Computer Shopper (March 2001) | PeakD

Computer Shopper, for much of its life, was a huge telephone book sized magazine with tons of ads of course but also tons of content. It had shrunk considerably by the turn of the century. The March 2001 issue, though much smaller than earlier years, was still a fairly hefty 250 pages. It includes:

Computer Shopper (March 2001)

Digital Archaeology: Floppy Disk #14 – DM0125.DOC

This post includes the contents of DM0125.DOC. This file is dated September 2nd, 1985, This seems to be a file capture of a mail reading session.

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Digital Archaeology: Floppy Disk #14 – DM0125.DOC

Byte (February 1984)

Byte tended to be a technically oriented magazine that covered a large variety of computers. As the world moved more towards PC compatibility, its popularity faded. Some of the issues were massive, especially some of the earlier ones. This issue from February 1984 has nearly 550 pages and includes:

Byte (February 1984)

Byte (November 1985)

Byte was one of the more successful early computer magazines. It's popularity faded away as coverage moved away from more technical subjects and computer became more of a commodity item. It was definitely going strong in 1985 though. The November 1985 issue has over 500 pages and includes:

Byte (November 1985)

PC World (May 2005)

PC World was probably the most widely available PC Magazine throughout the 1990s and 2000s. At some point, they started covering more and more other consumer electronics stuff and it sort of lost appeal (at least to me) as a computer magazine. The May 2005 issue includes:

PC World (May 2005)

Byte (April 1983)

There was no public Internet to speak of in 1983 so people had to look elsewhere to get info on the latest in computers. Fortunately, magazines like Byte did an excellent job. Their massive novel sized issues at this point in time meant it might take you until next months's issue to finish it. The April 1983 issue weighs in at nearly 550 pages and includes:

Byte (April 1983)

PC World (October 2011)

Once an excellent PC magazine, PC World had declined significantly by 2011. The page count was down of course but also there was a lot of coverage of non-PC items such as HDTVs, phones etc. It was really became more of a consumer electronics magazine. The October 2011 issue includes:

PC World (October 2011)

Digital Archaeology: Fujitsu FMV-BIBLO NF/D70

Digital Archaeology: Fujitsu FMV-BIBLO NF/D70

I picked up this laptop because of its relative uniqueness. First, it's a Fujitsu which I haven't had much experience with (except for one Lifebook I own). Second, it's a bright red color which I really like. Finally, this appears to be a laptop that was released in Japan...whether exclusively or localized for I'm not sure. The keyboard has a slightly different layout and there are Japanese characters on each of the keys in addition to English letters.

The model as printed on the laptop itself in the lower left corner of the keyboard is FMV-BIBLO NF/D70. The hardware consists of the following:

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PC Magazine (May 29, 1984)

PC Magazine (May 29, 1984)

PC Magazine was one of the most popular PC magazines around from the early to mid 1980s through the early 2000s. Along with PC World, you could find it at pretty much every bookstore and newsstand as well as most other places that sold magazines. The May 29, 1984 issue includes:

Read more: https://peakd.com/retrocomputing/@darth-azrael/pc-magazine-may-29-1984

PC World (July 1985)

PC World (July 1985)

PC World was one of two PC magazines that really dominated in the 1980s and 1990s (the other being PC Magazine). The July 1985 issue includes:

Community

• The DOS Drivers - DOS 3.10 had just recently been released and this article takes a look at Microsoft's future plans for DOS including new networking features and more.


• PC World Advanced Users Quiz - If you know things such as what the default disk drive is, which CPU the PC AT uses, and what a bootstrap loader is then you might be a PC expert.

Review

• Inside Modems - A look at internal 1200bps modems for the PC. Models reviewed here include the Qubic PC212A 1200, Cermetek Info-Mate 212PC, Microcom Era 2, Bizcomp Intellimodem XL, IDEA-Comm 1200, Novation Smart-Cat Plus, AST Reach!, and Hayes 1200B. Prices range from $149 to $549, however, lower priced models often had difficulty interoperating with other brands at high speeds.
• Corona at the Speed of Light - A review of the Corona LP-300 laser printer.


• Better and True BASICs - A look at two new BASIC implementations, including TrueBASIC and True BASIC.

_{Table of Contents from the July 1985 issue of PC World}

PCjr World

• The PCjr Survival Kit - IBM announced and end to the production of the PCjr in March 1985. This article provides advice for finding PCjr software, peripherals, service and support.

State of the Art

• Advanced Screening - A look at the latest in flat screen technology including LCDs, plasma, EL, and flat CRT technology.

Hands On

• Fraternizing With Framework - A detailed look at Framework, widely considered to be the first all-in-one office suite for the PC.


• Transfer of Power - A look at creating menuing systems with Keyworks.

_{Table of Contents from the July 1985 issue of PC World (continued)}

Departments

• David Bunnell -How to become an advanced PC user.


• REMark - The rise and fall of the PC's founder, Don Estridge. He was responsible for bringing IBM into the consumer world with the PC but also responsible for disasters such as the PCjr.


• John C. Dvorak - Large companies vs. small in the PC world.


• Letters - Letters from readers about IBM advertising, parking hard drives in portable computers, accounting software, data management, and more.

_{Back cover of the July 1985 issue of PC World}

Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2024/11/04/pc-world-july-1985/

Computer Shopper (November 1990)

Computer Shopper (November 1990)

This issue of Computer shopper weighs in at nearly 900 pages. How many people have even seen a magazine with 900 pages? For a while, Computer Shopper was regularly publishing these telephone book sized issues. While there were tons of ads, there was tons of great content too. It's amazing how consolidated the computer market has become since the heyday of Computer Shopper. The November 1990 issue includes:

Features

• 80386SX Systems: Limo or Lemon - The difference between the 386 (or 386DX as it would become) and the 386SX was that the DX was fully 32-bit while the SX was 32-bit internally and 16-bit externally. This meant that theoretically that the DX could access more memory (up to 4GB vs. 16MB for the SX) and that memory access was much faster. The memory limit difference made little difference as few people ever put as much as even 16MB in a 386. The memory access speed was a much bigger deal. Clock for clock, the 386 DX was about 33% faster than a 286. The 386 SX was actually slightly slower at the same clock speed than a 286. 386SX systems were cheaper though and this article compares four systems including the CompuAdd 320s, Swan 386SX, Sunnytech STI 386SX-16, and MicroLab 386/168. All systems came with 40 MB hard drive and memory ranging from 1 MB to 4 MB. Prices ranged from about about $1700 to about $2900.


• Exploding the Myth of the Mail-Order Market - There was a time when the mail order market for computers was a risky endeavor. However, even by 1990, there were many reliable vendors.


• Mail-Order Buying: All About Delays - One person's experience with endless delays when purchasing a variety of products via mail order.


• Tightrope Walking - Concerns with buying a computer from little-known manufacturers.

Buyer's Guide

• 24-Pin Dot Matrix Printers: Still Kicking After All These Years - For a long time, dot-matrix printers were the only affordable printer options for the average person. Eventually ink jet would come along and replace them but it took a while. In the dot-matrix world, there were 9-pin and 24-pin printers with 24-bin being the better quality (and more expensive) option.


• 24-Pin Printers: Technology Overview - A look at how 24-pin dot matrix printers work, or really dot matrix printers in general.


• Comparison Charts - A comparison of 50 different 24-pin dot matrix printers. Prices range from $449 to $3595.

Software

• State of the Apps: Presentation Graphics - An overview of presentation software including Applause II from Ashton-Tate (DOS), Lotus' Freelance Plus (DOS), PowerPoint 2.01 from Microsoft (Macintosh), and Aldus Persuasion (Macintosh).


• Games - Reviews of Ishido: The Way of Stones (DOS, Amiga, Macintosh), Hoyle's Book of Games II: Solitaire (DOS, Amiga), Blue Angels Formation Flight Simulation (DOS, Amiga, Commodore 64), and Railroad Tycoon (DOS).


• New Stuff - A look at some new products including the ATFAX 9600 ($249 9600bps fax/modem board), Pocket Modem (2400bps modem), Envision It (a $399 tracing, shape recognition and raster-to-vector conversion program for DOS), RapidTax (tax software for DOS), and more.

_{Table of Contents from the November 1990 issue of Computer Shopper}

IBM

• Charles Bermant - Commentary on how the current age would be the most chronicled in history due to the personal computer.


• IBM News - Gilbert Hyatt to be awarded to patent on the microprocessor; Intex updates products for new version of Lotus 1-2-3; QuarkXPress 3.0 shipping for $795; and more.


• Northgate OmniKey Ultra - A PC, XT, AT, and PS/2 compatible keyboard for $149.


• Spear 80386SX: A Well-To-Do Commoner - A customized 16 MHz 386SX based machine for $3390.


• Home on the Range with Cote Computers 386/20 - A 20MHz 386DX based system with 4MB of RAM, 64K cache, 200 watt power supply, 40MB Quantum IDE hard drive, ATI Wonder Super VGA with 512K, and more for $3077.


• Micro Express Regal 386LX Lunchbox: Raison D'etre? - A portable 16 MHz 386SX based machine with a 40MB Conner IDE hard drive, Teac 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive, 1MB RAM, and a super EGA 640x400 gas plasma screen for $2599.


• Canon's LBP-8 Mark III Laser Printer: A New Standard Emerges - The latest laser printer from Canon for $2995.


• What Can You Get for $5,000 - For $4897 from CompuAdd you get a 25 MHz 386 based computer with 2MB RAM, 1.2MB 2.5-inch disk drive, 1.44MB 3.5-inch disk drive, and a 150Mb ESDI hard drive among other things.


• IBM's LaserPrinter E: Turning New Ground - A $1495 laser printer from IBM that can be upgraded to support postscript ($499 with 17 fonts, $899 with 39 fonts) and faster speeds ($1099 to go to 10-ppm from 5-ppm), and more.


• Ampro's Little Board/386: The World's Smallest Computer - A 20-MHz 386 based machine that is only 5.75x8 inches for $1695. It also is expandable via mini-modules to add things like modems, networking, etc.


• Big League Teleprompting on Your IBM PC with Econo-Prompt - $40 teleprompting software for DOS. Included in the article is a design for a teleprompting box you can build yourself.


• QEdit Text Editors: Small Size, High Quality - A look at two versions of this simple text editor. QEdit Advanced 2.1 and QEdit TSR 1.1.


• PopDrop Plus: RAM-Cram Manager - A TSR manager that lets you load and unload TSRs from active memory as you need them.


• Off-Track? The PC-Trac Trackball - A review of this somewhat flawed trackball controller for PCs. I know a guy where I work that still prefers to use a trackball to a mouse.

_{Table of Contents from the November 1990 issue of Computer Shopper (continued)}

Macintosh

• Steven Bobker - The dearth of serial ports on the Mac and ways to add more.


• Mac News - New Macs reach retail shelves including the Macintosh Classic, Mac IIsi, and Mac LC; Northgate exists Mac keyboard market; dBASE IV 1.1 released; and more.


• MathCAD And Theorist: Two Math Problem-Solvers - A look at two math software packages for the Mac.


• atOnce! for the Macintosh - Accounting software designed for small businesses.


• Abaton 300/GS: Almost the Supreme Scanner - A monochrome flatbed scanner for $1595.


• MacRIP and Freedom of Press: PostScript Without the Price Tag - Freedom of Press offers 35 fonts for PostScript printing on more than 50 different printers. MacRIP is similar but comes with fewer fonts (17) and more limitations (like lack of color printing for most fonts).


• Rodime Cobra Hard Drives: Take a Bite Out of Your Storage Requirements - The Cobra series of drives is available in a variety of capacities including 45, 70, 100, 210, 330, and 650MB. The 100MB external model is looked at here ($1949).

Unix

• Saul Lubkin - A look at the kinds of changes that had to be made to port Norton Utilities to Unix.


• Unix News - Report titled "Technical Guide to Unix Engineering Workstations" released which compares 119 workstations; Sun positions SPARCstation as direct competitor to high end PCs; and more.

Amiga

• Peggy Herrington - A look at the new Amiga CDTV.


• Amiga News - Delays with NewTek's video Toaster for the Amiga 2000/2500 and more.


• The Art Department: Amiga Graphics Go Pro - A image-conversion and processing utility for the Amiga.

Misc.

• Feedback Forum - Letters from readers about IBM vs. clones, discontinuation of Apple II coverage, the PC3 portable computer, and more.


• Ask Dr. John - Questions answered about upgrading from the Epson FX-80 to an HP LaserJet, getting two computers to communicate via LapLink, printing special characters, and more.


• Coming Events - A list of upcoming computer shows/fairs. There are 17 listed here for November and early December. i don't think these sorts of things even exist anymore.

_{Back cover of the November 1990 issue of Computer Shopper} Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2024/10/25/computer-shopper-november-1990/

PC World (September 1997)

PC World (September 1997)

As can be seen by the page count at nearly 400 pages, the late 1990s were probably near the height of popularity for PC World. This is probably true of most computer related magazines (PC ones anyway). The September 1997 issue of PC World includes:

Cover Story

• Windows 98: A Convenience You Can Live With...Or Without - A first look at Windows 98. At the time, it wasn't seen as a major upgrade over Windows 95.

Features

• Inside Office 97 - Tips for the new Office 97 including how to mix and matchi Office 97 and Office 95 files, removing unneeded components, and much more.


• Bigger Is Better - At the time, you basically had a choice between 15-inch, 17-inch and 21-inch CRT monitors. 15-inch monitors were for bargain hunters while 21-inch monitors were extremely expensive. 17-inch was the sweet spot and this round-up includes a variety of 17-inch monitors including the IBM P70, Liyama VisonMaster Pro 17, Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 87TXM, ViewSonic PT775, Samsung SyncMaster 700b, Princeton Graphics Systems E075, Dell UltraScan 1000HS, Compaq V70, Hansol Multitech 17PX and Sony CPD-220VS. Prices ranged from $638 to $899.


• What a Pain! The First Six Months of Owning a PC - An article that follows the adventures (and misadventures) of 25 new PC buyers.

_{Table of Contents from the September 1997 issue of PC World}

Special Report

• Servers With Room To Grow - A look at low cost workgroup servers. At the top of the list is the Digital Prioris MX 6200 SMP. It includes a Pentium Pro-200 (expandable to dual processors), up to 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage with up to 36 GB (4 x 9 GB) for $5300. Others looked at here include the Compaq ProLiant 800, HP NetServer LD Pro 6/180, HP NetServer LH Pro 6/200, and HP NetServer E 40 6/200.


• Eight Ways to Work Across The Web - A look at various software that helps you to collaborate with others over the web.

Top of the News

• 56-kbps Illusions: High Speed Access Not as Advertised - At this point in time, there were two competing 56K modem standards, one from U.S. Robotics and one from Rockwell/Lucent, and not all ISPs supported both...or either.


• The NetPC Arrives: Back to the Future for User Control - The NetPC concept was for typically lower end PCs in a small form factor with limited upgrade potential and sometimes missing floppy and optical drives or missing local storage altogether...but were easier for businesses to manage.
  
• USB Gives You a Rough Ride - The early days of USB on Windows 95 was not a great experience. Hot swapping frequently caused problems as did driver support.

_{Table of Contents from the September 1997 issue of PC World (continued)}

New Products

• Digital 6166K AMD K6 system, USA Flex 6x86MX-PR200 Cyrix 6x86MX system - A look at two machines with non-Intel Pentium MMX class processors. While these systems tended to be cheaper than their Pentium counterparts and even sometimes faster for certain tasks, they tended to be slower (sometimes much slower) for FPU intensive tasks including multimedia and games.


• CSA-6700 USB add-in card - A $59 add-in card that provides your system with two USB ports.


• Gateway 2000 G6-266XL PC - Featuring a Pentium II-266 CPU, 64MB of RAM, 9 GB SCSI hard drive, 21-inch monitor, 64-bit 3-D graphics card, and a 56K modem for $5128 this was a very high end but expensive PC. A couple of months later I would get a Gateway machine with a 300 MHz Pentium II and 32 GB of RAM for less than $3000.


• Toshiba PDR-2 digital camera - A 640x480 digital camera designed to work with a PC Card slot for $499.


• Reunion online BBS/chat rooms - Software that allows you to host chats and browsable bulletin boards on your PC.

Top 100

• Power Desktops - At the top of the list this month is the Dell Dimension XPS H266. My favorite on the list is in 3rd place, the Gateway 2000 G6-233. It features a Pentium II 233 MHz processor, 3.2 GB hard drive, 64 MB RAM, STB Virge 4MB 3D PCI video card, 16x CD-ROM drive and more for $2899. I would own a slightly later revision with a 333 MHz CPU.


• Budget Desktops - At the top of this list is the Dell Dimension XPS M166s featuring a Pentium 166MMX processor, 32 MB RAM, Matrox Millennium II video card and 12x CD-ROM drive for $2199.


• Notebooks - At the top of the power list is the WinBook FX featuring a Pentium 166MMX CPU for $3999. At the top of the budget list is the Compaq Armada 15200M featuring a Pentium 133 CPU for $2199.


• 17-inch Monitors - The top monitor this month is the liyama VisionMaster Pro 17 for $698.

_{Table of Contents from the September 1997 issue of PC World (continued)}

Here's How

• Answer Line - How to reinstall Windows 95, upgrade telnet, and piggyback modems for faster speeds.


• Windows Tips - Speed up Windows 95 load time, 'send to folder" functionality for Windows 3.1, Windows 95 safe mode, and more.


• Internet Tips - Using web auction sites, protecting passwords and privacy, and more.

At Home

• Home Products - A look at the Panasonic EggCam, Corel Family Tree Suite genealogy software, and more.


• Top 5 Home PCs - At the top of this list is the Dell Dimension XPS M233s featuring a Pentium MMX-233, 32MB of SDRAM, and more for $2379.

Departments

• Up Front - Advice on whether or not to upgrade to Windows 98.


• Letters - Letters from readers on 56K modems, AOL, the PC98 initiative, Adobe Illustrator, and more.

_{Back cover of the September 1997 issue of PC World}

Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2024/10/15/pc-world-september-1997/

Computer Shopper (January 1987)

Computer Shopper (January 1987)

In 1987, Computer Shopper still hadn't peaked yet and the page count was not as high as it would become. This issue still has over 400 pages though. I've mostly thought of Computer Shopper as a PC oriented magazine and for the most part it was. However, during the 1980s especially, it covered a wide variety of machines, even those that were by this time out of date and no longer old (like the TI-99/4a, Timex/Sinclair, etc.). The January 1987 issue includes:

Articles

• Hyundai Bets Its Blue Chip On Retail Distribution - Hyundai's plans to export PC clones to the U.S. Market via Blue Chip Electronics of Chandler, Arizona. Apparently, Blue Chip retail stores primarily sold Commodore and Atari systems up until this point. However, as far as I can recall, Hyundai was not particularly successful in the computer market. The Blue Chip XT with a monochrome monitor could be had for about $800.


• What's new in 1987: A look Ahead - Computer Shopper's list of top things coming in 1987 include cheaper laser printers, cheaper RAM, cheaper hard drives, CD-ROM and WORM drives, and the arrival of 386-based computers.

IBM MS-DOS

• NEC MultiSpeed: The Fastest Laptop Yet - The NEC MultiSpeed is based on the V30 CPU that runs at 4.77 MHz and 9.54 MHz. It includes 512K of RAM, two 720K 3.5" disk drives, and a detachable 80 column by 25 line black and white LCD for $1995.


• 80386 Computers Star At Comdex - While Compaq's 386 based PC had been out several months at this point, many other manufacturers introduced their 386 clones at the 1987 COMDEX.


• Timeslips - A time and billing system for the PC. While web based, the system I have to use today isn't really all that different in terms of functionality.


• How To Build An AT - A guide to building your own PC-AT compatible machine for less than $2000 (as opposed to the $7000 cost of an IBM PC AT).


• INT.EXE - Listing Your Interrupt Vectors - A program written in Microsoft C Version 4.0 that lists interrupt info on your PC.


• Prodesign II CAD System - A review of this CAD package for PC. Hardware requirements include a PC with at least 512K of RAM, two floppy drives (or hard drive), and a printer or plotter.


• Surprise 286! - An expansion board for PC XT compatibles that basically upgrades the CPU to a 7.2 MHz 286. It includes 8K of cache memory and a socket for a 287 math co-processor.


• Niceprint Hail A New Classic! - Niceprint is software that adds new capability to your dot matrix printer such as additional fonts, more control (e.g. you can do sideways printing), and more.


• Latest PC-Write (2.7) - The latest version of the PC-Write word processor is trad-off of more features but more complexity.


• Carousel! Software to Multiply Memory 10 Times - Carousel! is essentially a DOS virtual memory system for PC XTs and ATs.


• Megatel's Quark: PC On A Half Shell - A small single-board computer that includes a 10-MHz 8088 CPU, 512K of RAM, and other typical features of a PC XT.


• Stamps World Program - Software to help you manage your stamp collection.


• Too Much Computerized AUTOmation? - A look at new monitors that automatically detect the graphics signal (monochrome, CGA, EGA, etc.) and sets the right display mode. Unfortunately, at this time, there was a lot of software incompatibility.


• Innovention's SideClock - A clock/calendar expansion for your PC that snaps onto an expansion slot but still allows you to use that slot for other purposes.


• Before DOS - Recollections - A look back at the pre-DOS world of computers (mostly CP/M). At this point in time, DOS was only about 5 years old.


• Menu Relief for IBM/Compatibles - A look at a program called Menu Ease which allows you to create custom menus for starting your DOS based programs.

_{Table of Contents from the January 1987 issue of Computer Shopper}

Tandy

• TRSCROSS Disk/File Transfer Utility - A DOS based utility that lets you read and write TRS-80 format disks.


• CoCo 3 - Alive On Arrival - A brief look at the then brand new CoCo 3 from Tandy/Radio Shack.


• CoCo 3 - Another Opinion - Another look at the CoCo 3 looking at things such as compatibility with the CoCo 2 hardware and software and the new features specific to the Coco 3.

Apple

• Ask The Guru - Quick looks at Passport (a program for converting Apple II files on the Macintosh), the LaserWriter Plus and other laser printers, Apple IIgs compatibility problems, and more.


• Colossus Chess IV Popular Computer Chess Program - A look at this chess program for the Apple II and Commodore 64.


• The Ditgital Talking Clock - A program written in Applesoft BASIC that will make your Practical Peripherals ProClock (or other ProDOS compatible clock) talk.

Macintosh

• MacUniverse - Question about Apple's parts policy, a look at a terrible spell checker called Spellnow, and more.


• New SCIS External Hard DRives - Rodime releases new Rodime 20 Plus and 45 Plus external hard drives for $1295 (20 MB) and $$1695 (45 MB) respectively.

Commodore

• PC2COM: An IBM to Commodore Interface Standard - The second part in a series on building an inexpensive parallel adapter to allow communications between a PC and Commodore 64 equipment.


• Some Commodore Buys For 1986 - Some of the best recent hardware and software for the Commodore 64/128 including the Model 1670 1200 Baud Modem, Commodore Model 1700 and 1750 RAM Expansion cartridges, MIDI Magic, BASIC 128 from Abacus, X-10 Powerhouse, and more.


• Just Another Day In Mudanesville - A look at Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Amiga

• The Amiga Workbench - A look at recent games and other software for the Amiga including The Pawn, Chessmaster 2000, MaxiPlan, and more.


• The Amiga: A Computer For The Right Hemisphere - How the Amiga's graphics and sound capabilities make it a right brain computer.


• Logistix and Superbase Personal - Logistix is a spreadsheet program comparable to Lotus 1-2-3 while Superbase is a database program (a variation of which I had on my Commodore 64).


• Organize - Database - Another database program for the Amiga.

Atari

• Applying The Atari - Questions answered about modifying some Atari BASIC assembly routines, getting your printer to print in cursive, and more.

Atari ST

• Hacking The ST - A tutorial for using the Setscreen call and switching the display area.


• Degas Elite From Batteries Included - A review of this paint program for the Atari ST.


• CP/M For The Atari ST - An emulator that allows you to run CP/M programs on your Atari ST.


• Atari ST vs. Amiga Round 2: The ST Is Superior - Part of an ongoing debate about the Atari ST vs. The Amiga. I mean, I think it is safe to say that the Amiga was superior in almost every way except perhaps when it came to MIDI, and depending on the exact time period, price.

Sanyo

• Market Trend Analyzer - A Microsoft BASIC program to analyze market trends for the Sanyo 55X or IBM PC (or presumably any compatible).


• Sanyo/IBM WordFun! Is Fun - A combination of two word games designed for the IBM PC but also works on the Sanyo MBC 550.

Texas Instruments

• TI Forum - New EPROM available for the Foundation 128K memory expansion card that allows it to work with Myarc Extended BASIC II software; A type-in game called CINVADERS; a look back at the TI-99/2; and more.

Heath/Zenith

• Expanding Your Heath/Zenith PC-Compatible - A guide to adding a software speed selector tot he PC-Sprint turbo board for both the PC and H/Z-150.


• Mouse Menus for Hard Disk Use - The process of installing a hard drive, controller and indicator light, and changing the cluster size on the Heath/Zenith 150 PC plus. Then what the name of article mentions, setting up a mouse controlled menu to launch programs from the hard drive.

Timex/Sinclair

• Sinclair Survival Column - A guide to SuperBASIC on the Sinclair QL.

Miscellaneous

• UNIX Operating System Case Study - This article starts with a history of UNIX and continues with a guide to UNIX that includes standard features, process creation, file system, process termination, I/O system and more.
  
• Modula-2 - A guide to the Modula-2 programming language.


• XENIX To AT&T Unix System V Release 3 - IBM reaches agreement with AT&T to use the features from Unix System V Release 3 in Xenix.


• Stan Veit's History - Computer Camelot - The story of the Computer Mart of New York which when it opened it had 500 square ft. of space and included an inventory of five Sphere computers (mostly in kit form), five IMSAI computers, some 19-inch video monitors, one used Teletype ASR 33 and various computer books and magazine.


• Toshiba's PageLaser 12 - A laser printer from Toshiba that is 50% faster than most similar printers for $3499.


• Kodak Unveils 14-inch Optical Disk Technology - This large (larger than a music record) optical disk format could hold up to 6.8 GB of data.

_{Back cover of January 1987 issue of Computer Shopper}

Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2024/09/27/computer-shopper-january-1987/

Maximum PC (December 2001)

Maximum PC (December 2001)

Maximum PC was by far my favorite computer magazine. It also survived longer than most with publication only ceasing a couple of years ago. When it was first introduced (in 1998 I believe) it was called boot. It was a magazine for enthusiasts and it reminded me a bit of MacAddict which was a similar sort of thing for Mac users. The December 2001 issue includes:

Regulars

• In/Out - Letters from readers about Hot Tamales (the candy), teen stereotypes, overclocking videocards, the G550, Windows XP, online privacy, gaming as a driver of the PC industry, and more.


• Quick Start - How September 11th changed PC gaming; IBM's CPU of the Future, the dual core POWER4; Windows XP optimization tips; Intel's plans for a 20 GHz chip; new Treo phones; wireless print server device that turns HP printers into wireless printers; mobile Pentium 4 to be introduced at 1.5 GHz and use DDR RAM; and more.


• Head2Head - A detailed comparison of the Pentium 4 2GHz and Athlon XP 1800+.


• Watchdog - IBM 75GXP hard drives seem to experience a high rate of failure; MaxGate stops responding to customers; some vendors refuse to support existing hardware with Windows XP drivers; Compaq recalls notebook power adapters; and more.

_{Table of Contents from of the December 2001 issue of Maximum PC}

Reviews

• Dell Dimension 8200 desktop system - A highly rated $3000 system from Dell that includes a 2GHz Pentium 4, 256 MB RDRAM, nVidia GeForce3 Ti 500, and more.


• Falcon Northwest Mach V system - A nearly $4000 gaming machine featuring an Athlon XP 1800+, 512 MB DDR RAM, nVidia GeForce3 Ti 500 64MB DDR, and more.


• TDK veloCD 16/10/40 external CD-RW drive - If you needed an external CD writer then this one was a good one to have.


• VisionTek Xtacy 6964 videocard - A highly rated video card using the GeForce3 Ti 500 chipset.


• OCZ Titan 3 videocard - Also highly rated but using the original GeForce 3 chipset.


• ATI Radeon 7500 videocard - A great card if you were looking for something on a budget.


• Sony DSC-S85 4.1 megapixel digi-cam - Digital snapshot cameras aren't as popular as they once were but at the time they were far superior to phone cameras which barely existed.


• Olympus C-4040 4.1 megapixel digi-cam - Both this camera and the Sony model above were pretty average examples of what was available.

_{Table of Contents from the December 2001 issue of Maximum PC (continued)}

Features

• Gear of the Year - Some winners include the AMD Athlon XP 1800+ (CPU), Cooler Master ATC-101 (case), nVidia GeForce 3 (3D accelerator), Tyan Tiger MP S2460 (motherboard), Plextor PlexWriter 24/10/40 (CD-RW Drive), Pioneer DVR-A03 Recordable DVD/CD Combo (DVD Recorder), Creative Labs Nomad II MG (MP3 Player), Sony Clie PEG-N760C (PDA), Falcon Northwest Mach V (desktop system), Dell Inspiron i8000 (desktop replacement notebook), Sony F520 (monitor), May Payne (game of the year), and lots more.


• Rigs of the Year - A look at 15 machines custom built by readers with case mods.

_{Back cover of the December 2001 issue of Maximum PC}

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Byte (November 1982)

Byte (November 1982)

Byte was probably the best general computer magazine of the 1980s. Many of the early issues could be huge with this one coming in at over 600 pages. The IBM PC had only been introduced the previous year and it was not yet clear that it would set the standard for personal computers. The November 1982 issue includes:

Features

• The Third NCGA and the Future of Computer Graphics - A look at the then current state of computer graphics. NCGA stands for National Computer Graphics Association. At the time, even things like color output were a novelty for the average user.


• Tronic Imagery - A behind the scenes look at computer graphics in Tron. Tron was one of the first movies to make extensive use of computer graphics and it was extremely impressive for its time.


• Build the Circuit Cellar MPX-16 Computer System, Part 1 - The MPX-16 is a single board computer that you could build yourself from scratch with the information provided in this series of articles. It includes an 8088 processor and IBM PC compatible bus and is capable of running CP/M-86. This was definitely an advanced project. It would be interesting to know how many people actually built these (vs. buying one which was also an option).


• Problem Solving with Logo - Converting a PL/I graphics design to an Apple II using Apple Logo.


• Build a Video Digitizer - Instructions for building a $50 interface that allows you to capture video still images in three colors (black, white and gray).


• Computer Animation with Color Registers - An animation tutorial using BASIC on the Atari 400/800.


• Victor Victorious: The Victor 9000 - A review of the Victor 9000. It features an 8088 processor, 128K of RAM, two 612K floppy drives, and high resolution monochrome monitor for $4995. It came with both CP/M-86 and MS-DOS. Expansion was expensive. Another 128K of RAM would set you back $800. A 10 MB hard drive cost $4495.


• An Interview with Chuck Peddle - Chuck Peddle is a legend in early computer design. Not only was he the chief designer of the Victor 9000, but he also worked on the design of the Motorola 6800 and was the chief architect of the MOS 6502 family of chips which were used in the Commodore 64, VIC-20, Apple II, Atari 400/800, and other computers. He also designed the PET.


• JETSET - A type-in flight simulator written in TRS-80 Model II BASIC.

_{Table of Contents from the November 1982 issue of Byte}

Reviews

• The Graphics Magician - Animation software for the Apple II.


• Cambridge Development Lab's High Resolution Video Graphics System - A high resolution display system for S-100 based computers. High resolution in this case meant 640x482.


• Executive Briefing System - You could think of this as PowerPoint for the Apple II. It's designed to create charts and graphics for presentation purposes.

Nucleus

• Editorial: Deus ex Machina of the Technological Age - A look at the fast growing field of microcomputers and portable computers.


• Letters - Letters from readers about Digital Research's licensing policies, computers in social sciences, archaeology and microcomputers, and more.


• Ask BYTE - Questions answered about running the Apple II+ on battery power, the TRS-80 Pocket Computer, leaving computers on, CP/M User's Groups, using cassettes with computers, and more.

_{Back cover of the November 1982 issue of Byte}
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Computer Shopper (August 1992)

Computer Shopper (August 1992)

Computer Shopper, at its height, was by far the largest magazine I ever saw in terms of page count. This issue has about 950 pages. And yes, it really did resemble a telephone book in terms of size. The August 1992 issue includes:

Features

• Windows 3.1 vs. OS/2 - This article compares OS/2 2.0 with Windows 3.1. When I had my 486, I really wanted to move from Windows 3.1 to OS/2 2.1. It had better multitasking and could run Windows and DOS apps. However, at the time, I couldn't find a driver for my video card so I was stuck at like 640x480 and 256 colors (or maybe only 16) which wasn't acceptable. I gave up and went back to Windows 3.1 but upgraded to Windows 95 when it was released.


• Moving Up - Upgrading CPUs was often not a viable option back in the day. The introduction of clock doubled and overdrive processors from Intel changed this. My first "PC" which I bought a year later included a clock doubled 486 (66 MHz). With an overdrive processor you could literally double the speed of your machine and even move from a 486 to a Pentium in some cases. Several systems and overdrive processors are benchmarked here.

Shopper's Guide: Tape Backups

• Random, and Proud of It - Tape drive were a (relatively) inexpensive way to back up data but were not random access which means they were not easy to use except for complete system backups and restores. This article goes over some of the random access alternatives such as floptical drives ($500 plus $22 for a 20 MB disk), Bernoulli Drives ($800 plus extra for the 90 MB disks), SyQuests's removable hard drive ($800 plus $70-$100 for 105 MB disks), and others.


• How to Buy Tape Drives - A guide for determining what you need in a tape backup drive. Or if you even need one at all.


• Reckoning the Cost per Megabyte - A look at several different backup devices (tape drives and others) and the cost per megabyte factoring in both device and media cost.


• How It Works - A technical look at how tape storage works.


• The Tale of the Tape: What's New - State of the art in upcoming tape backup technology at the time included 425 MB storage on a single tape and speeds of 27 Mb per minute.

_{Table of Contents from the August 1992 issue of Computer Shopper}

Trends and Technology

• Contents - CD-ROM drive prices drop to $200; more vendors selling direct; IBM and Microsoft code sharing agreement to end; usage of e-mail and voice mail explodes; more software shipping on CD; new class of smaller "subnotebooks" including the Gateway 2000 Handbook featuring a 286 processor, 1 MB of RAM and a 40 MB hard drive; world's smallest hard drive at 1.3-inches holds 200 MB of data; PC theft skyrockets 400 percent; new technology allows for wireless data transfer; Spain digitizing historical documents; and more.


• John Dickinson - The link between lowering real-estate values and increasing PC sales and why companies like Gateway 2000 are having huge success while companies like IBM are struggling.


• Charles Cooper - A look at mail order computer prices versus quality plus the increasing availability as computers are sold in more places; preventing your 486 from overheating; Ziff Buyer's Market to help you buy PC; and more.


• Michale Slater - The ACE Initiative was intended to set a hardware standard for running both Windows NT and SCO Open Desktop Unix on 80x86 and MIPS. It failed as Compaq ran into financial problems and withdrew support.

Reviews

• Approach 1.0 - Database software for Windows.


• Excel 4.0 - The latest iteration of the best spreadsheet software for Windows.


• SuperStor - Disk compression software similar to Stacker or DoubleSpace.


• Fujitsu DL 1200 - A color 24-pin dot-matrix printer for $649 which at the time was a "good value".

_{Table of Contents from the August 1992 issue of Computer Shopper (continued)}

Tech Section

• The Hard Edge - Setting up DOS 5.0 properly, the PC as a video production tool, document management, a 3.5" disk shortage, competing local bus implementations, and more.


• Ask Dr. John - Questions answered about FAX modems, repairing laser printers, Video BIOS Shadow settings, and more.


• Beginner's Corner - Questions answered about automatically disabling NUM LOCK and print buffers.


• What's New Online - New windows based front ends for CompuServe and BIX and further trends in this direction. Plus, a look at what's new at BIX, CompuServe, Delphi, and GEnie online services.


• Freebies of the Month - A look at some of the latest freely available software, including TreeWalker (file management) and Downline 1.1.1 (archive utility for the Mac).


• Binding Time - Book reviews of Voodoo DOS, DR DOS 6.0 Customizing Toolkit, PC Magazine Guide to Linking LANs, and Telecommunications 2.


• Simple Tips for NetWare Users - Basic power commands for NetWare.


• Souping Up a 286 - In the early 1990s, computers were advancing fast but it was still common to see 286s and even XTs still in use. This guide offers options for upgrading your 286 based machine. In addition to common upgrades such as increasing memory and adding more hard drive space, there are also software options including disk doubling software, task swapping software, tools like Norton Desktop, etc. Plus there are options for adding a mouse upgrading or adding a modem, and more.

Software

• Presentation Packages - A look at presentation software for both the Mac and the PC including Persuasion 2.1 for Windows, Freelance Graphics for Windows, Harvard Graphics for Windows, PowerPoint for Windows, and More 3.1 for the Mac.


• Screen Savers - Modern screens aren't really susceptible to burn-in and haven't been for a long time. That combined with the fact that modern monitors also have power saving modes that turn them off has really eliminated the need for screensavers. Nevertheless, I wish Afterdark was still a thing. This review examines six screen-savers including After Dark for Windows 2.0, Intermission for Windows 3.0, Pyro! for Dos 2.0, Screen Saver Plus for Dos, Microsoft Entertainment Pack, After Dark for Macintosh 2.0, and Pyro! for the Macintosh 4.0.


• Tech Q&As for Windows Word Processors - Answers to the ten most frequently asked questions for Word for Windows, Ami Pro, and WordPerfect for Windows.


• Soft Watch - A look at the best selling software in a variety of categories on both the PC and the Mac.

Smart Shopper

• Ad Watch - A look at trends in advertising including the inclusion of antivirus software with systems, Intel cutting prices on 486SX chips to undercut AMDs 386 sales, Cyrix 486SLC competition, and more.


• System Price Index - A chart of PC prices over the past few months based on processor.


• New Distribution Strategies for Software - New ways to sell software include demos on CDs, software downloads, and more.


• Components Price Index - Price charts over the past few months for motherboards, hard drives, modems, and printers.

Departments

• Feedback Forum - Feedback from readers about voice recognition, retailers passing along credit card surcharges, maintaining trackballs, and more.


• Bulletin Boards - A list of BBSes all around the country. The BBS of the month is Channel 1 in Cambridge, Massachusetts which includes 70 lines, 2,000 conferences, and 8 gigabytes of storage.

_{Back cover of the August 1992 issue of Computer Shopper}

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Byte (October 1978)

Byte (October 1978)

Byte was a long running computer magazine published between the late 1970s and the early 1990s. This issue is "only" around 200 pages but it grew quickly and some issues reached 500 pages and more. The October 1978 issue would have hit the stands almost exactly 46 years ago and includes:

Foreground

• No Power For Your Interfaces? - Instructions for building a 5 watt DC to DC converter designed to power add-on boards.


• A "Tiny" Pascal Compiler, Part 2: The P-Compiler - The second part in a series on creating a Pascal compiler.


• Testing Memory in BASIC - A BASIC program for testing memory (other than the 8K it is loaded in).


• First Steps in Computer Chess Programming - A tutorial for creating a chess program using Sargon as an example.


• Linear Circuit Analysis - An article that presents the fundamentals of a frequency domain linear circuit analysis program. This article gives you flow charts and mathematical equations but you have to write your own program.


• Solving The Eight Queens Problem - The eight queens problem is a chess puzzle the object of which is to place eight queens on an 8x8 chess board in such a way that no queen can take another. This article presents multiple ways for solving the problem.

_{Table of Contents from the October 1978 issue of Byte}

Background

• A Memory Pattern Sensitivity Test - An assembly language program that detects pattern sensitivity related errors in memory. These are errors that occur when accessing one area of memory alters another memory location when it contains a certain pattern of bits.


• PAM/8: A New Approach to Front Panel Design - An article on the design of the front panel firmware of the Heath H8 computer. Of course, the idea of front panels as such would rapidly become obsolete.


• Assembling The H9 Video Terminal - A terminal was essentially a monitor and keyboard assembly that connected to computers via a serial interface. If you wanted a video display and keyboard input in the early days of computers then this is how it was done. You could buy a terminal fully assembled but given the cost of computer equipment at a time it was common to be able to buy stuff in kit format and assemble it yourself for significant savings. This tutorial covers assembling the H9 Video Terminal which was designed as an accessory for the Heathkit H8 computer though I'm sure it could be used with other machines.

Nucleus

• On Using a Personal Computer for a Practical Purpose - Practical uses for an Apple II in Byte offices includes analyzing reader survey information.


• Letters - Letters from readers about modular programming, the TRS-80, a KIM-1 timer, resetting the SwTPC 6800, personal computer insurance, and more.
  
• Book Reviews - A review of Microprocessor Programming for Computer Hobbyists by Neil Graham.


• Technical Forum - Discussions on the discovery and use of undocumented op codes and analog computers.

_{Back cover of the October 1978 issue of Byte}

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Byte (December 1986)

Byte (December 1986)

I'm still amazed at how large some older computer magazines were. While Computer Shopper was known for its phone book sized issues, this issue of Byte comes in approaching 500 pages which is still larger than your average novel. Byte covered whatever computer systems were around at the time though as the years went on, more and more of that coverage was PC related. The December 1986 issue of Byte includes:

Features

• Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar: Build the GT180 Color Graphics Board, Part 2: Hardware - The second part in a series for building a color graphics board for the SB180 and SB180X computer. These computers were single board Z80 based CP/M machines. This article includes a parts list and schematic for the color graphics board.


• Programming Project: Using DOS Functions From Turbo Pascal - A tutorial for using DOS functions from with Pascal. Included are programs for retrieving a disk directory, finding file size, and more.


• Programming Insight: A Program For Approximating Integrals - A program for math geeks. This FORTRAN program calculates integral values using Gauss approximation with Aitken extrapolation.

_{Table of Contents from the December 1986 issue of Byte}

Theme: Graphics Algorithms

• Henon Mapping with Pascal - Useful for simulating the behavior of physical systems such as asteroids or satellites.


• Abstract Mathematical Art - A BASIC program for creating computer-generated art based on the Game of Life.


• The TMS34010 Graphics System Processor - A graphics chip from Texas Instruments that can perform up to 6 million instructions per second and generate bit-mapped graphics and order of magnitude faster than general purpose processors.


• Plotting The Mandelbrot Set - A C program for the Amiga that generates fractal graphics using the Mandelbrot set. I remember a similar BASIC program for my Commodore 64 but that one would take 12 hours to produce an image.

Reviews

• Four IBM PC AT Clones - A review of four AT class machines. Just for reference, XT machines were 8088 based whereas AT machines were 286 based. Machines reviewed here include the Zenith Z-241 (6 MHz), Zenith Z-248 (8 MHz), Epson Equity III (6-8 MHz), and the Western AT (6-8 MHz). Prices ranged from $2395 to $4495 depending on machine and options. More expensive models included a hard drive.


• The Hercules Graphics Card Plus - The original Hercules Graphics Card became the standard for monochrome graphics on the PC. the "Plus" version includes additional features such as support of alternate character sets for improved performance on applications like Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Word. It also came it at a lower price point than the original at "only" $299.


• 23 Modems - An evaluation of 23 different modems. Some were 300/1200 bps and some were 2400 bps. Prices ranged from $199 to $899. Hayes pretty much set the standard at the time and their modems tended to be the most expensive. On this list is the Smartmodem 1200 for $599 and the Smartmodem 2400 for $899 (the most expensive in the list). If I could have afforded it, I would have chosen the US Robotics Courier for $699.


• Pascal for the IBM PC - A survey of four different Pascal packages for the PC including MS-Pascal 3.31, UCSD Pascal 4.2.1, Pro Pascal 2.14, and Professional Pascal 2.5.

_{Table of Contents from the December 1986 issue of Byte (continued)}

Kernel

• Computing At Chaos Manor: The Final Frontier - Highlights of the Space Academy Conference, the lateset on Viasyn's CompuPro equipment, Intel's 80287 math coprocessor, Little Computer People, and more.


• According to Webster: Season's Greetings - New products for the Amiga including a 512k RAM expansion from Access Associates (expandable to 2 MB), the MicroBotics MAS-20 Hard Disk, Instant Music and Marble Madness from Electronic Arts, and more.


• Applications Only: Stocking Stuffers - A look at new software including ComicWorks (art program for the Macintosh), Balance of Power (strategy game for the PC), Blue Chip Simulations (DOS, Apple II, Commodore 64), LogiMouse C7 mouse, and more.

Best of Bix

• Amiga - Discussions of unvalidated disk problems, Trackdisk, the Resident command, and more.


• Atari - Discussions relating to double-buffering techniques (animation), converting Atari 8-bit graphics to the ST, and more.


• IBM PC and Compatibles - Discussion of PC clones, parking the Seagate ST225 hard drive, and more.

Departments

• Editorial: Byte Gets Faster - Byte shortens its lead time.


• Microbytes - Use of surface-mounted technology growing, Maxell develops a disk that can store 100 megabytes using a perpendicular recording technique, 20 hours of week or less exposure to video display terminals found not to cause increased risk to pregnancy, and much more.


• Letters - Letters from readers about sorting speed, CD-ROM software development, Microsoft FORTRAN and arrays, Easy C, calculating CRCs witht he 6809, and more.


• What's New - A brief look at new products including NEC's MultiSpeed (IBM compatible portable running at 4.77 or 9.54 MHz), The S/50 68000 workstation from Convergent, the PayDay payroll system for the Atari ST, the Motorola MC68030, the Paradise EGA chip, the PhotoMetric 200 PC slide making system, SuperSonic stereo sound board for teh Apple IIGS, the Wysepc+ XT-compatible system, the AMQ 286 Model II portable computer, the ITT XTRA/286 IBM PC AT compatible workstation, Rodime RO 3000 3.5" hard drives (45.4 MB and 54.5 MB), 512K-4M memory expansion board for the Apple IIGS, SpeedTerm 128 terminal package for the Commodore 128, Thinking Cap outlining software for the Commodore 64, and lots more.

_{Back cover of the December 1986 issue of Byte}

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Byte (June 1981)

Byte (June 1981)

Byte, subtitled 'The Small Systems Journal', initially covered 'small systems'. Generally small business computer and what could be considered home computers though I think they started before that term really existed. The original IBM PC was first introduced in 1981 though I believe that was after this issue was published. The June 1981 issue of Byte includes:

Features

• Logo for Personal Computers - A preview of two upcoming implementations of the Logo language for personal computers, including TI Logo for the TI-99/4 and Apple Logo for the Apple II. Logo was developed by the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT.


• Build a Low-Cost Speech Synthesizer Interface - Instructions for building a speech synthesizer. These seemed to be all the rage in the early to mid 1980s.


• Mathematical Modeling: A BASIC Program to Simulate Real-World Systems - Simulating systems by solving a system of differential equations. This article includes lots of math along with some code.


• A Computer-Based Laboratory - This article focuses on creating accurate digital timers.


• CP/M: A Family of 8- and 16-bit Operating Systems - CP/M was the closest thing to a standard operating system that existed for personal computers before the IBM PC and DOS came along. DOS was largely based on CP/M.


• The UNIX Operating System and the XENIX Standard Operating System - UNIX was the other operating system standard but at the time, this was for larger systems. Xenix was essentially Microsoft's implementation with enhancements.

_{Table of Contents from the June 1981 issue of Byte}

Reviews

• RAMCRAM Memory Module for the Atari - A 32K RAM expansion module for the Atari 400 for $320 (that's the equivalent of roughly $1100 today).


• Information Unlimited: The Dialog Information Retrieval Service - An online service accessible via modem and terminal software that offered millions of references and abstracts for searching.


• Four Word Processors for the Apple II - Reviews of Super-Text II, Write-On! I and II, Datacope Scribe, and EasyWriter and EasyWriter Professional.

Nucleus

• Editorial - Commentary on 16-bit computers and user friendliness.


• Letters - Letters from readers about OSI, Adventure and The Colossal Cave, GOTO vs. FOR...NEXT, CMOS, Panasonic and Quasar handheld computers, and much more.


• Technical Forums - LISP vs. FORTRAN, Interrupts, Votrax voice synthesizer vocabulary, and more.


• Education Forum - An approach for using microcomputers in education.


• Programming Quickie: Z80 Table Lookup - Machine language table lookup on the Z80.


• BYTELINES - Outstanding growth for Tandy sales, first computers with built-in Winchester-disk drives (hard drives), Tandy sues competitors, IBM to build Josephson computer, warranties for TRS-80 computers, and more.

_{Back cover of the June 1981 issue of Byte}

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Byte (March 1977)

Byte (March 1977)

Byte magazine (subtitled The Small Systems Journal) was a VERY early computer magazine with publication starting in 1975. This issue is from 1977. This is well before the IBM PC was introduced and there wasn't much in the way of what would come to be known as home or personal computers around. However, the Commodore PET, TRS-80 (Model I), and Apple II were all released year igniting what might be considered the first home computer war. Most other machines were either kit based (you build it yourself, often including soldering) or more business oriented (CP/M based machines). The main CPUs in use were the Intel 8080, Zilog Z80, and MOS 6502. This would remain true for several more years. The March 1977 issue of Byte includes:

Foreground

• Simplified Omega Receiver Details - Byte tended to be pretty technical. The earlier the issue, the more technical it tended to be. This article just goes into building something called an Omega receiver. I guess if you didn't know what that was, you didn't need to build one. According to Wikipedia, "An Omega receiver is a device that picks up very low frequency radio signals transmitted by Omega stations to determine a position. It was used in conjunction with the Omega navigation system, which was operational from around 1971 until it was shut down in 1997. Omega receivers helped ships and aircraft establish their locations by receiving signals in the 10 to 14 kHz range from a network of eight fixed terrestrial radio beacons." Sort of an early GPS system...


• Inexpensive Joystick Interfaces - Earlier computers wouldn't have joystick interfaces and there wasn't really a standard interface. Here's a guide for building your own.


• Flights of Fancy with The Enterprise - A type-in BASIC action game based on Star Trek in which you must hunt down and destroy the Klingon battle cruisers. It requires approximately 22K of RAM which was a pretty hefty chunk in those days.

_{Table of Contents from the March 1977 issue of Byte}

Background

• Give Your Micro Some Muscles - Using a computer to control external devices.


• Review of the SWTPC PR-40 Alphanumeric Printer - An early dot matrix printer that looks more like a telegraph machine. It is a 5 by 7 dot matrix printer capable of printing the 64 upper case ASCII character set with 40 characters per line at a speed of 75 lines per minute. It comes in kit form, meaning you have to assemble it yourself, for $250.


• Cassette Transports for the "Roll Your Own" Hobbyist - At this time, data storage for computer hobbyists was almost entirely done via cassette. Basically using the same cassettes and tape recorder devices you would use for audio. This article describes building your own cassette device starting with choosing a better transport mechanism than what you would typically find in cheap consumer devices.


• The Digital Cassette Subsystem, Part 2 - The second part in a series on the technical details of using cassettes for computer storage.

Nucleus

• PAPERBYTES Forum - Excerpts of various letters discussing machine readable printed software. Conceptually, this idea is similar to reading a barcode which was starting to become commonplace, for example, in supermarkets at this time. However, the idea here was to input entire programs via some kind of printed code.


• BYTE Goes International - Byte announces new Australian edition of the magazine.


• Letters - Letters from readers regarding arithmetic on the 8080, the ELIZA program, word processing on the Altair, cooling the CPU in an Altair 8800, bank switching with the RCA COSMAC 1802, and more.


• A 6502 Op Code Table - A reference chart that includes all the op codes for the MOS 6502 CPU. Useful for debugging hex dumps.


• What's New? - Phi Deck Tape Mass Storage for the Altair Bus (a tape drive for the Altair with up to 1 MB of storage), Computer Power & Light offers 8080A based computer system for $1863 completely assembled, new version of SC/MP processor from National Semiconductor, and more.

_{Back cover of the March 1977 issue of Byte}

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