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  • Byte (August 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Byte was among the earliest computer magazines. It was published from 1975 until 1998, covered just about every computer, and tended to lean toward the technical side. The August 1988 issue includes:

    Products In Perspective

    • What’s New – The FlexNode 286 and FlexNode 386 “world’s smallest” PCs; Mitsubishi mp286L laptop; Unix based QB2 386 from Cubix; Gigatape’s Giga 1200 DAT subsystem store 1.2 to 84. GB on a single tape; ColorCapture board by Data Translation for the Mac II; ATI Technologies 2400etc modem for $239; PaperClip Publisher from Electronic Arts for the Commodore 64; and much more.
    • Short Takes – A brief look at new products including the Dell System 220 80286 based PC, T-DebugPLUS 4.0, Z86 Portable (conceptually similar to the TRS-80 Model 100), Grammatik III (grammar checker), Watcom C 6.0, and Paradox OS/2

    Expert Advice

    • Computing at Chaos Manor: A Fond Farewell – Jerry Pournelle discusses writing using his CompuPro S-100 system with 8-inch disk drives. Other products discussed include the APX-3200, Cheetah 386 Motherboard, Print Shop, Grammatik II and III, SideKick Plus, and more.
    • Applications Plus: New Directions – GrandView from Symantec, Professional Write 2.0, and Procomm Plus (in later versions, this was my favorite terminal program).
    • Down to Business: Staking Out the Territory – Optimizing database access on a LAN. Products covered here include XDB Server and related products.
    • Macinations: What’s Up with Apple? – Problems with MacPascal plus a look at Apple Macintosh System Tools 6.0, A/UX 1.0, FoxBase 1.0, and FullWrite Professional.
    • OS/2 and You: Why OS/2? – A look at some of the advantages of OS/2.
    • COM1: The Wired Society – The past, present, and future of telecommunications.

    First Impressions

    • 25-MHz Computing Buzzsaws – A look at the Compaq Deskpro 386/25, Everex Step 386/25, Intel SYP302, and Netpro 386/25. These are among the first machines based on the 25 MHz 386 CPU.

    Reviews

    • Product Focus: Communications According to Script – A survey of communications software including Carbon Copy Plus, Crosstalk Mk.4, Crosstalk XVI, HyperACCESS, Instant Terminal, MaxOnline, Mirror II, Move-It, PC BLAST II, Procomm Plus, Relay Silver, Smartcom III, and Softerm PC.
    • Variations on the 20-MHz Theme – A comparison of three 20-MHz systems including the Tatung TCS-8000, Proteus 386A, and Everex Step 286/20. RAM amounts range from 1 MB to 4 MB and all systems include a 1.2MB 5.25″ floppy with other storage (including hard drives) being optional). Prices range from $3190 to $8522 depending on the system and options chosen.
    • Four Surrogate Mice – A look at trackballs and other mouse alternatives. Included here are the PC-Trac, FastTRAP, Trackball Plus, and Felix.
    • Unix for the Mac II – A look at A/UX, a version of Unix for the Mac II. It requires 2MB of RAM as a minimum and comes installed on an 80MB internal or external hard drive for nearly $5000.
    • VersaCAD on a Mac – A look at the Mac version of this CAD software that was originally developed for the PC.

    Features

    • Making the Moves to OS/2 – Programmers from Borland, Norton and Lotus discuss the process of porting their software to OS/2.
    • Ciarcia’s Circuit Cellar: Why Microcontrollers?, Part 1 – A tutorial on the Intel 8031/8051 microcontroller family.
    • Some Assembly Required: The Pitfalls of Porting, Part 2 – The process of porting Small-C from DOS to the Macintosh.

    Departments

    • Editorial: Touching All the Bases – An overview of what’s in this issue including a look at a new 80386 chip, four new columns, and a section on the C programming language.
    • Microbytes – New adder circuit to speed up processors; ParcPlace develops new features for SmallTalk; Synchronous SCSI may be new standard for peripherals; AMD develops Am95C85 chip for performing database tasks; YARC 50 MHz coprocessor board for the Mac II based on AMD’s Am29000 processor; and more.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about recursion, WORM drives, Fourier transforms, and more.
    • Ask BYTE – Questions answered about 3.5″ floppy drives, linking an Osbourne to an IBM PC XT, eternal disk drives with the Hewlett Packard IPC, IBM vs. Epson printers, and more.
    • Book Reviews – Reviews of ‘The Armchair Universe’, ‘In the Age of the Smart Machine: The Future of Work and Power’, ‘Programmer’s Guide to the Hercules Graphics Cards’, ‘Manufacturing Intelligence’, and ‘HyperCard Power’.

    …and more!


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  • Byte (October 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Byte was among the earliest computer magazines. It was published from 1975 until 1998. It covered a wide range of computers through its life. The October 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • Ciarcia’s Circuit Cellar: Build The SB180 Single-Board Computer Part 2: The Software – This single board computer is small enough to fit inside a kids’ metal lunchbox of the type common in the 1980s. There is a photo of this one in a Fraggle Rock lunchbox. This computer is based on the HD64180 which is a successor of the Z80. The first article discussed the hardware while this one discusses software. The operating system chosen was Z-System which was compatible with CP/M 2.2 but with additional enhancements.
    • EGO: A Homebuilt CPU, Part 2: The Hardware – Part 2 of a step by step guide to the design of a CPU.
    • Programming Project: Building a Computer in Software – Designing a virtual machine.
    • Skycam: An Aerial Robotic Camera System – A look at the computer controlled cameras that traverse wires in stadiums to give an aerial view. I guess these were relatively new at the time.
    • Programming Insight: Simulating The Normal Distribution – A BASIC program for sampling bell curves.
    • Programming Insight: IBM PC Joystick Control Using Turbo Pascal – Examples of joystick control using Pascal with inline assembly for higher resolution.

    Themes

    • Why Models Go Wrong – The importance of getting logic, statistics, and measurement all correct in a model.
    • The Problem of Overfitting Data – A mathematical model to help you determine when to stop adding terms to a model.
    • Testing Large-Scale Simulations – How to validate large simulations using TAC THUNDER as an example.
    • Analyzing Government Policies – Using Lotus 1-2-3 for economic modeling.
    • Simulating The Arms Race – A model based on weapons stockpiles.
    • Fighting Fire With Technology – Using dBASE II and a Texas Instruments portable computer to help determine arson risk.

    Reviews

    • The Ericsson Personal Computer – An IBM compatible PC with an 8088 CPU, 256K of RAM, and two 5.25″ 360K floppy drives for $3295 or with one floppy and a 10MB hard drive for $5230.
    • The Stearns Desktop Computer – This PC includes an 8 MHz 8086 CPU, 128K RAM, and two 360K drives for $2995.
    • The Portable STM Personal Computer – This “portable” PC includes an 80186 CPU @ 8 MHz, 256K RAM, and two 360K disk drives (or optionally two 720K disk drives), and a built-in electroluminescent display for $2759.
    • BetterBASIC – A powerful version of BASIC from Summit Software Technology.
    • TLC-LISP – An implementation of LISP for 8086/8088 based machines running PC-DOS, MS-DOS, CPM-86, or Concurrent DOS.
    • GPSS/PC – A version of General Purpose Simulation System from IBM for the PC. Originally, this was software than only ran on mainframes.
    • The Toshiba P1340 Printer – An $800 dot-matrix printer capable of speeds up to 120 characters per second.

    Kernel

    • Computing at Chaos Manor: The Lord of the Manor Moves Upstairs – Includes a look at a variety of products including the Kaypro 286i, AT&T Unix PC, Ampro Little Board, XyWrite, and more.
    • According to Webster: Commodore’s Coup – A look at Commodore’s impressive new Amiga along with some other products including Lattice C, Aztec C, ClickArt, Mac Spell Right, and more.
    • BYTE U.K.: Computers as Consultants – A look at some Expert Systems from the U.K. including Expert-Ease and Tess.
    • BYTE Japan: The Tokyo Microcomputer Show – A look at some new computers in Japan including the NEC PC-98XA, NEC PC-980IU2, the HP-9807, and more.
    • Editorial: Building BIX With Micros – BIX was a online service offered by Byte that included e-mail and conference functionality among other features. This article is about its initial and future design.
    • Microbytes – Sony and Toshiba to start producing 3.5″ high density disks; Tandy Model 100 laptops cause instrument malfunctions on at least two airplanes; Novix ships NC4000P (Forth Microprocessor) Beta-Board; Acorn Computers announces the Acorn Risc Chip (ARM); IRS to test electronic returns in three cities next year; and more.
    • What’s New – A brief look at new products including the Sharp PC-7000 Portable, TurboTower Jr. Three-User System, Nixdorf 8810/25 CPC, a modem for cell phones, MPC-128 Coprocessor Board, IBM PC 80286 Processor, and much more.
    • Ask BYTE – Readers ask about ways to avoid telemarketing calls, flux removal, music synthesizers, building a computer clock for the Apple II, multiuser computers, and more.

    …and more!


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  • Computer + Video Games (April 1991)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Computer & Video Games was the longest running video game magazine that I am aware of. It was published in the U.K. and seemed to avoid the fate of magazines like Electronic Games in the U.S. during the video game crash. Issue number 113 from April 1991 includes:

    • Spectrum Reviews – Reviews of ZX Spectrum games including Afterburner, F16 Combat Pilot, Xenon, Double Dragon, Star Control, and Silkworm.
    • Amstrad Reviews – Reviews of Amstrad CPC games including Silkworm, Star Control, Double Dragon, Xenon, and Return of the Jedi.
    • C64 Reviews – Reviews of Commodore 64 games including SWIV, Last Ninja III, Double Dragon, Silkworm, Xenon, WEC Le Mans, and Fist of Fury II.
    • ST Reviews – Reviews of Atari ST games including Midwinter II: Flames of Freedom, Hard Drivin’ II, Test Drive II, and The Supercars.
    • Amiga Reviews – Reviews of Commodore Amiga game including SWIV, Hard Drivin’ II, Star Control, Gemeini Wing, Silkworm, Double Dragon, and Xenon.

    • PC Reviews – A review of Red Baron for DOS.
    • Sega Reviews – A review of PacMania for the Sega Master System.
    • MegaDrive Reviews – Reviews of MegaDrive / Sega Genesis games including Gynoug, Atomic Robokid, Aeroblasters, Super Real Basketball, and Lakers vs Celtics.
    • PC Engine Reviews – Reviews of PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 games including Jackie Chan, Special Criminal Investigation, Override, and Cadash.
    • Hootenanny Hotlines! – This seems to have been some sort of 1-900 type service where you paid per minute for the phone call and had to answer some questions for a chance to win a MegaDrive, PC Engine, Game Boy, or Super Famicom (all separate numbers to call of course).
    • Ed First – Current and upcoming changes to the magazine and the difficulties of getting an issue out on time.

    • News – Akira for the Famicom, Moonwalker for Sega systems, new MegaDrive games from Electronic Arts, Return of the Jedi for the NES, a Super Mario Bros. movie, Game Gear U.K. launch announced, and more.
    • Yob’s Mailbag – Letters from readers about Darth Vader, magazine quality issues, Ghost N’ Goblins and Operation Wolf on the C64, and more.
    • Cheat Mode – Tips, tricks, and cheats for SCI, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, Total Recall (C64), Bubble Bobble (Amstrad), Gemini Wing (Amstrad), Double Dragon 2 (Nintendo), Track and Field 2 (Nintendo), Faxandu (Nintendo), Back to the Future 2 (Nintendo), Gremlins 2 (Amiga), Dragon Breed (Amiga), Atomic Robokid (Amiga), Robocop 2 (Amiga), Super Hang-On (MegaDrive), Rempage (Lynx), Bubble Bobble (Game Boy), Shinobi (PC Engine), Darius Plus (PC Engine), Speedball 2 (Atari ST, Amiga), and much more.
    • The CVG Charts – The top 20 games this month include Speedball 2 (Amiga), Golden Axe (Sega Master System), Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (C64), and many more. There are also top 20 lists specifically for the Amiga, Atari ST, Nintendo, PC Engine, Sega Master System, Commodore 64, Amstrad, Spectrum, and MegaDrive.
    • Sadie’s Scorers – Reader submitted high scores for a variety of games for the Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad, Commodore 64, Spectrum, Sega Master System, MegaDrive, Nintendo, PC Engine, and Super Famicom.
    • Jazza’s Arcade Action – Reviews of some of the latest arcade games including Nemo from Capcom and Robocop II from Data East.
    • Previews – A look at some games in progress including Mercs from U.S. Gold, Super Cars II from Gremlin for the Amiga, Chuck Rock from Core Design, World Class Leaderboard from U.S. Gold, Populous from Tecmagik for the Sega Master System, , and F-15 Strike Eagle from MicroProse.

    …and more!


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