• Tag Archives Compute!

  • Compute! (August 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute! was a multiformat magazine that covered a variety of popular machines. It was one of the better magazines in this category, especially if you wanted something more home computer oriented and a little less technical than Byte. The August 1987 issue includes:

    Features

    • Compute!’s Readership Survey – A survey for readers that asks questions like what kind of computer you use, what kind of applications, etc. This was used in part to determine coverage in future issues.
    • CES and COMDEX: A Tale of Two Cities – Comparing the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago with COMDEX in Atlanta. Both were big shows for electronics and computer software and hardware.
    • >Climber 5 – A type in game for the Commodore 64, Atari, Amiga, Apple II, and PC in which you must climb to the top of a building to retrieve a baseball while avoiding various obstacles.

    Reviews

    • Bank Street Writer Plus – A word processor for the Apple II line and the IBM PC.
    • Might and Magic – The classic fantasy RPG reviewed here for the Apple II.
    • Space M+A+X – A simulation in which you must make money operating a space station for the IBM PC.
    • Realms of Darkness – Another role-playing game, this one from Strategic Simulations (SSI) for the Apple II and Commodore 64.

    Columns and Departments

    • The Editor’s Note – Recent advancements in superconductivity and its implications for computing.
    • Readers’ Feedback – Readers write in about the future of 5.25″ disks, checking the CAPS key on the Atari 130XE, the importance of saving a typed-in program before running it, upgrading an Amiga CPU, and more.
    • Computers and Society: The Next Gutenberg Revolution – Desktop publishing becomes more affordable with the introduction of Atari’s laser printer for the ST.
    • The World Inside the Computer: Robert Evans Meets the Xerox 4020 – A look at a new printer from Xerox featuring ink jet technology.
    • Microscope – A look at IBM’s new PS/2 line (an their marketing), and some comparisons with the Atari ST and Amiga.
    • Telecomputing Today: A Conversion Experience – Issues converting an old MacWrite disk to a new system with a utility download coming to the rescue.
    • The Beginner’s Page: Program Loops – A look at GOTO, FOR-NEXT, and WHILE-END loops in BASIC.
    • IBM Personal Computing: What to Do About Junior – The merits of upgrading a PCjr (or lack thereof) vs. getting a whole new PC.
    • AmigaView: All About Icons – Creating your own icons.
    • ST Outlook: Page Flipping – A tutorial for flipping between multiple display screens.
    • INSIGHT: Atari – Graphics: From BASIC to ML – A look at how Atari BASIC converts graphics commands to machine language.

    The Journal

    • 64 Eighty – A type-in program that will give you an 80-column display on the Commodore 64. A similar software trick was used in a terminal program I used back in the day. It’s not as high quality as a genuine 80-column displays (the C64s native display is 40 columns) but it was pretty good.
    • BASIC Batch Files with Atari DOS – How to execute BASIC commands (or other things) upon startup.
    • Math Graphics for Atari ST – A couple of type-in graphics demos for the ST.
    • Compress and Decompress – A couple of type-in utilities for compressing and decompressing high-res graphics files on the Apple II.
    • Fractal Mountains for Amiga – A type-in program that will generate fractal graphics on the Amiga.
    • Pop-Up ASCII Table for IBM – A type-in utility that runs in the background and will give you a pop-up ASCII table on a keypress.
    • XpressCard Filing System for the Commodore 64 – A type-in database program for the C64.
    • ML Relocator – A type-in machine language utility that will let you move ML programs around in memory that normally need to use the same memory space.
    • SoftSprite – A type-in machine language routine that adds commands to BASIC that allow you to quickly move shapes around the screen.
    • The Power of ON-GOTO and ON-GOSUB – A tutorial for using the conditional ON-GOTO and ON-GOSUB commands in BASIC on the Atari (and most other machines with BASIC).
    • Chaining Programs in Applesoft BASIC – A tutorial for calling one program from another.
    • The 128’s CHAR Statement – A detailed look into the BASIC CHAR statement on the Commodore 128 by Jim Butterfield.
    • Comparing BASIC Programs – A type-in BASIC program for the PC that will compare two BASIC programs and report any differences. So basically a diff program for BASIC.
    • News and Products – Life Simulation 100 is a sim of possible consequences based on various choices; Diskette Manager Plus 1.1 and Diskette Manager II disk manager for the PC; Time Scrolls for the Mac reports on what happened the day you were born; Up Periscope and Sentry games for the Commodore 64; and much more.

    …and more!


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  • Compute! (March 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 94 – March 1988

    Compute! covered various home computers over the years. It was a little less technical than Byte (for example) at least in terms of hardware coverage. However, it was a great magazine and had numerous spin-off, the most successful of which was Gazette for the Commodore 64/128. The March 1988 issue of Compute! includes:

    Features

    • Computers: The Powerful, New Music Machines – A short history of computers in music and the technology currently available.
    • Buyer’s Guide to Tax Preparation Software – An overview of then curren tax software including DivorceTax (DOS), Estate Tax Planner (DOS), Everything You Need To Do Your Taxes With Lotus 1-2-3 (DOS), EZTax-Prep 1040 (Apple II, DOS, Macintosh), EZTax-Plan Personal Edition (DOS), Future-Tax (Commodore 64, Plus/4), J.K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 1988 (DOS), MacInTax (Macintosh), PC/TaxCut (DOS), Quick Returns! (Apple II, Macintosh, DOS), Swiftax (Commodore 64/128), Taxaid (Commodore 64, Plus/4), TaxView Planner (DOS), Tax Advantage (Apple II, DOS), The Tax Advantage (DOS, Apple II, Atari, Atari ST, Commodore 64/128), Tax Command Planner (Commodore 64/128, Apple II, DOS), Tax Command Professional (Commodore 64/128, Apple II, DOS), and many more.
    • Casino Blackjack – A type-in blackjack game for the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, DOS, Apple II, and Amiga.
    • Centerstage: AMIGA! – The World of Commodore Show – While there was plenty of Commodore 64/128 stuff on display and a new XT compatible PC 10-III model from Commodore, the Amiga was the focus at the 1987 World of Commodore show.
    • The Amiga Virus – Apparently, the World of Commodore show was ground zero for the spread of a virus for the Amiga.

    Reviews

    • Top Fuel Eliminator – A drag racing game from Activision for the Commodore 64 and Apple II.
    • Thexder – An arcade style game reviewed here for the Apple IIgs and also available for DOS.
    • ProDrive for the Amiga – A third part 3.5″ disk drive for the Amiga that is compatible with the Amiga 1010 drive.
    • Dark Castle – Dark Castle is a horror themed action game that has beautiful graphics but a very high degree of difficulty. The Amiga version is reviewed here but it was also available for DOS, the Macintosh, Atari ST, and Commodore 64.
    • Postcards – Software from Activision for creating postcards for the Apple II (reviewed here), Macintosh, Commodore 64, and DOS.
    • Empire – This strategy game would become a classic. Reviewed here for the Atari ST with DOS, Apple II and Amiga versions available.

    Columns and Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – A look at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show.
    • Readers’ Feedback – Letters from readers about copying Commodore 64 BASIC from ROM to RAM, the Atari BASIC NEW command, using Commodore 1541 and 1571 disk drives together, and more.
    • Microscope – IBM celebrates shipping one-millionth IBM PS/2, the Amiga reaches an installed base of 500,000 meanwhile the Commodore 64 is still popular with an installed base of over 10 million, Motorola announces 68030, Apple announces that 200,000 Apple IIgs systems have been sold, and more.
    • Computers and Society: Computers, Writing, and AI – Some of the limitations of spell checkers in word processors.
    • The Beginner’s Page: Making Music with BASIC – A tutorial for creating music in BASIC with the Amiga, Atari, Atari ST, Commodore 128, and IBM PC.
    • IBM Personal Computing: Computer Stew – A look at God Speed Bible software and John Sculley’s book, Odyssey, about his history at Pepsi and Apple.
    • The World Inside the Computer: Computers of the Future – Readers describe what they think computers of the future will be like.
    • Telecomputing Today: The Trojan Wars – This article talks about the risk of Trojans when downloading software. It credits a BASIC statement on Commodore PET computers that could actually damage hardware as being the first. It also talks about a new variant called viruses.
    • AmigaView: Third-Party Hardware and Software – A look a third party hardware for the Amiga including accelerators, SCSI controllers, memory expansion, and more as well as new software such as Superbase Professional, DeluxeWrite, Publisher 1000, and more.
    • ST Outlook: Snooping Into Your Disks – A type-in program that will let you examine the content of disks on the Atari ST.
    • INSIGHT: Atari – More on Structure – A follow-up article on structured programming and structured data types on the Atari 8-bit.

    The Journal

    • Cursor Plus – A type-in program for Atari 8-bit computers that expands the capabilities of the editor.
    • Math Graphics for the IBM PC – Two type-in programs for creating graphical displays based on math.
    • The Elementary Amiga, Part 4 – The fourth part in a series on using the Amiga. This part includes information about directories, logical drives, command files, and more.
    • Color Map – A type-in drawing program for the Commodore 64.
    • Math Draw for Amiga – A type-in menu driven graphics program for the Amiga.
    • Catalog to Text File – A type-in program for the Apple II that outputs a disk directory to a text file.

    …and more!


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  • Compute! (November 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 102 – November 1988

    Compute! covered popular home computers of the day. In the early days it covered exclusively 6502 based computers. By this time, they were covering all popular computers in the home which included The Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS based machines of all types, Commodore 64, Apple II, and maybe others. The November 1988 issue includes:

    Features

    • Communicate by Design – An introduction to desktop publishing including info on where to get more training.
    • Print That Page – An overview of six printers recommended by Compute! including the Epson LQ-850, Star NB24-10, Okidata Microline 390, NEC Pinwriter P5200, Hewlett-Packard DeskJet, and Apple ImageWriter LQ.
    • How Are Computers Made? – A photographic tour of the Tandy Business Products Plant in fort Worth, Texas, specifically following the production of a Tandy 4000.
    • Conversations – An interview with Tom Clancy focusing on some of the translations of his books to games such as Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising.

    Reviews

    • Fast Looks – A brief look at recent releases including Sports Scheduler (software for organizing sports leagues) for the Apple II and DOS; and Cosmic Relief (an animated puzzle game) for the Amiga, Atari ST and Commodore 64.
    • NewsMaster II – A page layout program from Unison World for DOS.
    • Springboard Publisher – A desktop publishing program for the Apple II.
    • Street Sports Soccer – Part of Epyx’s Street Sports Series. According to this, Streets Sports Soccer is available for the Commodore 64, DOS, and Apple IIgs with an Apple II version coming in the Fall.
    • Wasteland – The classic post-apocalyptic RPG from Electronic Arts for the Apple II and Commodore 64 with a DOS version planned later. This was the predecessor to Fallout.
    • Math Blaster Plus – An educational program for the Apple II and DOS with the goal of helping teach math to those in grades 1-6.
    • New World Writer – A DOS word processor that includes a spell checker, thesaurus and outliner.

    Compute! Specific

    • MS-DOS – Extend-a-Name, a memory resident program designed to allow you to use filenames greater than eight character filename plus three letter extension allowed by DOS; Microsoft an IBM announces MS-DOS 4.0; starting programs from batch files and more.
    • 64 & 128 – The possible demise of the Commodore 64/128 as software publishers de-emphasize releases for that platform; Bards Tale III by Electronic Arts released for the C64; Reach for the Stars released by SSG/Electronic Arts; Bubble Ghost released by Accolade; Metrocross released by Epyx; and more.
    • Apple II – Apple IIgs version of Pirates released by MicroProse; Computer Learning News (a newspaper aimed at kids 8-12) soon to debut as a monthly publication; the Apple IIgs gets a software update (including GS/OS 2.0); and more.
    • Amiga – New programming tools released including C.A.P.E. (assembler), MetaScope (debugger), and DSM (disassembler); Commodore introduces high resolution monochrome monitor; V.I.P. anti-virus software released; and more.
    • Macintosh – Claris buys FileMaker 4; Disk Tools Plus released by Electronic Arts; Thunder (interactive spell-checker) released; Word Perfect 1.01 released; and more.
    • Atari ST – Navarone ST SCAN (video digitizer) released; I.B. drive released (5.25″ disk drive for Atari ST that adds IBM PC compatible disk capabilities); Drive Master released (a cable that allows switching between disk drives); and more.

    Columns

    • Editorial License – A criticism of personal computer provincialism.
    • News & Notes – Apple released the Apple IIc Plus; DOS 4.0 released; Kyodai and Broderbund join forces to release Japanese games in the U.S.; and more.
    • Gameplay – Orson Scott Card examines Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
    • Impact – Why paper usage continues to rise in the era of the “paperless” office.
    • Discoveries – Resources for using older computers such as the TRS 100/200, Plus/4, Timex Sinclair, VIC-20, and others for various purposes such as education.
    • Levitations – Finding bargains on old computer hardware that might still fit your needs. CP/M laptops, a TP-10 daisy wheel printer, the HP Portable, and other items are mentioned here.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about using U.S. computer equipment in Europe, the NEC V20 CPU, home business possibilities, and more.
    • New Products! – A brief look at new products including Zork Zero (the first Zork game with graphic puzzles), an updated version of Tree86 (a DOS enhancement), a keyboard for disabled individuals, new 9-pin dot-matrix printers from Epson (FX-850 and FX-1050), new Viking hi-res monochrome monitor for the Amiga, Warlock (arcade/action game for the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, and Apple IIGS), and more.

    …and more!


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