20 Great Computer Games You Must Have! May 1988 I The Leading Magazine of Home, Educational, and Recreational Computing - HIT THE ROAD! 6 HOT LAPTOPS Which Portable Fits Your Budget? SUMMER FUN Dozens of Computer Activities for You and Your Kids
PERSONAL FINANCE SPECIAL • Facts & Figures on 76 Super Programs • Expert Reveals What to Look For
PLUS $3.00 More Reviews! $4 .25 Canada New Columns! 05 Latest News on Your Favorite System BUY2, HERE ARE PICKiPREE! YOUR CHOICES We're sure that amongst all these choices. •Amnesia • Instant Pages • B/Graph there's one that you'd like to pick - for free. So, go • Arcticlox • lntellilype • The Consultant ahead - exercise your free choice by visiting your • The Bard's Tale • Legacy ot the Ancients •DEGAS Elite nearest retailer. Buy any two of these best-selling • The Bard's Tale II • Marble Madness • DiskTools Plus Electronic Arts products between April l, 1988 and • Chuck Yeager's AFT • Patton vs. Rommel • Homepak June 30. 1988 - and pick a third one for free! • Deathlord • PHM Pegasus •IS Talk To redeem your free software. simply fill out • Demon Stalkers • Return to Atlantis • Outrageous Pages either your retailer's coupon or the coupon in this • Dragon's Lair • Skate or Die • PaperClip Publisher ad, and mail it with proofs of purchase (see re • Earl Weaver Baseball • Skyfox II • PaperClip with Spellpak quirements on coupon) along with $3 per free • EOS: Earth Orbit Stations • Slarflight • PaperClip Ill product for shipping and handling (U.S. Funds). If • Get Organized • Strike Flee! •Thunder! you can't find a participating retailer. order direct by calling 800-245-4525 throughout the U.S. and • GrandSlam Bridge • Wo~d Tour Golf • nmelink Canada. Just tell us which products you want to • Instant Music buy, and what you want for free. Have your Visa/MC numbers ready. Product availability vanes by computer format. Ask your retailer or call (415) 572-2787 for details. ,------, ANDYDUR PICKiFREE! DEWXECHOICES MAIL·IN COUPON
Choose from our Deluxe CreatMty Series for your purchase products. Or, P'ieose send ITT/ free software to the 1o1owirYJ oddress. I hove redeem tree Deluxe software when you buy arryi two of these Deluxe products: enclosed the reqLired proofs of p.xchose (specified below) and SJ (check or morey order payable to ~trorlc Arts) for sr.ppirg ord OOrdirg. • DeluxeMusic • DeiuxePaint • DeiuxeProductions Construction Set • DeiuxePaint II • DeiuxeVideo Norre ------~ Address--===------Oty ______
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PROOF OF PURCHASE REQUIREMENlS: Serd the tolowirQ ~ 11ems: 1). the doled cash register tape(s) °' soles receipt(s) sho.olilg the two proO..cil yoo DU'· chased. ond 2). find the Command Soovnay Cad 01 the Marual (wham ro Com ELECTRONIC ARTS® mand Soovnay Cord exlm) Inside each pockoge. cut off the pcr1 rurt>er on the bock. ic>Ner portion of the Cad OI McnJci MAIL TO: Electroric Am. BUY 2 PICK t FREE. l'O. Box 7530. San Ma1eo. CA 94403. Orly YOid iequests postmooed by lif 15. 1988 w1 be honored /\bl 3-6 weeks fOI delivery. All products are registered/trademarks of Electronic Arts. L.------..J I I I I I FEATURES Taking It on the Road -· Six of the best battery-powered laptop computers surveyed. Arlan Levitan 31 Kids, Computers, and Summer Vacation Dozens of ideas and activities for a fun-filled computerized summer./Fred D'Jgnazio 22 Our Favorite Games Twenty great computer games you shouldn't be without. Editors 12 The Automatic Shoebox
llilll~~~~!~ Whatfinance to managementlook for in personal software. A Conversation with Andrew ! Tobias.fKeith Ferrell 42 Buyer's Guide Personal Finance Software. Facts and figures about 76 financial packages for your own bottom line. Caroline D. Ha nlon 43
- REVIEWS
Fast Looks 57 Ticket to London Ed Ferrell 59 Border Zone Scott Thomas 60 MAY The Commodore 1280 Cl{{ton Karnes 61 1988 Star Trek: The Rebel Universe Neil Randall 61 VOLUME 10 Robotic Workshop Keith Ferrell 62 NUMBER 5 Airborne Ranger ISSUE 96 Robert Bix by 64 I I I I I COLUMNS Editorial License We 've changed COMPUTE!; here's Dream Zone why, and what to expect in months James V. Trunzo 65 to come./Gregg Keizer 4 Print Magic News & Notes Duncan Teague 70 Computer sales up, Soviet software invades the U.S. , video Gee Bee Air Rally game explosion, and more. Rhett Anderson 78 Editors 6 Quattro Game play J. Blake Lambert 79 Change history with Balance of Power and President Elect. Orson Scott Card 9 Impact Only important software alters the way we think of computers. David D. Thornburg 10 Discoveries Computers in schools-have they lived up to the promises made? David Stanton 86 Levitations Our free-form columnist takes his first bow./Arlan Levitan 94 Letters Tell us what you think. Editors 11 New Products! • New software, new hardware. COMPUTE! SPECIFIC Editors ______37
MS-DOS Clifton Karnes 39 64 & 128 Neil Randall 40 Apple II Gregg Keizer 41 Amiga Rhett Anderson 51 Macintosh Sharon Zardetto Aker 52 Atari ST David Plotkin 54 Hints & Tips Editors 55
Cover illustration: Lee Noel, Jr.
COMPUTE! The Leading Magazine of Home, Educational, and Recreational Computing (USPS: 537250) is published monthly by COMPUTE! Publications. Inc .. 825 7th Ave.. New YO e've changed. We're doubling the number ofour prod When you flip through the pages uct reviews, adding hardware evaluations on W ofthis issue, the first thing you'll a regular basis, and changing the focus of notice is a new, clean layout and design. those reviews to give you solid information Thanks to the expert guidance ofour art di about the software that you want to buy, not rector, Janice Fary, the magazine is easier to the software we want to hype. We'll review read, easier to use, easier to digest. COM programs like Quauro because many ofyou PUTE!'s contemporary look reflects, we work in the home, Ticket to London because think, our philosophy of providing the most you and your children want to learn with the We Changed up-to-date information about computers computer, and GeeBee Air Rally because and how to put that information to use. everyone likes to have fun. Because We Which brings us to an even more fun COMPUTE! has always been known for damental difference. Over the last decade, its recognized columnists, and we're not go Saw You COMPUTE! has published the highest qual ing to change that. "Gameplay," our new ity software available in print form. With entertainment column, is written by Orson this issue, however, COMPUTE! magazine Scott Card, an award-winning science-fiction Changing. It's begins a new era, one that doesn't include writer who has a keen eye for what makes or type-in programs. breaks a game. We're also debuting "Dis That Simple. As computers and software have grown coveries," David Stanton's educational more powerful, we've realized it's not possi computing column and "Levitations," our ble to offer top quality type-in programs for free-form column that reports on almost all machines. And we also realize that you're anything connected with personal computers less inclined to type in those programs. and their users. And though we've changed You're more interested in hands-on fea the name ofhis column, we're keeping David tures, dependable and forthright product re Thornburg's refreshing look into both the views, and insightful columns. We've near and the distant future ofcomputers. changed because we saw you changing. It's Even though we no longer carry type-in that simple. After all , our job is to give you software specific to each kind ofcomputer, the kind ofinformation you wa nt. we do give you computer-specific infor We believe that the new COMPUTE! mation in the new COMPUTE! Specific de will make the time you spend on your com partment. Ifyou own an Amiga, Apple II. puter more interesting, more worthwhile, Atari ST, Commodore 64 or 128, IBM PC and more productive. And we think that the or compatible, or Macintosh personal com package we've put together does that better puter, you'll find this new section an invalu than any other consumer computer magazine. able fount ofproduct information, news, COMPUTE/will include more feature and application hints and tips. Herc you'll articles, written by authors old and new to read about everything from an IBM PC virus the magazine-practical features that dem to Commodore 64 emulators for the Amiga. onstrate the power of personal computers, Rounding out the magazine are such that show you how you can use the machine things as "News & Notes," full of industry to educate, entertain, produce, and process. news-the serious and the humorous-that Well-written articles show vou how to use appeals to anyone who owns a computer: your computer, not how one person far re letters to the editor; technical and program moved from your experience may use it. ming hints and tips: and a stronger new This issue, we're showing you a bit ofevery products listing. thing-a preview ofwhat to expect from We like what we're offering, and we COMPUTE! features. Hardware guru Arlan hope you do, too. Ifyo u like using your per Levitan looks at laptops; educational com sonal computer, want to know more about puting expert Fred D'lgnazio shows how computers and how to put them to work summertime can be fun with a computer: (and play!), then you've got the right maga and our games-crazed staff picks its 20 fa zine in your hands. Stay with us. and stay on vorite computer diversions. this unique road ofdiscovery as we see what There will be a complete buyer's guide lies ahead. in each issue to help you find, and then buy, the right software for your computer. This month. for instance, we offer a comprehen sive listing of personal finance packages. Next month, flight simulators. The month after that sports games. And so on. Editor 4 C OMP U TE! E "'Y Wodting• • ' line ollllgh qwllity,low cost Jl"'O"tl prodoctmty pmgr.uru designed for the person who wants to spend time doing useful work, not struggling with complex computer commands and long manuals. Each F.asy Working product is carefully designed to work alone or in combination with otber members of the F.asy Working fumily. On-screen menus provide "at-a-glance"sununaries of the features of tbe program. The Writer,TI1e Ftler,and The Planner fully When you select afeature from the menu bar, a menu drops down to show all ofthe integrate with each other. available options. Every command available is displayed in the drop-Oown menu. You will find that you will spend less time getting to know the program and more time on your projects.And since each member of the Easy Working fumily uses the same command structure,once you learn how to use one, you'll find ahead start on learning to use the other cwo. But don't be fooled Easy doesn't mean incomplete. Easy Working produets are full-featured. Available at fine software dealers or for ~Working '" : The Writer"' : orders only call: Complete word proces.5ing features allow you to create your letters and reports and arrange them to suit your needs,includes l00,000 word spellchecker. Editing functions include insert, delete, cut, paste, and copy. 1-800-826-0706 ~Working'": The Filer'": Othm Gtll: ( C> 1- )-t9+ 1200 Amulti-purpose program which simplifies the storage, selectiori, and reporting of information. Maintain or create mailing list~ , inventories, club memberships,and other types ofinformation. ~Working'": The Planner'": The Planner provides you wid1 all of the professional feanrres ofan electronic spread· Apple II+ , Ile,Ile $9.95 sheet Ex1ensive mathematical operations easily create your spreadsheet for budgeting, Commodore 64/128 $9.95 tax calculation, expense reports,financial statements,and other applications. IBMJP(JAT $9.95 SPIYIYAKER • Spinnaker Software,Corp.. One Kendall Square,Cambridge, MA 02139 news¬es No Crash in Computers 90,000 Even though the stock market took the big dive last October 80,000 19, even though many analysts 70,000 are calling for a slowdown in 60,000 the economy (or worse, a pos sible recession, or for the real 50,000 doom-sayers, a depression), 40,000 personal computer hardware 30,000 and software sales are expected 20,000 to remain strong and grow stronger. 10,000 Almost everyone is ex pecting 1988 to be a good year. Microsoft, the number one eOAfPf/TER 8ALE8 software publisher, predicts that sales of personal comput ers will rise 26 percent in their current fiscal year (July 1987 ware sales, says the Electronic Game of Glasnost, Comrade? to June 1988). Since Microsoft Industries Association, will be The first entertainment soft screen toward the bottom. The is the supplier of MS-DOS, the better this year than last. ware designed in the Soviet player rotates and flips the operating system for IBM PCs Home computer sales will be Union is now available in the pieces as they descend in order and compatibles, it should up 12'/i percent, while software U.S. for IBM and Commodore to form complete horizontal have a good idea of sales sales should jump 25 percent, 64 computers. Called Tetris, rows where they land-with strength. says the Association. the game is a cross between no blank spaces. Apple Computer also secs But it's difficult to explain arcade-style action and strate Tetris reached the West a year ofgrowth. John Sculley, why businesses and consumers gy. Terris was designed by 30 after the head of Academy Soft Apple's chairman and CEO, are still going after big-ticket year-old Alexi Paszitnov, a sent a copy of the program to a recently told a group of ana items like computers. One rea Hungarian programming lysts that his company foresees son may be that several com company, Novotrade, an increase of 30 percent in puter companies-Apple and which has produced soft personal computer sales dol IBM in particular-are com ware for British and lars this year. Obviously, Ap ing offa year in which they in American publishers ple hopes a big part of that troduced new and more for the past five years. increase is spent on Macintosh powerful models that have Spectrum HoloBytc computers. caught everyone's eyes. Price is making it a corner Fourth-quarter sales for cutting is another possible con stone of the company's both Apple and personal com tributor, especially in the IBM new International Series puter powerhouse IBM compatiblc market, where ofentertainment software. showed that lots ofpeople and clone manufacturers continue For the American businesses paid little attention to offer more machine for less Tetrls begins the U.S.S.R.'s quest version of Tetris, a to the market's crash. IBM's fi and less money. Home com for software dominance. Spectrum HoloBytc nal quarter was 6.3 percent puter sales may be up because development team re better than last year's, while many people will have a bit researcher at the U.S.S.R. wrote the program. incorporating Apple's was a whopping 57 more money this year, since Academy ofScientists (Acade colorful background scenes repre percent higher. the tax cuts take effect. And my Soft); it was programmed by senting Gorky Park, Red Square. At the consumer end of some businesses may see addi 18-year-old Vagim Gerasimov. and other Soviet views. things, retail giant Sears. tional personal computers as a a student ofcomputer informat The IBM version of the Roebuck, & Co. projects a I 0 way to make their operations ics at Moscow University. game has a suggested retail price percent growth in its computer more productive, an impor The premise of the game of$34.95, while the Commo sales. That's double the in tant consideration ifthere is a is deceptively simple: Four dore 64 version is priced at crease in 1987. And home down tum in the economy. squares, in various configura $24.95. computer hardware and soft - Gregg Keizer tions. drop from the top of the - Selby Bateman 6 COMPUTE ! PRESENTING TECHNOLOGY THAT LETS YOU PROGRAM YOUR OWN DESTINY. Electronics and computer equipment can be most intimidating circuitry in existence anywhere. state-of-the-art today. And ready for the garbage If you attend college, we'll pick up 75% of can tomorrow. your tuition. You can even earn an associate degree Demand for technology is changing that fast. from the Community College of the Air Force. And the people who can stay on top of it can What does all that mean? write their own ticket in this world. It means theres no telling where technology Thats the beauty of the Air Force. is going in the future. We can put you to work with technology that But with Air Force training, you've always got you may not read about in magazines for years. a future to look forward to. For more information, We can teach you how to make sense of the call an Air Force recruiter at 1-800-423-USAE __ _...... -...... ~.....-----,Wllll'!-...=---~--> ...... ~...... ~~==~~::--,...,p...- ;;' -=- ~ -:.-:::--- ~ Computer Games VCR expectations on the re Go VCR; Teenage sults of a survey the company Boys Hit the Couch recen tly conducted which said that the majority of boys be It's a first. The popular Califor tween 12 and 18-typicall y the nia Games from Epyx has been group most taken with com transformed into a VCR game puter actio n entertainment by the company's new Con software-would rather watch sumer Electronics Division. TV than play sports. VCR California Games is one The survey of 1,000 teen of three new VCR ga me ven age boys may not be an accu tures being tried by Epyx. a rate depiction of American teen company best known for its en behavior, but it makes in terest tertainment computer soflware. ing reading nonetheless. Slanted Marrying elements of vid California Games is one of three VCR games that Epyx is towa rd electronic entertai n eo and board ga meplay. VCR hoping will keep you in front of the tube, not the computer. ment (75 percent said they Cali/orn ia Games begins wi th bought co mputer games, while players who are out of money places on the boa rd game. huge VCR audience. which in less than 20 percent of Ameri but are in a race to reac h San pl ayers turn on th e VCR and cludes far more households ca n households own a co m Diego from San Francisco. To watch the action as surfers than the home computer mar puter). the survey reported a make enough money for gas wipe out. skateboarders skate ketplace. Other games planned stunning 35 perce nt relaxed by and car repai rs. contestan ts or die. and BM X bikers fl y for release are VCR Go(( and wa tching TV. Play ing sports take to the surfboa rd . skate through the air. Play Ac1io11 VCR Foo1ba/I. A was a dista nt second at 18 per board. sailboard. and other to Patterned after the hit second line ofgames uses au cent. while using a co mpu ter ta ll y Californian devices. computer game of the same dio tapes for play-by-pl ay ca me in third at 13 percent. hoping for big prize money name, VCR California Games high lights. - Gregg Keizer and instant fa me. At various obviously hopes to tap into the Epyx may be basi ng its ro1/li1111td on page 87 ORSON SCOTT CARD istory is the toughest game to create work. The strongest forces are completely on the computer. By comparison, out of the players' control. H football is pretty easy to get right. Is the national morale high or low? Is Eleven guys per team, four downs to get ten the economy booming or collapsing? Candi yards. dates ultimately can't overcome such pow But history-the rules keep changing. erful forces. The problem with history is it only hap But that's the way it works in the real pens once. We can never go back and run it world. The game is only a contest of skill over again to see what would happen with a and judgment when you set it up to be pret Do You Want few changes. What if Nixon had won in ty even-a middling economy, no incum 1960, or Humphrey in 1968? What ifJerry bent, two moderates. to Change the Brown had been the Democratic nominee in I found few false notes in President 1976, or Gary Hart in 1984? Elect-and their guesses about 1988 have World? Two Nor can we ever know how close to held up pretty well so far. World War III we really were in 1952 or I only wish they had spent as much Games Let 1962. Did Truman save us from a hideous effort on the design ofthe game. The worst war with China, or needlessly surrender half annoyances? The game won't let you change of Korea to a totalitarian state? Did our safety your mind about anything once a choice is You Try. really depend on Kennedy staring down the made; the map that shows how different Russians over Cuban missiles in 1962? states are leaning isn't on the screen when Impossible to know. And yet two recent you have to make campaign decisions. computer games, President Elect (Strategic Compare President Elect with a beauti Simulations; 1988 edition) and Balance of fully designed game like Balance ofPower, Power (Mindscape), dare to take on exactly though, and yo u begin to realize that while those questions. bad design can be annoying, bad hi story President Elect lets you replay every makes a game unplayable. election since 1960. You may choose from Balance ofPower is a Risk-like game all the candidates in each ofthose elections. about the contest between the U.S. and the Playing against the computer or a human Soviet Union for world domination. You opponent, you can try to outwit history. give aid here, send a few troops there-al See if you can manage Humphrey's ways with the possibility ofnuclear war campaign in 1968 better than he did. Or try looming over you like a shadow. a fantasy election: Robert Kennedy against Unfortunately. you very quickly realize Richard Nixon in 1968, for instance, or that the shadow is really Chris Crawford, something really strange, like John Glenn leaning over your shoulder and bullying you against Ronald Reagan in 1972, with Jesse into playing the game his way. He has a Jackson running a third-party campaign. sweet delusion that as long as the Un ited The toughest test ofall? Out-guess the States is very nice and doesn't do anything future. The 1988 edition of President Elect to offend them, the Russians will all go offers all ofthis year's candidates-along home. And if you don't play that way, why, with a few who. played coy too long or he'll stop the game with a nasty remark backed out early. By evaluating candidates' about how the world was just destroyed by personal strengths and weaknesses, and their nuclear war. positions on various issues, the gamewrights The trouble is, since we've never had a let you hold your own test elections. nuclear war, there's no way Crawford can How would Gore do against Bush, if possibly know what would cause one. And the economy is soft and public morale is there are a lot ofexperts who claim that the down? What about Gephardt against Dole? Soviets seem to behave a lot nicer when we Cuomo against Kirkpatrick? You can play stand up to them than when we disarm. them all. Maybe Crawford is right. But then, may And, in one sense, the simulation be he isn't. And in the meantime, he's so sure works. I found myself following the game's he's right that Balance ofPower isn't a game, poll results with the same kind ofinterest I it's propaganda. Imagine what President Elect feel about the real thing. Election day, with would be like ifRepublicans always won, and the returns trickling in, was almost as tense you'll know why Balance qfPower fails. as the real thing. Too bad, because Crawford is the best But what really impressed me about designer of simulation games I've seen. But President Elect was its faithfulness to the when it comes to history, you just can't de way presidential politics really seem to sign a good game by grinding an ax. [!] MAY 1988 9 ccording to legend, the Roman god ers. Someone called it an electronic black Janus opened the door to each new board; someone else suggested calculator ar A year. He is represented with two ray. There was no clearly understandable heads because every door looks both ways. metaphor that captured the essence of this I was thinking about Janus the other day product until someone noted that the when I realized that there are two aspects to spreadsheet, known to accountants, was our use of personal computers. We use com close enough to convey at least one of the puters both to look backward to our past way program's applicati ons. ofdoing things, and to look forward to new Another example ofa new computer Only Software ways of working. learning, and playing. Each application came in 1984 with the introduc time we use a computer, we look through tion of Filevision for the Macintosh. This That Creates time's door in one direction or the other. program was the first commercial hypertext My major personal computer applica database-although this term was unknown New tion is word processi ng. When I use a word to most computer owners at .the time. I re processor I'm looking backward, using the member watching a computer salesman try computer to accomplish tasks that are per in vain to ex plain what Filevision did. He Metaphors Can formed by older technologies-typewriters. called it a combination ofa graphics pro typesetting equipment, and so on. Ofcourse gram (old metaphor) with a database (old Change the the computer has advantages over these, or I metaphor). Now that Apple has released wo uldn't use it. As writing tools, computers HyperCard, the public's awareness of hyper Way We Use do the job much better than these older media is high enough to support products of tools. What the computer lacks in novelty, it this type. more than makes up for in efficiency. It takes a brave soul to be among the Computers Other backward-looking applications first to adopt a new technology, even though are abundant: Graphics programs. account pioneers often end up at a tremendous ad ing packages, and music-transcription soft vantage over their more conservati ve peers. ware are all examples of ways computers I've often started working with a new class can be used to look back through time's of software only to find applications for it door to perform tasks that we can relate to that were not foreseen by the original devel in numerous concrete ways. opers. The problem with bei ng innovative is The concrete connection between some that new applications rarely sell well enough computer applications and the types of tasks to become commercial successes in their we used to perform without computers firs t year. Many small , innovati ve compa makes this technology easy to justify and ap nies don't have the resources to wai t until ply. When we're told about a new word pro the world understands thei r new product. cessor, it's easy to generate a set ofcriteria We'll always use computers to perform by which to judge the program before we old tasks, but it's important to realize that even take it out of the box. the advantages of using computers in this When computers are bei ng used to per wa y are incremental. We may not like living form tasks that are new to us, we have no wi thout a word processor, but most of us frame ofreference. How would you establish could use a typewriter again if we had to. the criteria for judging the world's first inter Completely new applications for com active adventure ga me, for example. or a puters, however. have the capacity to allow mouse-driven musical instrument? major modifications in how we wo rk, learn, Computer applications that look forwa rd and play. It's through the creation of new are exciting, but they provide special chal computational metaphors (almost all of lenges to users and software developers alike. which are created by small companies) that The major problem from the develop computer technology will influence our li ves er's point of view is marketing. How can in the coming years. you convey the usefulness ofa program that Computers are like Janus-they look does something no one has seen before? The forward and backward in time. If you ex pect most common approach is to ex press the the computer to be a power tool in yo ur life, program's function with a metaphor. Some be sure that some ofyour programs look for times this wo rks and sometimes it doesn't. ward, not backward. El I remember sitting in a meeting during the late 1970s discussing a forthcoming product called VisiCa /c. No one had any David Thornburg welcomes letters from readers idea ofhow to describe the product, the first and can be reached at P.O. Box 1317, Los Altos , electronic spreadsheet, to potential custom California 94023. 10 C 0 M P U T E COMPUTE! TM L.odlng Moga;drM Of Mom., lducatlonol, And Re-c r-atlonal Computing Editor Gregg Keizer Art Director Janice R. Fary Features Editor Ke ith Ferrell Assistant Editors Rhett Anderson Clifton Karnes Assistant Fea tures Editor Tom Netsel Buye(s Guide Coordinat or Caroline Hanlon Ed1tonal Assistant Mickey McLean Copy Editors Karen Slepak Lori Sonoski Tammie Taylor Karen Uhlendorl Sta fl Contributors Rob Bixby William Chin Todd Heimarck David Hensley Computer Drama Computing for the Dale McBane Randy Thompson I beli eve that the computer software Handicapped Lynne Weatherman and hardwa re industries should address Contributing Editor s Arlen Levitan r am currently working with severe and David Thornburg two things: a flexible word processing profound mentally and physically ART DEPARTMENT program which permits easy and quick handicapped adults. I am using a Com As sociate Art Director Lee Noel, Jr. formatting ofscripts and plays, and a modore 64 and a Commodore 128. The Mechanical Artists Scotty Biiiings Robin Case full 60-column screen so we will be able computer is used to teach skills such as to see an entire page wi thout incessant PRODUCTION attending and matching concepts. DEPARTMENT scrolling. I would be interested in shari ng Production Director Irma Swain Considering how much software Assistant Production Manager De Potter ideas, problems, concerns, and pro Typesetting Carole Dunton and hardware comes out of California, I grams with others who have written am surprised that nobody has done just programs, or are using computers as a CDMPUTEI PUBLICATIONS this for T V and movie script writing. teaching aid , for mentall y handicapped Group Vice·Pres1dent. indi viduals. Publisher/Edltorial Director William Tynan Clem ent G. Scerback Managing Editor Kathleen Martinek Sem inole, Florida Senior Editor Lance Elko Robert D. Gunn Edi torial Operations Director Tony Roberts 1837 Carlyle Editor. COMPUTE! Books Stephen Levy Beatrice, NE 683 IO Executive Assistant Sybil Agee More on CD-ROM Senior Administrat ive Assistant Julia Fleming I was horrified to read Phil Nelson's Administrative Stal! An ita Armfield Iris Brooks comment in the February COM PUTE! The British Invasion that " in the meantime, there are exactly I read your magazine often, though two CD-ROM applications for m i ABC CONSUMER sometimes I can't get it. I am a British MAGAZINES cros-the American Heritage encyclo reader who li ves abroad. Senior Vice- Presiden t Mere Reisch Senior Vice-Pres iden t. pedia and Microso ft Bookshe((-both This letter concerns the U.S. game Advertising Richard J. Marino fo r the IBM PC. " market. The first thing I would like to Vice·Presklent. Operations Lucian A. Parziale First. there are more than two ap say is that the games are appalling Vice-Pres ident. Finance Richard Willis plications. The August 1987 issue of Vice-President. Production Ilene Berson-Weiner there. In my opinion, the U.S. has only CD-ROM Revieiv listed 100 titles. fi ve good game producers: Epyx, Ac CIRCULATION Some may be vaporware, and some are DEPARTMENT cess, Accolade, SSI , and MicroProse. Vice .President Robert I. Gursha not yet available, but there are certainly This brings me to my nex t point. Subscription Statl Ora Blackmen-DeBrown more than two ava il able. As an ex Mitch Frank Your reviewers are missing something. Tom Stater ample, fo r librarians there are Books in It see ms that the best games that U.S. James J. Smith Print, Ulrich 's International Periodicals Customer Serv ice Kay Harris companies are selling are from the U.K. Single Copy Sa les A. Heather Wood Directorv. and R eader's Guide to Peri I've had many of the " new games" that odical Literature. rn addition, one us are being advenised now for si x One of the t\BC I'LBUSHING C Companies er's group has a disc that contains more months. Your reviewers hardly ever President Robert G Burton th an 600 fl oppies wonh of public do mention this fac t. t330 Avenue ot the Amencas main softwa re, and last spring I played New York . NY t 0019 Great Britain is also way ahead in with ERIC (an index to educational arcade conversions. I'm sure that many ADVERTISING OFFICES material) and a medical index. New York: ABC Consumer Magazines. Inc . 825 Seventh Ave.. New people have heard ofRun, Clysor, and York, NY 10019. Tel 12 12) 265·8360 Peter T Johnsmeyer, Group Second, I beli eve that Nelson The Last Mission. These games are al Adver bsing Director. Bernard J Theobald, Jr . Advcnrslng Director Gree nsboro: COM PUTE• Pubhca1ions . Suite 200. 324 We st Wendover meant th e G rolier Americana Encyclo ready being conven ed to home com Ave.. Greensboro. NC 27406 Toi (919) 275-9809, Ka1n1oon Ingram. pedia. Both may be available, but I've AdvertJs!ng Production Coo1d1na!Of puter games. New England & Mld·AUantlc: Barnard J. Thoot>ald. Jr. (2 12) 315- 1665; only seen the Grolier one. In summary, l'll say that if you Peter Haray (6 17) 681-9000. Third, ofcourse they are only Midwest & Southwest Jerry Thompson , Luelle Denrns (312) 726-60J7 wa nt good games, go to the U.K. (Chocago]: 1713) 73 1-2605 [Texas]: (303) 595.9299 {Co/Orado): (41 5) available for the IBM PC. Most of the 348-8222 (CahforniaJ A. Blake Da vies West Northwest & British C°'umbla: Jerry Thompson , Lucille Oemis material is business-oriented. This isn't (415) :l M A Y l 9 8 8 11 . .. ..>..- I • ( • -v ~--"· )--~( t-~~.....--::~ ""2' The best burger in town. The best plumber around. Everyone likes to make ''Best of'' lists. The editors at COMPUTE! are no exception. Here's our first Best list-20 computer games no one should be without. hink back to the first program you bought for your computer. Chances are it was a game. Maybe it was a rock-'n'-rollin' arcade game that nearly tore your joystick apart. Or perhaps it Twas a thought-provoking simulation that included a man ual three inches thick and three pounds heavy. Whatever its form, it was strictly entertainment. Personal computers may be terrific number crunch ers, word processors, drawing tools, and file organizers. but they're also premiere game players and presenters. Thousands ofgames can only be played wi th a computer. Without computers, for instance, there would have been Our criterion for selecting these 20 games was sim no Pong. no Pac-Man, no Space illvaders. Simply put, ple-ifit's listed, we think it's a great game. But what there would have been less fun in the world. makes a game great? .Lots of things, really. but they in Computers are fun. We can't forget that. lfwe do. we clude playability (how well does it play?), depth of play run the risk offorfeiting our machines to the dry, the dull, (how long can you play before you get bored?), graphics and the dreary. and animation (how good does it look?), game concept (is it unusual, out of the ordinary?), and popularity (if tens of thousands pl ay the game. it must be good). Answer yes to Our Favorites, Maybe Yours these questions, and you've got yourself a game worth With some discussion, some debate, and some shouting, playing. we picked 20 great computer games, games that are a step All these games, with one exception, are available. above superior. Almost everyone around here is a com Look for them in local software stores or from mail order puter game player (sometimes to the detriment ofwork). companies, or contact the publisher directly. You may be Most of us play games on a wide variety ofcomputers. We able to find the out-of-print game by scanning user group play games on everything from the venerable Commodore newsletter classified ads. talking to other computer users. 64 and Apple Ile to the state-of-the-art Amiga, Macintosh. or going to small computer fairs and shows. Atari ST. and 386 PC. We play on IBM PCs, PC-compati We hope our picks confirm your suspicions, that you bles. and clones. Name a personal computer that has had agree with our 20 choices. And ifyou discover a new game entertainment software and we've played on it. here. so much the better. It means we've done our job. 12 C 0 M P U T E ! Perhaps more important is the game's sheer exuber v.tl ance. It's nice to know that, via the computer, there's a ~. M California where the skies are always blue, the surf perpet ually gnarly, and the competition totally tubular. · ~~ .: IE ... ..~ (5 -Keith Ferrell i 1 - Chessmaster 2000 -·~;.!· E- ?;:: - ...>... :-d:- •1•• -L I Chessmaster 2000 provides a challenging chess opponent . .. ~ - ~ ....:±.: ~ for owners ofalmost every personal computer. Opening up a whole new genre ofchess programs, Chess master 2000 offers realistic graphics and optional sound. which It's possible, ofcourse, that we've left out a few of on the Amiga and Atari ST even includes speech. View _vour favorites. Let us know if we have. Tell us which the board in two or three dimensions as you challenge its games you think should be in the Top 20. Write us- Fa 12 levels of play and three different play styles: Coffee vorite Garnes, COMPUTE! Magazine, 324 W. Wendover house, somewhat random in its strategy; Normal, provid Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27408- and tell us ing good. solid moves; and the aptly named Best Move. we're on target or way off base. It's your chance to make To augment its playing abilities, Chessmaster 2000 con the next "Best of' list. tains 7100 openings and a library of I 00 classic games. With some serious concentration and a strong end game, Balance of Power maybe you can force Chessmaster to say, I am checkmat ed. you win. Go eyeball to eyeball with the Soviets (or with the Ameri cans) and see who blinks first. Mindscape's Balance of - Randy Thompson Power, the game that made Chris Crawford famous, is an impressive recreation ofthe world's geopolitical landscape F-15 Strike Eagle as viewed from one of the two superpowers. You desper Vicarious thrills are a big part ofcomputer games, and F ately try to avoid nuclear conflagration as you advance 15 Strike Eagle from MicroProse provides plenty to every your own ideology. With tools like money, guns, troops, budding jet jockey. Arcade in its feel. this isn't a touchy treaties, diplomatic pressure, and dirty tricks, you coax simulator where twitching sends you into a spin. Handle third world nations to you r side. All the while you're put the F-15 as roughly as you want, and most times it will ting the pressure on the Soviets and their clients. Crisis come through. Real-life management is the key to winning. Back down at the scenarios give you oppo wrong time and you'll lose the game. Call one too many nents from Lybia, Syria, bluffs and you'll see the chilling message You have ign ited a nuclear war. and Iran. Use your heat seeking and radar-ranging -Gregg Kei:::er missiles, cannons, and electronic jamming gear Beach-Head to successfully out-duel Travel by land and sea, battling the opposition in a quest enemy jet fighters. Climb, to locate and conquer the enemy fortress of Kuhn-Lin. roll, dive, jink, then hit Beach-Head, a popular Access release of old. was a pio the afterburners to get neer for computer combat action games. It was one of the :: : : back to base. Other night first to combine multiple screens of arcade-style battle simulators teach yo u how with the rudiments ofstrategic planning. In the fast-action .. to fly or land on a carrier, -er· + but only F-15 Strike Ea scenes, you find yourself in the heat of battle, facing ships, r aircraft, and tanks head-on. To locate the fortress, yo u gle makes jet fighter com must advance through three screens, employing a variety bat nerve-wracking and of tactics in each. Good graphics and sound contribute to fun at the same time. the game's play. Beach-Head spawned many imitators. as -Gregg Keizer well as a popular sequel. Few, however, ever matched the excitement generated by this classic original. - David Hensley, Jr. Flight Simulator The desire to fly seems innate, and that's what attracts California Games thousands of people to try their hands at Flight Simulator Surfs up! And so is the level ofexcitement in California and its grown-up companion, Flight Simulator ll. By far Games, the best ofEpyx's Games series. This time, in the most popular versions, they put you in the pilot's seat stead ofcompeting for Olympic gold and glory, players are ofa single-engine aircraft with a very accurate array of challenged to tackle a variety ofclassic West Coast sports: controls and instruments. To heighten the realism, you're surfing, fl ying disc toss, skateboarding, BMX bicycles, presented with a simulated 3-D cockpit view in any direc footbag, and roller skating. Each event is beautifully ren tion. You can actually fly over real-world scenery-circle dered, with terrific animation and some of the smoothest the Empire State Building or barnstorm the Golden Gate joystick control seen. Game play is easy at first, yet satisfy Bridge. Most important, Flight Simulator fuses the action ingly difficult to master. Repeat playability is high. elements ofarcade-style games, the exploration aspects of M A Y 1 9 8 8 13 These Are a Few of Favorite Games We asked a handful of soft Ezra Sidran, developer, author of Universal Military Simulator (Firebird) ware publishers and develop and Designasaurus (DesignWare/ ers to give us their favorite Brittannica) games-the ones they and Sidran is unequivocal in his choice of fa vorites: " Anything written by Sid Meier their companies weren't con and Ed Bever. Crusade in Europe is a nected with. Here are their good example, as is Silent Service (which Sid did alone)." What makes their games stand out? "The documentation is picks. ... exceptional," Sidran says. " Playability is superb, but it's the docu mentation that gives you a perspective you just don't find in many computer games ... Trip Hawkins, president, Electronic Arts Tom Snyder, head of Torn Snyder " My first major computer gaming expe Productions, creator of lnfocornics rience was with Colossal Cave, the origi nal adventure game. I nearly finished [the Snyder recalls a season spent playing game]. I really liked it, but the novelty Castle Wolfenstein in concert with a friend. wore oH, and I haven't liked any text ad "I enjoyed the interaction with another ventures since." player," he says. "One of us worked the What took the place of text games in his life? " I'm addicted to arms; the other, legs. We played for weeks sports games," Hawkins admits. " I programmed a football game in a row-it was, in many ways, the ultimate social experience. back in 1973 and used it to simulate the 197 4 SuperBowl. In my " Wolfenstein was a really elegant game. At first I disliked the simulation, Miami beat Minnesota 23-6; in real life it was 24-7." violence, but once I got past that, I couldn't stop. At one point we His favorites? " An old-time favorite was Sneakers, by Mark found ourselves whispering to each other so the Germans Turmell. It' s one of the few action games I ever mastered. I liked wouldn't overhear us." the arcade game, Battle Zone, but I wasn't any good at it. I also got pretty hooked on Marble Madness and Gauntlet: I think the digitized sound ettects put them over the top for me." Roberta Williams cofounder of Sierra On-Line, and author of Mixed-Up Mother Goose and the King's Quest series of animated Sid Meier, vice-president of product adventure games design at MicroProse, and developer of Pirates! and F-15 Strike Eagle " I like lnfocom's games," Williams says. " I write adventure games. so I'm drawn to " I like games that are simple," says that genre. Beyond Zork is a good one. I Meier. " Not games that are trivial, but started playing the first two (Zorks) but never finished. I just don't also not games that require you to invest ever have time." a week or relearn something. I like games Still, she keeps coming back to text adventure games. " I start that you can just pick up, sit down in front of, and get going." ed playing Trinity a few months ago. I said, 'For once I'm really go An example? " The Sentry from Firebird is one I enjoy. It's a ing to take some time and get through it'-and I didn't. After a great diversion. You have to use your brain and think. It's not a while I said, 'I just don't have the time."' real joystick-shaking game, and it's not really an action-oriented Williams enjoyed the time she spent with Trinity, noting, " I game, but it's just fun to sit down with and puzzle through for a thought it was rather hard, but only because I didn't really have the while. It's a game that kind of takes your mind off whatever you time to put into it and think about it. But I thought it was very well want your mind taken oH of. That's why I like it. It's unusual and done." it's hard to describe." -Keith Ferrell 14 C 0 M P U T E ! adventure games, and the intel one of this game's guilty plea lectual challenges offlight and sures is to send yo ur character navigation to create an expe hurtling repeatedly into the rience that is uniquely educa abyss just for the sound ef tional, nonviolent, and fun. fects. Squat robots bar your -Tom R. Ha(fhi/I way at every step, sending electrical charges through your Gettysburg- character if you make a misstep. The Turning Point You can have hours and Reliving history is a prime in hours of fun just running gredient in all computer war amuck within the under games. The best ones offer an ground passages, jumping ro attention to historical detail bots, riding the elevators, and and the opportunity to make California Games solving memory teasers. But tactical or strategic decisions. you're on a deadline, trying to SSI's Geuysburg-The Turning Point provides all this and prevent a nuclear catastrophe. Your character runs more as the bloody days ofAmerica's greatest battle are smoothly along, his footfalls echoing nicely in the corri brought to life on your screen. Assume command ofeither dors, while the deranged doctor repeatedly calls out to his the Union or Confederate forces as the computer com robots: Destroy him, my robots! mands the opposition, or play a two-player game with a -Selby Bateman friend while the computer acts as the referee. As you wage battle in any of the four included scenar Mean 18 ios, the program supplies realistic situations as fatigue and supply problems become factors in the battle. Move units, Experience the thrill of playing the world's most famous fire at the enemy, and assult defended positions on the re golf courses while in the comfort of your own home. Mean created battlefield. 18, a golf simulation game from Accolade, utilizes suberb Superior war games like Gettysburg let yo u see what graphics and digitized sound to create a realistic golfing happened, and why, in conflicts that changed the face of experience. Nearly every aspect ofthe game comes into America. play, from club selection to green breaks. Plenty of prac tice and perseverance are necessary to master Mean 18, a -George Miller touch of realism that helped send this sports game onto the best-seller charts. Once you're familar with the courses Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy provided, you can design your own with the feature packed course architect or buy packaged disks with more You wake up with a raging headache, so you get out of actual courses. Chances are, after experiencing Mean 18, bed, take an aspirin, and get dressed. But a bulldozer is you may find yourself hooking and slicing your way about to demolish your house. If you survive, you soon around the computer links more often than your favorite discover that the earth is blocking the planned route ofan local course. intergalactic bypass and will be destroyed in a matter of minutes. Luckily, you get your hands on 'The Hitchhik -David Hensley, Jr. er's Guide to the Galaxy," a sort ofelectronic encyclope dia that lets you escape. You're on your way to M.U.L.E. intergalactic adventures with melancholy robots and Cross a robot and a factory, and you get a stubborn critter aliens who create fatally poor poetry. called a MULE. In this classic game from Electronic Arts, What distinguishes Hitchhiker's Guide from run-of you and three others-under the control ofother humans the-mill adventure games is its sense ofhumor. Douglas or the computer-play planetary colonists. Land is regu Adams, author of the original book series, collaborated larly granted to the colonists, or you may bid for it. You closely with lnfocom's programmers. His keen and literate then buy MULEs and outfit them to produce electricity to wit make this game a joy. run the MULEs, food for the colonists, smithore to build -Todd Heimarck more MULES, or crystite (a precious metal with a wi ldly nuctuating value). After installing the MULE on the land, you take the product to market. At the same time that Impossible Mission you're selflessly helping the colony to thrive, you're also Stay awhile. stay forever! Those chilling words send you trying to make the biggest profit. Do you specialize in offin search ofan evil scientist in his underground laby smithore and hope that other players produce electricity rinth. Great speech synthesis and smooth, colorful graph and food, or do you di versify to gain self-sufficiency? This ics make Epyx's Impossible Mission a fast-paced game game requires a sense ofstrategy as we ll as proficiency at with an innovative feel. A banshee's scream erupts every joystick maneuvers. time your character falls down an elevator shaft. In fact , -Todd Heimarck t> M A Y 1 9 8 8 15 Pinball Construction Set Raid on Bungeling Bay Bill Budge's Pinball Construction Set, published by Elec The Bungeling war machine is gearing up for a major as tronic Arts, helped launch an important genre ofenter sault. New war factories are cranking out military hard tainment software- the construction set. Tired ofthe ware at an alarming rate. Ifthey aren't stopped now, pinball machine? Then create your own. Budge put to they'll neve r be stopped. That's where you come in. Your gether an elegant pinball machine. full ofcrazy sounds and mission is to destroy the heart ofthe machine, the fac flashing colors, a place in which nothing is nailed down tories. To complete your mission, you command a carrier least ofall your imagination. You can build virtually any and five attack hebcopters. These choppers aren't as fast kind of pinball machine, no matter how strange and won as the Bungelingjets, but maneuverability and a good can derful, by moving bumpers, switches, bells, balls, and non more than make up the difference. Brnderbund's whistles into any configuration. The games are always fun , Raid on Bungeling Bay is an outstanding arcade game and the construction set itself is a programming work of that's both playable and addictive. You may be able to de art. We've seen plenty of pinball machines on computer stroy one or two of the factories your first time out, but screens, but this one's a classic that never seems to grow you'll have to refine your strategy before yo u'll ever see old. the Bungeling empire fall. - Selby Bateman -Dale McBane Where to Find Our Favorite Games Game Publisher Computers Price Address Ava ilable Balance of Power Mindscape Amiga. Apple. Atari ST. Mac. $44.95-$49.95 3444 Dundee Rd .. Northbrook. IL 60062. Yes MS-DOS 312-480-7667 Beach-Head Access Apple. Atari. 54 $19.95 2561 S. 1560 W. . Woods Cross. UT 84087. Reissued as 801 -298-9077 part of a three iarne Action ack California Garnes Epyx Amiga. Apple. 64. MS-DOS $39.95 600 Galveston Dr.. Redwood City. CA Ye s 94063. 415-366-0606 Chessmaster 2000 Software Am i ~. Apple II , Atari, Atari $39.95-$44.95 1820 Gateway Dr .. San Mateo, CA 94404, Yes Toolworks ST. . Mac. MS-DOS 415-571-7171 F-15 Strike Eagle MicroProse Apple. Atari, Atari ST, 64, $34.95-$39.95 120 Lakefront Dr .. Hunt Va lley, MD 21030. Yes MS-DOS 301-77 1-1151 Flight Simulator/Flight SubLogic Amiga. Apple. Atari, Atari ST, $49.95 713 Ed?ebrook Dr .. Champaign, IL 61820. Yes (Mac and Simulator II 64 , Mac. MS-DOS 800-63 -4 983 MS-DOS versions avail. only from Microsoft Corp .. 800-426-9400) Gettysburg: The Turning SSI Apple, Atari, 64 . MS-DOS $59.95 1046 N. Rengsttorff Ave. , Mountain View, Yes Point CA 94043, 415-964-1353 Hitchhiker's Guide to the lnfocom Apple, 64. MS-DOS. Mac $14 .95-$19.95 3250 Bayshore Pk~. Mountain View. CA Yes Galaxy 94033. 415-960-051 Impossible Mission Epyx Apple , 64 $39.95 600 Galveston Dr .. Redwood City. CA 64 version only 94063, 415-366-0606 available from Softmail. Woodside. CA (408) 848-3042 ($9.95) Mean 18 Accolade Amiga. Apple llGS. Atari ST, $39.94-$44.95 20813 Stevens Creek Blvd .. Cupertino. CA Yes MS-DOS 95014, 408-446-5757 M.U.L.E. Electronic Arts Atari. 54 $14 .95 1820 Gateway Dr.. San Mateo. CA 94404, Yes 415-571-7171 Pinball Construction Set Electronic Arts Apple. Atari, 64. Mac. MS- $14.95 1820 Gateway Dr., San Mateo. CA 94404. Yes DOS 415-571 -7171 Raid on Bungeling Bay Broderbund 64 529.95 17 Paul Dr .. San Rafael , CA 94903. 415-492 Discountinued 3200 (Nintendo game system version available) Reach for the Stars SSG Apple. 64. Mac $45.00 1820 Gateway Dr., San Mateo, CA 94404, Yes 415-571-7171 Shanghai Activsion Amiga. Apple, 54. MS-DOS, 529.95-$44.95 3250 Bayshore Pkwy, Mountain View, CA Yes Mac 94033. 415-960-051 8 Silent Service Micro Prose Amiga. Apple. Apple llas. $34.95-$39.95 120 Lakefront Dr .. Hunt Valley. MD 21030. Yes Atari, Atari ST, 64. MS-DOS 301 -771-1151 Starflight Electronic Arts MS-DOS $49.95 1820 Gateway Dr., San Mateo, CA 94404. Yes 415-571-7171 Ultima I, Ill, IV. V Origin Systems Amiga (I ll), Apple (all), 64 (I , $39.95-$59.95 17 Paul Dr., San Rafael, CA 94903, 415-492 Yes . Ultima II Ill, IV), Atari (Ill, IV), Atari ST 3200 discontinued. (Ill, IV), Mac (Ill), MS-DOS (I, Ill. IV) Worms? Electronic Arts Atari. 64 $14.95 1820 Gateway Dr .. San Mateo, CA 94404, Yes 415-571 -7171 Zork Trilogy lnfocom Amiga, Apple, Atari ST, 64. $44 .95-$52.95 3250 Bayshore P k~.. Mountain View, CA Yes MS-DOS. Mac 94033, 415-960-051 16 C 0 M P U T E I Flight Simulator Starflight Ultima IV ~ I ... I 1, :-c l I I ~ c...· ~ I =-------- ·:.,..·'. ~f :. ~ = = -.: ------I !:?ii : i :I : D ';.,,_ n~ B: : -::-~ '·I I : I -·: - ,~~.. · I ,-.· t ! ; , I I I:•: • ---;: :. ~ · ~ ;...... I Mean 1& I ·"·I I UHIOH AMES-A l~F ~ 20 llEH s1; DS: H AMM0 :9 MEL :H MRL : SO HO PL OT 7 0 "ORHA L OP:9 DIR:i AOU : H 654 ROAD C2 > X,Y : 2! , Z1 Shanghai Gettysburg: The Turning Point Lose yourself in the mysteries of the ancient Orient with Shanghai, Activision's computer version ofthe popular and addictive game of mah-jongg. Attention to detail is Reach for the Stars what sets this game above the rest. The screen is beautiful Modeled after a popular board game, Reach for the Stars ly drawn-right down to the shadows that the game tiles is a game ofgalactic supremacy that pits you against up to cast. In Shanghai, yo ur goal is to remove pairs of tiles three opponents in a bid to become emperor ofouter from the playing field until none are left. The trick is that space. Expand your empire by colonizing uninhabited you can only remove tiles on the left or right edge ofa worlds and by conquering enemy planets. Get the best of group. The game is similar to solitaire, though much deep your enemies by executi ng a brilliant sneak attack or by er. Although the standard game is usually played at a lei building a vast economic empire. Limited information on surely pace, the two-player timed game is an exciting enemy colonies and fleets makes Reach for the Stars a re change. As a bonus, there's a wonderful surprise waiting alistic strategy game that keeps you guessing. Excellent for you when you fi nally remove all the tiles. computer opponents and variable victory conditions pro - Rhett Anderson vide additional challenges. Spend your credits on scouts, transports, warships, Silent Service social concerns, planetary environment, local defense, or Submarine simulations fu lfi ll a strange desire-to be technology. Decide where to attack your enemies, and someplace where yo u really wouldn't want to ever be. Si when. The choices are many, but so are the rewards. lent Service is the best-sell ing submarine simulator for a Domination of the universe doesn't come cheap. good reason: It combines a relatively faithful fee l ofsub -William Chin marine warfare with excellent graphics, good sound, and MAY 198 8 17 When you want to talk computers.. ATARI COMPUTERS AMIGA SOFTWARE MS/DOS SYSTEMS 65XE 64K Computer ...... 99.99 New Tek Inc. IBM PS/2 model 30 and 50 .. . .. Call 130XE 132K Computer ...... 139.00 Digi-View 2.0 ...... 149.00 IBM PS/2 model 60 and 80 ... . . Call 520ST-FM Monochrome System Call Digi-Paint ...... 44.99 Lead ing Edge ...... 899.00 520ST-FM Color System ... . . 789.00 Sub-Logic Corp. SF124 Monochrome Monitor . 149.00 Flight Simulator II ...... 39.99 SF1224 Color Monitor ...... 329.00 Word Perfect Corp. Word Perfect ...... 199.00 MACINTOSH PRODUCTS HARD DRIVES D CMS ,...... -;-o••• -- -...::. MacStack 20 ...... 599.00 "."·' ..... ,_.,., Ii\\' • Everex 11 ' 1', .1.'-1:::~· -~·\· 40 MB SCSI ...... 999 .00 NEC Mountain Multispeed Atari 1040 s 20 MB SCSI ...... 849.00 Floppy Laptop Color System 939 FLOPPY DRIVES Includes: 1040ST, 1MB RAM with 3 1/2" Cutting Edge by Ehman NEC APC-IV Powermate .. . 2,399.00 Drive Built·ln, 192K ROM with TOS, Book External ...... 189.00 PC·TOO 80286 1.2MB, 512K .. 999.00 Basic, ST Language and Color Monitor. Mirror Technologies Toshiba T-1000 Laptop ...... 799.00 AT ARI ST SOFTWARE Magnum Book ...... 199.00 MONITORS MULTIFUNCTION CARDS Access Leaderboard Golf ...... 24.99 Sigma Designs AST Antic Laser View Display Syst. . .. 1,899.00 Hot Shot 286 Accelerator . . . . 349.00 Stereo CAD 30 Flash ...... 24.99 Hercules Avant Garde Color Card ...... 139.00 PC Ditto(IBM Emulation) . . .. .69.99 Graphics Card Plus ...... 159.00 Batteries Included 5th Generation Degas Elite ...... 44.99 Log ical Connection 256K .. . . 299.00 DAC Quad ram Easy Accounting ...... 64.99 Quad386XT 80386 PC-Upgrade Tlmeworks ...... 799.00 Swiftcalc/Wordwriter ...... 49.99 Video 7 Vega V.G.A. 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Halo ...... 89.99 Electronic Arts Data copy Logitech Deluxe Video 1.2 ...... 89.99 720 Flatbed Scanner ...... 1,199.00 C7 Mouse w/Software ...... 79.99 Gold Disk Software Lotus Pagesetter wrrext ed ...... 89.99 Lotus 1.2.3 ...... 309.00 Micro Illusions Micropro Dynamic Cad ...... 349.00 Professional 4.0 w/GL ...... 239.00 Micro Systems Software AST Prem . 140 Desktop ....2,499.00 Word Perfect Corp. Scribble ...... 69 .99 Compaq Deskpro and Portables. Call Word Perfect 4.2 ...... 209.00 COMPUTER MAIL ORDER ...... When you want to talk price. MONITORS MODEMS PRINTERS Amdek Anchor Atari Video310A 12" Amber ...... 119.00 6480 C64/128 1200 Baud ...... 99.99 1020 XUXE Plotter ...... 31 .99 Video 41 O12" A/G/W . . . . (ea .) 159.00 Vu-520 ST520/1040 1200 Baud 129.00 XDM-121 Letter Qual ity XL-XE 159.00 Magnavox 1200E 1200 Baud External ... 129.00 XM-M801 XL-XE Dot Matrix .. 199.00 7BM62312" TTL Amber ...... 99.00 Atari XM-M804 ST Dot Matrix . . . .. 189.00 SX-212 ST Modem ...... 94.99 Brother Avatex M-1109100cps Dot Matrix ... 199.00 1200 HC External ...... 99.99 M-1409 180 cps Dot Matrix .. . 309.00 2400 External ...... 209.00 Citizen Best Products 120D 120cps Dot Matrix . .... 149.00 1200 Baud V2 Card w/sottware . 89.99 Premier-35 35 cps Daisywhl. •. 479.00 Everex C.ltoh Evercom 2400 Baud External . 239.00 315-XP Epson/IBM 132 col.. . . 549.00 Hayes Smartmodem 300 ...... 149.00 Magnovox CM8502 s Smartmodem 1200 ...... 259.00 Packard Bell 13" Composite Color 159 1200 External ...... 89.99 CM851514" RGB/Composite . 269.00 2400 External ...... 169.00 CM8762 14" RGB/Composite .. New NEC GS-1400 14" Monochr. TTL ... 219.00 JC-1 402 Multisync-11 ...... 599.00 Packard Bell PB-1418F 14" Flat TTL A/G/W Epson FX·86E s ...... (ea.) 119.00 80 Column 240 CPS 279 PB-1420CG 14" Mid-Res CGA 269.00 PB-1422EG 14" Hi-Res EGA .. 369.00 PB-8526-MJ Uniscan Monitor . 399.00 Epson Princeton Graphics Practical Peripherials LX-800 150 cps, 80 col...... 179.00 Max-1212"TTLAmber ...... 149.00 Complete Telecom $ FX-286E 240 cps, 132 col...... Call Thomson Package 8999 LQ-500180 cps, 24-wire ...... Call 45015" 132col. TTLAmber .. 119.00 LQ-850 330 cps, 80 col...... Call 412014" RGB/Composite . . . . 239.00 LQ-1050 330 cps, 24-wire ...... Call 2400 Baud Stand-Alone ... .. 199.00 EX-800 300 cps, 80 col...... Call DRIVES Supra Hewlett-Packard MPP-1064AD/AAC64 ...... 69.99 HP-2225 Th inkjet ...... 369.00 Atari 2400AT 2400 Baud Atari . ... . 169.00 NEC AA354 SS/DD ST Disk ...... 129.00 U.S. Robotics P2200 Pinwriter 24-wire .. . .. 379.00 AA314 DS/DD ST Disk ...... 199.00 Direct 1200 Baud External .. .. 89.99 P660 Pinwriter 24-wire ...... 459.00 SH D204 20M B ST Hard Drive . 569.00 Direct 2400 Baud External ... 199.00 P760 Pinwriter 132 col...... 679.00 C.LTD (For Amiga) Okidata C.L TD 20MB ...... 899.00 Oki mate 20 color printer . . . .. 129.00 C.L TD 33M B ...... 999.00 DISKETTES M L-182 120 cps 80 col...... 229.00 C.LTD A500 SCSI Controller . 179.00 ML-192+ 200cps, 80col. ....359.00 Indus Maxell ML-193+ 200 cps, 132 col. . . . 469.00 GT Disk Drive Atari XUXE . . . 179.00 MD1-M SS/DD 51/4'' ...... 8.49 Panasonic Racore MD2-DM DS/DD 51/4'' ...... 9.49 KX-P1080i 144 cps, 80 col. .. . 189.00 Jr. Expansion Chassis ...... 299.00 MF1-DDM SS/DD 3W ' ...... 12.49 KX-P1091 i 194 cps, 80 col. . .. 199.00 Seagate Technologies MF2-DDM DS/DD 3W ' ...... 18.49 Star Micronics ST-225 20MB Drive ...... 249.00 MC-6000 DC-600Tape ...... 23 .99 NX-1000140 cps, 80 col...... 169.00 Supra Sony NX-1000C C64/128 Interface . 189.00 Atari ST 20MB Hard Drive ....559.00 MD1D SS/DD 5W' ...... 6.99 NX-15120cps, 132col...... 319.00 Amiga 2000 20M B Hard Drive . 649.00 MD2D DS/DD 5W' ...... 7.99 Toshiba Xebec MFD-1DD SS/DD 3W' ...... 11 .99 P321 -SL 216 cps, 24-wire . .. . 539.00 Amiga 20MB Hard Drive .. . .. 799.00 MFD-2DD DS/DD 3W' ...... 16.99 P351 -SX 300 cps, 24-wire . . .. 999.00 In the U.S.A. and in Canada Call toll-free: 1-800-233-8950 Outside the U.S.A. call 717-327-9575, Fax 717-327-1217 Educational, Governmental and Corporate Organizations call toll-free 1-800-221-4283 CMO. 477 East Third Street, Dept. A2, Williamsport, PA 17701 ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED POLICY: Add 3% (minimum $7.00) shipping and handling. Larger shipme111s may require additional charges. Personal and company checks require 3 weeks to clear. For fas ter delivery, use your credit card or send cashier's check or bank money order. Credit cards are not charged until we sh ip. Pennsylvania residents add 6% sales tax. All prices are U.S.A. prices and are subject lo change, and all items are subject to availability. Defective software will be replaced with the same item only. Hardware will be replaced or repaired at our discretion with in the terms and limits of the manufacturer's warranty. We cannot guarantee com· patibility. All sales are final and returned shipments are subject to a restocking fee. palm-twitching action. You where each member of captain a U.S. sub in the yo ur party is controlled in Pacific during World War dividually in sequence. II , searching out Japanese Whichever Ultima convoys, sinking enemy you choose, yo u'll enjoy a merchant ships, and avoid Silent Service rich plot and dynamic ing charging destroyers. game as you explore the From a central menu, you access several screens to run the cities, castles, and dungeons of Britannia. sub and fire its weapons. Dive, surface, raise the peri - George Miller scope, fire torpedoes or the deck gu n, use your radar, and quietly slip away when the depth charges drop. Silent SerWorms? vice rewards both patience and aggressiveness, qualities a Worms? is still in a class all by itself, more tha n four years good sub captain has to have. For its playability, realism, after its introducti on. The folks at Electronic Arts knew a graphics, and durability, Silent Service makes our favor good thing when they saw it even if no one could quite de ites li st. scribe just what Wonns? was - Gregg Keizer all about. It's just as difficult to ex plain today. but it is a simple. Starflight unadulterated joy to play In a market crammed with sci wi thout doubt a unique enter ence fiction games. Star.flight tainment package. Up to four stands out. No simple shoot-em-up. people can watch their worms this game turns on trading, mining, coll ecting artifacts, tra il s of li ght that seem to have minds of their own-zip interacting with aliens, and solving mysteri es. around one another as they apparently fight for space. Or Starf light simulates an entire universe. Hundreds of maybe they're dancing to the always-changing music. No solar systems with planets, lifeforms, and exploitable min one's quite sure, but the effect is a game that's as engrossing erals are scattered through a cosmos riddled wi th worm as it is delightful. Worms? has never failed to draw a holes through whi ch yo ur starship emerges .. . elsewhere. crowd of people around the office when we boot it up, and Behi nd everything is a graduall y unfo lding mystery whose continues to hold its charm after all these years. dimensions span time and space, and on whose solution -Selby Bateman the fate ofthe uni verse rests. Fi nall y, Star/light captures the feel ofa certain type of science fiction, as you assemble Zork a crew, set out to explore and acquire, and are drawn into Traverse The Great Underground Empire, confront The a narrative whose conclusion you control. The ga me can Wizard of Frobozz, and explore the Dungeon Master's take hundreds of hours to play fu ll y, yet those hours arc ominous domai n. Based on a classic mainframe adven anything but boring. ture program, the Zork se ri es opens up a new world inside -Keith Ferrell computers. Zork I chall enges yo u with dangerous foes and perplex ing puzzles as you attempt to find 20 valuable trea sures in an ancient underground empire. Zork fl intro Ultima duces you to the absent-minded Wizard ofFrobozz. Zork Enter the world offantasy with any of the Ultima seri es of Ill takes yo u even deeper into the Zorkian realm. adventure games. Attract a party of like-minded adventur You communicate with Zork in plai n English, using ers, explore Britannia, and endure peril s as yo u complete a commands such as Go north and walk around the house. quest. And although Zork lacks the complex sound effects and As with most Dungeons and Dragons-style role-play dazzling graphi cs fo und in most of today's games, these ing games, magic plays an integral part in your quest. ries' detailed descriptions and amazingly coherent re Often, magic spells arc the onl y means to defeat a mon sponses create images in your mind-images th at no ster. Movement through the available worlds is controlled computer could begin to rival. With text-onl y adventures on a hex-squared map which encompasses several screens. becoming less and less commonplace, Zork continues to Battles with monsters or brigands dedicated to your de stand the test oftime. struction are resolved on a separate animated screen, -Randy Thompson El 20 CO MP U TE ! The personalca111puter built tago ha111e~ tao. The IBM!compatible Laser Compact XT is or color monitor (CGA and Hercules®), and the XTE powerful enough for the office and easy model is EGA compatible. enough to use at home. The Laser Compact XT combines performance and speed with a price that's easy to handle at under $600. Most people take work home to keep ahead of their For more information on the Laser Compact XT and the competition. The Laser Compact XT has the speed name of your nearest dealer, contact Video Technology (1 0 MHz) and memory (512K expandable up to 1,640K Computers, Inc., 400 Anthony Trail , Northbrook, IL bytes) to handle IBM-compatible software from 60062, or call (312) 272-6760. Lotus 1,2,3qp to games, and beyond. Its compact In Canada, call (604) design with built-in handle makes it easy to carry home. 273-2828. The Laser Compact XT has a built-in disk drive, serial, parallel, joystick, mouse and modem interfaces to hook up al l your peripherals. The Compact XT gives you the choice of working with either a monochrome us.t Compad Xl "alt~ ol Video leclvolog'I' Cotrou1fn Inc IBM PC Xl and CGA Al'D tf9S!Oflld tral'.>.!maOOol lntefMtlONI ~ Macl'linct$ Cott> LOW$~ 12 3 are rogdlelt!d If~ Of Lotus Oewlopmen1 Coorp H&fc:Ules is11r1t91stc1Dd t1.l0cmarlo. ol Hetcule$. lflc c 1987 , VldDO Tecrv'I06ogyCompi;:ers Inc Manufactured by VIDEO TECHNOLOGY COMPUTERS, INC. MAKING COMPUTERS AFFORDABLE Kids, Colllputers, and Sullllller Vacation Fred D'Ignazio t may be April now, with the snow few things during the summer. This ar Get readyfor still on the ground or the cold rain ticle offers dozens of ideas for summer still falling, but before you can say activities that involve your children your kids' "School's out!" it will be. That and your computer, both around the I house and when you're on the road. means summer vacation, which means free time for most kids. To kids out of There's even some computer tips for summer vacation school, every day is Saturday. parents on vacation and information Depending on your viewpoint, that on computer camps for kids. with this idea can be a blessing or a curse. Lots offree Get ready for the summer now. time is great, but if you can't fill your Make sure your computer is plugged in, packed article. childrens' summer days with interesting and you've got a supply ofgood, enter activities, you're going to be in for one taining software next to it. long, hot season. Parents know the syn drome well. The first two weeks of va cation see children playing, reading, or Summertime working hard. Things slow down a bit the third week. The fourth week arrives, Software and with it, terminal boredom. Keeping your children busy with the "There's nothing to do" millions of family's computer is easy. Just turn children exclaim, seemingly simulta them loose in the local computer store neously across the country. with your credit card. Since you have a computer in the Not a feasible solution, is it? Your house, put it to use; it can keep kids en computer software budget is limited, tertained and even help them learn a and you're not going to be content with 22 COMPUTE World War II Infantry Combat Arrives ...on the IBM-PC®and Commodore 64/128! Avalon Hill's IJNl)l~ll lfllll~! · * "on the cutting edge of computer wargaming in months and even years to come," (Computer Gaming World). * "superb... phenomenally easy to learn ... a giant leap forward in computer gaming," (Strategy & Tactics magazine). ~ ;., _ ~-- : ! ~ . tc • ., , . , • ...... \. ;1 •,.f• ..-•'-1 ,-~•i •~ c u•• - ' "~ ~~, * "[one] of the best tactical simulation games I have ever seen,'' (The Wargamer). From the wheatfields of Russia to the hedgerows of northern France, this is the world of UNDER FIRE. There are armies from the US, Germany and the Soviet Union. There are infantry, paratroopers, engineers, mountain troops, assault guns, tanks, off map artillery, leaders and weapons. Add hidden movement, morale, three maps and nine scenarios ...and you have a game that is as flexible as it is complete! Features... * 1 of 2 Players/Joystick optional. *Nine Scenarios ranging from *Men and weapons from the US, open-field firefights to Germany and the Soviet Union. house-to-house conflict. *Situational or tactical maps. *Save and print options. AVAILABLE SEPARATELY FOR IBM AND COMMODORE OWNERS: *MAPMAKER DISK (wargame construction set!) With the Mapmaker Disk, UNDER FIRE is also a true wargame construction set. With the eight terrain types and over 60 pieces, it's possible to create the dense forest of the Ardennes , or the built-up cities of Stalingrad or Berlin. Available at leadlng computer stores everywhere m miCl"OCOmputel" games DIVISION or call TOLL FREE 1 ·800·638·9292 IHI The Avalon Hiii Game Company for ordering Information. ~::.•,s.~~ A MONARCH AVALON . INC COMPANY 4517 Harford Road * Baltimore, MD 21214 Commodore® 64 Owners: * Game Disk: $34.95 Available separately: * Mapmaker Disk: $25.00 Canoes, Campfires, and Computers Not too long ago, when kids went to summer camp they rode horses. paddled canoes, and tried to avoid poison ivy. To day's campers still enjoy the traditional programs, but many camps have added computers to their activity list. In addition to swimming and archery, campers are now programming in Pascal, studying artificial intelligence, and mastering ad vanced spreadsheet techniques. According to the American Camping camper /computer Association. there are about 150 camps ratio. Some camps re offer only an hour in the United States classified either as strict enrollment to at a computer per computer camps or as camps that offer ensure a 1: 1 ratio. Be day. It's up to the par some sort of computer instruction. The wary if the ratio is higher ent and child to decide how quality of their programs varies tremen than two campers per computer. much computing time they want dously. If you're thinking of sending your Michael Zabinski, director of Na and then select a camp that fulfills child to a computer-intensive camp, in tional Computer Camps, insists that a that requirement. vestigate its curriculum before you start 2:1 ratio is best. "Some camps have Parents should also inquire about sewing on name tags. Determine your one child per computer, and the parent medical facilities, living quarters, and child's computer needs and then decide thinks that's a good deal," he observes. other activities. While costs vary from whether the camp can meet those "That's terrible. You want two kids per camp to camp, ask if the general tuition requirements. computer. Not three, not one, but two. covers all fees. Write for brochures and Some camps offer general courses They interact. Whenever one kid gets look them over carefully. When you've in computer literacy, while others, such stuck, the other pitches in." narrowed the selection, prepare a list of as the Midwest Computer Camp in In Zabinski says many parents are questions and call the camp director. A dianapolis, Indiana, let students choose concerned that their children spend so phone call and a chat with the director their own intensive oourse of supervised much time alone at home with their can be very helpful, especially if you study. In addition to programming and computers. At his camps, children have can't visit the camp in person. telecommunications, Midwest offers spe a minimum of five hours a day at a oom The American Camping Association cial classes in robotics. lasers, and mu puter with another boy or girl their age. publishes an annual guide to camps. It's sic synthesizers. plus a full range of "This is an opportunity to go out, not a specific list of computer camps, traditional camp activities. meet other kids, and work with other but many of the camps offer computer Be certain to ask about the camper/ kids." Zabinski says. "They work to training. Other camps can be located by staff ratio. You 'll also want to know the gether; they share. " checking advertisements in publications qualifications and teaching experience of Camps such as National Com such as the New York Times Sunday the computer personnel. Some instruc puter-which has facilities at colleges Magazine and Sunset Magazine. tors may be experts with computers, but and prep schools in Atlanta, Georgia; For further information, consult the make certain they also have experience Hartford, Connecticut; and Cleveland. Parents· Guide to Accredited Camps teaching children. Ohio-have a minimum of five hours of ($9.95). American Camping Association It's a good idea to find out what formal computer instruction per day. Publications, 5000 State Road, 67 North, kind of computers are available. Most They also offer up to another five hours, Martinsville, Indiana 46151. Or you can camps have a variety of machines, but if if the child wants it. Midwest provides six call 800428-CAMP (in Indiana, call you have an Apple at home. make sure hours of structured learning time. with the 317-342-8456). your child can use an Apple at camp. option of several additional hours. Camps - Tom Netsel Hands-on experience is invaluable that include computing as just another in computer education, so ask about the activity in their traditional curriculum may your kids playing games-whether fan These 30 programs fit the bill. Rocky 's Boots. another award-winner, tasy role-playing or shoot-'em-up You'll probably need a couple of them challenges children to build colorful arcades-all summer long. within a few weeks after school lets out. logic gates which resemble Rube Gold What you need is software that's Put a couple ofothers away for a rainy berg contraptions. not too expensive and software which summer afternoon, that day when your takes care of two things at once-soft children come to you with the pathetic, •Math Blaster, Math and Me, Alge ware that entertains (so it keeps your bored expression you know so well. Blaster, and Grammar Gremlins child happy) while it teaches (so your (For prices, computer versions, and (Davidson) • Piece ofCake Math child learns something in the process). publishers' addresses and phone num (Springboard). These popular programs Summertime can be, to use Stephen bers, look to the "Summer Software" help your kids keep their arithmetic, King's phrase, "a dead zone," a time grid included with this article.) math, and language skills sharp while when your childrens' minds shut down playing arcade-style games. Math and and go into suspended animation. But • Rocky's Boots, Reader Rabbit, Writer Me is unusual because it caters to pre summertime can also be an opportuni Rabbit, and Math Rabbit (The Learning schoolers, playfully drilling them in ty for your chi ldren to improve impor Company). The Rabbit family ofpro arithmetic. tant skills, like reading and math. Or it grams let children practice their read • Playing with Science: Temperature can offer the time to begin learning a ing, writing, and arithmetic skills while (Sunburst)• Science Toolkit (Br0der new skill, like typing, speaking a foreign they play entertaining games. (The IlGs bund). Sunburst's program is a com language, or playing a musical keyboard. version of Reader Rabbit even talks!) bined temperature probe, cable, and 24 COMPUTE ! Summer Software Program Grade/ Age Computers Price Publisher Adventure Creator Grades 5 & up Apple II , 64 $6.95-$9.95 Spinnaker Alge-Blaster Grades 7- 12 Apple II , 64 . MS-DOS $49.95 Davidson A Series Grades 7 & up Apple, Atari, 64 . MS-DOS $19.95 American Educational Barron's ACT Grades 9- 12 Apple II , MS-DOS $79.95 Barron's Create a Calendar Grades 4 & up Apple II , 64 , MS-DOS $29.95 Epyx Grammar Grem lins Grades 3- 6 Apple II . MS-DOS $49.95 Davidson Jeopardy Grades 4 & up Apple II , 64 . MS-DOS $12.99 Sharedata Lovejoy's SAT Grades 9-12 Apple II , 64 , Mac, MS-DOS $39.95- $59.95 Simon & Schuster Math and Me Ages 3-6 Apple II $39.95 Davidson Math Blaster Grades 1-6 Apple II. Atari. 64, Mac. MS-DOS $49.95 Davidson Math Rabbit Ages 4-7 Apple II , MS-DOS $39.95 Learning Company Music Construction Set Grades K & up Apple II , Apple ll GS, Atari, Atari ST, $14 .95- $49.95 Electronic Arts 64 , MS-DOS The Newsroom Grades 4 & up Apple II , 64. MS-DOS $49.95-$59.95 Springboard The Oregon Trail Grades 5 & up Apple II $55.00 MECC The Perfect Score Grades 9- 12 Amiga. Apple II , 64 . Mac. MS-DOS $69.95-$79.95 Mindscape Piece of Cake Math Ages 7- 13 Apple II, 64 . MS-DOS $34 .95 Springboard Playing with Science: Grades 1- 6 Apple II $85.00 Sunburst Temperature Postcards Grades 4 & up Apple II . Apple llGS. 64 , Mac, MS $24 .95- $29.95 Activision DOS Print Shop Grades K & up Apple II , Apple llGS, Atari, 64 , Mac. $44.95-59.95 Br0derbund MS-DOS Reader Rabbit Ages 4- 7 Apple II , Apple llas, 64 , MS-DOS $39.95- $59.95 Learning Company Rocky's Boots Ages 9 & up Apple II , 64 . MS-DOS $34.95-$49.95 Learning Company SAT Complete Grades 9-12 Apple II , 64, Mac, MS-DOS $39.95-$99.95 Spinnaker Science Toolkit Grades 5 & up Apple II $39.95 each Bt0derbund Seven Cities of Gold Grades 6 & up Am~a . Apple II. Atari, 64 , Mac, MS· $14.95-$1 9.95 Electronic Arts DO Summer Games Grades 4 & up Apple II, Atari, 64 $19.95 Epyx Think Quick Ages 7-14 Apple II, MS-DOS $49.95 Learning Company Typing Tutor IV Grades 5 & up Apple II , 64. MS-DOS $49.95-$59.95 Simon & Schuster Wheel of Fortune Grades 4 & up Apple II , 64. MS-DOS $12.99 Sharedata Where in the USA (World, Grades 4 & up Apple II , 64. MS-DOS $34 .95-$44.95 Br0derbund Europe) is Carmen Sandiego? Writer Rabbit Ages7- 10 Apple II . MS-DOS $49.95 Learning Company Activision Electronic Arts Sharedata P.O. Box 7286 1820 Gateway Dr. 7400 W. Detroit St. Mountain View, CA 94039 San Mateo. CA 94404 Suite C-170 (415) 960-0410 (41 5) 571-7171 Chandler, AZ 85226 (602) 961 -7519 American Educational Computer Epyx 7506 N. Broadway Ext. 600 Galveston Dr. Simon & Schuster Suite 505 P.O. Box 8020 1 Gulf & Western Plaza Oklahoma City, OK 73116 Redwood City, CA 94063 New York, NY 10023 (405) 840-6031 (415) 366-0606 (212) 373-8882 Barron's Learning Company Spinnaker 250 Wireless Blvd. P.O. Box 2168 One Kendall Square Hauppauge, NY 11788 Menlo Park, CA 94026-2168 Cambridge, MA 02139 (516) 434-3311 (800) 852-2255 (617) 494-1200 Br0derbund MECC Springboard 17 Paul Dr. 3490 Lexington Ave. N. 7808 Creekridge Cir. San Rafael, CA 94903-2101 St. Paul, MN 55126 Minneapolis, MN 55435 (415) 492-3200 (612) 481 -3500 (612) 944-3915 Davidson & Associates Mind scape Sunburst Communications 3135 Kashiwa St. 3444 Dundee Rd. 39 Washington Ave. Torrance, CA 90505 Northbrook, IL 60062 Pleasantville, NY 10570-2898 (800) 556-6141 (312) 480-7667 (914) 769-5030 M A Y 1 9 B B 25 software package which lets yo ur it should be a popular game this year practi cing th e Olympic high jump? kids run their own experiments on wi th the Olympic Games in Seoul. Why is yo ur child spending so the effects oftemperature. It teaches Jeopard.rand M'heel ofFortune give much time at the computer? A big scientific thinking, applied math. yo u a chance to compete on yo ur fa part of it is certainly because com and data analysis. Apple II owners vorite TV program and maybe even puters are fascinating tools and toys. should also take a look at Brnder wake a few brain cells in th e process. But if yo ur child is there all the time. bund's Science Toolkit series. Three it may be because they have nothing modules. each $39.95, are available: • Ad1•enture Creator (Spinnaker) better to do. Or at least they thin k Speed and Motion. Earthquake Lab. • Think Quick! (The Learning Com they have nothing better to do. and Body Lab. pany) • The Oregon Trail (M ECC) There's no single answer to chil • Se1•en Cities ofGold (Electronic dren's boredom, but th ere is a single •Create a Calendar (Epyx) •Post :\rts) • W here in the World (or USA strategy. Organi za ti o n. Children are cards (Activision) • Print Shop (Brn or Europe) is Carmen Sandiego? notoriously " underorgan ized." As derbund) • The Newsroom (Brnderbund). No list would be long as their time is structured and (Springboard). These programs might complete wi thout adventure their day mapped out. they're be called ..Summer Utility Pro ga mes-especially during the sum usually fi ne. It's good to organize grams." Your children can help plan mer. The fi ve games li sted are spe children's time, but it's even better your fam il y's summer activities with cial because they offer something to help children learn how to plan Create a Calendar. Even if you never beyond pure. mindless escape. Ad and organize on their own. get out of town this summer. yo ur rent11re Creator lets your children This is where the computer kids wi ll enjoy sending postcards create adventure games of their own comes in . made with Acti vision's Postcards. with up to 100 rooms, mazes, boo Brnderbund's Prim Shop creates invi Make a Calendar tations to summer parties. banners and signs for kids' lemonade stands. The first wa rning sign of kids' sum and personalized letterheads for kids' mertime blahs is when th e novelty ofbei ng out of school wears off This letters to pen pals, cereal prize offers. and distant relatives. And Spring happens when summer vacation board's Th e Newsroom lets your chil ceases to be a glorious liberation dren create travel diaries and travel from school and suddenly becomes scrapbooks which look like profes an endless succession ofgray. fuzzy sional newsletters. days with nothing to do and nothing to look forward to. •The Perfect Score (Mindscape) Now's the time to sit down with •Barron's ACT (Barron's) •Hayden's yo ur children and talk about the SAT (Spinnaker) • Lovejoy's SAT (Si family's plans for the summer. Get mon & Schuster). Summer is a good out a calendar and mark the days time for older children to prepare for that the family wi ll be traveling, go coll ege entrance exams. You can set by-traps. creatures, and. of course. ing to special summer events, and up a regular schedule so that they treasure. Think Quick!. Carmen doing family activities. practice a few minutes each day Sandiego. and Th e Oregon Tra il You can turn yo ur children throughout the summer. Mind sharpen children's critical-thinking loose on a program like Epyx's Cre scape's package is notable because it skills, including problem-solving, ate a Calendar or Brnderbund's Prim contains a disk call ed The Pe1fec1 spatial and visualization skills, ob Shop (wi th the Graphics Expander). Co//ege which helps you and yo ur servation and analysis, and common Let your children create a personal child decide on the best college. sense. Oregon Trail and Seven Cities ized calendar which maps out the ofGold are historical simulations family's summer plans. Your kids •Typing Tutor IV (Simon & Schus which make social studies come might start by creating a calendar for ter)• German, French, and Spanish alive and let children experience June and then make up new ones at (American Educational Computer) firsthand some of the problems con the beginning ofJuly and August. It 's •Music Construction Set (Electronic fro nting earl y settlers and explorers. easy to illustrate the calendars with Arts). With all that time on their Carmen Sandiego-in all her special graphics and even color them hands, summer is the perfect oppor forms-teaches students geography with markers, paints. or crayons after tunity for yo ur kids to learn a new and strength ens their reference and the calendar is printed. skill or polish old ones. Typing Tu research skills while th ey track down The trick here is to share yo ur tor I JI is a tried-and-true program a thiefin th e midst ofa crime spree. fa mily's plans with your children so which refines anyone's typing abili they're aware of the fun things that lie ties. American Educational Com ahead and so they see themselves puter has a line of reasonably priced playing an active part in planning the language-drill programs for kids try No Computer Couch fa mily's summer activities. ing to improve grades in foreign lan Potatoes Allowed! guage class, or for anyone thinking Lists and Ideas ofa trip abroad. Music Construction These 30 summer fun programs will Set offers children a chance to hone keep your children busy, enter One summer I decided to take a music theory. composition. and lis tained, and mentally active. But break from writing. so I grabbed my tening skills whi le their music lessons what happens-and it's likely-if two children and drove them around are suspended during the summer. th e programs are too successful ? the Olympic Peninsul a in Washing What ifall yo ur kids wa nt to do is ton State and then north to AJaska. •Summer Games (Epyx) •Jeopardy, spend endless hours indoors by We went backpacking, hiking, and Wheel ofFortune (Sharedata). Sum themselves. slumped overt.he com camping. We had a ball. mer Games is a holdover from the puter keyboard, blasting numbers, Before we left, I went to the store 1984 Summer Olympic Games, but blazing trails across Oregon. and and bought each child a spiral 26 COMPU TE ! bound notebook. I asked them and databases also help connect the to use the notebook to plan out computer to real-world activities. the details ofour trip. Where should Your children will use the computer, we go? What should we see? What but only as a tool to help them camping supplies should we pring? accomplish something else. What clothes should each person This is an important criterion pack? What reading material? What parents should look for: Can your stuffed animals? They' ll be much more realistic in children combine the computer ac Both of my children spent hours making plans for their own tivity with other noncomputer activ thinking through details ofthe trip, activities. ities in their lives, or does the visiting the drug store, the grocery The key is for them to think up activity isolate the children and pull store, the camping store, and imag projects which they can do each day them away from other people and ining things that we would need and of the summer which help them other activities? activities we could do. Later, when structure their time-and gi ve them Here are some examples of tra we actually made the trip, we used something fun to look forward to ditional summertime activities many of their ideas. Their advance each day. which can be enhanced using a planning helped. Talking over their Start with your children's cur computer. ideas, too, whetted everyone's appe rent interests. Do they like cars, tite for the trip and built up excite horses, clothes astronomy, science, ment long before we left home. stamp collecting, building things? Sit Baseball Card Collection Your children can do some down with your children and ex You can help your children set up a thing similar with your computer. plore the nooks and crannies oftheir baseball database. They can enter all They could use your word processor, minds. What things fascinate them? their new cards on the database. The spreadsheet, and database programs What activities do they naturally do database can print out reports ofall to help you plan your major summer on their own? What are their grand players by team, by batting average, excursions. dreams now that school is out? by value of the card, and so on. The database is a perfect tool for keeping track ofa player's personal statistics. On Their Own Summer Computer With a word processor and your What happens when your kids get local reference librarian, your chil tired oflist making and planning? Projects dren can write fan letters to their That's the time to get them thinking Earlier, I listed 30 programs which major league heroes. And with a pro about summer activities and pro help children do something specific gram like Brnderbund's Print Shop, jects they might do by themselves. with the computer. But the best pro your children can print out banners If you want to keep your sanity, grams are ones which you already and fl yers for their own fan club or it will come to this. Most families have-word processors, spread create a personalized baseball-style can spend only a small fraction of sheets, and databases. These are gen letterhead. the summer traveling and doing fun eral-purpose organizing tools and and exciting things. There's still go can be used for almost any activity ing to be that vast block of time you and your children think up. Weather Station when the kids are left to fend for These programs probably won't cost Weather is great. Unless you live in themselves around the house. Bore you anything because you already Key West or Death Valley the dom quickly sets in, and the culprit have them. (And if you don't, you weather is different every day. Your is monotony-one day flowing end should seriously consider buying children can use the computer to lessly into the next. one ofeach; they're indepensible track the weather and even make Before your children become tools for all kinds ofcomputer predictions. Your local hobby store terminally bored, encourage them to chores.) Another plus is that your should have a weather kit for sale, sit down at the computer and draw children can gain valuable practice but you can start out simpler by send up a list of personal projects they'd with their spelling, writing, and ing your child outdoors as a weather like to do during the summer. Now math skills during the months wh en observer, armed with an empty can that they've helped plan the family's most kids' skills are getting rusty. (to measure rainfall), a thermometer, activities for the summer, they'll be General-purpose applications and a book on clouds. They can familiar with the overall schedule. like word processors, spreadsheets, keep a weather journal on the M A V 1 9 8 8 27 -NY Times (Aug. 25, 1987) Strap yourself into Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer.™ The only flight simulation co-designed by the greatest test pilot ever. And with action so fast,even experienced pilots 'auger in '. The right stuff is right here. Test the limits of 14 different aircraft using Yeager'sown evaluation checklist. From the classicWWI Sopwith Camel to the mach-speed SR-71 Black jrd.Push the experimental XPG-12 to the edge of space. Fly formation on Yeager's wing through Dead Man's Slalom. Catch the brea thtaking fear of a Hammerhead sta ll. the adrenaline rush of an aileron roll,the thrill of your first Cuban B. knu courses.Bolt pasf Obstacles and run narrow gates. Skim the ground at top speed,wing to-wing with your rival.View the action from a chase plane or the tower. Seat-of-the-pants flying in the only simulation with over forty years of experience. Yeager insisted on actual air craft specs and his own flight evaluation charts. Cl imb into the cockpit and see If you've got the 'right stuff HOW TO ORDER: Visit your retailer or call 800 - CHl/i YEAGER'S 245-4525 for direct VISA or MasterCard orders On CA call 800-562-111 2). The direct order pnce Is S39.95 for the IBM version and $3 4.95 for the C64 version. Send a U.S. check or money order to Electronic Ans Direct Sales. PO Box 7530. San Mateo. CA 94403.Add S3 for shippingand handling (SSCa nadian) Pieaseanow 1-2weeks for U.S.delJVery.Coming for the Apple II IBM is a registered trademark of lnternatJonal Business Machines.Inc.C64 IS aregistered trademark of Commodore Electronics l.J mited.Software© 1987 Ned Lerner ------~ ------· ELECTRONIC ARTS® PHOTO COURTESY NORTHROP AVIATION/ALLEN QUINN. Headline quote 1987 by The NewYork Times Company. Reprinted by permission , Have Computer, Will Travel~ Finally. The day for your family 's vaca But, face it , you probably brought tion has arrived. You 've packed up the along some work that needed suitcases, watered the plants, and put doing, and you 're hoping to the dog in the kennel. You think you 're squeeze it in while you 're on ready to go. But haven't you forgotten your trip. something? With your computer, You forgot to pack the computer. you can do that work at This may sound like the last thing you odd moments, maybe want to take with you, but there are early in the morning compelling reasons to bring the com before your family gets puter along. Here are a few. up or in the evenings Motel Nights. Nothing can be more after things have settled painful than being stuck in a tiny motel down. It's also a great room with hyperactive children, a sullen spouse, and an illegal pet. This, unfortu afternoonsdistraction onwhen those _ ~~~~;;;!~~r~ nately. is the fate of many summer trav you 've gotten - - elers. The computer can rescue you and too much morn your family from this. Since you 're stuck ing sun and you 'd together anyway, this is a good time for do better to stay working on computer projects together. indoors. Maybe you've been wanting to teach If you have a modem, even better. dren can edit your vacation videotapes your daughter how to use the word Now you can wire your memos, reports, and add colorful titles and credits using processor or your son how to program and analyses into the office computer the graphics programs on your com in BASIC. Now's as good a time as any. via the telephone. puter. To create a video title, just draw it Travel Diary. Another thing you can Tracking Trip Costs. In the movie on the computer screen and then dis do each night on a trip is keep a travel European Vacation, Chevy Chase and connect the cable from the back of your diary using your family's word proces his family ran out of money in the middle monitor and plug it into the VIDEO IN sor. Your kids can each have their own of their sightseeing tour across the jack on the back of your VCR. When computer disk to store their diary files . Continent. That's easy to do. you press Record on the VCR , you 're They can make a diary entry every eve Acomputer can be very handy capturing the image from the computer ning after the day's activities. Who here. If you regularly enter your major screen onto your videotape. knows? The diaries may be useful for expenses. you can keep close tabs on If you 're not a video butt, use the those what-I-did-this-summer com things and budget better each day. computer to dress up your scrapbook positions once school begins in the fall . Maybe you 'll even get home with a few snapshots. Using a popular print pro Squeeze in Some Work. You're on dollars in your pocket. gram like Print Shop, your children can vacation and trying to put as many miles Vacation Videos. After you get create titles which they can cut out and between you and your office as possible. back from vacation, you and your chil paste to the pages of your scrapbook. word processor, build a weather data to keep a journal of their explorations Clubhouse Decorations base, and create charts and graphs from and a database program to record and Almost every kid creates a clubhouse weather statistics entered into a spread organize their important discoveries. sometime. The clubhouse might be a sheet. Ifthis gets them excited, just When they've inventoried the local in bunch of boards in a tree, a bedroom have them consult the local newspaper sect population, you might encourage rigged up with ropes and overturned for weather conditions around the na them to branch out to other forms of chairs, or a maze of boxes in the base tion. Ifyou're lucky, they'll soon be wildlife, including birds, squirrels, or ment. Kids love to decorate their club tracking weather in such far-away lo even neighborhood pets. houses. This is a good time to suggest cales as Falls Church, Grand Junction, using the computer to create signs and and Baton Rouge. Junior Sales Club banners for their clubhouse and mem Kids need money during the summer bership cards for the club's members. Wild Bug Safaris time, so they're always thinking up The key to success with all these Ifyour family has a camera or a video good business propositions. A com activities is simple: Build from your camera, you can send your children off puter makes a perfect tool for your bud child's current interests, wait until the on wild bug safaris around the neigh ding businessperson. My son Eric time is ripe, and use software you al borhood. Most of the new video cam recently sold 35 boxes of popcorn to ready have around the house. This eras have macro lenses which act as a raise money for his local Cub Scout saves you time (you're already familiar video magnifying glass for intrepid pack here in Lansing, Michigan. Eric's with your software) and money (you young explorers who like to look at only eight, but in a single afternoon, I don't have to buy a new program). And wildlife really close up. The advantage taught him how to use a simple spread your child gets to do what he or she al of using a camera is that your children sheet program and how to " keep his ready wanted to do-only better! El are encouraged to leave the creatures books" on the computer. For a week, outside (where they belong). When your Eric sat down at the computer every kids track down a new bug, their job is day after school and tallied his popcorn to identify it using the family encyclo sales, checked the accounts with his Fred D'lgnazio is the author of numerous books and a popular speaker on educational computing pedia or reference books at the local li shoe box full of money, and tracked the issues. He has two children, lots of summer soft brary. They can use the word processor customers who still hadn't paid. ware. and a dread of unfilled summer days. MA Y 1 988 29 .>!j "'1 ~ : ~- -- Laptop Datavue Spark The Datavue Spark is an intelligently designed Lingo IBM PC-compatible laptop. One of the most desirable aspects of the Spark is that the variety Computers carry extra bag of system configurations offered by Datavue ef gage-jargon that's difficult to fecti ve ly lets yo u "roll your own " laptop. understand for the uninitiated. The Spark's numeric processing power is a And laptops, a particular sub little over twice as fast as the original IBM PC. culture of computers, has its own lingo. Here are enough A $995 stripped down Spark comes equipped 1 explanations of computer- and with one 3 12-inch microfloppy disk drive and laptop-specific terms to at 384K of memory. When fitted with an optional least get you through this arti rechargeable battery, a one-dri ve system weighs cle, maybe enough to get you a shade over ten pounds and will run for over past the laptop salesperson. three hours on a charge. The standard supertwist LCD display is Backlit Since LCD screens Tandy 102 very good, with unusually high contrast. At ex depend on reflective light, add The Tandy 102 is a rugged, compact machine tra cost, you can get an excellent backlit LCD ing a small built-in light makes screen second only to the much admired screen text and graphics much easier that gets top marks for its portability. The sys to see in low-light conditions. tem weighs only three pounds, is about the size of Zenith's latest laptops. of a magazine, and is an inch-and-a-half thick, All Sparks come equipped with parallel BPS. Bits per second is the making it easy to stow in a backpack or and serial ports as well as ports for an external speed at which information is briefcase. RGB or composite monitor, and an optional transferred from one computer The screen is a fixed LCD panel that external 51/4-inch disk drive. System memory to another, usually when con shows 40 characters on each of its 8 lines. may be expanded to a full 640K by opting for a nected via modem. Divide the While the display is not a s11per1wis1 or a backlit 256K expansion card. Room is also provided bps rate by 10, and you have a LCD [portable and computer jargon have been for a second disk dri ve and an internal rough character per second italicized for easy reference-see the sidebar 300/ 1200 bps modem. (cps) transfer rate. At 300 bps, The 77-key keyboard features an embed for instance, approximately 30 "Laptop Lingo"), the large size of the charac characters are transmitted ters and the ability to adjust the screen contrast ded numeric keypad and ten function keys every second. yields very good legibility. spread across the top. The Spark's keyboard The 56 full-size keys of the keyboard are feels good, but it's set a ljttle too far back from K. Stands for Kilobyte, which is laid out in standard typewriter format. There the front edge of the system. 1024 bytes of data. (A single are also programmable function keys, an im The Spark has a number ofconvenient fea text character, for instance, bedded numeric keypad. and separate cursor tures not found on other machines. Built-in takes up one byte in a com movement controls. The keys are adequately ROM-based utilities let you toggle the micro puter file.) It is used in this arti processor speed set the backlit display to shut cle to show how much memory spaced and have a good feel , but rapid typing (RAM) a particular computer on the l 02 produces a noticeable clatter. off after a specified time, and do a wide variety may have. Unlike most other laptops, an internal 301) of other things. bps modem is a standard feature of the Model Laptop. Computers which l02. Connection ports for a printer, bar-code weigh less than 20 pounds. reader, and serial devices are also provided. have a flat-screen display, and The Model l 02's maximum memory of include internal batteries 32K of RAM may seem small in comparison to (whether rechargeable or not) the 640K MS-DOS laptops, but the five pro fall into the laptop category. grams built into the system squeeze a lot of util Within this definition are numerous variations, as this ity into a small package. The ROM-based text article attests. editor, BASIC programming language, address book, appointment scheduler, and teleco11111111 LCD. Liquid Crystal Display, nications programs are enough for many users. the dominant display in lap While on the go, files are normally stored tops, uses electrically charged in the 102's memory and may be moved to an crystals to form characters and optional external disk to a cassette drive. or to graphics. Attractive to laptop another computer via the I 02's modem or seri computer manufacturers be cause of their low power con al port. Four AA-size alkaline batteries provide sumption, LCD screens are power for up to 20 hours of operation, and an also used in such consumer internal nicad battery preserves the contents of products as digital watches. memory for up to 30 days. An AC adapter ($5 .95) is also available. But unlike most other laptops. there are no Microfloppy. The hard-shelled The Model l 02 is completely compatible spring-loaded dust flaps shielding the disk drive 31/2-inch disks which are used with its popular forebear, the Tandy Model slots when they' re empty. Although the built-in in virtually all disk-equipped 100. An ex tremely wide selection of hardware handle is convenient, it feels less than secure. laptops. The other standard accessories and public domain and commercial And while the Spark's overall construction is drive size, commonly used in programs are available. sturdy enough, its appearance and fit are not up desktop computers, is the 51/4 Although it is not MS-DOS compatible, to the standards ofcompeting systems. inch floppy. the l 02 is an affordable, lightweight system ca These flaws, howeve r, are easy to overlook pable of doing a yeoman's service. Good third when weighed against the Spark's overall versa Microprocessor. The brain of a computer, this single chip party support and convenient service through tilit y. cost, and ease of use. By letting you graft processes the information it re local Radio Shack stores continues to make the a wide variety of options onto a solid base sys ceives from programs in RAM Tandy l 02 (and Model l 00) a familiar sight in tem, Datavue helps you find a laptop that fits and ROM. 1> press boxes and college classrooms. both your needs and your pocketbook. 1> 32 COMPUTE ! Modem. A device which con verts digital signals from a computer to the analog signals Laptop Etiquette the phone system can under Powering up a laptop requires a bit more thought information you 're entering or retrieving, let it stand (and vice versa). Neces than a desktop computer. The problem lies not in wait. Ignore this rule when you 're stuck in grid sary for computer tele how to turn it on, of course, but in how to decide lock or driving across Wyoming. communications. where, and when, it's appropriate to use your 5. At the movies, unless it's a drive-in or it laptop. Here are ten places, for instance, when stars Robbie Benson. Enough said. MS-DOS. Microsoft's Disk Op erating System (or the varia popping the top of your laptop may not be the 6. Actually on the beach. Someone may have best idea. tions termed PC-DOS) has told you to buy a laptop so you could write that been the standard since the 1. At the dinner table. It's hard enough to get great novel while on vacation. but they didn't IBM PC was introduced. MS the entire family together these days, much less mean to take it down to the water's edge. Sand DOS provides the interface be with someone clicking away behind a pile of has a habit of getting in places other than your tween the computer's mash potatoes and meatloaf. Eating and com teeth and bathing suit. And just because the hardware and its software, al puters don't mix very well anyway. Crumbs, gra computer's chips are made of sand doesn't lowing you to store information vy, soup, and wine aren't appreciated by most mean they yearn for their birthplace. on disks and carry out file and keyboards and circuits. 7. In the tub. Electricity loves water. Really. disk maintenance tasks. 2. In church. Tapping toes in rhythm to the cur Makes it go fast and hot. The only time you rent psalm may be trendy, but it doesn't mean should take a bath with your laptop is when you Nicad. Nickel-cadium batteries keyboard clacking can substitute. Look at it this pay for it. can take repeated recharging way: Be thankful there are a few places where 8. At a Macintosh user group's meeting. For and still deliver power. Their you can 't take your computer-and your work the present, there are no economical Macintosh relatively heavy weight is one with you . laptops. Mac owners, some who think their ma of the factors against ultra-light 3. On the airplane next to someone who's chine is the best thing since sliced silicon, don't laptops. never seen a laptop. You won't get any work like to be reminded. This rule gets repealed as done, honest. Before you see the A> appear, soon as a Macintosh laptop costs less than Nonvolatile. Though not per you 'll be answering questions like "What's $2,500. manent, nonvolatile memory that?" or " Are you sure that won't make the 9. In a classroom (to play something like Star retains its information attar the plane crash?" Corollaries include never using a fllght). Your instructor will know you're not sim main computer power is turned laptop during in-flight movies (you'll lose your ply taking notes when, after blowing that alien off. eyesight trying to see the screen in the dim light) spaceship to smithereens, you jump up and and never using a laptop next to an in-flight shout " Yee-hahh!" Ports. Connectors, usually on drunk (you don't want a spilled drink-or the back of a computer, used worse-in your keyboard, do you?). 10. On the subway late at night. There's a bet ter way to do what you 're doing. Just put a big to link the machine to such de While you drive. Pay no attention to those 4. sign on your forehead that says. " Yuppie Victim vices as printers, disk drives, people who dial cellular phones from their mov Here. " monitors, and modems. ing automobile. Dialing a phone is child 's play - Gregg Keizer compared to typing on your laptop. Whatever RAM. Random Access Memory is the part of a computer's memory that's used to tempo rarily store programs and data files . When the power is turned Toshiba I 000 off, information in RAM vanishes. Weighing in at a mere 6.2 pounds and able to leap into any standard briefcase with ease. the Ramdisk. A part of RAM that's Toshiba IOOO is the undisputed featherweight designated as a "disk drive." champ of MS-DOS laptops. It's also relatively Since the "drive" is completely electronic, with no moving inexpensive ($1 , 199), but it lacks some of the parts, retrieving programs and muscle of more expensive heavy hitters. data (or storing them) is ex The IOOO's non-backlit supertw1st LCD tremely fast. screen has adequate contrast. but it's ex tremely difficult to read under less-than-optimal light RGB. Color monitor which ing conditions. With 24 lines stuffed into a mixes red, green, and blue to three-inch tall screen, the display can some create a multitude of other col times look crowded. ors. It's the standard type of Processi ng power is exactly the sa m e as a color monitor in the IBM PC and compatible 'NOrld. standard IBM PC, which places the IOOO at the low end of the MS-DOS compatible laptop ROM. Read-Only Memory, as spectrum. The rechargeable battery provides al The optional ($549) m emory expansion opposed to RAM, is perma most three hours ofoperation between charges. card prov ides an additional 768K of LIM (Lo nent. Information stored in The 82-key keyboard has an ex trem ely low pro tus/ Intel/Microsoft standard) expanded memo ROM (usually programs neces file but is surprisingly comfortable and well ry. Ofthe 768K 128K may be used to fill o~t sary to running the computer suited for touch typists. the IOOO's m ain memory to 640K, and the oal system) remains coherent The IOOO comes equipped with 5 I 2K of ance may be dedicated as a nonvolatile ram when the power is turned off. RAM and a single 31h -inch disk drive. C onnec disk. An optional 300/ 1200 bps internal tors on the computer's rear panel allow the modem is also available. Supertwist. A method, used in IOOO to operate an external RGB monitor, par The Toshiba IOOO floats like a butterfly manufacturing, of improving the legibility of LCD displays. allel printer, and various serial devices. There's and stings like a standard IBM PC. It's a won no provision for a second internal drive. That derful example ofclever engineering, and it's Telecommunications. The limitation is mitigated by MS-DOS being built the machine ofchoice for those who demand process of tranmitting infor into the system's ROM and the availability of maximum portability in a PC-compatible lap mation, via computer, from one an expansion card that lets you use the IOOO as top and who can live with the inconveniences location to another using a mo a diskless computer. dictated by that design. t> dem and the phone lines. MAY 1 988 33 In Your Lap Epson Equity LT While the Equity LT is a relative latecomer to the PC-compatible laptop Portability~ For the frequent market, the Epson name has long been traveler, less is generally more. As long as the machine meets associated with laptop computers. your needs, the lighter the bet The firm's prior experience has been ter. By the end of the day, a put to good use, resulti ng in a fast couple of pour.ids can make flexible, and feature-laden 121/z-pound· the difference between being system. tired and feeling fresh. Ma The LT comes equipped with a chines that will fit In a briefcase full 640K of memory and two allow you to keep one hand A 31/i-inch disk drives. With .,{~ free for hailing cabs and beat 1 ing off Moonies in airports. nearl y 2 /i times the compu- q tational power ofa standard ~~~~~~~~~~~ Display quality and aspect IBM PC, the Equity is one of . '°".,.,,~~ ratio. The clarity of a laptop's the fastest battery-powered laptops available. -~=:::::::::~~~ display has a direct relationship The Equity has two internal proprietary to how long you can comfort ex pansion slots, although the only announced ably use it. If you can't easily see what's on your system's accessory is a 300/ 1200 bps modem. External 1 screen, you're likely to develop se1ial, parallel, 5/4-inch drive, and RGB moni a mild case of eyestrain or a tor ports are standard. An optional 20-mega splitting headache. Backlit LCD byte hard drive may be substituted for the or gas plasma displays are second floppy drive. easiest on the eyes and are The standard non-backlit LCD display is readable under almost any ye llow, rather than the more commonplace conditions. The best non-back purple/blue. While the display takes some get cult to read under low light conditions. An op lit LCD displays use special ting used to, Epson claims that the yellow tional backlit screen is also available. high contrast supertwist tech The 85-key keyboard has a solid touch and nology that works well under screen is actually easier on the eyes. An LT medium- to high-light levels but with the standard display can operate up to sev has the ten function keys on the right hand will still leave most users en hours between battery recharges. An extra side, an arrangement users of older PC key squinting under low light. The cost blue backlit LCD display is also available. boards will appreciate. A full-size numeric key ratio of height to width of most The Equity LT's keyboard is an accoun pad is included, but it's located above the main laptop displays is lower than tant's dream. The large keyboard includes a key group to conserve space. 1 that of the displays used with separate num ~ric keypad to the right of the En Two 3/i-inch microfloppy drives are in desktop systems. The shorter ter key and ten function keys across the top. cluded, as well as serial, parallel, and RGB the screen, the more com Owners ofdesktop PCs will appreciate the color monitor ports. Internal modems-both pressed graphic images will Lap 300/ 1200 and 300/ 1200/2400 bps models-are appear. inclusion ofTraveling Software's excellent Link file transfer program with all Equity LT available. The standard Multispeed weighs 11.2 Battery /power characteris machines. pounds and operates for about three and a half tics. The amount of useful op The Equity LT is a solid laptop offering hours between charges. erating time between charges from a firm with a reputation for reliable and The NEC Multispeed is a solid machine. may limit the usefulness of a we ll-designed products. Although the LT is a laptop. You can spend half of a bit on the heavy side, its high performance, coast-to-coast flight twiddling comfortable keyboard, and expandability make your thumbs if your machine is relatively power hungry or the it an attractive choice for the first-time laptop battery is not fully charged. purchaser. While they're being used, disk drives and internal modems put an extra load on batteries. Some units' batteries are easily removed, allowing you to carry NEC Multispeed several fully-charged packs. Compatibility. If you already own a desktop system, being able to run the same programs on both your laptop and desk top computers can be a defi nite plus. Most of today's laptops are IBM PC-compati ble, but data such as text files can be easily moved between dissimilar systems via modem or serial port. Storage. One or two 31/2-inch microfloppy disk drives will generally be adequate for most laptop users. An internal hard wi th an intelligent design disk drive offers great conven and a health y dose ofspeed. ience but typically makes a lap When introduced in early 1987, it set machine heavier and substan new standards for battery-operated laptops and tially more expensive. continues to hold its own today. t> 34 COMPUTE ! SANYO COMP TER- 8088 HARD DISK-20 me1.ial)>'li! MONITOR-High- resolution CPU doublNided disk drive. gre<.'Tl .sc.recn displays; crisp 256K RAM, 4.77 MHz and II hard disk dri\'C you itt>tall in DIGITAL MUtTIMETER ternally for dramatic impro"e lexl and graphics. MH >. turbo S!)l't.'tl. Prolcssional test in.,trument menl in data storage capacity for quick and easy and data access speed. measuremcnls. LESSONS-Clear. well illusb'aled te~1S build your understanding of compukrs stcp.by·stcp. Get started now by building this fully PC· compatible computer ow you get it all .. . training for one of you a total mastery of computer the rough spots to keep you moving America's fastest-growing career oppor operation and servicing techniques. toward your goal. tunities . . . training to service all com You 'll do programming in BASIC puters . . . training on a total computer language-even run and interpret Free 100-page catalog tells more ... system. Only RI can give you the well essential diagnostic software. send today rounded training you need, because only Send the postage-paid reply card today NRI gives you a complete computer Understanding you get only for NRI 's 100-page catalog that gives all system ...computer, monitor, floppy through experience the facts about computer training plus disk drive, hard disk drive, software, You need no previous knowledge to career training in robotics, data com even test instruments like a DMM and succeed with RI. You start with the munications, TV/audio/ logic probe to work with and keep. It all basics, rapidly building on the funda video servicing, and adds up to training that builds the mentals of electronics with bite-size many other fields. If knowledge and ability you need to suc lessons. You perform hands-on experi the card is missing, ceed as a computer service specialist. ments with your NRI Discovery Lab write to RI at and then move on to master advanced the address Get inside the newest Sanyo Computer concepts like digital logic, micro below. -fully compatible with the IBM PC* processors, and compu ter memories. As an NRI student, you'll get total hands-on training as you actually build Learn at home in your spare time your own latest model Sanyo 880 Series You train in your own home at your computer from the keyboard up. It's own convenience, backed at all times fully compatible with the IBM PC and, by your own NRI instructor and the best of all, it runs programs almost twice entire RI staff of educators and McGraw-Hill Continuing Education Center as fast as the PC. As you assemble the student service support people. They're 3939 Wisconsin Avenue •1'1 ~ Washington. oc 20016 l'~n l Sanyo 880, you'll perform demonstra always ready to give you guidance, 11 tions and experiments that will give follow your progress, and help you over We' ll give you tomorrow The Price of Portability The Well-Equipped Laptop Carrying cases. A carrying case is an essential Modems. Internal modems offered by laptop Brooklyn Bridge ($129.95) accessory unless your laptop is small enough to manufacturers may be convenient, but they're White Crane Systems fit in a briefcase or you move it about infrequent relatively expensive and use valuable battery 6889 Peachtree Industrial Blvd .. ly. While a shopping bag might do, a case de power while in use. Inexpensive external mo Suite 151 signed for your laptop offers better protection dems no larger than a deck of playing cards are Norcross. GA 30092 from the elements and often has compartments less expensive and are easy to pack along. If (404) 394-3119 for AC power supplies. disks, and other odds you're a portable telecomputer on a budget. Datavue Spark (1 drive, 384K and ends. Most cases offered by manufacturers check out the Novation Parrot 1200. Migent $995: 2 drive. 640K, backlit won't keep a laptop from being damaged if PocketModem, and WorldPort 1200 and 2400. $1.450) dropped on a hard surface from a height of more File Transfer Programs. You can move files be Datavue than a couple of feet. If you're rough on your tween machines (typically between a laptop and 1 Mecca way equipment, consider using a hard or soft case in a desktop, or vice versa) by using terminal soft Norcross. GA 30093 tended for protecting photographic equipment (404) 564-5555 ware with file transfer capabilities, but doing so instead. Halliburton Zero. Pelikan. and LowePro can be a slow, tedious process. Specialized file Diconix 150 portable printer make top-notch cases that will accommodate transfer programs such as White Crane's Brook (S479) most popular laptops. Look for these cases in lyn Bridge and Traveling Software's Lap-Link for Diconix. A Kodak company most photography stores: IBM PC compatible systems simplify the process 3100 Research Blvd. Portable printers. Getting it down on paper lets of moving multiple files and do so at speeds 12 P.O. Box 3100 times faster than the fastest speed of most ter Dayton, OH 45420 you share your work with others and lets you minal software. (513) 259-3100 conveniently reference material without having to boot up your machine. Portable printers used to Spares. If you rely heavily on your laptop, double Epson Equity LT (dual floppy be AC-only affairs that were often as heavy as to up on items that may put you out of service, $1,895. no screen): hard disk/ computers to which they were attached. Kodak's even though your machine is perfectly functional. floppy-$2,995, no screen) Diconix 150 is the most notable of recent offer A spare AC power supply is insurance against Epson America ings. The Diconix ($499 list) is a nicad battery losing the original. An extra rechargeable battery 2780 Lomita Blvd. powered, ink-jet unit about the size and weight of can extend your untethered operating time. Torrance, CA 90505 an average hardcover novel. (800) 421-5426 Heath/Zenith 181 and 183, (Z-181 -$2,399: Z-183-$3,599). Zenith Data Systems 1000 Milwaukee /we. Glenview, IL 60025 (800) 842-9000 Zenith Z-183 If yo u think yo u've never seen a lap computer Lap-Link ($129.95) with a display yo u can li ve with. odds arc yo u've Traveling Software neve r seen a Zenith Z-180 series laptop. Add a North Creek Corporate Center. # 109 hard di sk to the equation, and you have a com 1931 0 North Creek Pkwy. pact machine that makes few compromises. Bothell. WA 98011 The Z-l 83's standard back.lit display is vi (206) 483-8088 sually stunning. Dark blue characters clearly NEC Multi-Speed EL ($2,495), stand against a shocking blue background from NEC Home Electronics (USA) almost any viewing angl e. Screen brightness 1255 Michael Dr. and contrast are adjustable across a wide range. Wood Dale. IL60191-1094 The 6 X 8 inch display area yields an image (312) 860-9500 with no trace ofaspect distortion. Characters Parrot 1200 modem ($119) are not crunched vertically, and plotted circles Novation are trulv circular. 21345 Lassen St. Th.c Z-183 has 640K of memory. A full Chatsworth. CA 91311 (818) 998-5060 megabyte ofexpanded memory may be added with an optional add-in card. Processing speed PocketModem ($259) ofthe Z-183 is adequate. clocking in at about Migent 1.4 times faster than a standard IBM PC. The Z-183 has a sturdy. integrated carrying P.O. Box 6062 1 handle, but it's rather heavy for a laptop, Incline Village, NV 89402 One 3 h-inch microOoppy drive and a 10 (800) 633-3444 megabyte hard drive are standard. A 20-mega weighing over 15 pounds. This alm ost classifies byte drive is also available. When eq uipped the machine as " luggable" rather than portable. Tandy Model 102 (S499) with the standard rechargeable battery, the sys Arnold Schwarzenegger may be able to toss the Tandy/Radio Shack Z-183 around like a toothpick all day, but most 1800 One Tandy Center tem will operate for a little over three hours Fort Worth, TX 761 02 with heavy use of the hard drive. An optional users will start wishing for a bionic arm after 15 (817) 390-3011 high-power bal!cry raises extended operation to minutes. five hours or more between charges. The number-crunching power of the Z-183 Toshiba 1000 (S1 .199) may fall short ofother laptops, too. but the ex Toshiba America The 78-key keyboard has an embedded nu Information Systems Division meric keypad and 10 fu net ion keys. The feel of cellence of its display and the convenience of 9740 Irvine Blvd. the keyboard is good. but some touch typists an internal hard drive will tip the scale for Irvine. CA 92718 may find the key spal'.ing a hair too tight. many prospective purchasers. If yo u don't need (714) 583-3000 The Z-183 comes with parallel and serial a hard drive, consider the Zenith 181 . a lighter. WorldPort 1200 ($199): WortdPort ports and outputs for an ex ternal RGB or com dual-microOoppy version of the Z-183. 2400 ($359) posite monitor. An internal 300/ 1200 bps mo Touchbase Systems dem is optional, and floating-point arithmetic 160 Laurel Ave. Arlan Levitan. Contributing Editor and author of the monthly Northport, NY 11768 fans will find an internal socket that accepts an column " Levitations." is also the hardware analyst for Con 516-261-0423 Intel 8087 math coprocessor. sumer Guides' Computer Buyer's Guides. [!] 36 C OMPUTE turer's suggested retail price and on Adventures in Atlantis user-specified information about desired Electronic Ans has released Return 10 down payment and length ofcontract. Atlantis, a graphic adventure game for Free disks are available by writing the Amiga 500, I 000, and 2000 that al to Buick and specify ing the computer lows players to assume the role of an on which the disk will be used. Agent for "The Foundation" and com Buick Distribution Center, c/o Ad plete 14 missions. com. 6845 Dix St .. Detroit. Ml 48209 Each mission takes you on adven Circle Reader Service Number 202. tures in exotic international locales such as the Baltic. the Caribbea n. and the South Pacific. There are over Computerized Comics 140,000 locations to ex plore and hun A partnership between lnfocom and dreds of opportunities for conversation Tom Snyder Productions has produced with various characters. Players are aided INFOCOMICS, comic book adven in their quests by se ve ral tools available tures on computer software. The story on the flying ship Viceroy, including a lines allow the user to follow any char robot named RUF (Remote Underwater acter's path, so different viewpoints of Friend) and ART, a shipboard co m The Sharp PC-4501 is now available for under $1,000. the story can be told. Viewers can puter. Throughout the game yo u en change characters when another charac counter characters who seek profit or ter has been encountered. political advantage for themselves. PC-4521. The PC-4502 features two 31h-inch disk dri ves. 640K RA.M, and a Onl y four of the computer's keys One interesting feature of Return backlit screen . It retails for $1 ,795. The are needed to view the story while each to Atlantis is the player profile you com page turns automatically. Viewers use plete at the beginning ofeach game. PC-452 1 has a 20M B hard dri ve and lists for $2.995. the space bar and the arrow keys to fast This profile is woven into the gameplay, forward , rewind, or stop the action, and adding a peronal touch. You can use Sharp Electronics. Sharp Pla::a. \1ahwah. NJ 07430 the return/enter key to change character either a mouse or joystick, and you have Circle Reader Service Number 201. paths. access to onscreen help at any time. The initial titles available include The game requires 5 I 2K of memory Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubberman a and has a suggested retail price of$49.95. spoof of 1930s pulp science fiction ; Electronic Arts. 1820 Gateway Dr .. Buick Disk Drive Buick Mo tor Division has released the Gamma Force in Pit ofa Thousand San Mateo, CA 94404 Screams, a superhero tale of three 1988 version of Dimension, a market Circle Reader Service Number 200. aliens; and Zorkquest: Assault on ing and information program for people Egreth Castle, a fa ntasy adventure interested in Buick automobiles. The about a caravan of travelers controlled program includes two disks with graph by an evil magician. Sharp Cuts Laptop Prices ics and information about Buick's 1988 All three titles are available for the Sharp Electronics has cut the list price models. The disk package is available Apple II series, the Commodore of its battery-powered IBM PC-compat free of charge for owners of IBM PC, 64/ 128, and IBM PCs and compatibles ible PC-4501 laptop computer by $300, XT. AT, or Macintosh computers with for a suggested retail price of $12 each. dropping the retail price to $995. a minimum of 5 I 2K. The PC-450 I features a supenwist The program contains basic data I nfocom, 125 Cambridge Park Dr., Ca mbridf?e, MA 02140 LCD screen, a 31h-inch disk drive, a on each Buick model, including stand Centronics parallel printer port, and ard equipment and optional packages, Circle Reader Service Number 203. 256K of memory, which ca n be ex specifications, comparisons to competi panded to 640K. Users can also add a ti ve automobiles, and a spreadsheet second disk drive, a 300/1200 baud purchase plan. The graphics portion Fantasy, Survival, and War modem, a CRT adapter, an EPROM provides views of the cars' interiors and from SSI card, an extended memory card to exteriors, as we ll as engin eering features Strategic Simulations has recently re boost RAM to l.6MB, and an external such as brake systems, suspensions, and leased four new game titles including 51/4-inch disk drive. engines. the sequel to Questron. Other portable computers in the Dimension can also calculate esti Questron 11 takes over where the Sharp line include the PC-4502 and the matt.: d pay ments based on the manufac original game left off. The player's char- M A Y 1 9 8 8 37 acter is in possession of the Evil Book kee ping the disk drives close at hand. by the fact that the robot has a limited of Magic that was stolen from Mantor Made ofwelded steel. the Drop energy supply. An information panel al the crazed magician. The book cannot kick has a light beige electrostatic lows the player to view the energy level be destroyed. so the player must se nd finish. indicator, a directional indicator, a his character back in time to en ure that map. and a three-dimensional front view. the book is never created. The player The suggested retai l price is $39.95. has encounters with creatures that must 11.ficrodeal, 576 S. Telegraph ..P on be fought ofTwith weapons and spells. I' tiac. Jll 48053 The game is available for the Com Circle Reader Service Number 206. modore 64/ I 28 for a suggested retail ;;; - ): price of$39.95. The Apple II and IBM - versions retail for $44.95. while the - Word Power Atari ST and Amiga versions sell for - Match ups has announced the release of $49.95. Version 2. I of Tyler, a word game simi Another sequel is also available - lar to the Scrabble crossword game. Us from SSI. The Eternal Dagger is the fol - ers can customize the game with their low-up to The Wi::ard's Crown. Players ~ choice of board size and layout. and the must search for magical weapons and - number and value of pieces. The game then must take a journey while solving - features a 200,000 word vocabulary and puzzles. The object of the game is to will help players when needed. find the Eternal Dagger. The game is Tvler is available for the IBM PC available for the Apple II series. the and compatibles with at least 192K of Atari 8-bit.. and the Commodore 64/128 memory and the Macintosh with 256K. for a suggested retail price of$39.95. The full vocabulary requires 5I 2K. The In Roadwar Europe, the player as IBM version also includes Jotto and sumes the role of the leader ofa road Hangman games. A manual and key gang equipped with cars, trucks, and board template also come with the motorcycles in post-doomsday Europe. package. The game carries a suggested The player's mission is to locate and retail price of$50. disarm five hidden bombs, find the en Matchups. 16D Oak Rd.. Medford. emy's headquarters, and destroy the MA 02155 terrorist leaders while battling mutants, Circle Reader Service Number 207. cannibals, and rival road gangs. The Apple II , 64/ I28 , and IBM versions sell for $39.95. The Atari ST and Amiga versions retail for $44.95. The System Dropkick mounts the CPU Making Sales Players can reenact the Civil War vertically under the workstation. First Phase has introduced a software Battle of Shiloh in SSI's Shiloh: Grant's program designed to increase produc Trial in the West. There are three levels The suggested retail price is $89.95. ti vity for sales professionals and man ofcombat to choose from , and during Li11Tek Cornputer Accessories. 426 agers. Daily Routine helps users make solitaire play. the computer can direct North Park /'IE, Grand Rapids. i\I/ better use of their time by organizing the orth, the South, or both sides. The 49505 their days. game is available for the Apple II series, Circle Reader Service Number 205. The program features a daily agen the Atari 8-bit, the Commodore 64/ 128. da of follow-up activities, customer his and the IBM PC and compatibles for a tory files. call reports. and quotation suggested retail price of$39.95. Robot Battles summary reports on one input screen. Strategic Simulations. 1046 N. Microdeal has recently released Slay Another input screen allows users to en Rengstorff Ave.. lv/o 1111tai11 View, G J go 11 for the Amiga and the Atari ST. ter expense and mileage reports. The 94043 The Slaygon is a sophisticated military program also contains a name and ad Circle Reader Service Number 204. robot that cannot be destroyed by con dress fi le that can be integrated with a ventional means. memo feature. Users can create mai li ng Players must help the government labels based on city, company, or a Computer Space Saver destroy the Cybordynamics Laboratory user-defined file code. LinTek Computer Accessories has in facility where a toxic virus has been de The menu-driven program features troduced the System Dropkick, a holder veloped to control the world. Ifthe ro screen help and a 60-page manual. Daily that mounts a PC svstem unit verticallv bot can disable their computer, the Routine uses less than 256K and is so it can easily fit u·nder a desk or work world will be saved. The Slaygon must available for IBM PCs and compatibles station. The System Dropkick adjusts bypass security robots and move in both the 31/i-inch and 51/•-inch for from 31/2 to 7 inches in height. and from through five miles of hallways and 500 mats. Suggested retail price is $ 175. 16 to 22 inches in width. rooms and then advance through five First Phase, P.O. Box 4504. The product is designed to free as security levels. Greensboro, NC 27404 much desk space as possible while The game is made more difficult Circle Reader Service Number 208. El 38 COMPUTE! standard is two bu11ons. but to be more destructi ve. Earl y OS/2 Blues for three buttons can be useful. reports from Lehigh Uni versity Another decision to make say that after incubation. the PC the PC World; is the type of mouse-computer vi rus reformats everything in connection yo u' ll need. Mice sight- hard disks and nappies. come in two configurations: A call to Don Watkins, New Drive-No serial and bus. The serial SYSOP on CompuServe's mouse con nects to one of your lBM NET. provided some Faster-for the PCs free serial ports. Since information and a little per DOS ve rsions through 3.2 onl y spective. To Don's knowledge, support two serial ports. find no viruses ha ve appeared on 64; Hypertext ing one free isn't always easy. the IBM fo rums of Compu For those who don't have a Serve. "Every program is thor free port. there's the bus oughly tested and analyzed on Apple lls; mouse. This package comes before it's made public," he re with a card to in stall in one of ports, "and we ha ve an audit Another Amiga the computer's empty slots. trai l that links each upload to The last considerati on is an individual through his or to make sure your mouse's soft her MasterCard or Visa ac PC owners are always trying to Fat Agnes Chip; ware is Microsoft-compatible. count."' In more than five squeeze more power from Microsoft was an earl y advo years. Don has found onl y one th eir machines. We insta ll cate of the mouse fo r PCs and destructive program uploaded LaserWriter II ramdisks. buy speedup boards. its device driver is the stand to CompuServe. and that was add hard disks, and-at least ard. Most mouse software wi ll easily detected during testing. so me of us-think of little else Family Debuts ha ve a driver that emulates In addition to hi s duties at in our spare time. Unfortu Microsoft's. but check before CompuServe. Don runs his nately. most people overlook you buy. own PC BBS, and hasn't expe at MacExpo; an inexpensive. easy-to-install rienced any problems to date option that supercharge your with Trojans or viruses there, P by fundamentally altering 512 Colors at ei ther. " I th ink the virus scare the wa\' vo u interact with it. PC Virus has been exaggerated in the PC Tl;e option, if you ha ve n't community." he concludes. guessed already, is a mouse. Once in New ST Just about everyone in the PC " Every two years or so. PC us The mouse made a late start community has heard ofTro ers get frightened about some with the PC family. but its vir j am. the seemingly normal thing. but we're more li kel y to Paint Program; tu es arc becoming uni versally utility programs th at reformat damage our systems accidently recogn ized. More PCs now a hard d isk when your back is ourselves than to encounter a and Terrific come bundled with a mouse. turned. Now there arc rumors virus or a Trojan." and more supporting software ofa new kind ofdestructive is released every day. In fac t. program call ed a rirus. Hints &Tips the sophisticated new PC Computer viruses came to graphics environments such as life in Commodore's Amiga, CGA Emulation GEM and J1·i11do11·s arc crip wi th the first ones reported pled wi thout a mou c. sewral months ago. Viruses The Hercules Graphics Adapt The difference between are disti nguished (if that's the er and its compatibles arc using mouse and non mouse right word ) by their incubation probably the most common in terfaces, in software prod period. They insinuate them graphics cards found in the uct wh ich support both. is re selves into an operating sys nearl y ten million PCs current markable. Microsoft's JJ 'ord. tem. a nd after a certai n ly on desktops. The card pro fo r ex ample. is one of the most interval, do so 111 e1hi11g. The vides crysta l-clear tex t and powerful word processors something depends on how su pcr-h igh-resol ut ion available in keyboard-driven ma li cious the author is. The 720 X 348 graphics at a low fo rm. Wi th the mouse. howev early Amiga viruses were fa irl y cost. The only problem wi th er. it enters a new dimension. benign organisms. They sim the Hercules card is that IBM allowing you to wri te and edit ply locked th emselves into the has never recognized it as a at warp speeds. operating system. and after a standard. As a result , neither Before you buy a mou c. certain number of reboots, a BAS ICA nor GW-BAS IC there arc a few things to con message appeared on the graphics commands support it. sider. First, you' ll ha ve to screen saying tha t something BASIC ex pects a CGA card for choose between a two- or wonderful was about to happen. its graphics, as do most games. three-button mouse. The The PC virus is rumored If you like th e Hercules MAY 198 8 39 COMPUTE!,,;~, spec~tc card's high-resolution mono of the new OS/2 when the op Unfortunately, nothing terns, I 6E International Drive, chrome display, but occasion erating system is finally re has been done to speed things East Granby, Connecticut all y need CGA compatibility, leased. With the installed base up. The 1541-2, like the 1541. 06026: (203) 653-4589; Athena Digital has the answer. of PCs and XTs being more plods along its merry way. de $69.95-a full emulation Athena BIOS is a small video than four times that of286 pending on software-driven package. card and supporting software turbo drivers to make it speed machines. Microsoft evidently • The 64 £11111/at or, ReadySoft , package that allows your Her palatable. Fortunately. turbo wants to enlarge its OS/ 2 mar P.O. Box 1222. Lewiston, New cules Graphics Adapter or d rivers are showing up on ket. Mach 20 may be a link York 14092; (416) 73 1-41 75 ; compatible to emulate a CGA most commercial software wi th OS/2 for th e rest of us. $59.95 with complete inter card's color graphics in black now. and there are various car As a side note, Mach 20 is face-a full emulation package. and white. It has the added ad really Personal Computer Sup tridges and magazi ne pro vantage ofspeeding up your port Group's 8MHz 286 grams available to improve the • Access-64. Dynamic Software svstem's normal video output Breakthru turbo board with drive's speed as we ll. Technologies. 9420 Rcseda e~e n when it's not being used some minor enhancements Meanwhile. sales of the Blvd.. Suite 410, orthridge. for emulation. and a special Microsoft option I 28D are outstripping those of California 91324; (818) Installation takes about added. The option? You may the 128. Schools, in particular, 360-2995; $79.95-makes use ten minutes. You'll need to have guessed it already- a like the I 28D's enclosed design. ofl54 1 or1571 drives to find a vacant slot for the card. mouse port. Microsoft's Mach Other buvcrs include those transfer files from 64/ 128 to Any short slot wi ll do; the 20 wi ll unquestionably cure tired of s~eing the wires that Amiga tex t programs; allows Athena even works in the oth your OS/2 blues. at least for connect components together. 1541/1572 to be used as an erwise-useless eighth slot on the time being. It's available Amiga storage drive (only). many XT compatibles. The from Microsoft Corporation, • Disk-2-Disk, Central Coast software portion ofA1he11a 16011NE36th Way, Box Software. 268 Bowie Drive. BIOS is installed as a device 97017. Redmond. Washington When Amiga's 64 Los Osos. California 93402; driver. so you'll need to add it 98073. (800) 426-9400. (805) 528-4906; $49.95- al With all the enhancements of to vour CONFIG.SYS file. - Cliflo11 Karnes lows transfer of text files from - Once in place. Alhena fered to the 64 by both Com 64/128 programs to Amiga modore and third-party BIOS is completely transparent. programs; converts PET To invoke CGA emulation, you developers. upgradi ng from ASCil to Amiga ASCII and the 64 to a more powerful simply type a special command vice versa. at the DOS prompt and the pro computer is less attractive now gram springs into action. It also than it was two yea rs ago. • C-View, C Ltd .. 723 East has a soft-boot facility that lets For those who do decide Skinner. Wichita. Kansas you load and run many copy to upgrade. however, there's 67211: (316)267-6321: protected packages. the problem of what to do with $49.95-a cable that lets an o emulator will run the older machine. Selling it is Amiga use a 1702 monitor everything, but Alhena BIOS a possibility, ofcourse, but the (eliminates the need to buy an comes close, and it increases the 64's software base (which Amiga monitor). speed ofyour nom1al video out probably cost a small fortune) put in the bargain. Athena BIOS goes wi th it. Keeping it is an is available for $60 from Athena other opti on, but most people Digital, 235 l College Station ha ve limited space. The third ATC Multi-Link Rd., #567, Athens. Georgia possibility may be the most at 30605, (404) 354-4522. tractive-emulation. RTC Multi-Link (RTC Multi Link Inc .. 110 Riviera Drive. The problem is. emula Unit JO, Unionville. Ontario. tion is difficult. The Amiga Canada L3R SM I) is a com OS/2 Blues will perform like an MS-DOS bined hardware/software machine, but only with expen networking system for Com sive hardware additions (S ide It seems that every time you modore 64 and 128 comput car for the l 000, the Bridge open a computer magazine Aside from its styling, the old ers. Designed for educational card for the 2000). A few years these days you see pages and 1541 disk drive has never real use, it allows as many as 40 ago, a Vancouver company pages about IBM 's new PS/ 2 ly been upgraded. Nor has it machines to be linked through sold an Apple II hardware em line and its new operating sys been successfully emulated, a hard disk dri ve that's includ tem, OS/2. When the com either. Finall y. though. it's ulator for the 64, but it cost too ed in the package. The price much to be completely saleable. puter and business press isn't about to be replaced. tag is high. about $3,000 for a singi ng the praises ofOS/ 2. it's The Commodore 1541-2, Software emulation is ten-station system. but it in worse. Amiga owners have al talking about Windows, Micro due to sh ip soon, is styled cludes a 20-megabyte hard ready seen one software emu soft's graphic interface. Unfor along the lines ofthe Commo drive, individual stati on mod tunately for owners ofplain dore l 28's 15 71 drive. but be lator. the Transformer. fall on ules. the Central ontrol Board, its face. Now, though there are vanilla PCs. XTs. or compat yond the cosmetics, it contains and the software. Its usefulness ibles, these exciting new several significant features. a series of products that turn in the classroom should sub the Amiga into a Commodore operating systems arc out of First, unlike most drives that stantially offset the cost. 64, the Amiga community is reach. They require an AT-<:lass have tried to cm ulate the 1541 . The idea is that the teach naturally skeptical. machine running an Intel 80286 it's fully compatible with the er will run the control unit. a microprocessor-or do they? 1541. Secondly, the 154J's in T he best Commodore 64 64 or 128 with the controll.ing emulator is a Commodore 64. Microsoft has just re famous bugs, particularly the software. Each additional com Anything else will probably be leased Mach 20, a $500 speed save-with-replace bug, have puter can run either as a termi second-best, but for the record. up board-easily installed in been fixed. Finally, its external nal or as a stand-alone unit, a here's what's available: your PC-that the company power supply wi ll keep the selection made by the control guarantees will run a version unit cooler. • Co-64!. Software Insight Sys- software. Terminal m ode al 40 COMP U TE! ~MPUTE!~,;t; speC!JtC lows students and teacher to And Infocom has taken Florida, Tutor-Tech is an au long past anyone's expectations. communicate with each other. Zork out ofthe realm of the thoring system designed pri All this is scheduled to again subject to the desires of pure text adventure. Beyond maril y for teachers. The come to the Apple II . GEOS, the teacher/ controller. The Zork gi ves your character a program's Teacher/Student geo Write, ge0Pai111. geoSpe/I, Control Board can restrict ac number ofrole-pla) Andrew Tobias has built a career-and a typing the amounts into the keyboard. reputation-by writing clearly, and often But ifyou don't pay your bills by com wittily, about money. His books and arti puter, you can cenainly save time at the cles fall roughly into two categories: those end of the year in organizing your shoe such as Fire and Ice (about Revlon head box, in essence. Charles Revson) and The Invisible Bank Given the time it takes to learn a ers (about the insurance industry), which program let's assume that on balance deal, often investigatorily, with industries yo u don't save any time at all when and issues; and those such as the well managing your finances. It already known The Only Investment Guide You 'll takes a fair amount ohime to pay your Ever Need and its recently published bills. With a computer there should be, cousin, The Only OTHER Investment at the very least, no net increase in the Guide You 'll Ever Need, which offer amount of time it takes. financial advice. COMPUTE! Ho111 do you personally go Recently Tobias has gathered nearly aboUI managing your finances? as much fame for software as for prose. Managing Your Money by Andrew Tobias , Tobias: I have two pieces ofequipment: published by MEGA (see the following m y ex pensive computer and next to it Buyer's Guide for further details), is num my 15-cent manilla folder. When I re bered among the more successful person ceive bills, confirmation slips from my al financial management packages on the broker, insurance policies, receipts, and software market. Andrew Tobias, financial writer and all that stuff, I throw them in the folder. adviser, and guiding force behind Every so often I power up the computer We asked Andrew Tobias to talk gen Managing Your Money. erally about the elements that make and clean out the folder. I find it satisfy financial management software worth ing, so I do it quite often. while for the average consumer. COMPUTE! But you don't have to. Tobias: No. Really, you could probably COMPUTE! ls th ere a single overrid do it twice a month. ing question that determines whether or ing, so yo u can spot months ahead not a financial management package when you may be running short ofcash COMPUTE! Yo111hi11k 1ha1, ultimate 111ill be effective for a consumer? based on your current budget. ly !he compU/er, even ifused only as a COMPUTE! Are there other elements sort ofaU10111a1ic shoebox, does save the Tobias: Number one is: Will ft be home user some lime when managing practical? consumers should consider when look ing at th e various financial manage the budget? A program that just balances yo ur checkbook is fine, but you reall y don't ment soft111are packages 011 th e market? Tobias: I think so. Not the first month need it. It's not practical, any more than Tobias: The software should be reason or two. But once they really get going, I it has turned out to be practical to have ably friendly, so it's not too hard to think they will save time. a computer in your kitchen to help you learn. More important for this kind of And even if they don't, there are figure out amounts and recipes. It's a software is the ease ofdata entry. If advantages. clever idea. but it's probably not yo u're using the software every day or COMPUTE! Such as? worthwhile. every week. for years, a ll the little con Tobias: First, it happens to be a little In order for a financial management veniences that may seem like bells and more fun. Second, far more important, program to be practical, it probably ought whistles at first reall y become the sort yo u're in control of your finances. At to be integrated. lfyou go to the trouble ofeveryday bread and butter that deter any given time you can see where you ofentering your various transactions, will mine whether or not the program is effi stand. The computer and software give yo u get other benefits than just being able cient or whether it's a real drag. And you a reason and a structure for making to balance your checkbook? you reall y don't find this out until a budget and a plan. [Financial writer] yo u've used the program for a whi le. COMPUTE! What 01her benefits are Venita Van Caspcl has said, " Most peo important? COMPUTE! Lei's 1alk about th a1 a ple retire with nothing, not because thev Tobias: You ought to be able to get re while. Ho111 long does it last? There 's a plan to fail , but because they fail to pl~ ." ports for doing yo ur taxes. In fact, you school ofthough! 1ha1argues tha1 com Having a structure like this makes ought to be able to keep track of how plllerizing your.finances really doesn 't it fun and gives yo u a reason to look at you stand for your budget, yo ur tax esti save any lime. your net worth every so often and see mation, and so on. Tobias: Look: You have to pay yo ur how you're doing, and it gives you a Automatically, once you've en bills, and you have to do yo ur taxes, or look at yo ur budget. It puts you in con tered the data, it should have an impact prepare materials so your accountant trol of yo ur finances and gives you a on yo ur taxes-it should have an im can do the work. This already takes a much better chance of bei ng able to pact on some sort of net wonh or bal long time. spot problems and organize your life so ance sheet statement so that, in essence, Although it does take time to learn it doesn't just happen to you. It lets you yo u can press a key and print out some to use a financial management package, have some say in what kind offuture kind of balance sheet for your banker. It once yo u've learned it, at the very least, you have. should have an impact on cash forecast it takes no longer to pay your bills by -Keith Ferrell [!) 42 C 0 M P U T E I ------b------u~yer'sguide Personal Finance Software Where's the money gone? A common question for most ofus, one that s01netimes doesn't have an answer. If you have a personal c01nputer, though, you can get answers lo yourfinancial-management questions and get a handle on your money. No matter what yourfinancial situation- from pauper to prince- you can find a software package listed in this buyer's guide that's just right for you. w a: I ~ : Andrew Tobias' BankMate be added to the bottom of the reports. and reports aI Financial Calculator Practical Software for individual accounts or the whole ledger can be MECA IBM PC or PS/2 compatible printed . IBM PC and compatibles 256K $44.95 $29.95 Business Systems Based on the financial planner Managing Your Money. Checks. deposits. and credit card purchases can be Timeworks this program can be used to make decisions regard· entered into this program through screens designed Commodore 64 ing home finances. Categories include tax planning, to look like checks and deposit slips. It can handle up $49.95 each retirement planning, college planning. rental -property to three bank accounts. and repetitive checks and de For small and medium-sized businesses. these analysis, investment analysis . cash-flow analysis. posits can be defined for faster entry. This personal menu-driven programs can be used to create and mortgage refinancing, buy/ rent/lease decisions. infla finance program supports up to 100 categories for print accounting reports. Each program can be inter tor/deflatar, internal rate of return. IRA/ Keogh plans, transactions : 50 of the categories are predefined or faced with other programs in the series for an inte present and future values. loans and annuities, bond can be customized . BankMate can be used to bal grated accounting reports package. All include yields, and compound interest. The new tax laws for ance the checkbook, prepare tax returns , or create password protection for security. Available programs 19B7 and 1988 are incorporated into the program . An graphs of expenditures for a 12-month period . The are Inventory Management, Sales Analysis Manage on line calculator and adepreciation calculator are program includes apop-upcalculator and 30 days of ment. Accounts Receivable Management and Invoic available. free telephone support. ing, Accounts P'ayab/e Management and Checkwriting, P'ayroll Management. and General Ledger. BDL.Estate BDL Homeware Check Tracker IBMPC Chipmunk $69.95 Commdore 64/128 Finances as well as important papers can be tracked $24.95 with this program. BDL.Estateis designed to hel p or This program helps home and small -business users ganize assets. debts. papers. job data, bequests. final keep track of activity in their bank accounts-checks. requests, and other important notes in case of death. deposits, savings, electronic transfers. and transac Reports include anet-worth worksheet. ti ons through automatic teller machines. The pro gram can support double-entry records. justify the Bottom Line accounts at the end of the month, print hard copies , The Midwest Software and store each month 's activity on disk. Apple II , Commodore 64/128, IBM PC $35.00 CheckMaster II With this ledger program, users can define up to 99 lnfo-Napse Micro Services account titles for their budget. Ajournal disk can hold IBM PC and compatibles up to 2000 entries. and 40 disks can be linked to $42.35 gether. Home. school. or business users can cred it or CheckMaster II is acheck-printing system for home debit any account and track the flow of money by users. It allows users to create their own check for Andrew Tobias' Financial Calculator, taken day, week. month, quarter. or year. Messages may mats and print from one to 200 checks at atime. from the popular program Managing Your Handwritten checks, automatic te ller machine with Money, offers help in making home drawals. fees. and direct deposits can also be entered finance decisions. Caroline D. Hanlon into the system. t> MAY 198 8 43 bU-Yer's~ J ====~ gtttae Clan Practical Accountant transactions, and vif!W their overall financial condition EasyTax Sir-Tech Software with this software package. Five what-if scenarios Valley Management Consultants Apple II, IBM PC allow the user to experiment with different liability IBM PC $79.95 options, and the outcomecan be displayed in graph Lotus 1-2-3, 384K $89.00 The Clan Practical Accountant can be used by people form-in color if the monitor supports color graph with little or no accounting experience to provide a ics. A portfolio manager helps keep track of stocks, EasyTax is a template that can be used to prepare complete pictureof their financial status. The pro and using Monogram 's Money/ink/ Money/ine soft Federal income tax forms 1040 and 1040-ES and gram helps develop afinancial statement for each ware, the invester can access online services . With schedules A, B. C, D, E, G. R, SE, W. 2106. 2119, month and can be used to trace tax deductions and Forecast (includeq in the IBM version only), the user 2210, 244 1, 3903, 4562, and 6251. On line instruc income. Nine charts of accounts are included, or the can estimate federal income taxes and plan tax strat tions and help notes provide assistance in filling out accounts can be customized. The program can handle egies for up to fiveyears. The program contains two the forms displayed on the screen and then printing up to 128 accounts, and all account balances can be sets of predefined starting accounts and has unlimit them out. Calculations are performed by the pro carried forward to the next year. Reports can be for ed account capability. Double-entry accounting func gram, and the results are automatically transferred to matted for individual needs and displayed on 40- or tions are computed automatically. Reports can be the appropriate forms. Tax tables and rate schedules 80-column screens or printed out. The Apple II version displayed on the screen or printed. In the IBM ver are built in. and the analyst feature compares an indi supports up to 2400 transactions per disk, while the sion, data can be exported to Lotus 1-2-3. Onscreen vidual's deductions and credits to the govern ment IBM version handles over 4000 transactions. Up to 20 help is provided . guidelines. A three-year planner is included. Updates liquid assets can be stored on one data disk. A pass are available each year for $30. word option is provided to protect the records. Four guidebooks are included, and atelephone support hot Economic Investor line is available five days aweek. ECON Investment Software IBMPC College Financial Planner $399.00 Randle. Coray, & Associates Economic Investor uses econometrics to forecast IBM PC stock prices. The user inputs recent values fo r seven $9500 economic variables, and the program can calculate Acollege-financing plan can be constructed for each the returns on 1200 different stocks plus the proba child by using this program. Data for each child is bilities of th osereturns actually occurring . (Another stored on a disk so it may be updated each year as version of the program computes the returns for 500 inflation, costs, and other circumstances change. stocks; it costs $249.) Costs such as tuition. room , board , books, and trans portation can be itemized . and the program automati Equalizer 1.5 cally adjusts the costs for inflation. The program The Charles Schwab & Co. DlvorceTax is a Lotus 1-2-3 template IBM PC and compatibles provides three plans for saving the needed capita l. A specifically for tax planning prior to a Modem manual and forms for gathering data are included in divorce settlement. $199.00 the package. Investors can use their modem and this program to keep track of activity in their investment portfolios. Dae-Easy Light The program can be used to access Schwab's central Dae Software Ea$yLoan$ IBM PC or compatible PAR Software computers. Standard & Poor's Marketscope, and the DOS 2.0 or later. 80-column printer, 256K Amiga Dow Jones Nf!Ws/Retrieval database. From the $69.95 256K Schwab computers. the investor can check on com $39.95 Designed for both home and office use, this account missions, gains and losses, dividend receipts, and ing package can be used to keep track of credits and Small-business and home users can keep track of updates to the portfolio. Investors can also use the debits , create financial statements, and print checks. loan payments and create amortization schedules program to initiate buy or sell orders, revif!W securi It offers achart of accounts for the home or office for with this program. Amortization schedules can be ties prices, and keep up-to-date on investing infor entering deposits. withdrawals. customers, and ven customized with partial paymen ts. balloon payments, mation. Telescan·s Analyzer software is included wtth dors. The program can be used to generate up-to negative amortizations, andvariable interest rates and Version 1.5. the -minute financial statements and monthly balance payments . The program can ca lculate missing vari sheets. Checks. invoices, or mailing labels can be ables such as principa l, length of time. or interest Everything You Need to Do printed with the program . A calculator automatically rate. The schedules and loan tables can be viewed on Your Taxes with Lotus 1-2-3 computes all the totals . the screen or printed out. Woodbury Software IBMPC EasyForm W-4 Lotus 1-2-3 DivorceTax $39.95 Research Press Va lley Management Consultants IBM PC and compatibles IBM PC or compatible Wrth this tax-planning and preparation package, users Lotus 7-2-3 or compatible spreadsheet Lotus 1-2-3, 256K can compare 1-6 alternate tax strategies or evaluate $65.00 $49.00 taxes for 1-6 years. The program helps determine This template is designed to help structure adivorce This Lotus 1-2-3template consists of four separate the tax effects of financial decisions and aids in sort settlement so both parties can save on taxes. It takes programs. W4 and W4A help users complete the ing tax records. Major IRS forms such as the 1040 into account issues such as alimony, child support. nf!W forms for withholding allowances . Update calcu and Schedules A. B, C, D. G, SE, and Wcan be com property settlements, dependents, and child care. lates the minimum amount of withholding and ad pleted. Help screens appear throughout the menu The program must be used with aspreadsheet. justs the allowances to equal the amount to be driven program. withheld. Estimate helps users estimate their income Dollars and Sense taxes for the next year. Annual updates are available EZTax-Plan, Personal Edition Monogram for $19. EZ Ware Apple II, IBM PC and compatibles, Macintosh IBM PC, PCjr, and compatibles; Macintosh 128K (Apple), 256K and DOS 2.1 (IB M) Commercial spreadsheet $119.95 (Apple), $149.95 (Mac), $179.95 (I BM) $95.00 Home users can create budgets with up to 120 ac This tax-preparation package is designed to be used counts, print checks, pay bills, perform automatic with Lotus 1-2-3, Mu/tip/an, Excel, or Symphony. It 44 COM PUTE ! __b_ uy___..er's ~ J gtltae helps individuals project future taxes, compare differ Financial Navigator Home Finance Manager ent tax strategies. plan for retirement, and complete MoneyCare CASC tax form 1040 and schedules A, D, R, and SE. The IBM PC and compatibles 64 audit-alert feature also signals if planned deductions 192K $49.95 may lead to an IRS audit. EZTax-Plan takes into ac $99.00 This home financial-management program can store count charitable contributions, self-employment tax Adouble-entry bookkeeping system for personal and over 200 transactions per month in 60 financial es. credits. itemized deductions, and assets such as small business use, this program can handle up to management items. Data can be displayed in graph bonds, stocks, and real estate. Updates incorporate 250 accounts and 1,000 payers. The report function form or printed out in reports such as the annual any changes in tax laws that may occur. The package can generate up to 40 reports such as balance sheets report. includes acoupon for one free update. This program and personal income statements. The program can can be used with EZTax-Prep 1040, also from EZ be used as acheckbook manager and to print Home Management II Ware. checks. Totals are automatically calculated . Data MVP Software from the personal version can be transferred to the IBM PC or compatible professional version. 256K EZTax-Prep 1040 $59.95 EZWare Apple II ; IBM PC, PCjr, and compatibles: Macintosh Forecast An enhanced version of the original Home Manage Commercial spreadsheet. Printer optional. Monogram ment /, this program contains five modules for home $99.95 Apple II , Macintosh financial planning and managment. Personal Budget EZTax-Prep 1040 includes templates for completing $59.95 (Apple), $69.95 (Mac) Planning (PBP) can help users plan their household 26 IRS forms and schedules: 1040. 1040ES. 2106, Users can create five different scenarios to compare budgets while Budget helps users keep track of in 2119, 2210,2441 , 3800,3903, 4952, 4562,4684, tax strategies or evaluate what-if situations. This tax come and check writing. Stock Broker is for analyz 4797, 4972,6251 , 6252, 8582, 8598, 8615, and planning software incorporates the new tax law ingpossible investments, and Quik Loan is a loan Schedules A-F, R, and SE. Computations are per changes, but retains tax formulas from previous amortization program. Typewriter, the word proces formed by the program and the results are automati years . It can be used to view tax projections for four sor, can be used for small applications such as ad cally applied to the appropriate form . Forms can be years and to keep track of deductibles through 1991. dressing envelopes and filling out forms. printed in an IRS-approved format on 1040 stock or Aworksheet can display the user's tax status, includ transparent overlays using standard or laser printers. ing estimated taxes. Reports can be printed , and files The program can also be used to create what-if sce can be transferred to programs that read SYLKfiles. narios and plan future tax strategies. The audit-alert Upgrades are available. feature points out deductions that could possibly trig ger an IRS aud it. and data can be exported to EZ Fundwatch 4.0 Ware 's EZTax-P/an for more in-depth tax planning. Hamilton Software EXTax-Prep 1040 is designed to be used with Lotus IBMPC 1-2-3, Mu/tip/an, Excel, or Symphony 1.2. Annual up 128K, DOS 2.0. graphics card $29.95 dates which include all tax law changes are available for afee (Macintosh-$99.95; other systems Designed for the home investor, this program can $129.95). compute the current and period ic yields, project an nual total returns, evaluate trends over aspecified pe Federal Tax Forms riod. and calculate the total returns on aportfolio. It Sky Computer Resources can print out the results in text or graph format to the Money Mentor for the Amiga provides up Apple II , Apple Ill screen or printer. The program does not require a to 200 budget categories for any 12-month 128K, Appleworks.111-EZ-Pieces tor Apple Ill modem or access to an online service. period. $39.95 Atemplate for use with App/eworks, this program Future-Tax helps users complete IRS forms 1040. 2106, 2441 , Taxaid Software HomeWorks Keep It Simple Software 3903, 4562. and Schedules A-F and SE . The pro Commodore 64. Plus/4 $39.95 IBMPC gram consists of three sections (instructions , a trans The new tax laws of the Tax Reform Act are incorpo $40.00 fer area, and the tax form); Im calculator templates Home buyers can use this program to calculate loan for computing depreciation, amortization, and taxes; rated into this program to help users calculate in come taxes for 1988 and 1989 and plan future tax amortization schedules or determine if a loan is af and a manual. Information can be entered into cells, fordab le. Loan amount, interest rate, payments per and the calculations are performed automatically. The strategies. The menu-driven program includes the new tax rates and automatically figures standard year. payoff term, first payment date, and balloon forms and schedules can be printed in IRS-approved date can be specified with the loan calculator. Income format; the 1040 data must be printed onto an actual deductions, exemptions, limitations on IRAs, surtax, deductions for the elderly, and itemized-deduction and expense information are used to decide if a loan 1040 form. Additional forms and schedules are avail would be too large. The autopilot option takes into able for $5 each. limitations. Data can also be output to the screen or printer. account FNMA requirements for down payments and Financial Decisions Planner mortgage insurance. TaxCalc Software Home Accountant IBM PC and compatibles Arrays In-House Accountant Migent Spreadsheet program Apple II, Atari, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC Macintosh $1 00.00 and compatibles , Macintosh $39.95 (Apple, Atari, 64), $49.95 (ST), $59.95 (Mac), 512K Atemplate for use with Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony, and $69.95 (I BM PC) $199.00 other spreadsheet programs, the Financial Decisions Up to 200 budget catego ries can be defined with this Small-business or home users can keeptrack of Planner can help users calculate and evaluate various budgets, payables. and receivables with this account situations before making afinancial decision. It con program for home fi nancial managers. The program can keep track of multiple bank accounts and credit ing program designed for the Macintosh. Transac tains 15 functions, including future value of an invest tions are all performed in one window, and related ment, minimum investment for withdrawal, nominal cards, print checks and reports, record automatic transacti ons, and flag items for use in tax prepara items are immediately updated when a transaction interest rate. adjusted-rate mortgage payments. fu occurs. The data can be searched , edited, displayed ture value of regular deposits, continuous interest, tion. The IBM PC and Apple II versions can be used with Tax Advantage, also from Arrays . in graph form, or printed out in reports such as cus term of a loan, last payment on a loan, principal on a tomer statements. aging, invoices. balance sheets , loan, and others. MAY 1988 45 and income statements. A page preview can be used among the forms. Various tax strategies can be en be stored on the electronic calendar, and financial to show the report exactly as it will print. and the pro tered to compare liabilities. Help screens contain ex data can be exported to Lotus 1-2-3. gram offers a selection of type styles and sizes. cerpts from the book. Individuals and professional There are 18 financial formulas to calculate data. Data tax preparers can use the program. and the results Money Counts 4.0 can be transferred to spreadsheets and other applica can be printed in IRS-approved format or on original Parsons Technology tions. The program is not copy-protected. IRS forms. Owners of the 1987 edition can buy the IBM PC or compatible 1988 edition for S39 .9S with proof of purchase. Hard disk or two floppy disk drives, DOS 2.0, 192K lnvestograph Plus, Basic $16.00 Liberty Research Loan Ranger Up to 999 accounts and 24,000 transactions per year IBM PC or compatible Pride Software Development can be handled by this money management soft 599.00 IBM PC and compatibles ware. This program can be used to monitor cash. The basic version of this investment tracking pro $99.95 credit cards, and checking and saving accounts. plus gram can be used to chart price fluctuations and Menu screens help users enter their data in this am it can help balance acheckbook. A financial calculator moving averages. analyze cycles and momentum. ortization program. The accompanying manual helps can determine interest rates, loan payments. and am and provide daily or weekly portfolio values. A what-if explain many loan terms and practices such as bal ortization schedules while the pop-up calculator can option allows the user to experiment with various loon loans, actuarial method vs. U.S. Rules method. be used for onscreen computations. Four financial portfolio mixes. The program is available on 3'h·inch Truth in Lending Law, and The Rule of 78s. statements and three inquiry reports can be generat or S ~ -inch disks. ed and printed. and data can be displayed in graph 1176 format. The program is menu-driven and not copy· ...- ()OU...... , _ ,_ _ protected . Onscreen help is provided. t/ 1 '!1. / 11 • , , 11 ••• •• 111. 1. t" Money Mentor .,, ~~~~~ · - ~ .... On e H"'r11:1red Jorty · S•••l'I t1nd t'!l, / IC O'''''''''' ' '"'"'""'"'"'''''''''"' "' Sedona Software Amiga 595.95 Home financiers create. edit, or delete up to 200 bud get ca tegories- 100 income labels. and 100 expense labels- for any 12-month period with this money ·~-- .... management program . In the transaction system . us ;~ MaclnTax ers can manage up to 30 accounts includ ing Softview checking. cash. savings. and credit cards. Transfers Quicken, a check-wri ting and Macintosh within accounts and transactions split between cate record-keeping program, uses 512K gories can be tracked . Th ereporting system provides screens that look and work like $119 graphic reports that illustrate actual vs. budgeted a checkbook. IRS forms are displayed on the screen for the user to amounts. Users can pro1ect their financial picture fill in the appropriate lines. The program automatical using the more than SO reports available. Isgur Portfolio System ly performs the calculations and transfers data Batteries Included among the forms. There are 13 worksheets to aid in MoneyMate Atari ST, IBM PC and compatibles. Macintosh computing taxes, and itemization windows hel p break Practical Software 512K (ST, Mac). DOS 2.0 (IBM PC), modem down any amount into adetailed listing. Instructions IBM PC or PS/2 compatible 5199.95 (ST, Mac), $245.95 (IBM PC) for each line in the forms can be displayed on the 256K Lee Isgur designed this portfolio manager to help in screen, and the IRS instruction book is included. 599.95 vesters keep track of securities information and man Completed forms can be printed using adot-matrix A system for organizing personal finances. Money age their investments-from stocks and bonds to or laser printer. Macln Tax includes forms 1040. Mate allows up to 200 transaction categories: 100 of commodities and margins. Current status of each 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040ES, 2106. 2119. 2210 , 2441 , the categories are predefined or can be modified . holding in aportfolio can be displayed in graµh form 3903, 4S62. 4S62A, 4684 , 4797 , 4868, 49S2. 62S1 . This financial-management program can handle up to or printed out. The telecommunications program can 62S2, 8283. 8S82 , 8S98. 861S. and schedules 1, ten bank accounts and 25 credit cards . Checks, de be used with amodem to provide up-to-date stock A-F. R. and SE. The program operates with Multi· posits. credrt-card charges . returns . and cash pur prices and information. Each sale is recorded and can Finder. Annual updates are available for SSS. State chases can be entered. The program can be used to be printed out for tax purposes. Functions can be de tax programs to supplement MacIn Tax are available project cash flow. compare expenses to budgets. bal fined and stored , and the program has macro capa· for California and f!IY York for $6S each; state up ance acheckbook or charge-card statement, track bilities. The built-in calendar helps keep track of long dates cost S3S. unpaid bills. calcu late loan payments. and print and short-term investments. Amount of data main· checks. a net-worth report. and information for tax tained is limited only by the amount of disk storage Managing Your Money 4.0 returns. Help is provided through onscreen messages capacity. The program accepts either keyboard or MECA and 90 days of free telep one support. The program mouse input. IBM PC and compatibles also contains apop-up calculator and notepad. 256K, DOS 2.0 or later $219.98 MoneyMate J. K. Lasser's Your Income Version 4.0 of Managing Your Money is afinancial Rea1Wor1d Tax 1988 planning package made up of nine integrated pro· IBM PS/2 Simon and Schuster grams covering major aspects of home financial $169.99 IBM PC and compatibles planning such as checkbook management. budgets, MoneyMate can be used to help organize an indMd 256K, DOS 2.1. color or monochrome monitor tax planning, insurance and retirement planning, and uars or fam ily's finances. The program can keep track 569.95 portfolio management. It incorporates the new tax of up to ten bank accounts. 2S credrt cards. and unpaid Software is combined with the J. K. Lasser Tax lnsti· law changes and contains afull -featured word pro bills. Loan repayment scherules. cash-flow projections. tute 's tax guide to help users complete their tax re cessor with mail-merge capabilities. The program can and budgets can also be calculated. Categories of finan turns based on the new tax laws. The interview be used to set up budgets. track net worth , plan fi cial actJvity are predefined and can be modmed. Infor feature helps users select the oorrect forms, and the nances for up to five years. keep records of insurance mation can be sorted out for tax preparation or questions can be modified for individual needs. There and investments. and print checks , invoices, mailing displa~ in graphs. Pop-up windows and graphic user is an onscreen calculator to usewith either the work labels, reports, graphs, and tax forms. Memos can prompts provide onscreen help. Output can be sent to sheets or actual forms. and data can be transferred some spreadsheets such as Lotus 1-2-3. 46 COMPUTE ! Moneyworks program operation. Updates for previous owners of Quicken University Software PC/TaxCut cost $45. Intuit Apple II Apple II 64K, ProDOS Personal Accountant $49.95 $39.95 Softsync Afinancial-management program for homes and Four subsystems make up this personal -finance Apple II . Atari. Commodore 64/126. IBM PC, small businesses , Quicken helps Appl eowners keep package . Budget helps users develop abudget and Macintosh track of paid bills. tax records . and other fin ancial print out monthly and yearly balance sheets and 4BK (Apple, Ata ri ). 128K (IBM PC. Mac) transactions. It can automatically write an d print $34.95 (Atari. 64/ 128). S49.95 (Apple, IBM. Mac) statements. Filer is adatabase for organizing check checks and update fi nancial statements. ing. savings , money market. IRA. and credit-card ac This double-entry bookkeeping system is designed counts as well as investment and stock transactions : for small businesses and ind ividuals . Data can be en Quicken2.0 the telephone and address list can be used to print tered into five accounts-income. expense. deposit. Intuit mailing labels. The user can examine the ettects of loan. and equity-and reports can be printed out. The IBM PC and PS/ 2 interest rates. investments. and inflation with the informa ion can also be used to help prepare ta x re 256K. DOS 2.0 or later Financial subsystem. This feature can also be used to turns. Amort1zat1on tables can be used to calculate $49.95 print loan -amortization schedules. balance the check loan costs and future value of deposits such as an 'krsion 2 of Quicken contains the same check-writing book. or flag taxable items. The memo writer can be IRA. Names and addresses for each account can be and finan cial-management features as the original. used instead of switch ing to a word processor . Gen stored in adatabase and used to generate mailing plus has some new capab1lit1es . A bill-minder feature eral rather than accounting terms are used. and help labels and lists. reminds the user when 1t 1s time to pay a bill . and the 1s provided on the screen. program can automatically write recurnngchecks. Fi nancial records can be updated whenever atransaction Multi-Program Disk #6 occurs. Reports such as income and payroll tax re Cardinal Software cords. budgets. and income and expense can be gen Commodore 64 erated and printed out. 'krsion 2 also allows an $19.95 unlimited number of bank accounts and transactions. This disk con tains five financial and statistical pro The package includes aquick-start-and-tips card. man grams. Financial Calculator calculates interest rates. ual. sample checks. sample envelopes. and acheck principal on aloan. payments , future va lues. and and envelope order form . Disks are available in J'h- or mortgage amortizations. Statistics helps determine 51A -inch format. Free te lephone support 1s provided . mean . variance. deviation . and distributions. Linear. rnh-order. geometric. and exponential regressions Real Estate Analyzer can be ca lculated with Regression Analysis. Linear HowardSoft Programming uses the Simplex method to solvelin Apple II . IBM PC and compatibles ear programming problems. and the Odds Calculator 64K (Apple). 128K (IBM). IBM compatibles require uses combinations or permutations to determineodds. Tax Preparer is a full -featured tax prepara MS-DOS, GW-BASIC. and 192K tion program for the Apple II and IBM PC 5295.00 (Apple). $350.00 (IBM) Nimbus personal computers. Real estate investors can use this program to calcu Oxxi late the pro1ected cash flow and overall return on Amiga property. It incorporates many tax Jaws. including $149.00 Personal Portfolio Manager ACAS tables and recapture rules. and 1t uses several Abacus measures of profitability. such as the financial man Small business owners can use this program to man Commodore 64 . 128 age th eir cash flow. Customer and vendor accounts Modem agement rate of return (FMRR). The program can are tracked by name rather than number so payment $39.95 (64). $59.95 (128) automatica ll y determine multiple loan payments. de status . outstanding balances. and P/ L statements Personal Portfolio Manager is aporfolio management preciation schedules. itemized income and expenses. can be quickly accessed . When information is en and analysis system that investors can use to man after-t ax ca sh flow. and the final return on invest tered into accounts payableor rece ivable. it is auto age stock portfolios , obta in quotes and news. and an ment. Information can be displayed on the screen or matically updated to the general ledger. The program alyze securities. The program can record dividends printed out. Investment models include trust deeds. uses the single entry method and otters predefined and interest, reconci le brokerage accounts , and store depreciation schedules, expense items. and income reports and invoices and an editable chart of ac up to 1.000 transactions on a disk. The auto-run fea schedules. Telephone support is provided. counts. Pop-up mini-menus help the user through ture can automatically log on . update quotes. and log the program . and business terms rather than ac ott using the Warner Computer System. A variety of Rory Tycoon Portfolio Analyst counting te1 ms are used. Nimbus can also be used to repor ts can be printed using the report generator. A Coherent Software Systems compile reports for taxes. IBM PC or compatible modem 1s required for accessing onl ine data. Com 512K patible modems include th eCommodore 1600. $150.00 PC/TaxCut 1650. or 1660: Westridge: and Te lelearning and com An investment-management program . Rory Tycoon Best Programs patible modems. IBM PC and compatibles Portfo/10 Analyst can tie used for managing invest S75 Planner's Choice ment portfolios. historical and realtime charting. and A OuickTax feature is included in this program to Activision retrieving quotes. It can handle up to 2.500 invest automatically recalculate tax owed . refund due. cur Apple II . Commodore 64 . IBM PC and compatibles ments and can performthe calculations to determin e rent tax bracket. and taxable income each time a S34 95 (64). $39.95 (Apple, IBM) net worth . market valu e. costs. profit/loss. dividend number ch anges in the program . This helps users This spreadsheet program can be used to deve lop income. and yield . A summary of each investment see how variations will attect the tax return. PC/Tax and organize home budgets. tax strategies, invest can be generated. including comm issioncosts. mar Cut otters context-sensitive . onscreen help for what ment options. fina ncial reviews, and statistical re gin value. imputed interest. and annual income pro ever topic or calculation the user may be prepari ng. ports. The program features windowing. three built-in jections. Historical charts of prices and movement Forms can be displayed on the screen before prin t functions . adjustable column widths. 255 rows . and a can be shown on the screen or as high-resolution ing. and the 1040 can be printed on plain paper with quick-reference guide. The IBM PC and Apple ver printouts. The package contains interf aces to Dow an IBM or Epson dot-matrix printer. A telephone tax sions support up to 64 columns. while the Commo ..kines Nows/Retrieval. CompuServe. and Lotus Signal. t> advisory service is available for registered owners of dore64 version uses 255 columns. PC/TaxCutfor S1 per minute with a minimum of 15 minutes. There is no charge for questions concerning M A V 1 9 8 8 47 u-yer's~J ======~ gt11ae Securities Analyst-128 Swiftax Tax Command Professional Free Spirit Timeworks Practical Programs Commodore 128 Commodore 64/128 Apple II, Commodore 64/128. IBM PC S49.95 $49.95 128K (Apple). 128K and DOS 2.0 or higher (IBM) Stock data can be entered into the program . saved to Individuals can use this program to help prepare their $49.95 disk , and printed to adot-matrix printer. Text infor yearly tax returns. Swiftax handles tax forms 1040. In this program. IRS forms appear on the screen as a mation can be displayed on the 80-column monitor 1040A. 2441, and 1040EZ. and schedules A-D. G. series of menus into which the user enters dollar while charts and graphs are displayed at the same W. and SE. It automatically calculates tax alternatives amounts. Acalculator and current tax tables are in time on the 40-column monitor. Stock analysis in such as income averages to show the lowest tax to corporated into the program to automatically calcu cludes P/Eratios. co-otficient of variability, beta pay. Changes can be made to the tax return at alater late the totals. The program can complete Forrris factor. and percentage gains. Available charts include date using the taxpayer file. Information can beprint 1040, 1040-ES. 2106. 2119, 2441 , 3903. and 8615 weekly performance. moving average. and accumula ed directly on tax for ms or onto blank paper. Update and Schedules A-F. R. and SE. (The Commodore 64 tion and distribution. Data on the performance of 16 disks with new tax law information and tables can be and 128 versions do not include Form 1040-ES or stocks is on thedisk. and there isamini word proces obtained each year at an extra cost. The 64 version Sch eduleF.) It compares itemized to standard deduc sor for keeping notes. The disk is not copy-protected. operates in 40-column mode: the 128 version. in80 tions and provides line-by-line tax information entry. column mode. A summary of the information can be printed for per Smart Checkbook sonal records, or the data can be printed directly onto Softquest IRS forms. Annual updates are available to registered IBM PC . PCjr. PS/2 f'I ~ ,.., ...... It •I -· users at half price. 128K ,_1_040 ••:_,. __: ... .. ~ . P ~ B7 $100.00 Tax Master Smart Checkbook offers avariety of featu res to help ~ Master Software home users manage their personal fi nances. Checks, ,. '"h , . . - " ,y Commodore 64 deposits. automatic withdrawals. and other transac S30 tions can be entered into the checking account sec ..·- . Individuals can use this program to prepare their fed tion. whichaccepts an unlimited number of accoun s eral tax forms 1040 and 4562 and schedules A-F. and can be used to reconcile bank statements. The The program includes the tax tables and acalculator ... '· ••I ..• ,...... , . checkbook manager allows the user to backup the ... ,"::, ...... function to automatically compute the amounts. Re files and modify any of the categories or accounts. ,1,, ' ... . sults can be transferred from one form to another, Up to 200 categories are available in the budget fea and more than one schedule can be completed for ture. and each item can be distributed to up to 15 dif each user. This menu-driven program can store data ferent accounts. Dates. names. amounts. and other TaxView, the IBM PC version of the popu for more than one taxpayer. and the information can fields can be searched 1n individual accounts. or the lar and acclaimed Mac/nTax, is a what be printed to the screen or aprinter. The package in accounts can becombined. Budgets . tax information. you-see-is-what-you-get tax prep cludes an instruction manual and acoupon for adis personal balance sheets . net war hstatements , and package that shows actual forms on the count on the 1988 version . other reports can be printed: checks can be printed screen. by specifying the form num ber. Tax Preparer HowardSoft Tax Advantage Apple II . IBM PC and compatibles Smart Money Arrays 64K (Apple). 128K (I BM!. GW-BASIC with 192K (PC Sierra On-line Apple II . IBM PC compatibles) IBM PC and compatibles $69.95 S250.00 (Apple). $295.00 (IBM) S79.95 Atax preparation program for Forms 1040, 2106, Smart Money can be used to control day-to-day ex Tax Preparer includes all the tax law changes through 2441 . 4562. and 6251 , and Schedules A-E. G. SE . 1990 based on the Tax Reform Act and enables us penditures and to plan for the financi al future. The and Tax Advantage automatically computes the W. ers toforecast their tax liabilities beyond 1987. The program can help set up a budget. track bills. remind totals. displays the forms, and prints out the data. It user enters the data. and the program automatically the user of payment dates. and reconcile credit-card can handle income averaging. calculate brackets and performs all calculations re lative to the tax year en · and checking-account statements. When transactions liabilities. and provideyear-round tax planning. This tered. The data is then transferred to over 20 IRS are entered , they are automatically updated to the program works with with Home Accountant. also forms and schedules. Results are checked against proper accoun ts. This program can also be used to from Arrays . save for ma1or purchases. to decide when to borrow the tax code to make sure limits have not been ex money. and to plan investments instocks and IRAs. Tax Advantage ceeded , and the forms , schedules. and worksheets Reports such as profit and loss and investment ana Double Eagle Software can be printed in IRS-approved formats. Users can lyses can be printed for tax records and to show how Apple II. Atari. Atari ST. Commodore 64/128. IBM also create what-if? scenarios to plan future tax strat the user 1s doing financially. PC and compatibles egies. Onscreen instructions are provided along with $59.95 ahandbook and telephone support. Strategist This federal tax preparation program incorporates the Strategy Software tax-law changes for the 1987 tax year and prints out Tax ZipFiles Commodore 128 IRS -acceptable forms and supporting statements. Petit Design $29.95 IRS-supported forms include Forms 1040. 2106, Apple II Amarket-t1m1ng program . this sottwareuses an his Appleworks 2441. 4562. and 6251 , and schedules A-Fand SE . $19.95 torical quote file and astrategy chosen by the user to The program can also be used for tax planning. Own simulate trad es and determine the best trade strate ers of The Tax Advantage Early Bird Edition. which in Tax l ipFiles is an Apple'MJrks template to use in gy. It uses persistence checks and an exponential cludes all changes through August 1. 1987. can completing IRS Form 1040 and Schedules A. C. D. moving average of quotes to test which strategy will purchase the final edition for $15.95. The two ed i and E. The tax ledger featurecan sort tax deductible produce the greatest payoff: the operator could then tions are tull y compatible: the final edition includes all expenses. and the speedmaps and speedpaging fea use this same strategy in actual market trading . The tax-law changes through November 1987. tures aid inusing the program . package includes the main program , aprogram to createthe h1storrcal files. a program which tracks cur rent pnce activity, and several utility programs. 48 COMPUTE ' _ _._..uyer's. gitide TAXAID TaxView Planner program can track seven moving averages. five vol Taxaid Software Sof1View ume 1nd1cators. least squares. trading band , and Commodore 64/128, Plus/4 Macintosh, IBM PC and compatibles comparison and relative charts. Data can also be en $44.95 Requires Macln Tax or TaxView from Sof1V1ew tered or edited manually. Up to ten stocks can be An income tax preparation program written by tax ac S79.00 tracked for 300 trading days on one disk. A modem countants and designed for home use, the latest edi This tax planning program includes tax tables for 1s required to capture online data. compatible moderns tion includes all the current changes in the tax laws t987-91 and worksheets to calculate taxes. tax include the Commodore 1600. 1650. or t660: West for the tax year 1987. TAXA/Ohelps prepare IRS bracket, child care credit, rtemized deductions. capital ridge: and Telelearningand compatible moderns fhe Form 1040, Schedules A- E, and Form 2441 (child loss limitations. taxable social security benefits. and 128 version features macros. an automatic log-on. and care}. The menu-driven program calculates automati the maximum IRA deduction. Users can compare up quick-draw charts using one to four windows. cally wrth all tax tables built in. An editing feature to five alternate tax strategies against the yearly taxes. allows users to make changes and revisions at any The program can compute wrthhold1ng allowances Touch 'n Go time. Printout is in IRS-approved format. throughout the year and print W-4 and 1040ES forms. Ouantic Corporation IBM PC and compatibles TaxEase $99.00 Park Technologies Business travelers can use this program to help keep IBM PC and compatibles track of their expenses for reimbursement. billing. Spreadsheet program such as Lotus 1-2-3 and at and tax deductions. Each expense spreadsheet con least 256K memory tains 30 expense lines and covers aseven-day period S69.95 Notes can be added to individual expenses. including TaxEase helps users complete both federal and state credrt card or payment numbers. A chec book-like tax forms. automatically computing the taxes and register helps keep track of advances and payments. printing the results on IRS-approved forms. Values The expense notes are printed onto special envelopes can then be transferred among the forms. Versions in which the receipts are kept. The program also prints are available for 18 states-AZ. CA, CO. GA. IL , IN . two expense reports-one for reimbursement pur MD. MA. Ml, MN, MS, NC. NJ, NY, OH, OK , PA, VA, poses and a personal report tor use in pre paring tax and WI-and Washington D.C. and the Virgin Is returns. A year -end summary of expenses can also be lands. A version containing only the federal tax forms printed. An onscreen, three-month calendar and a is also available. Updates are available for $34.95. four -funcbon calculator aid the user 1n entering the data. The integ1ated word processor can be used for Taxmaster memos. trip reports, letters. and more. Island Computer Services Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh TurboTax 1988 5.0 Appleworks, Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, or Works ChtpSoft S50.00 Your Personal Investment Manager tracks, IBMPC Atemplate for use with Appleworks. Lotus 1-2-3. 256K analyzes, and manages investment trans S75 .00 Excel. and Works. this program can help users com actions, portfolios, taxes, and retirement plete IRSform 1040 and schedules A-E . R. SE . investments. Turbo Tax rs a tax preparation . planning. and record 2106, 2991 , 2441 . 3903, 4562. 6251 . 8582, 8606, keeping package. With this program. users can com and 8615. Data is entered directly into the spread plete over 35 IRS for ms plus supporting schedules sheet cells. The program performs the calculations TaxView and worksheets. Online instructions. including a 30 and can print the forms in an IRS-approved format. SoftView second manual at the beginningof the program . help The tax planner can be used to estimate 1988 taxes Apple llGS , IBM PC and compatibles answer questions about the forms. and customer $119 and plan financial investments; it includes the tax law support is provi ded by telepho ne or tnrough the Chip changes for 1988. Taxmaster also contains atem TaxView helps users compl ete their tax forms or cre Soft bulletin board A data examiner option can prnnt plate for the new W-4 form. ate What if? scenarios to determinethe best tax plan. out anything left out of areturn. and the tax window Replicas of 27 major IRS ax forms and schedules feature displays the current tax status throughout the Taxpertise Preparer appear on the screen, and . when completed. they can program. Most of the math caluculations are per Marnoble Software be printed on adot-matrix or laser printer. Forms and for med automatically, but apop-up cala.ilator and note MS-DOS or PC-DOS machines schedules can be linked together, and data can be pad are also available . The next yea r' s tax laws are Lotus 1-2-3 or Symphony imported from text files. The program checks for er bwlt into the planningmode of the program to faci li 549.95 rors and any violation of an IRS rule. Instructions for tate tax record-keeping and planning. The data can be Taxpertise uses afill-in-the-blanks format so the each line in aform can be ca lled at any time. and printed onto supplied 1040 forms. or the forms can screens look like the actual tax form. Completed there are 13 worksheets to help in calculations. Ver be printed on IBM- or Epson-compatible dot-matnx forms can be printed onto a tax form . on blank paper sions are also available for some states, including printers. There are 26 integrated state-tax packages for use with transparancies, or in an IRS-approved Californiaand New York. for $65. Annual updates to available for $40.00 each . A version for professional format. This program hel ps users complete the fol the fede ral tax package are $55, and state updates tax planners is also available for $295.00. lowing tax forms: 1040. 1040A. 1040EX . 1040ES, are $35. The IBM version operates under Microsoft 1040X, 1116. 2106,2119. 2210. 2210F. 2441. Windows: aruntimeversion of that system 1s includ Your Financial Future 3468,3800,3903. 3903F. 4562.4684, 4797, 4868. ed on the disk. Mich Tron 5695, 6251 . 8598, 8606, and 8615. and Schedules Atari ST A-F, R, and SE. State forms can also be purchased Technical Analysis System TOS in RAM or ROM for $20.00 for these states: CA, GA, IL, MD, NJ. NY. Abacus $39 .95 OH . PA. and VA. It's also available for Washington Commodore 64. 128 This program can be used to estimate future assets, D.C. Disks are available in 51/•- or 31h-inch formats. Modem taking into cons1derat1on average yields on invest $39.95 (64). $59.95 (128) ments. annual savings. and inflation. It can compare TAS is acharting and analysis package that stock costs involved in leasing and buying and calculate the market investors can use to automatically update a balance needed to maintain aretirement income. Invest portfolio through Dow Jones News/ Retrieval Service ments and loans can be tracked and the data stored in or Warner Computer Service and then draw avariety a mini-database. A library contains avariety of reports of charts and graphs showing the market trends. The on IRAs. Reports such as net worth can be printed . 1> MAY 1988 49 Publishers of Personal Financial Software For more information about the personal financial management software listed in the Buyer's Guide, contact the publishers listed below. Arrays EZ Ware MECA Practical Programs Sky Computer Resources 6711 Val1ean Ave. P.O. Box 620 285 Riverside Ave. P.O. Box 931 04 P.O. Box 204 Van uys. CA 91406 29 Bala Ave.. Surte 206 \Akstpcrt. CT 06880 Milwaui Your Personal Your Personal Your Personal Manager 128 Financial Planner Investment Manager Timeworks Timeworks Timeworks Commodore 128 Commodore 64 . 128 Apple 11, IBM PC and compatibles $69.95 $49.95 (64), $69.95 (128) Modem Up to 15 individual investment portfolios can be or Part of the Syl via Porter's Personal Finance Series, S149 .95 ganized, analyzed . and managed with this program. this program provides onscreen instructions and an The second volume in the Sylvia Porter Personal Fi part of the Sylvia Porter's Personal Finance Series. illustrated manual for both home and individual finan nance Serres, this program can help users track. ana An investment portfoliocan be tracked and updated. cial planning. A financial plan is established by an lyze, and manage inve stment transactons , portfolios. all transactions can be record ed . and over 35 types swering aseries of questions on career, child ren , taxes. and retirement investments. It can be used to of statistical data and financial profi les of individual savings. and financial objectives. The electronic let investors know about upcoming deadlines or to companies can be displayed. The program can notify checkbook andcheck-writing features can print help investors plan their strategies. The package in theuser of upcoming investment deadlines and man· checks , maintain balances for five checking accounts cludes access to onlineservices and offers onehour itor investment taxes. divi dend income, and capital and ten credi t cards. and perform monthly check of prime time on Dow Jones News/ Retrieval Service. gains. A telecommunications feature allows the user book reconciliations. A budget can be created with up The IBM version can be interfaced with Lotus 1-2-3 to get on line with electronic databases. The program to 140 separate items. The prog ra m can also monitor and other ma1or integrated systems. also explains different investment strategies. Invest· personal financial holdings. aid in tax preparation. and ment Manager can be used with other Sylvia Porter generate financial statements. Areport writer can pre Personal Finance programs. For the 128 in 80-wlumn pare and print avariety of reports. and data can be mode. El shown on screen in graphics. The 128 version aper. ates in 80-column mode. 50 COMPUTE ! COMPUTE!;t; jpeC!JlC co111i111ud from page 41 jilter blues, that's probably just Hot Lead a misunderstanding. The jilter from John Sculley, Apple's will be cured. but not by a new chairman and chiefexecutive Desktop publishing may be the Fat Agnes. Commodore's like officer. the company's new biggest thing to hit the Apple II ly remedy is a deinterlacing products were primarily re market this year. Five pack board that plugs into the video sponsible for these sales gains. ages have been announced by slot ofthe Amiga 2000. Amiga The Apple IIGs was singled out various sof1warc publishers, and IOOO owners needn't dis as the best contributor from and two have already made it pair, thougll. since Commo the Apple II line, while the to market. dore is also said to be working Macintosh SE was that com First to arrive was Soft on a new version of the Denise puter's best sales performer. sync's Personal News/el/er. a chip to solve the problem. well-rounded desktop publish Where does the new Fat ing program that works on Ap Agnes leave 1000 owners? MIDI, Finally ple I le, Ile. and II Gs machines Probably out in the cold- the (I 28K required). The basic fea Fat Agnes is not pin-compatible tures are there, as well as the Creating music is one ofthe with the original Agnes chip. ability to import art from such most publicized uses ofper Graphics-crazy Amiga 500 and popular software as Newsroom. sonal computers, and one of Fat Agnes is a video chip in 2000 owners. thougll, will li ke Pri111 Shop. and Da::z/e Draw. the best ways to sell machines. th e Amiga. Ever since the ly keep their ears to the ground Timeworks made it in at The Apple IIGS has a sophisti Amiga 500 appeared, we've until the chip shows up-prob second with its Publish It!, a cated Ensoniq sound chip. ca ably in late summer. larger program with more fea heard rumors of replacement pable ofproducing up to 15 chips that would give the com tures. It includes a built-in separate voices simultaneous puter even better graphi cs. word processor, a graphics ly, and holds the musical high Lately, the rumors have sur Paint Wars toolbox. and a Macintosh-style ground in the Apple II line. passed the point ofcredibility. interface. Macros and optional Yet amateur and professional Not long ago, Electronic Arts' laser printing (not immediately Some claim that the new musicians have spurned the Deluxe Paint fl was the undis available, however) are among graphics chip will do all ofthe Apple llos because it doesn't following: directly support one puted Amiga paint program. the package's highligllts. offer built-in MIDI (Musical Today. a wave of new contend Three other programs megabyte of RAM. display an Instrument Digital Interface) ers has made paint choices less ha ven't made it out ye t. They impressive array of 256 colors. capabilities, prefering comput clear. The first challenger was include Springboard Soft and eliminate the annoyi ngji t ers like the Atari ST instead. Digi-Pai111, Newtek's 4096 ware's Springboard Publisher. ter in the interlace modes. That's likely to change So what will the upcom color paint program-the first Millikin's .MelodJi, and Berke with Apple's introduction ofa easy-to-use Hold-And-Modify ley Softworks' geoPublish. ing Fat Agnes replacement MIDI interface for the Ilos. really have? The one-megabyle mode paint program. Next into Springboard Publisher is For $99, you get a three-inch the baltle was Express Paint. still the most anticipated (and chip RAM rumor is most like by two-inch box which offers the first 64-color Extra-Half the longest delayed) desktop ly to come true. The current one MIDI in-plug and one Fat Agnes (used in the 500 and Brite mode paint program. publishing program for the Ap MIDI out-plug. MIDI is th e 2000) and the regular Agnes While these two programs ple II. Long promised and full music industry's standard for (used in the I 000) can directly both had strong points. neither of features, much ofits reputa communicating musical infor access only 512K of RAM. had the rich set ofbrush tools tion rests on Springboard's sol mation digitally and electroni This means that all graphics that made Deluxe PaiIll 11 so id performer, Th e Newsroom. cally. That means when you images must be located in the exciting and useful. Me/adv is di tinctive sim connect the Ilos and a MIDI first 512K of memory in order Now, three new paint pro ply because it's the only o ne of cquipped instrument. such as a to be displayed or operated on grams arc about to appear on the five which requires an Ap synthesizer or digital guitar. to by the blilter chip. One mega the market, each with a power ple II GS. It's also the most ex Apple's MIDI interface, the byle of"chip RAM" would ful set of tools. All three will pensive, scheduled to retail at computer can capture each allow for faster slide shows and operate in every Amiga graph $195. significantly above the and every note. With the right animations. Ofcourse. users ics mode. including Hold-And $59-$139 prices ofthe others. MIDI-compatible softwarc Modify (HAM) and Extra-Half klelody will include a spelling with 512K or less ofRAM such as the soon-to-be-released won't benefit from such a Brite (EHB). By using the new checker and a thesaurus, as Music Studio 2.0 from Activ change. but expansion memo pai nt programs. artists (and well as built-in laser printing sion-musicians can edit and ry is becoming more popular. the rest of us) can produce re support. manipulate the music using In fact , many of the latest sults that look more realistic. the IIGS. The last to announce was graphics programs work best Photon Paim. from Mi Berkeley (sec Apple is aiming the Macin "What's wi th (or even demand) at least croillusions, will be available tosh at the professional music GEOS?"). which has said its one megabyte. soon. This is a very impressive market (the MIDI interface geoPublish, already out for the The 256-color rumor is program. with nearly all of De works wi th the Mac as well) and ommodorc 64. would be the less likel y to bear fruit. It's true luxe Paint's tools, as well as the Ilos at the home and class first application to be translat that the Amiga's system soft several very impressive new room arena. Since the IIGs of ed to the Apple JI. It's expect ware can support the eigllt bit ones (like mapping an image fers color. however. it wouldn't ed to offer such features as planes necessary for 256 onto a sphere. cone. or arbi be surprising if musicians turn master page styles. multiple colors. but the time required to trary shape.) to that computer instead of the pagc designs. multiple col access the data migllt be prohib Electronic Ans isn't sit Macintosh, especially as I Ios umns, automatic text now, itive. Still, it may come eventu ting still . Look for the new De music software becomes more graphic scaling. page preview. ally-ifnot in the current batch line Photo Lab. which also sophisticated and such extras as and PostScript printing to the ofAmigas. then the next. operates in all of the Amiga's laser printing ofscores come to Apple Laser\Vriter. As for the rumor that Fat video modes. Althougll it is a the machine. - Gregg Kei::er Agnes will cure the interlace- full-featured paint program. M A V 1 9 8 8 51 COMPUTE!,;,t,; JpeC!JlC Electronic Ans will probably ing th is, NewTek, th e makers pitch it as a tool for modifying New Virus of Digi-Pai111. Digi-View. and Products, Prices and enhanci ng digitized or pre the upcoming Digi-F/ X. has drawn images to keep the A newsletter from the ICPUG come up wit h a brilliant mar If you wa nt to know all about product from competing wi th user's gro up in Europe notes a keting ploy to se ll their products the latest ga mes. th e newest Deluxe Paint II. new Ami ga virus that actuall y (a nd probably some Amigas, as joysticks, lightpcns, and draw Digi-Pailll 11 is com ing erases any disks that arc in well )--Demo Reel I. ing tablets, and the best vid eo from NewTek, the undisputed stalled in your system when an Deina Reel I is two disks. and audi o products. check out king of Amiga graphics prod apocalyptic message appears. lnsen one into DFO: and th e the Amiga Buyer's Guide from ucts. ew-Tek says th at they' ll Previous viruses were compar other into DFI :. turn on your COM PUTE! Publ ica ti ons. introduce eight video products atively inen. one-megabyte Amiga , and get Schedu led to appear on the this yea r. Digi-Paint II wi ll There are several ways to readv to be stunned. NewTek stands March 25. this vol ume mesh nicely wi th the rest. For protect yourself from Amiga has go ne out of their way to wi ll be a standa rd reference instance. you'll be able to use viruses. Perhaps th e best is to show off the Amiga's great guide in you r Amiga library. the Digi-Viell' interface to digi use the CL! Install command sound and graphics. On Amiga - Rhell Anderson tize pictures from wit hin Digi on a backup copy ofany new 500s and 2000s, it even turns Pailll II. disks you ge t. Then store the off the high-pass aud io fi lter origin al in a safe pl ace. This for be tter sound (your power solution works onl y if th e disk light will dim ). is a normal DOS disk. For Dem o Reel I fea tures To 2002 and Back commercial so ftware and other animated HAM (Hold-And software wi th custom boot Modi fy) gra ph ics. digi tized For almost two years. if yo u tracks. the solu tion is even eas speech and pi ctures. and a su had an Amiga and you wa nted ier-turn th e com puter off perb musical track. Dealers a Comm odore monitor. the when you take out the disk. will probably let th is th ing run choice was easy-you bought all day. If yo u wa nt to take a the Co mmodore Amiga 1080 co py home. no problem. New monitor. But if you've checked Tek's packaging makes it clear the mail orders ads latel y, you GFA BASIC to your dea ler that customers may ha ve noticed that the are free to copy the demo. 1080 is a dying breed. The re Michtron is said to be working Dem o Reel I is available placement? The Commodore on th e Am iga version of their from dea lers on ly. 2002 monitor. respected GFA BA S IC inter Well. be li eve it or not. preter and co mpi ler. GFA after onl y a few months the BASIC has become perh aps 2002 is also disappearing. The the most popular of all pro Seeing Stars replacement fo r the 200_? The gra mming environments on I084. of course. the ST. Supposedl y. the Amiga Do vou know whe re vo ur local It all started when Com version would be in so me pl a ~e tarium is? If so .' yo u'll Let's start thi s column with modore realized that they measure compatibl e with the probably love Galileo 2.0, a so me ironic news from IBM : could save a lot of tro uble (not ST version, facilitatin g th e program from Infinity that Officials rece ntl y announced to mention manufac tu ri ng transfer of software. puts the sky on your Amiga. that OS/2 wi ll cut down on costs) if they could sell th e Beca use the BASIC When you load Galileo 2.0, it training costs because pro sa me monitor wi th th ei r shipped with th e ST was so reads your Amiga's clock and gra ms will co nform to its con Am iga. 128. and PC co mpati poorly designed and bug puts the sky right up on your sistent use r interface. The ble co mputers. This led to the infested. Mich tron had littl e screen. You can then zoom in irony is wha t Michael Maples, repackagi ng of the I080 as the need to promote their BASIC. on any area, identify stars. see director of software stra tegy. new 2002. But the Amiga market may be the traditi onal co nstellations. offered as proof for the claim: There was one sma ll more diffic ul t to crack. and label the planets. (The "The Mac is evidence to sup hitch. though. The cables that CF.~ BASIC won't be the original version of Galileo was port thi s theory." connect a 2002 to a 128 or PC fi rst th ird-pany Amiga Basic. reviewed in the January 1988 arc different th an th e cables Tru e BASIC (th e price of iss ue of C01HPUTE!.) Ve rsion needed to co nn ect th e monitor whi ch has rece ntl y been re 2.0 fe atures more sta rs, faster to an Amiga. So ommodore duced). SA M B.· IS IC( from the scrolling and refresh, better ac A New System sold two different packages creator of Simo11 's BASIC fo r curacy. and much more. You with di ffe rent cables. the 64). and th e Absoft's can even save the screen to Well. as other computers get You may have guessed why Amiga Basic Compiler (re di sk fo r use in paint programs. easier to use. the Macintosh is the 2002 was doomed. Too viewed in this issue's Fast Infinity also sen t us Yale getting a little more complex. many people came home wi th Looks) round out the Bright Star Data Disk- a disk Larger (and open) machines. the wrong cables. co mpetitio n. th at works in conjunction wi th mega- memories. a variety of Commendably. Co mmo Galileo 2.0. It co ntains even scree ns and keyboards, an d ul dore acted quickly and intro more sl3rs and ce les ti al ob tra-sophistica ted software ca n duced yet another monitor jects. This disk should more intimidate a new user even on the 1084. Unlike the 2002. this Demo Reel 1 than please the serious ama a Macintosh. It can get pretty one includes all th e cables you teur astronomer. intimidating even for a sea need. no matter wha t Co mmo There may be a lot of talk Galileo 2.0 and Yale so ned user. dore co mputer yo u bu y. What about th e new word proces Bright Star Data Disk are To go along wi th all the will you do wi th th e extra ca sors, spreadsheets. and destop avail able from In fi nity Soft hardware advancements. Ap ble? Perhaps sell it to so meone publ ishing programs for the wa re. 1144 65th Street Suite C, ple keeps updating the System who got the wrong cable with Amiga. but it's still th e demos Emeryville, California 94608; and Finder. This has been a their 2002. that sell th e machi ne. Realiz (4 15)420-1551. problem si nce the first update: 52 COMPUTE ! COMPUTE!~;h speC!JlC The System and Finder have with it, your dealer should be was going at the show for (unless you al so need a little their own version numbers able to arrange a free upgrade $2.999. If there are any left by sprcadsheeting a nd data base (let's sec. is it Svstem 3.2 and for you. th e time you read this. they capabili ty; then. start with Finder 4.1 that ·have to be used Complaints about the SE's may be priced at $2,500 or less, Microsoft's Harks ). The up together?), and although they noisy fan were finall y heeded a and could be a wise purchase. grade fee to Word is onl y the were distribu ted free through few months ago. and Apple has price difference between the two dealers and electronic infor been shipping SEs with new, products. How ca n vou lose? mation services, users seldom quieter fans. You can arrange a It's like using Wri1e.fo r free. knew what all the changes were, fan swap with your Apple dealer Claris Arrives or when they were released. for about $90. The situation is improv The San Francisco MacWorld ing. Apple intends to release Expo in January saw the re In the Wings system updates every si x lease of many new or upgraded months with full documenta New LaserWriters products. and the announce Other new software whi ch tion. Ofcourse, you'll have to ments of even more. T here were wasn't shipping at the show. pay for the package ifyou want Apple didn't surprise anyone many notewonhy releases. but is worth waiting fo r: it that wa y. You can still get with its announce ment of First, Claris (the chip off free updates ifyou don't want three new LaserWriters, but it the old Apple) released Mac • PageMaker 3.0 addrc,,cs th e to shell out the $50. is ni ce to have all the details. Pai111 2.0 and Mac Write 5.0. th ree major n aws of the previ Apple's also trying to At the bottom of the li ne Seeing th e new \facPai111 is ous versions. It has automatic straighten out the numbering is the LaserWriter SC. Its like meeting an old fri end tex t n ow th roughout the docu system. As of thi s writing, the name hints at its defining fea who's had a makeover by a ment, automatic tex t wrap current versions are referred to ture: an SCSI port. This is a fashion magazine: new surface around graphics, and, best of together as System Tools 5.0. A one-computer printer-a per stuff, but the same old fri end all. style sheets. With style step in the right direction, but sonal printer not meant for a underneath. MacPaim incor sheets. fi rst brought to the not far enough: The individual network. It 's a Qui ckDraw porates llyperCard's tear-off Macintosh by /llicrosoft Word. version numbers in 5.0 are 4.2 bascd system, and does not menus and has a ' Magic Eraser you define a combination of (System) and 6.0 (Finder). handle PostScript. When Gen that erases down to what you paragraph and character attri We'll see what happens in the eral Computer released its previously had in that portion butes as a specific style. Defin next release, due out in late non-PostScript printer last of the document. lt has multi ing any section ofa document spring or early summer. (To yea r. my advice to those who ple. resiza bl e windows (fi nall y). as a cen ain style applies the check your Finder version asked was to avoid it; it and a few new drawing tools. style's attributes to that sec number, use the About the wouldn't be long before they In all, though, it 's a disap ti on. hange th e de fi nition of Finder command in the Apple found they needed PostScript pointment. Macintosh graphic a style, and all the sections of menu when you're on the output. My reservations don't programs have grown so so the document that belong to DeskTop: the latest Finder necessarily apply to Apple's phisticated since the origi nal that style change accordingl y. SC. because it's upgradable. At MacPaint that this version also repons your System ver • SuperPaint 2.0 has multiple $2, 799, it's a rea sonable entry needs more to really cut it in sion number.) object layers, new tools, and, into quality printing if you 're this software category. Up This current System (and most interesting ofa ll . an ex not using programs that speak grading from the last future ones) contains the Multi Ma c pandable tool palette. Silicon PostScript. such as 11/ustrator is $25: new, the program Finder "operating system." If Paint Beach, and any interested and Pageilfaker. you have at least two mega is $ 125. It still can't touch third parties. ca n create tools The LaserWriter NT (fo r bytes of memory, you'll be SuperPaint. but with the new that yo u can then put into the NeTwork) is priced at $4,500. able to use it. Basicall y, Multi SuperPaint jumping to the palette. Its sophisticated trac It is comparable to the discon Finder keeps the DeskTop $200 price range, there wi ll be ing function can turn bit tinued LaserWriter Plus. with around all the time. and your use rs who can't touch the new mapped items into objects applications' windows appear one megabyte each of ROM SuperPaint. with Bezier curves. There's no on top ofit. You can have as and RAM and 35 built-in fo nts. The new Mac Write is sig doubt SuperPaint 2.0 will be many applications open as The top of the line, the nificantly enhanced with a wqnh its new price ($ 199), but NTX (eXpandable), is the NT memory allows, and then just spell checker and multiple on there's also little doubt that it juggle around the windows. with more memorv and more screen. editable columns. You will lose fan s because ofthe in potentia l: ROM e;pandable to still have to insert a ruler fo r creased price and complexity. 2 megabytes. and RAM ex every paragraph that has a fo r T he upgrade price for regis pandable to 12 megabytes. It mat change. The pro blem with tered owners is $50. Bugs and Noise also has a port for its own hard this method has al ways been drive. where you can store that you have to inse rt a ruler •Neither WordPerfect nor Ful/Wri1e Professional (Word Apple has also announced two more fonts. The price is $6,599. after every changed paragraph, hardware updates in the last All three LaserWriters use too, or the changes continue Perfect and Aston-Tate. re few months: one for the Mac II a new Canon engine that out through th e document. Mac spccti,·ely) was ready fo r and one for the SE. puts blacker blacks (large black Write also has an upgrade fee release. th ough each word pro cessor did a bri sk business sell When National Semicon areas have always been a prob of$25 and is $1 25 to new users. ductor released its memory ex lem ), and all three print at But. with Microsoft's Write ing in prerelease fo rm. pansion board for the Mac II , about eight pages a minute. priced at $ 175 and a simple and it exposed a bug in the Mac's The bodies of the printers are generous upgrade path to Word ROM, one that kept it from 1hc same; yo u just swap the available in case you get power HyperCard Tip accessing a ll the memory on brains. The price ofthe up hungry, Mac Write is not neces NuBus cards. Apple fixed the grades is rough ly th e price dif saril y a bargain. I !yperCard automati call y ROMs and has been using ference among the models. Write is an elegant subset opens the Home Card, whi ch them since February. If you Note, though , that Apple of Microsoft Word. and is lets you naviga te to other have an old one and run into is going to support the Laser highly recommended as the stacks. But the Home Card is memory-addressing problems Writer Plus for fi ve years. It word processor for beginners reall y just another stack. !> MA Y 1 9 8 8 53 COMPUTE!~;/.' spec!J?C cnt resolution far greater than If yo u'd rather that Hrper· to edit ten fi les at once. Speaking 1-2-3 Card open one of yo ur other 320 X 200. Digitized Amiga Michtron has released stacks au tomaticall y. just re HAM pictures. translated to GF..J Companion fo r its well If you did vou r taxes bv hand name that stack Home. Atari for mat. look 1·er.r good. rcccived Gn B.·ISIC. The pri th is year. );OU might wa nt lO One last tip: If you want to Sudden Iv. th e world of color is mary purpose of G F-1 automate th e process nex t yea r circum ve nt the Apple menu's wide op~ n 10 T enthusiasts. Companion is to all ow the with a Lotus 1- 2-3 template. ..slot"' limit of 15, or want lO Trio Engin eeri ng recently nonprogrammer 10 generate There arc two ST spreadsheets keep your System down in size. announced Digispec. so ftware pse udo-dialog boxes for ob that ca n read 1-2·3 fi les. al get S11 i1case. from Softwa re which all ows the popular taining input and presenting though one of them, I "IP Pro Suppl y. S11i1case lets you gel at Com puterEyes digitizer to cap ou tput. The product's packagi ng desk accessories and fo nts even ture 512-color im ages. These claim that it docs Dialog Box· (e.monal. can on ly read when they"re not in your Sy images can then be mod ified cs. but it doesn't. Also. si nce version IA fi les. Though 1-2·3 tem fi le (S11i1case. $59.95. Soft with Spec1ru111 51] . Anists wi ll you arcn·1 allowed to give any version I A has been ofT the ware Supply. 599 N. Matilda no doubt enjoy usi ng Spec1ru111 program-<:ontaining code gener market for several yea rs. there Ave.. Sunn yvale. 0 \ 94086: to draw on the digitized back ated by the product to people is sti ll no upgrade that will let 408-749-93 11 ). grou nd s produced with the who don't own the GFrl Com I'/P read I ·2-3 version-2 files . Digispec software. panion (it's copy-protected). the Logis1ix. from Progrcssi\·e Per - Sharon Zardeuo ..iku ipherals. docs read version 2 Spec1ru111 512 ($ 69.95), The code is oflimited use. Michtron has also re files. but it isn"t as easy to use Catalog. 544 Second St.. San as I "ff'. Francisco. CA 941 07: (800) leased a book for intermediate There are quite a few pro 234-700 1 progra mmers usi ng CF-I 13.-ISIC. Th e GFA tf..1s1c Book gra ms and desk accessories Digispec ($39.85). Trio Engi was written bv Frank Os that don't run properly with neering. P.O. Box 332. trowsk.i. the designer of GFA I"IP. For exa mple. it locks up Swampscott. MA 0 1907 BASIC. This book con tai ns a if yo u load it aft er booting with lot of useful in forma ti on. al GOOS. incc GOO is neces though it tends 10 be highly sary if you wa nt to use th e For Programmers tec hni cal in spots and repeats a growi ng number of programs lot of the GEM information in that fea ture high-qual it y print Programming langu ages avail th e lastest GF·I manual. ed output. you may find that able fo r the ST ge t better and True BA SIC was released yo u mu st frequently reboot belier. Personal Pascal from for the ST as we ll. This lan you r ystcm to use VIP. guage shows its mainframe 0 is avail able in version 2. 1·1p Pro(essio11al ($249.95). with a GEM-based cdit0r roots in its ability to include ex ternal libraries (so me very ISO Marketing. 2651 Joh n St., that's even faste r than the orig nit 3. Markham Industrial inal. Bill Wilkinson ofOSS is powerful ones arc available from True Basic) and its abili Park. Markham. Ontario. Ca n understandably smug about ada L3R 6G4: (416) 479-1880 this. Acco rding to Mr. Wilkin ty to become a reall y huge lan so n. the meth od is clever but guage if you use all the Logis1ix ($ 149.98). Progress ive The pi ctures produced by the not too compli ca ted. Commer extensions. There's also a Peripherals. 464 Kalamath St.. color digi ti ze rs for the ST see m cial developers would do we ll GE M programmer·s t0olki 1so Denver. CO 80204: (303) to pale in co mparison with to make their products scroll you can use menus. windows. 825-4144 those produced on the Amiga. as fast. alert boxes. and dialog boxes The primary difTerence seems Tackle Box. a monumen in yo ur programs. hue BASIC If yo u aren't locked into to be th e number of colors. tal co mpanion product to Per ex ternal subrout in e ca ll s are 1-2·3 co mpatibility (such as it The maxi mum number of col sonal Pascal, co nsists of900 used to ge nerate the GEM is). th ere arc so me very easy ors the ST ca n produce on the pages ofdocu mentation on functions. efTec ti ve lv insulat 10-usc and inexpensive spread low-resolution color screen is how lO use Personal Pascal ing the user from the nuts and sheets out there: EZC ILC 16 from a palette of 512. The with GEM DOS. BIOS. bolts of programm ing in GEM. version 1.33 from Royal Soft Amiga can produce 32 colors XB IOS. AES. and YD!. The li Personal Pascal ($74.95), Opti ware and A-C.JLC Pri111r from in it s norm al mode. and a sta g braries included let yo u use mi zed Systems Software. 122 1 The atalog. Both of th e c fea gering 4096 in Ho:d and Mod i simulated C ca lls with Pascal. B Kentwood Ave .. Sa n Jose. ture full GEM interfaces and fy mode. The human eye and th ey provide a host ofcus CA 95 129: (408) 446-345 1 scroll much faster than th e perceives a much higher reso tom ro utin es to aid yo u in sluggish VIP. EZC.JLCevcn al lution th an is actuall y present your programming. Tackle Box($79.95). SRM En lows you 10 attach notes to anv when th ere are a large number Fast BASIC is now avail terprises, P.O. Box 40. ce ll . so you can actually docu-· of colors. able on disk. The bugs have .S.A.S.A. Colorado 80840: ment expenses/inco me and Fonunately, someone fo r been cleaned up. and tec hnical (415) 894-6183 state your assumptions. It cer go t to tell Boris Tsikanovskv support is ava ilable at a U.S. F BothSides able to locate any information many applications, however, In the Numbers Now on it. Can you help? this isn 't a problem. Q I recently purchased a Q C. .\fa11i11gly We know of three CGA copy ofLearning C from I just bought a Commodore_ emulators for the Hercules COMPUTE! Books. I wo uld 128 computer and a 1571 disk After reading the January issue card. The first is SIMCGA, like to use my Amiga to solve drive. I'd like to know how I ofCOMPUTE!. I was very which is available in both pub complex mathematical equa can wri te on both sides of my pleased wi th the anicle "Com lic domain and commercial tions. Precision is very impor disks. puter Monitors: Making the versions. The public domain tant to me, and I'm becoming I ha ve tried evef)1h ing. Right Choices." Your anicle SIMCGA can be obtained from concerned about the results I but I can use only one side of came at the right time for me any PC public domain source: am getting in Amiga Basic. each disk. Please let me know because I in tend to purchase a a bulletin board, a user's Most floating point numbers ifit is possible to write on both color monitor soon, and I was group, or a for-profit distributor arc rounded off to six decimal sides of a fo rmatted double not verv informed about mon of public domain software. places. Is there a way to get sided, double-den ity disk. itors. The anicle also con The commercial version higher precision numbers out Dave King tained some ve ry useful of SIMCGA is much more pow of my Amiga? informati on on graphics cards. erful than the public domain R. Allen Mansell If you 're using a 128 and 1571. In the anicle. a program one, but it's been difficult to all you need to do to be able to obtain until recently. Now you bv Chuck Guzis called SIMCGA , Amiga Basic uses two formats use both sides of disk 1s to can get the commercial ver a \~hich allows a Hercules card to store floating point num format it as double-sided, sion of SIMCGA from Excelsior to emulate a CGA card. is bers- single-precision floating using the HEADER command. Software (RD #4 Box 265, mentioned. Where can I ob point, and double-precisio_n After you 've done this, DOS tain more information on Sussex, New Jersey 07461 , 914 -343-5155 or 717-343 floating point. By default (tf will allocate both sides of the CGA emulators and about this you don 't specify which format disk for use. program in panicular? 6632) for $39.95. The newest commercial to use), Amiga Basic will use Another common way to B. Cqffaro the single-precision format. use both sides of a disk is to version of SIMCGA, 4.2, has a remarkable update policy: If Calculations with single flip the disk over and write on I read with great interest the precision numbers are much the second side, in effect treat you find any software th~t anicle in January's issue. SIMCGA fails to work with, faster than those using double ing the disk as two single-sided ··computer Monitors: Making Chuck Guzis, SIMCGA 's au precision numbers. but less disks. In order to do this, you 'll th e Right Choice." Since I do thor, will custom-code a spe precise. As an example, try need a device, available in mostl y word processing on m y running the following short most computer stores, called a cial patch for you at no extra unit. l feel that staying with a charge. This means that program: notcher. Disks used in this way monochrome monitor is the SIMCGA can potentially run Single - SOR(2): Double# are called flippies. best choice fo r me. anything. SQR(2) : REM the'#' indicates We should caution you The problem I am having Another emulator, Mode double precision PRINT Single about using flippies , however. is that when I want to use my : PRINT Double# With normal disks, the disk MGA, is available from system for other things li ke T.B.S.P. Software (2265 only spins in one direction dur recreation, my Hercules ca rd As you can see. the number Westwood Blvd., #793, Los ing its lifetime. Oust and con-. isn't compatible wi th the pro stored in the double-precision Angeles, California 90064, taminants tend to get caught in gra ms that use IBM 's BA ICA floating point format is far more the disk 's protective lining and 213-312-0154) for $79.95. This accurate. A single-precision graphics. I haven't been able to emulator was originally devel stay there. Since flipping a find Ch uck Guzis's program number will have up to 7 digits oped to allow Hercules users to disk causes it to spin in two di SIMCGA. of precision, while a double create CGA graphics with rections, depending on which Ra.r La/111a precision number may have up side is being used, these QuickBASIC. but the software to 15 digits of precision. harmful particles can be con works with many other pro There are a number of built-in tinually dislodged and spread Evidently, there is more inter grams that require a CGA card. libraries in the Amiga which over the disk 's surface. If est in this topic than we sus The last emulator on our are designed for performing you 're going to be using a disk pected. We 've had dozens of list is Athena BIOS, available numeric operations. These li often, stay on the safe side requests for information on for $60 from Athena Digital braries can be accessed from and don 't make it a flippy. CGA emulators and on (2351 College Station Rd., assembly language or high SIMCGA in particular. # 567, Athens. Georgia 30605, /eve/ languages such as C or A Hercules CGA emulator 404 -354-4522). Unlike Modula-2. These libraries in is software (sometimes ac SIMCGA and Mode-MGA. clude the mathffp.library, companied by hardware) that Athena BIOS is hardware as which gives you access to produces black-and-white well as software. For more Motorola Fast Floating point CGA graphics using Hercules CGAon a information on Athena BIOS. operations, and the mathieee Hercules card. The emulator convinces see the MS-DOS section in this doubbas.library, which per Q programs that a CGA card is In the Januarv 1988 COM issue 's "COMPUTE! Specific " forms IEEE double-precision present in the system and PUTE!, th e ariicle .. Computer department. math. In addition to these. translates the CGA 's graphics Monitors: Making th e Right some compilers support Mo into the Hercules card 's graph Choice" mentioned a program torola 68881 IEEE double ics. The translation takes time, called SIMCGA by Chuck precision math. See the ROM and for this reason an emula Guzis that em ulates CGA Kernal Reference Manual for tor's screen output is often graphic wi th a Hercul es card. more information. El slower than CGA output. With I am verv interested in this program.' but I've been un 56 CO M PUTE! IIREVIEWS Documentation is minimal, but it does cover the basics ofgame play. After awhile you may tire of playing the pro IIII /fast vided courses. Neither the manual nor the game offers a clue to whether more courses will be available in the future, al though they would be appreciated. -DH looks Commodore 64/ 128-$29.95 IBM PC-$34.95 Apple llGS-$44.95 Accolade 20813 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino. CA 95014 Mini-Putt (408) 446-5757 How can something look incredibly easy, yet be so hard? If yo u' ve played miniature golf, this question may sound Paintworks Gold familiar. After playing Mini- Put/, a new It's not surprising that there are two ex Go to Europe, Be miniature golf game from Accolade, cellent paint programs already available you'll probably be asking it again. for the Apple IIGS. The computer, after a Spy, See the Mini- Putt leaves little to the imagi all can display 4 096 colors in high nation. Up to four players can compete. resolution modes that rival such com 128D, Talk to Before beginning the game, you stop at petitors as the Commodore Amiga, the Pro Shop and enter yo ur name on Atari ST and IBM PS/2 computers. Mr. Spock, Build the scorecard. Four courses with differ What's surprising, howe ver, is an ent themes and varying degrees of diffi other IIGS paint program introduction. culty are provided. Activision's Pain11vorks Gold, sched Robots, Sneak You control an emotional little uled for release in March, and seen in a character named "Mini-Putt Pete." The prepublication form for this Fast Look, Behind Enemy game screen is di vided into four sec is not simply an upgrade of Paintworks tions: the playing area, the power and Plus, but more ofa completely new Lines, Battle accuracy window, the overview map, program. and the scoreboard. The top ponion of Similar in look and feel to most the screen is the playing area, offering a point-and-click-style paint programs Dreams, Print bird's-eye view of pan of the green. (ranging from PC Paint Plus on the With the joystick, you can scroll the IBM to the Macintosh's MacPaint), Anything, Fly screen to explore the rest of the green as Pain(lvorks Gold brings some new fea you plan your shot. Arrows indicate the tures to Apple art software. One of the Fast, and Crunch direction of slope, with colors showing most useful is masking capabilities, the severity of the breaks. Bewa re of where colors may be set as masked, and animated haza rds that await yo u thus be immune to any changes. Mask Numbers with throughout your round-especially the ing is perfect for making minor adjust windmill's ball-disappearing trick. Cor ments to delicate anwork. Another This Month's rectly maneuvering through or avoiding innovation is something called "slippy the hazards is the key to low scores. colors," which lets you lasso objects Review Picks Mini-Putt Pete's place is in th e and individual colors, then move them, power window. He's framed by a gauge all without disturbing the surrounding that displays the power and accuracy an. The program also matches some of meter, reflecting your aim and the Deluxe Paint !I's features. Perspectives, amount of force you use. Aim by posi sophisticated brushes, and gradient tioning the cursor. Three precisel y blending of colors, for instance, are now timed firebutton presses are all that are available in Gold. Like many IIGS needed to begin the ball's journey for graphics-intensive programs, however, the hole. How can something that looks Paint works Gold is often slow, particu so simple be so hard? larly when such things as large brushes M A Y l 9 8 8 57 •REVIEWS are used or complicated perspectives tered mind. It has also reminded me of from jackets, trash ca n lids, or old tires. are attempted. imponant deadlines and when my Players are chosen from a roster of 16 Paintworks Gold is a step up in phone bill is due. 1 now turn to Me111 ory neighborhood kids. It's your job to read Apple llGs paint programs, especially Ma1e instead of reaching for a note pad their playing specs (they vary in hitting, when features are compared and or my calendar. fielding, and throwing skills), and put counted. - MM together a winning team. - GK First, yo u must choose your play IBM PC and compatible computers with at least ing field. Then choose to play either Apple llos-$99.95 256K RAM- $69.95 against another person or against the (Pa inrworks Plus owners may upgrade to Br0derbund Software computer. You can play with old teams Painrworks Gold for $20 until 5/31/88. for $40 after 17 Paul Dr. that.) San Ra fael, CA 94903-2101 (on disk), or you can play with new Activision teams, in whjch case you get to select 2350 Bayshore Pkwy. each playe r on yo ur sq uad. If you make Mountain View. CA 94043 up a new team, yo u name it, select its (4 15) 960-0410 Fire Power players, and set the lineup and field positions. Computer tank games are nearlv as old Joystick commands are simple and as the vi deogame industry. So ii may be sensible. The game makes visual se nse MemoryMate surprising that Fire Power, a tank game as well. A " split screen" format shows Have you eve r been in the middle ofan from Microillusions, has become so you both the playing fie ld from behind imponant project and suddenly needed popular. What makes Fire Power a the home plate and an aerial view of the someone's phone number, or thought crowd pleaser? entire field. The close-up shows th e It's easy to play, and it s fun. to ofan item to add to yo ur shopping list, pitcher's throw th e batter and the You can play with one player or or needed to reschedule an appoint batter's swing. The overview gives you ment? 1Hemory/vla te from Brnderbund two, but it's the two-player option that each player's position in relation to the wi ll keep yo u coming back. Just as in docs all of thi s without forci ng yo u to ball and the bases. put away yo ur wo rk. Atari's ancient Tank Pong game for the When the game is being played, the VCS 2600, this game's success comes Memorvlvlate is a RAM-resident top quaner of the screen serves as the information. retrieval program which from its real, human, head-to-head scoreboard, which displays everything can be based either in yo ur root directo competition. If yo u can get yo ur hands yo u'd expect to find on the scoreboard ry or in a subdirectory; it can also oper on two Amigas and two modems, you at a major league park. ate as a sta nd-alone program. A single and your enemy can pla y from different Street Sports: Baseball is fun to keystroke call s up the program inside rooms, different houses. or even di ffer play. Epyx has put together a program any other application. ent states. with lots of options. Playing nine in The program's command list is Unfonunately, Fire Power is as nings against the computer or a friend displayed across the top of the screen at gruesome as it is fun. It's truly horrify wi ll offer yo u challenges and thrills as ing to see men being run over by all times. A help sc reen is also available you watch your outfie lder catch that pop to ex plain commands, incl uding copy tanks-nothing's left but mangled bod fl y or the third baseman tag a runner. ing or moving data from record to re ies a nd pools of blood. scenes th at are - CS/-/ all too realistic on th e Amiga_Some cord as well as imponing or exponing may want to pass this game by on hu data to or from ASCII files. Apple 11 -$39.95 Data is entered free-form into re manitarian grounds. Commodore 64/ 128-$39.95 cords which are limited to 60 lines con -RA IBM PC and compatibles- $39.95 sisting of 80 characters each. The Epyx Amiga-524.95 600 Galveston Or. program can store up to two megabytes Microillusions Redwood City. CA 94063 ofdata on a hard disk svstem. 17408 Chatsworth St. (41 5) 366-0606 Specifi~ records can be located by Granada Hills. CA 91344 searching for a ny wo rd. phrase, or date (800) 522-2041 th ey may contai n. When the necessa!)' record or records have been found, us ers may exit to the exact spot where AC/BASIC Compiler they paused in thei r application. Street Sports: The program's memory residency Baseball In general, the BASI C languages avail works well wi th most other software. able fo r most computers are compatible but 1 did experience access problems S1reet Sport : Baseball takes baseball wi th each other. An IF-THEN state when several large fi les in my database out of the little leagues. exchanging ment looks the same. no matter what were opened. Most questions are an sparkJi ng uni fo rms, up-to-date eq uip computer you're usin g_ swered in the accompanying documen ment, and the standard playing field fo r In real life, thi ngs aren't so easy. tati on, but the in formation is the game that you remember playing as The best programs rely heavily on the sometimes difficult to locate. Users a kid. special features of the computer and the must sometimes nip back and fonh be Ball diamonds are makeshift. Field panicular strain of BASIC. AC/ BASIC tween the mai n tex t and the appendix. locati ons include a vacant lot and a lets you wri te programs that run almost The program has helped to orga parking lot. Bases may be improvised unchanged on the Amiga, Apple llGS, nize my cluttered desk and my clut 58 CO M PUTE! •REVIEWS and Macintosh. agent. He's wearing a distinctive Eng "Who was the mother of Queen Eliza What do these computers have in li sh Bowler. He has your return air beth I?" as " What do you get when you common? Several things: a window plane ticket, but being a roguish sort, he mix beer with lemonade?" based mouse interface, high-resolution decides to play a game with you, and Questions appear in balloons on bitmapped graphics, great sound, and test your knowledge ofthings and peo the left ofthe screen. Cycle through po high-level event trapping. AC/BASIC ple British. tential answers in the balloon on the lets you take advantage ofthese features. right. Press Enter or Return to make There are three different versions yo ur selection. Choose carefully-you of AC/BASIC, one for each of the sup only get two chances. ported computers. On the Amiga and A correct answer is rewarded with Macintosh, you program with the Mi a Good Show! message; a tally line ap crosoft BASIC interpreter for yo ur pears and tracks your correct answers. computer, then use the AC/ BASIC Answer enough questions correctly, and compiler to make your programs run yo u receive a message that guides you several times faster. to clues. Pay the cabby when you reach On the Apple IIGS, you use AC/ the Tower. Make a mental note to stop BASIC as a compiled language-it is at a bank and exchange some more dol never run in interpreted mode. What lars for pounds. makes AC/BASIC exciting on the lIGS The aged Tower is impressively pic is that it's the easiest way to make fast tured with its familiar walls and turrets, applications that use the IIGS's special The Tower is just one of the sights you'll and you can almost see the ravens. After features. see in Ticket to London. a bite to eat in a cozy, traditional British You'll need to be programming in inn, it's time for more sightseeing. BASIC at the intermediate level (at You won't get your return ticket This time you take the tubes. least) to use AC/BASIC-nearly every until you guess the mystery Briton he Heading to the British Museum, you program we tried to compile needed to has in mind. To add a little spice to meet another friendly and inquisitive be modified slightly. your adventure, clues are scattered gent. Thanks to your knowledge, and a -RA around the city. If you don't solve the little bit ofluck, you answer enough mystery within ten days, you'll be stuck questions to receive a message along Amiga with at least 512K-$195 Apple llGS with at least 512K-S125 in London for good. the lines of, Buy som ething old. shiny, and round or See Marlowe's play. Absoft (Amiga, Apple II) A quick check ofthe screen's status 2781 Bond St. board assures yo u that the situation is Clues! The antiques shops on Porto Auburn Hills, Ml 48057 far from hopeless. It's ten in the morn bello Road might have something old (313) 853-0050 ing on yo ur first day, and you have and shiny, and there may be tickets at Microsoft BASIC Compiler (Macintosh) $300 as well as £50 (that's 50 British the Barbican for a Marlowe play. Macintosh with at least 512K-$195 pounds). The game's status board is The clues are simple. T1 y some Microsoft Corporation simple and unobtrusive; you can check game in jelly would be a good reason to 16011 NE36thWay yo ur financial well-being at any time. If go to Simpson's for an elegant pheasant Box 97017 yo u don' t take care of yourself, a line in aspic. A message advising you to See Redmond, WA 98073-9717 (206) 882-8089 advises you to rest or eat. Another line the American Painter should nudge you lets you know how much time remains in the direction ofa museum. Will you before yo u're stranded. know which one? Contributing to Fast Looks this month were Rhett Anderson; David Hensley, Jr.; Carol When you're ready to leave the sta Follow a message correctly and a S. Holzberg; Gregg Keizer; and Mickey tion, a map of London is displayed. The bowler hat appears, bearing a clue to Mclean. map shows more than 20 different the mystery person's identity. Clues are points of interest, including museums, relatively straightforward: He was one shops. hotels, restaurants, Trafalgar ofeight children or She was th e child Square, and other important sights. hood playmate ofher husband's brothers. Each location is represented by a dis There are ten clues for each mystery per Ticketto tincti ve and easy-to-recognize graphic. son. The more clues you possess, the • London Your current location flashes on more helpful are subsequent clues. Mes the map. A single keystroke sets your sages can be reviewed with the doorman You look like you could use a vacation. course to any ofthe other places of in al your hotel. The travel agent at Vic Ten days in London sound good? Don't terest dotting the winding Thames. toria Station keeps track ofthe clues. worry about expensive tickets and pric Some sightseeing is in order, so you I won't spoil the fun by giving ey accomodations. About thirty dollars choose a mode of transportation and de away any m ystery identities. The indi will get you a very special package tour: cide to visit the Tower ofLondon first. viduals, though, are well-known per Blue Lion's Ticket to London. The Underground is av'..lilable, or sonalities from the realm of British fact Just don't expect some stuffy group you can walk, but this time you decide and fiction. excursion-this trip is an adventure! to treat yourself to a taxi. -:·he friendly Play the game at your own pace. The adventure starts at once_ Fol cabby starts a conversatic1n. He asks a You can rush around London, respond lowing a title screen, a snatch of music, question of British interest and yo u cy ing to messages immediately, or you and entry of your name, you find your cle through several potential answers. can take a leisurely tour of the old city. selfat Victoria Station. With a colorful His questions range from history From Buckingham Palace to Covent graphic ofthe station serving as back to geography, culture and entertain Garden, each place of interest has its drop, you are met by a British travel ment. You're as likely to be asked own screen. Representations are faith- M A Y 1 988 59 •REVIEWS ful , colorful renditions that capture the nia. Danger is around every corner, de one point of view. feeling of Londontown. ception is practiced by everyone. Perhaps more important, the game Stop by Nelson's Column, enjoy a Tongue in cheek, lnfocom includes takes place in realtime, adding to the very high-class tea at Fortnum and several nondisk materials with the pro suspense of the story. Time is constant Mason, or poke around in a dusty old gram, aimed at helping you get into the ly ticking away in the upper right corner bookshop filled with Dickens and story as well as providing information of the screen. Unlike other text adven Shakespeare. Don't be afraid to live it for your quest. These items include a tures that progress only as you give re up, but watch your money. Think your sponses, Border Zone's story moves routes through, as well. Cabs are fast, along without your help. Unless you in but expensive. The Underground is voke the PAUSE command, things cheap, but a delay could cause you to happen in the story, and to you. Time.is miss the curtain at an opera. Walking ofthe essence during all three ofthe saves money, but takes more time. Be scenarios, and realtime progression of sides, on foot you may find yourself in the story is guaranteed to produce the middle ofa serious British down sweaty palms. pour. Get too wet, and the manual sug Another new technique for Info gests that you'll be forced to spend com is Border Zone's online hints. precious time recuperating at your ho Every adventure gamer has at one time tel. (Judicious purchases, though, such or another been tempted to buy a hint as an umbrella and boots, afford some book. Not this time: Border Zone's protection from the elements.) Play three different characters in hints are provided as part ofthe pro This is an enjoyable program. So lnfocom's new all-text adventure of gram. A simple command takes you to much so that you may find yourself wist intrigue and assassination. a menu where you retrieve hints for ful when you win. Your tour then ends. various points in the story. Once you Fortunately, Blue Lion has includ Frobnja Tourist Guide and Phrasebook, select the topic, you' re given increasing ed enough mysteries and questions to a business card, a matchbook, and a map ly re vealing clues. ensure high replay potential. The game ofthe Frobrua/Litzenburg border. Border Zone has a smart parser, is suitable for travellers who have been Ironically, these materials combine the vocabulary-driven interface that lets to London as well as Anglophiles antici with the detail and richness ofthe dia you communicate with the program. pating their first trip. It's also a Jot of logue and story to create a colorful pic The game has an 800-word vocabulary, fun for armchair travellers who may ture ofa drab and stoic country. and it recognizes multiple objects with never make the trip for real. In fact, The game itself is all text. Frankly, certain verbs. You can include several Ticket to London may be as close to I have found it hard to play text-only sentences on one line. Ifa command is London as you can come without going. games since the advent ofgames such unclear, the program either makes an Cheerio' as Th e Pawn from Firebird, which assumption or questions you to resolve - Ed Ferrell mixes graphics with text. I like the the ambiguity. With the special OOPS added element of visual stimulation command, you can save yourself from that occasional graphics provide. But retyping an entire sentence because of lnfocom has stuck with its philosophy one mistake. For example, ifyour com Ticket to London ofexercising your mind, not your senses. mand was PUT THE BOK ON THE For ... Border Zone, though, breaks new TABLE, you could correct it by typing Apple llc/e/llGS. with 128K-S39.95 OOPS BOOK. Commodore 64/128- $29.95 ground for the company in several re IBM PC, XT, AT. Tandy 1000. and PCjr. spects. To begin with, the program is di Border Zone is a well done, inter with 128K and CGA or Hercules graph vided into three self-contained esting, and challenging text adventure. ics-$39.95 chapters. Each chapter permits you to It is an intelligent program with an ad From ... play a different character in the story's vanced parser. The realtime game pro Blue Lion Software central, assassination-oriented plot. gression and the opportunity to portray 90 Sherman St. different characters in the plot set Cambridge. MA 02140 Chapter One places you in the (6 17) 876-2500 shoes ofan easygoing American busi Border Zone apart from other text ad ventures and make it an attractive en And . .. nessman returning from a trip behind Also in the series. Ticket to Paris, Ticket to the Iron curtain. Your quiet train trip is tertainment for either advanced text Spain, and Ticket to Washington, O.C. interrupted by a wounded, on-the-run gamesters or entertainment novices. American spy. You find yourself in - Scott Thomas volved in an assassination plot, con t> fronted by a dangerous KGB officer. In Chapter Two, your character is the wounded American agent whose assign Border Zone For . .. ment is to stop the assassination. Chap Apple 11-$39.95 • Border Zone ter Three gives you the role ofthe KGB Commodore 64/128-$34.95 officer. IBM PC and compatibles-$39.95 Border Zone, a new interactive text This three-scenario approach is Macintosh-$39.95 game, brings the intrigue of internation both interesting and satisfying. I have From . . . al espionage to your computer and key often wondered what a particular text lnfocom 125 Cambridge Park Drive board. As the main character, you are game would be like from another per Cambridge, MA 02140 involved in an assassination plot in the spective. Border Zone gives the oppor (617) 492-6000 mythical Eastern Bloc nation ofFrob tunity to see a story from more than 60 COMP U TE! •REVIEWS The composite color video and BASIC 2.0), The 1280 is a winner. It's well de 128 mode (with 40-column composite signed, compatible with the 128, and • Commodore 128D color video, 80-column color RGB vid has some important enhancements. eo, and BASIC 7.0), and CP/M mode - Clifton Karnes The Commodore 1280, introduced in (using the 128's inboard Z80A micro Europe over two years ago, has finally processor). And it runs both GEOS and made its way to the U.S., replacing the GEOS128 operating systems. Commodore 128D 128 as Commodore's premier eight-bit All the familiar input/output ports For .. . machine. The new 1280 is everything an on the old 128 are represented on the $599.95 upgrade should be. It's an enhancement 1280, but some are in different loca From . . . ofthe 128 that's completely compatible tions. They include two ports for joy Commodore Business Machines with all existing software and peripherals. sticks or a mouse, a serial port for disk 1200 Wilson Dr. The most obvious change in the dri ves and printers, a port for a RAM West Chester, PA 19380 1280 is its new exterior, which strongly expansion module, a cassette port, and (215) 431-9100 resembles Commodore's Amiga 1000. a user port for a modem or RS-232 in Features include a detachable keyboard terface. Just like the 128, the 1280 and a sleek metal case that houses the boasts a hand y reset switch. system hardware, the power supply, and an upgraded 1571 dri ve. Not only is the I 280's new look more polished Star Trek: The and professional than the l 28's, the • Rebel Universe new design has some practical advan tages, too. There are so many good things about The l 28D's detachable keyboard this game that it's impossible not to uses the same layo ut as the l 28's, but wish the developers had carried their has a lighter action, maki ng lightning ideas a bit further. The attempt to cap fast touch typing easy. The keyboard's ture the feel of the original Star Trek cord is shorter than it should be, but it's series and the more recent Star Trek long enough to let you reap most of the movies is admirable, and the game's benefits of detachability. player interface is truly noteworthy. The slim metal case that houses Despite these excellences, though, The Commodore 1280 features a detach the system hardware protects the com Star Trek: The Rebel Uni1 1erse suffers in puter's delicate circuitry from coffee able keyboard and an internal 1571 SV• the end from an unexpected tedious inch disk drive. spills and also acts as an excellent RF ness of play, and a realization that one shield. Like the Amiga 1000, the system of the popular series' most attractive at unit can be used as a convenient monitor The 1280 appears to be completely tributes has not been included. stand, with a 1280 ensemble taking up compatible with the 128. We've tested it Too bad because in many ways much less desk space than a 128 system wi th a wide range of software and peri Star Trek: The Rebel Universe is more with an external disk drive and monitor. pherals in 64 mode and 128 mode, with than superb. Commodore did more than just CP/ M, and with G£0Sand GEOS128. The game casts the crew of the En wrap the 128 in an attractive new pack All software and hardware performed terprise into a sealed-off section of space age. There are several internal improve without problems. called the Quarantine Zone. Within that ments worth noting, the biggest being a There isn't much to criticize about zone, a host of Federation starships have dramatic increase in 80-column video the 1280. If fac t, my only reservations turned traitor, owing ofcourse to a Klin RAM. The 128's 8563 chip had 16K of center around the internal 1571 drive. gon plot, and Kirk and the folks must dedicated RAM, but the 1280 has a Although an internal drive can have find a way to stop the rebellion from massive 64K. This new RAM makes many benefits, it also has some draw spreading. This demands visiting star exciting multicolor, hi-res 640 X 200 backs. First, there's the matter of repair. system after star system, trying to keep graphics possible on the 1280. If the dri ve needs to go to the shop, the the Enterprise alive while searching for There are more hardware improve whole system must go. Also, the I 280's the solution to the problem. ments to the 1571. Recently, Commo internal 1571 doesn't have the ex ternal The game screen includes one large dore updated its stand-alone 1571 disk DIP switches that make reassigning de primary display, with seven surrounding drive by releasing new RO Ms, which vice numbers so easy on the stand secondary displays. In fact, there are corrected some bugs in previous edi alone versions. Commodore must more than eight screens, since many of tions and increased the dri ve's speed. assume that you'll always want the in the individual displays have subdisplays, The new I 280's internal 1571 sports ternal drive to be co nfigured as device but only eight are shown at one time. Ac these upgraded RO Ms. 8, but users with a 1280 and a 1581 cessing any display means simply point The CP/M 3.0 operating system that drive may not see things that way. The ing at it and clicking with the mouse. comes bundled with the 1280 is also en last problem with the internal 1571 is Seven of the screens show familiar hanced. It now fully supports Commo that it makes the 1280 more expensive Star Trek characters (the graphics here dore's new 1581 31h-inch disk drive and than a 128. With the latter machine, a are very good), and each character has a includes several utilities not found in the 64 owner could upgrade to a 128 and specific function or functions. The Kirk initial releases of the 128's CP/M. use his or her 1541 disk drive. With the screen, for instance, shows the time (the As far as the user is concerned, the 1280, the drive comes with the system, Captain's Log), and allows access to the 1280 functions just like the 128. It has so you don't have any choice about pur Transporter Room and to the Stores three modes: 64 mode (with 40-column chasing it. But these are minor points. (the stuff yo u've brought on board from M A Y 1 9 8 8 61 •REVIEWS your adventures). Click on Spock. as pedoes, choosing weapons and waiting The great Star Trek simulation, howev ever the Science Officer, and you find for good targets is essential. You can re er, is still to be done. out the Enterprise's condition, as well plenish weapons at a Federation-owned - Neil Randall as details about star systems and their Weapons Dump planet. allegiances (friend or foe). When you Sound effects play an important reach a solar system, it's Spock who part in the game. Accompanying the tells you what types of planets are there. opening screen is Kirk's voice, digitized Star Trek: The Uhura's screen shows incoming mes from the series, invoking, "Space, the Rebel Universe sages, Scotty's displays the energy and Final Frontier," while throughout the For .. . Atari ST -$39.95 dilithium crystal levels, Chekov's al game you hear Chekov's digitized voice Commodore 64/128-$29.95 lows weapons selection, McCoy's shows shouting, "Got him!" and Sulu's pro IBM PCs and compatibles (requires 256K the health ofeach officer, and Sulu's claiming, " Now in standard orbit, sir." and CGA)-$39.95 gives access to navigation. If you fail , Spock's face appears; he From .. . raises an eyebrow and exclaims, " I nev Simon & Schuster Software er will understand humans." And in One Gulf + Western Plaza New York, NY 10023 various places Scotty will utter one of (212) 373-8882 several warnings. Other sounds used to good effect include the transporter, the message display and the red alert, all audibly faithful to the original series. The game is extremely easy to play. Clicking on the proper screen is the ma Robotic jor requirement, while keeping track of • Workshop where you've been is important as well. Beyond that, though, all that's needed is This package managed the neat feat of to keep the mission goal in mind, visit putting me-not the world's most The crew of the Enterprise must solve the many, many star systems, and stay alive. skilled or experienced electronic hobby mysteries of the Rebel Universe. And here is one of two major prob ist-in control ofrobots that I built my lems. There are many systems to visit, self. Likewise for a ten-year-old boy and and many enemies to fight, but, after his own robots. Robotic Workshop is a Sulu's screen, in fact , is the most awhile, exploring and fighting grows te combination hardware/software/me commonly used. His secondary dis dious. Before long you find yourself not chanical components package that plays include a map of the Quarantine wanting to bother with a nearby solar teaches a variety oflessons about elec Zone and, as they become applicable, system, while fighting battles quickly tronics and mechanics, provides soft maps of the solar systems the Enter loses its initial interest. Even though ware for controlling the devices you prise enters. To select a system to travel there's a lot to do much of it is build., and accomplishes both purposes to, you click on the appropriate system repetitious. simply enough to make the system ap shown on Sulu's large, rotating star The second problem is more seri propriate for children in upper elemen map. Fire up the Warp drives, and, in a ous. What made the Star Trek series, tary school and beyond. few seconds, depending on the distance, and all but the first movie, so fascinat While children will, I think, enjoy you're there. ing was not the travelling, the combat, working with Robotic Workshop and Once inside a solar system, clicking and the discovery of devices and weap will learn a great deal from it, this is not on individual planets reveals their type. ons, but rather the interaction of the a toy. Even the simplest projects in There are a wealth of planet types in the Enterprise crew with alien cultures. in volve assembling mechancial devices, game, ranging from Archive Complexes the series, Kirk and the others beamed loading software, and controlling the (which give clues to solving the game), down to a planet to explore it, to find experiment via an interface that plugs to Contamination Zones, Dilithium and examine cultures, and to solve into the computer. At the same time, Mining Complexes, Energy Refineries, morally-charged problems. there are no soldering irons to warm up, Leeching Piles, Life-Supporting planets, During The Rebel Universe. few wires to shave. Explanations are in Mesonic Rings, Orbital Discontinua, though, beaming down becomes an al fairly simple English, and the frequent Siren Devices, Psionic Cores, and even most incidental part of the game. There diagrams, although small, are easily fol Planetary Superminds. The manual ex are no alien cultures to find. In other lowed even for complex constructions. plains each thoroughly, and each has a words, the Enterprise's five-year mis Best of all for younger users-not unique effect on the progress of Kirk's sion-to explore new worlds, to seek to mention their parents and teachers mission. The primary goal is to find Life out new civilizations-has been largely the motors and components all snap to Supporting planets, because on these you ignored. gether easily. Access has built its Robotic find weapons, items, and artifacts. Star Trek: The Rebel Universe is a Workshop around the Capsela system of Naturally, the Enterprise will fre good game. It has a clever interface, at mechanical hobby parts. A Capsela mo quently be under attack. When the Klin tractive graphics, and, to those familiar tor, for example, is a reversible electric gons strike, clicking on Chekov's screen with Star Trek, an instantly familiar motor encased in a transparent plastic lets you select your response: either feel. If the game carried the sense of ex sphere. Capsela spheres are studded phasers or photon torpedoes. A second ploration further, though, it would be with coupling ports by which the mo ary display allows you to lock onto a tar much more memorable. Despite its tor, say, can be connected to a Capsela get and fue the weapons. Phasers deplete flaws, however, l recommend it as a transmission, and thence to a gear sys quickJy, and since you have only 50 tor solid, playable, well-constructed game. tem. The components snap together 62 COMPUTE ! VISA. MasterCard & COD orders call: 1-800-223-6925 .(In CanadQ 319/395-7300) '~. Here it is. You won't find software that's easier to use: r------~ • Requires no accounting knowledge 1 ~ MONEY • Completely menu-driven with on-line help I~ ~-P....L;H COUNTS • 93-page fully indexed tutorial manual (on disk) 1~~ 1~,fn~RoadNE S16 + S3 Shippif"lg A Proven Track Record. Hard to believe the S16 price? Don't ICedar Rapids, IA 52402 worry. MoneyCounts® has been marketed for three years and I MoneyCounts · requires IBM or compatible computer with two disk drives (or o hord dislc drive). 192k or more is continually receiving rave reviews. There's no catch. This is a I memory. DOS 2.0 or laler ond printer fully functional system that compares wi th products selling for I I Name: ______S99 and more. Same-Day Shipping. Order today and own MoneyCounts for I Addre ss · ------ 1City/Sta te/Zi p : ------ only $16! Add S3 shipping and handling (outside North America 1Phone: ------ add $7). Iowa residents please add 4% sales tax. Send check 1Check _ Money Order _VISA_ MasterCa rd _ or money order payable to Parsons Technology. VISA and I Card # Exp Da te __ MasterCard orders welcome. L------~ •REVIEWS easily, and it's quite a thrill to be able to small machines. The first one is a si mple rofoam container with snug recesses for watch gears turn and motors spin under fan , whose speed and direction, agai n, the Capsela elements; for the smaller your control. can be controlled from the keyboard. parts a ZipLock bag makes a good stor Robotic Workshop comes with two Advanced experiments take ad age container. motors, two speed reduction modules, vantage of the base to whic h Capsela Robotic Workshop impressed me, two worm gears, a transmission, and machines can be mounted: if you're as it did the children to whom I showed plenty ofcouplers and connectors. You wo rki ng wi th children, I'd recommend it. Its lessons are both practi cal-what also get a propeller, a wheel, and a tire, usi ng the base fro m the begi nning. Its is electri cit y, how do motors work, and all ofwhich are used in some of the ex stability is necessary. so on-and informati ve. With Robotic periments. All ofthe parts worked as Workshop. you get a glimpse of the na promised, and are sturdy enough to ture of programmable machinery and stand up to repeated use. Other Capsela the promise that robotics holds. The elements are listed in a catalog included lessons learned wi th the snap-together with the package. Capsela components wo uld seem to me Connecting power to the motors is easil y translated to larger motors, to as simple as assembling the machines. more advanced study of the subjects A ribbon cable that comes with Robotic Robotic Workshop introduces so well. Wo rkshop has leads which are inserted - Keith Ferrell into sockets on the Capsela units. No twisting ofwires and tightening of screws. Robotic Workshop The power itself comes from bat This strange flying machine is just one of For . . . teries in Robotic Workshop's BI OO in the robotic projects you can put together. Commodore 64/ 128-$1 49.95 terface. The interface must be Apple II (excluding the Apple llc)- $169.95 disassembled to install the batteries. From . .. Once batteries are in place, the interface The deeper you press into the pro Access Software plugs into the user port on the 64 or jects provided with Robotic Workshop, 545 W. 500 South 128, although 128 owners will have to the more sophisticated the projects be Bountiful, UT 84010 remove the RGB connector, a fact odd come. The first dozen projects deal with (800) 824·2549 ly overlooked in Access's documenta motors and gears, including lessons on And . .. Teacher's edition available: additional Cap tion. On Apple II-series machines, the hoists and cranes, gears and torque. sela components can be found at hobby BI 00 plugs into a slot (and thus the sys multiple motors, gyroscopes and even stores or ordered via th e catalogs included tem will not work with the Apple Ile). metering the effi ciency of the engi ne. in the package. Once installed, the BI 00 and the Subsequent groups of projects focus on Robotics Operating System (R. 0 . S.) generators, digital electronics (including software that comes with the package programming the joystick to provide are your passport to whole worlds of robot control ), light and color (whi ch electronics and mechanics. R. 0 . S. is includes uses fo r Benham's disk, as well itselfone of the most impressive as as examples ofstrobe effects.) There are Airborne pects ofRobotic Workshop. The soft projects that use infrared sensors for • Ranger ware has a variety ofBASIC commands counting and measurement of speed by which you control motor speed and and rpm. Robotic Workshop can inter What do you get when you combine the direction, program multiple motors. fa ce with audio devices, making possi brains behind MicroProse's strategic and meter various operations. Some ble ex periments wi th digitized speech. ga mes with first-rate arcade-style complete motor control programs are The BIOO has a voltmeter built in let action, animation, and graphics? An included to get you started, but it ting you test batteries. You can build a arcade game that makes you think. doesn't take long to begin putting to burglar alarm or a radar-like tracking Airborn e Ranger puts you at the gether your own routines. unit. Capsela components can be put cutting edge ofcombat. As a ranger, you Hardware, software, and mechani together to make a mobile vehicle or might be asked to serve in the desert, in cal components can be assembled and plotting device. At the end ofthe man the arctic, or in a temperate zone. Your configured in a variety of ways. Robotic ual are suggestions for other projects, weapons vary according to the mission Worksh op's 50 projects are intelligently although, by the time you reach the you choose and may include a carbine, arranged, moving from the introduc end you will doubtless be generating hand grenades, rockets, or a knife. tory to the advanced at a sensible pace ideas of your own. Before the game begins, you select that maintains interest without skip While the package contains a good whether to play as a practice or veteran ping important details. The first pro selection ofcomponents, which can be ranger. You can't be a veteran unless ject, for example, " Motors & used over and over, it's likely that the you are a veteran: The game lets you Electricity," provides a brief but solid more robots you build, the more you'll save, on formatted disks, a roster of discussion ofelectricity and circuits and want to build. Some ofyour plans may veterans who've proven themselves. then puts the lesson immediately to call for more parts than those included When a veteran doesn't make it back work. Within minutes ofopening the with the kit. I was not familiar with the from a mission, his death is reflected on manual, installing the 8100, and booting Capsela system before Robotic Work the roster. My advice is to stick with the R. 0 . S, you can be controlling motor shop, nor could I find them at nearby practice ranger until you begin to com speed and direction from the keyboard. hobby stores; order forms and catalogs plete missions consistently. By the time you get started on the are included with the package, however. The next step is to select a mission. second project, you're already assembling Robotic Workshop's box contains a sty It's difficult to advise you on mission se 64 COMPUT E ! •REVIEWS lection, since they're all difficult. The over the computer keyboard. mission's difficulty level may also be se Airborne Rangers is an excellent lected. The lower levels affect the types game from beginning to end. My only ofweapons available to yo ur adversaries. hesitation in recommending it whole You're given your orders, which heartedly has to do with the attributes may involve destroying an ammo some game players will find most at dump, creating a diversion, kidnapping tractive: the realism and the violence. an enemy officer, or completing any of The authors ofthis game have nine other assignments. The level of vi done some thinking in this regard, and olence varies widely among the avail they have included a disclaimer of sorts able missions. (along with a brief history ofthe Rang A fatigue test requires the game's ers) in the manual. I suppose no one manual as a reference, ensuring that picking up a game called Airborne Behind enemy lines, the ranger has only Rangers expects to find sugar plums your copy is legitimate. If yo u fail the his weapons and his wits. test, you are told yo u are too tired to and daffodils inside. Be aware, however, continue. You take R & R, which that the violence and action are graphic less if you don't survive. means rebooting the d.isk. and highly realistic. The mission begins. You fly at a On the play screen, you can move - Robert Bixby low level over the target area, steering your ranger ei ther on foot-walking or the fast, quiet V-22 Osprey and maneu running-or prone. Secrecy is vital, yet crawling takes time. And no matter vering it for the most effective position. Airborne Ranger Study the terra.in. The aerial view ofthe how careful you are, sooner or later you will be faced with enemy troops. At that For... mission arena is colorful and scrolls Commodore 64/ 128-$34.95 smoothly, revealing the details ofthe point, you have a decision to make-do you avoid the enemy, hide from them, From ... arena where your mission will take place. Microprose The mission area is rectangular and or fight them? 180 Lakefront Dr. surrounded by land labeled unsafe ter Fortunately, you know when sol Hunt Valley, MO 21030 (301) 771-1151 rain. You can't leave the mission area. diers are coming, even when they are While you're flying over it, take the time offscreen. It seems the enemy has And... The game will also be available in 1988 for to notice its major features. Rough-look thoughtfully equipped all troops with IBM PC and PC compatibles. ing land represents a mine field. Ra vines tap shoes. Your own progress, on the crisscross the landscape. Machine-gun other hand, is absolutely silent. nests and bunkers are easily recognized. In operations with a low difficulty Your objective and recovery zone can level, you might be able to avoid detec be found at the top of the mission area; tion simply by lying still in a ravine or your drop zone is at the bottom. behind a wall. In other scenarios, ene • DreamZone During your approach, you may my soldiers approach from every drop up to three supply pods containing direction. Baudville, best known for its excellent medicine and ordnance. Try to land When moving forward, I like to graphics programs (Blazing Paddles them in strategic locations. Their con stick to the ravines. These are the larg and 816/Paim) has released its first en tents can resupply you in the middle of est identifiable details on the landscape. tertainment package which, ifnothing a mission. They often cross each other, and they else, is sure to be controversial. The As you near the lower perimeter of are usually laid out on the map at regu game, a beautifully rendered graphics the mission area, a buzzer sounds. You lar intervals. So, in additi on to offering adventure, is entitled Dream Zone and jump and then pilot your parafoil to a measure ofcover, the ravines serve as it is bizarre . . . but that's meant in the ward ground where you can land with excellent guideposts as yo u proceed to nicest way. out being noticed. Once you reach the your objective. The premise is simple: Troubled ground, you're on your own. It's tough to maintain absolute se by recurring nightmares. none ofwhich Groundside, the main play screen crecy. Sometimes you have to fight. A you can remember the next morning, shows the immediate terrain surround knife is helpful at close range, but more you seek help from Dr. Sigmund Fraud. ing you. An X floats before you to assist often yo u'll use your carbine. Sound ef His method oftreatment places you in you in aiming your rifle. The X also fects let you know when you've hit the side your dreams so that you can seek aims other weapons, locates the landing enemy. When enemy soldiers die, they out and destroy the monster haunting point of your grenades, and the path of change color and shortly disappear. For your nights. Your dream world be your rockets. larger emplacements, you may be comes reality: Ifyou fail to complete A keystroke gets an alternate map forced to use grenades or rockets. Don't your quest and escape from the land of screen, revealing the entire mission get too close. When objects are de the subconscious, you' ll perish. area. Use this screen to get your bear stroyed by rockets or grenades, they Simple, you say. But you'll never ings, locate your supply pods, and plan scatter shrapnel that could wound you use that word again in connection with your route through the bunkers and the as well as destroy any nearby soldiers. Dream Zone. From the minute the machine gun emplacements that li e be Weapons selection is controlled game leaves reality (which is depicted tween you and yo ur objective. You can from the keyboard, as is first aid, and in stunning black-and-white digitized earn additional points by destroying standing/crawling. Key assignment is pictures) and enters the world of these emplacements, but such derring sensible and minimal, but the game dreams, play becomes as confusing, do is not recommended. Although it's nonetheless comes equipped with one illogically logical, and frustrating satisfying to see a high score it's worth- of those reprehensible cutouts to fit co111in11td 011 pagt 70 MAY 1988 65 Lyco Computer Marketing & Consultants Since 1981 BLASER 128 Apple lie-lie Compatsbl& with Apple Sottwaro Laser 128 lie-lie Comp ...... $375.95 •IBM PC-XT • Parallel Printer Compa Ible • Built-in 128K Laser 128 EX ...... $429.95 Port Ram Compatible Laser External 511, Drive ...... 5119.95 • 4.77 - 8.00 Mhz • Serial RS232 • Built-in 51/• Drive Laser External 3>'z SOOK Drive . 5199.95 Super Turbo • Joystick/Game • Built-in Parallel Clock Speed Port Port PC COMPATIBLE HARDWARE • Built-in 5•/• Drive ~ • Built-in Mouse/ AST ...... 5CALL • Built-in RGB ONLY $375 95 Joystick Port Laser Compact XT ...... $475.95 Video Output • Hi Res. Graphics Laser Compact XTE 640K ...... $549.95 Laser Desklop Turbo XT 256K . 5569.95 Laser Desklop Turbo XT 640K . 5599.95 ONLY $475 95 Laser EGA + 4 Card ...... $129.95 Kratt PC Joystick Card ...... $27.95 Zucker CGA ColorCard ...... $89.95 ATI Graphics Solution ...... $129.95 ATI EGA Wonder ...... $199.95 Blue Chip Popular ...... 5CALL PERS.ONAL Blue Chip 286AT ...... $CALL Desktop PC COMPUTER &)>Seagate HAR DWA RE • 4.77 Mhz speed ST 225 20 meg Hard Drive .. .. 5215.95" 95 ST 25 t 40 meg Hard Drive .... $399.95" $569 • Dual floppy ·ore Controller Kit for PC/XT ... $39.95 • Green monitor ST 238 30 meg Hard Drive ... 5249.95 .. included ..OTC ALL Controller Kit for PC/XT ...... $49.95 ST 125 20 meg 3.5 Hard Drive . 5289.95 OTC Controller Kit for PC/XT ..... $39.95 ST 125 20 meg lntemal Card wfController ...... $349.95 Add St0.00 for Western Digital Controllers COMMODORE COMMODORE COMMODORE 12a 128 D System HARDWARE EXC~L 2001 Spe; ial f'\. 154t II Disk Drive ...... $175.95 1581 Disk Drive ...... $189.95 95 Indus GT C·64 Drive ...... $169.95 $449 1802C Monttor ...... 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Baseball ...... $22.95 Gene ric DSDD ...... $4.95 ie """" '""" 518.95 Ultima IV ...... S33.95 Sub Banle Simulator ... $22.95 Champ. Basketball ...... $22.95 pper ...... 518.95 Moeblus ...... $22.95 Winter Games ...... $11 .95 Zork Trilogy ...... $39.95 Verbatim: Software Slmulatlons: Wor1d Games ...... $22.95 Leather Goddesses ..... $22.95 SSDD ...... $8.99 Pure Stat Baseball ...... California Games ...... $22.95 Beyond Zork ...... $27.95 DSDD ...... $11.50 3asketball . 519.95 522 95 3.5 ______Football ...... $17.95 Print Magic ...... $33.95 Brodefbund: 0 " " ' """"' " 519.95 13 95 Maxell: :ldesses ..... 522.95 Pure Stat College Rad Warrior ...... 5 · Ancient Art o1 War ...... $25.95 SSDD ...... $11 .50 lmlnator ..... $15.95 Basketball ...... $22.95 A reblrd: Pri nt Shop ...... $32.95 DSDD ...... $17.95 k """"" " "" $25.95 Springboard: Elite ...... $19.95 Print Shop Compan ..... $31.95 Bonus: di ...... $19.95 Newsroom ...... 529_95 The Pawn ...... $25.95 Graphic Ub. I or II ...... $19.95 SSDD ...... $10.95 r Rally ...... $16.95 Certificate Maker ...... 529_95 Stargllder ...... $25.95 Ancient Art ol War ...... 519.95 Clip Art Vol. 1 1 ...... $17.95 Mlcroleague: at Sea ...... $25.95 DSDD ...... $13.95 jlc ...... $19.95 Clip Art Vol. 1 2 ...... $23.95 Mictoleag. Ba seba ll ..... $22.95 Carmen San Diego Verbatim: I ...... 519.95 Clip Art Vol. #3 ...... $17.95 General Manager ...... $16.95 Wor1d ...... $22.95 SSDD ...... $12.95 ...... $25.95 Graplllcs Expander ..... $21.95 Stat Disk ...... $11 .95 Superbike Challenge ... $11.95 DSDD ...... $18.95 1sion ...... $19.95 s trategic Slmulatlona: '87 Team Disk ...... $13.95 Search and Destroy ...... $9.95 SKC : 1cludod: Gettysburg ...... S33.95 Mlcroprooe : Electronlc Arte: SSDD ...... $9.95 I ...... $31.95 Phantasie II ...... $22.95 Cru sade In Europe ...... $22.95 Weaver Baseball ...... $25.95 DSDD ...... $13.99 Pages ...... $31.95 Phantasie Ill ...... $22.95 Decision In Desert ...... $22.95 Starllighl ...... $32.95 Generic SSDD ...... $9.75 oftworka : Road War 2000 ...... $22.95 F-15 Strike Eagle ...... $19.95 Yeager's AFT ...... $26.95 Generic DSDD ...... 512.95 I ...... $29.95 Wizards Crown ...... $22.95 Silent Service ...... $19.95 Epyx: ,64 """'""" $29.95 Wargame Constr ...... $16.95 Pirates ...... $22.95 Apshal Trilogy ...... $11 .95 " """ " '"""" $35.95 Battlecrulser ...... $33.95 Stra1ag lc Slmulatlono: Create A Calendar ...... $15.95 " " """'"""" $39.95 Eternal Dagger ...... $22.95 Gettysburg ...... $33.95 Destroyer ...... $22.95 ...... $29.95 Shiloh ...... $22.95 Phantasie Ill ...... $22.95 St Sporta Basl co111ir11ud f rom pllgt 65 those easily frustrated by seemingly un as ... well. as a foggy nightmare. solvable puzzles. There are clues within The game truly conveys a dream th e game itself to the majority of the • Print Magic like feeling. Perhaps it's the Orwellian stumpers found in Dream Zone, but the overtones which derive from the many clues are subtle at best. Many of them Epyx has pulled some desktop printing animal characters who people the Zone are discernible only after having found magic from its software hat. Print Magic and with whom you must converse and the solution from a hint book (which provides Apple users tuxedo-and-bow interact. Or maybe it's the frustrations can be purchased separately) or a tele tie-quality performance, producing of being placed in somewhat familiar phone call to Baud ville. either whimsical- or professional-looking situations that should be easily solv documents with the wave ofa magic able, only to find that typical solutions wand- er . .. mouse. aren't the answer in a dream. You must With Prilll Magic up yo ur sleeve literally learn to think differently and be (or in your disk drive), you can produce willing to try bizarre things to solve the customized greeting cards and invita maddening puzzles of the Dream Zone. ti ons. award certificates. meeting an While Dream Zone's puzzles are nouncements, publicity notices, scratch convoluted and complex, the mechanics pads and personalized stationery, and of the game are straightforward and sim eye-catching banners. You're limited ple. Thanks to the use of the mouse and ill! "' h t11 Loi ds lllo ' s. bo1?d1 r1o m. o nd 9 oudy t t. only by your imagination. a segment of the display titled the Icon 1 . \Jhf' ... r, " o lo I adornment. a 1ov1 s h 1ng 911 l l'IJI,( h t;<• \ ji) UI CIJ(' Prim Magic is as fast as your Apple Bar, 80-90 percent of Dream Zone can ----r~--,,,----,-~-,.-~~=r=__ -r ·=-r.(jj=-1 lets it be. It loads in less than 30 sec be played without touching the keyboard, onds on a Ile, despite a flip of the disk a real boon to hunt-and-peck typists. after you 've made a keyboard/mouse The Icon Bar contains the inven Dreams come true, and nightmares input choice. The program isn't copy become reality in your quest. tory icon and a list of the most fre protected. so it's easy to make working quently used action words. Clicking on copies of the three disks included in the the word DROP, then on one ofthc Also, and not to be moralistic, it package: the Startup/ Program disk, the icons in your inventory drops that item, should be noted that you will, at times, Graphics/Typefaces disk, and the Holi for example. Likewise, clicking on the be forced to steal and kill to accomplish day Graphics disk. action word TALK inserts Talk 10 . . . your task. The problem here is that, The program employs a Macintosh in the Command Line: clicking on a unlike killing a monster who is intent type user interface that is responsive, character displayed in the Picture Area upon dismembering yo u, in Dream easv to learn, and intuitive. Pull-down inserts the name of the character after Zone yo u kill just to get something that m e ~us provide access to many func the words. A final click in the Com won't be given to yo u freely or for mon tions. Dialog boxes handle file loading mand Line area activates the instruc ey. Ofcourse. it is just in a "dream," and saving. Scroll boxes and scroll bars tions. This techl)ique can be used in your gun is a water pistol, and the vic make file viewing and loading an easy almost every situation during game tim is (literally) a Bureaucratic Pig. task, especially since filenames are al play. The Icon Bar is further enhanced Dream Zone is a unique product ways displayed in alphabetical order. A by the ability to double-click on a word filled with biting satire, outstanding clipboard facilitates transfer ofgraphics and thereby change its meaning: A dou graphics, a streamlined playing system. between documents. ble-click on the word HIT, for instance. and challenging situations. It's hard to Icons are used sparingly and ap changes it to KILL believe that the program was written by propriately to represent editing and Movement about the strange world two high school juniors. The game drawing tools. Close boxes return you 1 of Dream Zone is just as easily accom comes on two copy-protected 3 h-inch to the previous screen. A wristwatch plished. To the right of the large graphic disks. Up to ten games can be saved on icon reminds you that the current ac Picture Area is the Control Pad. The the game disk, an option which should tion will take time to complete. Prim Pad is made up ofdirectional arrows be used. Magic also handles mouse input well. surrounding a center button. Clicking Dream Zone wi ll be either praised Because it handles th e file formats on an arrow moves yo u in the corre or damned. depending upon an indi ofother soflware of its genre, Print sponding direction: clicking on the cen vidual's taste. Aesthetically. no one will Magic allows you to capitali ze on your ter button results in an E. TER deny the delight provided by Dream ex isting coll ection of Prilll Shop graph command. while double-clicking on the Zone's music or pictures. both of which ics and Newsroom clip an without hav center button results in an EXIT com push the IIGS to its limits. ing to use several different programs to mand. Finally. up and down bars are lo - James V Trun:::o accomplish what you want. cated above and below the Pad itse lf. The package's accompanying Touch typists can take heart, how graphics are sensational, though limited ever. because all commands can be en Dream Zone in number. Finely crafted and highl y tered into the Command line via the For .. . detailed, they can be resized up to the keyboard. Likewise. all commands that Apple llGS with at least 512K- $49.95 limit ofa standard letter-sized sheet. can be accessed via the top ofthe screen From . .. Even in the larger sizes they don't have pull-down menus (Save, Load. Edit. and Baudville a chunky appearance. so on) have keyboard equivalents for 5380 52nd Street SE Text handling is equally impres Grand Rapids. Ml 49508 sive. Plenty ofdramatic and detailed those players who don't care for mice. (6 16) 698-0888 Dream Zone is a difficult ga me. typefaces are available in two sizes. and And . . . the several styles provided should satisfy While this isn't necessarily bad, it Hint guide and map-56.00 should be considered a fair warning to the most demanding document designer. ( OIJllllJUd 0 11 /M):t 78 70 C 0 M P U T E I Asi:oundlln• WrHlln•, Fasi:t Why say 'good: when you can saystellar, splendid orglorious? Why say 'fast: when you can say meteoric or flash? Now you canadd220,000synonyms to your writingandspeaking vocabularyand, you can correctlyspellover 100,000 words instantly forjust $9!P". Wow! By Drew K1pl1n Forget spelling. Forget racking your brain for just the right word. Now you can trash your dictionaries and your thesauruses by using the new. pocket size. incredibly easy to use Word Finder. If you're at all like me, you hate plod ding through the pages of cumbersome dictionaries. And, if you don't know how to spell a word. it's often hard to find. Well, imagine instantly scanning the equivalent of 1,400 aw· x , , .. single spaced pages of correctly spelled words and synonyms to pinpoint just the word you want. Just touch a few buttons. Now we"ll never have to use an easy word we know how to spell, rather than an eloquent word, to convey our thoughts. GREAT MINDS Yet. there's no programming. Justtype oz including 4 AAA batteries (included). I'm just a simple writer, but William F. in a word and away you go. It's great for business (thanks to Xerox) Buckley, Jr. says about this program, You'll always have the right word at because it has First Names, Surnames, "Your Word Finder has changed my life! the right time. And, if you're not abso Corporate Names and Cities. I never used to use a thesaurus." lutely sure of a word's meaning, just You'll love it when you play Jumble Well, he probably doesn't need the check a few of its synonyms. (available in most daily papers), cross 100,000 spelling word dictionary, but EASY TO USE word puzzles, Scrabble• and hangman. when you combine the two, this is the Just type in a word and touch Spell or But, most of all, you'll love itfor what it most useful product I've ever introduced. Synonym. There's nothing to learn. It's will doforyourvocabulary. It's made and When you speak or write, make your great at work. at home or at school. backed by SelecTronics' limited warranty. ideas vivid with realism. Let every word If you'll supply the facts, Word Finder IMPROVE YOUR WORD POWER create a graphic image in your reader's will supply the most powerful, vivid RISK FREE mind. And. make all your points force words to convey your concepts. And, People look down at spelling errors. fully. (The words in bold represent 3 of unlike dictionaries and thesauruses, it's People look up to the rare individual over 54 synonyms for powerful. Wow!) easy to use and totally hassle free. with a rich and varied vocabulary. SPELLING MADE SIMPLE To use the Thesaurus. touch Syno If you aren't 100% thrilled with the I hate dictionaries. Half the words I nym. When you push the down arrow, ease of spelling or the wide range of look up I had spelled correctly. And the you will see main concept words. Touch dramatic words you'll have at your com other half, I can't find. Well, with Word the right arrow and you'll see more words mand, return it in its original box within Finder from SelecTronics, it's simple. with the 'same intent'. So, the thesaurus 30 days to OAK for a courteous refund. It's incredibly intelligent. First, it's pho is logically arranged for ease of use. To order your SelecTronics' Word netic. Type 'FONETIC' and you'll get Pho Plus, at any time, just re-touch Syn Finder 100,000 Word Spelling Diction netic. Type Ph???tic and it will let you onym and you'll start reviewing syno ary with 220,000 (660,000) Synonym select phonetic from other possibilities. nyms of the 'synonym' that was already Thesaurus to effortlessly let you locate If you add a letter. leave out a letter or displayed on the large, oversized 20 char and spell the right word for the right even transpose a letter, it can find the acter LCD screen. So, there's literally no time correctly, call toll free or send your correct spelling of the word you want. end to the words you can explore. It's check for DAK's breakthrough price of So. let the two microprocessors in fabulous for creative writing. just$99'° ($4 P&H). Order No. 6304.CA this new productivity tool let your writing BOTTOM LINE res add tax. and speaking stand out from the crowd. While 100,000 dictionary words and Infuse your ideas with powerfully HEAD OF THE CLASS 220,000 synonyms may sound impres graphic words. You don't have to sound Spelling is the simplest thing Word sive, other computer based thesaurus like a college scholar to add punch and Finder can do for you. companies count words such as create. panache to your speaking and writing. Touch Synonym and your speaking and creates. and creating as 3 entries. You and your children will be amazed writing will explode with incredible new Using this method, Word Finder would at how a few well sculptured words can power. You'll have 4Yz megabytes of $5 have 660,000 synonyms. Why is Word increase the respect people have for $10 and $25 words to let you express Finder conservative? Well, when you get what you're already saying. your ideas w ith exquisite precision. your spelling and thesaurus list from It may not always be fair, but it's often Xerox Corp and Microlytics, Inc .. you how you say something, rather than what can afford to be understated. •&BJ;;~=: you say, that lets you get ahead. And, SelecTronics, working with Microly 1-8...ats-e.24 Hourw A Doy 7 Daya A.. WMk with Word Finder. you'll have incredibly tics and Xerox's Palo Alto Research Cen For Toll Froo lnformltion. Call 6AM· 5PM Mondey·frid.oy PST creative word power at your fingertips. ter (PARC). has developed this product's Technical lnfonnation... .1-800-272-3200 4Yz megabytes is equivalent to about incredible word compression technology. Any Other Inquiries ...... 1-800-423-2866 12Yz 5" floppy disks on an IBM• PC. It's just 3" X 4" X W '. It weighs just 6 8200 Remmet Ave.. Canoga Part<. CA 91304 We've been lucky enough to get another production run of FLASH this incredible equalizer at the same $149 close-out price! ------LEFT/ FREQUENCY (H z) /dB - ---- .. ------i 31 .5 63 125 250 500 1k 2k 4k Bk 16k STEREO FREQUENCY EOUALI L+R + + + + + + + + + + + L\ I JR 12 '25 llOO •• 15- - 15- - 15-- - 15 · -15 - - 15- - 15- - 15 -- 15 - -1s-_ - 1s "' "" - l ----- ao-20 10- - 10 · 10 l -10- - 10· -10- - 10-- 10- --10---10 - 10 METER 11- ..- _ _., .I• :M-tl 21-M- - • ·--- .t ------= - 5 - . 5 - 11- 12 - - 5 -5 -5- ·-- 5 - 5 -- 5- - 5 --5· .l - 5 11- IO ·= - - § = -- t ti- ·= - = ~ .l H OLD ·= - = 0 - - ,\' -o ·- ·= - ~ = .L I ~ E ·-.. ··-2- ·= I 5 -5 -5 - 5 -5 -5 -5 - - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 ATT LEFT RIGHT EQ ON/OFF 10 - - 10 -10 - 10 - - 10- 10 ·-10 -10 - 10 - 10 -10 \ I I , I I , ' ' 15 -15 - 15 - 15 - 15 -15 -15 -15 - 15 - -is- - 15 ... ·--- - model E Smare: Sound De-eona-eor Obliterate the wallbetween you andthe individualinstruments in yourmusic. Infuse your own stereo system's soundwith a breathtakingly vibrant30 to 50% improvementin soundqualitythat youcanmeasure with this superb BSR Equalizer/Spectrum Analyzerlimited$149 clos~out. By Drew Kaplan ter. Just a 5db roll-off at the high end, up You can control the highs at 4,000hz, Close your eyes. Touch a button. And around 14,000hz to 16,000hz, can just 8,000hz and/or 16.000hz, to bring crash you'll hear your stereo system literally decimate the harmonics that give you ing cymbals to life at 16,000hz while at explode with life. the open feeling you'd experience at a the same time you can cut tape hiss or You'll hear the gentle brushes on a live concert. A similar roll-off at 60hz, annoying record scratches at 8,000hz. snare drum, the startling bone-jarring causes the fundamental bass notes to But there's more. Don't leave out the realism of a thunder clap, or the excite just fade away into the 'murk'. mid-range. You can boost trumpets at ment of a full cymbal crash. An equalizer isn't some magical device 300 to 500hz or a clarinet at 1 OOOhz . You'll hear string basses and other that manufactures sounds that don't ex- You can boost or cut any part of the fre deep low instruments emerge from bass isl. Most of the frequencies that will quency spectrum a full ± 15db. (that will sound murky by comparison). make your music really vibrant, are actual TAPE DECK HEAVEN w ith such clarity and such definition that ly already recorded in your music. You can push a button and transfer all you'll feel you can almost touch each You'll be able to prove this with a few the equalization power to the inputs of instrument. simple tests we'll try when we discuss two tape decks. Nowyou can pre-equalize This astoundingly distinct yet power the Spectrum Analyzer. your cassettes as you record them and ful bass adds such a full bodied warm You see, certain frequencies are sim get all the dramatically enhanced sound feeling to your music, you'll feel as if ply not reproduced with as much volume recorded right on your cassettes. you've been lovingly wrapped in a warm as are the mid-range frequencies which This is an especially great feature when soft blanket on a cold winter's night. stretch from about 800hz to 2,000hz. you play your cassettes on bass-starved But don'ttake myword for the sound An equalizer simply lets you establish portables or high-end starved car stereos. quality improvement. With the Pink Noise accurate control of all frequencies to fit Generator, Calibrated Electret Condenser your equipment, your recordings. your Mike and the 220 Element Spectrum An taste, and your listening environment. alyzer, you can instantly measure each TOTAL MUSICAL CONTROL and every improvement you make. And, what a job it can do. It's totally Plus, there's more. A subsonic filter unlike bass and treble controls which effectively adds the equivalent of many simply boost everything from the mid SIMPLY PLUG IT IN watts onto the power of your amplifier. range down for bass, or everything up Use your tape monitor circuit, but don't Plus, with its provision for two sepa for treble. You can boost the low-bass at lose it. Now your one tape monitor cir rate tape decks including two way dub 31 .5hz, 63hz and/or 125hz to animate cuit lets you connect two tape decks. bing, you'll have much more than just specific areas or instruments. Just plug the equalizer into the tape greatly improved sound. And, when you boost the part of the 'in' and 'out' jacks on your receiver or You can count on great sound from bass you like, you don't disturb the mid preamp. We even supply the cables. this top of the line Equalizer/Analyzer. It range frequencies and make your favorite As you listen to your records, FM or has a frequency response from 5hz to singer sound like he has a sore throat. any 'Aux'. any time you push the tape 100,000hz :1: 1db. And, it has an incred The high frequencies really deter monitor switch on your receiver you'll ible 1 OOdb signal to noise ratio. mine the clarity and brilliance of your hear your music jump to life. BSR. the ADC equalizer people, make music. The problem is that highs are The output from your receiver is always this super Equalizer/Analyzer and back very directional. Wherever you move in fed directly to your tape deck(s) for re it with a 2 year standard limited warran your listening room, you'll find a big dit cording, and with the touch of a button, ty. Our $149 close-out price is just a ference in high end response, as you'll you can choose to send equalized or non fraction of its true $379 retail value. see when we test the Analyzer. equalized signal to your deck(s). FIRST THE EQUALIZER No recording engineer or equipment When you want to listen to a tape YOUR STEREO'S HIDDEN SOUNDS manufacturer can even begin to control deck, just select which tape deck you Your stereo can sound incredibly bet your listening environment. want, turn the switch on the equalizer, and your tape deck will work exactly as microphone (included). Either way, yqu'll ADC model before they shut it down. it did before. Except, now you can listen have a quick. easy and accurate way to They had already paid for all the tool with or without equalization. evaluate the total sound of your system. ing, all the research and design, so we Look at this. You can dub tapes from HOW TO TEST were able to buy these for less than half deck 1 to deck2, or from deck2 to deck SPEAKERS, EQUIPMENT AND TAPE the normal price, for cold hard cash. 1 with or without equalization. Testing your speakers in your listen THE FINAL FACTS THE SUBSONIC FILTER ing room is the really crucial test Simply There are 20 slide controls, each with Much of the power drawn from your place the calibrated microphone where a bright LED to clearly show its position. amplifer is used to drive your woofers. you normally sit to listen to your stereo. Each control will add or subtract up to When you drive the amplifier too hard, it 15db. (That's a 30db rangel) clips and you end up with distortion. There are separate sound detonation A subsonic filter removes a lot of non slide controls for each channel at31 .5hz. musical material you can't hear that exists 63hz. 125hz, 250hz, 500hz. 1,000hz, below 20hz. So, it relieves your amplifier 2000hz, 4000hz. 8000hz. and 16,000hz. of a lot of work. It doesn' t actually create BSR backs this top of the line Graphic more watts (Please, no letters from my At the end of an 18 foot cord i1 the ear of the system. Equalizer/Spectrum Analyzer with a 2 'technical' friends) for your amplifier. Just clip the mike wherever you ait and test your room. year standard limited warranty. It is 17Ye" But. it's like turning off the air con Turn on the Pink Noise. You can switch wide, 3%" tall and aw· deep. ditioning in your car. It saves you using to Left Channel, Right Channel or both. MAKE YOUR MUSIC EXPLODE about 7 hp of what you have. And there There's a meter range button, a sen RISK FREE fore, you' ll have more watts for clean sitivity control, and even a switch that It's startling. Music so vibrant w ith life powerful sounding music. lets you freeze the meter. you'll swear it's 3 dimensional. Sculp THE SPECTRUM ANALYZER Just sit down at the equalizer. Start ture your music any way you want it If Now you can scientifically analyze with one channel. You' ll see all 10 octave you' re not 100% satisfied for any reason, your stereo listening room and test your bands on the meter. Just slide the cor simply return it to OAK within 30 days in equipment by using BSR's Real Time responding controls to increase or de its original box for a courteous refund. Frequency Spectrum Analyzer. crease any area that needs help. To order your BSR E03000 Smart Plus, you' ll see your music not as a You have now set up your system to Sound Detonator 10 Band Graphic Equal single level on a VU meter, but as a its maximum capability. But as you' ll izer with Real Time Spectrum Analyzer kaleidoscopic parade of 10 individual see, location is very important Move the and Calibrated Mike, with Subsonic Filter 20 element VU meters. microphone 5 feet to the left or right and Two Way Tape Dubbing risk free Each is tuned to a specific octave of Then turn on the Pink Noise and check with your credit card, call toll free, or the sound spectrum. An eleventh 20 ele the Spectrum Analyzer. Now you can send your check, not for the $379 retail ment meter averages all levels. see why the specifications that come value. Don't even send the $227.97 dealer The effect is awesome. You can visual with your system are only a starting point cost Send just$149 plus$8 for postage ly isolate a string bass or cymbal, and Here's a way to test your tape deck and handling. Order No. 4100. CA res actually see each individual instrument and tape. First record Pink Noise for 3 add sales tax. almost as a wave moving across the 220 minutes at -20VU. Then play it back and The sound of your stereo will explode individual florescent elements. note the readings on the meters. with life as you detonate each frequency THE MOUTH AND EARS Now, record the Pink Noise again at band with new musical life. And, you can It talks. The Analyzer speaks with a OVU or +3. Wait till you see how much see and measure exactly what yotive done. voice ofpure calibrated Pink Noise. Pink the high end falls off. Now you' II see why Noise is the standard composite · sound' all specifications are listed at -20VU. ofall frequencies used for testing in labs With the Equalizer/Analyzer you can around the world. All frequencies from enjoy the finest stereo sound from your 20hz to 20,000hz are generated at the system and be a test lab too. exact same level at the exact same time. WHY SO CHEAP It listens too. If you are testing a cas BSR now only sells equalizers under ~ QU~I~ INCORPORATED sette or a component in your system, their ADC name. Well, as Detroit comes ~ TOLL-FREE ORDER LINE use the 'Line Button'. If you' re testing out with new cars each year, ADC comes For credit card orders call 24 hours a day 7 daya a week your whole system with speakers, use the out with new equalizers. We got them to CALL TOLL- FR EE...1-800-325-0800 matched calibrated electret condenser supply us with just 30,000 of last year's 8200 Remmet Ave.• Canoga Park. CA 91304 s1 • s1 Freeb~es For You Use FREE programs to print 1O'long banners, playblackjack, addspelling to the built-in Wordstar andsqueeze files up to 50% that you're saving to cassette, disk or sending by modem. Let me tell you how. By Drow Kaplan me, but I've stumbled on a national list computer. So, OAK will donate to the You've got it all. You can harness the ofCP/M bulletin boards. And, ifyou want American Cancer Society all proceeds power of up to 280 electronic bulletin to see a sample of what you can get from from the sale of the List, Cassettes or boards that carry FREE Public Domain these boards, I've created both a 3W' Disks beyond the costs for printing, disks, CP/M programs, messages and help. disk and cassette with a few samples, cassettes, duplication, typing, packing Add footnotes to Wordstarfiles, create including a banner program, a squeeze and postage etc. mazes, print out 1,000 limericks, lock program, a blackjack game and more. •RGE•T, CALL DAii disk files, rename files, identify cities All you really need is 'The List' of bul I've set up a-"I' special P.O. BOX for this from telephone area codes, and tag files. letin boards and the step by step instruc service. Send your order with checks You can view text files, count words in tions. But, if you're lazy or shy about only (no cash or credit cards) to OAK, a text file, create word search puzzles getting on-line, I have the samples. P.O. BOX 3046. Canoga Park, CA 91306. and play games. Whether you already Special Note: Wednesday nights on To order, use the words 'CP/M List' own an Epson Geneva or anyCP/M com CompuServe at 11 PM Eastern Time, for $2 ($1 P&H). Order No. 4890. And/ puter or want to buy one, the Public there's a special Geneva forum where Or choose the 'CP/M Cassette' for $3 Domain software available is awesome. you can ask questions and discuss soft ($1 P&H). Order No. 4891. Or. the 'CP/M THE BEST PART ware for this powerful computer. 3Yz" Disk' for $3 ($1 P&H). Order No. With this computer, you already have AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 4892. CA res add tax. a built-in modem so there's nothing else Computing, and for that matter run Please no phone orders or phone in to buy. And, because most files are ning OAK, has always been a hobby for quiries. All information must be handled squeezed, it doesn't take long to down me since I started OAK 22 years ago, through the P.O. BOX. Even if you o·rder load (get) them from the bulletin boards. when I was a student at UCLA. anything else from OAK. these items still You really don't need anything from I want you to get the most out of your MUST be ordered separately. WordS•ar AssauH: Team You'llhave full-size wordprocessingandcomputingpowerat your desk oranywhere you want to work. This 64Kbriefcase portable is ready to sink battleship sized desk PCs. It's armed with MicroPro's powerful WordStar word processing and Cale Spreadsheetprogramsplusmuch more. Add2 modems, moresoftware anda superb nearletterqualityprinterandit's a $1968 retail value blasted to $499. • By Drew Kaplan Attack wasted time. Work where and when you want. Connected to, or com peting with a desk top PC, Epson's por table computer is a perfect main compu ter or companion to one you have. And competing with a desk top compu ter for most applications, is no idle joke. Wait till you read about the power and versatility of this computing system. And, at only 5 pounds, including its built-in ni-cad batteries, it fits easily in your briefcase without filling it up. So, you can have full word process ing, spreadsheet analyses/projections, telecommunications and computing pow er wherever you are, without having to look for a desk or even an AC plug. I can't overemphasize what a power ful word processing system this is. It's a perfect MAIN COMPUTER. NOTE TO WORDSTAR USERS If you're already one of the estimated 3,000,000 WordStar users, the sample Help Screens below will be familiar. Imagine being able to use the program you already know wherever you are. And, if you don't use WordStar yet, with this computer, you'll be joining the exhaulted ranks of users of one of the world's most respected programs. c < ( C P [ JI ! ti C ~ E N 0 > > ) ~ Ct• " 1 t::...-.,..l ", u P f "I~ a f ol • f ?~11' • r . 1. ,, ,.,. , . ,.., • .s::..,...,~ t.u • c. :ai>t , r.i. • c ttttOE tll u I. '."lu·1or ·<:&I- .. , ,~ ,. • l tlLCI • r .1 . • D l t •o •J•\• 1'111 l tlt Plll:ll U --c..,.- "°"__,__ .• · 0.lu.- 1 •l"lu'-9 1\a- · • -Ol tl• • I'-•· ·s U..1' I.fl ·o c,tlar .. . . "' t"C (Ontinutd from pag< 70 Gee Bee Air Rally drops you into a high gear is to listen to the engine. My favorite Print Magic feature is I 930's barnstorming stunt plane-the On some computers, Gee Bee's its complete flexibiljty for placement of Gee Bee. With stubby wings, powerful sound is even more impressive. Lfyou graphics and text. It is clifficult, however, engjne, and huge fuel tanks, the Gee haven't yet hooked your Amiga to your to obtain pixel-level positioning of text Bee was built for speed. In Gee Bee Air stereo, you'll want to hook it up for Gee on the page. At this level, positioning Rally. you don't fly from one airport to Bee Air Rally. Every sound effect is becomes a trial-and-error proposition at another. yo u race several other Gee available in stereo. When a plane roars best, since the entire page is nearly al Bees for fame and glory. by on your right, you'll hear the sound ways displayed during text entry. from the right speaker. Not only does You should read at least the first this make the game more fun, it actual six pages ofthe documentation. They ly makes it play better-you can hear cover Print Magic's usage ofcertain from which side a plane is approachjng icons found in other software but used before you see it. Gee Bee Air Rally also in a particular manner by this program. has perhaps the best theme music of Some terms are defined in rather specif any game yet developed for the ic ways, but the rest of the program Amiga-another reason to connect should be intuitive to all but the com your computer to a stereo. puter novice. Some users prefer to Although not as spectacular as the plunge into a program and come back sound, the graphics are also wonderful. to the manual for assistance. Ifthat's The planes, mountains, and scenery are the way you like to operate, then Print nicely drawn. Each airplane casts a Magic's manual was designed with you shadow on the ground. The farther in mind. Are you pilot enough for the Gee Bee? away a plane is, the smaller it is. In A 30-minute tutorial leads you short, this game has all the visual cues through the production ofa one-page In format, Gee Bee Air Rally is needed to make it seem real. Christmas party announcement which similar to Pole Position, the archetypi There are also, however, graphics contains one ofPrint Magic's best cal arcade racing game. Just as in that that are annoyingly intrusive. For in graphjcs. Other developers take note: A game, you dodge your opponents as stance, every time you crash and bail simple tutorial is worth many pages of you pass them. But Gee Bee improves out of your plane, you're punished by a detailed documentation. on the racing game form by adding a screen showing where you landed. Print Magic provides solutions to new physical dimension-not only can While these scenes are nicely drawn, nearly every drawback you've encoun yo u pass your opponents on the left or they tend to get tedious. Even worse, tered with other printing programs, the right, but you also can pass from these screens aren't in memory, they're while maintaining communication with above or below. on disk. I'd like the option ofswitching them. With its ease ofuse, intuitive in The game offers three levels of these screens off. terface, exquisite graphics and text, and play, each divided into separate events. Compounding the problem is the superior documentation, Print Magic Normally, you try to fly between the Amiga Gee Bee's copy-protection delivers a fine performance. markers that delineate the course. At (which makes a particularly frightening - Duncan Teague the end ofeach level, however, are Spe grinding sound). This protection keeps cial Events in which you pop balloons yo u from copying the program onto a or slalom around markers. hard drive or the ramdisk. Ifyou have expansion memory and a disk cache Print Magic All planes (yours and those of your competitors) bank realistically around program like Face II, you can set aside For . . . Apple lie (128K, BO-column card). lie. turns. As a matter offact, the game is so enough buffers so that each scene only llGS-$59.95 realistic that you'll feel like you're on a has to load once. From .. . roller coaster. When you dive, you speed While the sound, music, and Epyx up; when you climb, you slow down. graphics are truly impressive, those 600 Galveston Dr. Gee Bee's joystick controls are easy qualities don't make a game, they only Redwood Cify, CA 94063 to learn and master. Control of the enhance it. For any game, the game (4 15) 366-0606 plane is responsive and accurate. Peo play is what keeps yo u away or keeps And ... ple who normally dislike computer you coming back. IBM version to be released this year $59.95 games might have fun playing this one, Gee Bee Air Rally is worthy ofre while arcade pros will be satisfied with peated play. the maneuvering subtleties needed to - Rhell Anderson play the game at the highest level. [> There are three levels ofdifficulty, but the two highest levels are too easy. GeeBeeAir After just a few games, I was able to Gee Bee Air Rally play well past my boredom threshold For •.. • Rally Amiga-$39.95 (currently about 45 minutes). I'd like to Commodore 64/128-$29.95 see a second le vel like the current third It's no wonder flight simulations are From ... among the most popular ofall com level, and a third level that's significant Activision puter games. There's something irresist ly more difficult. 2350 Bayshore Frontage Rd. ible about flying. For most ofus, Sound is an important element in Mountain Virm, CA 94043 though, a home computer is as close this game. In fact, the only obvious way (415) 960-051 B we'll get to the real thing. to hear whether you're in low gear or 78 COMPUTE! •REVIEWS Advertisers Index FileParse menu provides an easy way to Re ader Service Number/Advertiser Page • Quattro separate the elements ofeach line into 102 Air Force ...... 7 individual cells. Simply create a format 103 The Avalon Hill Game Company ...... 23 For half th e price of Lotus's 1-2-3 Bor li ne that indicates where breaks should 104 ComputAbllity ...... 80-81 land lnternational's Quauro delivers occur and what data types are expected. 105 Computer Direct ...... _ . .... 88-89 106 Computer Mail Order ...... • . . . .. 18- 19 more spreadsheet power, flexibility, After yo u've defined input and output DAK ...... • • • . • ...... 71 and ease of use. ranges and executed the command, DAK ...... • ...... 72-73 Quallro has its own unique se t of Quallro transfers the tex t data to the DAK ...... • . • ...... 74-75 commands for performing basic spread output range in its proper form. DAK ...... • ...... 76-77 111 Electronic Arts ...... I FC-1 sheet manipulations. However, the One nasty WordPe1/ec1 file (which 112 Electronic Arts . . 28 package includes an add-in program was extremely wide and had been print 113 Electronic Arts ...... 30 called Menu Builder which makes it ed to a DOS text file) contained lines 114 Free Spirit Software. Inc. . . • ...... 83 simple to rewrite or rearrange the which were too long fo r 1-2-3 to import. Halix Institute ...... • . . • ...... 82 The Heron Corporation . . . • . . . • ...... 82 menus. These menu definitions mav be Quallro was able to import the file , and 115 Indus-Tool ...... 82 loaded from disk. The program's 1-2-3 the parsing command made it easy to 116 Lyco Computer ...... 66-69 compatibility, therefore, comes from place the individual data elements in 117 Micro World Electronix ...... 90 loading a special menu tree. the proper fields. Even in an office 118 Midwest Computer Camp ...... 83 119 Montgomery Grant ...... 85 Quauro allows two menu trees- a where 1-2-3 is firmly entrenched. this 120 Near Future Computers ...... 83 main and an alternate-to be loaded trick is worth the price of Qua/Ira. NRI Schools ...... 35 into memory at once. These menus Parsons Technology ...... 63 may be set as defaults which are auto 121 PC Enterprises ...... 80 PRODUCT SALES 122 Precision Data Products ...... 83 matically in voked, so it's not necessary 123 Rainbird ...... IBC to specify which menu tree you want All Divisions 124 Renco Computer Supply ...... 83 each time you run the program. Quattro 125 Software Discounters of America ...... 93 contai ns everything a 1-2-3 user (or be 126 Spinnaker ...... 5 127 subl.OGIC Corporation ...... 8 ginner) needs to use a full Release 128 TEVEX ...... 80 2- compatible spreadsheet, but provides 129 Video Technology. Inc...... 21 much more for the user who is wi lling 130 Yamaha International Corporation ...... BC to in vestigate and experiment. Classified Ads ...... 84 The program is full ofnice touches. It uses, for example, "smart" recalcula tion to reduce delays. (This means that, rat her than recalculate the entire Quattro's integrated graphing abilities let MAIL TO : spreadsheet when one formul a needs to you forgo stand-alone print graph software. be recomputed, Quattro updates only COMPUTE! the relevant formulas.) Those who have ping-ponged be SUBSCRIBER SERVICE Qua/fro also includes several help tween 1-2-3 and PrintGraph wi ll instantly P.O. Box 10955. Des Moines, IA 50340-0955 ful file-hand ling fea tures, incl uding the appreciate Quamo's integrated graphing Change of Address: Please advise as early as fil e-compression utility SQZ! Plus. facil ity. Not only is the graphing fea ture possible. Allach label with your old address and Rather than calling the compression easier to use, but it offers much more wnle in new address below. routine, yo u simply supply the correct control over the look of the final product, New Subscriber: Fill in your name and address ftl cname extension and SQZ! compresses even though it still falls short of provid below. Use separate sheet for gilt orders. the file in the proper format. ing total control and nexibili ty. Ofcourse, Quallro can handle Quauro supports numerous print dBASE and Reflex file formats. but ers and plotters, produces crisp graphs even more interesting is its ability to on laser printers-including Pos!Script handle Paradox files. Borland is clearly devices-and will save graphs to disk in PLACE LABEL HERE maki ng its move on the dBASE/1-2-3 lotus PIC file format or as Encapsulat market, and providing a database and ed Post Script. Quauro supports many spreadsheet combinati on as powerful graphics standards, including Hercul es, and usable as Paradox and Quallro CGA, EGA, and VGA. Renewal: Attach label. could make Borland an even bigger Macro jockeys will be glad to lose ...... One year S24.00 ...... Two yea rs $45.00 force in PC-compatible software. some of their chains, since wi th Quauro (Foreig n subscribers please add S6.00 per year for pos1age) Another of Quauro's common the 27-macro limit is not in effect. sense featu res solves the problem of Quamo makes creating macros easier bringing word processor documents in by providing a built-in macro-recording NFME as spreadsheet data. Many people use feature that is easy to use and efTecti ve. S Tl ~EET word processors to keep simple data To assist with macro testing and editing, bases before they even have access to a Quauro provides a macro-debugging CITY ~ TAT E ZIP spreadsheet or database program. Even environment...... Please bill me...... Payment enclosed tuall y, that simple list of names and 1-2-3 macros run in Quattro as For oth er subscr1p1ion qu estions or problems. numbers can get unruly. When Qua/fro long as the proper menu is in use. It is please wrile a noJe and send entire fo rm Jo th e imports a text fil e, each line is interpret possible, for example, to use the Qua/lro above addr ess. OR CALL TOLL -FREE : ed as a long label, even though it may, main menu. then switch to the 1-(800) 727-6937 for example. contain a name, address, 123.ALT menu to run 1-2-3 macros, re phone number, and salary. 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Compatibles. Fast service. Satisfaction guaranteed. 5.25 or 3.5 di k. For catalog of diskettes available: Voice Moster PC plug in boord !or dlgllol ACL. 162 I Fulton =35 -CS Sac. CA 95825 recording, editing, and VOICE RECOGNlllON. (Re available for educ,1tion , games, business, etc. quires Speech Thing ror sound oulpul.) Only S 79.95 . Write: Morning Star lndu try, Box 3095, TRIED/VERIFIED PUBLIC DOMAIN PROGRAMS Pat8flled price/ performance breakthroughs I Ann Arbor, Ml 48I 06 Send 530 for JOO select programs/ ID categories or TO ORDER BY MAIL include S4 shipping &. handling requ est more info. Specify C64 or APPLE. (56 Canada. 512 overseas) per ordet Visa, Master CALOKE IND., BOX 18477, K.C. , MO 64133 Card phone orders accepted. 30 day money bock guorontee. one year warranty. Other voice 1/ 0 sys tems available ror Apple, Commodore. and Ata ri computers. COMPUTE! Classified is a low-cost way to tell over 300,000 microcomputer Coll or w111e.rooov tor FREE Product Corolog owners about your product or service. CO\'OX INC. (503) 342-1271 Rates: S25 .per line, minimum of four lines. Any or all of the first lint' set in 1,\1pi t.:il lcucrs ;ti no charge. Add @ 675 Conger St.. Eugene. Oregon 97402 S.15 per line for bo!JfJC1..' word.s. or $50 for the entire- ad set in boldface (a ny number of Jinl!s.) Inquire about d1sp[av rates. Terms: Prepayment 1s rcquirl'.'d. Check, money order. American Express, Visa. or Mastt>rCard is accepted. ~lake checks p.i yable to COMPUTE! Publications. MISCELLANEOUS Form: Ads .ire uliject m publisher's approv.11 and must be either 1ypc·d or legibly pri nted, One line cquals .JO l...•ttl'rs and spJces between words. Pl C'aSC" underline words to bt.• Sl'I in boldfo(c. GET PAID for rea ding books! General tnformation: Ad vertisers using posl offic-e box numbers in their .1d.;. mu.;.t suppl\· P'-'rmanent .tddrt;t ' Write: ACE -XS I an~ telephone numb~r,, r\ d will appe~r in next availabh.' issue ,~fter rt>n•ipt. · 16 t Lincoln way Closing: 10th,,( 1hc• third month pr...•c<"dmg co\'er date (e.g .. June 1sSUL' closes MJ rch 10th). Send order and remitt.rnce to: Kathlc•en lngrnm. Classified Manager. COMPUTE!. P.O . Bo:\ 5406. Greensboro. NC 27.J OJ . Tu Orth Aurora , IL 60542 place an ad b\' phone, c>ll Ko 1hleon Ingram at (9"19) 275 -9609. NoUce: COMPOTE! Publications cannot be responsible for oHers or claims of advcrti ers, but \\'ill attemp: to screen out misleading or guE"stionable copy. 84 COMP UTE! PO WERMA TE HARD ORNE IBMPC/XT PACKAGE COMPAnBL.E PACKAGE • IBM XT Computer • IBM Keyboard 256K • ~ RAM Expandable to 640K • 360K Disk Drive • 20MB Hard Drive ·Package ot 1o Diskelles • 800286 SMHz Processor • 640K RAM (Monitor Optional) • 1.2MB Floppy • 12· Monitor s1349 IBM PC Co m puter · IBM 1 Keyboard · 256K RAM Ex pandable to 640K· One Floppy 360K Drive · 12" Monitor · Se rial / Parallel • 68000 Processor • 512K RAM !ll~~~~!!i~Pons Expandable to 9MB •Graphics Processor $899 500 with 1080 500/ 1080/ 1010 Pe ;sonal Syslem II Model 25...... $ 1049 PS II MOOe l :.:! !> w / COIOI Monilor .. ~" 1299 s759 s979 PERSONAL SYSTEM 11 MOOEL lO ...... ll 111 AMIGA PERIPHERALS PS ll Model 60w/ 44MB Hard Dove & A·501 512K EXPANSION 1 720 k Flo ppy Drive,...... $J599 A· 1010 3.5° FLOPPY DRIVE IBM Puson11 Sysltm II Monitors A·1 084 RGB COLOR MONITOR 8503 Mono...... A· 1060 SIDE CAR '85 12Colo r ...... A· I 020 T 5 1/ 4'. 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DELUXE PACKAGE RGB Color Monitor • 10 D1skelles , Apple MONITORS Software • AC Adaptors • All Hook·up Cables • C·128 Compuler • 157 1 Disk Drive S469 • 1902Colo r Monilo r •t51560Column s1379 Pri nter $699 discoveries DAVID STANTON 0 n the late 1970s. they told us that com capped. Carefu ll y selected drill-and-practice puters at school would revolutionize and tutorial programs are helping some catch I o I education. We bought a 16K PET here, an up while allowing others to move ahead. Apple II there. and awaited the revolution. Increasingl y. yesterday's promises are We expected miracles in those innocent becoming today's realities. Currently. com days. We got PacMan and Parsec instead. puters and quality software arc helping us Not that arcade-style games are devoid of learn more. understand better, progress fast educational value. Conquering each new er, and explore new ideas. Computers in screen requires imagination. analysis, Even with all this, though, we've only problem-solving skills, and manual dexter seen the beginning. The outlook for the future it y. But no researcher has yet proven a cor looks even more promising. To overestimate Schools Are relation between Donkey Kong scores and the potential benefits ofcomputers in educa educational achievement. tion is virtually impossible. Yet we must re Living Up to In those days, supporters ofcomputer member that the technology itself offers no education needed tough skins. We taught magic solutions. As with other tools, we can the Promises BASIC without knowing exactly why, and use computers effecti vely only when we fully we argued for compwer literacy without un understand what they can and cannot do. derstanding what it meant. Still, we shared a Computers alone cannot moti vate, but Made Years vague se nse that somehow computers were or in the right hands they can make learning so would become important educational tools. much fun that even the least moti vated stu Ago, So Don't Skeptics tolerated us much as we an dents will seek out opportunities to learn. li ve with an occasional head cold. Ifmicros Computers cannot actually teach, but when Despair or established a foothold, teachers and parents teamed with carefully selected software they who found them intimidating would be can- and do-otTer unlimited opportuni Give Up the forced to master them. Under such condi ti es for learning. tions, who could blame those who desper How can we motivate our children to ately wished the things would just go away? use their computers? Which software be Faith Yet "Where's the evidence that computers longs at home and which at school? How had even a minimal effect on educational can a home computer improve a child's suc performance?" they challenged. We mum cess in class? What do computers do well , bled something about too few machines, too and what is best handled by more tradition little time to assimilate the technology, and al approaches? What is yo ur local school do ineffecti ve software. ing right (or wrong) wi th its computers? Accepting our arguments, education Every month, this column will grapple agencies began supporting the computer with these and similar questions. I expect to movement with generous (if not lavish) in prod (perhaps even provoke) yo u with a mix fusions of funds for software, equipment, of fact and opinion about the scope and di and training. They called our bluff rection ofeducational computing. I promise Fortunately for all concerned, the re to strive to keep yo u up-to-date on the sults have been dramatic. Increasing num newest and best ideas and products in the bers of teachers are now computer literate field. I can't promise to be right always. but I (whatever that means), and software compa can promise to read the mai l. ni es currently offer some very well-designed What can you do? Insist on reading spe educational packages for home and school. cific, practical suggestions here every An in-school ratio of roughly 20 students month. Implement those recommendations per microcomputer leaves room for signifi that offer the greatest reward for you and cant improvement, but it represents mil your famil y. Be patient, but expect to see lions of dollars-no small commitment. real and meaningful benefits. Clearly. the time has come for education So whether you'rejust thinking about al computing to prove its worth both in buying a home computer or yo u use one ev schools and at home, and there's everv reason ery day. sti ck around. If yo ur micro si ts to believe that the results will be ~atic . gathering dust in the closet (having failed to Already students are discovering the li ve up to yo ur expectations). dig it out and benefits of word-processing software and are hook it up. El learning to enjoy the writing process. Pro gressive parents and teachers are employing David Stanton can be contacted via CompuServe specialized hardware and software to pro (72407,102) or by mail at P.O. Box 494, Bolivar, vide educational assistance for the handi New York 14715. 86 COM P UTE ! ronri1111td from pflgt 7 In some ways, it's easy to crash nea rly brought Atari Computers, on the other understand the soaring sales down, and didn't work won hand, tend to grow with their It's All in the Game figures. For one thing, video ders for its then-parent Warner users, as does entena.inment They're back . . . game systems arc less expen Comunications, ei ther. There software. Once a child out Dedicated videogame ma sive than computers. For was, to be sure, a simultaneous grows videogames, the game chines. and the ca rtridge-based another. Nintendo ad vertises. crash in the computer and soft machines tend to find their way so ft ware they support, cele Hard. Taking advantage of ce ware market, but observers into closets. Outgrowing arcade bra ted a stunning return to lebrity endorse rs, and appeal have noted that the software software, though, opens the form-and profit-in 1987. ing to the 8- to 12-yea r-old crash was neither so severe nor other areas ofcomputer enter According to industry market, the company has pep so long-lasting as the collapse tainment. And when entenain sources, the videoga mc hard pered TV with spots citing out of the game cartridge. ment pales, there's education, ware market alone grew from standing arcade acti on and The feeling now is that productivity, creativity... approximately $ I 00 million in edge-of-the-seat exci tement. game cartridges are probably a which is why computer soft 1986 to over $700 million last Computer advertise cyclical market, one that will ware publishers, while not un yea r. Such figures may even be ments, on the other hand, aim come and go every few years as mindful ofthe game machines' conservati ve: Nintendo. by fa r almost exclusively at adults, new crops ofchildren age into renewed growth, are not terri the industry leader. claims 1987 pushing producti vit y. profits, and then out of the intendo/ fied of it, either. sales in excess of$650 million. and performance. Hardly the Sega/ Atari spell. - Keirh Ferrell The Chri stmas season alone stuff to make Junior lobby saw sales of 3 million Nintendo mom and dad for a PC under game units. the tree. Last winter, though, Com The Medium and the Message modore returned to TV Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Company with a series ofads Time Magazine are among a puts you in the driver's seat for the 64 that touted growing number ofcompanies with the Ford Simulator, a superior playability, mixing their media to get their $4.95 software package that message across: Computer contains information about disks that complement their the company's products as well products can also serve as as a colorful racing simulation marketing tools. ga me with drag strip, slalom, Time's NewsQu est is a and Grand Prix courses. It's weekly quiz-on-a-disk based available for any IBM PC or on the current issue of the compatible with 256K of news magazine. Educators memory and color graphics who take part in the Time capability. Education Program, a maga The simulator features an alternatives that a zine educational service for imated screens that show off computer makes possible. Oth schools, can use the disk as a everything from how air bags er computer manufacturers are supplement to reading, histo inflate and how cars cut Sharing the spotlight with also begi nning to cite enter ry, political science. and relat through the wind to the way an Nintendo-or peeping out from tainment as a benefit of own ed curricul a. Offered in Apple engine runs. A buyer's guide under that giant's shadow- arc ing a computer. II and IBM formats, the News section on the disk has infor Sega, now a division ofTonka, Software publishers are Quesr disk contains a current mation on fi ve different Ford and old familiar Atari, which also responding to the Ninten events quiz based on the arti vehicles. You can configure claims more than 2 million XE do/ Sega challenge. For one cles in that week's issue of each car with various options, game systems sold in 198 7. thing. 1988 will see more, and Time. as well as ten levels of calculate the sticker price and or arc the registers more dynamic. arcade-style other test materi als. Time is installment payments, and even th rough ringing when the unit games released fo r microcom even sponsoring a national compute financing costs. The is sold. The cartridge market is puters than in any recent yea r. competition for $10,000 in test track portion ofthe disk fea estimated now at over Jf, billion Some of these games are di scholarships for the school tures three racing games. dollars annually, and still rectly imported from the coin with the highest cumulative Ford Simulator is avail growing. op and cartridge worlds; others scores throughout the year. able by check or money order Naturally, such sales arc wholly original. A minimum 30-week sub for $4.95 from The Ford Simu surges arc attracting some at The publishers are also scription to the 51/•-inch disk lator, 14310 Hamilton Avenue. tention within the entertain picki ng up some ex tra profits format is $89 plus $16 postage Highland Park, Michigan ment software industry. Those by licensing computer games and handling. In 31/i-inch for 48203. Or, you can call toll-free Ni ntendos, Segas. and Ataris for translation to arcade mat, the price is $109 plus the and order the disk with VISA or may not all represent lost com machines. same postage and handling fee. MasterCard at 1-800-521-3350, puter sa les, but it's a sure bet Looming over all of the The disks arrive weekly by ex tension 300 (Monday-Friday th at some of them do. This is interplay arc memories of the first-class mail. For more infor 8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. EST). In despite the deeper and more videogame collapse of the ear mation, call 1-800-523-8727. Michigan, call 1-800-482-5507, sophisticated ga meplay offered ly 1980s. At the time. Atari (In Pennsylvania, call 1-800 extension 300. by microcomputers. was in the driver's seat: The 637-8509.) - Selby Bareman M A Y 1 9 8 8 87 ...... :' .. The Incredibly Quick Proleulonol XT Computer Computer, Drive, Monitor, Printer & Software .. ' re'· Seil ~ PriEi~ 9 _; )1!.~ -~) A ~-sale ~J Price ;!<-~~ **$ ,=.-_ ~·--- ~95 -,-·--. ?._-· ;;,_ ~ ·~ .-.....~ ... ..-; ... ..w ~$,•.,~, -~ .. 44·1 list $11 95 (Add $10.00 shipping.•) Professional System li11$2'95 (AddS35.00shipping.' ) 1 No One Sells • *15 MHz (Norton Cl Rating) <: "j • *15 MHz (Norton Cl Rating) -~ •Super Fast V20 CPU • 512K Profeulonal XT Turbo Computer~- This System 4.n / BMHz ; Clock/ Calendar ; ;~ •Parallel, Serial &Game Ports • AT Style Keyboard '\'. . For Less! Parallel, Serial & Game Ports ~ • TIL Monochrome Monitor Card "' • Security Keyloclc •MS DOS 3.2 & G.W. 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And Heat Transfer Paper • GEOS Software: Word Processor And ••.• ....., - ~ •Software: Word Processor, Spreadsheet & Data Entry . _ Drawing Program ' - ~~ -~ Apple ® It the t eigiater.d trodernork of Apple Compute rs Inc. ' ~ Convnodot•® h the reig later...::1 t rodemark of Cornmodc>fe Sutl,...H Mochlnft Inc. §:...;~,- ~ - -· ~ ~ 15 Day Home Trlal • 90 Day Immediate Replacement Polley <"- _ ~ COMPUTER DIRECT • llhnoh ''"'°'""add 6 '11 "' ..in tu. 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Mall Barrington, IL. 60010 Softsoap Software products. including its name RAM Through the Roof Tandy Corporation. maker of making soap as well as such February saw RAM prices price; they're being auctioned Tandy and Radio Shack com unlikely items as MCI long nea rl y triple in less than th ree to the highest bidder. "If you're puters, has signed an agreement clistance telephone service and weeks. Prices for a megabyte of a gambler," concludes Coakley. with Amway Corporation. sell home security devices. A111 256K-bit chips had been "sell your pork bellies and in er ofhouseholcl items, wherein 11 ·are may also case the burden around $ 100. but a combina vest in dynamic RAM." registered Amway distributors of inventory tracking for its tion of the weak U.S. dollar In a related story, Lot us. are given discounts on Tandy distributors. and specul ation by Eastern In tel. and Microsoft have an computers. Amway product A1111mre is being licensed businessmen caused prices to nounced a new Expanded distributors will need the ma by Amway from lnternomics, skyrocket to $300 and above. Memory Specification (EMS chines to run .·l111ware, special a small Californ ia firm that "The suppl y of RAM has 4.0) that all ows owners of IBM Amway software intended to spent over four yea rs develop been dwindling for about a PCs. XTs. and compatibles to ing the software, which is spe help the 1 million distributors year." says Jack Coakley. of access up to 32 111egabytes of cially geared to managing a ofAmway products wi th paper RAM Explosion. a Fairfax , expanded memory. Makers of multilevel sell ing agent's work and organization. Virginia company specializing expanded memory boards. According to Bob Vis. busin1:ss. in memory expansion hard such as AST. Bocaram. and By offeri ng them dis A111ll'are Project Manager. the warc."and prices have been Quadram. arc working to create software, which Amway sells counts of 5 to 15 percent on rising slight ly, but January and the EMS 4.0 software drivers for $199. contains several computers. Tandy dealers are February were unbelievable." for their expansion units. The modules. including accounting no doubt cager to get as many RAM supplies have been low first of these should be appear and tel ecommunications. the of Amway's independent dis ered simply because suppliers ing by the time you read this. laner all owing Amway agents tributors through its doors as can't seem to keep pace with The question is. will PC to automate their ordering pro possible. Amway. which scored the personal computer indus users be able to afford the extra cess by having thei r PCs com over $1.5 billion in retail sales try's ever-increasing demand memory the new EMS makes municate directly with last yea r. also gets a percentage for more memory. it possible to use? ofeach computer sold. Amway's computer. With Am In Japanese markets, chips - Cfijio11 Karnes way now selling over 300 - C/((1011 Karnes aren't being sold at a fixed COMMODORE SPRING MANIA Peripherals now in stock BEST 2nd BUY! BEST A2088D Bridgecard BUY A2090 HD Controller A2092 20MB HD W/Cont $1095.005- -1: $925.00~f. A2052 2 MB Board .. ~~Z§lf, A20 IO 3.5" Disk Drive AMIGA500- AMIGA 500 A2002-23 Monitor 512K MEMORY, 512K MEMORY AlOlO External Floppy 1010 DISK DRIVE 1084 MONITOR CALL FOR NEW 3.5" 1084 MONITOR EXTERNAL DRIVE AMIGA SOFTWARE I__ C64 + C128 C64 POWER SUPPLIES C64 & 128 ACCESSORIES Electronic Arts PRICING ------t :VIW-350 Parallel Printer lnt crfa~cc . ~.. 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All Prices Subject to Change Without 'Notice. 90 COMPUTE I --n~e'WS¬es MacBiomorphs Are Coming! Creating life in the lab is noth Norton, you can breed endless ing startling these days. successions of biomorphs, Whether it's cellular cloning or Dawkins' computer creati ons test-tube babies, scientists are that can look vaguely like exploring a wide range ofalter trees, animals, objects, and native lifestyles. Add to their whatever else they evolve into ranks now a growing number over many generations. ofevolutionary biologists, bio There's even a $1 ,000 chemists, and zoologists, all prize for anyone who can fi nd who arc beginning to use the the genetic key to create a par computer to mimic evolution ticular Holy Grail-like bio by creating artificial life. morph whose formula was lost Thanks to renowned biol after it evolved. The book, ogist Dr. Richard Dawkins of wh ich has been hai led as one Oxford University, Macintosh ofthe most important science owners can take part in such books ofthis century, is fasci evolutionary experiments nating, exceptionally well writ without leaving their own era. ten, and highly recommended. Dawkins' critically acclaimed The Macintosh disk was creat charges: we discovered that he 1986 book, The Blind Warch· ed by Dawkins himself after he started both businesses: Mutu maker: Why the Evidence of received many requests for al Telecommunications, which Ei·olwion Reveals a Universe such a program from readers contracts local PC users to Wirhow Design, is now a of the hardback edi tion. The make ca lls, and Trivia Mas $7.95 paperback available with program requires a minimum ters, which uses Mutual's net an optional Macintosh disk of 5 I 2K to run and costs $9.95 work to contact consumers from W. W. Norton & Compa plus $ 1.00 postage and han When th e system is set up, and get them to pay to play the ny. With the software. pur dling. Details on ordering the each P owner. called a SYOP tri via game. chased separately from W. W. disk are in the paperback edi by Mutual. spends about two "Our problem was that we tion of the book. available at hours a day doing house started this thing by calling most bookstores. keeping on his or her system so people randomly," said Hous - Selby Bareman it can tirelessly make local calls. ton. "We wanted to contact as When someone answers a many people as possible, and call from the computer, they're this was what upset everyone. asked several prerecorded tri v People didn't understand that PCs Linked in ia questions. Consumers an they had to pay to play, and Telemarketing swer these questions by they got mad." According to Houston, Scandal pressing buttons on their tele phones. If they answer correct Trivia Masters will no longer Ifit sounds too good to be ly. they're told they must pay call people at random. Instead. true, maybe it is. to play at the next higher level the company plans to contact Atlanta, Georgia entrepre to get a chance at the ultimate probable players in a mail neur James Ray Houston is grand prize- $ I 00.000. Con ing-players will be told they connected with two companies sumer groups. local Better must pay to play and that they bei ng investigated for operat Business Bureaus. and at least must send in their money ing a nationwide tri via game one state attorney general's of before they can play. Long involving PC users. Trivia fice are in vest igating this range plans include having a Masters Productions of Atlan operation. cable television station display ta and Mutual Telecommuni According to the Atlanta the computer/ player interac cations Network ofTampa Better Business Bureau, the tion on ga mes that reach high have recently been linked to president ofTrivia Masters stakes levels. scandal in these companies' Productions. James Ray Hous But since Trivia Masters home towns, as well as cities in ton, has been involved in three has suspended operations, and Louisiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, other businesses that are no local PC SYOPs are not being Ohio, Maine, and Washington. longer in operation, two of payed for their efforts, the fu Both the Associated Press and which had legal problems. ture of thi s telemarketing the computer press have filed They are advising consumers scheme seems uncertain. Mr. reports indicating that these to exercise "normal economic Houston is optimistic, however, companies may be taking ad precautions" when dealing saying, "We may have started vantage ofboth the local PC with Trivia Masters. out in the wrong way, but we're Reproduce this Holy Grail bio on the right track now." morph and win $1,000 in The operators they hire and the COMPUTE! contacted - Clifton Karnes Blind Watchmaker contest. general public. Mr. Houston to clarify these El M A Y 1 9 8 8 91 levitations ro ntimu d from pagt 94 to primaries and pioneered the early fron I spent 15 years after school paying my tiers of"nerdness." Programming became data processing dues. I've looked at comput akin to mathematical break dancing, and as ers through the eyes of a user, operator, pro far as we were concerned, an elegant piece of grammer, and systems analyst. I've worked code was as much a thing of beauty as any of for large corporations, small businesses, the iambic pentameter that was being dished public utilities, and the government. I've out in English Lit. watched my buddies boot up their IMSAis, Although we never quite moved into KlMs, and SOLs as well as PCs, STs, Macs, the two-pocket shirt with dual plastic pock and Amigas. Through it all, the one thing et-protector mode, most students, including that has helped make the most sense out of our old buddies, began to avoid us. The this crazy business is a sense of humor. briefcase, cheerleader, and bookworm "Levitations" is about people. There's Levitations Will cliques kept their distance from us in the nothing inherently wonderful about com school cafeteria, preferring instead to sit at puters themselves. The folks who have cre Uncover Proof tables whose occupants concentrated on dip ated them and work with them are far more ping the ends of straws into gravy and then interesting than any electronic component That the shooting the wrappers up to stick on the ceil or program. The designers, executives, PR ing. The few who were curious about the flacks, and media folks whose collective ac strange hieroglyphic flowcharts we scribed tions comprise what we glibly call the "com Strange Lines into our table's surface were recruited into puter industry" are the grist for this our ranks. column's mill. on the Plains The hook was set at the end ofthe "Levitations" doesn't have a fixed for semester by a visit to Wayne State Universi mat. Sometimes it will report and inform. of Peru Are the ty's computer center where we came face-to Other times it will attempt to educate or edi teletype with the beast that had occupied torialize. We'll uncover the darkest myster most ofour free time for some five months. ies of computing: Did you know that disk Work of Alien It was an IBM 1400 series with an astound sleeves have the ability to teleport across ing 64K of memory and watching it actually space and time? How else can one explain Software read punched cards and spew out our print the fact there are always either too few or outs made as deep an impression on us as a too many of them lying around computer pilgrimage to Mecca. desks? We'll find proof positive that strange After that, it was on to Michigan State patterns on the plains of Peru were created University, which had just purchased a by extraterrestrial draw programs, and that multimillion dollar mainframe with a whop most of today's computer salespersons are ping 5 l 2K of memory. Since the Engineering the demon spawn ofancient alien program department owned the computer, anyone mers and used chariot dealers. who wanted to take computer courses was We're all Bozos on this data bus, folks, an Engineering Sciences major. Computer yours truly included. Take off your digital Science, as a distinct discipline, did not ex wingtips, lean back, and enjoy the ride. In the ist. Electronic calculators that did simple months to come, we'll be stopping at various arithmetic cost hundreds ofdollars. computer trade shows across the country for The electrical and structural engineers late-breaking faux pas and in-depth analysis of wore massive Keufel & Esser slide rules on press conference cuisine. We'll attend Micro their belts. The real heavies looked like gun soft's upcoming CD ROM conference, includ slingers from "Gunsmoke," their weapons ing a live report on how far you can fiisbee a housed in polished leather holsters worn low CD ROM !Tom the top of the Seattle Space on their hips, secured by a leather thong tied Needle. The Computer Dealers Exposition just above the knee to allow unencumbered and Consumer Electronics Shows will take us quick draws in case they were confronted by to the Billy Goat Tavern on Lower Wacker in hostile algorithms when rounding blind Chicago and the neon wasteland of Las Vegas, corners. punctuated with live satellite reports from the Politics led me to stray from the engi trenches ofcomputer-war battle zones. As my neering fold . It was the late Sixties, and the editor has long suspected, I usually don't unfolding of"flower power" and its atten know what a column will be about until the dant political consciousness ran headlong day after deadline. Ifthere are any stops you into the apolitical stance of most of my En would like added to our tour itinerary, feel gineering school associates. I eventually free to contact me via U.S. Snail, care of found refuge in Philosophy, where I could COMPUTE!, or via electronic mail on one of gain computer access in the department's these services: advanced logic courses, and where mixing CompuServe: 70675,463 ethics with your work was expected rather Delphi: ARLANL than discouraged. GEnie: XMG 15546 El 92 COMPU T E! Our largest selection of software ~LL\Jl.F"UJL'''~' \nr_ ever for your IBM or Compatible! It 's the ultimate Shoot the tube ELECTRONIC ARTS HI-TECH miniature golf Print Power ...... $9.88 challenge; a _ while surfing at Software Classic Series: 1..·: Adventure Const. Set S9.88 The Computer Club . S9.88 magical, animated Santa Cruz, do hand Lords of Conquest . . . S9.88 INFOCOM "Golf-0.Rama" plants skateboarding o,,.,..,n-One ...... S9.88 Beyond Zork ...... 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My for W bus, those who have been regular mal uniform consists ofa number of nearly readers of COMPUTE! may have stumbled identical dark pinstripe suits and the morn over my musings before (see Hitchhikers ing excitement consists ofdeciding whether Guide to COMPUTE!- "Telecomputing the white shirt I'll wear will have a regular or Today," 1984-1988). There are a lot ofad button-down collar. vantages to being on the back page. It's a lot When less formal corporate functions In Which Our easier to remove without damaging the rest require "business casual" (sport shirt from an of the magazine, which makes it a snap to acceptable golf or country club, and slacks), use my stuff for wrapping fish or blotting up I'm a dead man. My definition ofcasual is Resident messy kitchen spills. T-shirt and jeans, with an occasional flannel Since this is the first "Levitations," my or Hawaiian shirt thrown in for special occa Free-Form editor suggested that I take a little time in sions. I'm still trying to live down the 1972 troducing myself. Since he signs the checks, wedding ofa friend at which I ushered in a Columnist I've decided to go along with the request, al black tuxedo with tails tastefully accented by though I'll try to make him regret it. a pair ofred, white, and blue platform tennies Reports on the I'm a mild-mannered senior systems with lightning bolts on the sides. engineer for a major metropolitan main At the over-the-hill-age of 38. I've been frame manufacturer, dedicated to fighting a mucking about with computers for about 22 Funny, the never-ending battle for truth, justice, and years. It all started innocently enough in the right to giggle hysterically at ourselves. high school. After a few minor explosions Odd, and the In the early I 980's, I was crazy enough that destroyed a couple hundred dollars to buy a 48K Atari 800 with disk drive for a worth of lab equipment in chemistry, some Outrageous little over two thousand bucks, and I helped counselor decided that the school would be start up the MACE Atari user group, which a heck ofa lot safer if I were placed in an ex at last report is still alive and well. Anyone perimental program. While the chemi stry who has edited a user group newsletter inev department had definite opinions on what itably ends up writing a lot of material to fill they would like the experiment to be, it in the empty spaces. I suppose I got fairly good stead turned out to be the first computer at it, since people I had never met from class offered in a high school in Michigan. strange and exotic places such as Peterboro, The instructor selected for Computer New Hampshire, and Greensboro, North Programming IOI was Kate Pankin a Carolina started actually paying me money chain-smoking mathematics teacher who to do it. the Marines had used for breaking in drill My wife. Gretchen, is a MacManiac instructors on Parris Island. and works on microcomputer-based speak There was no middle ground when it er-independent voice-recognition systems came to Ms. Pankin. You might hate or fear for a public utility. My four-year-old daugh her, but you had to respect her intensity. In ter, Mira, likes to play with the Atari 800 she the world according to Pankin, books were inherited from me but still prefers the tactile sacrosanct, and were not to be defiled by feedback ofa genuine crayola on paper to a pen or pencil. If Kate Pan kin caught yo u un light pen on screen. Tobias, our one-and-a derlining or doodling in the margins ofa half-year-old, hasn't professed any prefer book during class, the offending writing im ences for a specific computer. He seems plement was whisked out ofyour hand, equally adept at drooling into the keyboard snapped in two in front of the class, fol ofany of our five machines and seems in lowed by a stream oferudite vitriol that laid tent on figuring out how to get my CD the decline of Western civilization directly ROM player to load and read Lego blocks. at your feet. I'm not sure where Ms. Pankin Al though our environs are relatively se is now, although there were rumors floating date, they're far from quiet. We live just around at my 20-year high school reunion north of the Detroit Zoo. Late nights are oc that she had suffered a debilitating stroke casionally punctuated with lion roars, ele when the invention of high-lighter magic phant blasts, and raucous bands of roving markers was announced. penguins, which serve to remind the neigh Alt hough most of the miscreants in CP borhood that after all, it is a jungle out there. I 0 I had been tossed out ofevery French, I'm essentially binary in my mode of Spanish, and German class in school, we dress. Unli ke other computer columnists, I took to learning FORTRA like politicians co111 in11td 011 page 92 94 COMPUTE! COMPUTE! THE LEADING MAGAZINE OF COMPUTING Subscribe now and receive COMPUTE! fo r 12 months at 30% OFF - or 24 months at the low rote of 32 % OFF th e $3.00 cover price. 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