Compute! (December 1981)

Compute! was one of the earliest home computer magazines. Early in its history, it focused on 6502 based machines. In 1981 that meant the Commodore CBM/PET, Apple II, Atari and OSI. The December 1981 issue includes:

Compute! (December 1981)

Compute! (September 1987)

Compute! was one of the most popular multi-format computer magazines of the 1980s. In 1987 it was covering the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, PC, Amiga, and maybe others. The September 1987 issue includes:

Source: Compute! (September 1987)

Compute! (March 1986)

Compute! (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:

Compute! (March 1988)

Compute! covered various home computers over the years. It was a little less technical than Byte (for example) at least in terms of hardware coverage. However, it was a great magazine and had numerous spin-off, the most successful of which was Gazette for the Commodore 64/128. The March 1988 issue of Compute! includes:

Compute! (March 1988)

Compute! (November 1988)

Compute! (November 1988)

Compute! covered popular home computers of the day. In the early days it covered exclusively 6502 based computers. By this time, they were covering all popular computers in the home which included The Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS based machines of all types, Commodore 64, Apple II, and maybe others. The November 1988 issue includes:

Features

• Communicate by Design - An introduction to desktop publishing including info on where to get more training.


• Print That Page - An overview of six printers recommended by Compute! including the Epson LQ-850, Star NB24-10, Okidata Microline 390, NEC Pinwriter P5200, Hewlett-Packard DeskJet, and Apple ImageWriter LQ.


• How Are Computers Made? - A photographic tour of the Tandy Business Products Plant in fort Worth, Texas, specifically following the production of a Tandy 4000.

_{Table of Contents from the November 1988 issue of Compute!}

Reviews

• Fast Looks - A brief look at recent releases including Sports Scheduler (software for organizing sports leagues) for the Apple II and DOS; and Cosmic Relief (an animated puzzle game) for the Amiga, Atari ST and Commodore 64.


• NewsMaster II - A page layout program from Unison World for DOS.


• Springboard Publisher - A desktop publishing program for the Apple II.


• Street Sports Soccer - Part of Epyx's Street Sports Series. According to this, Streets Sports Soccer is available for the Commodore 64, DOS, and Apple IIgs with an Apple II version coming in the Fall.

_{Table of Contents from the November 1988 issue of Compute! (continued)}

Compute! Specific

• MS-DOS - Extend-a-Name, a memory resident program designed to allow you to use filenames greater than eight character filename plus three letter extension allowed by DOS; Microsoft an IBM announces MS-DOS 4.0; starting programs from batch files and more.


• 64 & 128 - The possible demise of the Commodore 64/128 as software publishers de-emphasize releases for that platform; Bards Tale III by Electronic Arts released for the C64; Reach for the Stars released by SSG/Electronic Arts; Bubble Ghost released by Accolade; Metrocross released by Epyx; and more.


• Apple II - Apple IIgs version of Pirates released by MicroProse; Computer Learning News (a newspaper aimed at kids 8-12) soon to debut as a monthly publication; the Apple IIgs gets a software update (including GS/OS 2.0); and more.


• Amiga - New programming tools released including C.A.P.E. (assembler), MetaScope (debugger), and DSM (disassembler); Commodore introduces high resolution monochrome monitor; V.I.P. anti-virus software released; and more.

Columns

• Editorial License - A criticism of personal computer provincialism.


• News & Notes - Apple released the Apple IIc Plus; DOS 4.0 released; Kyodai and Broderbund join forces to release Japanese games in the U.S.; and more.


• Gameplay - Orson Scott Card examines Romance of the Three Kingdoms.


• Impact - Why paper usage continues to rise in the era of the "paperless" office.


• Discoveries - Resources for using older computers such as the TRS 100/200, Plus/4, Timex Sinclair, VIC-20, and others for various purposes such as education.

_{Back cover from the November 1988 issue of Compute! (continued)}

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Compute! (February 1989)

Compute! (February 1989)

Compute! was a multiformat computer magazine that covered a wide variety of platforms. In 1989 that included at least the PC (DOS), Commodore 64, Apple II, Amiga, Macintosh and Atari ST. The February 1989 issue includes:

Features

• Money, Money, Money - An overview of six personal financial management packages including Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money (Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh), Dollars and Sense (Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh), MoneyCounts 5.0 (IBM PC), On Balance (Apple II), Smart Money (Apple II, Apple IIgs, IBM PC), and Sylvia Porter's Your Personal Financial Planner (Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, IBM PC).


• Order From Chaos: Money and Your Spreadsheet - A guide to building a spreadsheet template to keep track of your money.

_{Table of Contents from the February 1989 issue of Compute!}

Reviews

• Fast Looks - Brief overviews of new software including DeskPaint 2.0 (Macintosh), Map Skills (Apple II), and Grand Prix Circuit


• Pool of Radiance - The first of the Gold Box AD&D games and one of my favorite games at the time.


• Fantavision - An animation package for the Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIgs, and IBM PC.


• Tutor-Tech - Kind of like HyperCard but for the Apple II instead of the Macintosh.

_{Table of Contents from the February 1989 issue of Compute! (continued)}

Columns

• Editorial License - An editorial on how computers cost too much. Some examples given include an Apple IIgs system for over $3000, A PC compatible for $1500, and an Amiga or Atari ST for $800-$1000.


• News & Notes - The latest computer news, including plans to bring videotex service to the U.S. (not sure this ever actually happened or went very far if it did), a new Leisure Suit Larry game, Jack Nicklaus' Greatest 18 Holes of Major Championship Golf, the latest World of Commodore show, magneto-optical disk drives, and more.


• Gameplay - A look at improvements on old game concepts including Blockbuster (a newer version of Breakout), Better Dead than Alien (a newer version of Space Invaders), and more.


• Impact - Using your computer to do your taxes.


• Discoveries - Using CompuServe and other online services, including BBSes in education including to help teach English to Japanese students, improve reading and writing skills in high school students, and more.

Compute! Specific

• MS-DOS - Command line vs. GUI; a look at The Norton Commander. Plus, The Invisible Link, a program that lets you download in the background and more.


• 64 & 128 - GEOS 2.0, Dungeon Master's Assistant Volume I: Encounters from SSI, Final Assault from Epyx, Times of Lore from Origin, and Fast Break, a 3-on-3 basketball game from Accolade.


• Apple II - Del Yocam leaving Apple; Apple raises prices of Apple II and IIgs systems; rumors of an enhanced Apple IIgs, and more.


• Amiga - The Amiga is featured at several recent computer shows including World of Commodore, COMDEX and CES; Zoetrope special effects software; SysFont font software; and more.

_{Back cover of the February 1989 issue of Compute!}

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