• Tag Archives Macintosh

  • Compute! (September 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    compute_issue_100_1988_sep-01

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 100 – September 1988

    Compute! was one of the most popular computer magazines for many years. It covered a wide variety of systems throughout its life including the Commodore 64, Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST, and of course PCs among others. The 10th anniversary issue (issue number 100) from September 1988 includes the following:

    Features

    • Years Gone By – We chart the history of home computing by offering up covers and articles fro the last nine years of COMPUTE! magazine.
    • That Was Then, This Is Now – What were 15 movers and shakers in the computer industry doing nine years ago, and what are they doing now?
    • Milestones in Computer History – Our birthday present to you – the most important computer hardware, software, and publications on a collector’s edition poster.
    • Conversations – Epyx Grows with David Morse – Epyx’s CEO spells out what it takes to move an entertainment publisher past the $100-million mark.
    • Buyer’s Guide – Classic Software – Browse through these 70 classic programs from personal computing’s history.

    Reviews

    • The Three Stooges
    • The Graphics Studio
    • Ultima V
    • Wordbench
    • Stealth Mission
    • Twilight’s Ransom
    • Read ‘n Roll

    Compute! Specific

    • MS-DOS
    • 64 & 128
    • Apple II
    • Amiga
    • Macintosh
    • Atari ST
    • Hints & Tips

    Columns

    • Editorial License – Throughout its first 100 issues, COMPUTE! has been the magazine that always speaks first and clearest to the home user.
    • News & Notes – CES wears many guises, Nintendo faces great DRAM drought, and GEOS gets to two.
    • Gameplay – Comics on computers take on the columnist, and win.
    • Impact – The first 100 issues of COMPUTE! have seen the magic of a revolution’s first decade.
    • Discoveries – Writing, the key to success in school, can be fun and fruitful with a word processor.
    • Levitations – The Consumer Electronics Show sure isn’t what it used to be.
    • Letters – COMPUTE! helps take a bite out of crime!
    • New Products! – Zak saves everyone’s IQ, PC gets palm-sized, sports explode from Accolade, and more new products.

    …and more!


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  • Jet (1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Jet (1987)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/163436942589/retrocgads-usa-1987-jet-dos

    Jet was originally released by SubLogic in 1985 for the Commodore 64 and DOS and was one of the earliest combat flight simulators. It was also ported to the Atari ST, Amiga and Macintosh over the next few years. An enhanced version called Jet 2.0 was released for DOS in 1987.

    The above ad isn’t very specific, but giving the timing (1987), it was probably referring to Jet 2.0. The packaging wasn’t significantly different (just a sticker added to the top saying “Version 2.0”) so I guess there’s no reason to expect different ads. Also, original Jet ports were still being released for other machines after Jet 2.0 was released so really the ad is probably meant to be pretty generic.

    Jet 2.0 was basically the same game but it did feature a number of improvements including better speed. Early flight simulators were probably better measured in seconds per frame vs. frames per second. The simulator was also made more accurate and new improved graphics modes were added. Finally, mouse control and the landing gear was added. There were a few other improvements as well but these were probably the biggest changes.

    Even before Jet 2.0 was released, the original received pretty good reviews in general on all platforms. Jet let you pilot either an F-16 or an F-18 in various combat scenarios or just in free flight. This game was compatible with Flight Simulator so the same scenery disks could be used.





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  • The Isgur Portfolio System (DOS, Macintosh, Atari ST)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    antic_vol_5-11_1987-03_inside_atari_corp_page_0108

    Source: Antic – March 1987

    This ad for the Isgur Portfolio System appeared in the March 1987 issue of Antic. This software is for managing a portfolio and was available on DOS based systems, the Macintosh and the Atari ST. Antic was covering the Atari ST at this point, hence why the ad appeared there.

    This kind of productivity software was not as common on the Atari ST or even on the Macintosh as it was on the PC. While each of those machines found their own niche (desktop publishing for the Mac and music and games for the Atari ST) other types of productivity, other than the basics (word processors, etc.) were not that common. It’s not that those machines weren’t capable, it just isn’t why people bought them.

    I’m not really familiar with this particular software but Batteries Included, the publisher, was known for making fairly high quality word processors and other productivity software for Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64 and even the Commodore 128. Isgur Portfolio System itself also got good reviews but it just isn’t the sort of thing home users were buying for their Atari ST.


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