{"id":35688,"date":"2025-07-19T12:39:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T16:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/?p=35688"},"modified":"2025-08-05T23:31:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T03:31:29","slug":"compute-march-1986","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2025\/07\/19\/compute-march-1986\/","title":{"rendered":"Compute! (March 1986)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/magazines\/index.php?twg_album=Computer_Magazines%2FCompute%21%2F1986-03&amp;twg_show=Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001-739x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"739\" height=\"1024\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-35691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001-739x1024.jpg 739w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001-768x1064.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001-1109x1536.jpg 1109w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001-1478x2048.jpg 1478w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001-87x120.jpg 87w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Source: <em><a href=\"\/magazines\/index.php?twg_album=Computer_Magazines%2FCompute%21%2F1986-03&amp;twg_show=Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-001.jpg\">Compute! &#8211; Issue Number 70 &#8211; March 1986<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Compute! was an excellent magazine that covered most popular computers of the time. I was partial to the spin-off Gazette because I had a Commodore 64 but this one was excellent as well. It was a little less technical that Byte but all magazines at the time were technical compared to today. The March 1986 issue includes:<\/p>\n<h1>Features<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The Future of Mass Storage<\/b> &#8211; The future was bright for mass storage. 3.5&#8243; floppies were replacing 5.25&#8243; floppies, Hard drives were becoming affordable, and optical storage for the average user was on the horizon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The Computerized Home<\/b> &#8211; Computerized home automation was a thing long before Alexa. The X-10 interface was the de-facto standard and X-10 modules were available for pretty much any platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Switchbox<\/b> &#8211; A type-in puzzle game with versions specifically for the Commodore 128, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, PC, and Amiga.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>SpeedCalc for Atari<\/b> &#8211; A type-in professional quality spreadsheet program for the Atari 8-bit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1>Reviews<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The Works!<\/b> &#8211; A software package for the Commodore 64 and Apple II that includes 13 programs in the categories of tools, organizers, arts, and learning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Under Fire<\/b> &#8211; A World War II strategy game for the Apple II.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>M-Disk<\/b> &#8211; Software for creating a RAM Disk on the Atari ST.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Atari XM301 Modem<\/b> &#8211; A 300bps direct connect modem for Atari 8-bit computers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>EduCalc and NoteCard Maker<\/b> &#8211; A combination of a simplified spreadsheet program and simplified database manager with versions for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and PC (Apple II version reviewed here).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Hex<\/b> &#8211; A puzzle\/strategy game for the Atari ST.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Sylvia Porter&#8217;s Personal Financial Planner<\/b> &#8211; This software package includes six programs including Transaction Manager, Budget Manager, Asset\/Liability Manager, Balance Sheet, and Financial Planner. The Commodore 64 version is reviewed here with versions also available for the PC and Apple II.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"\/wordpress\/?attachment_id=35690\" class=\"attachment wp-att-35690\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007-734x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"734\" height=\"1024\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-35690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007-734x1024.jpg 734w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007-768x1072.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007-1100x1536.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007-1467x2048.jpg 1467w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007-86x120.jpg 86w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-007.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h1>Columns and Departments<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The Editor&#8217;s Notes<\/b> &#8211; A comparison of the new Amiga and Atari ST.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Readers&#8217; Feedback<\/b> &#8211; Letters from readers about code comments, computers for charity, recording music on the Amiga, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>HOTWARE<\/b> &#8211; The top five selling software titles in three different categories. In the top places were F-15 Strike Eagle (Entertainment), Typing Tutor III (Education), and Print Shop (Home Management).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>INSIGHT: Atari<\/b> &#8211; A look at Atari character codes. Atari 8-bit computers used a variant of ASCII called ATASCII.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The Beginner&#8217;s Page: Cutting Strings Without Scissors<\/b> &#8211; How to split strings in BASIC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Computers and Society: Humanizing the User Interface, Part 1<\/b> &#8211; Exploring ways to make the user interface easier to use and more intuitive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>The World Inside the Computer: Snowflakes, Quilts, and Stained Glass Windows<\/b> &#8211; Art on the Amiga.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Telecomputing Today Games Modern People Play<\/b> &#8211; A look at online multiplayer gaming. At the time, that typically meant turn based gaming on BBS systems or services like CompuServe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>IBM Personal Computing: The Ultimate Entertainment Center<\/b> &#8211; A guide for using your PC or PCjr with a TV.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Programming the TI: IF-THEN Statements<\/b> &#8211; Using IF-THEN statements including examples for simulating AN\/OR, doing Algebra, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>News &amp; Products<\/b> &#8211; Valhalla announced for the Commodore 64; MIDI Ensemble for the PC; AtariWriter and AtariWriter Plus word processors for the Atari ST; What&#8217;s Our Worth? home inventory package for the Commodore 64; and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1>The Journal<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>IBM Fractal Graphics<\/b> &#8211; Three type-in programs for creating fractals on the IBM PC and PCjr.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Commodore ML Saver<\/b> &#8211; A type-in program for saving machine language programs directly from memory to disk on the Commodore 64.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Loading and Linking Commodore Programs, Part 1<\/b> &#8211; The first in a series of article on loading, chaining, and overlaying programs on Commodore computers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Atari P\/M Graphics Toolkit<\/b> &#8211; Atari Player\/Missile graphics is the Atari 8-bit version of sprites. This type-in toolkit makes it easier to develop and use P\/M graphics on the Atari.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>MultiMemory for Commodore 64 and Apple<\/b> &#8211; Short type-in programs for the Commodore 64 and Apple II that allow you to segment memory for loading multiple BASIC programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Experimenting with SID Sound<\/b> &#8211; Some examples for controlling the Commodore 64&#8217;s SID sound chip.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Mousify Your Applesoft Programs, Part 1<\/b> &#8211; The first of a two-part guide to using a mouse (or joystick or paddles) with your own programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Atari BootStuffer<\/b> &#8211; This short type-in program for the Atari 8-bit allows you to create a menu system to load up to 8 different programs with one key press.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Requester Windows in Amiga BASIC<\/b> &#8211; A guide to adding requester windows (dialog boxes) to Amiga BASIC programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Softkeys for Atari BASIC<\/b> &#8211; This type-in program gives you automatic line numbering and various hotkeys when writing your own BASIC programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>BASIC Sound on the Atari ST<\/b> &#8211; A guide to getting started with creating basic sound effects on your Atari ST.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136-734x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"734\" height=\"1024\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-35689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136-734x1024.jpg 734w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136-768x1072.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136-1100x1536.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136-1467x2048.jpg 1467w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136-86x120.jpg 86w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Compute_Issue_070_1986_Mar-136.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&#8230;and more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Source: Compute! &#8211; Issue Number 70 &#8211; March 1986 Compute! was an excellent magazine that covered most popular computers of the time. I was partial to the spin-off Gazette because I had a Commodore 64 but this one was excellent as well. It was a little less technical that Byte but all magazines at the time were technical compared to today. The March 1986 issue includes: Features The Future of Mass Storage &#8211; The future was bright for mass storage. 3.5&#8243; floppies were replacing 5.25&#8243; floppies, Hard drives were becoming affordable, and optical storage for the average user was on the horizon. The Computerized Home &#8211; Computerized home automation was a thing long before Alexa. The X-10 interface was the de-facto standard and X-10 modules were available for pretty much any platform. Switchbox &#8211; A type-in puzzle game with versions specifically for the Commodore 128, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, PC, and Amiga. SpeedCalc for Atari &#8211; A type-in professional quality spreadsheet program for the Atari 8-bit. Reviews The Works! &#8211; A software package for the Commodore 64 and Apple II that includes 13 programs in the categories of tools, organizers, arts, and learning. Under Fire &#8211; A World [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[196,225,236,242,471,472,473,600,1304,1310,2362,1791],"class_list":["post-35688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-computer-arcana","tag-apple-ii","tag-atari","tag-atari-8-bit","tag-atari-st","tag-commodore","tag-commodore-128","tag-commodore-64","tag-dos","tag-pc","tag-pcjr","tag-retrocomputing","tag-ti-994a"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35688"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35749,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35688\/revisions\/35749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}