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!