Showing posts with label IBM. Show all posts

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Byte (September 1984)

Byte (September 1984): This issue of Byte was a special issue emphasizing IBM. The IBM PC had been released a few years earlier and even in 1984, it wasn't a given that the PC and DOS were going to take over the world. CP/M was still around with CP/M 86 having been introduced as well and even "compatible" PCs were not always that compatible yet. I think Byte did one of these IBM special issues (which also covered IBM's larger systems as well) for a few years at least. The September 1984 issue of Byte includes:

Monday, August 19, 2024

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (February 1993)

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment was my favorite magazine in the years that it was published (late 1980s to early 1990s). It was really sort of the successor to the original Electronic Games magazine, at least until Electronic Games was actually rebooted. The February 1993 issue includes:

Features

A Matter of Chaos: Player's Guide to Dungeon Master, Part I - VG&CE had some pretty great game guides. However, you had to be disciplined about looking at them because they could ruin the game for you. This one covers the first part of Dungeon Master for the Super NES.

Much Ado About 3DO: The Real Story - It's a shame the 3DO didn't have more success. This article is a first look at the machine with some technical details and a look at its capabilities.

_{Table of Contents from the February 1993 issue of VideoGames & Computer Entertainment}

Previews & Reviews

Video-Game Previews - Brief previews of Flashback (Genesis), Bonk 3 (TurboGrafx-16), Street Combat (Super NES), Dungeon Explorer II (TurboGrafx-16), Zen Intergalactic Ninja (NES and Game Boy), Lethal Weapon (NES and Game Boy), Cool World (Super NES and Game Boy), Congo's Caper (Super NES), Malibu Bikini Volleyball (Atari Lynx), Spot - The Cool Adventure (Game Boy), and Exile 2 (TurboGrafx-16).

Video-Game Reviews - Reviews of The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse (Super NES) - Capcom made some great Disney licensed games and this was one of them, Mega Man 5 (NES) - and there would still be one more Mega Man game on the NES, Roger Clemens' MVP Baseball (Genesis), Cybernator (Super NES), Buster Bros. (TurboGrafx-16 CD), Dragon's Lair (Super NES) - a platform game not really like the arcade version, PGA Tour Golf II (Genesis), Super Strike Eagle (Super NES), Aerobiz (Super NES), Samurai Ghost (TurboGrafx-16), The Adventures of Willy Beamish (Sega CD), Tiny Toon Adventures Cartoon Workshop (NES), and Universal Soldier (Super NES) - another bad licensed game.

Computer-Game Previews - Short previews of Ultima VII Part 2: The Serpent Isle, Caesar - I think I actually have this one somewhere though I've never played it, Betrayal at Krondor - my roommate in college spent many hours on this game, and Pirates! Gold.

Departments

Editor's Letter - A look at what's ahead in 1993 including the 3DO, Atari Jaguar, the PlayStation (which at the time was essentially an SNES console with CD-ROM), and more.

Reader Mail - Letters from readers about RPGs, Nintendo's 32-bit CD-ROM system, portable systems, and more.

Tip Sheet - Hints and tips for Night Trap (Sega CD), The Guardian Legend (NES), and Cosmic Fantasy 2 (TurboGrafx-CD).

News Bits - Radio Shack debuts a new interactive CD player called the Memorex MD-2500 VIS, Nintendo cleared of antitrust charges, classic games re-released for the NES (Zelda, Zelda II, Punch-out, Metroid) for $29.99 each, Sunsoft licenses The Pirates of Dark Water, Atari drops price of Lynx to $79.99, and more.

_{Back cover of the February 1993 issue of VideoGames & Computer Entertainment}

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

PC World (July 1988)

Computer magazines were pretty bulky back in the day. This issue of PC World, one of the more popular magazines at the time, from July 1988 weighs in at nearly 300 pages. It includes:

Data Management

Omnis Quartz 1.13 - This was the first relational database manager for Windows.

Q&A 3.0 - The features included in the latest update for this database manager include better performance, overlapping windows, and better backup capabilities.

DataEase 2.5 release 3 - This database manager includes the use of forms and menus for all functions as well as its own command language.

Word Processing

DisplayWrite 4/2 - A version of the DisplayWrite word processor for OS/2.

XyWrite III Plus 3.53 - This version of Xywrite adds desktop publishing features, a thesaurus and spell checker.

Nota Bene 3.0 - A word processor that was once popular in academic settings, it includes fast indexing, lots of style and formatting commands, and foreign language processing.

Q&A Write 1.03 - A relatively inexpensive (which at the time meant $199) and easy to use word processor that still has lots of features.

_{Table of Contents from the July 1988 issue of PC World}

Spreadsheet Add-Ins

Lucid 3-D 1.0 - A pop-up spreadsheet that includes file linking, auditing functions, and more.

SQZ Plus - Helps you to save disk space and secure your data.

3-2-1 Bastoff 1.0 - Speeds up recalculations in Lotus 1-2-3.

4Views 1.0 - Adds better sorting, easier data entry features, and reporting features to Lotus 1-2-3.

Desktop Publishing

PagePerfect - Combines the features of a word processor and page-layout program.

Publisher's Type Foundry 1.02 - A font editor that works with LaserJet and PostScript.

Corel Tabin 1.00, Table Manners 2.2, VP/Tabs 1.0 - A collection of programs that help import Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets into Ventura Publisher.

Business Graphics

Business Graphics Roundup - A category of software that was mostly consumed by Power Point. Products looked at here include Freelance Plus 2.0, GEM Presentation Team 1.0, Microsoft Chart 3.0, 35mm Express 4.1, and Windows Graph 1.0.

_{Table of Contents from the July 1988 issue of PC World (continued)}

Departments

In This Issue - A preview of this special "Software Update" issue.

Top of the News - The latest PC related news including: a new IBM Model 5535 laptop featuring a 10 MHz 286, 1 MB RAM, 1.44MB floppy, and 20MB hard drive for $4000; Ashton-Tate creates new dCAL language for dBASE; the debut of SuperCalc 5; new Full Impact spreadsheet program for Macintosh; new 2400bps and 9600bps Smartmodems from Hayes; new 286 based laptop from Mitsubishi; and more.

David Bunnell - The potential threat that Apple's lawsuits against Microsoft and HP pose to creativity and innovation in the computer industry.

Letters - Letters from readers about the recent format change in PC World, a review of SmartKey, VP-Planner, Quattro vs. 1-2-3 benchmarks, public e-mail services, faxing vs. e-mail, and more.

Richard Landry - Vendors and proprietary "standards".

Next In PC World - The next issue of PC World focusses on "low-cost computing".

Stewart Alsop - IBM's marketing hype for their Micro Channel bus included on PS/2 computers.

On IBM - A look at IBM's strategy vs. Compaq's strategy and how Compaq in winning.

Industry Outlook - The first Micro Channel clones arrive including machines from Tandy and Dell; Lotus 1-2-3 still leads spreadsheet sales; sales of DOS based spreadsheet programs expected to increase through 1989; Intel introduces lower cost 386SX CPU; Tandy introduces THOR, an erasable optical technology; memory prices rise dramatically; and more.

Preview - A preview of dBASE IV which includes a built-in compiler, 240 new commands, and support for SQL.

_{Back cover of the July 1988 issue of PC World}

Monday, December 4, 2023

PC World (February 1985)

PC World was one of the most popular magazines dedicated to IBM PC and compatible computers. I thrived in the 1980s and 1990s and survived well into the second decade of the new century. However, like pretty much all computer magazines, this one eventually died as a result of the Internet. The February 1985 issue includes:

Getting Started

Strategies for Sharing Resources - A multi-user system with multiple terminals or a LAN may be a better alternative to simply buying more PCs when your business needs to expand.

Community

The Organization LAN - The necessity of networking when dealing with a multitude of PCs.

Review

Six Leading LANs - A comparison of the six leading Local Area Network solutions, including Netware/S-Net (Novell), EtherSeries (3Com), Omninet (Corvus Systems), PLAN 3000 (Nestar Systems), PCnet (Orchid Technology), and Net/One (Ungermann-Bass).

The Multiuser Dimension - An alternative to a LAN was a multi-user system with IBM PCs basically used as smart terminals. This article looks specifically at the North Star Dimension which supported 12 workstation, ran a custom OS and was compatible with MS-DOS 2.11.

Breaking Ground in Construction - A review of Software Shop, an accounting package specialized for the construction industry.

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

PCjr World

Color on Command - A look at the Palette command provided on cartridge BASIC for the IBM PCjr. This was a command designed to allow for easily changing colors or even doing simple animations.

A Drive to Succeed - The PCjr was limited in a variety of ways compared to the PC. However, there were several add-ons that were made by third parties to improve the situation. This article looks at one such product, the "Drive Two Enhancement Package" from Rapport. This package includes a second disk drive, a parallel printer port, a clock/calendar with battery backup, and an optional 128K-384K memory expansion. It also increases compatibility with PC software.

State of the Art

A New Focus on Data Management - A look at PC/Focus, a "fourth generation" computer language (Focus) for the PC. It's main advantage seems to be making data management easier.

Hands On

Untangling Networks - A guide to finding the Local Arean Network product that will work best for you.

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

Departments

Davin Bunnell - An interesting story in which a user planted stolen credit card numbers on a BBS without the sysops knowledge. The phone company somehow discovered this through its own BBS snooping software and notified the police. The poor guy who ran the BBS had is computer confiscated (stolen) and was charged as an accessory to the crime. An argument is presented here as to whether the BBS operator is equivalent to a newspaper publisher or simply providing a communications medium. This argument has come up more recently with social media but as you can see, it's nothing new.

Letters - Letters from readers about indexes of old articles, a tip for entering a date in Lotus 1-2-3 that auto updates, the PCs chess playing skills, Sargon III, and more.

PC World View - Microsoft debuts the Microsoft Press International Publishing Consortium through which it will publish various books around the world; the usage of personal computers in political campaigns increased greatly in 1984...most of the time, those using computers won; a prototype IBM PC AT was stolen from an IBM lab in Palm Beach County, Florida. The thief was not caught; IBM announces its own local area network product; and more.

The Help Screen - Questions answered about using RAM disks.

Compatibles Update - AT&T releases a video display adapter, image capture board, and other products for "AT&T and compatible computers"; Zenith awarded contract for 30,000 Tempest certified Z-150 PCs; Ford Aerospace buys $1.5 million worth of Seequa PC and XT desktop computers which will go to NASA engineers in Houston; the IRS field-tests GRiD Compass portable computers; and more.

From the Software Shelf - First impressions of various software including Macro-Toolkit for Lotus, SideKick Version 1.10A, A>Cook: The Complete Computer Recipe System, PC Abstracts, and Textra.

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

...and more!

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Byte (November 1988 – IBM Special Edition)

Byte was one of the earliest and most in-depth computer magazines around while it was being published. It began life in the 1970s and lasted all the way into the 1990s. This issue is from November 1988 and is one of two issues published that month. Once the IBM PC became a huge deal, Byte started doing a yearly special "IBM" issue and did so for a number of years. This is one of those special IBM issues and it includes:

Trends

Editorial: Two Roads - There was still a question at this time as to whether the IBM PS/2 would set the new standard for PCs to come or the AT/386 standard. We all know how that turned out...

Probing the State of the Art - More about the latest in the PC world including both PS/2 and AT/386 standards. Plus a look at advanced operating systems like OS/2 and Unix. Also, I look at new peripheral devices like the HiREZ mouse from Logitech, the Kyocera F-3010 laser printer, the ScanJet from HP and more.

Mapping the Software World - A look at some of the common types of software available and good representative examples, including integrated software packages, word processing software, desktop publishing software, spreadsheets, database management, telecommunications, drafting, painting, utilities and more.

Beefed-up Bulletin Boards - While most hobby BBSes may have been run on a single phone line and a basic PC, there were some much larger systems out there. This article covers a few of them including Exec-PC (54 dial-up lines, 1.48 gigabytes of files), Invention Factory (24 dial-up lines, 1.2 gigabytes), Thousand Oaks Technical Database (160 megabyte), Utilities Exchange (117 megabytes). These systems offer maximum dial-up speeds of 2400bps to 9600bps. According to this article, at the time there were over 10,000 BBSes in the U.S.

Migrating: Up or Down? - Migrating from mainframes to PCs and vice versa.

_{Table of Contents from the 1988 IBM Special Edition of Byte}

Technology

The Micro Channel versus the AT Bus - The advantage of the PS/2 32-bit MCA bus was speed. The advantage of the AT Bus was significantly lower cost and greater compatibility with existing expansion cards. At the end of the day, it turned out that the PS/2 wasn't really faster than the fastest AT based machines and those AT machines were a whole lot cheaper. The rest is history. It wouldn't be long before 32-bit "AT" solutions came along like EISA and VLB.

Keeping Up with the CPU - A processors in the PC increased in speed from 4.77 MHz to 8 MHz to 16 MHz and beyond, the bus (and system memory) started having trouble keeping up. Some solutions at the time were to introduce wait states (negating much of the speed advantage of faster CPUs), using faster DRAM (which was more expensive), or using SRAM (also expensive). For 386 based systems, the approach settled on was using standard DRAM but including a smaller amount of SRAM for cache. Essentially, the same approach at a high level is still used today with cache having long ago moved from the motherboard into the processor itself. Of course now CPUs have much more cache that systems back then had total memory. A common amount of memory in high end 386 desktop systems in 1988 would have been 1 or 2 MB. The relatively old at this point Ryzen 1700 I am typing this on has 8MB of L3 cache plus smaller amounts of L2 and L1.

Whither IBM and Unix? - A look a the various implementations of Unix available including PX/IX, ISC, Xenix, and most recently for IBM, AIX. Plus, OS/2 versus Unix.

DOS Meets Unix - Hosting DOS applications like Lotus 1-2-3, dBASE III, and WordPerfect in Unix.

Techniques

OS/2 Communications - A look at communications software in OS/2. It turns out that creating such software that takes advantage of OS/2's multitasking capabilities is not especially difficult compared to DOS. OS2COMM (including source) is a simple com program for OS/2 that is looked at here as an example.

Keep Your PC Healthy - Tips for keeping your PC in working order including things like keeping your environment dust free, not smoking around your computer, making sure it has proper airflow, and more. Plus, software oriented solutions like defragmenting your hard drive.

Writing OS/2 Graphics - Technical considerations for creating graphics on OS/2, including things like privilege levels, 286 protected mode, directly accessing graphics hardware, multitasking and more.

_{Back cover of the 1988 IBM Special Edition of Byte}

Saturday, December 10, 2022

PC World (July 1989)

PC World was one of the most popular PC magazines for many years. Like most other computer print magazines, this one ceased publication quite some time ago. The July 1989 issue includes:PC World was one of the most popular PC magazines for many years. Like most other computer print magazines, this one ceased publication quite some time ago. The July 1989 issue includes:

Previews

Pascal Gets Two Object Lessons - Pascal was a popular structured programming language at one point that offered a sort of middle ground between BASIC and C. This article compares Borland's Turbo Pascal 5.5 with Microsoft's QuickPascal.

Reviews

Advanced Word Processors - Familiar Faces, New Features - A comparison of several word processors, including DisplayWrite 4 version 2, Microsoft Word 4.0, MultiMate Advantage II 1.0, Somna Word IV 2.0, WordPerfect 5.0, WordStar Professional 5.0, and XyWrite III Plus 3.54. Microsoft Word and WordPerfect come out on top.

The Best in Forms Software - A comparison of software specializing in creating forms. Products reviewed include FormFiller 2.0, FormSet 1.0, Horizon 1.1, JetForm 1.01, and Perform 1.0.

Data Base Powerhouses Strike a Balance - A comparison of the top four database managers, including DataEase 4.0, dBASE IV 1.0, Paradox 3.0, and R:base for DOS 2.11.

Net Gains in Multiuser Accounting - A review and comparison of seven multiuser accounting packages, including Accpac Plus, Great Plains, Harmony, M.A.S. 90, RealWorld, SBT, and Solomon III.

_{Table of Contents from the July 1989 issue of PC World}

News

Top of the News - Microsoft introduces the PS/2 Model P70 portable computer featuring a 20 MHz 386, 4 MB of RAM, microchannel architecture, a 60 MB hard drive and more for $7695. Also introduced by IBM is the PS/2 Model 55 SX desktop; featuring a 386 SX, 2 MB of RAM, a 30 MB hard drive and more for $3895; Microsoft and Borland introduce new versions of their Pascal software; Quarterdeck awarded patent for displaying windows on screen; Integrated Information Technology introduce Intel compatible math coprocessors; and more.

Industry Outlook - SQL data base servers coming; Zenith sales increase fueled by laptop success; a look at the upcoming i486 processor; IBM and Intel push multimedia with Digital Video Interactive (DVI); and more.

Product Outlook - A look at new and upcoming products, including the Zenith Z-386/25 PC, Solomon III based Profitwise Basic Accounting software, DaynaNet PC and Mac networking solution, Arriba personal information manager, ProCollection and Type Director font software, Mannesmann Tally MT81 and MT905 printers, PrintRite print queue, Laser-Ready templates, Up Your Cash Flow spreadsheet, AutoImport data conversion software, and Network Eye remote control software.

Perspectives

Richard Landry - Designing software for small businesses.

Letters - Letters from readers about avoiding copy protected software, standards, PS/2 problems, SideKick, the Mitsubishi MP 286L laptop vs. the Zenith SupersPort 286, and more.

_{Table of Contents from the July 1989 issue of PC World (continued)}

Features

Buyers' Guide: 38 Tools for Great Writing - A look at various tools that enhance word processors to help the writer. Included is software to help make outlines, reference software (dictionaries, thesaurus, etc.), spell and grammar checkers, group writing tools, file conversion utilities and much more.

Second Look: Hard Disk Utilities Revisited - Tools for taking care of you hard drive and diagnosing and fixing issues, including Disk Technical Advanced 3.0, HTest/HFormat 2.0, Mace Gold, Norton Utilities Advanced 4.5, PC Tools Deluxe 5, and SpinRite 1.2.

Departments

In This Issue - An overview of the current issue.

The Help Screen - Questions answered about passwords, using a Tandy 1000SX in Germany, DOS 4.01 on an IBM PS/2 Model 60, using hard drives in old PCs, and more.

Windows Journal - A look at things missing from Windows.

Consumer Watch - Misleading pricing by The New PC Network, complaints about Fast Micro, Toshiba T1200 problems, and more.

_{Back cover of the July 1989 issue of PC World}

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Pronto, The Home Banking System (1984)

Haha, all you newbs who think online banking got started with the Internet era...

Pronto was the name of an online banking system from Chemical Bank. They called it "The Home Banking System". While the ad above from 1984 is promoting software for Apple and IBM PC computers, it actually got its start on Atari computers in 1982. This was considered to be the first personal computer based banking system.

This reminds me vaguely of the first time I saw my friend's Commodore 64. This would have been some time in 1985 and I asked him what this brown boxy looking thing next to the Commodore was. He told me it was something you could use to break into banks and stuff. It was a modem. I'm pretty sure I didn't use a computer to access a bank until my bank started offering online services some time well after the year 2000. I don't remember when it was actually but it wasn't THAT long ago.

While sounding vaguely familiar, I wasn't even sure who Chemical Bank was. Apparently, it was founded in 1823 as the New York Chemical Manufacturing Company by Balthazar P. Melick. Anybody else think that Balthazar is a bad-ass name or is that just me? At the end of 1995 it was the 3rd largest bank in the U.S. At that time, Chemical acquired Chase Manhattan to create the largest financial institution in the U.S. and started using that name.

Anyway, Chemical's initial online banking system wasn't terribly popular. Part of the reason was the high subscription fees. By 1984 it was "only" $12 a month but I believe it was even higher earlier on. This service carried on in one form or another until 1989 when it was discontinued. But in the early 1980s, they were decades ahead of their time.

The ad above is from the June 1984 issue of Family Computing. Check out this New York Times article from December 7th, 1983 on this system.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (January 1990)

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment was my favorite video games magazine at the end of the 1980s and early 1990s. The January 1990 issue includes:

Features

Is It Live, Or Is It...Cyberspace? - This innovative "looking glass" project pushes computer technology in wild directions - and may affect how we play video games in the future.

Going For The Dragons: Wonder Boy III Strategy Guide, Part I - This detailed strategy guide will help you smooth over the rough spots as you take Wonder Boy through his third adventure on the Sega Master System.

Life In War Times: P.O.W. Strategy Guide - Are you feeling claustrophobic? Our maps, hints and tips should help you free yourself from the enemy prison camp and call your troops to pick you up.

Destination Arcadia - This new column debuts with coverage of the 1989 AMOA show in Las Vegas and an in-depth look at Atari's Escape From the Planet of the Robot Monsters.

Chris Crawford: The Designer's Designer - Crawford is not only a designer of high-quality games, but he's also an outspoken critic of the industry. Peek in on a candid conversation with him about his views and visions.

Roundball Software: The Latest In Computerized Basketball - Droves of electronic dribbling simulations have hit the shelves, and our experts open up their archives to show you how it started, what's out now and what to look for.

Puzzling It Out: Games For Thinkers - If you're in the mood for an electronic brainteaser, this survey of mind-boggling games will set you on the right track.

Computer-Game Strategies - In this issue, Frank guides you through Beyond the Black Hole, California Games and Firepower.

Reviews

Video-Game Reviews - Rastan, Guardian Legend, Magic Johnson's Fast Break, Clash at Demon Head, Bad Dudes, Sky Shark, Rescue, Ghouls 'N' Ghosts, and Magic of Scheherezade.

Computer-Game Reviews - Heavy Barrel, Beyond the Black Hole, Dark Side, Gold Rush and Genghis Khan: A Study of Regal Principle.

Departments

Editor's Letter
Reader Mail
News Bits
Easter Egg Hunt
Yea & Nay
Inside Gaming
Advertiser Index
Game Doctor

...and more!

Friday, August 9, 2019

Home Computer Magazine – Volume 5, Number 2

Home Computer Magazine – Volume 5, Number 2

Home Computer Magazine was an early to mid 1980s computer magazine that covered Commodore, Apple, IBM, and Texas Instruments computers though it was born out of a magazine devoted exclusively to the TI-99/4A. Volume 5, issue 2 includes: Features

It Figures! - What does it do? How does it do it? It Figures!
Evacu-Pod - Pilot your Evacu-Pod to rescue miners on 4 other worlds.
Switch 'n' Spell - A spelling aid ... with an entertaining twist.
Laserithmetic - Will math skills and laser blasts keep alien beasts at bay?
Organizer Reports - Flexibility and organization highlight your outline printouts.
Razzle Dazzle - Don't just play with your 99/4A, play it, maestro.
What is CP/M? - Is this operating system headed for rebirth?
Apple Seedlings - Sort your ProDOS catalogs.
Commodore Hornblower - Inside the SID chip.
IBMpressions - Create 3-D surface drawings with BASIC.
Field & Screen: Using a Data Base System - A general introduction to using data bases - correctly.

Product Reviews

The Music of Sound: A Review of 4 Music/Sound Software Series with Keyboards for the C-64 - Creative fun with Commodore's amazing sound capabilities.
Lost in CP/M Land: A Review of the Microsoft Premium Softcard IIe - Are we being too hard on the Softcard?
A CP/M Dawn for the TI-99/4A: A Review of Morning Star's CP/M Package - Finally, the CP/M window is opened to 99/4A Users.
Spy vs Spy - Does the software capture the comic MADness?
AppleWorks - An easy-to-use integrated package reaches the home.
The Ancient Art of War - Here it's okay to pick a fight.
Legacy II for the PCjr - Junior continues to grow in power.
The Factory - Punch, stripe, at rotate objects in your own factory.
Keys to Responsible Driving - Better than a driver's manual?

Departments

Welcome to HCM
Inside/Outside HCM
On Screen
Letters to the Editor
HCM One Liners
HCM Review Criteria
Industry Watch
HCM Product News
Program Typing Guide
Program Listing Contents
DeBugs on Display
Home Computer Tech Notes:

Apple
Commodore
IBM
TI

...and more!

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Home Computer Magazine – Volume 4, Number 5

Home Computer Magazine – Volume 4, Number 5

Home Computer Magazine started life as 99er which exclusively covered the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A. That machine was discontinued and to stay alive 99er expanded coverage to also include IBM, Commodore and Apple machines, for some reason keeping coverage exclusive to those brands. The name also changed to Home Computer Magazine though it wouldn't last very long. Volume 4, Number 5 of Home Computer Magazine includes: Features

Quiz Construction Set - We provide the tools, you make it and take it.
Personal Load Calculator - Find out where your interest lies.
Jumping Ahead With Game Programming - Learn the techniques from the inside out.
Sketch-64 - Let the joystick become your Commodore graphics link.
Simon Sez - New string-related commands from our learned friend.
Razzle Dazzle - See how character manipulation enlivens TI graphics.
Division Tutor - Long division meets the home computer.
Putting The Puzzle All Together: Apple IIc Programming Considerations - Secrets of programming the newest Apple.
Bird Brain - Fly fishing takes on a new meaning.
Slither - This slimy snake silently slithers and sneaks.
LOGO Clones: TI Graphics in a Turtle-Shell - Duplicate turtles do their thing.
Build a LOGO Adventure - Part 1 of a series on creating interactive fiction.

Product Reviews

Race Across the Page: A Review of the Evelyn Wood Dynamic Reader - Speed reading taught in a new medium.
99/4A Auto Spell Check - Proofread your spelling the easy way.
PCjr ColorPaint - A mouse of many colors.
Graphics Magic At Your Fingertips: A Review of Super Sketch - Sketch what you will on this new tablet.
New Keys For Junior: A Review of Three Keyboards for the PCjr - No more chicklets with this Good 'n' Plenty assortment.
The Cricket!: A Sound Synthesizer And More For The Apple - More than just chirp, it sings!
Sailing - Seafaring adventures in the Bermuda Triangle.
Midnite Mason - Ghostly doings in a haunted building.
King's Quest - Help Sir Grahame find the treasure.