• Tag Archives computers

  • Compute! (February 1983)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute! was a popular computer magazine for home computer users in the 1980s. In 1983 it was subtitled “The Leading Magazine Of Home, Educational, And Recreational Computing”. It covered various popular home computer systems and even had spinoffs dedicated to particular systems such as the Commodore 64 and Apple II. The February 1983 issue of Compute! includes:

    Features

    • How The Pros Write Computer Games – Software developers weigh in on the process of creating a game.
    • A Day At The RAces – A type-in racetrack simulation for the VIC-20 and Atari that is also meant to help teach you programming.
    • Spectra Video’s New Home Computer – A look at the upcoming SpectraVideo SV-318 computer. It was based on a Z80 CPU and similar to MSX machines though not fully compliant with that standard (a later SpectraVideo machine would be).
    • Computer Talk Show – An article on an hour long radio talk show called Computer Talk in Dayton, Ohio.
    • Writing Transportable BASIC Part II – Part two of a guide to writing BASIC programs that can be easily adapted to multiple machine types.
    • Games We’d Like to See – Some tongue-in-cheek suggestions for new games.

    Education and Recreation

    • Copy Cat – A type-in matching game for the VIC-20, Atari 400/800, TRS-80 Color Computer, Apple II, and PET/CBM.
    • Slalom – A type-in skiing game for the Atari 400/800 and PET/CBM.
    • Writing Effective Educational Programs – Factors to consider when using computers for education. Includes a type-in geometry-teaching program for the TI-99/4A, VIC-20, and TRS-80 Color Computer.
    • MASTERMAZE: Mazing In Three Dimensions – A multi-level maze type-in game for the VIC-20, Commodore 64, PET/CBM, and other Microsoft BASIC computers.
    • Making Change – A type-in educational game for the TRS-80 Color Computer, PET/CBM, Apple II, Atari 400/800 and VIC-20 that teaches about money and giving the correct change.
    • The Joy Of Joysticks – A round-up of controllers for Atari and Commodore computers. Some joysticks covered here include the Atari Joystick, Slik Stik, Starfighter, Baylis Big Stick, WICO Command Control, Pointmaster, Quick Shot, Le Stick, Starplex Video Game Controller, Fingertip Controller, Command Control Trackball, and more.

    Reviews

    • Five VIC Games From Nufekop – This review includes Krazy Kong, Anti-Matter Splatter, 3-D Man, Exterminator, and Defender on Tri.
    • Apple Game Animation Package – Software for creating backgrounds and animated graphics on the Apple II.
    • Mazogs For Sinclair/Timex – A maze game for the Timex TS-1000, Sinclair ZX-81, and Sinclair ZX-80 in which you must collect the treasure.
    • Andromeda For Atari – A game for the Atari 400/800 in which you control a virus that you must manage to keep alive in a host body.
    • Shamus For Atari – I had a lot of fun with this action game from Synapse though I played it on the Commodore 64. I think the Atari 400/800 version was nearly identical though.
    • Maptown – Educational Games For Apple – A collection of educational games for the Apple II.

    Columns And Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – Atari introduces the 1200XL, Atari video game sales decrease, Compute!’s Gazette announced.
    • Ask The Readers – Questions answered about function keys on the VIC-20, add-ons for the Commodore 64, the Atari 825 printer, various disk drives for Commodore computers, upgrading the PET, and more.
    • Questions Beginners Ask – Questions answered about player/missile graphics on the Atari 400/800 and sprites on the Commodore 64, and RAM amounts on the VIC-20 and Atari 400.
    • Computers and Society: Artificial Reality – Metaplay and creating an artificial reality.
    • The Beginner’s Page: Writing An Arcade Game – An introduction to creating an arcade style game with some demonstration code.
    • Learning With Computers – Information on directories of educational software, programs for preschoolers, Children’s Television Workshop Software for the Apple II, and more.
    • The World Inside The Computer: A Computer Language For Kids – An introduction to a theoretical programming language for kids.
    • Programming The TI: Write Your Own Games – Some tips for writing games in the TI-99/4A.
    • Insight Atari – A default drive number under DOS and initializing DOS disks from BASIC.
    • Machine Language: The New 6500 Chips – A look at a couple of new chips in the 6500 series (of which the 6502 is most notable). These include the 6510 (used in the Commodore 64) and the 6509.
    • Telecommunications: Communication Errors Part I – The first in a two part series on error-detection methods.

    Journal

    • VIC Searcher – A type-in program designed to allow you to search through your code.
    • SuperFont Plus – A type-in program that gives you an ANTIC version of SuperFont.
    • Creating Graphics On The Expanded VIC – A type-in program that simplifies creating new character sets and graphics on a VIC-20 with at least 8K of RAM.
    • Vehicle Cost Performance – A type-in program for the Radio Shack Color Computer that helps you to analyze vehicle cost and performance.
    • Joysticks And Sprites On The Commodore 64 – A guide to reading joystick inputs in BASIC and moving sprites with the joystick.
    • Assembly Language And The PET – A beginner’s guide to assembly language on the PET using a program that computes factorials as an example.
    • Simple OSI Graphics – A tutorial on memory mapped graphics on OSI computers.
    • Commodore 64 Video – A Guided Tour: Part I – The first part of a series on the Commodore 64 VIC chip.
    • Bi-Directional VIC Scrolling – A type-in program that allows you to scroll back and forth in your code.
    • PET Dynamic Bookkeeping – A type in bookkeeping program for the PET that serves to illustrate a tape based system.
    • VIC High-res Plotter – A type-in program for plotting mathematical equations on the VIC-20.
    • The Atari Cruncher – A type-in program for the Atari 400/800 that compresses your programs with DATA statements.
    • Super Shell Sort For PET/CBM – An implementation of a shell sort for the PET/CBM.
    • Atari Line Range Manipulator – A type-in program that enhances the BASIC editor by allowing you to copy, delete, and move entire line ranges.
    • Easy Apple Editing – A type-in editor for the Apple II that allows the ability to modify BASIC program lines.
    • “Stringing” Atari Machine Code – A type-in utility for the Atari 400/800 that helps you to transfer machine code bytes from data statements to strings.
    • The Expanded/Unexpanded VIC – A guide to writing programs on the VIC-20 that work with and without expanded memory.
    • Left-handed Atari Joysticks – How to adjust your joystick for easier left-handed use.
    • UFO Pilot: VIC Custom Characters For Game Graphics – A type-in game that illustrates the use of the VIC multicolor mode.
    • Comets – A type in program for the Apple II that simulates the motion of a comet.

    …and more!


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  • Compute! (March 1989)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute! was a popular computer magazine for home computer users in the 1980s. It covered various popular home computer systems and had spinoffs dedicated to particular systems. The most popular of those was probably Compute!’s Gazette which covered Commodore’s 8-bit computers. The March 1989 issue of Compute! includes:

    Features

    • Coming Together – A guide to getting your computer to talk to and share information with other computers. This article includes info for MS-DOS, the Commodore 64/128, Apple II, Amiga, Macintosh, and Atari ST.
    • Warning: Games Under Construction – A look at game construction sets including Arcade Game Construction Kit (Apple II, Commodore 64), Wargame Construction Set (Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS), Adventure Construction Set (Apple II, Amiga, Commodore 64, DOS), World Builder (Macintosh), and Pinball Construction Set (Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, DOS, Macintosh).
    • Buyer’s Guide Arcade Games – This buyer’s guide covers a variety of games including aargh! (Amiga), Alcon (Commodore 64), Alien Mind (Apple IIGS), Amegas (Amiga), Arkanoid (Amiga), Awesome Arcade Action Pack (Amiga), Better Dead Than Alien (Amiga), Bubble Bobble (Commodore 64), Contra (Amiga, Commodore 64, DOS), Fire and Forget (Amiga, Atari ST, DOS), Gauntlet (Amiga, Atari, Atari ST, Commodore 64), Ikari Warriors (Apple II, DOS), Marble Madness (Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS), Jackal (Amiga, Commodore 64, DOS), Rampage (Apple II, Commodore 64, DOS, Apple IIGS), Rush ‘N Attack (Amiga, Commodore 64, DOS), Technocop (Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS), and many more.

    Reviews

    • Fast Looks – Previews of Rebus Writer (Apple II) and Police Quest (Apple IIgs, Atari ST, DOS).
    • Tandy 1000 SL – Tandy’s latest computer includes an 8 MHz 8086 CPU, 384K of RAM, and more for $899.
    • Final Assault – A mountaineering game from Epyx for the Amiga, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and DOS.
    • Slide Shop – Software for creating presentations (Apple II, DOS).
    • Appleworks GS – A new version of Apple’s integrated software package for the GS.
    • Times of Lore – An RPG for the Apple II, Commodore 64 and DOS from the makers of the Ultima series.
    • Solitaire Royale – A collection of solitaire games for the Amiga, DOS, and Macintosh.
    • The Perfect Career – Software that is supposed to help you find the career that is perfect for you (Amiga, DOS, Macintosh).
    • Jack Nicklaus’ Greatest 18 Holes of Major Championship Golf – The most popular golf game of its time for the Amiga, Apple IIGS, Commodore 64, and DOS.
    • AlphaWorks – An integrated software package for DOS.
    • Z88 – A portable computer that reminds me of the TRS-80 Model 100 though this one is not PC compatible.

    Columns

    • Editorial License – A look at celebrities that try to sell you computers including William Shatner (Commodore PET), Isaac Asimov (TRS-80), Alan Alda (Atar), the crew of MASH (IBM PS/2), and others plus recommendations for future salespeople.
    • News & Notes – Aline, an online chat service; 688 Attack Sub from Electronic Arts; CheckFree check writing software; and more.
    • Gameplay – Orson Scott Card writes about game designers vs. programmers.
    • Impact – The threat of computer viruses in computer networks.
    • Discoveries – Improving your child’s reading skill with computers.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about NeXT’s magnesium cases, Multiplan and Sky Travel for the Commodore 64, and more.
    • New Products! – Street Cat from U.S. Gold (Commodore 64, DOS, Amiga), the Commodore PC40-III, Anchor 2400TLT modem for Toshiba laptops, F-14 Tomcat from Activision for the Commodore 64, and more.

    Compute! Specific

    • MS-DOS – Upgrading PC RAM and understanding the difference between conventional RAM and the various versions of extended and expanded memory.
    • 64 & 128 – More GEOS applications and game releases for the Commodore 64.
    • Apple II – Modem Wars, AppleWorks GS, and more.
    • Amiga – Commodore expects to sell 300,000 Amigas during the last quarter of 1988 plus speculation on the upcoming Amiga 3000.
    • Macintosh – Software for NeXT and Macintosh.
    • Atari ST – Starglider II, Spectre 128 Macintosh emulator, and more.

    …and more!


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  • PC World (October 2001)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    PC World was one of the most popular PC specific magazines for decades. The magazine began life in March 1983 and the last issue was published a little over 30 years later in 2013. It was still going strong in 2001 and the October 2001 issue includes:

    Cover Story

    • PC Deals: You Better Shop Around – A guide to the best and worst places to buy a PC both in store and online. Ranked highest in this list is Gateway Country.

    Features

    • CD-RW ASAP – A test of 30 of the latest CD burners. The latest generations burn at speeds of up to 24x whereas the previous generation were limited to 8x. Coming in at the top of the list is the Yamaha LightSpeed CRW2200EZ.
    • Better Burning – A look at five of the most popular CD burning software packages including Ahead Nero Burning ROM 5.5, NTI CD-Maker Professional Edition, Oak Technology SimpliCD 1.0, Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 Platinum, and Stomp Click’N Burn Pro 2.0.
    • Easy Steps to a Great Site – Tips, tricks, and tools to help you create a home page.
    • New Life for Old PCs – A guide to donating your old PC to charity. At this time, you might have been upgrading to a new 1 GHz+ Pentium III or Pentium 4 and would have likely been upgrading from something like a five year old Pentium or slightly newer Pentium II.

    Top 100

    • Top 10 Power PCs – At the top of this list is the Dell OptiPlex GX400 featuring a P4-1400 CPU and 256MB of RDRAM for $2245. In addition to Pentium 4 systems, there were also several Athlon 1400 systems in this list.
    • Top 10 Value PCs – The top system in this list is a Dell OptiPlex GX150 featuring a 933 MHz Pentium III for $1400. There is at least one Duron based system in this list. The first PC I ever built myself had a Duron processor.
    • Top 15 Notebook PCs – At the top of the power notebook list is the Dell Inspiron 8000 for $2295 which features a Pentium III 900/700 CPU, 128MB of RAM, and a 20GB hard drive. The ThinkPad T22 comes in second and the Gateway Solo 9500 third. At the top of the Value Notebook list is the Dell Inspiron 4000 featuring a Pentium III 900/700 CPU, 128MB RAM, and 10GB hard drive for $1637.
    • Top 15 Home PCs – The top power system is the MicronPC Millennia Max XP2 featuring an Athlon 1400 CPU, 256MB DDR SDRAM, a 60 GB hard drive and VisionTek GeForce 3 graphics card for $2397. My favorites in this list are the Alienware Aurora DDR in third and the Gateway Select 1400 in 4th. The top value system is the HP Pavilion 9820 featuring a Pentium III-1000, 128MB SDRAM, a 60GB hard drive, and an Asus AGP-V7700 GeForce2 GTS Pro graphics card for $1299.
    • Top 10 21-inch Monitors – At the top of this list of 21-inch CRT monitors is the Optiquest Q115 with a 19.6 viewable display area for $578.
    • Top 10 Graphic Boards – The top graphics card this month is the CardExert GeForce2 MX TwinView/Vivo Golden Sample for $159.
    • Top 10 Digital Cameras – The best digital camera according to PC World was the Nikon Coolpix 995, a 3.34 megapixel camera for $899.

    Departments

    • Up Front – A look at the magazine’s new star rating system.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about product activation, license agreements, copy protection, flat panel displays, and more.
    • Consumer Watch – Choosing an e-payment service, problems with a refurbished PC, and more.
    • Web Savvy – A look at Upromise, a free online service to help you save for college.
    • Home Office – A guide to fighting spyware.
    • Full Discolsure – A look at bus, memory, hard drive, and internet bottlenecks.

    News & Trends

    • XP’s Extras – Microsoft continues its trend of adding features to the OS that once were only available via third party utilities.
    • Pentium 4 Races to 2 GHz – The Pentium 4 catches up to the Athlon but at a price premium.
    • Focus on the Big Pixels – A look at new 4 and 5 megapixel cameras.
    • USB: The Sequel – USB 2.0 promises speeds up to 40 times faster than USB 1.
    • New Products – New notebooks including the Gateway Solo 1200, Sony Vaio PCG-Sr33, and HP Omnibook 6100; personal finance software including Quicken 2002 and Microsoft Money 2002; PDA wi-fi add-ons; InFocus LP290 and Lightware Legend LS-8 projectors; and much more.

    Here’s How

    • Internet Tips – Tips to stop browser pop-ups, capture shockwave animations for offline viewing, and improving AOL’s graphics.
    • Step-By-Step – A guide to creating your first website including using web page editors like Microsoft FrontPage and Netscape Composer, getting a host for your web site, and obtaining and using a basic FTP client.
    • Hardware Tips – A look at upgrading CPUs in Socket 5, Socket 7, Socket 8, Slot 1, Socket 370, Slot A, and Socket A based systems.
    • Answer Line – Questions answered about preventing others from using your PC, uninstalling software, putting a slide show on a CD, and more.

    …and more!


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