• Tag Archives PC

  • Compute!’s PC (January 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    compute_pc_issue_03_1988_jan-000

    Source: Compute!’s PC – Issue Number 3 – January 1988

    Compute! was a popular multi-format computer magazine that was published throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s. In addition to the main title, they published several other machine specific magazines, some more popular and longer lasting than others. Compute!’s PC Magazine is one such publication. It was dedicated to DOS based PCs and included a disk but this made it relatively expensive.

    The January 1988 issue of Compute!’s PC Magazine includes the following:

    Software On Disk

    • The Best of the Boards: PC-Art – A full featured, easy to use drawing program that requires an IBM PC, PCjr, XT, AT or compatible; DOS 2.0+; 256K RAM; CGA or EGA graphics; and a printer (optional). It is written in Quick BASIC and was available on many BBS systems to download in addition to the disk included with this issue.
    • EZDOS – This program enhances DOS with 50 new commands and additional features. It requires a PC with at least DOS 2.0 and 256K of RAM.
    • RoboKey – This program allows you to automate DOS operations as well as virtually any DOS application program.
    • Wrimage – A customizable word guessing game.
    • Keyboard Lock-Out – A security program that blanks the screen and locks out the keyboard. I guess you could think of this a a predecessor to the screen saver.
    • Burger Blaster – An arcade style game that’s sort of a cross between Burger Time and Space Invaders.

    Features & Columns

    • The Editor’s View – Details about what is on the disk and the decision to remove the menu program.
    • PC News & Notes – New products include: Microsoft’s Mach 20 speed-up card (converts XT into a 286 based AT); Microsoft’s Bookshelf on CD-ROM which includes World Almanac, American Heritage Dictionary, Roget’s Thesaurus, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, Houghton Mifflin Usage Alert and Spelling Verifier, and more; the Toshiba T1000 laptop featuring 512K of RAM, 3.5″ disk drive, and more; the Toshiba 386 based T5100; and the Compaq Deskpro 368/20 and Portable 386. Plus attempts to ban rental software by Congress, reduced prices on the Inboard 80386 accelerator (now $1,595), Lotus removes disk based copy protection on the latest version of Lotus 1-2-3, and more.
    • Reader’s Feedback – Letters from readers about the IBM PCjr, DOS in ROM, programming languages, saving BASIC programs and more.
    • Getting Down to Business: Why Everyone Should Have Keyboard Macros – Creating and using keyboard Macros for WordStar, Lotus 1-2-3 and other applications.
    • Trapping Disk Errors in Turbo Pascal – A tutorial on how to detect and handle disk errors in Turbo Pascal.
    • A Winter’s Tale – Parameters to enter into the editor of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator to create a winter themed flight adventure.

    Reviews

    • Nota Bene – A $500 word processor with 1,000 page manual.
    • Sub Battle – A submarine simulator from Epxy for PCs with at least 128K.
    • Personal Portfolio Manager – Described as a “complete securities-portfolio management tool”.

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana DOS 📎and tagged

  • Games for Windows (May 2007)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    games-for-windows-006-may-2007-001

    Source: Games for Windows – Issue Number 6 – May 2007 

    Microsoft bought Computer Gaming World and turned it into Game for Windows. The content didn’t really change much which was a good thing. However, it wouldn’t survive very long in its new form. The May 2007 issue includes:

    Features

    • Cover Story: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts – A detailed look into the second game of this World War II series.
    • Windows Vista – A detailed examination of Microsoft’s latest OS, particularly as it relates to gaming. Here they give it a mostly positive review (but then, this is a Microsoft magazine) but note driver issues. Driver issues would basically plague Windows Vista forever.

    Departments

    • Editorial – Giving credit to some of the freelance contributors to the magazine.
    • Letters – Comments on articles in previous issues, graphics vs. game play, comparability, older gamers, and more.
    • Start – A preview of Crysis; an interview with John Carmack, co-founder of id Software; a preview of The Witcher; a preview of World in Conflict; an interview with Michael Mateas and Andrew Stern, creators of Facade and The Party; A brief look at some of the latest free games including Ivan Drago: Justice Enforcer, Clean Asia, Kumoon, and Racing Pitch; a preview of Sins of a Solar Empire; and much more.
    • Reviews
      • Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar – An expansion to what is probably one of the best 4X strategy games to this day. (9/10)
      • Vanguard: Saga of Heroes – An apparently terrible Everquest knock-off. (3/10)
      • City Life: World Edition – An expanded version of the original City Life city simulator with more variety. (8.5/10)
      • Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars – The third game in one of the most popular real-time strategy games ever. (9/10)
      • Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game – An adventure/puzzle game. (7/10)
      • Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich – A mediocre World War II themed real-time strategy game. (5/10)
      • Sam & Max: Episode 4 – Another decent entry in this comedic adventure game. (8/10)
    • Extend – Tom and Bruce go head to head in Supreme Commander. Plus a look at the latest in hardcore war-gaming, as well as casual games (like Monopoly), and more.
    • Tech – A look at some off-the-shelf small form factor gaming PCs including the Shuttle XPC 1337 Series SDXi, the Falcon Northwest FragBox II, and the Shuttle XPC P2 3700g vs. building your own. Their middle of the road parts list includes a Core 2 Duo E6600 and a GeForce 8800 GTS. Their “Dream Rig” includes a Core 2 Extreme QX6700, GeForce 8800 GTX and 4GB of DDR2-800 which combined with other needed parts comes to more than $3800.
    • Greenspeak – A tongue-in-cheek review of the best RPG ever.

    …and much more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana Retro Games 📎and tagged

  • Computer Direct (PC, 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    compute_pc_issue_01_1987_sep-45

    Source: Compute!’s PC – Issue Number 1 – September 1987

    Computer Direct was a popular (at least based on their advertising) mail order computer company. I remember getting some stuff for my Commodore 64 through them (I think that’s where my printer, monitor and modem came from…possibly the C64 and 1541-II disk drive as well but I can’t remember). They sold Commodore, Atari, Apple and PC compatible equipment.

    You had to be a little careful ordering from them as their ads weren’t always specific as to what brand you were getting but I never had a problem getting something I didn’t want (e.g. the monitor I ordered was a Magnavox). In the ad above, the PC was probably one of the Laser XT models but it is unclear what brand the monitor is. The “Big Blue” printer is a thermal printer which isn’t clear from the ad. But their prices were pretty good and they had a 90 day money back guarantee.

    The above ad is from the September 1987 issue of Compute!’s PC magazine.


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana DOS 📎and tagged