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  • Compute! (March 1981)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 10 – March 1981

    Compute! was a popular multi-format magazine that covered various computers throughout its long life which started in 1979 and lasted until the 1990s. Throughout its early life, it strictly covered computers based on the 6502 processor. The March 1981 issue includes:

    Table of Contents

    • The Editor’s Notes – The editor opines on software piracy vs. the right to back-up software that you buy.
    • A 6502 Version of the Winter Consumer Electronics Show: January ’81 – News related to 6502 based computers at the Winter CES. The biggest product introduced that year was the Commodore VIC-20.
    • The Beginner’s Page – Some beginner information about BASIC, operating systems, ROM, RAM and storage media.
    • Computers and Society – A look at communications between user and computer via programming languages. LOGO and PILOT are emphasized while BASIC and PASCAL are also mentioned.
    • Taking the Plunge – Machine Language Programming for Beginners – An introductory guide to machine language on the PET though it is applicable to other machines of the time as well. The differences between BASIC, machine language and assembly code are discussed.
    • Computer Communications Experiments – An article on building an RS-232C interface which can be used for modems and other things.
    • Basics of Light Pen Operation – In the early days of computing, light pens were a fairly common user interface option. This article describes in technical detail how they work.
    • Getting the Most from your Pet Cassette Deck – The kinds of cassettes you should use, how to shorten they time it takes to search for programs, and more.
    • The Mysterious and Unpredictable RND – Part 3 – Part 3 of a multi-part series on random number generation in BASIC on the PET. This part demonstrates a dice rolling program using multiple dice.
    • A CAI Program Called Linear Equation – A type-in program for Computer Aided Instruction of Linear Equations.
    • Hex Conversion Using the 6502’s Decimal Mode – A machine language method for converting to and from hexadecimal numbers.

    The Apple Gazette

    • Clearing the Apple II Low-Resolution Graphics Screen – Several BASIC methods for clearing the screen.
    • Fun with Apple and PASCAL – A type-in PASCAL arcade style shooter game for the Apple II (basically shoot at the falling shapes).
    • Flipping your Disk – A guide to making your single side disks double-sided. Essentially, this could be accomplished just by clipping a notch in the side of the disk that didn’t already have one. This worked for a variety of 8-bit computers. Drives were generally single sided so you still had to flip the disk over to read and write data to the second side.

    The Atari Gazette

    • Designing Your Own Atari Character Sets – Creating custom character sets on the Atari 8-bit.
    • Atari Basic: A Line Renumbering Utility – A type-in utility for renumbering the lines of a BASIC program. This was important sometimes because you could run out of line numbers. Every line of code in basic started with a line number. If you needed to add code in between two lines then there would have to be available numbers to do so. If you were unwise enough to make every line number consecutive, that could be problematic. It was common practice to number lines by 10s (first line is 10 second is 20, etc.). However, you never know when you might need more extra line numbers in between.
    • Atari Memory Dump and Dissassembler – A type-in program that will both dump the contents of memory locations to disk or disassemble lines of code.
    • Formatted Output for Atari BASIC – An article with two subroutines for helping you to produce nicely formatted output from BASIC.
    • Random Color Switching while Idle – A method to prevent Atari’s built-in color switching screen saver from kicking in. Pressing a key resets the time for this but when playing a games, you may not be pressing any keys.

    The OSI Gazette

    • A Small Operating System: OS65D the Kernel – The final part in a series on the OS65D operating system.
    • A Six-Gun Shootout Game for the OSI C1P – A type-in BASIC game that sounds a bit like Outlaw on the Atari 2600.

    The PET Gazette

    • Learning About Garbage Collection – Garbage collection (memory reclamation) was necessary on PET machines with certain ROM revision in order to reclaim memory used by strings. Here are a couple of short routines to do that.
    • PET Machine Language Graphics – A machine language graphics subroutine for the PET that provides a variety of graphics functions.
    • Disk File Recovery Program – A type-in program for the PET that can recover accidentally deleted files.
    • PET Exec Hello – A type-in program for automatically executing commands when booting from disk.
    • A Flexible Input Subroutine – A type-in subroutine in BASIC that can handle various types of input.
    • Universal Tape Append for PET/CBM – A type in program that allows for one program to be appended to another on cassette.

    The SBC Gazette

    • Experimenting with the 6551 ACIA – Information for interfacing, operating and controlling a 6441 ACIA with a 6502. The 6551 is used primarily for communications.
    • A Vocal Hex Dump for the KIM-1 – A program designed to work with a speech synthesizer to speak the data in a given memory location.
    • Expanding KIM Style 6502 Single Board Computers – Part 3 of 3 – The final part in a series on expanding the KIM (and KIM-style) single board computers. Basically a series on how to use the bus expansion connector of these machines.
    • Cassette I/O with AIM-65 BASIC – How to make your BASIC program read and write to/from cassette on the AIM 65.

    New Products

    • New Products – Commodore releases disaster relief software used during the fire at the MGM Grand Hotel on November 22, 1980, Personal Software Inc. releases MicroChess and Checker King for the Atari 400/800, Cimarron Corp. announces Legal Time Accounting (accounts receivable and matter tracking for the legal profession) for the Commodore 8032, Microcomputer Software Inc. releases The Landlord apartment management software for the Apple II, Microware releases Scientific Plotter graph producing software for the Apple II, Axlon announces 32K RAM expansion for the Atari 400/800, and much more.

    …and more!


    Apple ][ Atari 8-bit Commodore 64 Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Antic (May 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Antic – May 1985

    Antic was one of the major 8-bit Atari magazines published in the U.S. It also covered the Atari ST though it is better known for its 8-bit coverage. The May 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • Antic Bookshelf – Revews of Atari related books including Book of Adventure Games, Atari Graphics & Arcade Game Design, Atari Color Graphics, and 1 2 3 My Computer & Me! A Logo Funbook for Kids, Logo Fun.
    • Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – A review of this classic interactive fiction game from Infocom based on the Douglas Adams book of the same name.
    • Gem of Atari – A look at the OS of the new 16-bit Atari ST.
    • Paper Clip – A detailed look at what turned out to be one of the best word processors for the Atari 8-bit.
    • Meet the 68000 – A look at the 68000 CPU which was at the heart of the Atari ST and its effect on assembler and BASIC programming.
    • Manipulating Strings – A tutorial on manipulating strings in Atari BASIC.
    • Lazy Loader – A type in utility for allowing you to load your BASIC programs via a menu.
    • Mode Mixer – A type in utility that allows you to display multiple graphics modes on one screen.
    • Beer Party Atari – A type-in application program designed for rating beer.
    • Son of Infobits – A type-in database program that is an expansion of a program published in a previous issue.

    Departments

    • Communications: TScope Autodialer – A type-in add-on for the public domain communications program TScope that allow automatically dialing and logging in to a BBS.
    • Game of the Month: Area Racer – A type-in game in which you race your “Huntercraft” through caverns while avoiding laser fire.
    • Toolbox: Handy USR Routines – A collection of short machine language routines that you can use in your own programs. Functions range from evaluating boolean expressions to playing music and much more.
    • Bonus Game: Amazing – This type-in maze chase game requires the Action! cartridge.
    • Assembly Language: Fader II – A type-in program that implements a dot-by-dot picture dissolve effect.
    • Edtorial – A reflection of Antic’s history as it begins its fourth year of publication.
    • I/O Board – Letters from readers about Broderbund, repairing the Trak disk drive, the Sears Performance TV/Monitor, and more.
    • Product Reviews – Reviews of Ghostbusters (Activision), Spy Vs. Spy (First Star Software), MAC/65 Toolkit (Optimized Systems Software), U.S. Adventure (First Star Software). 50 Mission Crush (Strategic Simulations Inc.), and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (Muse Software).
    • New Products – A brief look at new Atari related products including Hush 80 thermal printer, Bounty Bob Strikes Back, Masteri 8 BASIC ng Your Atari Through 8 BASIC Projects (book), U-Print A64 printer interface, Smartmodem 2400, Print Shop, and the Homewriter 10 printer.

    …and more!


    Atari 8-bit Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • ANALOG Computing (May 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer & Video Game Magazines – ANALOG Computing – May 1985

    There were a couple of good Atari 8-bit magazines published in the U.S. Overall, I think ANALOG was probably the best. The May 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • BASIC AUTORUN.SYS File – A type-in BASIC AUTORUN.SYS designed for autobooting BASIC programs.
    • Basic Burger – A type-in game that, from the description, sounds like a clone of Burger Time.
    • Z-Plotter – A type-in program for plotting graphs of formulas that you enter.
    • Boulder Bombers – A type-in game in which you must drop bombs to clear away a landslide that is blocking flood waters from receding.
    • Loan Shark – A type-in payment calculator that allows you to calculate payments based on loan amounts and interest rates.
    • Two-Fifty-Siz – A type-in program that will display 256 colors on screen at once.

    Reviews

    • US Doubler – The US Doubler is a hardware upgrade for the Atari 1050 disk drives that adds the capability to read and write double-density disks. With the included Sparta DOS, it also speeds it up significantly.
    • Tax Command – Tax preparation software for your Atari 8-bit.
    • Panak Strikes! – Reviews of various games including Realm of Impossibility (Electronic Arts), The Scrolls of Abadon (Access Software), Beach-Head (Access Software) – one of my personal favorites but on the Commodore 64, Spy vs. Spy (First Star Software), and The Serpent’s Star (Broderbund).
    • Enhancement to BASIC – An enhancement to BASIC on Atari computers that adds new functions.

    Columns

    • Editorial – An overview of recent changes to the magazine including changes to the format, increase in telecommunications coverage, and more.
    • Reader Comment – Letters from readers about back issues on disk, coverage in the U.K, a modification to Planetary Defense that allows you to use the Atari Touch Tablet, uses of a VCR with Atari 8-bit computers, and more.
    • New Products – A brief look at new products including a new online game service called Games Computer Play, The Atari Computer Workout (book), Castle Cobbler and Subtraction Fair from Mindscape (kids educational software), The Print Shop from Broderbund, Bounty Bob Strikes Back, and more.
    • Griffin’s Lair – A look at recent educational software titles including Tink’s Adventure (Mindscape) and Tuk Goes to Town (Mindscape).
    • Ask Mr. Forth – A demonstration of the differences between FORTH and BASIC via FORTH versions of a couple of previously published BASIC graphics programs.
    • On-Line – An argument against software piracy using unruly kids in a movie theater as an analogy.
    • The End User – How to take the perfect screen shot. At this time, that meant using a film camera and photographing the monitor.

    …and more!


    Atari 8-bit Computer Arcana 📎and tagged