lntroduction

W e l c o n e r o t h e w o r L do f m r c r o c o m p u l l n g Il l s e e m s Thrsrsdrvrdedinto [rveprice bands and coversmrcros

that suddenly computers are takrng over the World under 12000 Each machine is iisted wrth ris detarls,a
B u l d o n ' rw o r r v a b o u LL h ei m p h c a t j o n as n d r m p a c lo { p : c t u r ea n d s o m oh e l p u
f l c o m m e n t sA t t h ee n d o I t h e
computers They are great fun and they're not that r-atalocrrre lhcrp'c a nrrieL rcfcrcnnc eh:rr tn hpln vn',

compircated Computrng rs a fascrnatinqhobby. This compare the machines you lLkeat-a-glance

rs your chance to get rn on the act. Max Phrllips,the author,has worked both as a com-
T h r s g u r d e j s w r i t f e n t o h e l p y o u c h o o s ea n d b u y p u t e r p r o g r a m m e ra n d a s a j o u r n a l i sfto r m o g a z r n e s
vot tryr;r-ro..nnller. There are secLjong in-rndr rr-rnrr such as What Mrcro? and PersonalComputer News
-1-.,o
computers, expiainrng the ;argon and grvrng advrce C,^taln-r'c dra'vs on holh his oxnerienco of the
on what to look for and how to choose and buy market and the machrnesln it and his own vrewsds d
The main part of the guide rs the catalogue rtself computer user

il
^a^ $+

f-rst. \ \ % \ \

, ...,,.:.
 Introd uci ng Microcom puters
Cnmnr rtenc mr', l^nL -^-^1,.^ l^.1 I h^', Rrrf nnmnrrforc :rorrorc^rilc (-hanno lhp Qn ^ nnmn,rra" h^" - ... .nory
^ --" gran
mnrr l-'o c',."n',-.1o.-l ]^'rr r clr:nno irrnnn ^-,-l f].- -! ^v m nr rtar e h:
r r r y u L
nnec f , nm Tn ir rr L.oanc rhp nrnau mq rhar rpl so th
and o[ an] rrqe thev can r-ln an r m, a A qnaac - a r h a tt n d n ^ r d a r v r t o - m d f i o n i t n e e d s .
u , ,z ui n/nL , v r -^.hi.o ln d
' vu vn vy vnurL r r h r r r l n e l q rni^
Vv a
J .r .i \e t rr ry o
v rf d i F f i . , ' l r u
a rn_r u
l u ' , L' : ^ l - -
' , J<!o- rl u
luu5
D,, tL .+
Du/ il tol
'rvade-.ra"ne or f-om a tornrdable Ch"ss ,^r^"L ^- Qn '{,rnrr aro lzoenrnn a r'ltarrtor, M
doesn't make them clever in fact, com v^ n
vPn ^v nr rarnr lr r rn a mrchino tn erl^lncrrc rrnrrr c o m p u L e r ,a l l v o u r t n l o r m a t t o n ,s u " h : , Com
puters 'eally are stupidl lr's peopLe,llko ctamn cnllcnlinn a p p o l r r m e n t s b, r r r h d o y sa r d s o o n w i t , mem
vott and T lhalmalre lhcm ^. 'rce{rrl lhi.n. - - ' i . r-n , -f h a n n m n r r f e r '-q m" e m o f Y
lzpnl JO tf
C o r r n r r t c r sa - e i r r s lr i n d l e s sm o c h i n e s The silicon chip: So how does a com- gram
A1l rhey do rs foilow a series o[ srmple ^' 'ro. '^'^.L 2 Th- h"^i- nl rha enmnrrler iq on th
inslrrahnns e^llcr] a nr^^rAm Fr, h crmnlo r t c m rr. ,r ^v nP rl ^ . o c c n r r cilicnn ehin thatlnnLq e.^
, ' J '
Keyboards and displays: You neeii
s t e p r s r - a r r r e do u t - n l L r n , a l b e l ta l a h r g h ^l^nrJ nhorr< , . . - . ,. . - o n s r r d p r o g r d n .
rho incrrrrnri
v a r o ' . l o r - - r , l t , l r n o l l , L L L I, h r c . 1 . cartr
speed It .o. ^-l', mAnAna crmnlo lir+le ihi.a. h,'r
p * t - t l o r L il o r , r o r< ^ r 5 0 , r T r p u f ^ rh r . . man
. L c a r d o - n r l l . o n so l l h o m e v o r y s o c o n d . \oybo"rds ;u. r lik- .h-s- on !p' lt rra':
pLlt€
Proqrams: Programs are written by So. wrrh a lol of work, r rcroproeessors t t
And vo . nood o ,;o! oott o 'r T-nno..
people They are a long recipe or guide, e
, a
u ,nL hc
u! nercr^ner-l
v.
in rlo almncl anvthina
o - t o [ r i t r- o n p u l - r
'.
r. u.- h rvr! h.
bac
telhng the machine what to do at every Of course,you need somewhere to keep ,^,^.1^.
v "' rh,.1,,.^ 'n^nl ilo iI rrnl o
TIl'q ible
step lt's only with gredt care that the 'ho -"nnram nn rrce h^rrinn rt nn a -a-'r +all .^.h:r ,i'c rh^,,^hl

srmple things a computer can do such as nieep n nancr an.l f.,niro rn dre tnsrruebons S o ^ o m p , . t ^ r c. . s o . o v ^ s . . : ' l are u
a d d r n g t o g e l l e l l w o n u m b o r s o r p u r tn g n^* al a t''^ p rrke v. r do wiLh a calcularo: formatron on a screen, usuaLlyan ordrnari ciisk
a letter on the screen, are turned into use
-l^e
enmnrcr wo ,ld "oend nost of ils TV set. The inforrnatron c.rn b-- ,,vordsor stng,
ful programs that do real lobs r ^ c.\'arF^^ r, r il nevr inSLfUCnO. qraphics pictures, .'lr'.r,"ttinc'ts aTLcl,l:: both
disk

L
eroms.Corpulers also conrecf to prinrers. DIY Programming: Many people who home comp:lers. Usually,rf you wan- ro
sofhalirfo'mahon cdn be Lypedonio pdper. buy a compuler don't write therr own pro- g e t a p a r l i c u l a rj o b d o n e .i r s m u e h b e r t e -
qrams Why should they? You can buy tn htttr a nrnflram rhan rrrrrle nno rrnrrrca I
Memory: There's a catch to this. high quality programs ready-to-go on a B u l l h a td o e s n ' lm e o nt h e r ea r e r o o r i g i n a l
Computers tend to forget what's in their cartndge, cassetteor disk. Just load them nrnfl rar s leI fnr \/.r r -^ 'v I iLe
memory everytime they are switched off. into the computer's memory and away Y o u m l g h t h a v ea n o d d ; o b o r o n u n u s u d l
So there has to be a way of keeping pro- you go hohhv thar nohndrr hac c'o. thn',nht ^'
grams and rnformahon between sessions But if you're interested in computrng as com nr rtcricinc hcfn"o Ror.^ r hle +L nv vn vr n -
on the computer. a hobby, there's no reason why you can't cram alsn lets rrnrr drcrm '^ anr'l ,.,,o-,
Some computers let you plug in special leorn lo p ogrdm. Mosr compllers come your own qames.
cartridges with pre-written progrdms per- with a language called Basic. This lets you So if you're just a litile bit interested in
manentlystored on them. Most home com, write your own prograns in an easy-to- compuriro, you ought Lohove a go. Com
pulers cotneet Lo ordrnary easserle understand way. nttlcrq are amazinn rralrre Thoro
recordersso that ihey can record and read You can learn just by sitting at your com- few machines-that offer the same level of
back information into their rnernory. puter and trying things out. You don't need interestand complexLtylor rhe money.
O n t h e m o r e e x p e n s i v ee o r r p u r . r s , 1 e x - to know any maths or complicated sctence. Don't be put off by people who Lnsiston
ibLedisks coated in a maqnetic material You've just got to be interested. There's rolking 'n code' 6-i Lrying to -nake com
areused to store rnformation. These floppy nothing like the satisfactionof seeingryour prte-s seem speeral Wirh a lirtle b t ol
dlsks (as they are called) work a brt like 'up
own programs and runninq' for the patience and a lot of fun, you'll be your
singlepop records but the compuier can first time own expert soon enouqh. Don't worry
both read and store information on the You can buy programs - to do most about picking a computer Get one and
drsk lobs and play most qames - for most get computingl
Choosing and buying
IL's frightening. Choosing and buying a
microcomputer doesn't look easy There's
a bewrldering array of machines from 040
to 02000 surrounded by a strange and
ahen language.
But rt's really not that hard. In fact there's
so many machines and most of them are
excellent designs, that it's hard to qo
wrgng Provided you know what you;re
looking for and you are prepared to do a
'homework',
Iittle you can make a con-
fident purchase
Half rhe fun of computers rs learning to
use and understand them. But vou don,t
need to know that much before vou buv
one. Buying a computer is like buvinq a
car or camera. Looks and 'feel' count j-ust
as-'nuchas the murky lechnicaldepths
Even so, there are a few pointers that
can be a great help when you start out
Whatdo you want it
tor?
The first is to know exactlv what vou want
the computer for. Do you want a games
machine? Do you want a computer to helo
with your writing or a fancy talculator t,c
help with your homework?
Computers themselves are general our-
pose machines. It's the p.ogru-r that run
on them that decide what thev do So vou
work out what you want the "o-pnt".
for, find out which prog.rams do the tob
and consrder the computers that run those
programs.
If you're looking for a home machine to
play games, file a few oddments - house-
hold bills, say, or recipes, record collec-
iions and telephone numbers - and to
Iearn to program, then look for a machine
which has the sort of games you want to
piay and the biggest chorce of progrdms
available.
There's no substitute for research here.
Look at machines in shops, read adverts,
see games runningand talk to people who
know and can use machines. Yor'll roo.,
have a shortlist of machines to look at.
It's a good idea to concentrate on the
older more popular machines. The mach-
ines that have soid most (in the iaronn
those
withth"bi;s;.i;;.;; n".":lr-'j""',r-'"
Iargest range of proqrdms to choose from.
They have more deaiers and there
dre more people who know about them
should you need advrce and help.
There will always be newer and fancier
super machtnes just around the corner.
But even when they arrive, there will be a
shortage of programs, a lack of expertise
to turn to and, more often than not, teeth-
ing troubies with the machine itself Strck
with the machines that are selling well and
you can be confrdent of o qood 6uv
Willit do thejob?
But how do you know that a parflcular
machjne will do your 3ob?II it's a popular
application, such as wordn-ocessin.r nr
Lrb-"u".orno,il". rtl ""ri c". " Jn.p
and see it do it. Tiy it out . on your data rn
your own flme.
If you've got a unique application that
can't be done by off-rhe-shelfprogrdms.
then ltsten carefully to the advice that's
given. You may need to write your own
program or have one specially written for
you. Even so, 1ry and frnd computers that
can do similar jobs.
There's too mdny misconceptions about
how much computer it takes to do a parti-
cular job. Many 090 machines are billed as
great for the home, office or school. Don't
believe any such ciaims untjl you've seen it
yourself.
There are limits to what particuldr com-
puters can do. And these divide neatly into
lhe sorr of compurer and roughly inLoprice
bands
Micro-types
Micros can be divided into severalsrouos:
handheld computers, briefcase "ornprt"r=,
home computers and business machines.
It's a crude system but it does help to give
d gurde.
Handheld machines are like biq calc-
ulators They'renot reallyas good as some
ot the top scientifrc calculators and they
make very weak computers. So thev are
rea11yfor special jobs that reguire a mix oJ
calculation and computing The only ex-
ception Lothis is Lhatlheir porla bililv makes
them into handy diary and alarm ciock
systems.They are great fun to have alonq
on a tnp as a sort of high technology ex
unve toy.
Briefcase computers are a stra
new middle ground between the
handhelds and real full-sizesvstems.Som
combine full size keyboards, minratu
pnnlers, cassettestorage and Modems
in a package that fits in a briefcase.
There's no orguing that they are
powerful machines.But thereis strlla
age of work for them to do. Briefcase
chines get used by salesmen and bu
researchers and scientists.But they're
yet powerful enough to be of general
to everyone.
Home computers are the biggest
most confusing market-thev are besl
ided by price First timers naturallv tend
go for ihe cheapest systems,often coshr
Iessthanf I O0 Theseare a qreatintrod
Iion bur they rend not to be able to g
with your own interest.
Such low priced computers come
4K or less Ram - which rs too small if
are qornq to wnte your own prog
The computer might be grear ar rur
plug-in cartridges, because these
with theexrromemorytheyneed.Butyou
need to buy more memory yourself il
start to program.
The best first time machinescost
tweene lOOand l20O They combine
Lhe fearuresol the cheap machines w:
decentmemoriessuch as l6K, 32K
even 48K Many are much better at
1ng games rhan the cheaper 'gdmes'
chines The Atarr range, for example,
ar t l50 and rs speciallydesigned to gr
arcade style action.
Abovee200,you startto get
that can grow into genuine systems.T
still play gdmes remarkably well and
certainly recommended for the
first time buyer But they are intended
people wiih real interest tn computtng or
genulne need lor a serious computer-
These are the most drfficuitd
Fully expanded they might be able to
seriousjob such as word piocessino
spreadsheetcalculationsSo vou "6
perhaps save yourself the extra
neededto buy a realbusinesssystem.
The best way to avoid this dil"--u
again to see such machinesin action.If
can do it, all well and good lf rt shc
weaknesses, you'll probably be better
gotng tor a more expensrve system.If
wdnt to be sure of gethng a serious
done, again it's a good idea to buy a
expensive system from the srart.
Business computers: Which
us onto so-ca]led 'busrness
These are machines priced from lJ
upwards They have the things you
for business such as drsk dnves,
column screens, 64K memories and so no redson why you couldn't buY from Don't think it's a chore and a probiem lt's
on as standard. Smithsor Boots.Manyof thesestoreshave the first round in what could be a long,
I)nn'f rlicmicc thom
Lrrvrrr
irr<t haearrqc
vvvssvv
iherr
Lt rvt trained computer staff and will willingly happy relatronship With a computer!
'business' JUJL

are so-called systems.it's true exchangefaultyequipment.

that only a few of them play games at ali
well,the Apple and the Advance 86 being
MaiI Order is an awkward situation.
Often, new computers are only sold Mail
Findingout more
thc hpct a*amnlcq Rr rl thcrr can clill hc Order to start wlth. Becausethey're new, Frnding out more about computers isn't
excellenthome computers. Lheretends to be de)aysand faultyequip- too difficult There are plenty of books and
I{ you'redoing someseriouswork, such ment.So buying Maii Order oftenleadsto magazines available. There's even the
"".^r^".-l n r n vnvov ucJc4 ri Yn n
Pr
nr olcntrnnin filina trouble. occasional series about computers on the
rhenyou should consider buying such a I f ryrv n
rI u rr e
dvn lv .ur] r r r rua n
v vn
r rm
r t s4 l t e r Mail Order television
machinefrom the start.If you havea mobile then you may frnd problems if the equrp- Cnmnrrter n\Mncrq tend tO fOrm clubS
vvraayuLvr
'user
hobby,you could find a portable, such as ment goes wrong or you need some ad- and groups' just like other hobbies. A
theOsborne I or Pied Piper,immenseiy vice lt's much better to start with a shop. visit to your local club will glve you advice
useful. V^r r ^^n tnrr l-ro{aro
Lr y uvrv' v
rrnr r hr
tvs
vvt
rrr and rrnt t can and first hand experience of what it's all
^1-'^,'+ V^r,'ll r r ^.nl-.alrlrr prran ncl a nhance
Thesemachines aren't ds much fun as go back if you have any problems yrvvuvry evvrr Yvr
-
thetop home computerssuch as the BBC Once you're down to a shortlist,the best to try some of the machinesyou're think-
Micro and Commodore 64 but thev are thing to do is go round to your local dealer ir n n
rrv
ahnrr+
uvvuL
lv-s 'r r r r r Li nL \aY

fv )r -r vnva . r n r r y' rv ru e h nrah+ A a^mnrtcr \rnrl

runrlh lnnlzinn at and try the machines out. Read their man- vv vvuvr-L

uals, run some proqrdms and talk to the should ioin a club. Meetings and news-
Whereto buy one salesmen. Feei free to make a personal
choice. go for an attractive-looking ma-
letters are a great help in suggesting ideas
and coming to your rescue when you get
Thara rro nlontrr n{ nlanaq tn ht trr cnm- chine that feels well made and comfort- stuck. Besides local clubs, there are plenty
putersfrom. These vary from Mail Order, able. After all, it's you that's going to be of nailonal groups wtth postal newsletters
big chainstoreslike Dixons, Boots and W using it. to consloer.
lJ Qmi+hc +n cnonielict nnmnrrter
L v J y v 9 l u l r J l v v r r r y v L v r v r r v y v '
qhons And remember to make it a reasonably Computers are very popular in educa-
T r r c t lLi"L\ vc
JUJL
hrrrrinn
vuy!rv
mncl eleetrienl enttin- local deaier that's friendly and helpful.'icu tron. If you want to learn more about them,
rr^enl vorr're n"ohahlv better off with a -ott
rrruy -aorl
Ivvu conrrinp enrl heln nnne tlntt'tlc you could look for a course at your local
l^'^'^'
v u r u u \'ah orreninn cnhnnl or cnllcne
sneeialist Ynrr'll oet ,^rood advice and a bought the machine. ,rr uvurlrrrv lvuvYv

proper alter sales servlce. So buying a machine needn't be the Taking a course will help you use a com-
Howevel you may pdy a bit more for the nightmare most people think it is. It's a puter dt home. But it also works the other
privilege lf you're buying o simple home good chdnce to see what's on the market way round If you want to take an exam,
computer for playlng games then there's and try out lots of different cornputers having a computer at home is a great help
 Whatto lookfor
'il.o
The errrjes in the calaloguF cover m.Lcro- Lc-rs lhnse vnrr'd fi:d on an electric heener lo nrah rrnrrr attenlinn nr qinnal an
co"npuLersunde- l2O0O They are drvided lrrneruriier A Calerrlalor Lcrrhnard hrq error rhrnr rnh rhnqc rnrh,nh -An ^lA\/ n^tac
i n . n f i ' o n ' , n ^ h a n - t c , , r d e r C 2 0 0 ,t 2 O 0 _ mnrrinc lzcvc hrl thorr o.o n
y rnvnu lu. rv lr-yr 1 , , -r a
r r.u' lvo! and qn,tndc tA.nmnlav crrnlhpcrcorc thar

t500, S500-e I 000, I I 000-l I 500 and over from soft rubber or plasnc and do nol cdn mrmrc different jnstruments and play
t I 500 Th"se are based on Lheprices you have the sa'rLefeel as a real keyboard FIal r--ho-dsr:sinosevera''voigg5'
uiottld evnee t l n n A \ r t ^ q r A r T \ / ^ r r r Jc ryrJcL tr e m
rrr
Tl
I LNo9r ryhUnU
: rU
d cI U J o "loq
U tLhlor 9 tt nUr U
r ^Ll rl-tc-aJ-C
- i lt ti .J' ^l i l V q l- t^ U
- lt- Micros erlher make therr noise through
nfren ha^^o.c rhrr r rha:n crrcrom '^,ill h- mnrrinn r'lecinnc ctill r rco/-l ^n eAma h' '.lnor a hrrilt in internal qncrLe. nr lherr ennnecl
pxnanr-led (hv addino d qlr driree nrinrer< --.] -^.,^-
rml rau- hL i.- ot i. l . \ ) . H
I ^t u. ^v' v^ ,c' v- 's r 5}Juuc-o(]u ol tu lIUVcl to some externaldevice.This can be your
and othef accessories) to put it into a drf 'hov'nnk -l-cv are awfrrl
Lowork with. televisronset or rt can be a Hi-Ft unit. Hav-
ferent nrtee and nerfnrmanec ealcnnrrr Kerihnarr'lq ArF rmn^rl;nr anr-] nprcnn:l ira cvlprnel qnrrnrl rc nrorl i[,rn',liLe lh:r

aitogether t rhri n
' "oYs " ' Vnrr qhnrrld rrrr rhc qrrqtcm rrnrr'np so-t of lhino vnrr oet a r-onvenrentvolume
Faeh e n 'l.r, r Jr h. ' a' ' s a n h o l n n r a n h a chnrt t h i n l <i n o n [ h r r r r i n n Aftcr all i t ' c vy vnu r r t, hr , eu lt
r L J control and a decent volume.
.If
anmmFnf io tell rrnrr cnmcthrnn rl-rarrt rhrr haq lo rrcc rhc thinn Sn an fn. a lzarrlrnrnr-l vorr're inlereqtcd in qnrrnrl lhe rhinnc
oarie rlar qrrqre.n ard a .neetficolon. Some lhal fee s riohr to vorr some ca]culator to look for dre dn exlerndloutput for Larger
^t ll-o rL ino. In lnoL jor ar q - l.e'rhoa-dsa-c ae ralhr.referablelo some snea ker{ mrrlrinle
'rrnie
ec' io nlarr ehnrdq
full ones and "nceial e{fcets to rmitaLe dillerenr
CPU: The lypo of mrcroprocessorused instruments.
ai he hear- nf tho rn-^"rer Th,q minhl hc Display type: This is how Lhecompurer J.onl,-hrorrrrhmacra
ziresior advertsand
a rad'rionalR-hi m'ernnroccssor such as narc in{nrmrti^n h^-L ,^ ,'^, ' q^-^ ^l',^ a r - i e l e " O f t e r i l ' q s n e e i a la d d o n s a n d
the 6502,280 or 6809 or one of the newer, rnTn An nrdina rv T\/ nrherq nlr rn in in nr nrnrr-'r*s lhal lrarstnrm the mosl mute (
m o r es o p h l s r i c a l eld6 b r rm o d e l s u c ha s ^n-c w'tl^ a snenial Vonilor. These are enr n rtc-q irtn nanieal -nustc machines. I
^ orF pvncrc'ric -Vs
the BOBBand 8086 ihan bur do offer a
T h ee n l r ya l s or el s V o ur h ^c l o c ks p e e d mr rnh hallor nin| rro Storage: The firsrrhrng ro .ealiseabour (
r l r u h- h l h e n r o e e . . o r ' . used This is Lhe \,4r.rr rn-n' lorq hrrrp nnln, ," .-li"^lorr" sloraetc's La ai vorr- work rs in Ram and
hearrhe^r that rca,'l^to. t.o .^m^rlar dn^ but some still are hmited to monochrome e
" 'v" c' n
J i" t" h i n n in Ram drqrnnca.",nrho. rr^,, ;
s grven Ln MHz . s o n d n y m i l h o n so [ , b l o c ko - r dw h i l e t d i s p i a y sR e m e m b e rl h a l , crnrilch thecnmnrrrernff Q,n,rn' '.oo.-l o r^r"t,
'bloct<
}^,oalc nor "-^^-r_l i f y o u a r e w o r k r n g w i t h a m o n L t o ra, nf kcenirn hnlh n-orr-ans and rnlormahon
The c'o.k sp^eo and pTo.csso- won' :.r'l-'n'hiro .u-rl )i P
. ^rruor' /, 1 / l C O. 5- ii ll y- ' L
^L ^U * L, U UY
.- q- -t g
- -c^l l The nheaneqi and mn.r rrnreliahle rnrav t
aaf iaArn m^n\/ Ircarc h ,r r. ,,-,,.,'ollt, {^"r on black or amber on black These trnted is to use ordinary cassette tape in an I
l 6 n [ . p e e i f o ' a p a r b c ua - p r o . e s s o r] ^ i n r s q-r^^rq 'a.] 1-p prrccl-rin and af^ mOfe n-dira-'r -eenrde- S^re machinesare t
d- a 'rs mo.hrre and a r6 bit pro"essor n l c . s a r - 1 6, 1 " p [ n ' ' o r n n e r t o d s berter ar rhrs Lhanolhers. Some gel thetr )
tends to offer more memory and proces reliahilirv Irnm rrcinn cnce iallv -a.-]o .o.- ]
slnQfpowef. Display ability: Th s is the basrc eopa sette recorders that must be used with a
h r , Jr c r rr rhc mirrn'q.:] ..1^r, Tho nrrmher narrierr-ar maeLiro Thccc C O S 1m O f e b U t l
Ram: Thrs is the amount of Random oi -harac'ers across rho screen by the are worth it in added rehability. 1
Access Memory rn the system. Ram is the n u m b . r d u w . l ' 9 o i v o n F o r b u s t n e s sp r o - Ar tho low end oi the narkol, you ll meel y
T^molv us"d forvour^wn prograns and o r o n s s r . h o s w o r d p - o - e s s o r s ,d l l F d s r computers that use a plug in cartridge
d a " a r d - l e m o r e ' h e r o. s t h - m - l r i o r y o u RO cnl, rmnc,. -"-f-"^hl^ system. These have a program permdn. c
a r o J ' k e a . i n ^ m o r y s y s t e m sF . o r r t sr l r e d - T i e h o m p , . s o r w l o d o " s h _ so w n p r o en ly ro.orded on rhem and ,-anr b" used c
sured rn K, roughly a lhousand characters , rrArnm nn or mn<tlt, nla,rr n^-o" rnrrll he !-- .s LnU.r r r 1 9 y u u r ^u tv.v' ^ r n r o .f f r ; m* s- - -
ur 1., , nr daia a
(jetters, digits or symbois) of information content with 40 or even 32 (-artridoec Are FVnAnqr\/c tn nrnr]rrrp cn
( o a p a q e o f ' v p i n g L a k o -u p a b o u l - l ( - f l h e v e n " - r n - e R ; 1 1l l ^ a td o e s e n s u r e L h a t
Ram Graphics resolution works in a simllar t h e p ' o o r a m s o r o o i o h r o hq u a i L r y . s
Once you've got a shortlist of machtnes, way It's the number of dots across the So-ne companies sed olug Ln Rorn p
r v - ) L ' . , d r -n o w m u c h R a n l h - y n a v ei r e - ..--^^ h-r'Le rr mhe- .lown ihal thecom- chips io achreve a srmilar effect on tl
for you to use. Many nachines need some pJ--T.dr.onlrol. So ihe htgherth- machines.which don't have a cartridge F
of their Ram for therr o,,rrnuse, such as n . n b " r , r h e - o r o o e l o i l e dp i c i u r e s i l e a n sockor. Th.s^ wor k Ln a srmilar way blr p
providinq o'aphr.s o'spiays jo rust be draw hario rhp rl,c:rl',r-r^^o tr hrr rt u (t h,ra ', ,y ^ ' - h^..1 p,

cduse two machines have i6K Ram doesn't Thorc are lols of ways o[ producing l.n. r h.a. n.c,o, r . anr_l oac,ar in I l d m d g e . p
' _ e d n . o s o vl h a l l l e y h a v . r h c . o r ^ t m o r l ' " r r ^ n h ' e .q o r c . n l r ' i n ni s n " l h e b e o l l a n d N^x' rp, most nicros relv or floppy
of usal:le memory. end.rll -n choosing a syslem.Somo disks. Theseare flexiblediskscoatedin a n
-nach,nes ore better dL n'rovlng shopes m
r .a.nun 9o rr i' n. r l rr o! eL nUr rr l ui .l a. 1 9 rc u
, j r- + - ^ L. r
r O
-l-^-^ -.- a+
5 t
-lhis . r s e f u l[ o r a r c o d e
t r t r L g O l q

Rom: rs fixed, permanent memory, q r i r l . ' r rl h a r ^n l h c r s three common stzes the tradrtional 8
l u l lo ' r " ' o r m a i n n t h a tI h e r u m p l t - r n ^ e d s gfames. Cthers offer subtle colour varia- inch djsk, rhe 5 z5 inch floppy and rhe th
everytrme it is switched on. Cn a cassette hons and so on. newer Sony microfloppresbased on o 3.5 nr
b o s ^ d m " . h i n e . R o m i s u s u ol y u s . d r o Rt I vnr r don'r n e c dv r lvn v nu n in ln ,h- .^- inch disk ju
-lo. 6 - ^ r r l . A r - l Aq r . . r .-. Bosrc so Lhot tl's nlev dptarlc nl nranhinc rn nieL' r].o ho.r The thirer tn warr-hf^r wirh disks rs rhe sr
r h e r ew h e r v o - s w r t . h o ^ . O n l a r g e r m o sv"lcm hnr:al- Ir'"1l^rvc a look ol some n u m b e r o f d i s k d n v e s a n d r h e c a p a c r l yo r
r hinpq rhoro c r rcl r nnrr t ,' ^l A^- ' LU UV I ctmnle nrofirAmq rrnnino nn lhc urrrnrc the disk rn each drive Standard floppies th
io oet he m^.hrnA nnina ^nn lnrn n itc mochines You'll soon get a feeLfor lh^ va'v frnn arnrrndBOK lo ..2Mb rn theIo
'clvle'
n'..J-drq f.n* c flnnn'.61,5[ nl nranhinq a nrrlie rrJar crrctom Amn r rnr nf r-]ara rhp,, na- c t n r aU
JLvI
(-n-ci.lor
vvI lJ'u\r
rrr
,\

produces. arv-hinei lcss ]-an 2OOK a btr small. Esn.w

Keyboard: This is -he typc ol keyboard mate rhc qize n[ rrnr rr r]a la [n" o.o-^lp
s,rnnlted rvrth the.omnr rer fnr qrmnlierl' Sound:This grves you an idea of what your record collechonor an address hsr.It
rhe calaloguodelines rhreetypes. sort of sounds a micro produces. These matr maLc lilo -, '.h ercrer i[ not il
9vr
I'
ctr
vti

10 A Full kevboard has proper moving r. a

un. LnvcL {. rr nv m
rrr rc yr rr rq Ll pr rmr cr 1. r1l -o-l r L-,,^;,.^r
liovq ju>L o all on one disk. yc
 The caLaloguejust quotes the minimum ruith at leaqt anc nrnhahlrr lhe o:."- cessingand so on. For anyone wanring lo
and maximum drive capacrties.Most com- to-learn Basic. But don't think you need to be computensed with the mirumum of fuss,
'in-heirnrca.'
nanies nf{er r-lrirroc anr] .rnr t learn a language. if you just want to get on this can be a very good idea.
ean frenrrontlrr-h *r rr. t -^ .,i ," ^",- s l n o n e s a s y o u with computrng, then you cdn play games
need them. Even if the manufacturer or learn a wordprocessor or data base Software availability: This assesses
doesn't personally make d rdnqe of drrves, systemwithout bothering with a langudge. how much software is available lor a parti
someindependent company somewhere If you're interestedin learmng, then Basic culdr mdchine. Go for d populdr mdchLne
wril is a oood wav to qtart Most disk based because it gives you more to chbose from,
Many low cost systems start life with qrrqlcmc loi rrnrr nhnn"o +"^- ^ll lho ^^^- lhc nnm nal-itirrp merlzpt mrLoc lha nrn.
'anorraoes
onlyone disk drive. This rs alright for low ular and some ol fhe more nramq hclter rnd rrarr'll he al-rlp tn npf
r v v u L
cnfl-
J v r L

volumepersonal work but is a distinct dis- obscure ones. ware and support monihs later.
advantageif you're using the computer d f)nlrr hrpalz thi" "' 'lo if rrnrr noprl ta hrrrr r
lotor for serious business work. Operating System: Thrs is the pro na rt ie rtlr r maeh inc ho.or rca \/^r r n: n'l aor :
, v u ! u L r L v ! L u
Disks shorrl.l he frpar re.rlrr nnnrarl tn gram rhal controls the running of a large package anywhere else or you are certain
protecr progroms and informanon from diqk haqer] ..mnrrtcr Thp nnerarinn that the sofiware availobleis right tor your
accidentaldamage Copying on a one drive syslem looks afrer all the hardware but 't ioh hnth rnw and ir^the fufure
systemrnvolves sithng rhere swapping also determineswhich progrdms wrll run
disksover while the computer reads a littie nn a narticrrlar mr-hi-o
Special features: This sechon listsany
bitlrom this one and writes a little bit to that Mony machines hdve their own specilic maior snee ial lealr rrcc of ihe crrqtcm All
one Tt gets worse wirh higher capacrly one-atirn svstems Brrl ii's best to look out mrcros have therr insrgmficant little features
disks fo- the wide"nread and q'lccess{u] oneS dS and nrrirlrc rrnrr'Jn
l pl r licr nl thcm il rrnrr
So he nrenarerJ u rn avn6nl
Lv u ^y to a second lhese have ihc larneqi renno nf raarlil', talk to a salesman
diskdrjve soon after you buy the machine. available software to work with them.
When rro,,'.. ehnnqinn chpclz thp nnina nl On 8 bil machines,Lhesystemto be wilh Guide Price: Thrs redllv is a sr.rrtng
o seconddnve . rhis 1susually lhe point -s CP, M, giving you access lo lhousands n-ir-e Dnr'l .nmn^rc." JrrsaLone. think
whereprices sldrl ro difter dramahcally nf tned and -es-ed nrnnrams. On 16 bit aborrl nrirte-s scrFFns drs< dnves and
The best sroragemedtum to- micros is s y s t e m s ,M S D O S L s e n j o y i n g d s L m r l d r obove all software Even cheap gdmes md-
thehard or winchester disk These are SUCCCSS- ehinec ean rnnccal Fvnancr\/a rrrlrrr_lnoc
fasl rcliahle hi-h .^ n^.ihr c r r c t o m cL J
JYJLUII
Rrrr
UU/
tnrhercrc A m^ro ewnpncirra crrclem mrnhr
they are often too expensive to be used Software included: This lists dny pro b e s rr . r o r r n d c d h v f 5 e a s s e t t e s .
v v y ! J ! u !

t t r s ti n r h c h n m e (^ thor, lanr-l rn h- h^',^hl nramc lhrr are i n r l r r r l p r - l rL nr I ir hr La! ynr rr ui rl a nl rho

vr irru \A,Ihere naqqrhle enql ewrntlrr rrrh: I rrnr r
byTbusrness
Irrqr
users. machrne. ]t doesn't count the operahng are noinn fo nct nnr irrqr a
u h
u uaJ<! i r cJ yr Jr q
L \l ,e, m
, .
lilrc flnnniec rrnr r'll {rnrJ no^^lo .oll ^.,^'^- -^l .-,, l-'.^,, ^^^ L^^-..^^ rL^..
5y5lcill oru orly rot lguogc5 ucLou5c Utcy
hard disks for most machrnes. So have a ,rr. a--eadv'nertinred elsewhere. Suggestions: Throughour rhe caialogue,
l o o ko r w h a r i s a v a i l a b l of o r r h e s y s t e m s Whai rrnrr minhl n c t r a r i r hr r n r r r m r n h , n c vor r'll fincl a fcrl hinlc qrre h r" Rcct Rrrrr
vnr are nnncia]arinn rarneq trnm a rlcmnnctrarinn nrnnrr m rrir Rcenmmendcd nr cimnlrr \Al',e l^. l\,1^.o',
Tinoss'hle oo 'nr one of Lne new rnter a lew games lo complete business pack- As [ar os compulers dTFconcerned, h"se
rhanneahle hard r]rqL q\7q'Fme A< r.aca . '-r^-- ---
a
ung eL cr . \- ,L4r:u- ,r 'r y -! rh.^! ^u^v rhu' ,5" ii l. t^c- 5 5 >y>trLit> otE c a - o r l v h e t a l , e na " a u r d e l i n e s W
. hrch
combine the best of hard disks with the rcrl h:rnrinc hera, '.o rLo.r .^-o .^,,'h t^^
compurer is besr depends on who you d-p
adrranlrnec n{ fln^^io" nrra-itv nroo'ars s reh as Wordslar and trd rrtl'a trol urrrl 'n 11n
ry111 l1
(r,na.aal- q^ .r^', ^-..] ^^l . Rti all me^nc ennc dc" rnF c\rcfome err^
Interfaces: These are the piugs and system Vou can stdrr uslng rhe moment gested. But don't take it as gospel Follow
socketsused ro expand and eonnec-con- \/n | ^cl it nrrt n{ tha l-.n' A-d rh-.' fan,-l rn the other advrce in the catalogue look
e,nma
nrriFrq r^ er_lr_lrrrnnrl aarrinmonr ^l he oood nanlzancc qn fhal varr r]nn't harrp f o r s o I l w a r eo n d s u p p o ' l L " s t l y d o n r i - l
theseare common standards such as the Loworry dbouLmdking costlymistakes. L h a lv o u c a n t l e l y o u r o w r p r e f o r o n . o s
RS212 cerial nnrt {nr linLrnn -n.-lo-. o..l Snme cnmna n icc cell lhoir cnm n r lorc ere-an lnro t lts rrorr m ern and rrnrrrc
printers,an IEEE rnterface 1615nr6'p[[1n nnlrr ac nrrl nl o -^-^loro yn u: nL Lr \runv^u r 'v^v, ,i ,t ,h' g o l n g L ou s c i l . S o b u y o n e v o u r F h c t n p y
(-entronie q
efflrnmpn+ or a nnrl lnr ^ sofrware, to do dccounhng or word pro- with
prrnter.
O t h e r sa r e s p e c r h ct o e a c hp a r r i c uo -
mdchineor manufacrure', such ds o joy
cfrcL nn lrnh+non nnr+
=:fll
Many systems are eosily expdrdeo
F\
t.h. r.n._
t t-nrh- . a n c n e r a l - , n r * fon
r r-n n q , e e x p a n s - o n
'bus' t r F = BestBuy
necroror These cdn be specrfic r,
jusrone machine or well known standard.
'S 'slots'
such TIl'q
as 100 bus' or Apple or lBM
altnrarr. rrrnrth nhnnci-n o -o.h,.o

thar haq q^mc pvnAnqinn nnlanlirl Ann

look caretully ar rhe interfacesseclion rr : Recommended

rintt rre al"cad,/ ^^t c^ma enrrinmonl rr, r

want to work with the computer.

= Valuefor
Languages: This rs the system of in
qtrrrntinrc th"n,,nh ."^ .' ]". i-. 1. l
money
}/ou cdn wrltF
J\,4nqr qrrclomc
vorrr o\A/n nronramq enmo . L 11
 ACORNATOM
Acorn's first big sellel the Atom i,s
nearing the end of rts days Its de
stgn has made rt very much a ma
chtne for hobbyists and electrontc,q
englneers. It's an ideal system ial
use as a controLler for other equrJr
ment Acornsoft has produceci an
rmpresslve range 01 programs tai
support the nachrne.

CPU:6502, lMHz
Ram:2K4OK
Rom:8 16K
Keyboard:f rr o {o..
Display type: TV or monrtor;
colour optlonaj
Display ability: 32x 16 texL,up
to 256x192 graphrcs
Sound: notes, Lnternalspeaker
Storage: cdssettetape, ophonal
. x I O O Ki o p p l
I n t e r l a c e s : L - x p a n "o r p o r r
Languages: Basic, Assembler,
optronaLPascal,Lrsp
Software included: None
Software availability: Good The new ACORN ELECTRON featureson STOP PRESS Daoe 18
Guide price: | 170

COMMODORE
vrc20
T l ^ l ' ^ c l q c l ' r n V ) 0 r. " n n e t h r r 6
0 1 a o d r g d l r n o w r n a rr t s s e l i n g l o r
a r o rr n r ' lI I 4 O T - t c h a- c r n r l l vr : ' q o ' n e l
c o - i . r p u r e r r ^ 1 rr n g o n [ o r 1 1 y e r
aF.ct\o r11dqe. rF^conabl(
graphrcs and excellent sound for
rtspopularity.
..ntrFs
wrll-.^ rr"erlv 6K Ra|l
and Commodore's eLderly ant
crude Mrcrosoft Basic. Thrs doesnr
support the Mc's graphics or sounr
so you have to resort to a masso
r. I t-,. p^lzf ir -.-.. _.. \- . . ^n
,,uu y I v,\ L urrrl ui ruLrilu uv ^ n. jl
L
+n/Fcq,vF nr
aT^t'dTc vout uwl

Even so, a proper keyboard andi

v 's-r.ro-nf .rll Fc^rrl "d.l onsdt
help the programming enthusiasl.

CPU: o5O2 lMH,,

Ram:5 29K
Rom:2OK
ATARI4OO CPU:6502, 1BMHz Languages: Basrc,optronal Keyboard: FuLl,66 keys
Ram: l6K Assemble4 Prlot,Forth, Pascal Display type: TV or Monrtor,
The 400 is a top games computer. R o m : I O K Soltware included: None colour
-
- ,rn- l sltrd ard n-tnlr_cs ole Keyboard: Flat,6l keys Soltware availability: Good Display ability:22x23 text, up 1.
-le i r- e-l t^ rr, 1 F rF^, " '-7q"
drcode Display type: T! colour Guide price: e 150 54 n--nl-r.s R.o o_TS
^errnn Trc m;np cA -r ln r -o hv r Display ability: up to 40x24 Sound: f voreo. cXlprrd
svster o'plug rn.ar'rtdg-. 61c 6f ' e x - .u p [ o ] 2 O x . O , o r a p h _ e .
Storage: Cartndge socket, Owni
whrch grves you access to the Basic cLo.-^lor 2.6 s dd-. o.r( aAqqcrTFreenr.ier nnrinnal i
ianguage intensihes 1x17OKfloppy I
'(
'^
T d c ^ ar nrFcs.VA jrl,LuS Sound: 4 voices wrth special Interlaces: Jovsick Serialponi
' o a n r t F - r t l n r r o l - ^ i . s a ] r[ - - o s effects for p-interdrskor modem I
' c ,t i e r d q r S Lo g o n e S m a c h r n F r Storage: Cartridge socket, own expansronport i
You can get unof{rcraLupgrades to .tssa F.een-dor lrO or rnlo] Languages:Basic,Forth, i
o r - r l 4 B K o ' r o m o r / T h " h r g h 4xBBKfloppy assembler I
-arrr -]^cc rr f t . llck
n-:.o ^r ol o Interfaces:4xloysick d-sx Software included: None
n- re- l,^..hoir. 4.F l,.o6uu, , .lrV^ n- - l-- .ascF lF . r lt^l o Software availability: Good
12 ages. RS232and Centronrcs Guide price: | 140
 UNDERT2OO
MICROGOMPUTERS
DRAGON
32
lt. f),^^^- . , , ^ ^ - - . l a . t - h. , , ]J F r n g
r
-a"-."[-:-nz]rret r- tLe noh' ..me
Lt
wasrhe lirst machrne Lo offer rha'
r "a" ve (. 7tr re-Io'raeeo and to
b. -os ty avotlaole or{ Ih. shclvcs
lt's desrgned from standard com
r rortc a-d rc . . ^cF .-l-. VaUVe
rl l"-r'i .^mowl-al "v"rnnced
ColourComputer.
Theresultis that a vast number of
peopleown and use the Dragon
Sothere'splenty ol software and
addons avaiLabLeBut the Dragon
I 6(. --p^ ,. -^\'-
ewldl r !!u!)
tl-- nerfnrr
P!
' rvL L! o.t!-
'i..^o.t c pjy: q 1c lr^nL'CS dtr

weakand awkward to use. Sound

. , , , , i .i , .
. n "l 2 ( a o m ,h a s [ e - n 5 p p - - s - j c j
l- -^^hrr ^c cr r-n d - li^F ,18K Or'C

and Spectrum. There's nothincl

v . . ,- ^ ..,..L ,h^ llr.onr hlt lO
makesureyou try rts rivals before
buyrng.

CPU:6809, IMhz
Ram:32 64K
Rom:l6K
IGyboard:Full, 53 keys graphrcs, chotce fr,:m E colours Languages: tsasrc,Fbrth,
Displaytype: TV or Vorror. Sound: notes, external Assembler
'"P'
colour Storage: Ca'-rido- -dssetle So{tware included: None
Displayability: 32x l6 text, Interfaces: 2xJoystrck, Software availability: Good
' ' a a a r- r c a n - l ' - r ' n )16y'92
. Centronics, Expansron port Guide price: ll75

13

ACE
JUPITER
The Ace is one of the oddities of
home computing. It's the first micro
ever to be based on the Forth
language rather ihan the Basic used
on most other systems. Forth rs a
{ac- eomnaet laro racc ideal for
wnting gdmes programs lt's not
that hard to learn either.
But rhe Ace, despile its superb
implementation of Forth, is not a
heninner'q anmnr lFr Tl haqn'l
very modern specificahon . . . black
14
MICROCOMPUTERS
UNDER[2OO
(
t
I
l
L
t
o
tf
id
a n d w n i r e l o w r e s o l u t r o ng r a p h r c s , Keyboard: CaLculator,40 keys
c r u d e e n g r n e e r i n ga n d a h n y s t a n d - Display type: TV, monochrome
ard memory make it a bad idea for Display ability:32x24 texr, user
newcomers It has a hobbyist ap definable characters, 64x48
n c a l r l h : t r t e a n h e e v n a n c l - . c1l 6
51K Ram and can easily be used io
graphics
Sound: Notes, internal speaker
oRlc 1
cnrtrnl a l l er^vr ,r ,er v , ^ l o ^9 tJ, .i nP m
L , .a, nu , . L
iL^
Storagre: Cassette tape A s rr n e r h l ' o m e e n n n r r t e r lT h e 0
sort of work -{ Forth was originally Interlaces: Expansion port is the resull of careful design by
irierdcd fnr
rvr !r r.^r
y v u r arc in-crq51g6] jn Languages: Forth experienced Tangenne Compul
thatsideof computingthentheAce Software included: None and sound financial backing fr
is certainlyworth looking at. Software availability: Poor Oric products. Ailer a worryr
Guide price: f,90 long period of teething troublesr
CPU: ZBO,325MHz faulty machines, the Oric has lir
onr a Ram:3-51K rrn fn rtc nrnmice
Rom: BK It comeswith 16K or 4BK B
and lparrrres hroh resolut
graphics, excellent sound and ar
V r e r n c n fi B ^ s i . r r l c . n r e t e l
doesnt have a proper keyboard
fie slope of the case and the typ
keys used make it possible to to
type
C P U : 6 5 0 2 ,l M H z
Ram:16-4BK
Rom: l6K
Keyboard: Calculatoq, 57 keys
Display type: TV or Monitot
colour
Display ability: 40x28 text,q
to 240x200 graphrcs,B coloun
Sound: 3 vorcesand special
cffontc in+ern:l cnp^LFr
Storage: Cassette tape, 1x150
floppy
Interlaces: Cenironics,
Expansion port
Languages: Basic, Forth
Soltware included: None
Software availability: Fair
Special features: ophonal
Prestel adaptor
Guide price: 16K S100,48K
| 140
 MICROCOMPUTERS
UNDERf2OO
SINCLAIR
ZX81 CPU:ZB0,325MHz Keyboard: Flat, 40 keys Sound: None
R a m :l - l 6 K Display type: TV,monochrome Storage: Cassette tape
The mass market computer that Rom:BK Display abilit y : 32x24 text, Interlaces: Expansion connector
really started the micro booml For upper caseonly,64x48 pixel Languages: Baslc, oprronal
only040, a crude plashc case holds qraphics Forth, Assembler
a working computer made out of
Software included: None
just Iour chips Nearly 75O,OOO
Soltware availability: Excellent
peoplehave bought ZXB I s.
Guide price:040
It's not a wonderful machine. It's
oniy black and white, Iow resolu-
hon graphtcs, a flat tiny keyboard,
no sound, a slow Basic, it often over-
heatsand so on. It comes with a
uselesslK Ram. . . if you buy one,
buy a l6K Ram pack as well.
But the ZXBI is cheap and has
pilesof low cost software and add
ons If vou reaLly can't aflord any
thtngelse, then the ZXB I is still an
idealbeginner's machine.
 MICROCOMPUTERS
UNDERT2OO

rA
M
)ne
:om
)yto
)ut lr
Ligh
]asic

Bu
,oard
s far
ndn
rams
lv.lO(
.men(
ris cc
ways
sit.

x32 g

|oragc
|BTKc
teriac
rtona.
lngua
ih disk

lqn^(
mnre re.P.l des qnq q re h as
around 7K rs used up for the screen
lne 216" iQ) nranl^ es 8 eolo trs )/M
SINCLAIR Oric 1. Price cuts have made rr Lrrrc.r display. So you qet around 9K and
nf : hrrnain 4lK frec rnr vnrr- nwn rrse So tt
Sound: Notes, internal speaker
Storage: Cassette tape, Sinclair
rftwarr
rftwart
SPECTRUM Because it's a Sinclart lhe Spect- .^^11,, ," ^ "^."iLl^ mn,ro rn nn {nr Microdrive ride pr
rum is surrounded by a vast market the 4BK version. Interfaces: Expansion connector
An ideal machine for the first hme o l s o l l w a r ea n d a d d o n s m a k i n g r ta Languages: Basic, optronal
buyer. The Spectrum was the first worthwhile choice, Sinclair Basic is CPU: ZB0,3.SMHz For,h Aqsemhlcr Lisn Paseal
tn nf{er ln+c ^{

resolution colour graphics for

mem^n/ ^n^ hrnh better than some but still fairly limif
ino Rrr- it iq nossihle to write in
Ram:16-4BK
Rom: l6K
Software included:
Demonstrahon
ANI
underel 25 Assembly language, Lisp, Forth Keyboard: Calculator,40 keys Soltware availability: Excellentf Q-l
flaeni+o iic crrr,.la onninaovinn and even Pascall Display type: TV colour Guideprice: I6Kt99,
and soggy rubber keyboard, the The Specirum comes in either a Display ability: 32x16 text, user 4 B Kt t 3 0 loy S nl
Soectrum is strll a maior rival to the i6K or a 4BK version. On both, definablecharacters,upto
I aims
TI

Sound: I vorces w,th specrai lerform

SORDM5 efJects,external :ind th
dels.
A n r c e o . t r a t h o r c x p e n s l v Fp e r Storage: Cartndge socket,
snnal cnmnr rrer The l\45 haq nnlrr casselle Iape
4K Qam a-rl r r rhhe' ,e',^nard Ior Interfaces: 2xJoystrcks,
-hc sane qn-T nr nr'.e as dRK Centronics
and
32K machlnes. Languages: Basic
Even so rh^ Sord hos everything Software included: None
rrnrr noerl nnh^nc fnr c n m. ..a very Soltware availability: i-oor
cnan,:l n'rnh,.. r.n : .^.aa ^f ',.^, Guide price: ! 196
eninrnhle arr'l nrnfeccinn^r nr^-

grams

lk
CPU:ZBA,4MHz
Ram:4-l6K
Rom: BK
IGyboard: Calcuiator,55 keys
Display type: TV or Monltor;
colour
Display ability: 40x24text,up
r^ 2qA" lq2 n.^^l-,;." .h^,.-
from 32 colours/intensities
 MICROCOMPUTERS
UNDERf,2OO

TANDY
TRSSO
MODEL
1
Oneof the oLdwarhorses of micro-
conrpur)ngThe Mooel I is onhque
Jh yv tLnudul ru' cl i ier+r -arnv rol -: . . 1 cu r - r. ir u
n tr -l 't y ,n : d m e

outin l978l There's no souno ol

.h-rjn- hr 'r!c, "v^_] u
, , ,u-^u. . , a"^^h,-"
eruJJ.'_\ r
:
u rc'r.m
i l ^pl r- q

Basic
anda conservative 4K or I 6K
mem0ry.
But r does hove o proper key-
a gen:ire expansion abihty
board,
aqfrr aq r e P \,4 hr rcrnp". . J ",'"r^-
JyJrErl

andmasses and masses of pro-

gramstochoose lron The number
o fM o d el ol w ' e - s . p a r l r c u l a r il ny
Amenca, is enoughto ensure that
thisconhnues and that there will
alwaysbeclubsand user groups to
usrt.

CPU:280, l 7MHz
Rarn:4-32K
Rorn:4K
lbyboard:FulL,65keys
Display
type:TV Momtol
monochrome
Display
ability: 64x I 6 text,
64x32graphrcs
Sound:Notes,external
Storage:
Casseite tape,optional
4xBTKorl75K floppy
Interfaces:
Expansionport,
ophonal
ParalleLor RS232
Languages: Basrc,most optional
with
disks
0peratingsystem:Optionai
TRSDOS, LDOS,NewDOS,
CP/M
Softwareincluded: 2 grames
Soltwareavailability: Excellent
Guideprice: [2OO

TANDY TRS.8O CPU:6803

Ram:4K
|tl|C-10 Rom: i6K
Keyboard: Calculator, 44 keys
'Micro Display type: TV colour
Tandy's new Colour Com
puterplugs a gap in their range Display ability: 32x16 text,
andarmsdirectly at the first-time 64x32 graphics, 9 colours
buyer The llOO orlhereabouts Sound: ] vorce,externai
p r , c e { d gp u r s i r a l o n g s r d ^ h o Storage: Cassette tape
Smclair Spectrum and Oric I, but Interlaces: RSa3z. ^xpa nsror
itsperlormance may lag somewhat bus
b e h u dr h . s e b . r t - r e s r ob l i s h e d Languages: Basic rncluded
models Soltware included: Manual
Soltware availability: Poor
Guide price: llOO

CPU: TMS 9900

Ram:4 i6K
Rom: B'128K
Trcc40 Keyboard: Calculaior, 48 keys
Display type: Built rn LCD
One ol tho -^., '-L'.n'o'ohL dfld Display ability: 20x4 text
-1^c y16;\q1
nnrtahle nael. res nr Sound: None
The CC4O of{ers 4K Ram, a fuLlsize S t o r a g e : S p e c i a lr a p o - a r n d g F
L
N-s, ,yhr ^u^o. r. ]u ^ 1
o 4 |! , - r- q L
| v- nJ . l ri .r^p l o^y- . .L. ^I o
u Interlaces : Expansion connector
booksize package weighing under Languages: Basrc
2lbs The CC4O is reaLlyintended Soltware included: None
as a rlaia rce nrdi- o dcvieo f61 €'n- Sof tware availability: Poor
q rcerc ard sa asncn as lt hasn't Special features: Portable,
ani tl^c
rrru
-nnnrr-ino
LvrrryuLrrr9 nnrrrer r:feeded battery powered unrt
9vr PvvYUr

{^" h,,",.-"" :nnlicrfinn< Guide price: l150

17
 MIGROCOMPUTERS
UNDER82OO
Tt 99/4
An elderly mrcro that hasn't had the
same success here that it has in the
S t a t e s . . w n e n - r I r r s ta p p e a r e d , r h -
99/4 was way ahead of its time with
a 16 bit processor, special hard-
ware graphics ability, speech syn
thesis and so on.
The machure received a consider-
able boost when it was updated to
the 99,244 and was later provided
w i h a n e x p a n s r o nb o x o l l o w i n gt r r o
be used with disks and langruages
such as Pascal. Even so, rts market
'ng has
n e v e r o i v e n r l r h es u p p o n
needed.
So the 99,244 has become some-
thing of a hobbyist machine lt's
been selling with large discounts
recently so rt does offer good value
lor money.

CPU: TMS 9900

Ram: l6-4BK
Rom:26K
IGyboard: Full,48 keys
Display type: TV or Monitor;
colour
Display ability: 32x24 text,
upper cdse only, up to 256xI92
graphics, l6 colours
Sound: 3 votces,notes, external
Storage: Cartrldges, Cassette
tape, optional 3x90K floppy
Interfaces: Joystick port, optional
expansion box for RS232, drsks
eIc.
Languages: Basrc,optional
Pascal,Logo, Assembler
Software included: Games I
Software availability: Farr
Special features: Opt'onal plug- A
rn speech synthesrser T
Guide price: ll50
p
th
p(

ACORN 'll:,t:,
t/1 IB
ELECTRON rit;
7.1[ia
fo
pr
The latest Acorn launch, the Elec-
PI
tron rs an rmportant contender in
this Lowestprice band (scraplng in
at ll99l). lt is basically a less
l
sophisticated version of the Acorn
deslgned BBC Micro but is also
abo-r' ha f 1\a p;lec Wheroos rl-e
l-
I
B B ^ M . r o h a s a c rr , r I s n l ^ r o .u s e r
b r a s r h e E e c u o n i s d e s r g n ^ ds p e e I
fically as a home computer Comes I
wrth versatileBBC Basic Language I
CPU:6502,2MH2
Ram:32K
Rom:32K
Keyboard: Full, 52 keys
I
I
Display type: TV, or monitor colour
Display ability : 4Ax24 up to
B O x l ' t e x r ,u p r o 6 4 O x 2 5 og r a p h i c s
sd{$ I
I
Choice from B colours.
S o u n d : N o r e si n r e r n a ll o u d s p e o k - r I
Storage: Fon- chip..asselteldpa
I
K'--9l{
I n t e r l a c e s : M - r h Lw a y e x p a n s i o n
connector
Languages: Basic
Software included: 2 manuals,
introductory cassette
Software availability: l2 Acornsof t I
18
tapes at launch date. Potential
upwards compatibility to BBC Micro
Guide price:9199
t@j
?a
W:t;r,;IL-

ADVANCE
86a
An amazrngpackage for the prrce.
The arrival of the Advance sur-
prisedeven those who predicted
theday when this sort o{ computing
powerwould be so cheap
TheAdvance is, more or less, an
IBMPersonalComputer, the rla;or
lorcein the I3OOO business com
putermarket.It's got a l6 brt 8086
p r o c e s s o f1, 2 B K R a m , t h e I B M ' s
superbGWBasrc,an IBM keyboard
and IBM graphrcs All {or the grve.
away price of 1400!
Keyboard: F-uLl,83 keys
Display type: TV or monitor; ATARI8OO
]t lsn'i a games computer even monochrome
though the IBM itself runs some of Display ability: Up to 80x25 The brg brother of the 400 model
the best games on the market. The l e x T .- p o 6 4 0 l . 2 a 0 o - d p n . 5 rl e B0O slrp.y d ro - .al ,rl
A d v d n . ^ Sr n F . d ^ d , o - t h o s o r . o - r s Sound: Notes, internal version of the sam-- computer Ils
user, either for busrness or pro- Storage: Cassette tape got a proper keyboard, d monjtor
o T a n n r " r o T o x p a - r c L o dv e r c l o n , Interfaces: Expansion port socket and a fulL ,1BK Ram lt's
the B6b, is perhaps even more of Languages: Basic likely to be drscounted when Atarr
bargarn. Software included: None Launchestts new I2OOmodel in thrs
Software availability: Farr counIIy.
CPU: 8086, 47MHz Special leatures: IBM So rf you want the amazlng gdmes
Ram: l2BK compatible system that you see on Atarr contpurers
Rom:4OK Guide price: l4OO and also want to get tnvolved rn
o oo-dmn ' o or word p o-e5stng
appLications, then the B0O is the
obvious chorce.

t t t c t d $ r { r r l r } { t { trl t r t l i t t r { l $ l $ l CPU:6502, I BMHz

Ram:4BK
t Rom:lOK
Keyboard: Full,6i keys
Display type: TV or Monrtor;
col0ur
Display ability: Up to 40x2,1
;:t text, up to 320xf92 graphics,
iii, chorce from 256 shades/
l:.1t: rntensrhes
Sound:4 vo- o. w " .pocr-
b,, effects,external

H
ffiV
Storage: Cartrrdges, own
cassetterecorder l5O, up to
4xBBK floppy
,111
':::!,, Interfaces: 4x loystick, interface
for disks, printer and cassette
recorder, optional RS232 and
Centronics
Languages: Basic, optional
Assembler, Forth, Pilot, Pascal
Soltware included: None
Software availability: Good
Guide price: l3O0 19
MIGRoGoMPUTERS
f200-9500
MtcRocoM PUTERSt200-f500

CAMPUTERS expanded memory allows BO

LYNX column text and 5I2x24B

graphics
Sound: Notes, internal
A serror.s liirle enmnr rier qrrciem
Storage: Cassette tape, optional
aimed at the enthusiast rather than floppy disks
the games player. The Lynx sporrs Interlaces: Light pen, RS232,
exceptional high resolution colour Expansion connector
^rAnh,^- ^...] ^ -.-^".,
, ---,' , p a n s l o n Languages: Basic,Assembler
ability way beyond the normal 64K Operating system: Camputers
limit {or ZBO machines. DOS or optional CPIM
The basic model has 4BK Ram, Software included:
of whrch less than l6K rs direcrly Demonstration
available lo programmers. A fully Soltware availability: Poor
expanded system offers an BO col- Guidepice:L224
un n display. 64K of user Ram and
the CPlM operatrng system
T h e Tv n r i s d o n a e d h v r 1 6 5 [l x 1
nrimilrve Racin h',t i, +. i. c- -J - ^-^-l
qrcol

machine for the assembly language

programmel. Software is notrceably
very good and there is an rmport-
ant range of high quality learning
programs.
Tt'" rnre n+ ^ .h^ larda than a
machine such as the BBC. But, if
yvJ uuLLv, +L:+ rl'roro rc l' l^'l^^

Lynx cannotdo.

CPU:ZB0,4MHz
Ram:4BK-i92K
Rom: l6K
Keyboard: Full, 57 keys
Display type: TV or Monitor;
colour
Display abilit y : 4Ax24 IexI,
256x248graphics,B colours, 21
 MICROCOMPUTERS
f,200-8500
COLOUR
GENIE has a proper keyboard, a standard CPU:Z8O,2MHz effects, external Cr
Miernsnfl Rasiea-d rrn lo 32K Ram:1.6-32K Storage: Cassette recorder
A recent contender in the t200
computer market. The Colour
nFr^-r/ All nr rhc Geric m46[ing5
are sirila-'r 'hat ,hev re aie
to the
Rom:6K
Keyboard: Full, 58 keys
Interlaces: RS232, Centronics,
T inh+ -o. im,crinluc
6t
Genie combines everything you
'ibndy
TRSBOrange. The Colour Display type: TV or Monitor, Languages: Basic TL^
would expect. . . coloul, hi res Genie is a modern version of the colour Softnrare included: mrc:
graphics, sound, joysticks along classicTRSBOmodel L Certainly Display ability: 40x24 rext,up Demonstrahon sor
wirl" a sensihle hore rnmn1f6,1 ]1 worth lookingrat. to j2Ov- 92 o-rnl^ies I eo'nurs Soltware availability: Fair gral
Sound: 3 vorces with specral Guide price: e20O war
and
wor
bus

22

COMMODORE Like the BBC, the 64 promises
some attractive add ons. It comes
64 with that same old Pet Basic as the
lhe major alternativeto a BBC
micro.
The64 boastsa lull64K Ram,
qnma imnreccirra , ,^ -. ' ,l * w a r e
L
graphicsability and a superb soff
warechoice. There's arcade games
andbusiness programs including
word processors, spreadsheets,
businessgraphics and data base
syslems
MtcRocoM PUTERS8200-9500
Vic 20. But programming can be
made easy by buying the BBC-hke
Simons Basic.
The 64 is an impressive home
computer. Its value as an office tool
is a bit limited by its 40 column
screen. The choice between it and a
BBC is very much a personal one.
Try both systems belore you buy.
CPU:6510,lMHz
Ram:64K
Rom:2OK
Keyboard: Full,66 keys
Display type: TV or Monito4
colour
Display ability: 40x25 text,
320x200graphics,16colours,
hardware'sprite'graphics
Sound: 3 voiceswith special
effects,external
Storage: Cartridge,Own
cassette145, optronal2xI70K
floppy
Interfaces: Serial. IEEE. user
port, joyshck ports and expansion
connector
Languages: Basic
Soltware included: None
Soltware availability: Good
Special features: Connechon to
ZB0 processor for CP/M
Guide price:1300

GENIE
I GENIE
An elderly micro that has none of
the colourful and noisy joys that
come as standard on newer ma-
chines.It does havethe advantages
of being well built with a proper
keyboard.It can be expanded into
a reasonable disk system and it
offers accessto the vast range of
TandyTRSBOsoftware.
CPU:280, I.7MHz
Ram: l6-4BK
Rom: I3K
Keyboard: Full, 54 keys
Display type: TV or Monito4
monochrome
Display ability: Up to 64x16
tevt l2Av4R nrenhinc
Sound: Optional 6 voice
synthesiser
Storage: Built in Cassette
recorde4optional4xlO2K floppy
Interlaces: Expansionport,
optionalRS232,Centronicsetc.
Languages: Basic,most with
disk drives
Operating system: Optional
TRSDOS,NEWDOS,LDOS OT
CPlM
Softnrare included:
Demonstration
Software availability: Very
good
Guide price: l33O
II
A restyled Genie, with the built in
cassetteplayer missingin favourof
a numeric pad. Beyond that, there
are few differencesbetween the two
machrnes.For most people, the
cassette recorder version is pro-
bably more preferable.
CPU: ZB0, t.7MHz
Ram:16-4BK
Rom: l3K
IGyboard: Full,72keys
Display type: TV or Monito4
monochrome
Display ability: Up to 64xJ,6
tcvt l2Rw4Rnrrnhin.
Sound: Optional 6 voice
synthesiser
Storage: Cassettetape,opttonal
4xi02K floppy
Interiaces: Expansionpor'|.
optionalRS232,Joystickport
Languages: Basic,most with
disk drives
Operating system: Optional
TRSDOS,NEWDOS,LDOS OT
CPlM
Soltware included:
Demonstration
Soltware availability: Very
good
Guide price: f3OO
23
 MlcRocoM PUTERS8200-8500
MULTITECH L
It comes wrth a ridrcuious built in
^,'h^^.^ :.rl rhe { rr l l c r a l c Lev-
C P U : 6 5 0 2 ,l M H z
Ram:64K
Display type: TV or Monrtor,
colour
MrcRo-
1\r y vvu, v

board'optron rs a rubber keyboard Rom: l6K Display ability: 40x24 text, up

not much better than those on the Keyboard: Calculator, 49 keys t o 2 5 6 x 1 9 2 g r a p h r c s , 6c o l o u r s
PROCESSOR
rl Onc I and Sord M5 The official Sound: Notes, Lnternal
arrival of the machrne rn the UK Storage;passette tape, ophonal
.- - r ^g l-l -
A mrrerle ^{ em^ll ^ocrnn
uvJrVrr qllu should do wonders for thrs pre- 1 x 1 4 O Kf l o p p y
ffrrecrto The Mie-nnrnfcssor,s o \ri. rc\' 'ororFd ard rr.lerated Interlaces: Centronrcs, loystick
-av tr,.ro enmna-ihle wrrl- tr-^^-.'^- ^^nro-r^r
rhe all- system. L^PurrJ,vl!

-nno reriro Annre svsrer lt has a Languages: Basrc,Assembler

full 64K Ram and runs
nearly rdentrcal ro lhe
Applesoft
a Basic Software included: None
fa mou" Soltware availability: FaLr
Special leatures: Compatrble
with Applesoft Basrc
Guide price: 0269

NEWBRAIN nl e^r.nr. - r h ac c.cel, e^r.-oland floppydisk

Interlaces: 2xR5232,Expansion
rnvoicrng. lf you're lookrng lor a
A n o t h o rn a " h r r o h " l h a . s u f f e r " d .mo l eol-rt-o- Lrt ra- lrow lnlo port
r-r n no.r t a-Ve-.q ra-he" thon a a busrness system, then the Languages: Basrc,mostwrth
-ho \T-.,,]."^,-,c . ^ r n r r L . , r - . . . . g w t r r dlsk system
nnor nerrn-rveo \^wbratn
rs ^ qnna-h-'r paor^ce-orl n ^ro that machines hke the BBC and Operating system:Ophonal
tends ro be orr ed ar *o-e serious Commodore64 CP/M
^-^li.^,,^." T,l^-L" ^ll,].^"^,].i.^" Software included: None
you wo..:ld need ro p-od r.e garres C P U :Z B 0 , 4 M H z Software availability : Poor
programs easily Ram:32K Specialleatures: . hourbdrerv
+ \ ^ 7 r n . a c.c a l t a .. porrs
ll oHcrc a lrn rlnr c cvnrndahrlrtv Rom:29K -^-L ^,'^,1^h].

including Ram up to lMb and IGyboard: Calculator, 62 keys Guide price: l22O
CP/M based drsk dnves But has Display type: TV TI
or Momtot
hu ar pl rnr d
u ^v^9d9a !du hu +ho n n n - r l ev l Li , U
r evn!,, y ^^n^.al
v y U v L v '
h,r lt rn Ff) lrne drqnlav

o{ such add ons and a marked Lack monochrome

of quality software Display ability: Up to BOx24
The machine has found favour l e x r .u p ' o o 4 O x 2 r Og - o o h r ^ s
w -h a r rrhor ^[ ^rn-r'es who Sound: None
24 '."^ll i' '-.]^.1,.^'erl rn nrrrrill^r an. Storage: Cassette tape, optronal
MlcRocoM PUTERSt200-f500
NASCOM2 CPU:ZBA,4MHz
-\e
Ram:2-4BK
e de"l', R'rfsl- nirrr il-o. wo" Rom: l6K
once a market leader in home conr Keyboard: Full,57 keys
puters. The Nascom still offers the Display type: TV or Monitor,
hobbyrsr an excrdng and expand opbonalcolour
r,.1t,, -,^61lql
ah.e deqinr 4 Display ability: 4Bxl6 text,
cvcleT .c .o d as 'he \a"COm Q6"48 n'^nl.re" onj^ral 9Ox24
3
nelr'drno drsks "nd rmnrnverl arr tevt ?2Ov I Q2 nranhrnq
nL e" The diqk cvsrcrs wiLl run Sound: Optional
either Nascom's own Nasdos or the Storage: Cdssette tape, optronal
aP./\/ ^-^"^h.n c'clom
320K disk dnves
Interlaces: Expansronport
Languages: Basic,AssembLer,
ophonalmostwith disk drives
Operating system: Optional
Nasdosor CP,zM
Soltware included: None
Soltware availability: Good
Guide price: l33O

25
 MlcRocoM PUTERSt200-8500 T
POWERTRAN AE
CORTEX The c
rng B
A real hobbyist machrne. The
Cortex is intended as a kit for the t 100
hobbyist rnterested rn electronics lead i
who wants to burld a powerful home the n
c o m p u l c r .T h e k r l b u r l d s i n r o a I o tf
bit machine, with 64K Ram, a 24K busir
R a s r e" r d h i c h r o . ^ | n r 6 . 9 1 9 1 _ t 1 alterr
o r a p h i c s I f y o u h o v e t l ^ et o o l s ,r L m e Bu
and experhse then ihe Cortex is a
very rewarding project. iL ^-^

L---^

CPU: TMS 9995 find I

Ram:64K lMb out a
Rom:24K
Keyboard: Full, 66 keys AAF
Display type: TV or Monitor, Bev
colour macl
Display ability: 4Ax24 texl,
2 ^ a - 1 4 2 a " ^ ^ l . i ^ " l.A- -. ^- l.^' J, ,r s
Sound: Notes, rnternal
Storage: Cassette tape, oplonal
floppy disk
Interfaces: Expansion connector,
optional RS232 AF
Languages: Basic, optional Forth
Operating system: MDEX Wide
Soltware included: None best
Soltware availability: Poor marl
Special features: Available as a first
kit or ready built marlr
Guide price: Kit 0340, ready versl
burlt 1445

TANDY
TRSSO
COLOUR
COMPUTER
A modern successor to the TRSBO
m o d e l I , r l ' sb e e n o n r n c r e d i b l es u c -
cess in America and almost as brg a
roiure hero. Even its greatly reduced
n-rrF nr+s i+ r 4.alFqo-\r where
most machines outperform it. And
rts unpopularity has Limited the num-
h e r n f q r a -t v n r o o r " n " o n L h e
market.
This rs the machine that formed
rhe basrs lor rhe Dragon 32. a
cvcipm ihai hac h - . ^-.../vaySuc-
--ss here. So although lhe ex-
panded Colour Computer does
h;',o,tc :,-l',:-,>noc rho ^^^,'l^.ii"

of the Dragon makes that machtne

a better bet.

CPU:6809. lMHz
Ram:4 32K
Rom: l6K
Keyboard: Calculator, 53 keys
Display type: T! colour
D i s p l a y a b i l i t y : 3 2 x 1 6 t e x t ,u p
to 256x192 graphrcs, choice
lrom B colours
Sound: Notes. external
Storage: Cartridges, cassette
tane nnfnnal 4.v .l . f.6.K. ^ f ,l n.n - y
-"
I n t e r f a c e s : 2 x J o y s h c kp o r r s
RS232
Languages: Basie, optrona.
Forth, Logo, Assembler
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Fair
26 Guide price: e24O
ADVANCE
86b
The disk based version oi the arnaz-
inn R6: Tll^ RAh i" ^* ..a^l
- - , h',
-JSrness
syslemcapable ol most robs for only
0 I O O O A l ' a : . - 1 " i r c r* i-r_: .m
)ead is having a profound eflect on
the market.
If you need a iow cost 16 bit
h rsrresq sir"tem lher -herc a16' f61y
alternatives to the Advance.
But remember that IBM com-
pahble
sofiwaretendsto be thebesr
there is So it's noi chean
havea simple application, you may
find that a complete system works
out a little cheaper rf you base tt on
systemssuch as the Commodore
64 BRa- nrnrn lrrnw
Be wary of this though, as those
machines are at the limit of their
porenhaland an Advance includes
plentyoI room for fulure expansion
- an all-important consideratron.
APPLE
lle
Widelyregarded and used as the
he"- nersora enmn.rle-
narket. The Apple II was one of the
'rs- rr.ahle cvsrcrq and ic
sti]l a
marketleader. Even its modernised
version,the IIe, needs consrderable
expansionbelore it can be used as
more than a home computer. But,
thecomputerbuyrng public stiil put
rhpirmnnc" ^. +h- A ^^l-
The Annlc ha. alrr-,valled
CPU:8086,4.7MHz
Ram: l2B-256K
Rom:4OK
Keyboard: Full, 83 keys
Display type: TV or Monitor
. _r*r ,,.,J p n c e monochrome
Display ability: Up to 80x25
tevl 64Ow2OOnr:nLi."
Sound: Notes, internal
Storage: Cassette,2x32OK
floppy
Interfaces: Centronics, RS232,
SxlBM expansion slots
If rrnrr Languages: Basic, optional most
Operating system: MSDOS
Software included: None
Software availability: Excellent
Guide price: ll0OO
nr \lc'ry[;61n
range of add ons and sofrware - in
games, education, screntific and
CPU:6502,lMHz
Ram:64-128K
paddle socket
Languages: Basic, optional most
business fieids. The vast numbers Rom:12K Operating system: Apple DOS,
s o l d e n s r r r es r n n o l r r n m d g 6 l g 1 5 Keyboard: Full, 62 keys optional UCSD-p, CP/M
op 1[g
and software houses for yearc to Display type: TV or Monitor, Soltware included:
come. colour Demonstration
T ts t a r t qn ' { a s a n o * n e r q i v e h o m e
Display ability : 4Ox24lexl, Soltware availability: Excellent
compuler. But peopie rarely buy ir 256x I 92 graphics,optronal Guide price: l9B0
in iess than an B0 column and one 80x24text,5I2xI92 graphics
dlsk drive confiquratlon. Even if it's Sound: Notes,internalspeaker
got none of the wonders oi the Storage: Cassettetape,up to
newer machines, it rs a sensrble 6x140Kfloppy
decLsron.Have a good reason il you Interfaces: Bxexpansionslots
nhnncc cnmp+Lina olca {nr mncr in+er{an
ffiH!il
27
 t500-f I OOO
MtcRocoMPUTERS
BAS|S108 To use the Basrs, vou need to buy CPU:6502, lMHz compatible floppy
',
(
n 1a 6 n 1 - ' a : l I .r
Arn-c COm Ram:64-l2BK Interfaces: DS , P"roll* .
-o
A . ^ - ,
^ r -rLy'-u
^ i

a hrsrno.. lL^'.^
L . " ^
^t-,Frrt.
- l ^ ^ , - . ^ r r a a , v p
u.r'91

trr-ai n .n o
nat,l- - f r ^. 1., -.
.r rL 6or, t
make the mrstake of thrnkrng the
Rom:2K
Keyboard: FulL, lOO k--ys
Games paddle,6 Apple
nnmnafhle avrr^ner.n c -l<
4
h c*-cc.,)'c e ,"-q - BoS-, -S Basis is a bargarn. Display type: TV or monitor; Languages: Optronal most T
I,r-, .rlen,r A1, lo--_rl ncLudes optronal colour Operating system: Apple DOS pr
^n An -^l,,nn.l;"^l^,, ^".1 7Ra ^,^ Display ability: Up to BOx24 ophonal UCSD p, CP/M T]
ctanrlrrrl T h. , c nj i r /FS yOU text,256xl92 graphrcs Software included: None th
^ h " ^."" A--t^,^,1",1. ^,,^,..t,-, ^| Sound: l.lotes,internal speaker Soltware availability: F-x ..'.'
the brts, preces and trailing cabLes S t o r a g e : R e q u r r e s2 A p p l e Guide price: 1995

I:a
tf
S(

dl
V(

a
d(

b
a
tc

'm
ta, , .,\
u
I . i
I
l
k
a
F
a
il

COMMODORE
500
The new scientifrc machine from
Comnrodore. It's armed at those
r^,hr, r^,:rr n^ra ^^tr^,,hh^
, Pow'-
than a home machine (such as I 28K
Ram, powerful graphrcs and so on)
' ro- av1Ll
u r'l- rr I rr ^ h .' 5,.
screntifLcmachrnes The 500 i,s a
halfway house between the 6,1 and
ihe 700 senes of busrnessmachines
T, r,^'. - I'eres ed ,-l^ el eck LhoL
\-^ lr ^^n i n n' "' I hor'. 16J 1r-
ltly
ob o' " 6l

C P U : 6 5 0 9 ,l M H z
Ram: l28 B96K
Rom:2BK
Keyboard: FuiL,94 keys
Display type: TV or Momtor,
colour
Display ability: 40x25 text,
320x2OO graphLcs
Sound: 3 voiceswith speciai
ef{ects, external
Storage: Own cassetterecorder
'4tr r-ioa^',lqLc1 r'o "LVb
+t^nnlr nl11c c\/ih h^rr-t /-t,ct

Interfaces: RS232,IEEE,User
narf TnvchnL- tr-^^.",^-

connector
Languages: Basrc,optronal most
Operating system: Commodore
DOS, optional CP/M, MSDOS
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Farr
Special Ieatures: OptronaL280
.rrl 9O8P q-^nrr! r ,-^. c.1- lol
CP/M and N4SDOS
28 Guide price: lB0O
 MIGROCOMPUTERS
E5OO.I1OOO
COMMODOREC P U : 6 5 0 2 , l M H z
4000
sERtEs Ram: l6-32K
Rom: iBK
Keyboard: Full,72 keys
Themachine that started the corn-
Display type: Built in I2 inch
puterbusrness for Commodore.
green monltor
Theoriginal Commodore Pet was
Display ability:4Ax?5 tex .
rhefrrstgenerally available plug 'n-
special graphics characters
and-go micro. The 40l6 and 4032
Sound: Beeper
arerenamedPets.
Storage: Own cassetterecorder
There'sstiil some life left in the
045, optional disks up to 2xiMb
machine. It's solidly built, perhaps
floppy and 5-30Mb
t h e' e a s o n f o r i t s p o p u J a r i t y i n
'one Interfaces: Parallel, IEEE
schools. Its neat box' desrgn
Languages: Basic, optional
andIEEE interface have made it
Assembler, PascaL

ryn
verypopular for use in labs and
Operating system: PetDOS
workshopsas a controller. There's
Soltware included: None
a wide choice of programs and
Software availability: Very
accessories for the system. good
So,although its specification is a
Special leatures: Optional ZBO
o u to f d a t e ,y o u c a n s r r l lc o n s r d e r
for CP,zM
Pet. There are some reol bargorns
Guide price: 0635
bepicked up second hand

systemsthat reLyon the 8000s.It is green monltor Software included: None

unlikely that the systems will Display ability: 80x24 text, Soltware availability: Very
remain competitivebut there is the special graphics characters good
SERIES possrbiliryol o good seconohand Sound: Beeper Guide price: 1995
market. Storage: Own cassetterecorder
business versions of the Per. 145, optional disks up to 2x I Mb
an B0 column dLsplay For C P U : 6 5 0 2 ,l M H z floppy and 5-30Mb hard
whilethese were the mainstay of Ram:32-96K Interlaces: Parallelport, IEEE
hrrq'.o"" mr^r^.^n^rrti-^ Rom:20K Languages: Basic, optional
there are still a number of Keyboard: Full, 73 keys Comal. Assembler. PascaL
irnpressrve
packages and complete Display type: Burltin L2inch Operating system: PetDOS

29
 MICROCOMPUTERSf500-f I OOO
DAI PC Soltware availability: Poor
Special features: Optional
A shy but capabLe personal com- hardware maths processor for
puter The Dal is an old system wrth fast and accurate calculations
rict
r r^-r.r^.^ Rds,.Frd i-.-ess.Ve Guide price: 1684
enln ,' nr^nhiec T rh r c . r , - ^ r l ' , h - . .
c l . h- -^aa -^rn'r'c. markeL
^nrl ,Fnr]c +n hc.nl.l ^" ^^.' ^' ^^.t
, ,-
apphcaiion.
l- l'^^ 4rl -^r a .. rricuLai
ffi&K
CPU:BOBO,2MHZ
Ram:4BK
Rom:24K
Keyboard: F-u11,56 keys
Display type: T'Vor MonLtc,r;
colour
Display
'6n-
ability: 6Ax24tex.,
5r qranl" -. . -.^ i1-)
Sound:4 voices with speciar
effects, external
Storage: Cassette tape, optionai
2xBOK floppy
Interlaces: Games paddle,
RS232, Expansron bus
Languages: Basrc,Assembler
Operating system: DAI O/S
Software included: None

30

EPSON
HX2O
Thefirst ol the bnelcase comnr riFrc
The
HX2O
isaa",i;;;".;;;;J
;il
contained unit. it weigrhs less than
four pounds, has a 20x4 character
LCD display, lull typewriter key
board, Basrc, and a hny printer. A
microcassette recorder is optional.
You can get business software
{or the HX2O but it isn't a busness
machinein the sense of an Osborne
or Kaypro. It's much more suired
for on-site users such as surveyors
and salesmen. Epson iniends the
HX20 as a test product and there
wrll almost certainly be grear
Improvements in this field.
MIGRoGoMPUTERSf,500-f 1000
CPU:2x6301, lMHz EXIDY CPU:ZB0.ZMHz
Ram:16-32K
Rom:32K SORCERER R o m : 4 K
Ram:4BK
IGyboard: Full,68 keys
Display type: Built in LCD
screen, optional TV adaptor
Display ability : 20x4 Iext,
I 20x32 graphics
Sound: Notes, rnternal speaker
Storage: Cassette recorde4
optronal built in microcassette
recorde4 ophonal up to 4x32OK
floppy disks
Interlaces: RS232. serial.
expansion port
Languages: Basic, Forth
Software included: None
Software availability: Fair
Special features: Portable
battery powered unit, weighs ress
than four pounds
uuroe prlce: Llbu
IGyboard: Fu1l, 79 keys
An elderly syslen that hasn't really
Display type: TV or Moniror,
taken off in this country lt's a well
monochrome
made and capable machine, newer
Display ability: 64x30 text,
versions having a more busrness
512x24O graphics
Like case with built in disk drives
Sound: None
and a screen. Apari from the CP/M
Storage: Cartridges, Cassene
ophon, the smail numbers o{
tape, optional 2x750K floppy and
Sorcerers soid has meant that there
up to 35Mb hard disk
isn't a wide choice of software avaii-
Interfaces: RS232, Centromcs,
able. EMG, the machines' distribu-
S I O0 bus expansion slots
tors, have however found consider
Languages: Basic, Assembleq
able value in the system as d trdmtng
optonal most
machine.
Operating system: CP. V
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Poor
Special features: Expanded
systems can have built in scleen
and floppy disk drives
Guide price: 191O
 f500-tl OOO
MICROCOMPUTERS

::li
!ri!

in ZBO card iets you choose from CPU:6809, lMHz Interlaces: RS232, Centronrcs,
FUJITSU
FM8 -he l- rne -arco n[ (iD'M <cf11y616 Ram:64K 4 A/D ports, expansron port
Languages: Basrc
The FMB also offersthe unusual Rom:44K
A well made "nd des'gned iapanese hrrhhlF m a m ^I r L v , \y/ q \/clFm
ryr'\ ",r nrnvrdrnn
Prvvrulrv IGyboard: Full,79 keys Operating system: Ophonal
micro that hasn't yet been officially ^ {a. ro rah-e ne-marent data stor Display type: Monitor, colour Flex,UCSD-p, CP/M
launched here. The FMB is weLl ^n- ll^a r" a hr. more d r-ahle lhon Display ability: Up to 80x25 Software included: None
placed as iop home computer and flnnnv d sl," Whelho EMB and text, 640x2OOgraphrcs, B colours Soltware availability: Poor
baby business system. lts unusual the other Fujitsu systems become Sound: Beeper Special features: ZBO optron for
6809 processor can be used with o H r c L a l J ya v a : l a b l v , l h e y d r e g o r n g l o Storage: Cassette tape, optronal CP M Bubbl" mcmory ^drrnoges
r h e F t e x o p e r a h n g s y s t e mo r a p l u g h p l r a r \ r m u . h r u n r l h r.n n. c. r. .d -r ' n n g . 2x32OK floppy Guide price: IIOOO

32
MIGRoGoMPUTERS
t500-f I ooo
HP75C CPU: Custom HP B brt Soltware availability: Fair
mlcroprocessor Special features: Booksize
The Rolls Royce oi hand held com Ram: l6-24K portable unit
puters. Hewlett-Packard, a ma1or Rom:4BK Guide price: e73O
m r n l c o - n p u t e rn a n u f a - r u r e r , h a s IGyboard: Calculator, 64 keys
n e v e r a r t e m p t e dr o m a k e r l s m i c r o s Display type: Built in line
m d s s m d r k e rp r o d u c r s T h e 1 q C r s display, optional TV and Momtor
a beauhfuland powerful system that adaptor
c d n g r o w r n r oa ' u l l b l o w n d e s k r o p Display ability: 32x I text,
machine. It comes with Basic and a ophonal 32x16 text
diary/clock package. Sound: Notes, internal speaker
H P m a y b e n g h r r n s e l J i n gt h e Storage: Hand pull card reade4
m a c h r n ea s d t o p e x e c u h v el o o . b u r nnhnnal tane narfrirlaa

its aLso handy as a powerful calc Interlaces: HP IL expansion

ulator for drosewho need more daLa sysrem
processing ability than program Languages: Basrc
mable calculators offer. A status Optional system: HP75 O/S
symbol rt may be. But it's a useful Software included:
one. Appointment book and Calender

33
 MlcRocoM PUTERSt500-g 1000
LUXORABCSO
A little known micro that has
avoided the marnstream market
place. The ABCBO uses its own
operatingsystemratherthan CPIM
and rs therefore restricted in soft-
ware choice. The system has sold
marnlyas a control unii for machrn-
ery and experimenis.

CPU:ZBO,2MHz
Ram: l6-4BK
Rom: l6K
IGyboard: Full,68 keys
Display type: Builtin l2 inch
monitor,monochrome
Display abilit y : 40 x24 texI,
BOx72graphics
Sound: Beeper
Storage: 1x3BOKfloppy
Interlaces: Expansionport
Languages: Basic,optronal
Assembler.Pascal,Ibrtran
Operating system: Luxor OS
Soltware included: None
Soltware availability: Poor
Guide price: 1690

NASCOM3
The fully expanded version of the
Nascom 2 computer. Nascoms are
a s n l d a " i h e i n d ' r q t r r ro " d t h e 3
shows its good pedlgree.
Ttcan be configured as a busrness
c\rqiFm rqrnff l-P/M nr rts own
NASDOS or it makes an ideal de-
velopment system. Nasnet, its low
cost networking option, is tried
and trusted and should help to re-
establish the popularity of this once
market leader.
Among its more atbachve ophons
rs an'advanced video card' allowing
B0 column text and some spectacu-
la- enlnrrr oranhiec Thc ra6gl-111g

still shows much of its hobbyist

background so you'd need some
eYnFnenee In oFi lhF hesi f16p i1.
R, rt in oeneral lhe cvstem is
frequently unjustly overlooked.

CPU:ZBA,4MHz
Ram:4BK
Rom: i6K
IGyboard: Full,57 keys
Display type: TV or Monito4
nnfinnal nnlnrrr

Display ability: 4Bx16 text,

96x48graphics,optional80x25
loyr ?2.Og2OO nranhie" ehoice
from over i00O shades/intensities
Sound: Optional
Storage: Cassette tape, optional
2x32OK floppy
Interlaces: Serial port,
Fvnancrnn nnrf

Languages: Basic, optio4al most

Operating system: Nasdos
optional CPIM
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Good
34 Guide price: 0630
 MtcRocoMPUTERSt500-f, 1000
PIED optronal LCD 2 irne display Interfaces: Parallel,Serial Special Ieatures: Portable Iight
PIPERCOM. Display ability: Up to BOx25
ICXt
Languages: Optional most
Operating system: CP/M
weight unit
Guideprice: IiOOO
MUNICATOR1 Sound: Beeper
Storage: 1xTBOK floppy, optional
Software included: Perfectwnte4
Perfectfiler Per{ectCalc
When rt was launched, the Pred second floppy drive or SMb hard Software availability: Very
P r p ew r a. o mator breokthrough rn disk qooo
pnce versus performance. More
recently, machrnes Lrkethe Advance
havestolenits Limelight
But the Pred Prper strllhas a tot to
o f l e rI t s v e - v o o - r a b . e . h a v i n g a
srngleburlt rn TBOK floppy ano pop
outcarryrng handle. There's no built
l n s . r e e nr h o u g h P i e d P r p e ro l l o r s c
t w o r n eL a D d r s p l a v o s d n o p t t o n
The machine comes with the
P e r l . cri a r q e o t s o r t \ ^d t - rr . l u d t r o
ow o r d p r o c e s s o r s. p t r d d c l e F lo r d
d a ' a b o s se y s r e m A r d o r ' o u - s - r t s
CP/M operating system lets you
i ndr-o. ol reodl .o
r f 9 6 c e1 ; 6 1 -l1- u
ilr PloO'orl1c I moy nol bc th-
fancrest of the cheap systems but it
doeshave rts ddvantages. Fldve a
lookat one.

CPU: ZBO,4MHz
rlam: b4K
Rom:2K
Keyboard: Full, 53 kevs
Display type: TV or Monrtor
 1OOO
DsOO.D
MICROCOMPUTERS

RMLLINK48OZ 'n n .rLct lhe -v.te- as ^ nome

computer.
Operating system: CP/M
Soltware included: None
Research Machines' iow cost edu- Software availability: Good
n:hnn:l crrc+cm T h e r o .' c n. n. ..l t e n y r r g CPU: ZB0,4MHz Special features: Desiqned for
,L^, lLa 1Rn7 ," ^ ",,^o.h.^mnrrt^r Ram:64K network use IncLudes'soltware
rr Lr 'Jc n nt h
V U r v 4K R"- ",,nc"h hrch re Rom:32K front panel' {or debugrging
cnl rnon ononlie" a-d ^ onnd Bastc IGyboard: FulL,65 keys as"erhlv ^ nn'rao. n'.q-am5
lr,. ,v^v, ^u.r ^u "' ,.^9, -. ^. '-1u"r y ,u- \l ^r ". ,9^i. - ^\ u 'l ^U LU. r o- Display type: TV or Monitor, Guide price: 1685
'Ch
nart n{ rho q\{T r'r' .etwork coLour
but has since been soLdas a stand Display ability: Up to 80x25
^l^na ^^tr^rrfar text,64Oxl92 graphics, B colours
The 4B0Z has been sold almost Sound: Notes, internal
cvelrrcirrelrr r^ ..hnnlc
L ^ U l u J ] v L : y
rnd cnlleccs Storage: Cartridges, Casseite
q^ ^ l r L ^ , ' ^ l - , t L o n,o- ,."_ ." n. n. . t e v c r y +ene nnhnnal fl^nn\, .l,cL

rnn.i
v v v s
srllra,^re avai'^h e ;i -endS tO
J v r L t ! u r ! Interlaces: Parallelport, 2xsenal
ai1 be of an educational nature nn--" Ftr'tr inlerlaee or.srek
P v l t J l l ! ! ! r r r L ! r | 9 1 v , ] v ' J g 9

lr "nrc wavc it's a shame thal .^rt ^nf , r -l nal't,nrl, rn-crI6ag

Pvr
rr vPuvrrq! rr

36 Research Machines has chosen not Languages: Basic

 MIGRoGoMPUTERS
f,500-tl ooo
SHARPMZSOA
The bottom end of the Sharp range,
intended as a rrval to mochrnessuch
as the Pet and Genie It has the ad
var'do-s oI borngo 1^or al]In one
desrgn, complete wrth its own
screen and cassette. ]t is a con-
servative desrgn, havrng no colour
or high resolution graphlcs. Un-
usualLy, these days at least, the
MZBOA Basrc rs loaded from cos-
sette when you want to use rt rather
than berng rn instantly available
Rom
The MZBOA is reasonably pop-
ular and offers a good selectton o{
software to choose from.
CPU: ZB0,4MHz Software included: None
Ram:64K Sof tware availability: Good
Rom:2K Guide price: 1550
Keyboard: Full, 68 keys
Display type: Built rn 9 rnch
monitor
Display ability: 40x25 texr,
specral graphrcs characters
Sound: Notes, internal speaker
Storage: Built in cassette
recorder, optronal 2x2BOK floppy
disk
Interfaces: IEEE, Expansron
port, Optional RS232
Languages: Basrc,optronal
Pascal
Operating system: FDOS
ophonal CP/M
37
 COMMODORE Storage: Own cassetterecorder
045, optional drsks up to 2x i Mb
700 floppy and 5-3OMb hard
Interfaces: RS232, IEEE, User
The new Commodore flag shrp, the port, Expansion port, loystick port
700 .e-re. rs d ong ore,due r^- Languages: Basic, optional most
placement for Commodore's busi- Operatingr system: Commodore
npssrvsl-n s. Fol owir e o de,ay^61 O/S, optional CP/M and MSDOS
launch, the machines have had Software included: None
Commodore's usual success. Software availability: rx cr cp
T h e vo - e b a s e d o r 5 6 O a s n o < i n g Special leatures:ZBa and BOBB
1t easy to convert existing B0OO second processors for CP/M and
S e r l e Sp r O g J o tS
- iO rhe Sysl^-rS MSDOS
More rmportantly, Commodore Guide price: | 1375
offersan BOBBprocessor option to
allow the system to run the CP/MB6
or the more popular MSDOS and a
ZBOto run CP/M programs. So the
TOOs have the advantage o{ the best
of the Pet software, CP,rM pro
grams and access to MSDOS
software.
Commodore obvrously rntends to
sellthe machrne to its exrstrng cus-
tomersbut its low cost, rts power{ul
orapl cs opl-or ond s6J1po-- fl-r-
tbih$ make rt attrachve to new users

CPU:6509, 2MHz
Ram: 128 B96K
Rom:2BK
Keyboard: Full, 94 keys
Display type: Built in I2 rnch
monito4monochrome
Display ability: BOx25 text,
optronal5 I 2x5 I 2 graphics
Sound: 3 vorces wrth special
effects,external

i+lrlix

39
t
 f,l OOO-[1500
MIGRoGoMPUTERS
CROMEMCO
cl0
4 qhv h-r- ctrrl'cl-. ncrsnrai com
n r _ e r { r n r ^ m a r r r a e- r - e ' . l m o r e
rr vllr
PuLvr/
-i-e
nra-ket c\/stca.- f lO -s
^ - ^ , , , i h , 1 1 "ynu r r r+ +
u-uuLrruly
n n a' rI h
Lvg, r, a
L r rv u
v iLrr h
I vnu n
UU
nd
documertotton and a pile of Ireo
.^f r'^r^ra ine lrrr-lrna r rnrnrd nt n
.6cq^v cn-a^osheo aq.l a nowerluL
version oJ Basrc.Its based on a ZBO
and 64K Ram and Cromemco has
"J s, y' y^" ^v v1 , - . 1 ,'- ^,.n aDf)q ^.crATrn-

system which is CP/M compatible

as well as berngr a little easier to
learn.
When lt first appeared, the C10
vras a 'rempe d r''c ["p66'q 611 ,
has suffered both from - rits
's
dollar
-nr
n-iec ann irc enn no, o Smdl I
. lp c1'q1p- inr ll^e r ce- wLo wanl.
-o rrra -L h s Lor "' n n, r'et
and
^-' ^- '^,irL.l^'.^
L v v , " L
"^--'L,.n rrcof,'l
Y r L v
- making it an ideaL home word
nroecssor I vn r rllev a nersondl
thal r l n c c n -' ,i r r ny l' au rvr ^--o' J
YsL"
. n d r h a i s e a s v ' os ^ r r na n d u s o
then the ClO is worth that lLttlebrt
extra.

CPU:ZB0,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:24K
Keyboard: Full,59 keys Storage: I x39OK floppy, optronal Operating system: CDOS Special features: lnherent
Display type: Builtin I2 inch second floppy Soltware included: W-t omastor, l a T m t n ad o l t l l yf o - y 5 e w r h i a r o e '
momtor,monochrome Interfaces: Serial, Centronrcs, Planmaster,Basic, Menu system, computers
Display ability: 80x25 text, Disk drive u[iLtiesand Chess Guide price: | 1350
"^-o aranhinq nharactarq Languages: SlrL. r'ed Bosr.. Soltware availability: Very
Sound: Beeper optionaLmost good

40
 MIGRoGoMPUTERS81 000-f, I 500

il,.i;,--
k js;.;;

HP86
Tl^e nearesr HP errer ffnr io a mdss
nar'l,ei qrrqiem the R6 scri45 i5 6
low cost and, as you would expect,
beautifully made business system.
BesidesHP's own software, you can
MORROW CPU: ZB0,4MHz
Ram:64K
buy a plug in cartridge to give you DESIGNS Rom:2K
CP/M abrlity Unforh-rnately, the cost
of this and twin disk drives makes MICRO Keyboard: Full, 92 keys
Display type: I2 inchmonitor
the system hardly the best value for
money.
DEC|StON supplied,monochrome
Display ability: 80x24 text
Tris a wel' hrrilt sneeified and Sound: None
supported system but it's up to you A real bargain business system.
Storage: Ix2OOKfloppy,
how much you value the HP name if C h e a p r i n t h i s r a n g e ) ,a n d c h e e r f u l ,
the Microdecision is a bog-standard optronalup to 4x20OKfloppy
you're going to consider it. Interfaces: 2xRS232
/-Pr\lT -^^h;-a:r ur :
u rr u
ou: l ll tr r !cvnrm
l r nPovtsi -

CPU: Custom HP B bit tive price including a heap of free

Languages: Basic,optronalmost
minrnnnnncccnr software. There's the famous Word- Operating system: CP/M
Ram:64-512K star word processoc a speiling Software included: Wordstal
Rom:4BK checker. two Basics. a Pilot inter- Mailmerge,MBasic,Bazic,
T ^^i-^1. h,4anl cvc+cm
Keyboard: Fuli, 82 keys preter and a menu system to make
Display type: Monitor, it easy to use the system.
Soltware availability: Very
good
monochrome It's not as exciting as the Iatest
Display ability: BOx24text,up all-singing, all-dancing 16 bit port- Guide price:11I45
+a 4AAw2AO nr:nhinc ^hla 1^" 'i r, {r ryr vn u
rr a r, e v
u +! 'r l / i nr 'dr Y
,
i!nv dcl
Yvr

Sound: Notes,internalspeaker some computing power into your

Storage: Optionalup to 2x270K business or home rhen it's perfecrly
floppy capable of being a real help
Interfaces: RS232,Centronics
Languages:Basic
Operating system:HP O/S,
optionalCP/M
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Good
Specialfeatures:ZBOoption for
CPlM 41
Guide price: 01440
 MrcRoc

OSBORNE
1 CPU:ZBO,4MHz
Ram:64K
A r e a l f i r s tt n m r c r o c o m p u l t n g .T h e Rom:4K
hrsr porrable, lhe first ro cone wirh Keyboard: Full,68 keys
a heap of free software and the first Display type: Builtin 5 inch
to sacrifice ali the frills for a little no monltot optronalexlernalmonrtor,
-ronsense.rnexpenstvecomputrng
monochrome
It's a standard CP/M machine Display ability: Up to 52x24
stuffed rnto a 24lbs plasiic case. text,optional80x24 text,some
,{ y61 .^r -. rry rt ra- a1 l6n'1
lvcp graphicscharacters
need ro, rhe all-rn-onedesign is great Sound: Beeper
for crowded desks and borrowed Storage:2xlB4K floppy
dinrnn rahlcc 1
" { ,y' u^ u' , n ^ -l ' r r -r r^s^qJu ,1.^
uw L ll s InterLaces:IEEE,RS232
compurer raking up space. you prck Languages:Basrc,optronalmost
it up and throw it on the floorl Operating system: CP/M
Fver the Oshn-ne . iinv r .16j 6y7lq- optionalUCSD-p
ward screen has fajled ro stop ir Soltware included: Wordsra4
ttotro a r'raaway crre^e<" [5 j1'5 Marlmerge, Supercalc. MBasrc,
qot CP M tlere rs also a wrde ronge CBasic
of software to chose from (though it Software availability: Very good
comes with most of the things you'11 Special features: Portableunit
need) And its manual is a lot better werghs24lbs
t h a nm a r v c o r n l r a h e s v q l e r r s Guide price: 01440
II you can put up the weight and
'he snall screen,
rhe O I rs an excel-
lent buy, both for first timers and
experienced users.

42
 [1 000-f I 500
MIGRoGoMPUTERS
SANYOMBC
1000
Anorher boLrom end busrness
"r's-cmard ore thrl s'ranaelv hdsn't
annoa'ed on everrrhodrt'".losks lt's
4p 4ll-'p-61c desL lon c'rsrem wtth d
fit "rze crreen arrl l,evnn4;i I
-",^",'.1""-,h^.k ic rho crrnlo flnnm,

disk dnve, which means that file

1.d disl..^n\/r.fl rvnlvg5 lh€'
.-nrrlrlo or qwrnn.n di"1,s 1n 61d
n r. qcvc-^ imcs Sfill '' rrou dre
looking at a Mrcrodecrsron,
Cromemco or Osborne, don't miss
thisone out.

CPU:ZBa,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:2K
Keyboard: Ful1,83 keys
Display type: Builtin I2 inch
monltor,monochrome
Display ability: BOx25text
Sound:Notes,Lnternal speaker
Storage:1x32OKfloppy,optional
3x32OKfloppy
Interlaces:RS232,Centromcs
Languages:Basic
Operating system: CP/M
Soltware included:
Demonstrahon
Software availability: Very
good
Guideprice:01375

drives rrrde- Sharn's owr FDOS monltor, monocnrome ophonal CP/M

SHARPMZSOB
At flrst glance, a little expensive for
a home computer. The MZBOB is a
no .ompromise version o{ lhe
\f7cnA ^.,'l h"'.1^." +h,
between a home computer and a
or CPIM. The machine has enjoyed Display ability: Up to BOx25 Software included: None
a l o l n r s r r r r e s sh ' r t n n w ^ n n e d r s [ o text, opflonal up to 520x200 Software availability: Very
be a little outdated in the midst of graphics good
l h e a r c . t e r r tn r i e e e o m n e t i o n Sound: Notes, internal speaker Guide price:01034
Storage: Built in cassette
.: gap CPU:ZBa,4MHz recorde4 optional 2x2BOK floppy
Ram:64K Interlaces: Parallel, optional

i busrness system. The system in-

cludes burlt in cassette recorder
L , , , ^ . - l - ^ -^l p- o^t.r ^u qru- , r( u^ ,u, >- r, .u lr '5-N- ,
Rom:2K
Keyboard: Calculato4 83 keys
RS232
Languages: Basic optional Pascal
uuL , oll u- Display type: Built in 9 inch Operating system: FDOS
 BRITISH
MICRO
MIMI
803
A weli made British designed and
built business machine. The Mimi
uses a ZB0 with 64K Ram and its
own OS,/M operating system. This
is CP/M compatrble so it gives you
access to hundreds of standard
ready to run programs. The Mimi
goes one better than most CPIM
systems in of{ering a high resolu-
finn ar:nl-rinc nn+inn

Much of the Mimi's software was

developed by Scilax Ltd, including
tojan, a system thab allows un-
trained users to wrrte business pro-
grams. Having Ti'ojan on the Mimi
has ensured that there is a range of
qood business software available
for the system.

CPU:ZBa,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:4K
IGyboard: Full,96 keys
Display type: Monitor,
monochrome
Display ability: 80x25 text,
optlonal5 12x256graphics
Sound: None
Storage: 2x320K floppy,ophonal
lOMb hard disk
Interlaces: RS232,Centronics,
Light pen
Languages: Opfional most
Operating system: OS/M
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Good
Guide price: 11550
44
CORONAPC
An IBM compatiblemicro that lets
you get at the very best software
and add ons on the market.Besides
the price, the Corona comes with
more memory,better graphics and
more software than the IBM PC rt-
self.The Corona comes with both
MSDOS and CP/MB6 operating
systemsaswell as a wordprocessor
and the GSX graphics system.
If you're in the IBM PC market,
take a look at what Corona has on
ofJer.
CPU: B0BB,4.7MHz
Ram: l2B-512K
Rom:2K
IGyboard: Full, 83 keys
Display type: 9 inch monitor
supplied,monochrome
Display ability: Up to BOx25
text,640x325graphics
Sound: Beeper
Storage: 1x320K floppy,optronal
secondfloppyor 1OMbhard disk
Interlaces: RS232,Centronics,
4xlBM expansionslots
Languages: Basic,optronalmost
Operating system: MSDOS,
CPlMB6
Softrpare included: GSX
graphicsfor CPIM86, Multrmate
wordprocessor,PC -Tutor
trarningcourse
Soltware availability: Excellent
Guide price: elBO0
CORONAPPC
How could you improve on the
Corona PC? Make it a portable lBM
lookalike The Corona PPC has all
the same feahrres of the PC except
the optional built in hard disk Even
if you don't see the machine being
carried all round the world, you
might as well have the portability
since it is there for the taking.
CPU: B0BB, 4.lMHz
Ram: I2B-512K
Rom:2K
IGyboard: Full, 83 keys
Display type: 9 inch monitor
supplied,monochrome
Display ability: Up to 80x25
text, 640x325 graphics
Sound: Beeper
Storage: I x32OKfloppy,opbonal
ep.^nd fl^nn,,
Interiaces: RS232,Centronics,
4xlBM expansionslots
Languages: Basic,optionalmost
Operating system: MSDOS,
CPlMB6
Software included: GSX
graphics for CP/M86, Mulf,mate
wordprocesso4PC-Tutortraining
course
Software availability: Excellent
Special Ieatures: Portableunit
Guide price: I l99O
 el 500-f2000
MtcRocoMPUTERS

.: ")
CW/PCORTEX
A neat, new CP/M syst-'m. The
Cortex rs more than lust d nedt.lnd
sensrbly styled CP./M system l\
second 6502 processor rs dedr
'ored o th" 5e1co11pp611fl1nqexe-l
lent hrgh resolution graphtcs, user
definable characters and alL those
lhLngsnot normally assocratedwrth
CP/M
The system js made easy to use
by a menu system for selechng and
runnrng progfdms ano lt comes
with the popular Wordstar word
processing system. if you wani a
cheap business svsteni but have an
'
applrcd[on flot lequtre' Q ophte
then the Cortex would be a verY
sensrblechotce.

CPU:ZBa,4NIHz
Ram:64K
Rom:32K
Keyboard: Full, 83 keys
Display type: Burlt ln 12 rnch
monrtor,monochrome
Display ability: BOx25 text,
600x200 graphrcs
Sound: Beeper
Storage: 2x40OK floppy
Interfaces: RS232, Centromcs
Languages: Basrc,optional most
Operating system: CPr'M
Software included: Wordstat
Menu system
Soltware availability: Very
good
Special Ieatures: 6502
processor to handle screen
Provrdes fdst graphtcs and user
definable character sets.
Guideprice:01700 45
 MlcRocoMPuTERSf,I 500-t2000
EPSONQXl O
A p o w e r l u l n e w b u s r n e s ss y s r e - n
p r o d u c - d w r r h t y p r e a iJ a p a n " s e a r
tenhon to design and performance.
T h e Q X l O n a v l o o k L k eo r o - d r n o r y
C P M s y , r . r r b u t 1 t ss p - c i a l l y o - .
signed keyboard, hrgh resolutron
graphics and optronal Valdocs soft-
ware make it rather special. The
QXIO deserves its undeniabre suc-
CCSS

CPU: ZB0,4MHz
Ram:64-192K
Rom:2K
Keyboard: Full, 104 keys
Display type: 12 inch momror
supplied
Display ability: 80x25 text,
6O0x40Ogrraphics
Sound: Beeper
Storage: 2x350K floppy
I n t e r f a c e s : R S - . 2 , C e n r ro n i r s
Languages: Optronal most
Operating system: CP/M
Soltware included: None
Soltware availability: Very
good
Special features: Desrgned for
ophonal Valdocs software
Guide price: | 1750

wp#ffit

tw
 MtcRocoMPuTERStl 500-t2000

,.iil,l:

FUTURE CPU: BOBB,BMHZ

Ram: 12BKlMb
COMPUTERS Rom:4K
Keyboard: Full, 109 keys
FX2O Display type: Built rn I2 inch
monltor, monocnrome
A rema rLal-lo n'nd rel a ^ remark- Display ability: 80x25 text,
able price th" FX20 is a top busi- o p n o n o l u p t o r 2 B O x 5 0 0q r a P h r " s
. F q q q \ / q . a me o n h r n r r n o r r t s t a n d Sound: Beeper
rng design with a top performance. Storage: 2xBOOKfloppy, ophonal
r t s S O B Rn r ^ . e q s . T r r n s M S D O S 5-5OMb hard
o r C P z M B 6 s o { l w a r eb u l i t s h i g h InterLaces: RS232, Parallei,
r ' n e k q n e e dq r v o s l a r o r r r d t w i c e N e t w o r k , o p n o n a lT B M e x p a n s t o n
l h e p e r { o r m o n c eo l t h e i B M , S i r r u s slots
and similar machines. Languages: Basic, oPtronal most
l i i q i r r s -n n e n n d e l r r n r a c o r n Operating system: CPIM86,
nleie nrndrre-lrre a-.d -eludes a optional MSDOS, MP/MB6
nelwork abrlrtyas srandard A:y- Software included: Spellbinder,
^-. l^^L'.n {nr r l'rrrcinecc cvqjpm CP/M emulator
tl^at rar nrnw
witl" tl^em should Software availability: Excellent
consider the FX2O as well as more Special Ieatures: Network
dirceilrr IRM eor na ih-e svctems ability, can read IBM Iormat disks
Guide price: l2OO0 47
 MIGROCOMPUTERSf I 500-82000
GEMINIGALAXY
II
A s r a n d a r d C P M b u s r n e s ss y s l e m
derived from the Nascom range.
The Calaxy rs sohdly burlt, well
cnnnorlp/l ^nrl h^l^c nn crrrnricec

If all you need is a computer to

run CP M progroms such os Word
star,DBase and Cardbox, then the
Galaxy will do the ;ob rn a no non
sense manner

CPU:ZBO,4MHZ
Ram:64 l92K
Rom:2K
IGyboard: Full, 62 keys
Display type: I2 inch monrtor
supplied
Display ability: BOx25 text,
i6Ox75 graphrcs
Sound: None
Storage: 2x40OK floppy
Interfaces: fl$f i- -^6116n15,
Light pen
Languages: Comal, optional

Operating system: CP/M

Software included: None
Software availability: Very
Erood
Guide price:11650

G E N I EI I I
- ^t.*
,Ar ,v^v' ^! .l l, ^\ q^ 'u, ., P
^ ^t -srL] h r r c r n a c c. J 5yJqrll

from the same Hong Kong com

nanrrhat nrori .es -Le (io1tp
6nd
Colour Geme systems. The Genie
-'TI
hasr'' hoer a -r'r.wav clCCeSS
over 'l^nr nl- doo" cffer a.L css .u
h^tl-.a-p M "n.l -ardr."^ft,vare ir
^na na^l rnlA^r;torl ,,r,t

CPU: ZBO,3SMhz
Ram:64K
Rom:2K
Keyboard: Fuli,85 keys
Display type: Builtrn l2 rnch
monrtor
Display ability: Up to BOx24
+ev+ lAAw'72 nranhinc

Sound: Notes, rnternal speaker

Storage: 2x700K floppy
Interlaces: RS232, Light pen
Languages: Basrc,optronal most
Operating system: NewDOS,
optional CPlM
Software included: None
Software availability: Very
good
Guide price: 0l9OO

48
 MtcRocoMPUTERS
f I 500-t2000
HP85 CPU: CustomHP B brt Software included: None
microprocessor Software availability: Good
nA -^ u^ -i ^l .^p^o+ . | 'i-l i ^ rr '^ ^r ^ut lru^ , ,
t l-,L Ff In Ram: l6-32K Special features: All-rn one unrt
tended, as is much HewLetfPackard Rom:4BK ruilh h,,il+,n nnnror
enr rinmcni {nr thc lrh ^r \^/.rzchnn Keyboard: Full, 86 keys Guide price:01920
T h e 8 5 c o m b r n e s a b r r l lr n s c l e e n , Display type: Builtin 5 inch
lre'rhnld
-- y - L r. . r J. ru n'rnrcr
.upq or r- ^nrl ( monitol monochrome
ridre s e.r ahl^ ^ h ol- r.so ulron Display ability: 32x I 6 text,up
graphrcs both on the printer and + n2 E E vI A 2 n " : - h l . "
screen Sound: Notes, rnternal
In comparison to other systems, Storaqe: BuiLtin 2O0K tape
'\c LD n^\/ qFFr ^\'F.. ".r
butit eartrrdnc nniinnal 2v27nK fl^nn\r
does cater for a particular market Interfaces: 4xExpansron slots
And llke most HP products, rt fulfiLls Languages: Basic
,ic narhn,,l:r r^lF var\' ,^.all Operating system: HP O/S

t
I

49
 81 500-f2000
MIGRoGoMPUTERS
II
KAYPRO
Oehnrnr . ' c o p y
TT . ^ " L ^ - a r l l ' .
:r

though now with the drshnchon that,

for a while, it outsold the Osborne I
-J
i-celtThp (a,rnrn ic r ade ouJol
me-^l ar^ 1" rn-cp1 1-r'1v a tOu. h
heavier at 26lbs.
H o w e v - q r rd o e s h a v e r h " b i g a d
vantage of a full 9 inch B0 column
screen rather than the Osborne's
rrv 6 .r^L ,.atl Do1[6ra 11a^ WLqF

the Kaypro is very stmilar, betng a

64K Ram, ZB0, CP/M machine The
4 e e s o l l w a r pi s d r F I ^ r e nbl .o r g l h '
Perfect range, two Baslcs and a
handful of games Perfectwnter rs
not as popular as Wordstar but may
h- -ne1ra-o ln" vnrr- ' w. needS
Options on the Kaypro include
40OK disk drives, a lOMb hard disk
ar-l ^ rrnj- rocol i . r'anhics Cdro
So il you're looklng for a portable
make >ure you rry odr rhe Koypro
system.

CPU: ZB0,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:2K
Keyboard: Full, 72 keys
Display type: BuLltin 9 inch
monitor
Display ability: BOx24 text,
optionaLgraphics
Sound: Beeper
Storage: 2x20OK floppy, optional
. - A ^ O K l l n n n v a n . l 1 - a r dd r s k
Interfaces: RS232, Centromcs
Languages: Basrc,optional most
Operating system: CP/M
Software included: Perfectwriter,
Perfectfiler, Perfectcalc, MBasrc,
qR^.,^ ^^mae a-,-l rrtrli+iee

Soltware availability: Very

good
Special features: Portable
ali-rn-oneumt, weight 26lbs.
Guide price: liB95

KENILWORTH Sound: None

Storage: 2x350K floppy
83 Interlaces : RS232, Centronics
Languaqes: Optronal most
A B ri l r s h d e s i g n e d a n d b u i l - o o r t - Operating system: CP/M
abie. The Kenilworth's most obr,rous Soltware included: None
drstrnction ls that it operates what Soltware availability: Very
would be, from an Osborne point-of good
view, ttpped on its end. The makers Special features: Portable unit
claim that thts reduces eyesirain as werghs 28lbs
it puts the screen up at a ncrmal Guide price: I l9O0
r t r l q f h r .l l c o r t a i n l y r e d u c e s t h e
amount of desk space needed to
operate the computer.
The Kenilworth also adds to the
standard CP/M computer by pro
viding optional hiqh resolutron
g r a o h r e s a r d a n t - n p t e s s j v ed r s k
d p a c r - vT. h e w . i g h l o f t h i s . r n ' q r , e
lookrng compuler ts a sldggering
2Blbs

CPU:ZBa,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:2K
Keyboard: Full, 52 keys
Display type: Built rn 9 rnch
monitor, optional colour
Display ability: BOx25 text,
50 160x75 graphics
 MtcRocoMPuTERSf I 500-t2000

MICROAPL ^ -oacnral-lo nr ^c L s vcr5i6n

6J Sound: None POSITRON
9OOO
the Sigrnetcould be what you're Storage: 2x200K floppy, optional
SIGNET lookrng for. 2xBOOKfloppy, 2OMb hard An unusual British business system
Interfaces: RS232, CenLronics based on the powerful 6B0q pro-
The Shelton Srgnet system resold CPU:ZBa,4MHz Languages: APL cessor. The Positron therefore runs
by MicroAPL as an APL computer Ram:64K Operating system: CP/M rhe Flex ond OS9 opera[ng systems
ADI is a very powerlul hrgh level Rom:2K Software included: None rather than the more common
-l :un .nr, V , :un9o . , ^ " r^ p- .!i u^ ltl u- ' r r y -{ ^u' -
- - l^^
llLolllr' Keyboard: Fu1l,103keys Software availability: Good CPlM
maircal use and owes much of its Display type: Monitor, Guide price: I lBOO Tl"a ",,c,am {crtrrrec -^l^,'. h,nh

recent popularlty to the promotion monochrome racnLrirnr ^.^n h,.c

v. uP.,.\ u
^n^.^n }-.^ --

of MicroAPL. So if you want APL at Display ability: 80x25 texl -arrlcd r-tn a mllri '"e- n^"htne ]l
"nrr havo ar ennlrealnr such os
cr^.L ^n.l nrr'lcr nrnrpcqrnn thrt
*idLi
rrr:vrrr herari. rr^r
vrr,!1rr ^ lnrv -^st multt
thon ir c rvnrlL cco,nn

what Posrtronhas to of{er.

l CPU:6809,lMHz
iI R a m : 6 45 l 2 K
Rom:36K
tr IGyboard: Full,96 keys
Display type: 12rnchmomtor
iI "',--l'..1 nnln,rr

Display ability: Up to BOx24

t - c u t 2 A A v 2 4 On - a n h r " s B " o l o u r s

fI Sound: None
Storage: Cassette tape, optional
2x3BOK floppy, SMB hard
E
Inter{aces: 4xRS232, IEEE
i
d
t
Languages: Basic, optional
Pascal,Coboi, Assembler
T
t Operating system: OS9 optional
t
I
Flex
t Soltware included: None
Soltware availability: Good
I

t Special Ieatures: Can be

expanded to multi-use4 multr
I f^cLrn^ c\/clFm

f
L
Guide price: IlBOO 51
 tl 500-f2000
MIGRoGoMPUTERS
RML38OZ
-l-e
n-ini.^al qchonls' maeh'n€' Sncl
one of the few veterans of micro-
corrpuhng Like rhe Appie and Per.
the 3B0Z has undergone some
m a ' o rc h a r g e s .T h e c u r r e n l s y s t e m
hnrcr< rmnr^vpr'l rlielz an^c rv ^n

RO nnl,,m. ravr ^nr,^n r.n ""--.h

hrnh recnlr rtinn nrrnhinc

Like its little brothel |he 4BaZ,

the 3B0Z has remained a school
-nd enlleoe m^eh.re Sn -ho [yll 6I
rtssoftwaretends to be educahonal
e v e nr l i l s C P M o p e r a h n g s y s l e m
means that Ltwouldn't be difficult to
. ta nosr pa16y p661,6qcc 6n 11
Anari frnm irq frccrrcni annlrca-
-.- o"nertmenls
aq a conlrnler ir
and labs,the 3BOZhas Littleto ofler
^ver a -jisL hr"ed 4BO7 svslem

CPU:ZBA,4MHz
Ram:32-56K
Rom:4K
Keyboard: Full, 65 keys
Display type: TV or Monitor,
ophonaLcoiour
Display abilit y : 40x24 Iext,
ophonalBOx24text,32OxI 92
^"^-l.i." .L^i.^ {"^- 2qA

shades/intensrtres
Sound: None
Storage: 2xI44K floppy, optional
2v2A)K R,r.h +l^nn\r
Interfaces: RS232, Paraliel,
IEEE4BB
Languages: Basic, optional
Fortran, Algol, Logo
Operating system: CP/M
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Good
Guide price: l19OO

SANYOMBC
1250
A smart CP/M svstem. around the
middle of Sanyo's large range. It
offers customary CP/M facilities
with the added bonus of a high
disk capacity and hlgh resoluhon
grraphics.

CPU:ZBa,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:12K
IGyboard: Full, 79 keys
Display type: Built Ln 12 inch
momtor
Display ability: BOx32 text,
64Ox4OOgraphics
Sound: Beeper
Storage: 2x640K floppy
Interiaces: RS232, Centronics
Languages: Basic, ophonal most
Operating systems: CP/M
Soltware included: None
Software availability: Very
good
Guide price: 02000

52
 MtcRocoMPuTERSI 1500-82000
SHELTON
SIGNET
1OO2
A British built businesssystemthat
at first sight appears to be an ord
inaryCP/M system.But Sheltonhas
developedits own unique method
of network:nglmultiuser use by
addinqunits,giving eachuser their
own 64K Ram So the Signerrs a
qood way to startsmalland built up
a big officeinstallation.

CPU:ZB0,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:2K
IGyboard: Ful], lO3 keys
Display type: Momtor,
monochrome
Display ability: 80x25 lexl
Sound:Beeper
Storage: Zx2OOKfloppy,optional
2xB00Kfloppy,20Mb hard
Interlaces:RS232,Centronics
Langruages:Optional most
Operating system: CP/M
Soltware included: None
Software availability: Very
good
Special leatures: Unique easy
wayto expand to mulh-user
system
Guide price: f,1600

SORDM23P The M23Palsoofferscolourhrgh

resoluhongraphicsand comeswith
Pinc Qnrrl'c ".,n"e ncncrrl nrrr-
A diminutrve portable bustness v q r r i Y s v

system. The M23P was one of the pose easy to use programming tool.
first machines to use Sony 3.5 inch Besides Sord's own operating
mrcrolloppies for storage and also system, you can buy SBB0 which
one oJ the first to have a workable will run standard CPIM programs.
T.a-J)sereen fnr rrse awav trom a For many people, the light weight
t lRlhct :nrl thc hono{i+c nf Prnc
monitor The M23P's LCD option
costs l5O0 but provides an B0 char- will be a qood reasonto spend that
an+pr hrr R li.p r'liqnlav little bit more than the price of an
Osborne.

CPU: ZB0,4MHz
Ram: l2BK
Rom:4K
IGyboard: Full, 94 keys
Display type: Sord Monitor or
built in LCD screen
Display ability:80x25 (or BOxB)
text, up to 640x200 graphics,B
colours
Sound: Beeper
Storage:2x29OKSony
mrcrofloppy
Interiaces: 2xRS232,
Centronics,2xSI OOexpansion
slots
Languages: Pips,Basic
Operating system: Sord O/S
optionalSBB0
Soltware included: Pips
Soltware availability: Fair
Special features: Portableunit
weighs }Blbs 53
Guide price: l1BO0
 MIGROCOMPUTERS
f I 500-t2000
II
SUPERBRAIN Interfaces: 2xRS232
Languages: Basic, opttonal most
The archetypal CP/M business ma- Operating system: CP/M
chr"e Tl.eS rnorhra'r'. a s.andard Soltware included: None
CP/M micro in a durable bul heavy Soltware availability:
nre hny deqron lesnile iS notor Very good
rous reputation for unrehabrlily,rhe Guide price: 12000
Srrnerhra,. iq chll a rrpmenr'lnrrclrr

successful small business machine.

The laiec+rrc.cinn r\e S' rnerbrdn
-T
3lq6 '11l11clesh'oh resolution
graphics.
Thorr.ands nr svs oms dre'n use
and lhe Superbrain wouid be a
good buy that wrll last for years to
come.

CPU:ZB0,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:2K
IGyboard: Full, B0 keys
Display type: Built in I2 inch
monitor
Display ability: 80x25 text,
560x240graphics
Sound: Beeper
Storage: 2x I 60K floppy,optional
disksup to 2x750K floppy,2OMb
hard

TANDY
TRSSO w r r hn o n y s r o ) Jo p p h .d r n s I h . r P
aro nle*rv, f -r-" r- , rrd f"om lne
Rom:3K
Keyboard: F ull, 72 keys
L x p a n s r o np o r t
Languages: Basrc,optional most
MODELII .l^1,e \nhFr r+ ur:c m n r l e r.n.: . , . - n o y o u Display type: Burlt in i 2 rnch Operating system: TRSDOS,
mA\/ mccl the sv*tcm hcrnn kcni nn monltot monochrome optronal CP/M
'lbndy's
first move upmarket rnto becausorha B rn.h dr ve rs hondy Display ability: BOx24 texl Soltware included: None
thebusrnessarea.TheModelll now 'n l^ave for "w"r ninq d sks wrth Sound: None Soltware availability: Very
l n n L c , - - l ; " t ' . . +r 1 ' L" r' rr r- ^J ir- ^1 9 q
r L" .y' 1s^u' .r ^( u , ,v^v, ,' 1 ^ larger machrnes. Storage: I xSOOKB inch floppy good
B inch floppy disk drive But with up to 4xBOOKB inch floppy, Special Ieaturs: Second
both CP/M and Tandy's own CPU: ZBO,,1MHz 4x5Mb hard processor port
54 TRSDOS on hond. rt could rope Ram:64 256K I n t e r f a c e s : C e n t r o n i c s ,R S 2 3 2 Guide price: 12000
 81 500-f2000
MIGRoGoMPUTERS

TELEVIDEO . ^u. r r
L 'u, y^ g
^ '-^u. u1 !. 't -L-oL r" l' ,r ", ' o - : c
-^^-l^ Interfaces: 2xRS21? seriol porl
b e r a r h o r l h aTnI TrI hl r o w r n g a w a y o l d Languages: Optional most
TSSOO
SERIES pflrr.mFnr
^a- be networkedusing
rarolv To'evtdeo Operating system: CP/M
machrnos Software included: None
The bottom end of the Televideo Glevideo'sown MmmOSTsystem. Software availability: Very
range oi stand alone microcom- good
puters. The 800 senes rs based on CPU:ZBa,4MHz Special Ieatures: Can be
the ZB0, 64K Ram and CP/M op Ram:64K expanded rnto MmmOST network
erahng system and offers twin SOOK Rom:4K Guide price: | 1B5O
disks and high resoluhon graphrcs Keyboard: Full,75 keys
as standard
-ltl.,,i.l-^
Display type: Builtin L2 inch
'- h,nhl',.o- monitor
garded and often used within the Display ability: BOx24texr,
, r r l r r c l r r r i + c c l { a c r v o l l a-c- h-e-i n g o n F 512x256 graphrcs
o{ the better busrness svstems.The Sound: None
range 1scompatible so that the user Storage: 2x5O0Kfloppy
 MICROCOMPUTERS
tl 500-e2000
TRANSAM
TUSCAN
A B r r r r s hh u s r n o s s . v " t e m r h a r
offers the unusual drstrnctron of
sla-ino life ac d low en.t krL fhe
Ttrqean e^n he h r r l rr r n r n n r h n r r n h r
as a we-l spcrln^d CP M sysrem,
ttseful {or mdn\/ qmA I hrrqrr,.** ^',-
phcahons. The abrlity to read and
write to different disk formats has
n a . l e L o c v c i a r n n n r " ^ - r n z i t sh o i t
:l:ti:i:t ware houses and could be of use
rr:tliiii
r,i'lrlil urr+hin: l:rao
i r::i'i\ \li:\
\ri\|l,1
ilii:li CPU: ZBO,4MHz
Ram:64K
Rom:4K
Keyboard: Full,71 keys
Display type: 12inchmomtor
supplied
Display ability: BOx24text
Sound: None
Storage: Choiceof 5.25inch or
F,n.h ^'cL c!7c+amc

Interf,aces: 2xRS232,
Centronics, S 1O0 expansion bus
Languages: Oplrorol rrosr
Operating system: CP/M
Software included: None
Soltware availability: Very
good
Special features: Can be
bought as a krt and built up into
buslness system
Guide price: 1 1725

TRANSTEC
BC2
A rell bu'lt and relr"ble busrnes,
cvclcm tLrt i c c n l , - l ^ ^ --^ l.^ P ' _ e w . n

relevant software. The Transrec

^r rec ac na rr nael,acp lol ac
counting or word processtng ap
p i i c a r , o ' r sU n d p r n - a t h i t s a . P l V
s y s l e n 1 1 3 1" a n b o s u p p h " d o .
erther a twin floppy or hard disk
m^.h'.a lI - e, ;, . " .! ^v - ^ ^I-t P u ' -a^^
" -or c ,n^+

annli^ir,.- -sralled

w n h l h e n r n t m u m o l { u s sa n d e v e n
for rhose wrlh previous .ompuLe-
e x p e n e n c e r h o T r a n s r o cL sr o 1 o n l y
a good choice but exceLientvalue
1ormoney.

CPU: ZB0,4MHz
Ram:4-256K
Rom:2K
IGyboard: FuLi, 93 keys
Display type: Built in 12 inch
monitor,monochrome
Display ability: 80x24 texl
Sound: Optional sound generator
Storage: 2x3BBK floppy, optional
SMb hard disk
Interfaces: Serial, Parallel
Languages: Optional most
Operating system: CP/M
Software included: Sold with
annlioatinnc cn{h^ra"a {n"

acnnnniinn c+nnlz nnn+ral ^r

word processing
Software availability: Very
good
56 Guide price: I l604
 Price range under f,2OO
Display

E
€ b € F
I E 5 . ! a E >
. - q t o
o g E o
o
g
o
)
@
-
X
' -
q o ) O
E
6 *3; A. : r= , F 3 P o
(
.
E
=
I
t
F
.
Q
Y
o
o
G
)
E
c
)
:
6 o _ .e = 6 o :t i..= tr L =, g

= o
: -
do c
E
c
g ;€5 r 3 6 fo r Ei i oE $ g #H I
- u o J o o
E"
i
Acorn Atom ft70 6502 2 4AK F - 0 0 3 2 x 1 6 2 5 6 x 1 9 2 a l00K Basrc Acorn Acorn C'onputers
Acorn Electron 1199 6502 32K F . 0 8 40x24256x1600 Bastc Acorn Acorn (iomputers
Atari 400 I I50 6502 L6K 2 5 6 1 a x 2 4 3 2 O x I 9 2a "
B8K 0 0 4 Bdsic Atdri Atarr
Commodore Vic 20 f]40 6502 5 29K F ' 0 B 2 2 x 2 3 I 7 6 y . l 5 B . l70K - -
I Bosrc Com Conrmoclor--
morl ore

D r a g o n3 2 LI75 6809 3?.64K F 8 3 2 x 1 6 2 5 6 x 1 9 20 ' '

2 BasLc Draqon L ) r a g o nD a t a

J u p i t e rA c e tgo Zga 3 SIK C 32x24 64x48 0 Forth Iupiter C-antaL_.

Juprter
Oric I tlOO 68A2 t6 48K C - 0 8 44x28 Z4OxZCIO
a Basic Onc (Jrrc Proclur:ts

Sinclair ZXS I L4O ZSa I - I 6K T 32x21 64x48 0 '

Basic StncLarr Srnciair
SinclairZX-Spectrum itOO ZBA 1 64 B K C - 8 3 2 x 1 6 2 5 6 x 1 9 2O . Basrc Sinclair SincLair
S o r dM 5 t 196 ZBO 4 t6K C - 0 3 2 44x24 ?,56x192a '
2 Basic Sord Sord
TandyTRS-80 MC-10 t lOO 6803 4K C 32x16 64x32 0 - 0 ' Basic Gncly l.rnciy
TandyTRS80 model I l.2OA ZBA 4 3ZK F - 0 64x16 64x32 *
0 87K 0 0 BasrcTRSDOSlhndv

T e x a sT i 9 9 / 4 A tt5o T M S 9 9 O Ot 6 4 8 K F - 0 16 32x24 256x192 a ..'

90K 0 0 i Basic Texas Jbxos
TexmTiCC4O tt5o TMS99OO
4-t6K C O O 2ax4 -- 0 - Basrc Texas Gxas

Price range G2OO-f,SOO

Display

.
E t
0 L E
. g E
'

g, = E ff ii fri v , 5a E #
P
o E
d : ! a E
! h # fi..!ii
o
g p €:
. ' e c E
E E . : : € f H 9 s ? E ; E b ; E e
= i E E E ; E f E s s E i l 5 $ . * so jr E
Advance 86a 1400 8086 t2B-512K 0 0 80x25 64Ox20O0 320K Basic MSDOS Advance Products

Atari 800 t300 6502 4BK 0 0 2 5 6 4 O x 2 4 3 2 O x l 9 2O B B K O O 4 ' Basrc Atari Atarr

BBC Micro 1300 6502 t6-32K 0 0 B BOx25 O+OxZSO

O l00K - Basic Acorn Acorn Computers

Camputers Lynx L224 ZBa 4B-).92K 0 0 B 40x24 256x248 O Basic Camputers Camputers

Colour Genie f200 zga 16-32K 0 0 B 40x24 32OxI92 0 Basre Ccrr- r ow- E ecrron,c:

Commodore 64 1300 6510 64K 0 0 16 4 0 x 2 5 3 2 0 x 2 0 00 150K - 2 Basic Com- Commodore

modore

Genie I 1330 zqa I6-4BK F 0 0 64x16 l2Bx4B * B7K Basrc TRSDOS Lowe Electrorircs

uenre rl 1300 z\a 1 64 8 K F 0 0 6 4 x 1 6 1 2 B x 4 B O B7K Basic TRSDOS Lowe Electrorrrcs

Multitech MPF II LZ69 6502 64K 6 44x25 28axl92 a 140K Basic Multitech Srrtel

Nascom 2 t330 zga 2-4BK F 0 0 O 40x25 0 0 320K Bas c N""do. u.os i og c

Newbrain L22A ZBA 32K c 0 0 84x24 64ax22Oa Baslc Newbrain Grundy

Powertran Cortex t340 TMS990064K F 0 0 16 40x24 256x192 A 100K 0 - Basic MDEX Powertran

Tandy Color Computer t24A 6809 16-32K c 0 0 B 3 2 x 1 6 2 5 6 x 1 9 2O I 56K Basic Tandy Tandy

KEY TO SYMBOLS O oprlonal included not available/Tflatkeyboard/C calculatorkeyboard F full keyboard

57
 TABLES
COMPARATIVE

Price range f,5OO-81OOO

Storage Interfa-ces

€ € - { q)
o : : L =
6. fEi E t p I t
a
a z E 9 ^ ; ;
P E E
:
g; L€ o! F .g g E
€ E *3 -s ie* f 3H : g:
,F
o o - "Hh 3 E 'r
Q J
E: t F f rt t l E * E e o
.9
= o - o cc I E ; d P 6 d E iH d € , i 6 - 5 o

Advance 86b it . i_tcrt8086 i 2B-256KF ' O 8 0 x 2 5 6 4 0 x 2 0 00 320K BasLc MSDOS Advance

t 16 40x24280x1920 l40K 0 0 I ' B a s t c A-, 1.. Apple
App1e IIe ::s8r 65a2 6 4 -I 2 8 K F 0
- L'10K 0 C i ' Bastc Communrty
basts tud i))a 6502 6 , 1 -2t 8 K F' 0 0 80x24280x192
Computers

0 16 , 1 0 x 2 53 2 0 x 3 0 00 l50K " 0 1 Basrc Com Comnodore

uDlvl cuu serles !800 65C9 t28 B96K F
nodore

CBM 4000 series t635 6502 i6 32K F 40x24 0 I 50K B a s r c PetDOS Commocic,re

uDlvl ouuu serles t995 6502 32-96K F 80x24 0 L50K Basrc PetDOS Commodore

UAI TL it68,4 8080 .+8K F - U 6 0 x 2 4 2 6 0 x 3 5 20 80K Basrc DaL Dar

Epson HX20 t560 6301 i6 32K F 0 0 2ax4 L2Ox32O BasLc Epson Epson

Exidy Sorcerer i9i0 z1a .18K F 6 . 1 x 3 05 1 2 x 2 4 0O 750K B asic- C P , ' M EMG mrcrocentres

Fujitsu FM8 t1000 6809 64K F - 0 8 0 x 2 5 6 4 0 x 2 0 0O 320K B a s r c FLex Strrhng Mrcros

HP?5C t730 HP 162.1K C 0 0 32xl 0 Basrc HP O,,S Hewlett Packard

LUXOT AEL6U 1690 Z8A L 64 B K F 44x24 84x.72 3BOK Basic Luxor OS Datamark

Nascom 3 f 630 z\t) 48K F . 0 48x1696x48 0 320K Basic Nasdos Lucas LoqLc

!1000 zB0 64K F U 80x25 780K 0 CP.,M S e m r t e c hC o r p

RML 48OZ f685 Z8A 6.1K F O B 80x25 6,10x192

O I44K Basrc CP, M R e s e a r c hM a c h i n e s

Sharp MZ80A E550 280 6.+K F \ax25 280K 0 , - Basic FDOS Sharp

Tandy TRS80 model 3 t600 zga t6-,18K F 6 4 x L 6 . l 2 B x 4 80 I87K Basic TRSDOS Gndy
'lbndy
Tandy TRS80 model i00 f500 zqa 64K F ,1OxB 0 Basrc Tbndy

Price range el OOO-f,l5OO

Storage Interfaces

o
d ;
E €
H E . a
: r
-I gt E
o
q

n r
f r !
E r g n

9 -
F - a ; E:
-. 8> l i ^ E : i
I * F.;f E $
€ 3 e eE;Ea 3'
E
'r
- o E ; ; e ' S n t 5 5 o i . -5 o
.9
= I E;3 e <r o o cco:rI6 o

LblYl luu serles t1375 6509 r2 8 - 8 9 6 K F . 80x25 512x5120 340K ' I B a s r c Com Commodore
modore

uromemco u ru ir350 280 64K I; 80x25 - 3BOK Ba s r c C D O S Comart

HP86 I i,1,+0HP 64512K F 84x21 544x240 27AK- B a s r c H PO ' S Hewlett Packard

Microdecision i1145 280 6,1K F 80x24 200K BasLc C P , M ]nterdm

Osborne I Lt44A Z8A b4K F 52x24 184K Basrc C P ' M Osborne

S a n y oM B C l 0 0 0 LI37a 280 64K F 80x25 320K Basrc C P M Loqrtek

Sharp MZ80B LIA34 ZBA 64K C 80x25 520x200 280K 0 Basrc FDOS Sh a r p

K E Y T O S Y M B O L S 0 o p r r o n o tj r - l u d o d n o t a v a i l a b l eT f l o rk a y o o d r d C c a i . u l a r o -k e y b o a r d F f u l l k e v b o a r d
 COMPARATIVE
TABLES

Price range f 15OO-02OOO

Display Storage Interfaces

E o o E
q)
0) ; o o q
o o '6
o L o
o
o : L O
F U , 0) 3
^
g o E o G3 '
q) €-9 i € * o !! or F
8 r E g 8 E P
l ' = ^ o
E "l( c\l
= (!
Y
0)
;sE o
. 9
O
4
E
. Y O X = G
U - I . I J ( J J
o
@
o
British Micro Mimi 803 81550280 6,1K F 1 9 80x25 512x256 320K 0 OS1'M British Mrcro

vorona ru tr800 8088 1 2 8 - 5 1 2 KF ' 0 - 80x25 640x325 320K . Basic MSDOS Corona Dato
vorona rru t1900 8088 1 2 85 L 2 K F 80x25 6.10x325 320K . Basic MSDOS CorLtna Dato

C/WP Cortex t1700 280 b4K F 80x25 640x200 400K - Basic CP,'M C, WP

Epson QXl0 LrTaaz\a 6 4 -I 9 2 K F 80x25 6O0x40O 350K Basrc CP,,M Epson

Future Computers FX20 i2000 8088 ] 2 B Ki M b F 80x25 0 800K * Bosrc CP, M8o EncoteL

uemrnl uataxy ll i1650 ZB0 6,1l92K F 80x25 160x75 400K . ComaL CPr M Gemrni
uente tlt st9o0 280 6,1K F 80x25 160x72 700K . Basrc CP,rM Lcrwe ElectronLi:s

HP85 t ] 1 9 2 0H P L6-32K F' 32x16256x192 2f0K. Basic HP Or S Hewlett Packard

Kaypro II i i895 280 64K F 80x24 200K . Basic CP/M CK Cornputers

Kenilworth 83 i 1900 280 64K F 80x25 l60x75 750K Basic CP/M Kenrlworth

lvtrcroAI.L brgnet t1800 280 0 BOx25- 200K - APL CP,'M MicroAPL

Positron 9000 series it8o0 6809 6.1-5i 2K F - 0 80x24 24ax24A 3BOK Basrc OS/9 Positron

RML 38OZ c 1900 zB0 32 56K F ' 0 0 B O x 2 40 144K Basic CP/M Research Machrnes

Sanyo MBCl250 tzaaaz\o 64K F BOx32 64Ox4OO 640K * Basic CPIM Logitek

Shelton Signet t1600 zB0 64K F 80x25 200K - Basic CP./M Anglotech

Sord M23P s1800 280 64K. F . 0 8 80x25 640x200 - 29AK, ' Pips Plps Sord

Superbrain II t2A0a ZAC) 64K F BOx25 560x240 160K * Basic Cp/M lcarus

Tandy TRS80 model 2 tzaaazqa 61256K F Bax24 s00K . Basrc TRSDOS

'1hndy

Televideo TS800 series t 1 8 5 0z B 0 64K F Bay.24 512x256 500K - Basrc CP/M Encotel

Tiansam Tuscan t1.725 Z8A 64K F 0 0 Bax24 - 0 Basic CP/M tansam

Transtec BC2 i1604 280 64-256K F BOx24 - 3B8K 0 CP/M tanstec

KEY TO SYMBOLS O optional,/inclucjed/notavaiiable,/Tflat keyboard/C calculator keyboard/F full keyboard

59
 Applications
Computersdre generdlpurpose machines. .^^d,, "^, r irrci nnini ir nff nn ^ ^"i.r^" Th^

While somearemore sultedto certarntasks wordprocessor will formal il nicely,so lhat

than nlhcrc ell hr rt tha nhoanaqf minnn- you've got numbered pages with titles and
computers can play games, file informa- neatly aLlgned mdrqins.
[on, ca]culate your finances and so on. So The top wordprocessors, such as Word-
what d_cpeople dctudlly do with their com- star dnd Spellbinder also offer numerous
'T)car
pulers I nlhar rrlrrantenpc Vnrr ean nrini

blank' Ietters or sort lisis You can buy

Games: Playing games is probably the add-onprogramsihatcheckspellingsand
cinnla mncl nnnr rlrn r rqa {nr nnmnr rtorq evenstylefor you.
Even if you haven't considered pldFng \ vA{/ u
n nr u
r .v] nr runLnUa cr rc n r e Arp ^,..^'-
qulLK
--.1
Ollu
^^^,,
coJy
(n
computer gdmes, you may {rnd that a com- F.rc. {nr nnn-irrniqlq if rrnrr rnrritc lettcrc

puter can be a great deal of fun if you give nannrtc enficle< nr almnci anulhina rrnrr
it r trrr lA/hat'c mAra .^mnr rtanc rro rorllrr marr
rrruy
firr]
rrrru
r
u
rYnv rvn, r rv_v ]' n n n n a c q n r iq rr rqi rarhat

good di games. They have been playing you've always wanted.

rl"^- +.^- +L h' I^ v. 1v ^U . yr l +ho,r.n'a"a
l ' v } v v v l
inrranierJ Qnroarlchaatc:na
vvJ vuvJJ 'vv,r
a litllp mnre nnmnli-

long beiore even small companies could ^^ro,-l t^ o .nlrin

v^Pruur.
Tr h, -, v"y ^u ," - v ru rJ ce va r ' l l' vnr r ru lv nL ,i n nL Y

dream of owning one. Now that computers Education: Computers dre great educa- almost any calculationsdnd dre lusLright
cost almost nothing and can use joysticks tional toojs for just the same reasons that for choosing between special oflers, HP
dnd imitate arcade displays and sounds, they are greal gdmes players: Versatrlity, deals, burlding societies and banks and
there's d mdssive drend for the games elzill ^n/-l nntianna
P u
L ' v I v v
J\,4nna anrl m^na nr^-
praciicdlly any other money matter you
enthusrast. qrams are being sold to turn home com- care to name.
A nnmnr rfer iq en ir]eal cameq na rlner Tn puters into teaching mdchlnes. ' Ynrr mioht frnd thai a qnrcadchcei rrrill
strateclrr damcq hke Chess and Back- These don't replace teachers or text help just ds much with home mandgement
gammon, it can provide a willing and able books. They are d supplement, a b1tof light ds d specidllywntten program They're also
vn yn ynvnrnr a
v rn t rL nr teanhar l- nrrr.la" tha nnm- relief from normdl school work. But educa- gredt for mdths homework and any other
nr ricr nan hc thc maqtcr nftcn nrmrir]ina honal programs can be a great deai of fun. number work thdt gives you problems
nrrzzlcq that it runrrld ha nhrrqinallrr im- lf a child is interested in whal they are The basic idea is that the computer be-
possrble to make. Imagine a Rublk's cube dolng, then he or she will learn more comes a huqe worksheet, dividbd into rows
wrth I0 sides! And of course, the com- So, even if you don't want to computerise and columns. You can pul numbers or
puter is a cheap and convenient way of your child's educdtion, hdving d home com- Iormulae inlo dny of the boxes on the grid
ctellino vorrr favnrrrite arcade acjion to puter dround with a handful of educational So you might have a column with all your
your nngernps. progrdms could be a very helpful aid to avnanrlihrrec in ii llnrlarnoalh rrnrr nrrl a

And there are other games that are often their educafion and yours, say, if you box which totals up the entire column.
too diffrcult or tedious [o organise rn Lhe want an excihng wdy to learn a foreign Change one of the numbers in the col-
real world. Computers play Advenlure, a language umn and the totai is automatrcally worked
role playing game simildr to the Dungeons nrr+ {nr -rn, ' Vn" .An -^ nn l-rrrilr-linn rrn

dnd Dragons played by hobbyisls You Home Management: Running your columns, rows and formulae unhlyou have
'mnrlal'
become the hero in a story that'Lives'as it house with a computer tends to be a little lv- .ur "r iLl + 'u'vn r vn n
u vm, , n, vl a, lva' u nf rrnrrr nrnh-

adapts to your achons. Computers also bir unpopular. [r's perfectly posslble to do lem. Then you just fiddle about with the
add a sparkle to Wargaming, removing everylhing from shopping lists and recipes n"mhcrq rnr] lhe.^mnrriFr nrrtc in the

the need for dice, rulers, plenty of spdce to budgets ond diaries using d smdll com- hard work of working out the resuits for
and so on. n'rter R' r- nennle
vvvvrv
rarelrr r{6.
rurvry L you. Instantly.
So lhe messanc haq io be don't dismiss Having to sit at the computer and enter Using the computer as an electronic fil-
.^mnr riFr nemaq Thara noallrr ic cnmo- all the detarls of receipts, brlls and so on is ing cabinet or ddtdbdse system is dn rm.
thinn thpra {nr orronrrnne Anrl lho.r nirre a bit of a chore. Particularly, if you have to mensely popular and rewarding use. Com-
you d chdnce to relax as well as become finht +n dat A d^ nn lha ^^m nr r+ar rrn r I
puters take the drudgery out ol liling They
familiar with the way computers think and bought dnd thdt your family plays with can sort and search rtems, and print them
work. But if you want to, your dverdge 32K or out in d neal wdy ds dnd when you need
48K micro wrll have the progrdms dvaildble Inem.
Programming: This is the other major for you to try. And there's no reason why Prnaramq rrarrr frnm rrerrr qnnhiqtina lcd
use for home computers. You can learn to you can't hdve d go dt it. but awkward to use to srmple systems that
program using dny of the home computers. imitate normal cardboxes So you can dl-
Yn" dnn't.aa.] o.loa.oo nr a trnininn Business Applications: Small com- wdys find d progrdm just right for your
course or a tedcher. You just sit down and puters are realiy at home helping out small needs.
do it It's a lot easier and a lot more inierest- comnanies Brrt there ^re dt ledsl three
ir n
l r vc fLh arnr n
rru r l ra
u rnr yr r ynva
v vn
r en l c
tLhr , i n k . common applications in use rn business You name it! These are lust some of the
Programming has its uses, other than Lo that can be a great help in the home. These thi-a" ^an^lo r rca anmnr rtar" f^" Y^' ' -^"

teach you about the way computers work. are word processingi, spreadsheet calcula- \^/Ant A a^mnrrtar tn dn irrqt nne ^" oll ^{

You can create the programs you need, no tions and databasemandqement. Or, if you thesejobs.Or you mrghtwant it for some-
mdtter how unusual a job you want doing. like, typing, calcuiating and filing thing completelydifferent
If you've got a specralist hobby then it may Wordprocessors turn the computer into Ramamlran a\ranrr^na n{ +ho"o ^^^lr^^-

be the only way to get the proqram you an electronic typewriter. You type onto the tions was invented at some time by some-
need. Belng able to program also lets you screen rdther than onto paper. So you can nnc T{ .rn' ".to nnt e n m c t h i n nr r r r v nn-nne
rav
hac

create your own games and pastimes - make changes, move paragraphs dround ever thought of, get d computer and do it
for vou and vour friends - that's what they're there for!
60 and so on. When the letter or document is
I
 Add ons: Any equrpment that can Compatible: When one prece of joystick: Ar odd on I ,s lrk. h- Monitor: A screen hke a TV that's
be connected to a computer software or hardware wili wox 'nt-^-rrl, enrl nl .' - -n-"ro J61 cne-ialy e o. rr -d ^r ' so w.Lh o
-l-cso
. .'en riol I ne Fwnenilve wlth another Add ons and can move the lever rn any .^* rl.t-n V^r.-n-s d16 FvnenstVe
c1 6\ ^\ n -,1 ,liSf< h,,t thev .-l^ a,\rF ^ h,nh
1r-pc tlFrc n .fl.-rq 1 [c.^n |.Al-u]e 1 'y- ]treeJ ^. ^ar] ti-.-p. rr'' ," c tt-e " . . . . . " . d,, , .^ l.l . t r y
l "v* , - sre I ^'l^ ra. . .L os wt'L r,nlT n^.1 ^.1r' 1 .L ' e I h nr ^s vel- To'rs- ^1," ^ a J-iu prcture
nnnucfnLc
they are gornq to work together mostly for games but they're aiso
, . a o r 1 . 1' n d - . . , t ^ rr l^ .. r - Multi-user: A computer that can
Application: The particular lob Configuration: The partLcular pfograms. be used by more than one person
or task you want a computer to do. h . " -l .tF-6c In 1.. n .t l?l rCL at once. Useful rn busrness or
T t- , ^ L + l - - ^ ^ l ^ ,' l ^ r , - - - , ^ , , ' 'n W r 't .cd ^r vn'. Lav^ which K or Kilobytes: The unit in whrch ^ ^ " i . ^ - " , . ^ " . L ^ ^ 1 ^ " . ^ i ,l ,^ .l F
.nTnt.ia-
budqets, typrng a letter or lust n r ^ a - . \ ' / . r ' t c p r e] " o ^ n -a^ n,\,,. " --.,,ed

n., ai d cn*e [:n], - a oU-J I K rs about lO00 characters So a Network: A senes ol computers
'onnoercd
Controller: A computer that rs 1OOKfloppy drsk holds around 20 t^.- hpr Nelrvn'[5
I ^ ..T -. -alL
Basic: The most popular used to control some oiher typed sheets o{ 44. Games allnw n t-cr^ u
r n m' n' ,' ,I+ o" r l r n n , - ,' :)a o \ , 4- n -- t n equrpment It couid be your ^or n. a.c or L h^ r^ tr^-n I bK a4rl 4-1^py .nrl -n sl^-rc evnenslve
rFoPl-
use Basrc to write therr own central heatinErand lLghts.Or a Lab ta49Y tf aaro.r'ard h rs'1s55 add ons such as pnnters and drsk
-vr F,,n -- . 11o'1ql t.rc cvc-F-c ra -o r. L avc l-*s rl- r: 64 K
nrofframe Ti'< reaenn:hlrr Lnd.o dnves.
-
rn vo. [r .1 6] rt'^ '7o- a . rr Tl.o ^n-, I I.c. r d n t ,, ,O uOk
iedrn. ^ , ' ^ , 1 " ^ ', 1 " . e a ' , , n m o n r r - ; n r n g LCD: A liquid crystal display as Operating system: The program
' ' I 'ri
Ir.. Lo " --"1 .' c'taro Bajlc o t t u 1 1 l o N Uo u j u : L l r r u r r L ) L U r r l used in calculators and digital 'r .hdr )F nI . nrt. r . enrOuteT
has dLaiects,surted {or partrcrllar n ^ - d s b - i s a v F r \ , s - fr _ lw a y o , watches. Some portable On most home machtnes,the
machines So you'll hear o{ . -1, nn a I ^a ili. cqilinrpnl -orn,riF-c 1"e | (ils r stc^o ol operating system or OS rs
different versLonsof Basrc,such as TV screens invrsrbLe rt's lust a part o{ the
BBC Basrc, MBasrc, CBasrc and CP/M: The most common Basic languaqre On drsk
-l----
\ r.n - r , - . e -t ^ I . t h e -naf^trnn crretpm nn minrn Language: A speciaLlanquage machrnes,the OS is a malor
,ato lar rr an- hr r vrtl . ,rl-t 1,aa t F c Alrn i l.wl-r.nUSeS rtre* lod rn- rr'rit rn n-^r-r
PrUVrur
165 l6p Pr v9rulrl
tL:r lnalzc r{rer fhc

differences CP/M can use any of the huge a computer. Most users rely on the computer and helps the proqrams
-.r ,F .r/-D V soliwr.e ^voj-oblo e o s y - l o J e a r nB a s r r l a n g u a g or . e o that run on rt (see CPIM)
Bit: The smaliest amount o{ on the market. B o s l . r b u r t h o r es o w h o l o r o n g - t o
in{nrmaf,ar ^ .^mnrrtof .A. .h^^co {r^m Drf{pron+
. . , . . lann,
.*.. " tdges Output: The opposite of Input!
understand. A brt can be eLther0 .ln d '{oren jinr .^m -a ntiL oI d
CPU: The brain at the centre of a rhq Snr- nI the A nv irro-ra
^-- 'tr' ^t. 'Lc 1\^1q'^r'"r.1 ^^m^rrtor f )- .-^ll . ^ n .n, r r n^mae 1,^, r'll mon+ ara trnrlh ^^T n, rtc- -Lrrr .nr rld he 'e
Of'' l -Tprc. lI ;Lt]p5
'r, '.
^r \F. aa.l ,d "^^r. B1LS is nearLyalways a mrcro Pascal,Cobol, Fortran and'C'. rrred or - n- -lpr ^' nl- r,r?S On d
- r ^ l.n ---l nroll -- ;6 .^- t, processor . hence the name qe rcer f,.rer nr rsie ll r^r oh the
- ,r h-'s 8.1--.^-.1
] -re els Mrcrocomputer. Light pen: A pen shaped pointer computer s speaKer.
a re b c s e d o n i n l o r - n a r o n . p i t r p t h a tc a n b e u s e d r o c h o o s - l h r n g s
rnto B bit chunks The more Disk drive: A d-vie^ for stor rg Irnm e rnmnr lcr <ereon rrrcr h\/ Package: A complete'krt' for
- ^ r , o r f ]r t 6 1 - r - e l l r e " e r t - d
u al rdu 1' -!' 1r 1 ' o
! vy :i rr -' v irfnrn a 'nr
(tOtTl
d pointing at them. Great lor rlninn: narrirrl^r r^h A naelzane

Tav-. . rn.- [,Ah;-"arnrnda[ disk programs that create pictures or might include hardware . even a
once. help design things. ,^,hnlc rnmnrr+or nr u rnrrlr'l ,,rcr l-re

Floppy disk: A flexible disk in a : cat nf nrnnr:mc

^ardboord
Bug: A mistake in a computer lock- used [or slortng Machine code: The complex
nt^orn a n- a ral ,r rl" h..rjwore o r ^ a r a r c a r d i r f n - r a l n n o t -o elecLonrc rnstruc[ons LhdLd PEEK and POKE: These are
Rr q. ^-o nrol-'o- 1r^l iotrO
lO mrcro .n -- t.FT ^6" , e -lp,q.a.rl ancl common instructronsln the Basrc
be solved . . a process known as FyF-t'lo Yn| ean \n/- la nr^qTdms l a n g . - r a gt eo - o o k a t a n d d r r e . l l v
debugging! Graphics: D^ ailoddtowtno and in machrne code but it rs a slow :lrer rhc nnmn,rtor'c - m p m. n.r . . . ' v
ninlIre- nr^conla/] ^n ^.^mnf lpr ^ r d d i f { i e r - n . n . c c s T l ' sr r c n f Lc,, ^ rF ',ert' "ef tl tn- l rfdt edS

Bus: A pathway used to connect screen or on a plotter GraphLcs a^claf t^ r,ce : nnmnr
' ' ' r -r .+ o-r l :-n , . g u a g e of different jobs but they can be
^ { - -oTnpLr-r ^ 16 c -a^ r
rL^,.--i^,.^
I ^ e v a - r o u sLo. -r ^- so Ia t fnr h^ n. nes and urhinh ic rhpn arrtnma+inrlh, qurte hard to use.
cvcrpm Cnmn,,+orc,r,r+lr r hlrcrna-c,^^-.".h
l v v J
r v r l
rc nrndttctnn translated to machine code ior
standard bus, such as S lO0, IBM nrpnhartq and hrclnoramc you Peripherals: S". Add ons
PC or Apple, can use the same Hie h ro.n'r nn o ra nh rr5 63n

add ons. .l-nw n rc d^ra led nre r"es Lhan Memory: The place where Printer: A device ior typrng out
'he ennnr rr^n ^^n.
more hmrted low resoLution lc- lorenfic-"'\q nlnrnatin' rlef on[O

Centronics: A common way of grraphrcs They are essentral for irro-ra..nr a-d nrncrar . rl ts paper.
connecnng pflnlers Io computers. r.me- cr.r ^. Snaeo'rvaders rnrnrLinr nr Ve-n-'r
v l I ] I I L ] ! l v l y U I l l ! !
i" -^aSUfed
+L^,.^-'^!^ ^{
Centronrcs is actually a prrnter and Pacman. It >u r11q]ry trruuJorlu> ur Program: A serresof rnstructions
L6p
manufacturer but its method has characters or K. il^a el' a "^ap11'c- In 616 6
heon.-lnnr--l l-r' Trn' d't. t.n- H a r d d i s k : A r e x p o n ' 1 v op 1 9 1 6 1 Th.". r". +run rrrnec n{ roh cneh as nl^v ^ c rr
nrrlrrrrlar o

f^r ctnt irn ^r ile vnrr -eeine* /-, rn

companies. d.sL lcad i-'n'.ndLtOn memory . . . mdn memory is built Ur rrrl tlers
yvur !rlrPvJ. vvrrlPq

^' rl nrnn.\rq n1 4 ^ann lter into the computer and consrsts of can't understand any oid
Uard dr"l," ^TF "lla-lv rrve.j.J. ', c.r r-f^nc " nusl
Character: A Letter,digit or Ram and Rom. External memory bc
. y n b o l s " c \ o s c $ o o & 'o " . t OF V F n I orr drle. B r' ll^e'r^16 mofe ic ^ nFrm^nant ctnrp rrcprl tn lzcpn l^/ri+tan rn a nnmnr r t c r 'l a' 'n' nr r l a g e

a space. Computers also use relable, faster and have more i : l o r m a l r o nw h i l er r ' sn o r a c r u a l l y
special invrsibLe'control storage space than floppy disks. being used. This could be Ram: M^mory used for stonnq
-La-^. or- th. f.ve "n-e ^L o r d i n a r y c a s s e t t et a p e o r p e r h a p s , uJ. I-r uYru.-rr
- . . 1 n ^ r ^ \ ^ / l ^^, ' h ^
nF^.t.as l. iLe nnmn , er.U^h d> Hardware: The physical floppy disks computer works on them Ram rs
'{nrner
+h,c nnmmanrl' n r.' c h
-.op equlpment ln a compuler n
u nr rl 'l y rr or m| n,nPr v^ r' u
r ,, y ,' L
, ,t ^v "r ^9a , ^ l

what you're dorng'and so on. c!/ctcr ,r v l -i vo . -an touch Microprocessor: A partcular ' n r l - ac- r r l w l ^ e . r , n r s w ' t e h t l e
or hold . such as the computer, l r r n cn r e h i n - h a i r n r n s 1 L o6 - p 1 =u1t computer off
Columns: The number of lerrers t . sc f r a e n L o v h n " r . l n r r ne r a n d the heart of a computer. The
^ n d - r r h ^ - s i l - a -. ^ r h - c \ o w n so on. N / i . r n n . n r e " s n r r s l l - e a e l r a lb r o t n Rom: A permanent memory used
r.r aqq a .. ptra or nr r'e.l ^v {r u^ -r ir ^r r. ^l r^v^L- v^ r, l, lf P
- .u r v r to store the informatron a
ocro_s
d .rin-Fr Va-r- l-nrc..ry nL[e1s Input: Information that rs fed into .nmnt t,ar r oe|c rvLetcver ll lS

have only 40 or 32 coLumn t' rnI a .^m

L v ,
^,,,ar
P v l
rn hcln ir d^ ,rc r^h Modem: A device used to switched on. You cdn't change
drsplays Busrnessmachines tend l\,4n"r ,-nr rf ," i]."^,,^h ^.",, '-1,,n a r y -^nna.t a nnmn,,tpr fa : R o m , i r s c o n r e n r sa r c h x e d b y t h e
'-a11.'
to have B0 coLumn screens so that h'^^.^'.il-" I'L- L.'.h^^".1" - - lD U ty o u lelenl'nro so tha' ' ear 16 manutacturer.
more informatron can be seen aL .^r .rqF I'nLiro.s l^\/sll.L5 ano other computers many miles away Severa)computers }et you plug
once. many others in cartridges wrth pre wrrtten
62
games on them. The cartrrdges
simply contarn some Rom with the
-,,
nr.firiT \ nF-ralal s n-ed On
them.

Run: To use a program

RS232: A common way o{

attaching add ons such as
l,4odam" anr'l nrrnrorc rn

computers.

Software: The programs used on

a compuler.

Spreadsheet: A parhcular
annlrnairnn A cn..^.1"1-,^.i
n'oo-^r nal.es cdsv r. w,rt (
n,,r l-'r,,-laarc annvaclia:ia
-. ," . ' . - - - +l' l ^
a d v a n t a g eo l o r - s p e c , a lo h o r ,H P
.1.^l ^" h",l..l'-^ c a n i a' t! '
J v ! r y
a,,o.
u Y l

another.

Utilities: Shortprogramsusetul
'.r'horrseLoenrrq
r a.nryDL[et
system They do such lobs as
l.^1,^ ^-,-!...i!,, -l
tuPyllg llutvruuol
^r cattir^ r ,' ^1
-^ ^Pr , l n FT

tn vne ir 6 16 6l tq.6af:6^ rp6l ,6

on

Wordprocessor: The
rnmnnterrcor] . ^ a , ', ". , '^ 'l --- t , ^- f. d

typewriter. A wordprocessor lets

V^rt lVnc nrtn ll^e L.r6aY dad

.^rra.i \/^rrr . , . t n n ql .
tow+ l-ra{nrp nrir

out So you can do everythrng

from sorted lists, Dear Blank
1e'cpc p-6'on1. ard -crn.l -
6]r
r^n+Lr}lo ^f +-,^,-^

.rw
t.

:Mo

.-'rrr-;A

63