops early.

…and more!