Personal Computer World - August 1978

A fresh insight into the robot-man evolutionary process

From ideas to programmes

A computer or a kit?

The Kim-1 Evaluation Unit

NIM-An exercise in flowcharting

Memory Mapped

Hangman

Getting it together

The TRS-80

Colour is an Apple II

Computing for Everybody By Magnus Magnusson

Volume 1, No 4

Publication Date : August 1978

Publication Contents :

Page	Item
5	Comart - Specialists in Microcomputers [Advert] Comart selling the SOL Terminal S100 Computer System
7	Nasco Sales Limited [Advert] The NASCOM 1 Z80 Microcomputer Kit
13	Computer Mart of New York Inc [Advert] Advert selling US machines from Processor Technology, Alpha Micro Systems, Southwest Technical Products, Apple II, TDL, Cromemco, SD Computer products, North Star, Rex, Micromation, KIM, RCA COSMAC VIP, Hazeltine and Centronics.
14	It's the thought that counts [Article] W.V. Ringer An article discussing the thought process and comparing differences between human and robotic creativity and the essence of "Soul".
16	Getting into Neighbourhood Consultancy [Article] David Francis You have a computer - Use it! Too often enthusiasts spend time, money and considerable ingenuity constructing computers which never get used to the full and never give their owners as much enjoyment as they got building them and developing software for them.
18	The ROM Factor [Article] J Gregory The ROM Factor* A fictional story about Bernard and his drive to obtain enough money to sate his addiction to electronics and computers *Requires only money ;-)
22	From ideas to programmes [Article] You've got your home computer system together and your head buzzing with ideas, but oh dear, how to translate them into programs? Probably your computer hardware and ideas are somewhat individualistic and canned programs make interesting reading but what you really want to do is make up your own.
23	A Computer or a Kit? [Article] Michael James The incomplete kit builder There's nothing new about electronic construction kits, they've been around for some time. As a way of learning about electronics they're excellent but what about as a way of owning a computer? The difference between the two is: the interest of the builder. A growing number of people are looking toward cheap computer kits as simply a way of owning their home computer. The interest lies in the end product - the computer and its programs - rather than the electronics involved in building it.
24	A Mighty Micromite - The Kim-1 Evaluation Kit [Article] C Corbett The Kim-1 is a ready built microcomputer board which hails from the same stable as the PET home computer. In terms of facilities available to the user, KIM must be placed at a level lower than the PET - and can be compared with similar products including the Motorola D2 (which uses an M6800 CPU) and NASCOM-1 (which uses a Z-80). Like these other evaluation kits, KIM is programmed by machine language, thus requiring a detailed knowledge of the microprocessor instruction set and characteristics.
27	Take it or leave it [Article] Roger Hargrave NIM - An exercise in flowcharting. The game of Nim is so called from an obsolete word meaning to "take". It is played by removing objects from groups of similar objects - traditionally piles of matches are used, but in theory any objects will do, even Jumbo Jets if you can hijack enough of them!
31	Showing Characters [Article] Neil Harrison Software for a memory mapped VDU. Like many other computer hobbyists I chose a "memory mapped" TV display for alphanumeric output on my home computer. This technique is very flexible and cost effective for the amateur since the job of positioning the characters on the screen and generally making it behave like a commercial VDU is done by the microprocessor rather than a pile of dedicated logic.
35	Hangman [Article] Mike Dennis This is a version of the game that you probably played as a child to while away those long winter evenings before your father bought you a home-computer! This article discusses the design of a computer version of the game and includes the source code in Z-80 assembler.
39	Getting it together [Article] Mike Banahan This is the first of a series of articles about assembly language and assemblers. In this months article we take a look at the reasons for having assemblers, and see one form of this type of language; later articles will go more deeply inot how an assembler works and will describe the construction of an assembler for the z-80.
44	Owner's Report - The TRS-80 [Review] A.J. Harding The TRS-80 is a one fo the first of the new breed of microcomputers which is now becoming available to the home and small business user. Known as "appliance" systems because hey are delivered complete with a built in firmware language and are ready for use immediately the power is switched on.
51	Colour is an Apple II - PCW Review [Review] John Coll & Charles Sweeten The Apple II is a complete, assembled computer system. The system we had for evaluation consists of a single box encasing the keyboard, the power supply, and the main board, together with a separate cassette recorder and a SONY portable colour TV set..
56	Too high a price [Article] Dr John Dawson An eerily futuristic look at the Department of Health and Social Security's plans to take all medical records online and store them in large Mainframe computers and the privacy issues that it raises.
58	Computing for Everybody [Article] Magnus Magnusson An article about the personal computer boom, covering history of the computer until where it is, particularly in the USA, today.