• Tag Archives computers

  • Compute! (October 1983)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute! was perhaps the first magazine for home computer users. Not just hobbyists building or putting together their own computers but those wanting to by computers and use commercial software. It concentrated on 6502 based computers in its early days but eventually covered most popular home computers. The October 1983 issue includes:

    Features

    • Telegames: Computer Games By Phone – Online games were a thing even in these early days. There were a few games around that you could play vs. another player via modem and online services such as Compuserve had multiplayer games. Compuserve had perhaps the first online game with Space Wars.
    • Nonviolent Games – Violence in games isn’t as controversial as it once was. However, throughout the 1980s, there was a lot of discussion about it. This summarizes some of that discussion in the early days.
    • Coupon File – This type-in program for multiple systems is designed to allow you to file and search for coupons. However, it can be adapted to a variety of purposes.

    Education and Recreation

    • Dragonmaster – A type-in action/adventure game for the VIC-20, Commodore 64 and Atari 400/800 in which you must battle dragons and escape a wizard in order to save a princess.
    • Moving Maze – A type-in game for the VIC-20, Atari 400/800, and Commodore 64 in which you must make your way through moving walls before time runs out while evading a relentless pursuer.
    • Mosaic Puzzle – A type-in sliding tile game in which you must get all of the tiles in order for the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Atari 400/800, and TI-99/4A.
    • Spelling Quiz – A type-in spelling program for the Atari 400/800 and VIC-20 that allows you to provide a list of up to 20 words at a time to be tested on.

    Reviews

    • Jumpman – A now classic 8-bit computer game reviewed here for the Commodore 64, Atari 400/800, and Apple II.
    • Synthy 64 – A music creation program for the Commodore 64.
    • VICFORTH – An implementation of the FORTH language on cassette for the VIC-20.
    • Flower Power Math Fun – An educational math game for the Commodore 64 and Apple II.
    • Mothership For Timex/Sinclair – An action game for the Timex/Sinclair 1000 in which you must battle through a trench somewhat like in Star Wars only there are no 3D graphics here.
    • Turmoil For VIC, 64, And Atari – A fast action game in which you must destroy the aliens before they destroy you.
    • The Commander – A Command Extension Utility – A 4K ROM for PET/CBM computers that extends the functionality of BASIC 4.0.
    • Picnic Paranoia For Atari – Defend your picnic from various insects in this classic game for the Atari 400/800.

    Columns And Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – The results of a previous subscriber survey.
    • Readers’ Feedback – Letters from readers about using an electric typewriter as a printer, adjusting VIC-20 audio and video, TRS-80 Model I equipment for charity, transferring BASIC programs from the PET to VIC-20 and Commodore 64, sprites on the Commodore 64, and more.
    • Computers and Society – Simulations vs. games, VisiCalc as a language, and more.
    • The Beginner’s Page: Your First Useful Program – A useful type-in program for storing data in various ways.
    • Questions Beginners Ask – Questions answered about 8- vs. 16-bit computers.
    • On The Road With Fred D’Ignazio – A report on trips to the West Coast Computer Faire, Florida Instructional Computing Conference, Children’s Computer Workshop, and more.
    • Friends Of The Turtle: Ed Emberley’s Drawing Procedures – Drawing squares, houses, and more with turtle graphics.
    • The World Inside The Computer: Islands Of Learning – Using computers to teach children to read.
    • INSIGHT: Atari – Some technical details on how Atari’s new 1050 disk drives work plus info on new graphics modes provided by the GTIA.
    • 64 Explorer – The first of a two part series on using the STATUS variable in Commodore 64 BASIC.
    • Machine Language: Bagel Break, Part 3 – The third part in a series on creating a machine language game called ‘Bagels’ on Commodore computers.
    • Programming The TI: Playing Music On The TI – A type-in program for the TI-99/4A called TI Music Maker that allows you to create and play music.

    The Journal

    • Merging BASIC Programs From Commodore Disk – A program for merging two BASIC programs on disk.
    • Spiralizer – A type-in program for creating high resolution spiral graphics on the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Atari 400/800, and Color Computer.
    • Commodore EXEC – A technique for accessing subroutines from a disk file.
    • Atari Master Disk Directory – A disk menu program that let you update the directory, search the disk, search a file, print labels, and more.
    • Runway 180: Using Sprites In TI Extended BASIC – A type-in game that demonstrates using sprites in TI Extended BASIC.
    • How To Create A Data Filing System, Part 4: The Main Program – The final part in a series on creating a database like filing system.
    • Invisible Disk Directory For VIC And 64 – A type-in program that will allow you to display a disk directory while retaining your current program in memory.
    • A Multicolor Atari Character Editor – A type-in program called ‘ANTIC Aerobics’ that allows you to animate characters.
    • High Speed Mazer – A maze generating program for the PET, VIC-20, and Commodore 64 as well as an action/strategy game that makes use of this for the PET and Commodore 64.
    • Apple Sounds – From Beeps To Music, Part 1 – The first in a two part series on creating sound and music on the Apple II. Includes a variety of sample programs.
    • Extra Instructions – A technique for combining opcodes on 6502 based computers.
    • Commodore DOS Wedges: An Overview – What a DOS Wedge does and how to use it.
    • Protector For VIC-20 – A type-in program that demonstrates how to disable the SAVE, RESTORE, STOP, and LIST commands in order to protect your programs.
    • USR Sort – Using the Atari’s USR function to create subroutines that implement new commands.
    • Working With SID – Treating the SID like a music synthesizer.
    • Atari Safe RAM – A type-in programming for managing memory more efficiently on the Atari 400/800.
    • VIC Scaling Bar Graphs – A type-in program for creating bar graphs on the VIC-20.
    • 64 Character Creator – A type-in menu-driven program for creating, modifying, and saving custom characters on the Commodore 64.

    …and more!


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  • Byte (July 1976)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    1976 was before the personal computer revolution really got going. That would happen the following year with the release of systems like the Commodore PET, Apple 2, Atari 400/800, and TRS-80. However, Byte was already covering computers for hobbyists and other small systems users. The July 1976 issue includes:

    Foreground

    • Coincident Current Ferrite Core Memories – An introduction to core memory and some info about using it in your own projects.
    • Explore an 8080 With Educator-8080 – A type in program for 8080 based machines meant to demonstrate the functions of a computer.
    • The “Ignorance is Bliss” TV Drive Circuit – A guide to building a TV interface that will turn your TV into a terminal.
    • Why Wait? Build a Fast Cassette Interface – The cassette was the first common mass storage device for small computers. This article describes how to build an interface that operates at 110 baud.

    Background

    • Assembling a Sphere – A guide to building the “SYS2/KIT – Intelligent”, a kit computer based on the Motorola 6800 processor.
    • Machine Language Programing For the “8008” – Chapter 1 – This chapter from the above named book covers the 8008 instruction set.
    • Put The “Do Everything” Chip in Your Next Design – A guide to to using the TMS-5501 chip in your own designs. This chip provides an asynchronous communications interface, parallel data IO buffer, interrupt control logic, and five programmable interval timers.
    • Surplus Electronics In Tokyo and Manila – A summary of this author’s experiences searching for surplus electronic components in Tokyo, Japan in October 1975 an Manilla, Philippines in November 1975.
    • Make Your Own Printed Circuit – Some techniques for creating your own printed circuit boards.
    • A Plot Is Incomplete Without Characters – Basic concepts of character generation along with techniques for saving memory space.

    Nucleus

    • The Trend Toward Hassle Free Products – Up to this point, if you wanted a personal computer, you generally had to build, if not design your own. However, that was all starting to change.
    • What’s New? – Tiny BASIC for 6800 based computers, a 100×100 resolution video camera kit, and more.
    • What Happened at Tranton – The first Trenton Computer Festival.
    • Letter – Letters from readers about software marketing, software delivery methods, the Star Trek game, Space War, and more.
    • Ask Byte – A question about systems that could store 5,000 patient records.

    …and more!


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  • Byte (February 1978)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Byte was one of the earliest and most technical computer magazines available. In 1978, things were really starting to take off in the ‘small computer’ arena. The closest thing to a standard were the S100 bus based 8008 or Z80 machines running CP/M. However, the Commodore PET, TRS-80, and Apple II had all recently been introduced. The February 1978 issue of Byte includes:

    Foreground

    • A Penny Pinching Address State Analyzer – A design for building an inexpensive address state analyzer that displays dynamic fluctuations of a computer’s memory bus.
    • Taking The First Step – An introduction to stepper motors.
    • Simulation Of Motion – Part four of a series on motion simulation. This part discusses applications for boating and other objects in water.
    • Add a $3 Light Pen Video Display – A guide to constructing your own very inexpensive light pen.
    • Sweets For KIM – A type-in lightweight text editor for the KIM.
    • A Minifloppy Interface – A guide to building an interface for a minifloppy disk drive. “Minifloppy” in this case I believe refers to 5.25″ disks. 8-inch disks were more that standard at the time but the smaller floppy drives and disks were cheaper.

    Background

    • CIE Net: Part 1, The Beginnings – The first in a series on the design of a telecommunications network for small systems.
    • Some Musings On Boolean Algebra – Unifying digital electronics, set theory, and propositional calculus using Boolean algebra.
    • Personal Computers in a Distributed Network – A speculative article on a possible method for linking computers wirelessly.
    • The Brains of Men & Machines – The second article in a series. The part looks at motor control of humans vs. machines.
    • Programming Entomology – A guide to protecting yourself from programming bugs.
    • A Simple Digital Filter – Using a computer to do the job of an analog filter.

    Nucleus

    • Complete ASCII – A complete ASCII table with binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal equivalents.
    • Languages Forum: The Case for a “Compiler Interpreter” APL Character Representations</> – The considerations of compilers vs. interpreters were a little different when mass storage was at a premium.
    • Ask BYTE – A question and answer about TTL integrated circuit devices driving LED displays.
    • BYTE’s Bits – COMP-CON 78 celebrates three years of the personal computer industry.
    • Languages Forum: Comments on APL Character Generators – A method for displaying ASCII and non-ASCII characters in APL.
    • Technical Forum: Measuring Program Size – Measuring program size depends on the computer and how it stores data.
    • Technical Forum: Some Plotting Comments – Approaches to building a plotter.
    • New York Notes – A report from the first annual Personal Computer Expo.
    • What’s New? – The Delta 4300E video display terminal, the ECMA-34 cassette recorder for computers, a credit card magnetic stripe reader, and more.

    …and more!


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