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Assembly Language Tutorial 

Making Money with your 

Whither ®?

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Features: 

1) Fully intelligent Interface that plugs into the Standard Commodore® printer socket. 

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, .... I . t **»..!.*«......... I i ...

CONTENTS/ISSUEttb 

DEPARTMENTS 

Gallery (color snots of IB games).. 6 

Editor's Page tZ 

Reader Wail 13 

News & Views

OH-COURT TEHHIS 

REALM OF IMPOSSIBILITY 

INTERNATIONAL SOCCER 

GIRL BOV TirC SCAN AH6LE RESCUED

POLE POSITION 

HTHRISDFT 

PQ BUX E3HJ 

50 SHH FHflNCISCO CH 34060 

A BIG HIT IN THE ARCADES, THE MAGIC HAS NOT 

BEEN TRANSLATED WELL FDR THE 64 WITH POLE 

POSITION. CHUNKY GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION, 

ADDED TO UNSDPHISTICATED SOUND EFFECTS AND 

UNCONVINCING JOYSTICK RESPONSE, MAKE THIS 

RACING GAME SEEP] LIKE AN AMATEUR EFFORT FROM 

THE GRANDADDY OF VIDEO GAMING. POLE POSITION 

MIGHT HAVE LOOKED BETTER IF IT WEREN'T FOR 

THE STRIKING CONTRAST TO PITSTQP II (RIGHT). 

IF YOU WANT A REALLY HOT RACING GAME, YOU 

WON'T FIND IT HERE. 

EFVK 

| dOH3 KIEL COURT 

I 5UNHVVHLE CH SWOBS 

PITSTOP II IS NOT ONLY THE BEST CAR-RACING 

GAME MADE FOR THE C-64, BUT EASILY ONE OF THE 

TOP 10 ARCADE GAMES OF ALL TINE FDR THE 64! 

THE OUAL-SCREEN FEATURE IS INCREDIBLE (EACH 

DRIVER SEEING THE SAME WORLD FROM HIS OWN 

POSITION)! EVERY DETAIL, FROM THE REALISTIC 

NEED FOR TIRE-CHANGES AND FUEL, TO THE WAY 

THE STEERING RESPONDS TD SPEED AND CURVE 

RADIUS IS THERE. SOUND EFFECTS ARE EXCELLENT 

(BOTH CAR'S ENGINES ROAR INDEPENDENTLY), AND 

THE SMOOTH ANIMATION IS FIRST-RATE. 1 OR 2 

PLAYERS. 

QH-COURT TEHH1? A A A A IHTEHflflTIOHHL SOCCER A A A A 

1 GHMESTHR 

S J302 STRTE STREET 

1 SHftTfl BflRBflRfl Cfl S3IDI 

LIKE THEIR OTHER SPORTS SIMULATIONS, 

GAMESTAR'S ON-COURT TENNIS FEATURES GOOD 

ANIMATION WITH A CONVINCING 3-DIPCNSIONAL 

EFFECT (INCLUDING SHADOWS AND 

FORESHORTENING). ONE OR TWD MAY PLAY, AND 

YOU HAVE YOUR CHOICE OF SURFACES (CLAY, 

GRASS, ETC.) & CHARACTERS (BJORN, JOHN, & 

OTHER WELL-KNOWNS). THE JOYSTICK IS 

PROGRAMMED TO ALLOW A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF 

CONTROL OVER THE RACQUET (DROP SHOTS, 

SMASHES, GROUND STROKES, ETC.) THIS IS A FUN 

GAME THAT CAPTURES MUCH OF THE FLAVOR DF REAL 

TENNIS. 

REflLM OF IMPOSSIBILITY I**** 

ELECTRONIC flRTS 

2755 CHMFUS DR i UE 

SflN MflTEO Cfi S4H03 

ELECTRONIC ARTS IS SACK ON TRACK WITH THIS 

UNUSUAL ACTION ADVENTURE. REALM OF 

IMPOSSIBILITY WILL CHALLENGE YOUR GRIP AND 

YOUR GREY-MATTER AS YOU TEAR AROUND THE 

NUMEROUS "ESCHERIAN" LANDSCAPES DODGING 

VARIOUS HAZARDS IN YOUR QUE5T FOR TREASURE. 

WHAT MAKES THIS GAME REALLY OUTSTANDING, THO, 

IS THE WAY THE TWO-PLAYER MODE FOSTERS 

COOPERATION (4 WITHOUT WHICH YOU ARE BOTH 

DEAD MEAT). I LDVE THE "WARP-SPEED" 

SCROLLING BETWEEN 5CREENS, AN EYE-OPENING NEW 

TECHNIQUE WHICH I'M SURE WE'LL SEE MORE DF. 

Q 

COMMODORE 

I J2D0 HIL50H OR* WE 

g UESTCHESTER Pfl J33BD 

THIS IS THE BE5T GAME COMMODORE HAS COME OUT 

WITH TO DATE. THE MOST OUTSTANDING THING 

ABOUT THIS ANIMATED SOCCER SIMULATION, IS THE 

SMOOTH AND NATURAL WAY THAT CONTROL PASSES 

FROM PLAYER TO PLAYER WITHOUT THE CONSCIOUS 

EFFORT AND AWKWARD JOYSTICK MANIPULATION 

REQUIRED BY MOST OTHER "TEAM SPORT" 

SIMULATIONS (A COUPLE OF BASEBALL GAMES FROM 

LAST ISSUE COME TO MIND) AFTER A FEW 

MINUTES, IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMPUTER JUST 

KNOWS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. FAST ACTION, 

GREAT GRAPHICS, A JOY TO PLAY. 

flNT HTTHCK I**** 

OkJICKSILUfl 

SEE WEST NHKQMfl 

SflN HNTDNIQ TX 762IE 

ANT ATTACK IS STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO REALM OF 

IMPOSSIBILITY IN MANY WAYS, THO BY DIFFERENT 

AUTHORS. ANIMATED STICK-FIGURES GO SCURRYING 

ARDUND A 3-D CITY (YOU CAN TOGGLE BETWEEN 4 

VIEWS) TRYING TO RESCUE BUDDIES FROM LARGE 

ANTS (WHO HAPPEN TD EAT ANIMATED 

STICK-FIGURES) ON-SCREEN INDICATORS HELP YOU 

LOCATE YOUR COMPANIONS, AND YDU ARE ARMED 

WITH GRENADES THAT CAN BE TOSSED AT 4 

DIFFERENT DISTANCES. LARGE, SCROLLING WORLD 

OFFERS PLENTY DF VARIATION. A FIRST-CLASS 

'FIGHT & FLEE' GAME FOR ONE PLAYER.'

THE SCROLLS OF ABADOM 

IS 

r = 

— 

Illlllllll 

kv = 

iliinil 

t 

id 

J 

0 ••• 

JITJJ 

5 *W5 ?¥5 ff*5 | 

«iL JL-L 1 

B ® B ® B® i 1 

?»5 frT5 ^w^ I 

amBl |^jl pnrjl i 

THE CASTLES OF DOCTOR CREEP M 

001)0 -I DiEHBD 

fffffMff 

fffff 

fiSfffffffl SlIUEUIPE 

r/fiiififfffi f 

r^fffSSfffSi i 

1tttti,tffU§3 t 

iff if *rrrrn 

8 rrrrrrS 

GRIDTRAP

qderbuho 

g il FflUL DP.IVE 

% SHJ1 RflFflEL CR 3H3D3 

I SUSPECT RUBE GOLDBERG IS AN UNLISTED 

CO-AUTHOR DF THIS GAME! STARTS OUT PRETTY 

EASY, BUT BY THE TIME YOU HAVE BEEN PROMOTED 

A FEW TINES, GUPBALL WILL HAVE YOU HOPPIN'! 

THE PREMISE HERE IS SIMPLE: GET YOUR DAILY 

QUOTA OF COLORED GUMBALLS INTO THE MATCHING 

COLORED CARS. YOU CONTROL THE VALUES WHICH 

DIRECT THE COURSE OF THE GUMBALLS, AND YOU 

CAN MOVE YOU CARS LEFT AND RIGHT. GET A 

WRONG COLOR IN THE CAR, AND YOUR SUPERVISOR 

APPEARS TO DUMP OUT YOUR WHOLE CAR LOAD! WORK 

YOUR WAY UP TO MORE COLORS & FASTER 

PRODUCTION. ADDICTING. 

THE SCROLLS OF flBflDQh 

RECESS SQFTWflRE 

SES EHST BDQ SOUTH 

SHLT LflKE CITV UT fiHi05 

***+ 

YOU TRAVEL AROUND ON A SLIDING GRID LOOKING 

FOR SCROLLS, YOUR TRAVELS ARE COMPLICATED BY 

THE RESTRICTION THAT YOU MAY NOT RETRACE YOUR 

STEPS IN AN OPPOSING DIRECTION. SCROLLS, 

WHEN FOUND, GIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING MAGIC 

SPELLS, AND ARE DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN. 

THIS IS MY LEAST FAVORITE OFFERING FROM 

ACCESS SOFTWARE SO FAR. COMPARED TO THE 

QUICK PACED AND VISUALLY RICH GAMES LIKE 

REALPI AND ANT ATTACK, SCROLLS OF ABADON CDMES 

OFF AS A SECOND-STRINGER. 

CHUEMflH 

ZIMTfi MJCRO SVSTEM 

PO BOX 34G 

EL TDRQ CR 9EE3D 

I HAVE INCLUDED THIS TITLE IN THE GALLERY 

MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE FINE GRAPHICS SCREENS 

AROUND WHICH THIS PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE IS 

BASED. AS AN ADVENTURE GAME, CAVEFIAN IS 

AWFUL. EVERY RESPONSE YOU TYPE IN CAUSES A 

LENGTHY DISK-ACCESS (AND THERE ARE THREE 

Plg^NJTA PP.7" §IDES FILLEDI) MAYBET 

STORED TO A HARD DTSK TTTTS" GAME WOULD BE 

PLAYABLE (EVEN SO, THE PARSER IS CRUDE, AND 

VERY LITTLE OF WHAT YOU SAY IS UNDERSTOOD... 

VERY FRUSTRATING) I THINK THIS PRODUCT WOULD 

DO BETTER IF OFFERED SIMPLY AS A STAND-ALONE 

SET OF COMPUTER-PAINTINGS. 

CflSTLES OF DR. CREEP 

BRQOERBUHO 

J7 FflUL DRIVE 

SHN RflFHEL Cfl 3HSD3 

IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT "VIDEO MIND-ROT", 

BUT NO ONE AT YOUR HOUSE WILL TOUCH ANYTHING 

BUT ARCADE GAMES, THROW THIS ONE AT 'EM. 

CASTLES OF DR. CREEP IS DEFINITELY A GAME, 

BUT EVERY 'CASTLE1 IS ALSO A CHALLENGING 

MENTAL PUZZLE REQUIRING MEMORY & 

VISUALIZATION SKILLS OF CONSIDERABLE 

PROPORTION TO SOLVE. GDDD GRAPHICS & SOUND. 

CAN GET TEDIOUS IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE SOLVING A 

PARTICULAR PATTERN, BUT THIS ACTS AS A 

STIMULUS TO GET IT RIGHT. 

GRiDTRflP 

" 3R IMPORT CORP. 

1 73J JflMES ST. HH05 

1 SYRACUSE HV J3ED3 

*** + 

IF YOU WANT TO SAMPLE SOME OF THE 

RECREATIONAL SOFTWARE THAT IS POPULAR IN 

ENGLAND, YOU CAN FIND QUITE A SELECTION FROM 

3R IMPORTS. GRIDTRAP IS ONE OF SEVERAL 

BRITISH IMPORTS LJHICH WE HAVE SEEN, AND THEY 

HAVE A DISTINCT "IMPORTED" FLAVOR. THE IDEA 

HERE IS TO DEFUSE THE RED BOMS, EVADE THE 

WANDERING BOOT, STAY CLEAR OF THE SKULLS, AND 

LJATCH FOR TRAPS AS YOU TRAVEL ABOUT THE GRID. 

THE CLOSEST THING TO GRIDTRAP I CAN THINK DF 

IS THE COIN-OP ARCADE GAME "PENGO". 

INTERESTING. 

ROCK N' BOLT ***+ 

HCTIUWSJOH 

PD BDX 7EE7 

MTJUHTHIM VJEW Cfl 34D33 

YOUR JOB IS TO MOVE UP THRU THE VARIOUS 

LEVELS OF A SKYSCRAPER, AND BOLT DOWN THE 

GIRDERS WHICH ARE SLIDING AROUND ALL OVER THE 

PLACE. YOU HAVE TO ARRANGE THEM IN EXACTLY 

THE SAME PATTERN AS SHOWN ON THE INSET 

BLUEPRINT FOR EACH LEVEL (AND STILL LEAVE 

YOURSELF A PATH BACK TO THE ELEVATOR.) ROCK 

N1 BOLT IS A PRETTY CUTE PUZZLE/ACTION GAME 

WITH SOME NICE EFFECTS AND A MUSICAL SCORE, 

BUT IT DOESN'T BEGIN TO EQUAL THE CALIBRE OF 

ACTIVISION'S RECENT HIT. GHOSTBUSTERS (MAYBE 

THAT'S ASKING TOO MUCH.)

Question for tean HZ: YALE 

Question Category is: 

Famous People 

Selected Difficulty Level is: 2 

Tine Renaming: 0 Seconds 

M-.ich two wen traveled across half of 

horth flwerica to discover the Pacific? 

Sorry, VALE. Your tin* has elapsed. 

The correct answer is: 

Lewis ar.d Clark 

Please PRESS (SPACE BAR> to continue 

TRIUIA FEUER 

Mill 

GUHBT IS THINKING 

UIi.IL 18 

I TRIPLE 

H0R& 

DOUBLE 

_ WORD 

■ TRIPLE 

_ LETTER 

Tl DOUBLE 

LETTER 

MONTY PLftVS SCRABRLF 

MURDER BY THL DOZFM 

QUIT 

Pft5S 

PREMIUM 

TILES 

ClftNGE 

JUGGLE 

XINT 

SUAP

HHTHWOHO5 

CBS SOFTUHRE 

$_ GREEHHJCffXTD 

PAT>WRDS 15 AW INTERESTING VARIATION OF 

THOSE WORD GAMES YOU SEE ON PAPER, WHERE YOU 

HAVE TO FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS FROM A SOLID 

MASS OF LETTERS, AND DRAW A CIRCLE AROUND 

EACH ONE. CBS IMPROVES ON THIS THEME BY 

ALLOWING WORDS TO BE MADE BY ANY CONTINUOUS 

PATH OF LETTERS (TWISTS & TURNS ALLDWED), AND 

BY REPLACING USED LETTERS WITH MEW ONES 

(WHICH INTRODUCES A DEFENSIVE ELEMENT WHEN 

PLAYING WITH OPPONENTS.) PLAYERS MUST AGREE 

ON THE VALIDITY OF WORDS, BUT THE COMPUTER 

DOES THE SCORING. 

TRJUJH FEVER |***+ 

PROFESS IQMHL SOFTUHRE 

PQ BOX 533 

NEEOHHM Mfl OEi34 

YOU ARE PROBABLY REACHING THE THRESHOLD OF 

"TRIVIA OVERDOSE" BY NOW, BUT IF NOT, THEN 

TRIVIA FEVER BELONGS WITH THE REST OF YOUR 

COLLECTION. THIS VERSION IS NOTABLE IN THAT 

IT CAN BE PLAYED WITH OR SANS COMPUTER, AND 

OFFERS NUMEROUS HANDICAPPING FEATURES TO HELP 

INSURE A FAIR AND INTERESTING GAME. INCLUDES 

GAME SPINNER, TALLY SHEETS, QUESTION & ANSWER 

BOOK, AND DISK WITH THOUSANDS OF QUESTIONS. 

ADDITIONAL VOLUMES OF QUESTIONS AVAILABLE ON 

DISK. 

TfiRGQH EH 

NET SQFTHflRE 

LRMGLEV BC CflNflDfl 

PRETTY STANDARD SPACE SHODT-EN'-UP FAIR HERE, 

WITH SOME BETTER-THAN-AVERAGE SPRITE DESIGN 

(WHICH RESULTS IN SOME TARGETS THAT ARE NOT 

UNLIKE THOSE FOUND IN THE ATARI ARCADE HIT, 

XEVIOUS). WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY (EXCEPT THAT, 

HAVING MENTIONED "XEVIDUS", I WONDER IF ATARI 

WILL RELEASE A VERSION FOR THE 64, DR, EVEN 

BETTER, THE C-128!) 

MUflTV PLHY5 SCRABBLE 

EPVX 

IQH3 hi EL COURT 

SURHWFLE-Cff BHDEB 

THE PROCESS OF COMPUTERIZING SCRABBLE (THE 

ALL-TIME BEST-SELLING WORD GAME) HAS NOT ONLY 

LEFT THE ORIGINAL GAME INTACT, IT HAS 

ENHANCED IT TREMENDOUSLY. FOR SOLITAIRE OR 

MULTIPLE PLAYERS, nONTY OFFERS A COLORFUL 

BOARD, 12,000-WORD ON-LINE DICTIONARY, AND A 

HOST OF OPTIONS INCLUDING VARIABLE COMPUTER 

INTELLIGENCE, GAME SPEED, DISPLAYS OF 

TILE-COUNTS, POINT VALUES, BONUS VALUES, AND 

VISIBLE OR HIDDEN GAME RACKS. SOUND EFFECTS 

ARE JUST RIGHT. SCRABBLE LOVERS WON'T BE 

DISAPPOINTED. 

MURDER BV THE DQZEH I**** 

CBS SOFTWHRE 

GREENWICH CT J3B&3B 

MURDER BY 1>E DOZEN IS AN ENGROSSING 

COLLECTION OF DETECTIVE ADVENTURES FOR ONE TO 

FOUR PLAYERS. ASSUMING YOUR FAVORITE SLEUTH 

PERSONAS, YOU WILL SEARCH FDR CLUES, QUESTION 

SUSPECTS, DRAW YOUR CONCLUSIONS AND FINALLY 

ANNOUNCE YOUR SOLUTION. INCLUDES CLUE BOOK 

AND CASE ANSWER BOOK. LIMITED GRAPHICS 

ENHANCE THIS BASICALLY TEXT-BASED ADVENTURE. 

12 CASES TO CRACK- ADDITIONAL MYSTERIES 

AVAILABLE ON DISK, GDOD FAMILY FUN. 

LEGIQHHHIRE 

: HVHLQH HILL 

8 BflLTIMBRE MD 

***+ 

LEGIONNAIRE IS A STRATEGIC WAR-GAME 

SIMULATION WHICH PUTS YOU OUT IN THE FIELD AS 

JULIUS CAESAR WITH NOTHING BUT BLOOD-THIRSTY 

BARBARIANS FROM HORIZON TO HORIZON. THE 

SOUND EFFECTS ARE REAL BASIC (THE SIMPLE 

"TRAMP-TRAMP") OF MARCHING SOOTS MAY MAKE YOU 

CHUCKLE. GAME CONTROLS ARE PRETTY GOOD, AND 

THE SCROLLING BATTLEFIELD IS FINE. I THINK 

THIS GAME IS A REASONABLE INTRODUCTION FOR 

THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WAR-GAMING, BUT 

ARE PUT OFF BY THE BOARD VERSIONS WITH ALL 

THE PARAPHENALIA.

fig EDITOR'S PAGE 

r= — Beim Diumington 

The first thing I want to do is clarify and update 

INF0=64's Product Roundup plans. Some of our 

faithful subscribers have expressed some confusion 

and anxiety about how and when the special Product 

Roundup issues will be available. The Product 

Roundup will be a massive compilation of products 

for your computer, organized by categories, with 

ratings (where available), descriptions, photos, 

and vendor information. It will come out twice a 

year: once around June/July, and then again around 

Nov./Dec. as an expanded part of the magazine. 

For subscribers, these will constitute 2 of each 6 

issues you receive, and while they will probably 

have a higher cover price at the newsstand, there 

is no extra charge for subscribers. 

Next, I want to air some personal observations 

about 'the other' computer magazines. Like many of 

you, I am a magazine 'junky' (tho my habit probably 

makes yours look tame). I read them all, partly 

for pleasure, and partly for business. Lately, I 

am sad to say, I am seeing more negative than 

positive trends. Here are a few of the low points 

in my opinion: 

* InfoWorld, which used to be my favorite, took a 

real nose-dive when Stewart Alsop resigned his 

position as Editor last November. Since then, the 

once fiesty, witty, & gutsy computer news-weekly 

has become just another echo in the dusty halls of 

rubber-stamp publishing. My condolences to the 

remaining scrappers at InfoUorld who must work 

under the new regime. 

* RUN was, for a long time, my favorite 

Commodore-specific mag. Then they tryed to sell us 

on the PLUS/A (keeping it up for 3 issues straight, 

long after everybody else had seen it for the flop 

that it was). But even more annoying to me, was 

their January 1985 review of light pens, in which 

they took a 1close look' at Flexidrau (a product 

with which I am intimately familiar) and were not 

impressed. It is not hard to understand why they 

weren't impressed: the version reviewed was 2.D 

{which had been obsolete for at least 9 months when 

this 'review' was printed!). The version on sale 

while that review was on the stands was 5.D, the 

most sophisticated hi-res light pen graphics 

package you can get this side of a Macintosh 

dealer! How can a magazine keep the respect of its 

readers with that kind of useless reporting? 

* AHOY! seems to have been struggling along in the 

distance behind RUN & COPPUTEI'S GAZETTE. Now I 

hear that Managing Editor, Bob Sodaro, has left for 

greener pastures. I met Bob at Winter CES, and I 

have to think that his departure will take some 

spunk and fun out of AHOY1 

• COPPUTE & COtnPUTEI'S GAZETTE seem likely to catch 

some reader flak from their latest maneuver: the 

release of SpeedScript 3.0 (find your free Erg=Card 

for this software in the centerfold). The problem 

is that SpeedScript, COPPUTEI'S GAZETTE'S most 

popular feature of all time, was available on disk 

to subscribers of COPPUTEI'S GAZETTE DISK as part 

of their subscription. It was beleiued by many 

subscribers I have talked to that the 

much-anticipated upgrade, SpeedScript 3.0, would be 

published in a future issue of GAZETTE, and thus 

automatically be theirs as part of their 

subscription. Turns out that they will have to 

type it in from COPPUTE!, or shell out $14.95 to 

get a copy on disk! Never mind that it may be 

worth every penny!, the overwhelming impression is 

that the readers are being milked for every spare 

nickel! Boys and girls, can you say "250,DDO new 

software pirates overnight"? Sure you can. 

There is one particular high-point in this 

otherwise gloomy picture of computer publishing: 

the WHOLE EARTH REVIEW. This is a bi-monthly 

synthesis of 2 other excellent magazines 

(CoEvolution Quarterly, & Whole Earth Software 

Review) that apparently couldn't make it as 

separate titles (despite Stewart Brand's legendary 

advances to put out the latter.) The new 

publication, like its parents, contains no 

advertising and now covers a spectrum of 

interesting topics from growing bamboo, to 

Superbase 641 Subscriptions to WHOLE EARTH REVIEW 

are $18 per yr. (call 1-800-321-3333 VISA etc.) 

Last, I would like to point out that INFD=64 is the 

only magazine to date that is running actual 

pictures of the C-128 and LCD computers. The 

photos you may have seen in BYTE, RUN, & even 

COTTDDORE magazine (!) are press-kit photos of 

early non-working mock-ups. How can you tell? The 

keys of the 'real' C-128 have graphics symbols on 

them (like the one pictured on our cover), and the 

LCD has the lower, close-fitting keys as shown on 

our cover, and in 'News & Views'. All the 

magazines had reporters and (presumabely) cameras 

there in Las Vegas, and COPPDOORE magazine, at 

least, should have access to current equipment. I 

just thought you'd like to know. 

-Benn Dunnington / Editor

INFO=BA; 

I READ WITH GREAT DESPAIR YOUR REVIEW OF THE 

IKXJS GT DISK DRIVE FDR THE C-64 COMPUTER. I 

REALLY FEEL THAT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR READERS A 

NEGATIVE SERVICE ON THIS ONE. 

I DID A REVIEW OF THE IMXJS DRIVE IN OUR DEC. 

USERS GROUP NEWSLETTER AND DID NOT FIND IT TO 

BE WORTH THE $399 PRICE TAG AT ALL. THE ONLY 

POSITIVE FEATURES THAT I FELT IT HAD GOING FOR 

IT WERE THE OPTO-ELECTRONIC STOP AND THE DISK 

DOOR DUST COVER. 

THE REASON THAT SOME PROGRAMS WON'T LOAD WITH 

FAST ROUTINES IS THAT NO ONE HAS CONE UP WITH 

A ROUTINE THAT WILL SUPPORT THE U1 DR UA 

FUNCTION OF THE DRIVE AND THIS IS THE FUNCTION 

THAT IS USED IN LOADER ROUTINES FOR PROGRAMS 

LIKE SUPERBASE « EASYSCRIPT, ETC. PUT THIS ON 

TOP OF THE FACT THAT WHEN SUPEHBASE IS LOADED 

INTO THE COMPUTER, THERE IS NO PLACE LEFT IN 

COMPUTER RAN FDR FAST READ AND WRITE ROUTINES 

TO RESIDE, THESE ROUTINES HAVE TO BE 

EXTERNALLY SUPPORTED. IN OTHER WORDS THEY 

SHOULD BE A PART OF THE DRIVES' OPERATING 

SYSTEM, NOT ADDED ON AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT. THE 

REAL POWER OF SOMEHING LIKE THIS WOULD BE IN 

SORTING AND ACCESSING SUPERBASE-TYPE FILES. 

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE OPTQ-ELECTRONIC 

STOP, I DID NOT FIND THE INDUS DRIVE TO BE 

SUPERIOR IN ANY WAY TO A 1541 111/ KWIK LOAD. ( 

KUIIK LOAD, BY THE WAY, IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM 

DATAMQST FOR ABOUT $20.00) I HAVE INCLUDED MY 

OWN REVIEW IF YOU WISH TO PRINT IT IN YOUR 

NEXT ISSUE. 

THANK YOU: -BRUCE R. SCHROEDER 

EDITOR-PUBLISHER 

CHIPPEWA VALLEY 

C-64 USERS' GROUP NEWSLETTER 

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI 

Dear Bruce; 

We apparently got a LIPE (that's where most of the 

units are bad. but you get the oddball in the lot 

that i-s good!) . While other readers have reported 

that their INDUS drives do work with SupeiBase, 

most have reported quality control problems (one 

reader was on his FIFTH replacement). Hopefully, 

INDUS will learn from all this and incorporate the 

improvements into their new double-sided drive that 

was shown (mocked-up) at CES (like the regular 

INDUS, it is handsomely styled, this time in a low 

flat box with a slide-out disk-drawer like you find 

on most compact audio disc playersl) Thanks for 

the review, but I think our other readers are 

getting the gist by now- try before you buy (even 

INF0=64 may not see it the way you will.) 

RESPONSE TO STEVEN LUEDDERS' LETTER [INFO j?5] 

I RUN A SOFTWARE COMPANY SO I DECIDED THAT I HAD 

BETTER GET ALL THE FACTS ABOUT COPY-PROTECTION SO 

THAT I COULD FIND OUT WHICH PROTECTIONS SCHEME IS 

BEST. HERE IS A SMALL PART OF WHAT I FOUND. 

WHY PROGRATTERS PR0GRAP1. FIRST OF ALL, I AM A 

PROGRAMMER AND I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT ARE 

PROGRAMMERS AND WE ALL PROGRAM FOR THE SAME REASON: 

WE LOVE IT! WE SURE AS HECK AREN'T IN THIS FOR THE 

MONEY. IF I WANTED MONEY I'D BE A LAWYER. 

PIRATED SOFTWARE IS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL. 

[break] UNPROTECTED AND DEPROTECTED SOFTWARE: MAY 

BE QUICKLY AND EASILY BACKED UP WITHOUT A NIBBLER 

OR ERROR COPIER / LOADS MORE QUICKLY AND EASILY AND 

DOES NOT TEAR UP THE DRIVE / CAN USUALLY BE PLACED 

ON A DISK WITH OTHER SOFTWARE, THUS CONSERVING DISK 

SPACE / IS EASIER TO MODIFY AND TAILOR TO YOUR OWN 

NEEDS. 

I USE AN PED DUAL DRIVE AND I HAVE PURCHASED 

SEVERAL ELECTRONIC ARTS PROGRAMS, NONE OF WHICH 

WILL EVEN LOAD. I AND OTHERS ARE THEREFORE FORCED 

TO OBTAIN BROKEN COPIES, [break] 

PROTECTION IS IPPOSSIBLE EVERY PROTECTED PROGRAM 

THAT THERE EVER WAS HAS BEEN CRACKED. PROBABLY 5Of6 

OF ALL PROTECTED SOFTWARE IS CRACKED IN UNDER 10 

MINUTES. break] AN ELECTRONIC ARTS REP. TOLD [a 

software pirate] THAT THE COPY PROTECTION ON ARCHON 

II WAS SO ADVANCED THAT IT WOULD BE "90 DAYS11 

BEFORE IT WAS CRACKED. LITTLE DID HE KNOW THAT IT 

WAS BEING PASSED AROUND AS HE SPOKE. 

EVERYBODY PIRATES DON'T TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE ALL 

THIS "HOLIER THAN THOU" STUFF, STEVEN. EVERYBODY 

PIRATES TD SOME EXTENT OR OTHER, EVEN IF ONLY ONE 

PROGRAM ONE TIME, [break] YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO 

FIND A COMPUTER ROOM IN A SCHOOL THAT DIDN'T HAVE 

AT LEAST A COUPLE OF BOXES OF PIRATED SOFTWARE. 

THE ANSWER: IF ALL YOU GAME DESIGNERS AND 

COMPANIES OUT THERE WANT TD KNOW WHAT THE BEST COPY 

PROTECTION IS, THEN DO WHAT YOU WOULD IN AN 

ADVENTURE: "LOOK". LODK AT THE COMPANY WITH THE 

LARGEST PROFITS- INFOCOTI. THEY HAVE NO COPY 

PROTECTION (GASP!) YET THEY CONSISTENTLY PRODUCE 

BEST-SELLERS. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A LIVING 

CONTRADICTION TO MR. LUEDDERS1 IDEAS AND HIS "SKY 

IS FALLING" SCENARIO. INFOCOP1 MAKES QUALITY 

SOFTWARE WITH QUALITY DOCUMENTATION THAT PEOPLE 

WANT TO BUY. IF SOMEONE WILL WRITE QUALITY 

SOFTWARE THEN PEOPLE WILL BUY IT. REPEPBER, YOUR 

CUSTOPERS ARE YOUR FRIENDS, NOT YOUR ENEMIES. 

THE POINT OF ALL THIS IS THAT COPY PROTECTION IS A 

WASTE OF TIME, EFFORT, AND MONEY, AND IS AN 

AFFRONT TO THE LEGITIMATE CUSTOMER WHO IS ENTITLED 

TO THE BEST VERSION OF THE PRODUCT AVAILABLE. 

I THEREFORE PIAKE THIS STATEPENT: I, PHOENIX RED, 

STEADFASTLY OPPOSE ALL FORMS DF COPY PROTECTION AND 

YOU CAN BET YOUR DISK DRIVE THAT NONE OF OUR 

PRODUCTS WILL EVER BE COPY PROTECTED. 

SINCERELY, 

PHOENIX RED (JIM CONWELL) 

PHOENIX RED SOFTWARE 

HOUSTON TEXAS 

Thanx for your letter, RED. This is clearly not 

an easy issue. We now have 2 professional 

programmers diametrically positioned on an issue 

which affects their livelihood, and the quality 

of computing far the consumer. INF0=64 welcomes 

any NEW insights which readers may have, since 

we are sure there is, somewhere, a solution that 

will respect the concerns of all parties. 

- Benn

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NEWS & VIEWS 

o 

o 

COMMODORE 128 

GENERAL FEATURES 

INPUTS OUTPUTS 

RECOMMENDED 

PERIPHERALS 

DIMENSIONS 

WEIGHT 

COLOR 

POWER REQUIREMENTS 

CIS. EDITION REPORTED 

PERSONAL COMPUTER 

The Commodore 126 Personal Computer features: 

12BKRAM tor advance*) applications ana increas 

User seleclaOe AOISO column fun coOf display 

Opftonal 1571 last as* drive saves time and mcieases producawy 

Runsoti-tne-sneif CP/M1" sofiwaesucnasttoidSiaf'VaBase I" 

ano The Perfect Senes" 

User Eipanoabie to 513K lor rapa Qata access witn RAM dak 

expansion mooies 

'00* conpalibie w:!h CcrmoOoie &1 software 

PERSONAL COMPUTER 

taranceo SV"Q' 100% Compatible witn Ccwrocxye 6* 

yp 

RAM Using PAM Osk Owon • Uceer ana Lower Case Cna'acter Set 

• BuS-in BASIC • 3 Separate Mooes » Occatcn 

WK SAW ■ 16K BOM• BASC20• *0125 Lres 

[320xSCOresoiui(on}« 16 COWS + 8 Spiles 

. . ■ . :■■■...■ .--...:■■■.. ■>■ ■ -.- 

Uw^ RAM Disk Ocnon)' 4SKROM * I6K HOM Icr DOS SuKJOrt 

. BASC'O'Macrwie Language Mor«or« «125 Lines |3?0«2C0 

) i6CoWs 

• Fu« Srelypwww Style* 32 Keys »i« fay Numenc XeyoaO 

• 8 Rcgiatmia&e Functci Keys • 6 Curse* Keys • Help Key 

- d0;80 Cdumn K»y • No Scroll«Lme Feea • Escape • TaD 

•CapUxk'AI 

Use*Fen 

Cassette tW 

rf/tvpoh 

..... 

S 

1901 WyxKtuome Monitor • 1902 OqiBl RGB) Cotr '*»MC 

C 

56mm * 432iwn « 32*nm (H . W < D] 

5IDs 6o; 

-." = 

117WH&c 60hz. isnens 

0 

BV: 

The Consuner Electronics Show (C.E.S.) is the biggest 

and, in my opinion, the mast important show for 

Commodore in this country. It is also the only show 

IW0=64 regularly attends and (unfortunately for most 

readers) open only to dealers, manufacturers, and the 

media. Not to worry, we're going to take you there 

now {you wouldn't have been able to find a hotel room 

anywayI) 

Ok... We decide to check out Commodore first (we'll 

look at ATARI and third parties later.) We pick up 

our official Comnodore press kits (the important 

sheets from Conrnodore' s press kit have been 

reproduced on these pages for your enlightenment and 

enjoyment..-I hope Conraodore doesn't mind the free 

exposure...sorry about the small type, maybe you can 

find a magnifying glass.) Looking at the photos hie 

wonder if we got the right press kits- the equipment 

pictured doesn't look anything like the PETs, UICs, 

and 64s we've come to know S love (well, usually). 

Pushing our way thru the hordes of over-stimulated 

show-goers we try to find the Comnodore booth. There 

it is, a beckoning Mecca of technological wonders... 

about a half-mile away, rising in the misty distance 

of the huge convention building. 

We press onward past all manner of spectacles and 

ballyhoos designed to lure even the the most 

shell-shocked electronics-peddler closer for a better 

look at the product: there are numerous mimes 

silently conveying the pleasures of owning new video 

cameras, there is the 'Federal Express guy' from the 

TV ads with his mouth approaching the speed of sound 

itself (we don't know what he's pitching, but we're 

sure we need it in a hurry!), there is a guy doing an 

incredible robot impersonation that is totally 

convincing. While pausing for a moment near the 

Batteries Included booth to get our bearings, I feel 

somebody pinch meI Spinning around, there is no one 

to be seen within striking distance. Hmmm, no one 

except a life-size doll of 'Herbie1, Batteries 

Included's spectacled mascot. Hmmm. 

We finally arrive at Conraodore's booth. Most of the 

large display area is devoted to the new equipment. 

There, in a crowd, is the much-anticipated C-128I We 

realize at once that our greatest fear (that the 

C-128 would just be a 6A with a numeric pad and a 

Data 20 ZBO cartridge welded to the circuit board 

with a bank-switched 64K all jammed into a surplus 

364 keyboard unit) is not to be. 

Not only is the C-128 obviously a totally new 

machine, but we notice with growing delight that 

there are several other new products on display that 

had not even been rumored before the show (and all 

echoing the stunning good looks of the C-128)! Now I 

pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming (where's 

Herbie when you need him?): there before our eyes is 

a working model of a Conraodore lap computer with a 

remarkably readable 8D column X 16 line liquid 

crystal display!

COMMODORE 1571 


SYSTEM FEATURES 

MEDIA 

CHARACTERISTICS 

input;; outputs 

dimensions 

WEIGHT 

COLOR 

POWER REQUIREMENTS 

o 

DISK DRIVE 

5VV Floppy DsK Drive 

Supports Fast Daia Tians'er Rates 

Tiro Seal Pccts tor manj Peripherals 

Software Os* Fcimal SelectaWe 

Cones Wild Serial ana Power Cables 

Compatible wihCommodore i?B. W.Pius/a.antJLCD 

Compute's 

But!-ft 6502 Motjpfocessor 

32K ROM 

Busll in DOS 

High Data Transiet Rales 

■ 303 cps urcei C64 Contra 

■ 35CO cps under CP/M* Coniroi 

- Up io iCCO cps Butsi Raie 

Camfnoaore Standard (GCR) 

Double StleoTSingle Dererty 

350H Siorage Capacity (Fcmaneo1) 

Compatible win ISJi and 203" Disk Drives 

Supports Prosram. Seguenta!. Relative ana User Res 

CP/M" Corpalipie (MFW) 

Double S-3eO^Doubie Density 

Up 10 41 OK Siorage Capacity {Formatied] 

Boots up n 19V" System 3« Formal tKaypro" and OsDome' 

Formal Como3i:0iel 

Supports rrost CP/M " Fies 

Two Serial Pods 

°0wer Connector 

W k 0) 

■~ ,^;= A;. EOHZ. Lesstnan 25 Watts 

COMMODORE^ 

DISK DRIVE 

The Commodore 1571 W megabyte 5V." disk drive: 

• Capable of running last Jala transfer rales wtiicn s;ives Bms and 

incieases ptaluctiviiy 

• Stoiage capacity ol 350K lor laige Oaia stoiage requiremerils 

mosl computers 

Completely compaiiDie *Wl Commodore 128,64, Plus/4 and 

LCD Computers 

COMMODORE^ 

NEWS & VIEWS 

SPECIAL CES EDITION 

I run ouer to a guy demonstrating one of these units 

to ask a feui questions. He turns out to be one 

Jeffrey Porter, one of the co-designers of the LCD 

(as it is called). We are surprised at how young and 

intelligent he looks (we have met 'project' types 

from Commodore before who would not necessarily fit 

this description). While we take turns v/igorously 

shaking his hand, Jeff explains that he is a former 

C-64 'hacker' like us, and was recruited by Comnodore 

to design "the machine you'd want for yourself". 

What a concept! We stop to read our product sheets, 

[stop here and read your LCD press sheets] I take_ a 

close-up photo of the keyboard [see Fig. 1] noticing 

that it is different from the one shown in the 

Illfl 

standard press photos in our kit. Jeff explains that 

the press kit photos are of early mock-ups, and that 

the close-fitting keys of the unit on display would 

be used in actual production. We agree that they 

have a nice feel, and look better than the earlier 

version. 

We are slightly disappointed to learn that the LCD is 

not C-64 software-compatible, but are impressed with 

the extensive built-in software which looks much more 

professional than the PLUS/4 built-ins. I knoui a lot 

of people that will be delighted with the built in 

MODEM and the on-board terminal software which can 

emulate both the DEC VT52 & VT100 terminals. I 

mentally go over some of the other pluses: 5hrs. 

operation on 4 penlight batteries, only 51bs. total 

weight, fits in my briefcase, compatible with all 

C-64 peripherals, expected price- under $50D) 

I ask Jeff about some items not covered by the press 

materials; Is the 32K RAH expandable? Jeff thinks it 

will be, but doesn't say by how much; does the use 

of the 6502-compatible 65C102 processor mean that the 

LCD will be able to use Bill Plensch's fabled 65816 

Superchip" from Western Design Center [see 'News & 

Views', iss. #5] ? a smile flickers over Jeff's 

lips, and his eyes q0 slightly out of focus as he 

replies simply, "lilerre talking about it."

Q 

O 

LU 

DC 

O Q 

O 

O 

O 

COMMODORE LCD 


DUILT IN SOFTWARE 

SYSTEM FEATURES 

INPUTS OUTPUTS 

RECOMMENDED 

PERIPHERALS 

DIMENSIONS 

WEIGHT 

POWER 

REQUIREMENTS 

PORTABLE COMPUTER 

The Commodore LCD Portable Computer features; 

screen 01 splay 

CMOS technology lot long He batleiy operation 

Bunt-m modem and leiminai emulate software 

Ligmweflra, compact sae QesgneQ 10 fit into most buelcases 

k»ai tor anyone on [ 

COMMODORE: 

PORTABLE COMPUTER 

But-n 300 Baud MMem to Istecomrrwicaicre 

Rjts en BaEeres a External ftwei 

iVKTatc ftw*< town mat Saves Battery bte 

Fns Easily Into **)& Bneteases 

• Screau-w 

• QUCUOUi • Moniw 

Sjxeaosheef • Memo Pad 

■ Address Book • lemma fcmuaior 

6EC102 CMOS McinpicreeiSC* (1 Mm) 

■ - ■.■:; --■-■ 

96K CMOS RCW 

■ BuMiflA3C36 

■ Buff-m System UMilKS 

■ B0> 16 LjrjmdOyslal Drape* 

■ 4801128 ResCMO IGraencs M«»e) 

■ Uopm and Lowet Case Cuaiocwis 

■ TypawntBi Sryie 

- 72 Keys 

' B Programmable R/ict>on Keys 

■ d a/so Keys 

p Serai I/Oft« 

■ RS-23PC 

■ :. 

• MOOiai Prone Jacw tt Orea Ccmect Mcacm 

■ Bat CcOa Reaaw ft>1 (Mewiett/PBcKara CampaiWa) 

■ ]M1ocl571&n»ot>stil>fve 

: :•■,■- ■■ ■■■. 

• Ai CarmocWe Sen* Pencii«ta(s *e CcmpattJie 

a/C M 

..,... -„ 

COMMODORE' 

NEWS & VIEWS 


We also want to know more about the 3.5" micro-floppy 

[see Fig. 2] we see hooked up to the LCD. All u/e can 

find out is that it is a "Sony-compatible" drive that 

hooks up to the serial port of any of the Conmodore 

computers (the peculiar thing is that, while other 

3.5" drives typically store 1/2 to 1 full megabyte, 

we are told that this unit will only store a measly 

17QK- just like the 1541 ! "Why" was not explained). 

Back over to the C-128, we add to the information in 

our press kits by discovering that the C-128 is 

actually 3 computers. In the C-64 mode there is no 

operational difference from a regular C-64 (no speed 

or RAM difference - you must be in the 128 or CP/fl 

modes to access the BD columns or extra 64K of RAM). 

In the CP/ffl mode, all CP/Pl 3.0 compatible software 

will run. We couldn't verify it, but ue are under 

the impression that this means that any commercial 

CP/Pl sold for the Kaypro or Dsborne B-bit computers 

will run as-is (this would include such favorites as 

DBASE II and WORDSTAR). In the 128 mode a whole 

range of 80-column, 128K, color software will be 

forthcoming (we saw an impressive demo of the popular 

PERFECT WRITER [see cover photo] and other titles in 

the 'PERFECT1 series are scheduled for release soon. 

For the expected price of $300, we agree that this 

should be a very popular machine, especially in light 

of its claimed 100$ compatibility with the C-64I We 

have only a few complaints: we wish there had been 

an IEEE port built in, a better layout for the 

numeric pad and cursor keys, and (with Conmodore's 

rights to the PB-DOS Hyperion) it would have been an 

even more dynamite product if the 128 mode were an 

IBT1 mode and the 8502 processor had been and 8088 or 

an 8086 (it would also have been the nail in the 

coffin of a couple of dozen other computer companies, 

including ATARI!) As it stands, ATARI AND COmODORE 

are likely to keep battling it out for the rest of 

the year.

■ 

NEWS & VIEWS 


Shifting our attention now to the 

peripherals, uie notice again the smashing 

new 'look' shared by all the new Conmodare 

products (we find out later that this is 

mostly the doing of an in-house designer 

at Cornnodore named 'Minn1 who we think 

should get a medal of some kind!) 

The new 1571 disk drive is also a 3-in-1 

deal which matches itself intelligently to 

the mode of the computer using it, as well 

as the format of disk being accessed- thus 

it can automatically tell that it is being 

used with a C-128 in the CP/P1 mode and 

that the diskette is in Kaypro format, and 

act accordingly! We learn that there is 

also a dual version of this double-sided 

drive that will be introduced later this 

year. The good news is that the 1571 will 

work with all Commodore computers 

(including the C-64 and the LCD); the bad 

news is that it has neither greater speed 

or greater capacity than a 1541 when used 

with the C-64 or in the 64 mode with the 

C-128; back to the good news, it is 5 

times faster than the 1541 in the 128 

mode, and 10 times faster in the CP/1H 

mode! Also guaranteed to please is the 

expected price: $199!" 

A quick look at the new 1902 RGB monitor 

(necessary for BO-column color) and the 

Comnodore House finishes our tour thru the 

Coranodare booth. As we say goodbye to 

Jeff and the other (obviously pleased) 

booth-dwellers, we try to find out when 

all this stuff will be available; no one 

will be pinned-down (are we surprised?) 

but the months that kept coming up were 

POay/June for the C-128 & 1571, with the 

LCD about a month behind. 

Well, I hope you enjoyed our trip to Winter CES: 

we'll do it again at Summer CES in Chicago this Junesee 

you there! 

i r i i v i i Is il I-1 r r it 

OTiTTTTi°.i rrrj

ft typical window-choked screen 

produced under the ftT^TI 

operating system. 

The 13 

a lot 

f ii '.4 1 

of 'bang' for the buck. 

7 

— 

| • 

FT" 

Ip " 

1 1 

Jo 

■ 

J 

v 

1— 

This is what I nean by a 

sensible keyboard layouton 

the ifflUKi] you have to 

go back to the alpha key 

board to get 5 and u Keys 

-. 

> 

i 

NEWS & VIEWS 


You may be wondering hou 'Uncle Jack1 Tramiel (the 

former brains at Commodore who is responsible for the 

C-64 and is now the BOSS at ATARI) was taking all 

this hooplah from his old camp. Well, it sure wasn't 

lying down: J.T. and a good segment of the original 

Conmodore staff were 20 yards away showing (true to 

style) a product line that must have APPLE & IBPI 

talking to themselves. How does $700 sound for a 

COLOR 128K 'macintosh' clone with a 1O-Meg hard 

drive? ATARI calls it the 130ST (a 520K version, the 

52QST was also shown). 

With specs-ta-price figures like that, you may be 

asking yourself why you don't just forget Conroodore 

(the C-128 notwithstanding) and put your money down 

on one of the ST's? I've got a couple of reasons for 

you: 

First of all, it is still not at all certain that 

ATARI can even survive long enough to bring these 

products to market- the media is constantly relating 

various money, political and legal woes that continue 

to plague the post-Tramiel company. 

Second, even should ATARI stay solvent, there is Jack 

Tramiel's legendary image to overcome of a man who 

makes promises easily, and keeps them with 

difficulty. This anxiety was not alleviated by his 

staff at C.E.S. when they would not let anyone touch 

the demo units that were set up (and stories 

abounding about technicians up all the night before 

still wire-wrapping the innards and patching-in 

segments of unfinished software so that there would 

be something to show at the showI) 

Third, our subscription-card questionnaires have 

revealed that the average amount spent by our 

subscribers on C-64 products in 1984 alone was 

$1,500! Why should you dump that kind of investment 

to buy-in to a big question-mark like ATARI when you 

can get a C-128 for $300, give the C-64 to the kids, 

keep using your favorite products, and spend 

selectively on the 128 and CP/H products that you 

really want? 

Fourth, if DEC's GEPI operating system (which makes 

the 5T so 'Mac-like') catches on via the ATARI 

machines, it is highly likely that GEPI will be 

parted-over to other machines (an IBPI version is 

already thought to be in development) and the C-128 

could end up running in 4 modes instead of 3! (of 

course, you wouldn't run as fast or with the same 

graphics resolution, but co-processors and virtual 

screens could take care of that.) 

Lastly, I wouldn't buy an ATARI ST even if they were 

on the shelves now until I see Conmodore's 32-bit 

'ATTIGA-fTACHIft1. Conroodore wasn't saying a peep 

about it, but the expectation now is that the 

Lorraine [as it is also known) will be shown at 

Chicago in June. Judging even by the features shown 

a year ago on a prototype, the Lorraine will 

out-perform the ATARI machines in a number of 

significant ways. 

Continued on pg. 5?

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the highly praised book. Inside the VIC The book 

alone is well worth the price of this package 

$29.95 

Order by calling toll-free: 1-800-328-0145 (612-871-4505 in MN) or by mail to P.O. 

Box 7096. Minneapolis, MN. USA. Ordering from USA, Canada, or Mexico, include 

S3.00 postage and handling. Foreign orders include $10.00 postage and handling. All 

amounts are in S U.S. Visa/MC accepted.

THERE 

YOUR FUTURE ? 

DUU visits a company tnat hopes so 

Aiiminun Substrate 

gg comparative sizes of 

some common contaminants in tne 

world of a Hard drive- 

clearly, 'Dig' & 'small' are 

relative terms Here! 

Ask a Commodore 64 owner what their biggest 

complaint is about his or her computer system, 

and you will probably be told that it's the 1541 

Disk Drive. The reasons far this common complaint 

are many; beginning with its slow access speed 

and ranging on down the line to problems with 

overheating, not enough memory and head 

alignment. 

All of this may change for some computerist, if 

Roy Southwick and Lloyd Sponenburgh have their 

way. They have been working for the last year on 

an operating system for a 10 megabyte hard drive. 

Before I go any further, it might help to look at 

the different ways we now have for storing 

information. With the Commodore 64 information 

can be stored on either cassette tape or floppy 

disk. 

The tape is a plastic ribbon coated on one side 

with an iron-oxide material that can be 

magnetized. Data is recorded by electromagnetic 

pulses on the iron-oxide side of the tape, in 

much the same manner as music is recorded with a 

tape recorder. The data on the tape can_ be 

reloaded in the computer many times. In addition, 

the cassette tape can be erased and reused. The 

advantages to this media are its low costs and 

its ability to store great amounts of data. The 

disadvantages include its very slow speed and its 

sequential format of recording data. That is, the 

tape moves across the tape head in one direction 

a little at a time.

Comparative Loading Tiroes 

for a 25K program. 

Datasette 666 Seconds 

1541 disk drive....78 Seconds 

1541 w/speed kit...28 Seconds 

Hard drive... ..1 Second 

...on a iff Megabyte drive, 

you could store "MONOPOLE" 

over ^30 times. This is 

eo.ua! to about GO disks." 

me read/write heart travels 

at speeds comparaDle to an 

airplane flying 600 m.p.n. 

at an altitude of 1/4 incn! 

The next media for storing data is the floppy 

disk. The disk is also made of plastic and 

covered with a iron-oxide material and enclosed 

in a sleeve. In many ways the storage of 

information is the same on a disk as it is on a 

tape. The advantages are that the disk may be 

rotated at very high speeds (300 rpm), and that 

the head can be moved to any point on the disk to 

read information. As a result, access time is 

greatly decreased. Yet, on the Commodore, the 

speed is still very slaw as the information is 

moving from the disk drive to the computer or 

from the computer to drive in serial format. Each 

character is made up of 8 bits. When this 

information is transferred in serial format, only 

one bit at a time is transferred to the computer. 

A parallel unit'urauld transfer this information 

as 8 bits, or one byte, at a time. 

Several companies have tried to create products 

to increase the rate of transfer of information 

to and from the disk drive. Some of these 

products include the 1541 Express from Richvale 

Telecommunications and the 1541 Flash from Skyles 

Electronics. Both units can increase the speed of 

data transfer by as much as 4 times. 

A good example of the differences in loading time 

is the 25K public domain program, 'Monopole1. 

With the Data Cassette, this program takes about 

11 minutes to load. On a standard 1541 Disk 

Drive, it takes a full 7D seconds and, using one 

of the speed up units that I mentioned, the time 

to load is about 20 seconds. On the new hard 

drive, 'Ptanopole1 will load in just ONE SECOND. 

Another nice feature of a hard drive is that the 

amount of memory is greatly increased. On a 1541 

Disk Drive, only six 25K programs can be stored 

on a single disk. However, on a 1D megabyte 

drive, you could store 'Monopole' over 390 times. 

This is equal to about 60 disks. 

The hard drive is much like a standard disk drive 

except that the disk is made out of aluminum 

instead of plastic. The read/write head, instead 

of resting right on the disk, floats on a cushion 

of air, 20 millionths of an inch above the disk. 

This air space is so small that a smoke particle 

can't begin to fit in the space between the disk 

and the head. (See figure 1) As a result, the 

hard drive must be sealed to prevent any type of 

contaminate to enter the drive. 

The disk in a hard drive also rotates at a much 

higher speed than a 1541. As the disk rotates at 

3600 rpm, the read/write head travels over the 

disk at speeds of over 100 miles an hour. This is 

comparable to an airplane flying 600 miles per 

hour around the circumference of a lake at an 

altitude of 1/4 inch. The high speed of both the 

drive and the read/write head increases the data 

transfer to and from the computer. 

Another major difference in a hard drive to a 

standard disk drive is that more than one disk 

and more than one read/write head will be found. 

The 10 megabyte drive that Roy and Lloyd are 

working on has 2 separate disks with 4 read/write 

heads to be able to read both sides of the disks. 

Larger drives of up to 80 megabytes will also be 

available.

"FISCAL INFORMATION was 

ofiviousig not The ma and pa 

operation tnat I had first 

expected to find." 

To find an operating sgstem 

tnat would let the computer 

and tne drive operate 

together was not an easu task 

■JUliM- 

I first heard about the hard drive for the C64 

when I was invited to a local users group 

demonstration in Daytona Beach, FL. This 

demonstration was presented by Roy Southwoick and 

Lloyd Sponenburgh of Fiscal Information Inc. This 

was such a major event that Run magazine send 

Margaret Ptorabito, Commodore send Pete Baczor, 

and even Jim Butterfield came down from Toronto, 

Canada. 

The demo presented that evening was so impressive 

that I spoke with Roy Southwick and asked if I 

could do a review far Info 64 magazine. 

Arrangements were made and, just after the 

holidays, I traveled to Daytona to the company 

headquarters of Fiscal Information, Inc. I must 

admit that I was not prepared for the company 

itself. I don't know what I expected, but when I 

stepped out of the elevator onto the 3rd floor, 

the first thing I saw was an architects drawing 

of the new company headquarters. Later in the 

day, I learned that the entire company would be 

moving into this 17,000 square foot building in 

March of this year. Fiscal Information was 

obviously not the ma and pa operation that I had 

first expected to find. In fact, Fiscal 

Information is a large company with over 100 

employees and offices in 3 states. 

The company was started by Bill Walter in 1971. 

Bill had been a professor at the University of 

Florida when he designed a complete software 

package for a few physician friends. From there, 

the company quickly grew to providing complete 

turn key computer systems for doctors offices, 

clinics, and hospitals across the country. These 

systems range from a mere $30,000 to a quarter of 

a million dollars for a large hospital. 

Roy Southwick was the first employee of the 

company and is now Uice-President of Systems 

Engineering. Lloyd Sponenburgh was the 3rd 

employee and is now Director of Hardware 

Development. With their background in large 

computer systems, designing both software and 

hardware, they were able to bring to the hard 

drive idea experience as well as strong company 

support. 

The idea of a hard drive started because Roy had 

bought a C64 for his children. As he began to 

personally use his Commodore, he was impressed 

with its power yet dismayed by the slow 1541. 

After all, he was used to a hard drive system. 

What began as a simple question "can we interface 

a hard drive to the C54 has resulted in hundreds 

of man hours, and thousands of trial and error 

programs to make that connection that even 

Commodore gave up on. 

With his friend Lloyd, Roy began looking at the 

inner workings of the Commodore to find an 

operating system that would let the computer and 

the drive operate together. This was not an easy 

task.

FI's itf-Metf Hard drive is all out 

the same size as an msd dual 

drive

t- ^V commodore 

I SFD—1001 l 

ONE MEGABYTE DISK DRIVE 

(7 Ve.66-4 BLOCKS FREE. ■4133 BLOCKS FREE. 

The SFD-1001 (Super Fast Drive) is now available. With double-sided double-density format, over 

ONE MEGABYTE can be stored on a single floppy disk. ONE HUNDRED 1541-formatted disks can be 

reduced to only SIXTEEN SFD-1001-formatted disks. By using the intelligent IEEE bus and a bus expansion 

IEEE interface, the SFD-1001 loads programs and data over TWICE as fast as the 1541 drive, and ALL THIS 

inside a case the size of the 1541's! 

FULLY COMPATIBLE with any Commodore computer that has an IEEE interface. FREE utility disks for both the 

CBM 8032 and the Commodore 64 are included! Transfer all your files and programs easily from any Commodore 

disk drive to your SFD-1001! 

EXPAND your system now with this fast, high-quality, large capacity Commodore disk drive. 

The SFD-1001 is available NOW from Progressive Peripherals & Software, Inc., your quality 

Commodore software and hardware source. Suggested retail price is only $39995. 

Dealer inquiries are invited...call for more information or for the name of the dealer nearest you. 

LOAD TIMES 

The "1541 loads 32K bytes of data in approximately 1 minute, 20 seconds. 

The SFD-1001 loads 32K bytes of data in only about 35 seconds (bus expansion interface) or 

approximately 1 minute, 4 seconds (serial interface). 

PROGRESSIVE PERIPHERALS & SOFTWARE 

h 2186 South Holly Suite 200 

y Denver, Colorado 80222 

(303) 759-5713 Telex:888837 TWX:9109971314 

Commodore 64, 1541, 8032, and SFD-1001 are registered trademarks of Commodore Business Machines, Inc.

[ AVAILABLE NOW! CALL TODAY! 

Commodore 64 Hardware 

ONE MEGABYTE COMMODORE DISK DRIVE 

SFD-1001: EXPAND your Commodore 64 

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double-densityCOMMODORE DISK 

DRIVE. Speed up disk access with a fast, 

reliable IEEE interface (required). NOW 

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SERIAL TO IEEE INTERFACE 

E-LINK: SERIAL TO IEEE INTERFACE for the 

Commodore 64. Connect powerful lEEEdisk 

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the serial port, insuring compatibility with 

your software. RECOMMENDED FOR USE 

WITH THE SFD-1001 DISK DRIVE. 

E-LINK serial-IEEE interface 99.95 

FULL-FEATURED GRAPHIC PRINTER INTERFACE 

EASYPRINT WITH GRAPHICS: Fullfeatured 

GRAPHIC PRINTER INTER FACE for 

the C-64. Centronics-parallel compatible; 

LOADED with switch-selectable features. 

Power cord (included) plugs into either 

joystick port. FREE utility disk dumps any C- 

64 screen in under 4 minutes! 119.95 

Optional 4K Buffer for FAST graphic 

printing (kit or installed) additional 29.95 

Business/Word Processor PRINTER INTERFACE 

EASY-PRINT: The ideal PRINTER 

INTERFACE for the C-64 - perfect for word 

processing or business software. Switch 

selectable device numbers 4,5,6, or 7; select 

8-bit, 7-bit, Standard or PET ASCII. 

Compatible with Centronics parallel 

printers, no power plug-in required. 49.95 

MULTIPLE—PRINTER SERIAL CONNECTOR 

SERIAL BOX: MULTIPLE —PRINTER 

CONNECT box for serial printers or 

interfaces; plug up to 4 printers in for 

use with the SuperShipper. Avoid loading 

and unloading paper every time you print 

•vith different forms. 39.95 

INTELLIGENT 4-SLOT BUS EXPANSION 

SMART SLOT: INTELLIGENT 4-SLOT BUS 

EXPANSION for the Commodore 64. Turn 

any combination of cartridges on or off 

using the switches or through software. 

RESET button recovers from 'crashes' 

without turning off the computer and losing 

RAM. Durable gold-plated contacts 89.95 

90-Day Warranty Fast Delivery! 

WIZARD EXPANSION SET: The incredible 

ALL—NEW sequel to WIZARD. Another 

forty challenging screens and an 

IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION SET make 

this a must for joystick WIZARDS! 

Original WIZARD required. 

29.95 

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ENTERTAINMENT! 

WIZARD: Jump, dodge and duck your way 

through WIZARD'S not 10, 20, but FORTY 

dazzling screens, each a new, exciting 

adventure! WIZARD features full-color 

animation, fantastic sound, 1 to 6 players, 4 

difficulty levels and 10 selectable speeds! A 

CONSTRUCTION SET for building your 

own screens is included. Joystick jump & 

climb action at its best! 29.95 

GOTHMOG's LAIR:Real-time ADVENTURE 

EXCITEMENT at its best! Can you retrieve all 

thirteen treasures? You'll choose from a 

large vocabulary and 2 difficulty levels, all 

displayed in deluxe Old English script! 

Complete full-size manual with a fold-out 

map! NOW ONLY 19.95 

Business & Finance Software 

ALL-IN-ONE 

ELECTRONIC 

SECRETARY 

GRAND FINALE: Full-featured WORD 

PROCESSING, GENERAL LEDGER 

Accounting, an auto-dialing ADDRESS- 

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and 3-D GRAPHICS inteeratea on one disk 

at one low price. Complete with a full-size 

manual! ONLY 79.95 

GAIN CONTROL of your PERSONAL FINANCES 

CERTIFIED PERSONAL ACCOUNTANT: 

GAIN CONTROL of your personal finances 

with C.P.A. - organize and automate every 

aspect of your financial life...bank accounts, 

budget, cash flow, credit cards, tax status 

and net worth! Comes with an in-depth 

manual and features on-screen help at all 

times. EASY TO USE! 79.95 

THE COMPLETE C-64 INVOICING SYSTEM 

SUPERSHIPPER 64: COMPLETE INVOICING 

AND BILLING program for the C-64. This 

multi-disk system stores information for up 

to 800 customer, 500 invoices, and 200 

products on each 'account' and 'invoice' 

disk. Print invoices, C.O.D. tags and 

shipping labels. Sort lists of customers and 

products alphabetically; print mailing labels 

and list out your back orders! 99.95 

SALES, RECEIVABLE & INVENTORY REPORTS 

SUPERSHIPPER ACCOUNTANT: Use with 

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invoices paid! 79.95 

SUPPLIES 

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One roll of500 tags 100.00 

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chances! Protect your disks with these 

heavy-duty envelopes. Box of 150 75.00 

tasy to Use! 

EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT! 

THE PROFESSOR: A complete Classroomready 

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Two volumes are provided on a dual-sided 

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|/_ /\ 1 

IS—~>

THE WORD PROCESSOR IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ORDINARY 

WORD PROCESSORS, BECAUSE ITS PURPOSE IS NOT JUST TO 

PROCESS WORDS, BUT TD PROCESS 'THE WORD'. THE WORD 

OF GOD, THAT IS. THIS PACKAGE CONSISTS OF A 

SOPHISTICATED SEARCH AND DISPLAY PROGRAM AND THE 

ENTIRE KING JAPES TEXT OF THE BIBLE ON EIGHT DISKS. 

AT $199.95 IT'S NOT CHEAP, BUT IT IS WORTH THE MONEY. 

THE WORD PROCESSOR WAS FIRST DEVELOPED FOR THE APPLE, 

AND HAS BEEN TRANSLATED FOR THE IBM, CP/PI MACHINES, 

AND NOW THE COJTDDORE 64. THE BIBLICAL TEXT WAS 

ORIGINALLY DOWNLOADED FROM A COMPUTER TYPESETTER, AND 

THUS DOES NOT SUFFER FROM ANY DF THE ERRORS THAT 

MIGHT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED THROUGH RETYPING. THE 

WHOLE TEXT WAS THEN PASSED THROUGH A COMPLEX TEXT 

COMPRESSION ALGORITHM, WHICH IS WHY THE WHOLE 4.5 

MILLION CHARACTERS OF THE BIBLE CAN FIT ON ONLY EIGHT 

DISKS. 

THE WORD PROCESSOR PROGRAM STARTS OUT WITH A MENU OF 

OPTIONS WHICH SETS UP FOR YOUR PARTICULAR HARDWARE 

CONFIGURATION. THE SETUP CAN BE SAVED TO DISK AND 

FORGOTTEN ABOUT THEREAFTER OR CHANGED AT ANY TIME. 

BASICALLY, THE PROGRAM GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO 

DISPLAY AND READ BIBLICAL PASSAGES (A MINOR 

FUNCTION), DUMP SELECTED VERSES TO THE PRINTER 

(SOMEWHAT MORE USEFUL), AND PRODUCE INDEXES BY 

KEYWORD SEARCHES. THIS IS THE REAL POWER OF THE WORD 

PROCESSOR. YOU CAN PRODUCE AN INDEX BY FIRST 

DEFINING THE RANGE OF TEXT YOU WANT TO SEARCH, SUCH 

AS JUST THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, OR ALL THE BOOKS OF THE 

OLD TESTAMENT. YOU THEN ENTER A WORD OR PHRASE, OR A 

LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES THAT YOU WANT TO SERVE AS 

KEYWORDS FOR YOUR INDEX. YOU THEN SIT BACK AND WAIT 

FOR THE SEARCH TO COMPLETE. THE ONLY WORK REQUIRED 

OF YOU WILL BE IF YOUR SEARCH PASSES ON INTO TEXT 

CONTAINED ON A DIFFERENT DISK THAN THE ONE IN THE 

DRIVE, IN WHICH CASE YOU WILL BE PROMPTED TO SWITCH 

DISKS. WHEN THE SEARCH IS COMPLETED, THE INDEX 

REFERENCES WILL BE DISPLAYED. YOU CAN THEN REVIEW 

THE TEXT ASSOCIATED WITH THE VERSES REFERENCED, AND 

ADD OR DELETE REFERENCES MANUALLY IF YOU WISH. WHEN 

YOU ARE DONE WITH THIS REVIEW, YOU CAN SAVE THE INDEX 

TO DISK. 

SSOR 

Review by. mBK BROWN 

ONCE YOU HAVE BUILT UP A USEFUL LIBRARY OF INDEXES, 

YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THEM. THIS IS 

EASILY DONE THROUGH THE MERGE OPTION. YOU CAN MERGE 

INDEXES TOGETHER INCLUSIVELY, OR SO THAT ONLY VERSES 

REFERENCED BY BOTH ARE INCLUDED IN THE RESULTING 

INDEX. YOU MAY ALSO CREATE INDEXES MANUALLY IF YOU 

WANT TO DO TOPICAL STUDIES RATHER THAN KEYWORD 

SEARCHES. BIBLE RESEARCH SYSTEMS HAS AN AUXILLARY 

DISK FULL OF 200 SUCH TOPICAL INDEXES AVAILABLE FOR 

AN ADDITIONAL $49.95. 

This package consists of a 

sopnisticated search & display 

progran and tne entire King 

Janes text of the bible on B 

disks

ft Guide to Telecomputing 1985 

IF,elecomputing - the linking of computers via 

telephone - has spawned a network so vast, so 

multi-faceted that the end now justifies the means: 

people use personal computers exclusively for 

networking. The growth of the industry can be 

directly attributed to the popularity of the machine 

it feeds - or feeds upon, depending on your point of 

yieu - but the technology is not as new as you might 

imagine. 

ARPANET, the Department of Defense-sponsored network 

burglarized recently by a teenager with a VIC, is the 

oldest and largest network. Technology developed for 

it in the late 60's is still in use on most networks 

today. Long before the general public knew - or 

cared - about computers, ARPANET users 

(Pentagon-approved scientists) were using spelling 

checkers and holding hobby club meetings on-line. Of 

course, they weren't riding the wires with personal 

computers. Printers functioned then as monitors do 

today and output keyboards ("terminals") sent their 

data to the mainframe at the other end of the line. 

That's why telecommunications programs for personal 

computers are referred to as "terminal" programs. 

You don't need government approval to telecompute 

today (ARPANET notwithstanding) and the extent of 

telecommunicatians must astonish the people who 

developed the technology that made it possible. With 

a properly equipped computer, you can chat with a 

dozen or more '64 users at once or ask the CBPI 

Hotline why your printer won't underline, get advice 

from a vet on the Goat-herders SIG (Special Interest 

Group), check schedules, fares and make airline 

reservations - or file your own flight plan, meet 

your future spouse masquerading as Boy George on a CB 

simulator, look up something in an encyclopedia, 

download programs or take programming lessons, see 

how your stock is doing, order IRS publications, buy 

things from Sears and other retailers or write a 

chapter in an interactive on-line novel. 

Silly or serious, these and a zillion other 

activities are at your fingertips. Telcomputing is 

even practical now for people with impaired vision 

with a voice synthesizer (Genesis Carputer Co.) and a 

special version of Smart 64 (Plicrotechnic Solutions) 

which will enunciate every word coming in and going 

out. 

There are four categories of things you can do 

on-line: 1) gather facts and news, 2) purchase 

services or merchandise, 3) download (receive) public 

domain computer programs, and 4) "talk with 

computers that wouldn't otherwise "understand" you. 

nail. Bulletin Board. 

Easterner Seruice 

ftdutce . Pets. 

Garden. Fashion 

Beuieus. Tickets 

Best Bets 

and 

Restaurant 

ku. 

VIDEOTEX 

Advice* Fitness, 

Calorie Counter 

ParKs- Beaches. 

U.S. Travel, fttriines 

Library Services. 

Encyclopedia 

Buy and Seli 

on Uieutran 

Computers communicate with ASCII (American Standard 

Code for Information Interchange), common numerical 

values for numbers, letters and punctuation. But 

since ASCII deals with text-related code only, 

telecomputing has been limited to word-oriented 

exchanges. (Only player input for games with 

graphics displays are handled by a network; the games 

are loaded from disks you buy in advance.) But hold 

the phone! Telidon, a Canadian VIDEOTEX system has 

come up with a code called NAPLPS (North American 

Presentation Level Protocol Syntax) that may do for 

computer graphics what ASCII did for text. 

Photos by: PAT HERRINGTOH

TELECQHPUTIiia continuad 

IfMBtlCfW EHPREffiOD flDURHCE 

I HECK 

NAPLPS is a VIDEOTEX protocol (or set of rules) for 

creating, storing and transmitting computer graphics 

with ASCII text. It isn't on a nationwide network 

yet but several U.S. companies (AT&T and CBS for 

starters) are involved in NAPLPS VIDEOTEX projects. 

Regional networks use it but as of this writing they 

can only be accessed by memory-rich AT&T Sceptre 

terminals. But the race to produce NAPLPS software 

is on. (Conmodore announced it for the '64 last 

summer and keeping true to form, has been silent on 

the subject ever since.) 

But... with Jordan software (cartridge, $99) soon to 

be released by Addison Information Systems (formerly 

Avcor), my Commodore 64 and I accessed Viewtron, a 

southern Florida regional NAPLPS network owned by 

Knight-Ridder Newspapers (1-900-272-5400.) Vieutron 

offers just about everything an information network 

can: entertainment info (local night life reviews and 

reservations, movies, park and beach activities), 

food and dining (restaurant menus, recipes, even 

delivered groceries), regional news and sports, 

investment services, live conversation or messages, 

games, and services and merchandise - if you can't 

buy it on Viewtron it's probably not worth having. 

The variety of text and illustrations on 

hi-resolution, multi-color screens from Viewtron was 

stunning. I watched them build, layer by layer, on 

my monitor - a relatively slow process compared to a 

text-only display, which has not been well-received 

in VIDEOTEX market tests on other networks. At the 

transmission rate of 300 bits per second (bps) used 

by most modems for personal computers now, it's 

pretty slow; you're very aware that you're being 

charged by the minute. But modems that handle 1200 

bps are dropping in price and at that speed - four 

times faster - it shouldn't be a problem. 

Although the resolution on my 1702 monitor wasn't as 

high nor the graphics as elaborate as photos I've 

seen of Sceptre displays, the overall quality was 

such an improvement over the plain text other 

networks send, it seemed like using a different 

medium: perhaps a glimpse of color TV when you've 

only known radio. Despite a glitch in the software 

that let text print over text (remember, it's still 

under development) and my on-line horoscope 

predicting my activities that day would be unique 

rather than profitable, I was impressed. 

TELECOMPUTING HOST SYSTEMS 

Your '64 can communicate directly with any Cflfl 

computer once you're both equipped for 

telecammunications. It's easiest when both computers 

use the same terminal software but the novelty soon 

wears off. 

Private Bulletin Board Systems (BBS's) are more 

stimulating. A computer store or user group will 

have the phone number for a B8S if there s one in 

your area. They are often hobby "boards" run on 

someone's home computer and can be accessed by anyone 

with the phone number. Numbers for other BBS's are 

often available on any one of them. There are 

thousands of BBS's across the country which you can 

access for the cost of a long distance phone call. 

Occasionally you'll find one that charges a 

membership fee. Either way, they come in two flavors 

as far as we're concerned, CBPI and non-CBPI host 

systems. On the latter, you can "talk" with all 

brands of computers, not just Commodore.

TELECOMPUTING continued... 

The real action, however, takes place latenight on an 

information service (a commercial network). Join one 

and you'll never have to be alone again: hundreds of 

personal computers - from anywhere in the world - can 

be hosted at the same time by these mainframes. But 

watch out: it's easy to get hooked and can quickly 

became expensive; I have the bills to prove it. 

There's a fee to join and you're charged for the time 

you're "on-line" or actually connected to the 

network. You don't incur long distance telephone 

charges to reach a network if you live in a 

fair-sized city since a local access number (Telenet 

or Tymnet) connects you directly to the mainframe. 

amtl Ctaritn* S.Jeanit c * 

i Peggy, 

Do you want Me to send you Mail that 

;ou could take a picture of? 

Love. 

£ Pi £ 

Ind of Hessage - Press F5 to cancel 

Jill Pi 

Indy D 

>eggy H 

)aniel 0 

Feanie C 

>aniel Q 

All r ight Randy''' ! 

youi ; > gned up1 

Redlly, I'm gonna take a 

screen shot for the INFO 64 

article. OK? 

sure 

why not? 

hMMMHM 

ELECTRONIC RAPPIH' TRANSCENDS 

A6E, SEX, £ RACE BARRIERS. 

ARE YOUR ONLY LIMITATIONS. 

YOUR 5Y5TEF1 CONFIGURATION 

Along with a computer and monitor or TV, you'll 

probably want a disk drive; tape is severely 

limiting. Besides a modem (which we'll get to in a 

moment) you must have a modular telephone with a hand 

set that unplugs from the dialing mechanism: an old 

desk model. 

A modem is an R5-232C device which PDOulates computer 

digital bit streams into audible pulses (that 

telephone lines can carry) and DEPbdulates pulses 

when they're received. There are three types for the 

'64: 1) a manual modem like the 1600 Uicmodem 

requires that you dial the number and plug the line 

from the phone base into the modem; 2) the 

programmable or automatic type like the 1650 l/icmodem 

that dial for you (some programs make the modem 

redial periodically on a busy signal, or answer 

incoming calls); and 3) the intelligent or "smart" 

kind which house ROM chips and do everything an auto 

modem can and then some. 

The modem determines the speed at which data are 

transmitted, measured in bits per second or Baud 

rate, the standard today being 300 bps. Transmitting 

data faster can reduce your connect time (although 

commercial networks know it and charge more for 

transmissions over 300 bps). Dnly a smart modem can 

handle mare than 300 bps on the '64. Carnnodare 

announced a 1200 bps modem for the C-128 in January 

but it won't work with the '64. 

Buy a modem before joining a commercial network; free 

time and/or discounts sometimes come with them. If 

you already have a modem, consider a network "starter 

kit." 

PROTOCOLS 

Terminal software determines what you can - or can't 

- do on-line. It shuts out BASIC and makes your 

computer emulate a terminal. Using it is like using 

a word processor except for the fact that there's a 

telephone line within the system. Stray noises on 

the phone line will corrupt data in transit. This 

isn't important when you're "talking" with another 

computer user who can overlook an error here or there 

but conversation isn't the only thing sent over phone 

lines. Programs can get messed up and, as you 

probably know all too well, one error is all it 

takes. 

Several ways of making sure precisely what was sent 

got there, called "error checking protocols," are in 

use and each method was designed for a particular 

host computer. The error checking protocol in the 

program running on your ' 64 must match that used by 

the host system you want to access. Three protocols 

predominate: 1) CBW-Punter, developed by Steve 

Punter, used on BBS's hosted by Conmootare computers; 

2) Xmodera, developed by Ward Christianson, used on 

non-Conraodore host systems and sometimes used with 

Xon/Xoff protocol (also called GO/HALT) to pause and 

restart transmission; and 3) the "B" protocols used 

on CompuServe. 

31 1

TELECOHPUTIflQ continued, , . 

Each host system uses its own - and only its own - 

protocol. A single terminal program for the '64 can 

(and should) offer more than one of them. It's up to 

you to get and use the right one with the right host. 

If everything isn't exactly right, you'll miss out an 

one of the primary reasons for telecomputing - 

downloading programs which belong to no one and 

everyone (by virtue of being in the public domain) 

and cover everything from business to games 

literally every area of interest a program can be 

written for. 

Terminal software also controls adjustable 

communications parameters like duplex, parity, stop 

bits and word length, and this is where you can start 

getting overwhelmed. You don't have to know what 

these things do: just make sure you use the same 

error checking protocol as the host you want to 

access and the default values will (almost always) 

work for all this other stuff. If one of the 

settings is off, you'll know it. For instance, if 

duplex is wrong, either you won't be able to see what 

you type or yyoouurr tteexxtt uiwiill llookk lliikkee 

tthhiiss 

TERMINAL SOFTWARE 

Many things besides protocols make for a good 

terminal program. Comments on several of them follow 

but they have some common features. Using your disk 

drive when you're on-line is important: you might 

need to format a disk. All programs mentioned here 

offer full disk access from terminal mode. They all 

let you change text, border and screen colors and all 

have programmable function keys. All will let you 

save to disk OR printer. All except HoraeTerm offer 

full control of communication parameters. fill 

automatically translate CBTI-ASCII to true ASCII and 

will operate with manual or autodial modems. 

Word-wrap is available in all except the special 

CQTh/aice version of Smart 64. VIDTEX is the only one 

without an on-screen clock to help you keep track of 

time on-line. 

The size of the program's memory buffer is important, 

unless it offers virtual memory. When you're 

on-line, information on the screen is gone unless you 

took steps to save it before it arrived. You save it 

in a buffer which can hold only so much. When it's 

full, you "dump" it to disk or printer. A big buffer 

means you have to do this less frequently and seldom 

need to merge a program you saved in two parts. With 

virtual memory, you can save information directly to 

disk or printer as it comes to you. VIP and Smart 64 

have virtual memory. 

All of these programs will let you download from 

commercial networks. UIPf SuperTern, Smart 64 and 

Firstterm will download all types of program files - 

but that's just the first step. Before a program can 

be transmitted it must be converted to a text file. 

In that form it's like a listing on paper even though 

it may appear on the screen. No, you don't have to 

type it in but you do have to convert it with an off 

line utility program which tokenizes it and makes it 

"runnable." These programs provide the utilities to 

do this but it's a hassle because you can't convert a 

program while you're on-line. You have to save it, 

sign off the network and load in the utility. 

fVr^^-w--^-. 

The two exceptions for downloading from commercial 

networks are HomeTerm and UIDTEX, and they function 

at opposite extremes. Some files on ConpuServe have 

.IWG extensions on their names which indicate they 

are programs for a specific kind of computer (like 

Quit game 

instructions 

the '64). HomeTexm won't touch .OTG files - you 

can't download them with it no matter what. VIDTEX 

will download not only . IPE files but all CompuServe 

files and convert program text files to takenized 

programs transparently. No off line conversions are 

needed - VIDTEX does it automatically. 

Three of these programs will access both networks 

(non-Can hosts) and BBS'S (CBfl-hosts): VIP Terminal, 

Super-Term and Firstterm. Program conversion is done 

by the terminal program on a CBW-Punter B8S. You 

never have to fool with it. 

TELLH UIM 

TDDftV 5 HOROBCOFF 

CRPRORH 

AQUARIUS 

PISCES 

ARIES 

TAURUS 

CEUJHI 

CANCER 

LEO 

UIRCO 

LIBRA 

SCORPIO 

SAGITTARIUS 

IS TOOAV VOUR BIBTHDAV? 

DETERMHE VOUR 5ICH 

WfTEB FUTURES SYNDICATE IK 

I

TELECOMPUTING continued.. 

THE LINE UP 

VIP TERMINAL ($59.95 from Softlaw) includes 

CBTC-Punter and non-CBM protocols and may be the only 

terminal program you'll ever need. It's easy to 

master and characters per screen line can be set to 

40, 64, BD or 106 without extra hardware. It has an 

adequate built-in text editor and virtual memory. 

You can toggle on-screen help in terminal mode and it 

has a separate collection of utility programs. 

Excellent documentation with even more instructions 

on the disk itself which you can read on the screen 

or print out. 

■■ - - _ ■ 

B a o

TELECOMPUTING continued. 

Elec tronic 

File 

Transfer 

Update 

PlayNet 

Disks 

In f or m,i t i on 

Center 

-■ 

PP i T:Q 

enter 

Bui letm 

Boards 

ftccount 

8 Billing 

Infornation 

PlayNet has beautiful on-line graphics and sound - 

including games - but it's not videotex. Screen 

displays and games are loaded from one of the three 

disks that PlayNet provides when you join ($34.95). 

You don't have to buy additional disks to play 

interactive games but that's only an advantage if you 

want to play games in the first place. (Lest I sound 

superior, I confess to enjoying Quad 4 on-line with 

1Q other players, during which game we carried on a 

lively -if confusing- conversation. Two of us 

"won/') 

Getting around on PlayNet is about a million times 

easier than doing so on other networks but the 

trade-off is that it's proportionally less extensive. 

Even when fully operational with Apple and IBPl-PC 

members, public domain and commercial data bases and 

other structures, it should have easy access. 

Extensive conferencing features (such as splitting 

the screen for private messages and menus that toggle 

on and off) made it delightful to talk with very 

enthusiastic PlayNet users like Bill P1 who stroked 

my ego by guessing my full name from Peggy H, my 

predesignated handle, and Deb C, who's "debl" when 

she runs the CBffl SIG on CompuServe. 

You don't need your own terminal software because 

it's on the disks PlayNet provides, and updates for 

new features are downloaded. You have to wait a 

couple of minutes for disk loads each time you change 

areas but the $2 an hour connect fee of $2 an hour 

works out to only three and a third cents a minute. 

Other costs are a monthly service charge and fee for 

downloading which averages $.50 per file. Call 

1-800-PLAYNET for more info. 

AMERICAN PEOPLE/LINK is doing Beta testing as of this 

writing. Their ad's claim "anyone with a word 

processor, personal computer or terminal, and a 

modem" can access People/Link upon, of course, paying 

the $14.95 one-time sign up fee. But notice it says 

"word processor" - not terminal software. A lengthy 

and unconvincing phone conversation with them left me 

as skeptical as I was in the first place about 

Ml- 

ITS IHOIftHft 

JOKES 

Man, Mould you 

lihe ta 

Send it to 

a Friend 

tiaKe another 

creature 

getting on-line with a word processor, even at $2.95 

an hour. Nevertheless, they spoke of interactive, 

multi-player games "coming soon as well as Special 

Interest Clubs (SICs?) with user Club Presidents 

deciding everything including subject matter. Good 

luck when calling 1-800-524-01 DO for more 

information. 

T>€ ELECTRONIC UNIVERSITY is not a commercial network 

per se, rather it is a means of study via 

telecommunications. Courses range from seminars to 

classes for kids, professional field-specific study 

and adult education which many U.S. colleges accept 

for credit. There's conferencing and private on-line 

consultation with professors and 24-hour access to a 

library of data bases. I was impressed with the 

diversity (if not the number) of available classes. 

Call 1-80O-22LEARN (1-80D-44LEARN in Calif.) for info 

and prices. 

GO FOR IT 

If you do nothing else, downloading public domain 

programs is sufficient reason to telecompute. But 

your first try can be tough. Be sure to read (and 

re-read) on-line instructions and program 

documentation. Make certain you have the right 

protocols. Remember that all computers are picky 

devils; your patience and perseverance can be taxed 

but keep trying - it's worth it. Public domain 

programs are NOT second-rate and can be especially 

helpful for learning or sharpening BASIC skills 

because you can list and examine them. In fact, you 

can do anything you please ' with a public domain 

program, from personalizing it to selling. 

on-line conferencing runs the gamut from technical 

talk to pure unadulterated fantasy. Whatever your 

preference, you can make friends with people you 

might never meet face to face, and all of them are 

interested in computers. If you like dealing with 

the written word and have fair typing ability, you're 

sure to find it fascinating. Keep in mind that the 

advantages enjoyed by good-looking people in person 

belong to the literate, on-line, /bye

JORDAN i.24 NAPLPS FirHware 

L-b4 cartridge sss 

Iddison InfoPHation Systems 

(formerly aOCOR) 

512 King St. East, 3rd floor 

Toronto, ON Canada MSA I1H 

(416) 864-92246 

UIEWTRON CORP. of AMERICA 

(NflPLPS videotex network) 

±111 Lincoln Road, 7th floor 

Miawi Beach, FL 33139 

f 

EUMPUSEflfl 

REVIEWED BV: TED SflLflMQME 

Bearcat has been producing standard setting scanners 

for many years now. Reliability, technical 

sophistication, and user satisfaction have been the 

bedrock of their success. Evidence of this commitment 

to excellence is amply demonstrated in their newest 

venture, the CoapuScan/CP 2100. 

Consisting of a receiver with built in speaker, 

cables, antenna, power pack, operator's manual, and 

software, the 2100 works with a disk equipped 

Conmodore 64. The scanner monitors the airwaves, the 

64 manipulates the data. 

This teamup provides hobbyists with a 2QD channel 

capability arrayable in ten user selectable banks. 

Seven different bands can be accessed: aircraft, 70 

cm or 2 meter amateur, UHF, UHF-T, and low or high 

VHF. 

The CompuScan diskware, being of a friendly menu 

driven persuasion, permits creation of three priority 

channels, the inclusion of a memo pad feature for 

each frequency, and manual or automatic search 

routines which can be initiated at either the high or 

low end of a range. 

Furthermore, auto search and store, search/scan 

frequency occurrence counts, automatic channel 

lockout, and selectable scan delay are feasible with 

the Scanneri program provided. 

Another computer/scanner merger benefit is the 

ability to send signals to a tape recorder, alarm, or 

small electric appliance. Multiple antennas and other 

hardware can be attached, those indicated above are 

just some of the more common ones. 

Encased in an attractive snow beige plastic and 

aluminum housing with two dials, (on/off volume and 

auto/manual squelch control), the CompuScan unit is 

rack mountable. The one reviewed had no power on 

light (an annoying omission), though this should have 

no effect on careful users. (Dis)connecting items to 

powered units is never a good policy, even if not 

specifically banned in the operator's manual. 

Setup is so simple, that following the manual 

actually makes it more difficult. Though good line 

drawings are provided, the remainder of the 

installation instructions are less lucid. Luckily 

there's not much that can go wrong if a little common 

sense is applied. 

Fortunately the balance of the manual, (tutorial, 

commands summary, and electronic interface data) is 

well illustrated, organized, and presented. 

The R5-232 cable plugs into the 64's rightmost port 

from the underside of the 2100. Located here is an 

interface for an external stereo hookup, though the 

integrated speaker works fine once the internal loop 

is closed. (Insertion of the provided accessory plug 

is needed to accomplish this.) The telescoping 

antenna is attached by a snap and twist coax cable 

connector, while the power supply fits into a male 

plug adjacent to the dip switches. By the way, these 

switches are used to set the proper baud, parity, and 

carriage return/line feed parameters. 

Dnce all the connections have been made and the disk 

booted, the airwaves beckon. (One more word of 

caution, the antenna should be located as far from 

the 64 as possible to eliminate potential 

interference.) 

A brief glossary of terms should suffice for any 

uninitiated, but curious readers. A locked out 

channel will be overlooked during scanning sessions. 

This is used mostly to eliminate known, but unwanted 

frequencies. Delay keeps the scanner tuned for turn 

seconds after a signal has been lost. This is helpful 

where response transmissions are expected. Count 

simply refers to the number of times a signal is 

found during a scan cycle. All of these options can 

be switched on or off as needed. 

One nice feature, the Priority option, makes 

ConpuScan monitor up to three selected channels while 

carrying out other scan or search tasks. 

Approximately every two seconds a priority check is 

performed. If a designated station is found, the 

other routine is interrupted. With this, important 

but infrequent broadcasts can be received while 

others are actively pulled in. 

Believe it or not, there is a difference between scan 

and search. The scan mode sweeps through selected 

banks sampling every channel that hasn't been lacked 

out, while the search mode acts as a fine tuner 

across a user defined range of frequencies. For 

those interested in exotica, a list of Scanneri 

program files and CP 2100 specifications is included 

in the manual. 

Other than the poorly written setup instructions, the 

2100 has no readily apparent faults. At $499.00 list 

price, it shouldn't. Of course price isn't a direct 

reflection of value or usefulness. Here it serves to 

limit the number of probable owners. Many may want, 

far fewer will buy. That's sad too, because it is a 

fine piece of hardware. Interested parties should 

contact 

Electra Co. 

300 East County Line Road 

Cumberland, Indiana 46229

64k 

5Sk 

52k 

48k 

48k 

32k 

8k 

RAM 

RAH 

RAH 

BASIC 

mi 

Reviewed by: MarK Brown 

CMiL-tl KMrf wp 

~I7T 1 

COHAL COWL C8HAL COWL 

COHAL RON BARKS 

This graph shows 

the total address 

space of the C64 

when the COHAL 

cartridge if plugged 

it>. The weMory is 

152 Kbytes, bankswitched. 

COMAL spoils gou.,.anu other 

language feels stifling Dg 

comparison, me cartridge 

version adds lots of niceties 

COPIAL SPOILS YOU. IT COMBINES THE FAMILIARITY OF 

BASIC UJITH THE STRUCTURED PROGRAMING ENVIRONMENT OF 

PASCAL AND THE TURTLE GRAPHICS DF LOGO. WITH ALL 

THAT AVAILABLE, ANY OTHER LANGUAGE FEELS STIFLING BY 

COMPARISON. NOW, ON THE HEELS OF THE VERY GOOD 

DISK-LOADED VERSION 0.14, COMES CARTRIDGE-BASED CORAL 

2.01. BESIDES ALL THE FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES OF ITS 

PREDECESSOR (SEE THE REVIEW 5 ERG-CARD IN ISSUE #4), 

THE CARTRIOGE VERSION ADDS LOTS OF EXTRA NICETIES, 

AND OVERCOMES THE SHORTCOMINGS OF CORAL 0.14. 

THE MAJOR DIFFICULTY WITH 0.14 WAS THE MEMORY IT USED 

UP. BY THE TIME IT LOADED FROM DISK, YOU WERE LEFT 

WITH ONLY ABOUT 10K OF PROGRAM MEMORY. OF COURSE, 

THE CARTRIDGE TAKES CARE OF THAT. ON POWER-UP, YOU 

HAVE OVER 30K OF PROGRAM MEMORY, ALMOST AS MUCH AS 

WITH BASIC. THE COPIAL CARTRIDGE ITSELF CONTAINS 64K 

(!) OF BANK-SWITCHED RON, WHICH IS STACKED IN FOUR 

16K BL0CK5 OVER THE C64'S OWN BASIC ROM AND RAM. YOU 

DON'T EVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE TECHNICAL STUFF, 

HOWEVER; THE BANK-SWITCHING IS AUTOMATIC, FAST, AND 

INVISIBLE. COPIAL 2.01 IS INTERNALLY QUITE DIFFERENT 

FROM 0.14, AND IS STRUCTURED AS A COPIAL KERNAL WITH 

EXTENSION PACKAGES. THIS IS A MEMORY-SAVING 

TECHNIQUE WHICH MEANS THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GRAPHICS 

VOCABULARY IS INACTIVE IF YOU DON'T NEED GRAPHICS IN 

YOUR CURRENT PROGRAM. WHEN YOU NEED GRAPHICS, THE 

DNE-LINE COMMAND 'USE GRAPHICS' WILL INVOKE THE 

NECESSARY ADDITIONS. THIS CHANGE MEANS THAT SOME 

MINOR TRANSLATION IS NEEDED TO ADAPT COTIAL 0.14 

PROGRAMS TO RUN ON THE CARTRIOGE VERSION. THE ONLY 

CHANGES I HAVE USUALLY FOUND NECESSARY ARE TO (1) ADD 

THE 'USE GRAPHICS' COMMAND TO THE START OF THE 

PROGRAM, AND (2) MAKE SOME SYNTAX CHANGES TO REFLECT 

THE REPLACEMENT OF COMMANDS WITH PROCEDURES; I.E. 

'BACKGROUND 0' BECOMES 'BACKGROUND (O)1. IF YOU 

ALREADY HAVE A LIBRARY OF COPIAL 0.14 PROGRAMS BUILT 

UP AND WANT TO ADAPT THEM TO THE CARTRIDGE VERSION, 

YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE THESE CHANGES. 

THE IMPROVED EDITOR CAN HELP YOU MAKE THEM. BESIDES 

THE IMPRESSIVE ERROR-CHECKING BUILT INTO THE 

ORIGINAL, COPIAL 2.01 ADDS 'FIND' AND 'CHANGE' TO THE 

EDITOR'S VOCABULARY. THE PROGRAM STILL AUTOMATICALLY 

INDENTS WHEN LISTED, WITH THE ADDED OPTION OF HAVING 

KEYWORDS IN UPPERCASE TO DIFFERENTIATE THEM FROM 

VARIABLE AND PROCEDURE NAMES. SEVERAL CONTROL KEYS 

HAVE BEEN DEFINED TO DELETE-TO-END-OF-LINE, JUMP 

AHEAD OR BACK BY ONE WORD, RESTORE LINE TO PRE-EDITED 

STATE (GREAT FOR ALL THOSE TYPING MISTAKES!), AND 

EVEN DUMP THE SCREEN TO THE PRINTER. THE FUNCTION 

KEYS ARE ALSO DEFINED TO PROVIDE AUTOMATIC RUN, EDIT, 

AUTO LINE-NUMBERS, ETC. THEY ARE USER-REDEFINABLE, 

TOO. 'LIST procedure' ENABLES YOU TO LIST AND EDIT 

PROCEDURES BY NAME. THERE ARE MANY OTHER FEATURES 

THAT REALLY ARE JUST TDO NUMEROUS TO MENTION.

The commands that nave Deen 

included in COMAL Z.O1 will 

KnocK gour socks off! I 

can't possiDlg list them all. 

The 'VIEWPORT" and 'WINDOW' 

commands let sou define 

screen windows and scale them 

.. .for t»oth text and graphics 

)■■ 

THE COMMANDS THAT HAVE SEEN INCLUDED IN COPIAL 2.D1 

WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! I CAN'T POSSIBLY LIST 

THEM ALL, BUT I'LL TRY TO COVER THE HIGH POINTS IN 

SOME KIND OF ORDER: 

SYSTEPI CHANGES: 'INPUT' HAS BEEN GIVEN AN EXTREMELY 

USEFUL NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS AND OPTIONS. THE 

PROMPT CAN BE TOTALLY ELIMINATED, OR MADE TO BE 

ANYTHING YOU WISH (NO '?' UNLESS YOU WANT ONE), 

CURSOR MOVEMENT IS NOW IGNORED, AND THE CLEAR AND 

HOME KEYS ONLY WORK ON THE INPUT LINE ITSELF, NOT THE 

WHOLE SCREEN. 'INPUT AT' ALLOWS YOU TO SPECIFY A 

POSITION ON THE SCREEN AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF 

ALLOWABLE INPUT CHARACTERS. THERE IS NOW NO QUOTE 

MODE TO WORRY ABOUT, AND INPUT LINES CAN BE UP TO 120 

CHARACTERS. OTHER SYSTEM COMMANDS INCLUDE DIRECT 

ACCESS TO THE C64'S INTERNAL CLOCK, SINGLE-COMMAND 

USE OF THE SERIAL OR IEEE BUSES, AND ONE-LINE CONTROL 

OVER SYSTEM PARAMETERS SUCH AS DISK-DRIVE TIMING AND 

PRINTER CONTROLS. TWO OF THE MOST USEFUL AND 

POWERFUL ADDTIONS ARE THE 'GETSCREEN1 AND 'SETSCREEN' 

COMMANDS. THESE ALLOW YOU TO SAVE THE CURRENT 

CONTENTS OF THE SCREEN, INCLUDING ALL COLORS AND EVEN 

CURSOR POSITION, AS A SINGLE STRING, AND RESTORE THE 

SCREEN AT ANY TIME. THUS YOU CAN EASILY PERFORM 

PAGE-FLIPPING FOR MENU AND HELP SCREENS. ALSO, 

EXTERNAL PROCEDURES AND BATCH FILES ARE NOW FULLY 

SUPPORTED. IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL, YOU WILL 

APPRECIATE THESE CAPABILITIES RIGHT AWAY; HOME 

PROGRAMMERS WILL FIND THESE TO BE VERY USEFUL TOOLS 

IN TIME. (MANY OF CORAL'S ADVANCED FEATURES WILL BE 

NEW TO THOSE WHO ARE USED TO 'NORMAL' HOME COMPUTER 

LANGUAGES, BUT MOST HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME AS 

FEATURES IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS.) 

GRAPHICS: THE TURTLE IS STILL HERE, BUT FASTER THAN 

EVER. NEW COMMANDS LET YOU QUICKLY SAVE OR LOAD A 

HI-RES SCREEN; ALSO ADDED IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE 

INQUIRIES ABOUT THE TURTLE SYSTEM PARAMETERS. THE 

'VIEWPORT' AND 'WINDOW1 COMMANDS LET YDU DEFINE 

SCREEN WINDOWS AND SCALE THEM TO WHATEVER SIZE YOU 

NEED, AND THEY CAN BE USED FOR BOTH TEXT AND 

GRAPHICS. (YES, COPIAL DDES WINDOWS!) ADDITIONAL NEW 

SPRITE COMMANDS LET YOU MAKE INQUIRES ABOUT SPRITE 

STATUS, LINK SHAPE TABLES TO THE END OF YOUR COPIAL 

PROGRAM, AND 'STAPP' SPRITE IMAGES DIRECTLY TO THE 

HI-RES SCREEN. THERE IS ALSO A WHOLE NEW VOCABULARY 

FOR PROGRAMMING INTERRUPT-DRIVEN SPRITE ANIMATION 

THAT WILL RUN COMPLETELY IN THE BACKGROUND OF ANY 

COPIAL PROGRAM. YOU CAN EVEN STOP TO EDIT THE PROGRAM 

AND THE SPRITES WILL KEEP MOVING! THESE COMMANDS 

MAKE THE SPRITES INDEPENDENTLY INTELLIGENT, ABLE TO 

DECIDE WHEN TO MOVE, WHEN TO CHANGE SHAPE, AND WHEN 

TO DISAPPEAR, ALL BASED ON TIME OR COLLISION 

CONDITIONS. USER-PROGRAWIABLE CHARACTERS ARE ALSO 

SUPPORTED WITH THEIR OWN SET OF CONNANDS IN THE 

'FONT1 PACKAGE. WHOLE CHARACTER SETS AS WELL AS 

INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERS CAN BE REDEFINED AND SWITCHED 

BACK AND FDRTH. 

DEVICES: FULL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED FOR EASY USE OF 

PADDLES, JOYSTICKS, AND A LIGHT PEN. THE PADDLE 

PACKAGE WILL ALSO WORK WITH A KOALA PAD, AND THE 

JOYSTICK PACKAGE WORKS ADMIRABLY WELL WITH A 

TRACKBALL OR MOUSE. YOU CAN CONTROL FOUR SEPERATE 

LIGHT PEN SENSITIVITY SETTINGS, WHICH SHOULD ALLOW 

THE USE OF EVEN INEXPENSIVE LIGHT PENS TO THEIR BEST 

CAPABILITY.

continued 

Hie sound package...surpasses 

the capabilities of even some 

of tfte aeoicated music 

programs now on tne marKet. 

PRESS ft KEV 

SOUND: THERE IS A TOTALLY NEW VOCABULARY OF SOUND 

CONTROL COWHANDS. FULL CONTROL DF ALL THE SID CHIP'S 

REGISTERS IS PROVIDED FOR. TONES CAN BE PRODUCED AT 

A GIVEN FREQUENCY, OR BY NOTE NAME. INTERRUPT-DRIVEN 

MUSIC CAN BE PRODUCED WHICH WILL PLAY FULLY IN THE 

BACKGROUND OF ANY PROGRAM RUNNING. ANY SINGLE VOICE 

CAN BE STOPPED AND REPROGRAINED INDEPENDENT OF THE 

OTHER TWO. THE SOUND PACKAGE MAKES BETTER USE OF THE 

C64'S SOUND CAPABILITIES THAN ANY OTHER LANGUAGE I 

HAVE SEEN, AND SURPASSES THE CAPABILITIES OF EVEN 

SOME DF THE DEDICATED MUSIC PROGRAMS NOW ON THE 

MARKET. 

OTHER PACKAGES: I DOUBT MANY DF YOU WILL HAVE A USE 

FOR 'USE DANSK1, WHICH SWITCHES ERROR MESSAGES TO 

DANISH. HOWEVER, THERE IS THE CAPABILITY TO ADD 

OTHER PACKAGES AS EXTENSIONS TO CORAL. LATER 

VERSIONS OF THE CARTRIDGE WILL HAVE AN EMPTY EPROM 

SOCKET FOR THIS PURPOSE (AS WELL AS FOR DEDICATED 

APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE). ADDITIONAL PACKAGES MAY 

ALSO BE LOADED INTO THE RAM UNDER THE ROM SET. THIS 

CAPABILITY ASSURES THAT COTAL 2.01 WILL NOT BECOME 

OBSOLETE WITH TINE, AND THAT NEW PERIPHERALS CAN BE 

FULLY SUPPORTED IN THE FUTURE. (ALREADY AVAILABLE IN 

EUROPE IS A FULL 'ROBOT-TURTLE1 SUPPORT PACKAGE THAT 

WILL PASS TURTLE-GRAPHICS COMMANDS TO A ROBOT TURTLE 

PLUGGED INTO THE C64'S USER PORT!) 

IT IS VERY HARD TD REMAIN OBJECTIVE ABOUT COPIAL. IT 

HAS SOME MINOR FAULTS, BUT TO MENTION THEM SEEMS LIKE 

NIT-PICKING. CORAL 2.01 IS JUST SO VERY MUCH BETTER 

THAN EVERYTHING ELSE"THAT IT'S ALMOST RIDICULOUS TO 

PICK AT IT, BUT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EVEN-HANDED SO 

HERE GOES: (1) IT'S NOT AS COMPATABLE AS IT COULD 

HAVE BEEN WITH VERSION 0.14. THE PACKAGE CONCEPT 

NECESSITATED SOME SYNTAX CHANGES, BUT AS I MENTIONED 

ABOVE, THE EDITOR WILL EASILY CHANGE MOST OF THESE 

FOR YOU. (2) THERE ARE A COUPLE DF MINOR ERRORS IN 

THE MANUAL. (THERE ALWAYS ARE.) (3) THE CARTRIDGE 

ITSELF IS DIFFICULT TO SEAT PROPERLY, AT LEAST IN MY 

OLDER C64. IT COMES FROM FROM HANDIC IN DENMARK, AND 

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CALC RESULT 

CARTRIDGE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT THEM, 

BECAUSE I HAVE NO TROUBLE WITH ANY OTHER CARTRIDGES, 

BUT I HAVE TO SUPPORT HANDIC'S WITH A PENCIL 

UNDERNEATH TO MAKE THEM WORK. THE CARTRIDGE SLOT ON 

THE NEWER MACHINES MUST BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. 

NOW THAT IBPl HAS ANNOUNCED COPIAL FOR THE IBTT-PC, AND 

APPLE IS LOOKING INTO IT, WE 'COPIAL PIONEERS' ON THE 

COMMODORE 64 HAVE BEEN PROVEN RIGHT. I THINK C0P1AL 

WILL HAVE A LONG AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE IN THE 

LANGUAGE MARKETPLACE. YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO AT 

LEAST TRY THE FREE 0.14 VERSION. IF YOU LIKE IT, AND 

I THINK YOU WILL, MOVE UP TO COPIAL 2.01 ON CARTRIDGE. 

IT IS A POWERFUL, FUN, EASY-TO-USE LANGUAGE THAT YOU 

WON'T OUTGROW. 

COPIAL 2.01 CARTRIDGE $99.95 

CARTRIDGE WITH 2 BOOKS AND 2 DOT DISKS $128.90 

COPIAL 0.14 ON DISK FREE FROM MANY USERS GROUPS 

COPIAL 0.14 STARTER KIT WITH 3 DISKS & BOOK $29.95 

(PLUS $2.00 EACK ITEM SHIPPING) 

AVAILABLE FROPI: 

COPIAL USERS GROUP USA, LTD. 

5501 GROVELAND TERRACE 

MADISON, WI 53716-3251 

(608) 222-4432 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT COPIAL, DIAL UP THE NEW 

COPIAL BULLETIN BOARD (5YS0P: JEFFREY TURNEY): (608) 

233-7711 EVENINGS

INTRODUCTION TO 

ASSEMBLY 

LANGUAGE 

COMPUTERS DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, THEY SPEAK MACHINE 

CODE. AND (MOST) HUMANS DON'T SPEAK MACHINE CODE, 

BUT SOMETIMES WE FIND WE HAVE TO TALK TO COMPUTERS. 

WHEN THIS NEED ARISES WE USE AN INTERPRETER, JUST AS 

WE DO WHEN WE HAVE TD TALK TO ANOTHER HUMAN WHO 

DOESN'T SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE. THE HUMAN-TO-MACHINE 

INTERPRETER MOST OF US ARE USED TO IS BASIC. IT LETS 

US PUT DOWN OUR IDEAS IN A FORM OF "PIDGIN ENGLISH" 

THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND, AND TRANSLATES IT INTO 

MACHINE CODE THAT THE COMPUTER CAN EXECUTE. THE 

PROCESS IS NOT VERY EFFICIENT, BECAUSE ENGLISH IS A 

MUCH MORE GENERAL LANGUAGE THAN MACHINE CODE. EVEN A 

SIMPLE COMMAND LIKE "PRINT" MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO A 

LOT OF NUMBERS (THE MACHINE CODE) FOR THE COMPUTER TO 

RUN. THE BASIC INTERPRETER MUST ALSO EXAMINE THE 

"PRINT" STATEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PROGRAM TD 

SEE IF WE WANTED A STRING, A STRING VARIABLE, A 

NUMBER, A VARIABLE, A NUMERIC EXPRESSION, OR A BLANK 

LINE PRINTED, AND WHETHER WE WANTED IT PRINTED TO THE 

SCREEN, PRINTER, OISK DRIVE, CASSETTE, OR MODEM. 

THAT TAKES TIME. 

IT WOULD BE MUCH FASTER IF WE COULD SPEAK SOME 

DIALECT OF THE COMPUTER'S LANGUAGE, SOMETHING AS 

SPECIFIC AS MACHINE CODE BUT EASIER FOR A HUMAN TO 

UNDERSTAND. THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND ASSEMBLY 

LANGUAGE. EACH COMMAND IN ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE IS A 

MNEMONIC (LETTERS THAT ARE AN ABBREVIATION FOR 

SOMETHING ELSE) THAT CORRESPONDS DIRECTLY WITH A 

SINGLE MACHINE CODE INSTRUCTION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE 

ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE COMMAND "LDA" STANDS FOR "LOAD THE 

ACCUMULATOR". THE ASSEMBLER WILL TRANSLATE THIS INTO 

JUST ONE MACHINE CODE INSTRCTION, THE NUMBER THAT 

MEANS TO THE COMPUTER "LOAD THE ACCUMULATOR." AS YOU 

CAN SEE, ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING DOES REQUIRES 

THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE YOUR 

COMPUTER. YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT MEMORY ADDRESSING 

MODES, THE CPU REGISTERS, FLAGS, BINARY LOGIC. 

HEXADECIMAL NUMBERS, AND HOW INPUT AND OUTPUT ARE 

HANDLED. DON'T LET THIS DISCOURAGE YOU! COMPUTERS 

ARE REALLY VERY SIMPLE DEVICES, AND DO EXACTLY AS 

THEY ARE TOLD. ONE GOOD BOOK AND A LITTLE TIME ARE 

ALL YOU WILL NEED TO GET STARTED. REMEMBER, ONCE 

UPON A TIME EVEN BASIC LOOKED LIKE A FOREIGN LANGUAGE 

TO YOU! (IF YOU DON'T SPEAK BASIC OR SOME OTHER 

HIGH-LEVEL COMPUTER LANGUAGE YET, I STRONGLY 

RECOMMEND GAINING SOME FAMILIARITY WITH BASIC, COMAL, 

PASCAL, OR SOMETHING ELSE BEFORE TAKING ON ASSEMBLY 

LANGUAGE, JUST TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH PROGRAMMING 

STRUCTURE AND LOGIC. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT 

IN ANOTHER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE BEFORE TACKLING 

ASSEMBLY, BUT SOME FAMILIARITY DEFINITELY HELPS.) 

MUtK 

BROWN 

in this entry-level tutorial, 

you will not only lose your fear 

of assembly language, but you 

will actually customize BASIC 

with a short but useful routine. 

Remember, once upon a tine 

even BASIC looked like a 

foreign language to you! 

Computers are really very 

simple devices, and do 

exactly as they are told. 

Even a 

"PRINT1 1 must 

into a 

simple 

lot of 

the computer 

command like 

be translated 

numbers 

to run. 

.. for

One good book and a little 

tinte are all you will need 

to get started. 

BESIDES, YDU CAN GET STARTED IN ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE 

PROGRAMMING WITHOUT KNOWING ALL THERE IS TO KNOW 

ABOUT YOUR COMPUTER. ONE DF THE BEST WAYS TO BEGIN 

IS TO LINK INTO MACHINE CODE SUBROUTINES THAT ALREADY 

EXIST IN THE COMMODORE 64'S KERNAL AND BASIC ROMS. 

THIS WAY YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MACHINE CODE 

SOMEBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY WRITTEN WITHOUT HAVING TO 

UNDERSTAND ANYTHING BUT THE STEPS NEEDED TO CALL THE 

SUBROUTINE. 'THE COMMODORE 64 REFERENCE GUIDE1 LISTS 

DOZENS DF SUBROUTINES THAT YOU CAN USE, AND TELLS HOW 

TO ACCESS THEM. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE: 

ONE USEFUL AND POPULAR BASIC COMMAND LEFT OUT OF C64 

BASIC IS "PRINT AT". THIS LETS YOU PRINT AT ANY 

DESIRED LOCATION ON THE SCREEN, INSTEAD OF JUST WHERE 

YOU LEFT OFF LAST TIME. OF COURSE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO 

POSITION YOUR OUTPUT BY PRINTING A LOT OF CURSOR 

CONTROLS, BUT WOULDN'T IT BE NICE JUST TO BE ABLE TO 

TELL THE COMPUTER WHAT COLUMN AND ROW YOU WANTED TO 

PRINT AT? FORTUNATELY, THERE IS A MACHINE CODE 

ROUTINE IN KERNAL ROM THAT YOU CAN CALL FROM BASIC TO 

DO JUST THAT. PAGE 290 OF THE REFERENCE GUIDE TELLS 

US THIS ROUTINE IS CALLED "PLOT", AND CAN BE USED BY 

"SETTING THE CARRY BIT TO CLEAR, PUTTING THE COLUMN 

NUMBER IN THE Y REGISTER, AND THE ROW NUMBER IN THE X 

REGISTER, THEN CALLING THE ROUTINE". BUT HOW DO WE 

DO THAT FROM BASIC? WELL, THERE ARE FOUR MEMORY 

LOCATIONS IN THE COMMODORE 64 THAT MIMIC THE CPU'S 

FOUR INTERNAL REGISTERS. IF WE JUST POKE THE VALUES 

WE WANT INTO THOSE LOCATIONS AND THEN SYS TO THE 

ADDRESS OF THE MACHINE CODE ROUTINE, THE COMPUTER 

TAKES CARE OF THE REST FOR US. THE LOCATIONS ARE: 

780 ACCUMULATOR 

781 X REGISTER 

782 Y REGISTER 

783 STATUS REGISTER 

THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING "PLOT" SAY NOTHING ABOUT 

THE ACCUMULATOR, SD WE'LL LEAVE THAT ALONE. WE POKE 

OUR COLUNN NUMBER INTO 782, THE Y REGISTER VALUE, AND 

OUR ROW NUMBER INTO 781 FOR THE X REGISTER. WHAT 

ABOUT THE STATUS REGISTER? WELL, WE ARE TOLD WE MUST 

HAVE THE "CARRY BIT CLEAR". THE STATUS REGISTER IS A 

SET DF EIGHT FLAGS, EACH SIGNIFYING A DIFFERENT TRUE 

OR FALSE STATUS. BIT 0 MUST BE EQUAL TO ZERO TO 

SIGNIFY THE "CARRY CLEAR" (YOU DON'T NEED TO 

UNDERSTAND THIS IN ORDER TO USE IT) SO WE WILL POKE 

783,(PEEK(783)AND254). THIS JUST TURNS OFF THE CARRY 

BIT WITHOUT DISTURBING THE OTHERS. WE HAVE DONE ALL 

THE PRELIMINARY WORK, SO NOW WE CAN USE THE ROUTINE 

FROM BASIC BY USING THE "SYS" COMMAND TO THE 

ROUTINE'S DECIMAL ADDRESS AT 65520. NOW WHEN WE 

PRINT TO THE SCREEN, IT WILL BE AT THE ROW AND COLUMN 

WE SPECIFIED. THIS MAY HAVE SEEMED COMPLICATED WITH 

ALL THE EXPLANATION, SO HERE ARE THE STEPS AGAIN IN 

BASIC: 

POKE 782, COLUMN 

POKE 781, ROW 

POKE 783, (PEEK(783)AND254) 

SYS 65520 

PRINT "WHATEVER YOU WANT" 

■1TYII !■ 

THIS ALL WORKS VERY QUICKLY, AND GIVES YOU A 

CAPABILITY YOU NEVER HAD BEFORE FROM BASIC! STUDY 

THE DOCUMENTED KERNAL SUBROUTINES IN THE PROGRAMMER'S 

GUIDE AND YOU WILL FIND SEVERAL VERY USEFUL MACHINE 

LANGUAGE ROUTINES YOU CAN USE RIGHT AWAY FROM BASIC. 

BUT WHAT ABOUT WRITING YOUR OWN ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE 

PROGRAMS? WHAT WILL YOU NEED? THERE ARE THREE 

ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR THE ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMMER: 

(1) REFERENCE BOOKS. YOU WILL NEED 'THE COMMODORE 

64 PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE GUIDE' MENTIONED ABOVE, 

PLUS AT LEAST ONE GOOD BOOK DEVOTED TO PROGRAMMING 

THE 6502 MICROPROCESSOR. (THE COMMODORE 64 ACTUALLY 

USES THE 6510 PROCESSOR, BUT IT IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE 

SAME AS THE 6502; THE 'REFERENCE GUIDE' WILL TELL YOU 

ABOUT THE MINOR DIFFERENCES.) MOST BIG BOOKSTORES 

HAVE A GOOD SELECTION. BROWSE THROUGH AND PICK OUT 

ONE THAT SEEMS TO MAKE SOME SENSE TO YOU. A GOOD 

COMPREHENSIVE MEMORY MAP IS ALSO ESSENTIAL. THERE IS 

A PARTIAL ONE IN THE REFERENCE GUIDE, BUT THE BEST 

AND MOST DETAILED IS 'MAPPING THE COMMODORE 64* FROM 

COMPUTE! BOOKS. 

(2) A MACHINE CODE MONITOR PROGRAM. THIS LETS YOU 

DIRECTLY EXAMINE AND MODIFY THE COMPUTER'S MEMORY. 

YOU CAN DISASSEMBLE MACHINE CODE ROUTINES INTO 

ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE AND ASSEMBLE SHORT ROUTINES OF YOUR 

OWN DIRECTLY INTO MEMORY AND RUN THEM WITH SIMPLE 

COMMANDS. YOU CAN ALSO LOAD AND SAVE ROUTINES AND 

BLOCKS OF MEMORY DIRECTLY. SOME MONITORS ALSO HAVE 

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL FEATURES. MANY GOOD MONITORS ARE 

AVAILABLE FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCES FOR FREE OR FOR 

A SMALL COPYING FEE. TWO OF THE BEST ARE JIM 

BUTTERFIELD'S SUPERMON, AND BILL SEILER'S EXTRAMON, 

WHICH HAS A FEW ADDED FEATURES. THERE ARE ALSO SOME 

COMMERCIAL MONITOR PROGRAMS AVAILABLE (THOUGH THEY 

OFFER NO REAL ADVANTAGES OVER THE PUBLIC DOMAIN 

VERSIONS), AND SOME ASSEMBLER PACKAGES INCLUDE A 

MACHINE CODE MONITOR. 

(3) AN ASSEMBLER/EDITOR. THIS PACKAGE ALLOWS YOU TO 

EDIT COMPLEX ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMS USING 

SOPHISTICATED COMMANDS. THE BEST PACKAGES WILL 

INCLUDE AN EDITOR WITH WORD-PROCESSDR-LIKE COMMANDS 

(SUCH AS SEARCH-AND-REPLACE OR CUT-AND-PASTE). THE 

ASSEMBLER ITSELF MIGHT INCLUDE SUCH ESOTERICS AS 

CONDITIONAL ASSEMBLY AND MACRO DEFINITIONS. GET WHAT 

YOU CAN AFFORD. EVEN IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT 

SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE NOW, YOU MAY WANT THESE 

ADVANCED FEATURES LATER. (SEE THE REVIEW OF THREE 

POPULAR ASSEMBLERS ELSEWHERE IN THIS ISSUE.) 

DON'T BE AFRAID OF ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE. IT TAKES TIME 

TO LEARN, BUT THE REWARDS TO BE GAINED IN THE FORM OF 

FASTER PROGRAMS, MEMORY ECONOMY, AND INDEPENDENCE 

FROM HIGH-LEVEL LANGUAGE RESTRICTIONS ARE WELL WORTH 

THE EFFORT. 

In the next issue. Hark 

will be taking a look at 

seme of the none popular 

assemblers on the narket 

for the C-64.

WHITHER 

by: MARK BROWN 

CP/M is not a language, but 

an operating syste*. It 

allows the Z88 CPU to take 

over your Com*odore 64. 

CoMMOdore took so long getting 

CP/M to narket that the FTC 

filed suit against CoNMOdore 

for promising product it 

couldn't deliver. 

■ 

liT'S IRONIC, REALLY. ONE OF COMMODORE'S BIG SALES 

PITCHES WHEN FIRST PROMOTING THE COMMODORE 64 liIAS 

THAT YOU WOULD 'SOON' 8E ABLE TO ADD A CARTRIDGE 

CONTAINING A Z80 CPU CHIP THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO RUN 

CP/M SOFTWARE. THEY CLAIMED THIS WOULD GIVE YOU 

ACCESS TO 'THOUSANDS OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONflL 

PROGRAMS'. UNFORTUNATELY, COMMODORE TOOK FOREVER 

GETTING THE PROMISED CP/M CARTRIDGE TO MARKET; SO 

LONG THAT THE FTC FILED SUIT AGAINST COMMODORE FOR 

PROMISING PRODUCT IT COULDN'T DELIVER. BUT IN THE 

MEANTIME, COMMODORE DID START SHIPPING CP/M. THE 

SUIT ENDED RECENTLY, WITH COMMODORE ADMONISHED NEVER 

TO PROMOTE 'AIRWARE1 (I.E. NON-EXISTANT PRODUCT) 

AGAIN. ON THE HEELS OF THIS DECISION (THOUGH 

APPARENTLY NOT BECAUSE OF IT), COMMODORE QUIETLY QUIT 

DISTRIBUTING ITS CP/M CARTRIDGE. (SPECULATION IS 

THAT THE NEW 12BK, 40/BO COLUMN, CB4/CP/M COMPATIBLE 

COMMODORE COMPUTER DUE OUT IN THE SPRING WILL BE 

COMMODORE'S ONLY ENTRANT IN THE CP/M MARKET.) DATA 

20, A THIRD-PARTY COMPANY, QUIT MAKING IT'S 80-COLUMN 

CP/M CARTRIDGE FDR THE COMMODORE 64 AT ABOUT THE SAME 

TIME. AND IT'S TOO BAD. 

THERE HAVE BEEN THREE ARGUMENTS AGAINST CP/M ON THE 

COMMODORE 64 FROM THE START. THE FIRST WAS THAT CP/M 

SOFTWARE IS GENERALLY AVAILABLE ONLY ON IBM FORMATTED 

8" DISKS. THIS MEANT THAT THE EXTENSIVE CP/M LIBRARY 

UOULD HAVE TO BE TRANSFERRED SOMEHOW TO 1541 DISK 

FORMAT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR USE. NOT REALLY MUCH OF 

AN OBJECTION, THOUGH MUCH WAS MADE OF IT EARLY ON. 

THE SAME COULD BE SAID FOR APPLE CP/M AND OTHER MICRO 

VERSIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR COLECO ADAM CP/M, WHICH USES 

TAPE INSTEAD OF DISKETTES! THE SECOND OBJECTION WAS 

THE C64'S 40-COLUMN SCREEN WIDTH. MOST CP/M SOFTWARE 

WAS WRITTEN TO RUN ON 80-COLUMN BUSINESS MACHINES, 

AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REWORKED TO FIT ONTO 40 COLUMNS. 

AGAIN, THE SAME IS TRUE DF APPLE CP/M AND THE REST. 

THE THIRD AND ONLY REAL OBJECTION TO C64 CP/M WAS ITS 

SLOW DISK DRIVE ACCESS TIMES. CP/M IS VERY DISK 

INTENSIVE, AND C64 CP/M DOES SUFFER FROM THE DISK 

WAITS. BUT IT'S NOT FATAL, ONLY A NUISANCE. WITH 

ALL THIS CRITICISM LEVELLED AT IT FROM THE START, AND 

THE LONG LAG TIME BETWEEN ITS ANNOUNCEMENT AND 

DELIVERY, IT IS REALLY NO WONDER THAT C64 CP/M NEVER 

REALLY CAUGHT ON. I WAS APPREHENSIVE MYSELF, BUT I 

WAS WRONG. 

MY CP/M CARTRIDGE COST ME ABOUT $70 AT THE LOCAL 

K-MART. APPLE CP/M COSTS ABOUT $250. BOTH HAVE THE 

SAME CAPABILITIES, SO ONCE AGAIN THE COMMODORE 64 

PROVES THAT APPLES {AND IBMS, AND OTHERS) ARE NO 

BARGAIN. THE CARTRIDGE IS STURDY AND OVERSIZED, AND 

THE CP/M OPERATING SYSTEM DISK IS IMMENENTLY 

COPYABLE. THE MANUAL IS WELL-DONE AND CLEAR, THOUGH 

IF YOU'RE A CP/M NOVICE YOU'LL NEED A GOOD TUTORIAL 

BOOK TO HELP YOU GET STARTED. 

A WORD NEEDS TO BE SAID HERE ABOUT WHAT CP/Pl REALLY 

IS: IT'S NOT A LANGUAGE, BUT AN OPERATING SYSTEM. 

THAT IS TO SAY, IT ALLOWS THE ZBD CPU IN THE ADD-ON 

CARTRIDGE TO TAKE OVER YOUR COMMODORE 64. ANY 

PROGRAMS YOU WANT TO RUN AFTER THAT HAVE TO BE 

WRITTEN IN Z80 MACHINE CODE, OR RUN IN A HIGH-LEVEL 

LANGUAGE LOADED INTO MEMORY THAT WAS ITSELF WRITTEN 

IN Z80 MACHINE CODE. ALL CP/M PROVIDES IS AN 

ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS BASIC INPUT AND OUTPUT 

(BIOS) AND A BASIC DISK OPERATING SYSTEM (BDOS). THE 

ZBO MACHINE CODE LINKS INTO THESE STANDARD SUPPORT 

SYSTEMS, AND THIS IS WHY CP/M PROGRAMS ARE SO 

TRANSPORTABLE FROM SYSTEM TO SYSTEM.

cont'd 

If you have an interest in 'C 

FORTRAN, COBOL, LISP, etc., 

CP/M is currently the only 

way to use then on your C-G4. 

Hundreds of public dowain 

CP/M prograHS are available 

for download froH bulletin 

board systems all across 

the country. 

Hark Brown will be covering 

the CP/M situation as it 

develops, especially as it 

affects the C-128. 

Next issue, he will let you 

know nore about what will 

run on the C-128, what's 

worth running, whether it's 

still being Made, how wuch 

it costs, and where to get it 

We will also begin reviewing 

the best of the CP/M software 

(and there is a ton of it to 

review!) on a regular basis. 

- the editor 

THERE ARE VERY FEW CP/M PROGRAMS AVAILBLE THAT HA\/E 

BEEN DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FDR THE COMMODORE 64, BUT 

THERE ARE SOME TRANSLATIONS. ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS 

APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS BORLAND 

INTERNATIONAL'S TURBO PASCAL. (UNFORTUNATELY, THE 

COPY I RECEIVED HAD A BUG IN THE EDITOR, SO I WON'T 

BE ABLE TO REVIEW IT HERE YET. SUFFICE IT TO SAY 

THAT IT IS HIGHLY REGARDED ON THE APPLE II AND IBM 

PC.) CARDINAL SOFTWARE IS PROBABLY THE MOST ACTIVE 

THIRD-PARTY SUPPORTER OF THE 250,000 COMMODORE CP/M 

USERS. THEY OFFER AN EXCELLENT CP/M TERMINAL 

UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD PROGRAM, A NICE DISKFUL OF CP/N 

UTILITIES, AND A SMALL LIBRARY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN 

PROGRAMS. THIS PUBLIC DOMAIN LIBRARY, WHICH IS MADE 

AVAILABLE WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION AT $10 PER DISK, 

INCLUDES A COBOL COMPILER, A WORD PROCESSOR, A Z80 

ASSEMBLER {A STEP UP FROM THE STANDARD 8080 ASSEMBLER 

INCLUDED WITH CP/M ITSELF), FIG-FORTH, AND 

SMALL'C'2. HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC DOMAIN CP/M PROGRAMS 

ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM BULLETIN BOARD 

SYSTEMS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUSINESS PR0GRAP1S, 

APPLICATIONS, LANGUAGES, AND GAMES ARE ALL OUT THERE, 

AND MANY WILL RUN WITHOUT MODIFICATION ON THE 

COMMODORE 64. 

SO WHY WORRY ABOUT ALL THIS NOW? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR 

LAST CHANCE I EVEN THOUGH DISCONTINUED, MANY 

MAIL-ORDER HDUSES, DISTRIBUTERS, AND LOCAL STORES 

STILL HAVE THE CP/M CARTRIDGE IN STOCK. (MY LOCAL 

K-MART STILL HAS TWO LEFT. LOOK AROUND.) IF YOU 

HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE 'C' PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, 

FORTRAN, COBOL, LISP, ETC., THEN CP/M IS CURRENTLY 

THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO USE THEM ON THE COMMODORE 64. 

AND, AS AN ADDED BONUS, MOST OF THESE LANGUAGES ARE 

AVAILABLE FREE OR FOR A VERY MINIMAL CHARGE. THERE 

ARE ALSO THE BUSINESS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE, AND THE 

CHANCE TO EXPERIMENT WITH A Z80 CPU WITHOUT BUYING A 

WHOLE NEW COMPUTER. ANY ONE OF THESE MIGHT BE A GOOD 

REASON FDR YOU TO WANT CP/M NOW, WHILE IT'S STILL 

AVAILABLE. 

C64 CP/H CARTRIDGE APPROXIMATELY $70 

AVAILABLE ONLY WHERE YOU CAN STILL FIND IT! 

TURBO PASCAL $49.95 FROM: 

BORLAND INTERNATIONAL 

4113 SCOTTS VALLEY DR. 

SCOTTS VALLEY, CA 95066 

CP/PI TERn $49.95 

CP/M UTILITIES $24.95 

PUBLIC DOMAIN CP/M DISK $10/ EACH 

AVAILABLE FROM: 

CARDINAL SOFTWARE 

DIST. BY VIRGINIA MICRO SYSTEMS 

13646 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY 

WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191 

CP/fl BULLETIN BOARDS: 

213 

214 

312 

201 

799-1632 SOUTH 

913-8274 WEST 

325-4392 NORTH 

584-9227 EAST 

NO GUARANTEES ARE MADE THAT THESE ARE STILL UP AND 

RUNNING OR THAT THEY WILL HAVE C64 COMPATIBLE 

SOFTWARE AVAILABLE. THESE THINGS ARE HARD TO KEEP UP 

WITH! ALSO REMEMBER COMPUSERVE. IT'S PROBABLY THE 

BEST PLACE TO GO TO FOR GENERAL INFORMATION. 

MM 3 l;

iiililliii^ 

■ ■■■.■ ■ ■... .j 

Commodore 64 owners rejoice! Broderbund has finally 

released your version of their fantastic Print Shop. 

No longer will you have to drool over the cards, 

banners, and signs your Apple owning acquaintances 

make with it. 

Unlike most programs converted from the Apple II to 

the Commodore 64, The Print Shop didn't suffer 

(significantly) in the process. Except for a minor 

point here or there, the Commodore version is an 

exact duplicate of the earlier Apple release. 

Besides the disk itself, Broderbund has put a lot of 

goodies in The Print Shop package. Colored, 

micro-perf edged tractor feed stationery and matching 

envelopes come as standard equipment, there's an 

order form for refill stationery and ribbons (black 

or colored), a handy dandy reference card, a sample 

greeting card, and the Reference Manual. 

The paper/envelope combination gets you off to a good 

start right out of the gate. This attention to detail 

and strong desire to meet your needs continues from 

this here on. Aside from the hardware (naturally), 

TPS supplies everything you'11 need to become a 

Junior Gutenberg in one afternoon. 

The Pixellite Computer Products Order Form provides 

users with a reliable, mail/phone order source for 

colored paper, ribbons and envelopes as well as a 

free one year subscription to The Print Shop Users' 

Newsletter. (This, by the way, is a good place to 

have your creations and/or PS hints and tips 

published for all interested parties to see). 

The sample greeting card is included to illustrate 

the proper method of folding a standard letter size 

page after it's been printed. This real life example 

says it better than words ever could. 

Reference cards usually depict the command key setup 

and a few particulars about program operation. In 

that regard this one is no exception, for it 

highlights CTRL key features, text entry commands, 

and the program loading instructions. 

There is however, something more to this card. It 

pictures each of the eight available fonts as well as 

the predefined graphics and patterns resident on the 

program disk. (This is invaluable as the graphics, 

unlike those of its Apple counterpart, do not appear 

on-screen during the selection/layout process). 

Get ready for a real shock, The Print Shop has a 

manual the likes of which have rarely been seen in 

Commodoreland. Hats off to the team that prepared 

this one! They are to be applauded for their 

organizational skills, attention to detail (there it 

is again), presentation, execution, and lavish use of 

graphic examples and illustrations. 

ffiHTSHIN 

y li » m f ii # i 

REVIEWED BY: TED SALAMONE 

Also, the manual speaks to, but never dawn at you. 

Likewise it's clear, concise and most fluid. The 

importance of such a clean flow of information cannot 

be overemphasized. This manual has got to be one of 

the top five written for any art/graphics package on 

the market today! 

The excellence of the manual is almost a shame 

however, for the menu driven Print Shop is a snap to 

learn using the reference card alone. Going out on a 

limb somewhat, it's even passible (thanks to a well 

conceived help screen) to access 90 per cent of the 

program's functions and powers without any sort of 

written instructions whatsoever. It's that well done; 

that user friendly, that idiot proof! 

The list of achievements goes an. Printers supported 

include the Commodore 1525, MPS-801, (the graphic B02 

works as well since it emulates the 1525), the Epson 

RX, MX, and FX machines, the Star 1D and 15X, and the 

C-Itoh 8510. Other units included are the Blue Chip, 

Dkidata 92/93, the Mannesmann Tally Spirit 80, the 

NEC 8D23A and the Panasonic P-1D90/1091 printers. 

That's quite a laundry list if you ask me. 

Naturally some of the aforementioned printers require 

suitable interfaces when linked to the 64. fls far as 

that less than straightforward matter is concerned, 

TPS works with the following interfaces: Xetec, 

Cardco, Grappler CD, Tymac Connection, TurboPrint/GT 

and the Micro UIorld-350. Just like a Who's Who in the 

interface world! 

All the routines are accessed from the Main Menu via 

seven options. On initial boot SETUP is preselected 

for printer type designation. Be forewarned, there 

are no provisions for custom printer/interface 

connections. Only the specified combinations can be 

used successfully. 

Whether working on a greeting card, sign, letterhead, 

or banner, the SO predefined symbols and background 

patterns can be reproduced at will. The symbols 

(graphics) can be printed in small, medium, or large 

sizes in a staggered, tiled (side by side), or 

customized layout. 

Border options range from types of lines (thin, 

thick, and double) to beads, hearts, flowers, stars, 

and a lattice or wicker effect. The number of 

permutations is simply mind boggling!

CONTINUED... 

You can choose from script, hi-tech, casual, block, 

typewriter-like, stencil-like or news oriented 

typeface. The styles provide plenty of diversity. 

Messages can be large or small, edited, centered 

(left to right or top to bottom), or right or left 

justified. The text can be output in solid, outline, 

or three dimensional perspectives. Such output can be 

varied from line to line, making for a real 

professional look. 

The Screen Magic Plain Menu option provides two 

kaleidoscopes which can be frozen in motion and 

merged with text (any font) before being output to a 

printer. The only disappointing thing about this 

segment of TPS is that the kaleidescopes unfold their 

magic in black, white, and various shades of grey. At 

first I though my 1702 was on the fritzI 

Still, the output is impressive when the right text 

layout's been superimposed on a pattern suspended at 

precisely the right moment. 

There's still more. Thanks to the Graphics Editor 

feature of The Print Shop you can use a joystick, 

Koalapad, or the keyboard to edit pre-existing shapes 

or create totally new ones. These "newborns" can then 

be saved to data disks for later retrieval, 

alteration, and hard copy output. Let your creative 

juices flow! 

In the midst of all this euphoria there are four 

items to consider. To begin with this is the first 

application I've encountered where Suncom's Animation 

Station doesn't work when the Koalapad does. 

Secondly, there's a small matter of color. Besides 

using colored ribbons (and multiple runs past the 

printhead), colored paper, or coloring the output by 

hand, there's no way to produce multicolor hard 

copies. Output speed is another matter you should be 

auare of. Last, but not least, it's impossible to 

retrieve files made by other programs like Graphics 

Magician, Doodle, or Paint Magic. 

These concerns will affect everyone differently. 

Koalapad owners won't give a hoot (except when they 

try to include pictures created with the pad); Suncom 

owners will have to live with joystick or keyboard 

control. 

While it would be great to have single pass 

multicolor capabilities, The Print Shop offers too 

much else to dismiss it for lacking such capability. 

Graphic outputs have been known to tie up printers 

for some time; TPS being no exception. Average cards 

take about five minutes to produce, 7 foot banners 

run about thirty minutes (on a C-Itoh). 

As far as the incompatability issue goes, we'll have 

to live with it for the time being. Thankfully most 

64 owners don't have the need to interface the output 

from various art and design programs. I'd bet most 

don't own The Print Shop and/or one of the others 

anywayI 

n a 11- 

On a Print Shop wish list these items would certainly 

be top priorities. Some may even be impossible to 

"fix". If you haven't guessed by now, the only 

rational reason for pursuing this tack any further 

would be to make a great program even better. 

Make no mistake about it, despite limitations (some 

hardware based) Broderbund's The Print Shop is a must 

have program for every Commodore 64 owner with a 

suitable printer. 

Aside from the fun of producing banners, signs, etc., 

one must also consider the profit motive. Just think 

of all the SALE signs splashed across storefront 

windows, the small clubs that need agendas and 

newsletters printed, or the companies that distribute 

promotional coupons and advertising flyers on a local 

level. Young entrepreneurs, you know what to dol 

MUVAM 

FO-64 MAGAZIN 

W70-64 

E 

INFO-64 MAGAZINE 

INFB-64 MfiEffilNEI 

INFO-64 MAGAZmEi

^523333333? 

Somewhere in your home is a fantastic money making machine. It may 

be in your living room in a place of honor, or, it may be in your 

den or office. Maybe, heaven forbid, it's on a shelf in the 

closet, alone and forgotten. What is this money machine? It's the 

Commodore 64, and it can change your life by helping you to make 

"home made money". The Hay 3rd 1982 issue of Business Week 

magazine guotes economist Elisabeth Allison of Data Resources Inc. 

as saying, "There are now 15 million information-manipulation 

jobs—such as computer programing, financial analysis, and 

writing-that could be done at home." The problem is that not 

enough people own a computer to fill all of these jobs. But you 

and I do. 5o lets put them to work. Ready? 

First, what type of person can operate a Home Made Money Machine? 

Anyone who can figure out how to turn it on and off can usually 

learn the basics of making money with his or her computer. Do I 

need to know how to program? Wo!!!! But it would help in the 

number of business choices that you have. What kinds of 

businesses can be operated at home using a computer? We don't 

have enough room here to list more than just a few, but hang on to 

your hat because the list will surprise you. 

LIST OF BUSIfCSS IDEAS 

Apartment Finders 

Babysitting Referral 

Bartering Service 

Billing and Invoicing 

Bookkeeping Services 

Business Newsletters 

Church Newsletters 

Club Newsletters 

Computer Instuction 

Computer Newsletters 

Computer Repair 

Custom Programing 

Direct Mail Service 

Electronic Garage Sales 

Fund-raising 

Gift-Buying Referral Service 

Hunting / Fishing Info Exchange 

Inventory Records 

Job Placement Service 

Lost Pet Service 

Mailing Lists 

HOW DC I GET STARTED? 

Menu Planning 

Message Centers 

Money Management 

Novelties and Gift Service 

Nutrition Counseling 

Party Planning 

Retailing Service 

Resume Service 

Retirement Counseling 

Secretarial Services 

Shoppers' Guides 

Software Finder Service 

Software Reviews 

Sports Statistics 

Tax Records 

Travel Planning 

Tutoring 

Word Processing 

Writing Books 

Writing Business Letters 

First, decide if you really want to go into business and if you're 

the type to own your own business. Here's a list of things you 

need to consider: 

BE SURE OF WHAT WHAT YOU WANT 

(1) Talk your business idea over with everyone that it will 

affect. This includes not only your family, but also your 

neighbors. You don't want to hear abjections after it's too late. 

(2) Decide why you want to go into business. Is it for extra 

income, for full-time income, or something to do with your time? 

(3) Can you devote enough time to your business to make it 

succeed? 

(4) Do you want a business with a lot of contact or very little 

contact with the public? 

(5) How much can you afford to invest in the business? How much 

can you afford to lose? Not every business is a success. I do not 

recommend you invest if you can't afford to take the chance, 

(6) Do you already have the equipment you need to go into 

business? 

(7). Do you need special training before you start? If so is it 

available locally? 

(8) Whose business is it? Are you starting a sole proprietorship, 

a partnership, or a corporation? Ok, who's to work the business? 

Just you, you and a friend or another member of your family? Can 

you uork together and get along? What happens to the business if 

you can't get along? 

LL1I3-

& ft 

(Significant advances in printer 

technology will be needed before 

counterfeiting will be a 

practical hone noney-naking 

alternative... - the editor) 

(9) How much money does your business need to make? If you need to 

make $1,500 a month profit, do not pick a business that can only 

provide $1,500 a month profit or when costs go up the business 

will not support you. 

(10) Do you have local consultants or organization such as the 

Chamber of Commerce or SCORE to guide you in areas your unsure of? 

Are you willing to go to them for help? 

After you have decided that you do want to go into business for 

yourself, then you need to write out a business plan. This can 

mean the difference between success and failure. Use the following 

guide to help in writing your business plan. 

PLANNING FDR SUCCESS 

(1) Business Definition: Describe the type of business that you 

want. Will it provide a service or a product? Include why you feel 

it will succeed. 

(2) Evalute the Market: Are you trying to reach computer owners, 

small businesses, home owners, renters, farmers? Is the market big 

enough? It's hard to reach farmers from the middle of Chicago. 

(3) Competition: Is there a cheaper way for customers to get the 

same service or product? 

(4) Advertising: Will you advertise on radio, TV, newspapers, or 

will you have to rely on word-of-mouth advertising? 

(5) Pricing: If your business is a service, are you going to 

charge by the job or by the hour. If you're selling products, houi 

much will it cost to produce the product? Can you have a constant 

supply of materials? Pricing is one of the most difficult areas 

for any business. You will have to figure the break-even point and 

a fair profit, but not over-charge the customers. You may need to 

consult an expert when it comes to pricing. 

(6) Billing: This is also a difficult area. In some cases billing 

a customer can mean more business. It can also create problems 

when you try to collect. I have a very simple rule of thumb. Do 

not bill for what you can not afford to lose. 

(7) Zoning: Will your business need to comply with local codes? 

Will you need a license or special insurance? 

(8) Bookkeeping: Do you intend to take care of your own 

bookkeeping 

books? 

or will you need to go to an expert to set up your 

(9) Location: Will your customers come to you or will you need to 

go to your customers? 

(10) Growth: Can your present community sustain any desires you 

may have for future growth? 

Ndw set the date you plan on opening your business. Is that all 

there is to starting a business at home? No!! It takes hard 

work, but if you "plan your work and then work your plan" you have 

a very good chance of being successful. The rewards are worth it. 

For example you can enjoy the extra income your own business can 

bring in. The entire family can become involved which gives them 

time together. And my favorite benefits are no time clock to punch 

and NO boss to listen to. 

Can a home business really succeed? Yes! Hugh Hefner started 

Playboy magazine on his kitchen table, mother Earth News magazine 

started as a home business. Even the Apple computer was started in 

Steve Jobs' garage by him and his partner Stephen Wozniak. Yes, 

home businesses can succeed. But it takes work.... So get 

started! 

Don Vandeventer is a home business consultant & regular 

contributor to INFO-64. He is the author of RAKING THE BEST 

CHOICE, A GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT HOPE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 

and THE SHALL BUSINESS GUIDE TO THE COPnDDORE 64. Both books are 

available from Work At Home Press, Dept. I, P.O. Box 5520, Ocala, 

FL 32678.

MIllllt-INKVltllffS 

TRAIN DISPATCHER 

SIGX-U SOFTWARE CONSULTANTS 

rTSBURG, PA 1523 

[4123 655-7727 

No flashy graphics, just an accurate simulation of a 

day in the life of a train dispatcher. You contend 

with train creu schedules, track maintainence, and 

transmit train orders to try and keep the trains 

rolling over 15D miles of track without a hitch for 

your full a hour shift. Five levels of play, from 

the simple "Visitor" to the more realistic 

"Trainmaster". Includes a handy keyboard overlay, 

and the manual is nicely organized, with a glossary 

and tables and diagrams to help you interpret what 

you see on the screen. The screen displays are 

simple, displaying track zones and creu schedules. 

The two-step process involved in first setting and 

then transmitting an order may confuse you at first, 

but that's the way it's done in real life, folks. My 

dad, just retired as a trainmaster after 40 years 

with the railroad, says Train Dispatcher is just 

about as aggreuating as the real thing. If it had 

derailments, strikes, and crewmembers not showing up 

for work, it would be 10056 accurate. A good 

excursion into an application that computers mere 

really meant for, simulation. 

TELENGARD 

4517 HftRFUKP ROI 

BALTIMORE, ff> 2i; 

E3813 254-9266 

A classic graphic underground adventure featuring a 

reputed 50,000 rooms to explore! A full complement 

of monsters, characters, weapons, and spells inhabits 

the world of Telengard. You begin on the first level 

underground as a novice hero with one spell available 

to you. By defeating monsters and gathering treasure 

(and judiciously retreating to the inns on the 

surface to heal and bank your loot occasionally) you 

increase in prowess and stature, able to challenge 

more terrible adversaries on deeper levels. The game 

lets you save a good character to disk to take up the 

adventure again another night; it's a good idea to do 

this occasionally, anyway, in case you get killed 

off: you can start over where you were before 

instead of starting completely over. Unambitious 

static sprite graphics and subtle sound effects add 

some spice to the scrolling map display (draw it out 

on paper or you'll get hopelessly lost!). Unexpected 

'boxes with buttons and other weird items also spice 

up the game play. Not as imposing, varied, or 

impressive as more recent adventures (such as the 

Ultima series), but an inexpensive and colorful 

introduction to adventure gaming. A good manual with 

a command key reference; an untimed learning demo 

made; and only veiled hints about the spells and 

challenges awaiting you on deeper levels 

TIME 81-2359 RATIMG 8 

IIM2- 1

IftliHlt-RtlSVItlSKS coiit'CL 

ADVENTURE 

CREATOR 

SPINNAKER SOFTWARE C3RP^RATI3X 

J15 FIRST STREE 

CAHBRID6E, MA 82142 

Adventure Creator is a marvelous graphics adventure 

creation program. It creates a dungeon for children 

to explore, and populates it with strange creatures 

and wonderful treasures, or lets them create their 

own adventures to try out on each other. The quests 

are challenging and non-violent (no raging battles, 

and many of the creatures are downright friendly). 

Fun for younger kids who just want to roam around 

using the joystick to see what happens, and for older 

kids who want to create complex mazes and use the 

full complement of tricks, traps, creatures, and 

spells available. Another solid winner from 

Spinnaker. 

MR. TESTER 

POWER 64 

PRC-LINE SOFTWARE 

755 THE QUEENSHAY EAST, UHL _ 

MISSISSAUGA. Of CANADA L4V 4C 

t4!61 273-6358 

1342B ROU 

BUTLER, MJ 67465 

1281] 638-9B27 

This is a program to test out certain basic aspects 

of your computer and common peripherals: cassette 

drive, printer, disk drive, joystick, or monitor. It 

will tell you if a joystick's contacts all work, or 

if a keyboard key is sticking, or if your printer 

interface really is emulating a Commodore printer 

100$, or if your disk speed is close to what it 

should be, among other things. It will not tell you 

if some weird serial bus problem is hanging up your 

system, or if your modem works, or if your power 

supply is producing some strange intermittent spikes, 

or if your sprites are colliding with 'sparkle1. The 

manual is so thin it's almost nonexistant, but the 

program is menu-driven and pretty well 

self-explanatory. If a problem is discovered, it 

will give you no clues on how to go about correcting 

it. Mr. Tester is no replacement for a good 

technician, and is not the complete and comprehensive 

computer diagnostic test program it claims to be, but 

it may provide some peace of mind in certain 

situations. 

A BASIC programmer's dream utility package. In 4k to 

8k of memory, depending on how much Power you want, 

Power 64 adds auto line number and renumber, search 

and replace, bidirectinally scrolling listings, undo 

(unnew), keyboard redefinition, disk commands, 

listing of disk files, memory partitioning, trace, 

dump, delete, exec disk file, fix memory pointers, 

and advanced error reporting, among others. (Whew!) 

The only complaint I've ever heard on it is that the 

renumber utility doesn't properly tag invalid GOTOs 

and GQSUBs. (It renumbers valid ones fine, though.) 

The manual is thorough, if a bit hard to get around 

in. It includes important info on how Power works, 

how to call Power routines from machine code, and how 

to extend the power command set. A classic and 

essential programming tool for the serious BASIC (or 

Pal assembler) programmer. 

MR TESTER MAIN MENU OPTIONS: 

COLOR MONITOR TEST. 

Twist in place. Jog! Lift that knee. Bounce, 

bounce, bounce! Stretch that waist! Let's go, don't 

slow down. Once more to your left, and stop. 

Spinnaker's Aerobics for the Commodore 64 will 

have you doing that and much more as it is a 

comprehensive, well organized fitness program. It's 

hard 

disk. 

to believe so much is packed onto one floppy 

Interactive Picture Systems, the firm responsible 

for designing Aerobics, has done quite a remarkable 

job in producing a self improvement package that 

actually stretches the boundaries of software's 

usefulness. It goes far beyond the ken of most 

educational or recreational titles available in 

today's crowded, me-too marketplace. 

One of the key's to its tremendous acceptance and 

subsequent success is innovation. After that, the 

professional, top flight execution becomes a 

sustaining factor. 

Aerobics provides a three level, complete workout 

( 35 minute Beginner, 60 minute Intermediate, and 80 

minute Advanced) as well as fifteen, "a la carte" 

routines which concentrate on certain areas of the 

body. Because of this tremendous flexibility the 

program can be used by anyone, regardless of their 

current physical condition. 

A well illustrated (numerous line drawings 

interspersed with black and white photos depicting 

actual screen shots) manual provides reinforcement at 

the outset by stating the goals, objectives, and 

benefits of such a regimen. 

Next a pre-start checklist makes sure that 

everyone is properly prepared. Setting aside a block 

of (hopefully) non-interrupted time at least three 

times a week is recommended; while the importance of 

doing the exercises correctly (to ensure maximum 

advantage) is stressed. 

Proper breathing is discussed (this aspect is 

more important than can be imagined!), the correct 

articles of clothing are described, and the need to 

exercise in a spacious area is covered. 

Even the right posture for startup, the 

importance of going at your own pace, and the 

benefits of integrating exercise into other daily 

routines are mentioned. Like I said before, 

comprehensive. 

Besides the warm up, full scale aerobics, and 

cool down sequences, sections of the body are covered 

in specialized segments running anywhere from twenty 

five to sixty minutes, with the average being in the 

thirty to forty five minute range. The arms, waist, 

legs, hips, stomach, and buttocks receive this 

detailed attention. It's all here! 

Working up from the easy level, new exercises are 

introduced in the Intermediate setting. Even further 

along, the Advanced level has more specialized 

routines with increased numbers of repetitions. No 

one said it was going to be easy at the top. 

Each exercise is performed by a video companion 

while written instructions appear along the lower 

edge of the screen. Other on-screen information 

displays the routine being done, the section it's 

from, the number of the exercise itself, and a count 

of the repetitions remaining. Because of this, 

fitness fans can ascertain where they are 

instantaneously. 

n 

The video body buff is comprised of two sprites 

(upper and lower halves "joined" together at the 

waist). Besides producing a very limber figure, this 

setup also makes for some strange contortionist-like 

maneuvers never destined for duplication by a normal 

human being. 

The unusual moves and on-screen petiteness of the 

instructor take some getting used to, though watching 

the routines before working out with them eliminates 

most problems associated with fallowing her lead. 

Assisting this look and learn phase is a 

joystick, plugged into port §2, which allows 

aerobicisers to scan the extensive routines quickly. 

During actual sessions pressing the firebutton 

permits skipping of unwanted sections. This makes it 

possible to take special care of trouble spots by 

designing a customized routine. 

No doubt one of the best aspects of a regular 

aerobics class is the upbeat music that leads, 

encourages, and just plain enables most people to 

enjoy a workout they would otherwise avoid entirely. 

Likewise, one of the most impressive features of 

Spinnaker's Aerobics is the quality, variety, and 

originality of its musical score. 

Good portions of the 64's extensive octave range, 

its three voice channels, and it's incredible harmony 

potential are utilized. Wait till you check out the 

snappy percussion pieces! 

Despite the tremendous selection of routines 

(including warmup and cooldown), the exceptional 

graphics, and the superb audio effects, there is a 

problem which can't be overcome through familiarity. 

This bugaboo, as it were, is the lengthy disk 

access time between routines. For an aerobics regimen 

to be most rewarding, the body must practically be in 

constant motion. Too long a wait between exercises 

(as here) only negates the positive aspects of a 

thorough workout. 

However, even the time problem can be overcome by 

extending the current routine (or substituting 

another) until the new section is loaded and 

underway. Just a little ingenuity is all it takes! 

Also because of this inherent delay , the times 

listed for each level are are somewhat inaccurate. 

Adding ten or fifteen minutes to each brings the 

times much closer to reality. Plan accordingly. 

Aerobics ($44.95 list, 

$36.00) is distributed by 

Corporation, 215 First 

Massachusetts 02142. 

discounted to about 

the Spinnaker Software 

Street, Cambridge, 

All right you slouches, keep your stomach tight, 

buttocks tucked, and feet parallel about hip-width 

apart. Then do twenty jumping jacks. Next, stretch it 

out. Can you feel the burn? 

AEROBICS fro»: 

Spinnaker Software Corp 

215 First Street 

CaHbridge, HA 82142 

■ 

54 I

HOME SECURITY AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS 

VIController. Wireless home control using BSR or Leviton receiver 

modules. Software included. $69.95 

COMclock/AB Autoloads and runs program at power-up. Battery 

backed up clock. (C-64 only) $69.95 

COMsense. Provides 4 open/close and 2 analog inputs. Great tor 

security $69.95 

SUPER SCHEDULE PLUS Control sottware utilizing above three pro 

ducts. (C-64 only) $19.95 

I 

SPECIAL 

PACKAGE 

PRICE 

$199. 95 

COMVOICE! THE EASY TO USE SPEECH SYNTHESIZER FOR THE C-64 

SPEECH IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3! 

I) Plug COMvoice in. SQQ 95 

2) Turn computer on. 99 ■ 

3) Type SPEAK "HELLO, HOW ARE YOU" 

AS EASY TO USE AS A PRINT STATEMENT! W/EXTERNAL SPEAKER $139.95 

EDUCATIONAL DEMO & AARDVARK ADVENTURE SOFTWARE AVAILABLE 

GENESIS COMPUTER CORPORATION • P.O. BOX 152 • HELLERTOWN, PA 18055 

DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED • (215) 861-0850 • MC & VISA Accepted 

LJFEPLAN is a financial planning tool designed for 

people without computer experience or accounting 

degrees. Middle-income families or singles will improve 

their financial outlook with help from LIFEP1AN. 

[j First, UFEPI,AN shows you what your complete 

financial picture is today. Then, it works with you to 

produce positive results: 

$ reduce or eliminate debt 

$ establish or increase savings 

$ manage expenses 

$ plan for the future 

Lj Over time, l.llTTLAN evaluates your progress and 

helps you stick to your financial plan. 

Lj UFEPLAN1*1 is easy to use. We Hx>k -i years to research 

and test the system, and. . . it works. We are so confi 

dent that LJFEPLAN will help you that we offer a 

100% money-back guarantee. 

Q 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: 

You may return the undamaged product for any reason, 

within 30 days, for a full refund including shipping, less 

rebate. 

Note: One disk drive required fur program use. 

a system to help insure your financial 

survival in the '80s. 

Order your copy 

today. You have 

nothing to lose. 

If you send for 

UFEPLAN 

now. you'll 

receive a 

Rebate Certificate with your 

program, good for a S2O check 

D Check or money order enclosed for S99.95 

(>t-A 

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Account Number D MasterCard 3 Visa 

SXJttres: .Signature: 

Mail to: UFEWARE, 2318 Second Ave. #64A, Seattle. 

WA 98121. VISA/MC orders may call (206) 322-544 to 

order direct. Please allow 2-6 weeks for shipping.

Tel ♦ Easy" 

Terminal Software 

Tel-Easy is an easy-to-use telecommunication 

software cartridge for your Commodore 64. 

Tel-Easy is menu driven, and supports Auto-Dial 

modems. It also features a real time clock with 

alarm, 8SK capture buffer.fuU sending and retrieving 

of information. Saves data as a program file or 

sequential file to the disk drive. 

Tel-Easy terminal software opens the world of 

your Commodore 64 to telcbanking and tcleleaming. 

Included with Tel-Easy is a CompuServe's 

Demonstration Package. The Demo Pak gives the 

user FREE access to CompuServe's Consumer or 

Executive menus. 

Reg. #34.95 

Introductorv Price 

82995 

Also from Computer Outlet of San Diego. 

TELPAKII 

Reg. 8129.95 

Sale S9995 

Auto Dial Modem 

w/Tcl-Easy Terminal Software Cartridge. 

Order direct or contact your local Dealer 

Computer Outlet of San Diego 

5861 Mission Gorge Road 

San Diego. CA 92120 

(619)282-6200 

MaskM-Tunl/Visa Accepted 

Add H3.50 for shipping and handling 

Call or write for free catalog. 

Td-I:.iisy is a TrocEcmarit itfKutcfntk, Int.'. 

Com modi >rc (54 is u trademark nf 

('tunnunliiiv Business MuclililCH. 

CompuServe Demo Pack is u iruilcmurk ni 

CnmiinScrve, Inc. 

Dealer Inquiries Welcomed 

... Sonar reports the "whine" of torpedoes 

running toward you. You kick the destroyer's 

rudder full-right and order flank speed. 

As you watch, two torpedoes cross your bow. 

Sonar returns quicken and you close on the sub 

marine below. Suddenly, bearing to target shifts 

180 degrees and the sonar return is instan 

taneous. THE SUB IS DIRECTLY BELOW! You 

stab the fire button and watch as 6 depth charges 

arch into your wake. Several long seconds pass 

before they explode, sending six domes of white 

water to the surface. The message "SUBMARINE 

SUNK" flashes on the screen. But congratulations 

are brief. Four more subs are lurking out there 

somewhere, trying to escape into the open ocean... 

SONAR SEARCH is a "fast-action" strategy game 

based on anti-submarine warfare. You are the 

commander of a group of three destroyers sent to 

intercept a pack of 5 enemy submarines. Equipped 

with sonar gear and depth charges, and aided by 

submarine sightings from other ships and aircraft, 

you must get directly over a sub to score a hit with 

your depth charges. 

SONAR SEARCH makes full use of the high- 

resolution graphics, multicolor and audio cap 

abilities of the Commodore 64, Programmed in 

machine language to provide immediate response 

to your commands. SONAR SEARCH ts realistic, 

educational and entertaining. Comes complete 

with Instruction Manual and keyboard template. 

'n COMMODORE 64" 

[CHECK ONE: 

Commodore" 64 Tape □ or Disk D .... |S29 95) 

Manual Only □ ($5 00 if purchased separately) 

Name 

I Address 

I City State Zip. 

USA & CANADA ddd S2.50 postage & handling 

(S4.00 foreign | for each game ordered. All payments 

must be in USA funds, all foreign payments must he 

against USA banks PA residents add 6% Elate sales 

tax. Or charge to; 

□ MasterCard 

Card No. 

Signature 

□ VISA D Exp. Date. 

SEND TO: 

SIGNAL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS, LTD. 

P.O Box 18222 • Pittsburgh. PA 15236 

(412) 655-7727

MACHINE-TOOL 

SIMULATOR 

PEN PLOTTER 

TEACHING 

ROBOT 

3-AXIS SEMI-PROFESSIONAL TRAINER 

anccn ]gccoggdcgccoggggcgcgcc 

■nnnnncnocnncGnrnnnc 

I call this one: 

ggcggcgggcgggggc 

ccncnnnnnncnccc 

GGGGGGGGGGGGGC 

GGGGGGGCGGOOGGC 

GGGGGGGGGCnGGC 

GGGGCDDDCODOGC 

OGGGGGGGDGGGGGC 

mCGGGGCGGGOGGGC 

nnnnnnccccccccc 

gcggcggec 

ddoc 

CGCGC 

CGGGC 

DDK 

"self-portrait witn waffle-iron" 

i f|*!,us He t Prof i n 

i I ■ 

•■ lose-win 

Solid State's "VIZASTAR" 

Soniture's "SjjaceTafilet" 

nni" 

NEWS & VIEWS 

SPECIAL C.E.S. EDITION 

The next most interesting set of products 

were the video digitizers. Tuio systems were 

being shoun: one by CARDCO, and the other by 

DIGITAL VISION. Of the two, DIGITAL VISION'S 

COPPUTEREYES is available immediately (in 

fact, we have been using one for about 2 

months at INF0=64 and all the digitized 

photos in this issue mere produced uith 

COPPUTEREYES in conjunction uith FLEXIDRAW 

light pen software from INKbELL SYSTEPE). 

Both systems are around $300 with a hi-res 

black and white camera included (shave off 

about $150 if you have your own camera), both 

produce multiple grey-level images, and 

interface the C-64 thru the cartridge 

COPPUTEREYES has software for use with 

popular graphics software including 

both 

port. 

most 

KOALA 

PAIWTER, DOODLE, & FLEXIDRAW. Thus images 

captured uith the video camera may be 

manipulated extensively with your favorite 

graphics package (the background of my 

portrait here doesn t exist- it is a pattern 

fill from FLEXIDRAW 5.0). The CARDCO package 

is quite a bit faster at grabbing images, 

which can be important if you have a human 

subject sitting before you in real-time! 

Look for a side-by-side revieu of these tuo 

products in a future issue. 

[ For more INFO, contact: 

CARDCO / 300 S. TOPEKA / WICHITA, KS 67202 / 

(316) 267-6525 

DIGITAL VISION / 14 OAK STREET - SUITE 2 / 

NEEDHAM, MA 02192 / (617)444-9040 

Several new productivity packages were on display. 

Integrated packages were popular; like TRIO from 

Softsync, Inc. (word processing, spreadsheet, & file 

manager) & HDPEPAK from Batteries Included (word 

processing, file manager, terminal software). Cardco 

was showing CALC-NOU, an under $40 spreadsheet with 

some hi-priced features. Perhaps the most interesting 

from both a product and human interest angle uas 

VISASTAR, an integrated spreadsheet and database 

manager. VISASTAR is a nice package with some unusual 

features which we will be reviewing soon in detail (see 

photo left), but perhaps as interesting as the product, 

is the person behind it. If the name 'Jay 

Balakrishnan' doesn't ring a bell, maybe the name 

'Human Engineered Software (HES) does. Jay is the 

former key man behind the now defunct software giant of 

1984, he is now the President of Solid State Software: 

VIZASTAR is his first fand so far as I know, only) 

product. At last year s CES, you couldn't get in to 

see Jay unless you were a I/.I.P.- this year Jay was 

working from a card-table in an 8' X 81 booth with a 

stack of 2-color brochures. How times change. 

[Solid State Software / 1253 Corsica Lane / Foster 

City, CA / (415) 341-5606]

COVOX'S "VOICE mSTEE" 

"CHipWits" frora 

OPTIONS 

GRE6DUILLE 

CHIPUIT COVES 

DOOM ROOMS 

P€flC€ PflTHS 

HEHQRY LONGS 

OCTOPUS GORCeN 

CCS DEMO 

BOOMTOUN 

inforunner Riteman C+ 

MISSIONS 

1 

HIGH SI OKI 

O 

NEWS & VIEWS 


Pictured here are two very interesting input devices, 

also to be reviewed soon: VOICE PIASTER by Covdx inc., 

is a $90 hardware/software system including speech 

synthesis, voice recognition, and a 'VOICE HARP1 

feature that takes singing or hutning as input and turns 

it into written music which can be edited and played 

back! A truly amazing product! Also on the unusual 

side is SPACE TABLET from Soniture, Inc. SPACE TABLET 

is a sonic 3-D input device that handles like a light 

pen, but is tracked thru 3-D space by a sonic detector 

frame which is made to mount around your monitor. This 

rig allows not only X and Y coordinates to be input, 

but 1 as well! 

[Covox Inc. / 675-D Conger Street / Eugene OR / 

503-342-1271 ] 

[Soniture Inc. / 2146 Paragon Drive / San Jose, CA 

95131 / 405-435-0217 ] 

Of course there were Games, Games, Games! Lots of old 

themes getting new names and packages. Some new trends 

seemed promising, however. Chipblits (Epyx, shown left) 

is a fascinating example of fresh thinking and 

top-notch execution. Pull-down menus, sharp graphics & 

animation, and a challenging, intelligent theme will 

probably put this one well up the best-seller list. 

Epyx also showed some 'name' software: Ball Blazer from 

Lucasfilms, as well as G.I. Joe, and Barbie games were 

running. Activision had a few more good looking titles 

(COUNTDOWN TO SHUTDOWN looked especially good), but 

also a few yawners like UEB DIMENSION & PIASTER DF THE 

LAPPS- very dull stuff. 

Get ready for a tidal-wave of new low-cost printers. 

Everybody has cut their prices, improved their 

performance, and come out with new models. Epson, 

C.Itoh, Inforunner, Okidata, Star Micronics; all have 

very competitive gear for your printing pleasure! The 

most original design I saw was Inforunner's Riteman C+ 

which has built-in legs that make it it's own printer 

stand! The C+ is also ready to go with the C-64 and 

C-12B computers (no extra interface needed) and prints 

all the Commodore graphics characters etc. At $299 

list, with Epson code compatibility, it should do well. 

[ Inforunner Corp. / Airport Business Center / 431 N. 

Oak Street / Inglewood, CA 90302 ] 

59

otaer 

THE 

-SUPER SYSTEM- 

NEWS & VIEWS 

You've all seen the PRDTECTD ads {8 to 16 page black 

& white spreads in every other magazine even remotely 

releated to computers). Something about the style of 

the ads has always made me wary, but I found myself 

needing a monitor, and $69 was the price I wanted to 

pay. 

I was totally unprepared for the genuinely friendly 

voice that took my order, fly monitor arrived 2 days 

later by UPS, appeared brand new, and to this day is 

working like a champ. Encouraged by this modest but 

pleasant experience, I took the big plunge and 

ordered the "too good to be true" Super System ($795 

gets you a CBM B-128 computer, an BD50 dual drive, a 

12" green monitor, a CBM printer, cables, paper, 1D 

diskettes, and manuals !!l) All I really wanted was 

the 8050 drive, but it cost more alone elsewhere. 

Again, some (different) intelligerPE & agreeable 

person took my order, the equipment arrived, and 

everything worked fine {well almost). I discovered 

that drive #1 wouldn't format properly on the 8050. 

I thought I had discovered the explanation for the 

low, low prices. I called them immediately, ready to 

threaten INF0=64's wrath if they thought they could 

get away with thisI I never got the chance- a third 

phone answerer (who sounded like she would rather 

hear my complaint than take a free vacation to the 

Bahamas) cheerfully said to send the unit back for 

immediate (and it was) replacement! 

I couldn't stand it! These people were so nice, the 

bargains so terrific, there had to be a catch! I 

called the Vice President, Bill Badger, and demanded 

an explanation! Even tho it was 5pm on a Friday, 

Bill seemed glad explain that basically PROTECTO 

hunts down good deals from manufacturers and makes 

good deals for the public (while this often means 

discontinued or surplus products, you can't beat the 

prices and you get a 15 day free trial and a 90 day 

warranty.) As far as the nice people on the phone: 

Bill said that they really emphasize the human 

relations aspect of the business, and that people 

that can't measure up, are quickly found other types 

of work. 

Well, I learned my lesson, and INFQ=64 is now looking 

forward to a 2nd Super System to upgrade our 

operation. Is this a deal for you? It depends: the 

8050 can be used with your C-64 with any of the IEEE 

adapters, it is fast and stores lots of data. It 

can't load commercial disks formatted for the 1541you 

must still use your 1541 etc. to load commercial 

programs (tho any copyable programs can be saved to 

and then re-loaded from the 8050.) The B-128 is 

incompatible with the C-64 software, but PROTECTO 

offers several titles written for it including: 

Superbase, Easy Script, Calc-Result, and the Info 

Designs Accounting series. Also, PROTECTO will put 

you in touch with a B-128 users group that can help 

you get more out of your B-128. If you are 

interested, don't wait! Bill says the B-12Bs are 

selling out at a record rate. 

[ Protecto Enterprizes / Box 

6010 / 312 382 5244 ] 

60 J iii Iii|§[i 

550 / Barrington, IL 

It looks like Commodore computing is about to grow up 

real fast- first we have the new machines from 

Commodore, and now there are, not 1, not 2, but 3 hard 

disk drives about to hit the shelves for all ""of us 

storage-hungry data-mongers! 

First we have the Lt. Kernel drives from Fiscal 

Information ranging from 10 Meg ($1300) to 80 Neg (!! 

$$??) (see Don Vandeventer's article beginning on pg. 

22 for more on these). 

Then there is another 10 Meg drive from Computer 

Specialties, Inc. (CSI) called the CSI ST1DC. It 

should be ready for shipment in Nay, and lists far 

$1595. It features serial or IEEE connection, built-in 

backup software, reformat protection, external device 

selection, a 90 day warranty. [CSI / P0 Box 1718 / 

Melbourne, FL 32902 / 305-725-6574 ] 

Last, but definitely not least, is Micro Mind's GENESIS 

(you saw it here first, folks!), a new 25 Megabyte 

half-height Winchester drive that will retail for an 

amazing $1200! Bob Burton, President of Micro Mind, 

says the Pittsfield, MA based company will be packaging 

their own custom controller boards and software with 

the half-height drives made by PliniScribe. First 

shipments are scheduled for nay 1 of this year. 

INF0=6A will be testing one of the first available 

units, and we'll give you a full report as soon as 

Issue #7. If all goes well, we will be maintaining our 

growing subscription list on this baby (and it comes 

none too soon!). Billing GENESIS as A new beginning 

for the C-64", MICRO MIND is also readying a special 

version that will actually fit in the second drive-bay 

of the SX-64!! Since these have been discontinued by 

Commodore, it might be a good time to go get one at 

K-Mart if you are interested in transportable 

super-powered 64 computing! 

[ Write: Micro Mind / 104 Hawthorne Ave. / Pittsfield, 

MA 01201 1 

me cost for a Megabyte 

of clisK storage capacity: 

drive price CAP(K) 

CBM 1541 

MSD Dlldl 

CBM 8650 

CSI ST16C 

$ 250 

$ 895 

S 795* 

$1595 

Lt. Kernel $1360 

Genesis $1200 

176 

346 

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25666 

$1478 ' 

$2632 

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$ 159 

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A Nice Game of Chess 

Blue Max 

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BI-80 Column 

Data Monager 2 

Baron 

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29 

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Temple of Apshai 

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Send Orders To: COMPUSOFT PLUS, P.O. Box 91155, Los Angeles, CA 90009-1155 

Add S3.00 shipping per order (S5 00 AK. HI, APO, FPO) INFO-M subscribers no shopping charge.* No foreign orders No COD. CA 'endems add 6.5% soles lax. We 

accepi VISA, MC (include name, card *. e»p. dale], M.O.. or cashier's check. Personal checks delay shipping 4 weeks while clearing. Include ship to name, address 

(sorry no P.O. boxes]. All soles finol. Defective iiems replaced with same iiem if return authorization requested wiihin 2 weeks of shipping dote. No returns accepted 

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NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR VISA OR MASTERCARD. 

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CMS is a simple, but complete 

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Easily track all of your CASH 

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Check, Money Order or COD accepted. 

On Screen Status Display 

A - Cursor location 

B ■ Scroll Indicator 

C - Print features currently being used 

D - Filename of text 

E - Percentage of RAM (memory) used 

F ■ Ruler (also message line) 

G ■ Word wrap/justlflcallon flag 

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J ■ Characters per Inch 

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L ■ Name of Ihe current font 

35 

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Overview of FONTMASTER 

word processor features: 

1) Powerful block manipulation 

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2) User - friendly effects include (fonts, 

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62 

COMPUTER 

CENTERS 

AMERICA

• RENUMBER . FIND • ASSEMBLER . BLOCK WRITE • LOAD • HEX MODE • DECIMAL MODE • 

Jill KIT 64 

(also available for PET/CBM) 

Sm's Famous BASIC programming tool is now 

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ed an VI FACILITY for assembler programs and an F 

FACILITY for working directly with the disk drive. 

•ALL FOR ONLY $59 Ca_sedBKT$19 

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WRITE FOR A FREE PRODUCT CATALOG 

MAIL ORDER: Add S1.50 for S & H. PA Residents add 6% Sales lax. Check. COD. Master- 

Care or VISA finclude card # & exp date) 

• INDISPENSABLE 

PROGRAMMING 

AID • 

If you're just learning then KIT64 will help 

you CREATE. EDIT & REARRANGE pro 

grams wirh simple commands. You can 

even watch your program run. with our ex 

cellent TRACE Facility. And. . . you can 

learn how your computer works with the 

Assembler/Disassembler (and a good text 

book). 

If you're a serious programmer then KIT64 is 

an absolute mustl Easily merge programs or 

renumber all or any portion. Display 

variable values any time, during execution. 

Create M/code programs with the as 

sembler/disassembler and our excellent 

FIND & TRACE commands. You can even 

create REM routines or reconstruct 

destroyed disk blocks. 

• REM ROUTINES • DELETE • READ DIRECTORY • SAVE • DISASSEMBLER • RELOCATE M/CODE • 

IP YOU CAN BUY All BXPAHDER EOAHD FOR YOUR COraODORS 641 AHY CHEAPZH THAN AT OYHAKIC 

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Il-PROORAK DEXFAKDER BOARD 

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DEXTENDE3 CABLE FOR ALL EXPANDER BOARDS 

Plugs Into bad: of your Coanodore 

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puter. Place noat used proc"a.~s on expan- eable plu^s ir.to back of the Cor^iodore 61, 

der board-turn switch or. to the prof ran then the Dther end Into the DEI expander 

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will not stick out behind your coaputer 

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NEWSLETTER 

& 

USERS GROUP 

BE PART OF THE 

C-64 EXCITEMENT 

JOIN TODAY FOR ONLY 

$20.00 a year 

* FREE terminal program disk with membership 

Send membership to: 

CLUB 64 

P.O.BOX 3116 

BELLFLOWER, CA 90707 

(213)925-4049 

9am to 5pm p.s.t. 

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: 

* MONTHLY NEWSLETTER 

- Reviews of hardware & software 

- New Product Announcements 

- User Group & BBS listings 

- and a whole lot more 

*CLUB64 BBS (Bulletin Board) 

- 8pm to 8am p.s.t. - 7 days 

- Upload/Download Programs 

- Private & Public E-Mail 

'GROUP BUYING SERVICE 

- Special offers on 64 products 

- Extra savings on bulk purchases 

USERS SPECIALS 

COVERS for 64, 1541, 1530 $5.95each 

COVERS lor 1701/02, MPS801, 1525 $7 95each 

5V« 1D disks $1.30 each (min.10) 

Add 3.00 shipping plus .25 per item for handlina. 

CALIF. ADD 6.5% tax 

63

Now Your 

Computer 

Can See! 

A total imaging system complete 

and ready for plug-and-go opera 

tion with your personal computer. 

The MicronEye- offers select 

able resolution modes of 256x 128 

and 128x64 withoperating speeds 

up io 15 FPS. An electronic shutter 

is easily controlled by software or 

MicronEye- 

"Bullet" 

manual functions, and the included sample programs allow you to con 

tinuously scan, freeze frame, frame store, frame compare, print and pro 

duce pictures in shades of grey from the moment you begin operation 

Only the MicronEye- uses the revolutionary IS32 OpticRAM" image 

sensor for automatic solid state image digitizing, with capability for greytone 

imaging through multiple scans- And with these features, the 

MicronEye- is perfectly suited for graphics input, robotics, text'and 

pattern recognition, security, digitizing, automated process control and 

many other applications. 

The MicronEye- is available with immediate delivery for these com 

puters: Apple II. IBM PC. Commodore 64 and the TRS-80CC (iradc.wksoi 

Apple Compute' Inc. International Business Ma 

chines, Commodore Corp.. and Tandy Corp. 

respective lyl. 

Phone for MicronEye- information 

on the Macintosh, Tl PC and RS232 

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'(Add S1000 for shipping and handling |Federal 

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states nuisi ,nfd sales lac AK. AZ. CA. CO, CT FL 

OA. (A. ID, 1L. IN, LA, fAA, MD. ME, Ml, MN NC ME 

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1475 Tyrell Lane 

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TWX 910-970-5973 

AutoPrint Microconnection Modem 

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300 baud autodial, autoanswer modem with Cen 

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Cables supplied for computer, printer, and telephone 

connection. Terminal program supplied. 

Compatible with EASYSCRIPT© for word processing 

on the Commodore 64, 

AutoPrint Microconnection retails for $179.95. 

Distributor, Dealer Inquiries Welcome. 

^Commcxlore Busi 

Your Commodore Just Got Four Times Better 

DISQ: The fastest, most reli 

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$69.95 

GPC: The full-featured 

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□ 100% Commodore printer 

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□ 2k buffer and year warranty! 

D Users manual with software 

examples and Hi-Res 

machine language Screen 

Dump! 

$89.95 

SPRINT PRINT: The full- 

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U Gives you control of your 

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D Enhances the speed of your 

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$29.95

PRESENTS- 

ANNOUNCES THE 

PIUS/4 2HI)-CHANCE 

SWEEPSTAKES !!! 

FOR ALL OUR FRIENDS WHO MISSED 

THE FIRST CHANCE! 

PLUS/4 DONATED BY 

L ST. 

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS 

QFFICJflL BULES 

NO PURCHflSE NECESSflRV 

v, 

1. fill persons subscribing to INFD-64 between January 15, 1985, and Play 1, 1985 will 

automatically be entered in the PLU5/4 SWEEPSTAKES. You may also enter by hand-printing 

your name, address, and zip code an a 3" x 5" piece of paper. You may enter as often as 

you like, but must mail each entry separately to: PLUS/4 SWEEPSTAKES, C/D INFO 

PUBLICATIONS, INC., PO BOX 2300, IOWA CITY, IA 52244. Entries must be received no later 

than midnight, Play first , 1985 and the drawing will be held by Play tenth , 1985. All 

entries become the property of INFO-64 MAGAZINE, which reserves the right to reprint the 

name and address of the winner. 

2. The winner will be selected in a random drawing from all entries received, under the 

supervision of the publisher of INFO-64 MAGAZINE, whose decision will be final. Only one 

prize will be awarded in this Sweepstakes. Winner will be notified by mail and_may be 

required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and release. Odds of winning will depend 

on the number of entries received. INFO-64 P1AGAZINE will ship the prize UPS ground or 

Parcel Post at publisher's discretion. No warranties apply. Prize is not transferable. 

No substitution for prize. Taxes are the responsibility of the winner. 

3. Sweepstakes open to all residents of the U.S., its territories and possessions, except 

employees (and their families) of INFO-64 P1AGAZINE. Void where prohibited or restricted 

by law. 

4. For winner's name, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to PLUS/4 SWEEPSTAKES, C/0 

INFO-64 MAGAZINE , PO Box 2300, Iowa City, IA 52244. 

IIM 

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Also available at: waidennoofts, B.Dalton's, coles, 

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408 476 2086 

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209 667 1533 

408 72« 332: 

303 526 1114 

303 482 0197 

303 973 7348 

303 543 3855 

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309 944 3412 

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815 964 1545 

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913 537 1075 

316 421 9210 

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502 693 3838 

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504 391 1020 

617 369 1980 

617 695 1672 

617 769 8444 

413 442 1564 

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301 272 4195 

301 946 1564 

207 338 1410 

616 796 0793 

616 775 3151 

313 686 1070

If your dealer doesn't carry INF0IE4 \ 

Please show 'en a copy 6 tell then to 

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HOMEDATA PERSONAL COMPUTER STORE GRAND RAPIDS 

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PAGE ONE SOFTWARE 

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NS 

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ON 51? 631 3071

TYPING TUTOR + WORD INVADERS 

REVIEWERS SAY: 

"This is the best typing tutor we have 

seen yet; * + + *+" 

INFO-64 magazine 

"Best typing tutor I've seen -Better 

than Mastertype" 

Microcomputer Courseware 

Evaluation 

"WORD INVADERS is fantastic." 

Editors of Consumers Guide 

"Computer aided instruction at 

its best." 

Commander magazine 

Housewife Says: 'Now I know 

how my family can get so involved 

with these programs. I, too, would much rather 

play WORD INVADERS than clean my house!" 

12 year old boy writes: "Very impressed by your program! 

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Another customer writes: " The rave reviews about your 

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family is enjoying it. Congratulations on the program!" 

IN DAILY USE BY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE U.S.A. 

NEWICommodore Plus/4 or 16 TapeS2i.95 Disk $24.95 

Commodore 64 Tape $21.95 Disk $24.95 

VIC 20 (unexpanded) Tape$21.95 

IFR (FLIGHT SIMULATOR) 

REALISTIC AIRCRAFT RESPONSE 

Has a quality of realism which sets it 

apart from others, even those I've 

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Compute's Gazette 

"Great program!" INFO-64 

"It is tremendous fun." 

Compute's Gazette 

"Flight tested by an air traffic 

controller, two skilled pilots and 

an elementary school class. 

Highly recommended by all." 

Mldnite Gazette 

This is an unbelievably realistic 

simulation of the difficulties facing a 

pilot in instrument flying. I'm a 747 pilot and I 

think that this program could do a lot to improve the 

reactions and instrument scan habits of even very 

experienced pilots." 747 pilot 

NEWICommodore Plus/4 or 16 Tape or Disk S29.95 

Commodore 64 Tape or Disk $29.95 

VIC20(unexpanded| Cartridge $39.95 

by James Sullivan 

Old English typestyle print and simple word processing 

package. With this program and a VIC 1525 printer (or other 

graphic printer and a VIC 1525 graphic emulating interface) 

you can automatically print in Old English typeface. Great for 

party invitations, announcements, advertisements, and other 

attention getting notices. The heading above was printed on a 

VIC 1525 printer (original copy reproduced half-size in this 

ad). Use also as a simple word processor for letters, short 

reports, etc. in normal, double width or Old English typeface. 

Commodore 64 (tape—S16.95) (disk—S21.95) 

_\^-\^\^^^J Shipping and handling Si 00 per 

mViiLlM^liiil 1T

A Survival Guide to the 

1541 Disk Drive 

This is a 40 + page book and comes complete with all 

commands and examples on how to use them. 

1541 Super ROM $39.95 

• Fast Save Load Verify 

• Fast Scratch and Validate 

• 1C Second Format with Verify 

• No more Drive Head rattling 

during Format or Error Reading 

also Save with Replace is 

Improved 

Two times faster, Eight times faster 

The Complete Book on 

Telecommunications 

when used with Turbo 64 which is included 

$6.99 

A 40 + page book that will help you get started with your 

Modem. How to use it and how to access a BBS. Compuserve, 

Dow Jones as well as up and down load. 

1541 Super ROM is 100% Compatible • Easily installed in Minutes 

APALLO COPIES IT ALL 

APALLO Does it All. This program is the latest generation of 

copy programs. It will do everything the $39.00 and $49.00 pro 

grams will do and more. It Copies ALL drive errors, bad tracks 

and sectors, non-standard format, bad syncs, and half tracks. 

We feel this is the best program of its kind available... $29.95 

MSD Sure Copy 

At last a complete utility package for the MSD Dual Drive. This 

is the first MSD utility program that does it all. The main 

Copy Protected Disk 

Copy Files 

Format a Disk 

Change Disk Name 

Quit 

Copy Unprotected Disk 

Scratch a File 

Rename a File 

View Directory $3995 

menu options include: Sure Copy will put all errors automatically on disk: 20, 21, 23, 27 and 29's. 

D-CODER 

Translates any machine language program into easyto-read 

English descriptions with complete explana 

tions of each command! 

Makes complete notations of all important memory 

locations accessed by the program! (SID, VIC, MOS, 

KERNAL. etc.) 

Gives you three ways of accessing programs: 

1) Will read and list programs from DISK 

2) Will read and list programs from MEMORY! 

3) Direct user Input (from magazines, etc.) 

Can be used to locate and examine any machine 

language program's protection routines! 

Can be used to easily break apart machine language 

programs for study and examination! 

Printer option for complete hard copy listings! 

$1995 

You no longer 

need to be an 

EGGHEAD to 

read Machine 

Language. 

Enclose Cashiers Crwck. Money 0

A TTENTION COMMODORE 64 O WNERS 

We'll pay for your mistake! 

We know that it's difficult, especially since everyone 

is trying to come out with one. Now that error track 

protection is going the way of the dinasaour, you 

probably purchased an obsolete piece of software. Well 

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utility software disk that you would like to trade in for the 

"NEW REVISED CLONE MACHINE." Our program can 

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alter the number of sectors on a track, sync to particular 

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Other back up programs have only recently caught 

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Features, we've even made it more user friendly too! THE 

CLONE MACHINE was the first utility of its kind and 

others followed. Well, we still feel that it's time for the 

others to try to play catch up again. STILL ONLY 

OURSPECiAL MSD VERSiOW $ A Q95 

JVOW 1 VMl, XRiE TOO!! H>*i%7 

NOTE: Micro-W reserves the right to cancel this ofle: at any time without notice 

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CALL; (201) 838-9027 

PRO-LINE SOFTWARE 

WORDPRO 64 (Steve Punter) THE MOST POWERFUL WORDPROCESSOR AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMODORE 64! 

Features: Double column printing, automatic wordwrap, 40/80 column display, special characters, true proportional print 

ing, works on MSD single and dual drives. THE LEVEL OF WORDPROCESSOR THE OTHERS ONLY TRY TO 

ACHIEVE! $49.95 

MAILPRO 64 (Steve Punter) EXCELLENT MAILING LIST AND MUCH MORE! 

Handles 4,000 records on a disk. Done in machine language, it's FAST! Handles the new 10 digit zip code. Does text 

editing and invoicing. Stands by itself and merges with other word processors. FINALLY THE ULTIMATE MAILING LIST 

IS HERE! S49.95 

SPELLPRO 64 (Jim Butterfield) THE SPELLCHECKER! 

Contains 25,000 word expandable dictionary. ALL THE QUALITY YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM THE JIM 

BUTTERFIELD NAME! S49.95 

PAL 64 (Brad Templeton) THE FASTEST AND EASIEST ASSEMBLER! 

Designed for beginners or experts. $49.95 

POWER 64 (Brad Templeton) THIS IS SIMPLY THE PREMIERE PROGRAMMING AID ON THE MARKET TODAY! Adds 

dozens of BASIC commands to the Commodore 64 $49.95 

TOOLBOX 64 (Brad Templeton) THE PROGRAMMER'S DREAM! it's PAL and POWER in one integrated kit! $89.95 

NOW AVAILABLE: CASHBOX 64-POINT OF SALE PROGRAM! 

Prints three formats of receipts! Takes care of sales and inventory! Even prints personnel reports! $49.95 

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7D

TURBO 64 

Turbo 54 will turn your 1541 into a super fast and efficient disk drive. Loads 

programs five to eight limes laster, works with 99% of your basic and machine 

language programs. The master disk allows you to put unlimited Turbo 64 

bool copies on all your disks This disk also includes: 

Auto Run Boot Maker 

Auto Run Boot Maker will load and auto run your basic or machine language programs. 

DMS-Errors 20.21.22.23.27S 29 

Format Single Tracks 

Read Disk Errors 

Vt Track Reader-read and select 

Vi track. 

Va Track Pormatter-Format a 

disk wiih Vi iracks. This is 

where the next protection 

schemes are coming from 

Drive Mon-Disk Drive 

assembler/disassembler. For 

your 1541. 

The Doc-Disk Doctor that reads 

code under errors. 

Sync Maker-Place a sync mark 

on any track out to 41. Also 

used for protection. 

Sync Reader-Check for Sync 

bits on any track out to 41 

Change Drive No.-Changes 

drive number (7-3G). 

$19.95 

Disk Logger-Finds starling track, 

sector: start and end addresses. 

Disk Match-Compare any two 

diskettes. Byte lor Byte 

New Wedge-Easter to use DOS 

wedge- 

ID Check-Check IDs on any 

track. 

Unscratch-Resiore a scratched 

file. 

View RAM-Visual display of the 

free and used sectors on a 

diskette 

Read/Write TesM5-:i 

performance lest. 

Repair a track-Repair a track 

with checksum errors Reads 

code under errors and restores 

track. 

HHNDBDDH 

Fast Format-Formal a disk in 

lust 10 seconds (with verify!). 

THIRD EDITION! NOW AVAILABLE! 

3rd 

Edition 

If you're tired of being harassed by protected software and too many copy 

programs, then this is the book lor you! This 224 page manual covers the 

gambit from legalities to protection methods to step-by-step back up pro 

cedures. Now you can learn both how lo protect and unprotect software! 

The techniques covered include copying cartridges to tape or disk, tape pro 

tection, and disk protection. Oisk protection covers error no.'s 20.21. 22, 23, 

27 and 29 plus single track formatting, header modification, header swapp 

ing, half track reading and writing, reading and writing modified bit densities, 

formatting illegal tracks/sectors, sync writing and more! The Third edition ex 

plains, tells how to detect and how to write [hem with included software. 

Eleven useful utilities and many protection listings! Our disk analysis programs 

reveal the protection methods used on your originals. A diskette with all soft 

ware is available for a minimum extra charge. This may not be the only book 

your should have for the C-64, but it is certainly the one book you should 

not be without! 

C64 Book only S19.95 US 

Book & Disk of all programs $29.95 US 

Vic 20 book ... Cart. & Tapes only $9 95 US 

THIS MANUAL DOES NOT CONDONE PIRACY 

■SHIPPING: S2.00 

Enclose Cashiers Chech. Money OrOor. or Personal 

Check. Allow 14 days lot delivery. 2 lo 7 days foi 

phone orders Canada orders must bemus 

Dollars VISA — MASTER CARD -COO 

Programs lor C-64 S2 00 S & H on a" orders 

Software SuOmissions Invited. 

$19.95 

WAR GAMES 

AUTODIALER 

1-Auto Dial will automatically dial a set of numbers you choose. 

3SBS* 

2-Review Numbers will review numbers that were answered by a computer. 

3-Save Numbers will save numbers where a computer answered. 

4-Hardcopy of Numbers will print out fist of numbers where a computer answered. 

5-LOAD Numbers will load in numbers to continue where it feft off. 

6-Conltnue will pick up dialing where it was interrupted. 

$29.95 

KARTRIDGE KRACKER 

WOW you can own this unique and powerful tool 

which will allow you to dump the contents of 8K 

and 16K cartridges onto disk! But what's really 

great is that you can also RUN the cartridges pro 

grams without plugging in the cartridge! the 

KRACKER gets YOU INSIDE the cartridge! Put 

all your favorites on disk and get rid of the clut 

ter This package provides your with the software 

and hardware needed to get started. Program on 

disk included. (Some cartridges require use of ex 

ternal RAM not included) $44.95 

The Original 

Book of Facts 

UNLOCK THE MYSTERIES 

OF THE COMMODORE 

—Simple Instructions 

—Easy step-by-step examples 

—Tricks you can do your 

first day 

—Introduction to color, sound 

and much more 

—Includes a routine to protest 

your own programs 

—NO MATTER what your 

experience, the Original 

Book of Facts is 

for everyone! 

The Advanced 

Book of Facts 

EXPLORING 

YOUR COMMODORE 

—How to use a machine 

language monitor ~" 

—Tips on how to unprotect 

your software 

—Advanced protection for 

your own programs 

—Full size reference charts 

—How to design your own 

menus and more... e 

BULLETIN BOARD 

Set up and operate your own bulletin board with one or two disk drives. This 

one has all the features and you can customize it easily yourself. 

1-RUN MEGASOFT BBS 

2-CREATE MEGA FILES 

3-ADD TO SYSOP'S CORNER 

4-NEW SYSOP'S CORNER 

5-READ MESSAGES 

6-SCRATCH MESSAGE 

7-CYCLE MESSAGES 

8-READ SYSOP MESSAGES 

S59.95 

9-WRITE OPENING MESSAGE 

10-READ LOG 

11-CYCLE LOG 

12-READ DOWNLOAD FILE 

13-SCRATCH DOWNLOAD FILE 

14-ADD TO OTHER SYSTEMS 

15-CREATE OTHER SYSTEMS 

MegaSoft Limited 

P.O. Box 1080, Battle Ground. Washington 98604 

Phone {206} 687-5116 • BBS 687-5205 After Hours Comouler ic Computer

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 

BVYWRAY 

 

Kong 

should have 

backed her up 

with the NEW 

Copy Q 

In the software jungle, 

no copy program for the Commodore 64 

works better or copies more at any price! 

Copy Q is the fastest, most reliable, and easiest-to-use. 

And Copy Q even comes with a backup! 

The NEW Copy Q contains a TRUE INTELLIGENT NIBBLER which copies 

all the information on a disk and even the newest copy protection including 

half tracks, track 36 +, varying data density, misordered and extra sectors, 

gap and sync tracks, and much more. 

Copy Q is fully automatic. There are no parameters to set. You don't even 

need to swap disks when using two drives. 

And Copy Q makes the FASTEST backups by using intelligent scanning, 

data compression, and super-fast data communication. Most disks are 

copied in just three minutes. And many disks that require extensive nibbling 

are copied in less than five minutes. 

Copy Q contains other features found nowhere else: Copy Qrevirgins disks 

rather than erasing them. Copy Q also contains a utility that automatically 

backs up any data disk and removes all data errors in just two minutes. 

It's a software protection jungle and your data and program integrity are at 

stake. So don't monkey around with the others. You can climb straight to 

the top with the NEW Copy Q by Q-R & D. 

Now only \J> O y . y O 

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Copy O and other fine Q-R & D products are available at more than 400 

dealers nationally. For the name of the dealer nearest to you or to order 

direct call: 

612 922-0516 

ONE WEST LAKE STREET, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55408. TO ORDER CALL (612) 922-0516 

Academy Software 68 

Cardco CA 

Cardinal Software. ...14 

Club 64 63 

Computer Outlet 56 

Conputer Ease 61 

Computer Centers of America .62 

Compu-Soft 61 

Dynamax 21 

Dynamic Electronics 63 

F.S.I 21 

Genesis Computer Corp 55 

Info Publications subscriptions....73 

Info Publications subscriptions.■-.CF 

Info Publications LRli=BOARD.T77....C3 

Info Publications back issues......15 

IPS 77777777777 14 

Lifetuare ..55 

Flegasaf t 69 

rtegasoft 71 

Plicron Technology 64 

Plicroperipherals 64 

Micro-Pace 70 

Plicro-lil.D.I 2C 

Flicro-lil. D.I 70 

MicroSignal Press 72 

Mirage Concepts First Page 

Performance Micro Products 14 

Phoenix Red Last Page 

Progressive Peripherals 26 

Progressive Peripherals 27 

Q-R5D 64 

Q-R4D 72 

Signal Computer Consultants 56 

SPI Software 63 

Xetec 61 

COMMODORE 64 

INTERFACING BLUE BOOK 

Did you know that your 64 can be 

used lo control a 990 toy motor so 

effectively that it runs like a precision 

machine? Or that you can build a peri 

pheral that enables your 64 to talk for 

less than $10 in parts? 

These and more than 30 other inter 

facing projects selected for useful 

ness, ease of construction and low cost 

and detailed in the Commodore 64 

Interfacing Blue Book. Written by a 

college professor in a friendly and in 

formative style, the Blue Book gives 

you theory of operation, schematics, 

program listings, parts list, and con 

struction hints for each project. Plus a 

five section introductory chapter gives 

you an insight on interfacing techni 

ques in general. 

Projects include: Cassette, printer 

and RS-232C interfaces; light pen; 

bus expander; thermometer; speech 

synthesizer and two other voice pro 

jects; 5 telephone interfaces; A/D and 

D/A converters; motor controllers; 

logic analyzer; capacitance meter; 

FFT spectrum analyzer; home security 

and many more. Price is $1 6.95 post 

paid. Foreign orders add $3.00 for AIR 

WAIL shipping. 

VIC 20 INTERFACING BLUE BOOK 

30 hardware interfacing projects 

for the VIC 20. $14.95 postpaid. 

MICROSIGNAL PRESS 

Dept M, P.O. Bon 386 Goleta, CA 93116

Please enter my subscription for: 

E ISSUES ■ 

IE issues SHEW" I "EM 5 

Uifl issues 5OEfl6(L*3CTl J 

* BfiSED ON BI-MONTHLV FREQUENCY. 

FREQUENCY SUEJECT TO CHANGE. 

Disk I 

TEXT ADVENTURES 

ZORK I 

ZORK II 

ZORK III 

ENCHANTER 

SORCEROR 

STARCROSS 

SUSPENDED 

PLANETFALL 

DEADLINE 

WITNESS 

Only $9.99! 

V 

i 

SOFTWARE 

\ 

ADVENTURE GAME 

TUTORIALS 

Disk II 

MEGAVENTURES 

ULTIMA II 

ULTIMA III 

ULTIMA IV 

RETURN OF HERACLES 

QUESTRON 

Only $9.99! 

Disk III 

GRAPHIC ADVENTURES 

GOTHMOGS LAIR 

MASK OF THE SUN 

DEATH IN THE CARIBBEAN 

BLADE OF BLACKPOOLE 

CRITICAL MASS 

GRUDS IN SPACE 

ULYSSES AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE 

WIZARD AND THE PRINCESS 

ASYLUM 

THE INSTITUTE 

Only $9.99! 

Have you ever played an Adventure Game where you just plain got stuck and couldn't get any further? 

Well, here's the answer — Phoenix Red's Adventure Game Tutorials. They can be used as hints or they 

will tell you exactly what to do to get out of all those sticky situations. These Tutorials are written for 

your computer (A Commodore 64) not someone elses, so they work. 

We pay postage and handling. 

A must-have for all adventures. 

Order yours today! 

Send check or Money Order to: 

Phoenix Red Software 

1620 Bay Area Blvd *703 

Houston , Texas 77058 

Call 713-280-8113 for more info. 

"We put out money where our 

software is, not ourcopy 

protection." 

" Phoenix

P.O. BOX 2366 

IOWA CITV, IA 52244 

±2111.

PLEASE ENTER MY SUBSCRIPTION TO 

INFO^64 MAGAZINE 

I G issues 

_|l E ISSUES 

tee 

14" £ *! 

8e 

LJln issues %dwz i JTrlriii 

* BASED ON BJ-NONTHLV FREQUENCV. 

FREOUENCV SUBJECT TO CHANGE. 

enclose ih:kh:« or 

OHLV 

All subscriptions begin with the issue 

following the issue on sale at the time 

order is received. 

NAME 

ADD 

CITV ST ZIP. 

FILL IN OHLV IF VOU FEEL INCLINED... 

{/yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy: 

send me 

Enclose CHECK or MONEV ORDER only. 

Payable to: INFQiEW 

PO BOX 2366 

IOHA CITV, Ift 52244 

address 

/fill mmmm 

ERGONOMICALLV DESIGNED TO 

IMPROUE COMFORT & SPEEDM 

■S3 ADD 

VOUR 

flSS AND UTILITY TO 

C64 OR VIC COMPUTER!! 

■s3 stylish & sturdy 

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33- INCLUDES 3 POPULAR SLIDE-IN 

SOFTWARE REFERENCE CARDS!!! 

, IN EUERV 

RGflZINE!!

Turn your CRT Monitor into a television set 

with Cardco's new monitor tuners* 

With a flick of the switch you can turn 

your computer monitor to provide the 

most vivid television pictures available. Re 

ceive a sharper, clearer television picture on your 

CRT monitor than you ever thought possible. 

Model MT/1 includes a full wireless remote control 

sixty-channel cable ready tuner with separate video 

and audio output. Completely compatible with 

your composite input computer monitor. For com 

posite color or monochrome. 

Also available to turn your 

CRT monitor into a television set is CARDCO 

Model MT/2, a full UHF/VHF TV tuner with 

separate video and audio output 

matched to your composite input com 

puter monitor. For composite color or mono 

chrome monitors. 

Backed by a full 90 day guarantee. 

Write for illustrated literature and prices or see 

CARDCO Computer Accessories and Software 

wherever computers are sold. 

cardco, inc. 

300S.Topeka Wichita, Kansas 67202 

(316)267-6525 

"The world's largest manufacturer of Commodore accessories."

TELECOMPUTING-^? - Bombjack.org

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