APRIL 1977 VOLUME. 2, Nu `'

APRIL 1977 VOLUME. 2, Nu `' www.americanradiohistory.com Old Fashion W a in the Tradition Our 6800 computer system repre- you who have purchased extra con - That's another thing. Mikbug is a sents the best value available today, nectorsfor your S -100 machines know standard Motorola part. It is used in with no sacrifice in performance. what kind of money this can run many systems and supported by the into. The 6800 is supplied with all Motorola software library in addition I would like to explain why this is mother board connectors. No extras, to our own extensive collection of true. The most basic reason is that or options like memory, or con- programs. It is not an orphan like the 6800 is a simpler, more elegant nectors for the mother board are many monitor systems that are uni- machine. The 6800 architecture is in our que to the manufacturer using them memory oriented rather than bus needed 6800 system. and which can only run software pro- oriented as are the older 8008, 8080 The 6800 is not beautiful, but "Oh vided by that manufacturer. Check and Z -80 type processors. This is an Boy" is it functional. That plain the program articles in Byte, Interface important difference. It results in a black box is strong and it has an and Kilobaud. You will find that al- computer that is far easier to program annodized finish. This is the hardest, most all 6800 programs are written on the more basic machine language toughest finish you can put on alu- for systems using a Mikbug monitor. and assembly language levels. It also minum. Most others use paint, or Guess how useful these are if you results in a far simpler bus structure. other less expensive finishes. The have some off -brand monitor in your The 6800 uses the SS -50 bus which 6800 does not have a pretty front computer. has only half the connections needed panel with lights and multicolor swit- in the old S -100 (IMSAI /MITS) bus ches. This is because the lights and The 6800 will never win any beauty system. If you don't think this makes switches are not only expensive, and prizes. It is like the Model "T" and a difference, take a look at the mother unnecessary, but also a great big pain the DC -3 not pretty, but beautiful boards used in both systems -com- to use. We don't crank up the 6800; in function. It is simple, easy to use pare them. The SS -50 system has we use an electric starter -a monitor and maintain and does its job in wide, low impedance 0.1 lines with ROM called Mikbug. He automatical- the most reliable and economical way good heavy, easily replaced Molex ly does all the loading for you with- possible. What more could you want? connectors. The S -100 bus, on the out any time wasting switch flopping. Mikbug 0 is a registered trademark other hand, has a very fine hair -like So in the 6800 system you don't buy of Motorola Inc. lines that must be small enough to something expensive (the console) pass between pins on a 100 contact that you will probably want to stop using as soon as you can get your EOM edge connector. I'll give you one Computer System guess which is the most reliable and hands on a PROM board and a good with serial interface and 4,096 words noise free. As for cost -well any of monitor. of memory $395.00 Enclosed is $395 for my SwTPC Computer Kit r Send Data or BAC or MC Ex Date NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP Southwest Technical Products Corp., Box 32040, San Antonio, Texas 78284 www.americanradiohistory.com Meet the most powerful µC system available for dedicated work. Yet it's only $595: Here's the muscle you've been telling us you Standard rack -mount style construction that's wanted: a powerful Cromemco microcomputer in a usable with a variety of cabinets and is upward style and price range ideal for your dedicated com- compatible with larger systems. Bench cabinet puter jobs - ideal for industrial, business, instru- optional. mentation and similar applications. Card retainer to secure cards in sockets under all It's the new Cromemco Z -2 Computer System. conditions. In the Z -2 you get all of the following for only $595: 110- or 220 -volt operation. The industry's fastest 1 P board (4 MHz or 250 - DEDICATED APPLICATIONS nanosecond cycle time). The new Z -2 is specifically designed as a powerful The power and convenience of the well -known but economical dedicated computer for systems Z -80 ,.P. work. Notice that the front panel is entirely free of A power supply you won't believe ( +8V @ 30A, controls or switches of any kind. That makes the +18V and -18V @ 15A. That's not only ample Z -2 virtually tamper -proof. No accidental program power for a full set of cards but ample additional changes or surprise memory erasures. power for other peripherals such as floppy disk (For your custom work, Cromemco will supply drives). blank panels.) A full -length shielded motherboard with 21 card 4 MHz SPEED slots to let you plug in almost any conceivable Cromemco's microcomputers are the fastest and combination of memory, I/O or your own cus- most powerful available. The 4 MHz speed of the tom circuits. Z -2 means you get about twice the speed of nearly Power -on -jump circuitry to begin automatic pro- any other microcomputer. gram execution when power is (continued on next page) turned on. The S -100 bus that's widely supported by a host of peripherals manufacturers. All -metal chassis and dust case. Z-2 Shown with optional bench Conltur,rri¡ri,IL cabinet C Crornemeo Cromemco OVER [11) www.americanradiohistory.com That 4 MHz speed cuts running time in half - cuts your waiting time in half. Lets you do more sophisti- cated work that might not otherwise be practical with a microcomputer. Z -80 GIVES MORE COMPUTER POWER The Z -2 uses the powerful Z -80 microprocessor with its 158 -instruction set, 19 internal registers, 10 address- ing modes, and 16 bit arithmetic operations. The Z -80 is widely regarded as the standard microprocessor of the future. So you're in the technical fore with the Z-2. But you can also plug in other microprocessor boards if you wish. BROAD SOFTWARE SUPPORT Since the Z -2 uses the Z -80, your present 8080 soft- Full -width motherboard ware can be used with the Z -2. In addition, Cromemco has slots for 21 cards. also offers software support including a monitor, assembler, and a BASIC interpreter. STANDARD S -100 BUS The Z -2 uses the S -100 bus that has become standard in the microcomputer field. Dozens of manufacturers support it with compatible peripherals. Of course, all Cromemco peripherals such as our 7- channel A/D and D/A converter, our well -known IÌ ii Ìf BYTESAVER with its built -in PROM programmer, our color graphics interface, etc., will also plug into the bus. LOW NOISE Cromemco engineers have been careful to design the Z -2 for reliable operation at its fast 4 MHz speed. Noise on the motherboard, for example, has been care- fully minimized by a unique ground -plane design (we call it our 'Blitz Bus'"'). With this bus you won't get erratic operation due to ground current noise. RACK OR CABINET MOUNTING The basic Z -2 is supplied in a black- anodized metal case for mounting in a standard 19 -inch relay rack. A high -quality stylized bench cabinet in an attractive blue color is also available. Z -2 is supplied for rack mounting. KIT OR ASSEMBLED Attractive bench cabinet shown is You can get the Z -2 either kit or assembled. The kit also available. includes the Z -2 for rack mounting, the Cromemco 4 MHz microprocessor card, full -length 21- card -slot motherboard, power supply, one card socket and card - guide set, and front panel. The assembled Z -2 includes the above as well as all 21 sockets and card guides and a cooling fan. LOW, LOW PRICE All who've seen the Z-2 have been surprised and impressed with its low price. You'll be impressed, too, with its technical excellence and quality. So see it right away at your computer store - or order now directly from the factory. The sooner you put this advanced computer to work for you, the sooner you'll be solving problems and saving time /money. Z -2 Computer System kit (Model Z -2K) $595. Heavy -duty retainer bar insures that Z -2 Computer System assembled cards won't jostle out of sockets. (Model Z -2W) $995. Cromemeo in c o r p o r a t e d Specialists in computers and peripherals 2432 CHARLESTON RD., MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043 (415) 964 -7400 www.americanradiohistory.com nin APRIL 1977 Volume 2 In the Queue Number 4 PUBLISHERS Foreground Virginia Peschke Manfred Peschke 8 KIM GOES TO THE MOON EDITOR Software -Butterfield Carl T Helmers Jr PRODUCTION MANAGER 40 A SOFTWARE CONTROLLED 1200 BPS AUDIO TAPE INTERFACE Judith Havey Peripherals- Helmers CIRCULATION MANAGER 60 DESIGNING THE "TINY ASSEMBLER " -Defining the Problem Manfred Peschke ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Emmerichs Software- Debra Boudrieau 100 NAVIGATION WITH MINI -O, Part 3 CO.OP EDITOR Software -Salter Scott Morrow PRODUCTION EDITOR Karen Gregory Background CIRCULATION Kimberly Barbour 12 A GUIDE TO BAUDOT MACHINES: Part 1 Ginnie F Boudrieau Hardware -McN att Cheryl Hurd Deborah R Luhrs 18 HAVING A "PRIVATE AFFAIR" WITH YOUR COMPUTER Carol Nyland Humor -Ciarcia ADVERTISING Elizabeth Alpaugh 34 A REVIEW OF TOM PITTMAN'S TINY BASIC Virginia Peschke Software- Rosner ART 50 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: WHAT IS IT? Noreen Bardsley Software -Rosenbaum Mary Jane Frohlich Ellen Shamonsky 70 ESTABLISHING THE CHU DYNASTY DRAFTING Fanaticisms -Gray Lynn Malo Bill Morello 78 EARLY INDICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY IN ROMAN MILITARY Stephen Kruse ARTS or PLEXITUS SPECIAL PRODUCTS History-Barnes Susan Pearne Floyd Rehling 94 WHY AREN'T THERE ANY ALTAI RS ON ARCTURUS II? TYPOGRAPHY Commentary -Melton Custom Marketing Resources Inc 110 MICROPROCESSOR UPDATE: 8008 Goodway Graphics PHOTOGRAPHY History -Baker Ed Crabtree 124 MICROCOMPUTER GLOSSARY PRINTING Terminology -Price The George Banta Company Custom Marketing Resources Inc EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Nucleus Daniel Fylstra ASSOCIATES 4 In This BYTE Bob Baker 6 Born 300 Years Ahead of My Time BYTE magazine is published Walter Banks monthly by BYTE Publica- Steve Ciarcia 10 A Nybble on the Apple tions, Inc, 70 Main St, Peter- borough, New Hampshire David Fylstra 32 Letters 03458.

Load more