Apple Orchard v3n1 1982 Mar Apr

INTERNATIONAL APPLE CORE™ > . Ff a age gS Ee Sm,... «te =< = JJ wW?iE Ve FGae VOLUME 3 NUMBER 1 MARCH-APRIL 1982 Computers in Education Word Processor Comparison Let There Be Logic FORGETS.” Elephant™ floppies. soft sector. And they sell at some of the lowest They're guaranteed to meet or beat every indus- prices in the business. try standard for quality. They come standard with — Elephant Flexible Disks. reinforced hub rings at no extra cost. They come They're heavy duty. They work for peanuts. in every popular 5%4”model, in both hard and They never forget. Get yourself a trunkful. HEAVY DUTY DISKS. Distributed Exclusively by Leading Edge Products, Inc., 225 Turnpike Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021 Call: toll-free 1-800-343-6833; or in Massachusetts call collect (617) 828-8150. Telex 951-624. Better management tools. The Manager Series from Microsoft turns an inexpensive personal computer into an executive's toolbox. Not a computer program- mer’s toolbox. An executive toolbox. Computerized management tools for non-computer people. Time, people, projects. The Series is a system of software tools that work together to help you plan, organize, schedule and record your business and personal affairs. Time Manager," Project Manager* and Personnel Manager" are the first packages in the Series. Write it once. All programs in the Manager Series allow you to transfer information between programs. That means you can enter information in one program and transfer it for management by another. Time Manager. The key. Time Manager helps you manage your personal time, appointments and priorities. It can also help you manage expenses, costs and job schedules. Or, keep a running tally of costs and hours by day, week, month or year. And Time Manager can act as an “executive” to manage other programs in the Series. Project Manager. Describe the components of a project to Project Manager. It will create timing, task and resource charts to help you focus on critical tasks. Change } one piece of information and Project Manager will a . recalculate the entire project. Project Manager even flags overcommitted personnel resources. Personnel Manager. Manage information about people, companies, customers or prospects. From names and addresses to skills, position, and characteristics. Personnel Manager lets you enter any kind of people-related information. Then, organize and retrieve it almost any way you want. Management software. Even if you've never used a computer before, you should be able to productively use the Manager Series in a very short time. And, when you've learned to use one in the Series, you've virtually learned them all. Seeing is believing. Ask your local computer store for a demonstration of the Manager Series. It's a series of management tools that could be your best reason to own a personal computer. "Trademarks of The Image Producers, Inc. A Division of Microsoft, Inc. 10700 Northup Way * Bellevue, WA 98004 “i Every Apple Is Created Equal. But It Doesn’t Have To Stay That Way. An Apple™ js really something. But from now on, it’s going to be something much more. How come? Simple. We're introducing three revolutionary new data communica- tion packages, called Transend™, designed especially to make your Apple II™ rise above all others. Our Transend data communica- tions software provides acces: transmission of charts, Vi reports, and entire program: all electronic mail function Transend comes in three di versions. You can begin economically with the simplest form, Transend 1, an intelligent terminal/file transfer our needs increase, you n move up to two other Transend packages, without worrying about retraining or repurchasing. Transend 2 gives any Apple II intelligent ter- minal capabilities, plus file transfer with complete error detection and automatic retransmission for de- manding business applications. Transend 3 incorporates electronic mail—with password security, text editing, mailbox with mailstop, unat- tended scheduling and receiving, automatic redialing, and much more. p77 The Transformation People Transend’s support of most popu- lar Apple IT “add-in” cards and modems lets you upgrade your Apple without hassle or unnecessary expense. And you'll immediatels operating costs by as much as 30° with simple, easy-to-use menus, data compression and 1200-baud modem support Nobody on the personal computer scene today is offering the speed, flex- this chance to uplift your Apple II. Contact us or your dealer for all the delicious details. SSM Microcomputer Products, Inc., 2190 Paragon Drive, San Jose, CA 95131, (408) 946-7400, Telex: 171171, VX: 910-338-2077. Apple and Apple 11 are trader of Apple Computer, Inc, V mark of Per- Ss ce. And Transend trade- of SSM Microcomputer Products. Inc. a: Take a bite... (4) ( bb J Vol. 3 No. 1 March-April, 1982 Cover: The 9-year old Grubby Paws of the Future . Let There be! Logic, Joe Budge 600s cosessisiisinaewes nena aswemlenatannaawieia apne auldacemnetelete 14 A note on the evolution of computer programming techniques. CAI: Choosing Hardware and Software, Ted Perry .........60. csc eee e eee e ener e ee ee eee eee eneees 22 The educator's choices for clean and grubby paws. Review: Three Word Processors, David Harvey .............c esse cece cence nee e ence ene n enn enenee 26 Magic Window, Easywriter, and Pie Writer. Power Tripping with the Apple Il, Gene Wilson ........ 0.0.00 000 cece eee e eee e cece ee eeee eee n cece eens 36 Not quite enough juice for welding, but... The Apple Nobody Knows, Episode 2, Alan Anderson ..........00+: see eeee nett eee eeen ene n eect tees 38 More on Big Brother. Unlocking Apple ///, Alan Anderson Your first look at /// “machine language. Apple Goes to the Market, John F. McMullen ......... 00. ccc cece cece ence ence ence teen eee n een ennene 47 Stock Market SIG reports on bulls, bears, and RAMs. On the Farm; Peter Jones \s0-2.ccwst cnacrntiiar a minninnew van eenaainnre seven nia name RRS 52 Bytes for the Bovine. Reviews: Threshold Al Azose evivanirscnenen cesan eam ee ee eet emeT ER es Re Ad 66 An arcade game with a few twists. Pascal MT+ Nuts and Bolts, Gene Wilson . .. A CP/M version of Pascal. DEPARTMENTS Textfile .. Letters... Planting a Se The Underworld Apple. User Group Forum, Randy Fields Financial Management Models. IAC Section: President’s Message, Ken Silverman ... Sponsoring Members . Worldwide Club Roster Forbidden Fruit, Mark L. Crosby Temptations, delicacies, and necessities. Apple pchard Vol. 3 No. 1 March 1982 Entire contents Copyright © 1982 by International Apple Core Peter C. Weiglin—Editor and Publisher Ingrid Worthge—Art Director Val H. Golding—Editorial Associate Mark Crosby—New Products Editor “Dr. Wo.” —Pascal/Languages Editor EDITORIAL MATERIAL TO: Apple Orchard 910 A George St. Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408) 727-7652 ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Jeff Ginsberg (213) 450-0056 SUBSCRIPTIONS —DEALER INFORMATION Apple Orchard 910 A George St. Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408) 727-7652 APPLE ORCHARD (SSN 0277-1850) ispublshed bimonthly bythe Intemational Apple Core nc 910/A George St, Santa Car, CA 9 2080, Second Class postage pending t Sana Clare, CA and jon rates: 15.00 for six issues in the U.S; $22.50 in U.S. funds for Canada, Mexico, APO and FPO addresses; and 827.50 in US. funds for addresses elsewhere. Send change of address notices and correspondence concerning subscriptions to: Apple Orchard, S10 A George St, Santa Clara, CA 95050. ae Bt ce & BS ey me ott i INTERNATIONAL APPLE CORE Officers Jerry Vitt Chairman (214) 369-7660 Ken Silverman President (408) 727-7652 Dave Gordon Vice-President (213) 709-1202 David Alpert ‘Treasurer (312) 2956078 Joe Budge Secretary (919) 489-4284 Regional Directors Roger Keating P.O. Box 448, Double Bay 2048, NSW, Australia ‘Auby Mandel 409 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ont, Canada MSV 2A5 Wolfgang Dederichs ‘Auf Drenhausen 2 4320 Hattigen, West Germany Harlan G, Felt (Northem United States) (408) 866-1733 James E. Hassler (Norther United States) (307) 632-4934 Jerry Vitt (Southern United States) (214) 369-7660 Scott Knaster (Southern United States) (303) 238-8301 Bemie Urban (Eastern United States) (301) 229-3458 Tony Cerreta (Eastem United States) (914) 636.3417 Fred Wilkinson (Wester United States) (415) 585-2240 James Simpson (Westem United States) (805) 492-3391 Committee Chairmen ‘SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS: Education SIG Ted Peny (916) 485-1690 Ham Radio SIG James E. Hassler, WB7TRQ (307) 632-4934 Handicapped SIG David McFarling (402) 467-1878 Languages Tom Woteki (202) 547-0984 Legal SIG Felix B. Clayton (803) 8845370 Medical SIG Larry L. Stonebumer (714) 953.9151 ‘ApNotes John Shanes (804) 746-2711 ‘Apple Orchard Peter C. Weiglin (415) 727-7652 IAC Software Neil Lipson (215) 356-6183 IAC Librarian ‘Major Terry N. Taylor (213) 372-4134 Telecommunications Craig Vaughan (703) 255-2241 Standards ‘Mark Robbins (303) 755-6440 Newsletter Exchange David Alpert (312) 2956078 New Club Assistance Randy Fields (415) 75-7965 Apple Orchard is a publication of the International Apple Core, a worldwide federation of Apple ‘Computer User Groups. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Intemational Apple Core. While we appreciate the co- ‘operation of Apple Computer, Inc. and other sponsoring members, the AC and Apple Orchard do not necessarily represent the views of any of these companies. Our existence is derived from the thousands of Apple users, a individuals, and itis their interests which we serve. MICRO-SCI IS IN THE GAME FOR ALL THE APPLES... .. WITH A FULL HOUSE OF 514” DRIVES Micro-Sci has three disk drives and two controllers’so you can configure your Apple lI” or Apple Il Plus™ system to fit your individual budget and performance requirements. THE FIRST ACE—A2 The new A2 is the price/compatibility substitute for the Disk Il" intended as the second drive on an existing controller, or aS a full AZ subsystem. The A2 drive or A2 subsystem is an ideal choice when the drives will be primarily used for ‘entertainment or prepackaged software programs. THE SECOND ACE—A40 The A40 is a price/performance alternative to the Disk.ll. With 40 tracks, you get an additional 20K bytes, and faster track-to-track access. The A40 is intended for use in dedicated DOS, CP/M and Pascal applications, and as a companion drive for the A70. The A40 is Micro-Scis most cost-effective disk subsystem for the Apple ils. THE THIRD ACE—A70 The A70 is the price/capacity alternative. ‘At over a quarter million bytes per drive, the A70. has the capacity of two Disk Ils or an eight-inch floppy, but costs only slightly more than. a single. Disk 11. One A70 supports a DOS file as large as 270K, 0 CP/M file up to 254K, and 560 blocks in Pascal. THE PAIR—MICRO-SCI'S CONTROLLERS The A2 comes with a unique new controller. This controller supports any combination of A2s or Disk Ils, you have complete flexibility. The A40.and A70 share a common controller. Mix A40s and.A70s in any fashion, one A40 with ‘one A70, two A40s of two A70s—all-‘on the same controller, You can have 4 Disk II of A2 controller with U-SCI MICRO-SCI Disk il or A2 drives and still add an A40 or A70 subsystem. Thats full system-level compatiblity. PAT HAND THE Versatility, reliability, capability are assured when choosing Micro-Sci, Pick the drive, pick the controller, pick the capacity and function. Whatever your need, DOS 3.2, 3.3,-Pascal, CP/M, games or pre-packaged software, Micro-Sci has the drive. Start wherever you choose with the Knowledge that you can expand without concern. All Micro-Sci products are backed by a full 120-day warranty (parts and tabor), Our complete line of Apple compatible products makes us the dealers choice. We're always looking for good dealers. Intemational dealer inquiries: International Markets Co., Telex: 69-6191. TELEX CO LSA 17742 IRVINE BOULEVARD « SUITE 205 «TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA 92680 « 714/731-9461 «TELEX: 910-346-6739 “APPLE I APPLE PLUS * "DISK Il MICRO-SCI IS A DIVISION OF STANDUN CONTROLS, INC. ‘APPLE, APPLE Il AND DISK ll ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF APPLE COMPUTERS, CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA TEXTFILE ..who said the Apple Orchard was dead? Like the Interna- tional Apple Core, it's alive, well, and living in Santa Clara, California. You hold in your hands the first issue published “in-house,” and we're off to a flying start. This is the first issue to emerge under our bi-monthly frequency; we'll publish six issues this year. All signs:point to publication on a more frequent basis in 1983; don't go away. Between these covers is an introductory article on Computer-Assisted Education (CAI), and the first column by Educational SIG Chairman Ted Perry. The Stock Market SIG also makes its first appearance, thanks to John McMullen. We also have a comparative review by SRI researcher David Harvey on three popular word processors. The User Group Forum has been attacked by one reader as a too-inbred item. I answer that charge by asking you to view this month's Fieldsian effort. Only a modicum of imag- ination is required to see the overall possibilities for the club management methods set forth; we earnestly hope that the reader who complained has sufficient imagination. Other departments are still with us, notably Forbidden Fruit, the most comprehensive compilation of new product information to be found in one place. And what of the future? We now have a recession from which the microcomputer industry is not altogether immune (largely because some industry managers have had no experience with anything less than heartstopping growth, and have not yet fully perceived the microcomputer’s value as a cost reduction tool). Another publication has an- nounced what should have been obvious: paid subscrip- tions are a requirement if a magazine is to flourish as the Apple Orchard has. The Apple Orchard will continue to attempt a balance between “hard” programs, modifications, and improve- ments; expanded uses for the Apple, and a perspective on the whole microcomputer phenomenon in society. That's what you'll continue to see. Now let me tell you what you won't see in the Apple Orchard. You will be spared the fawning and incestuous biographies of acne-faced software executives (who just co-incidentally are present or potential advertisers); you will not see a play-by-play or box score on what are today’s hottest blastem/hokum games; nor will you see the kind of “industry-inside” personal gossip which may be interesting to some whose world ends at the Santa Clara County line. Frankly, knowing who has moved to which new firm, or has been fired, is of no real help to youin getting more use from your Apple computer, however much it may appeal to the vocal locals. We'll tell you about the juicy ones, without all of the boring details. Finally, what you'll see in the Apple Orchard is what you tell us you want to see, and/or what you contribute. We continue to serve the interests of the user (you) first and foremost, a happy situation enabled by the fact that the Apple Orchard is owned by an independent non-profit fed- eration of user groups, not a commercial enterprise. We go forth together. 7114 12K ROM/PROM m 7470 A/D Converter m@ 7490 GPIB IEEE 488 Interface 7710A Asynchronous RS-232C DCE Interface @ 77100 Asynchronous Communications Interface @ 7712 Synchronous RS-232C DTE Interface @ 7720 Parallel Interface @ 7729 Centronics Printer Interface @ 7811 Arithmetic Processor @ 7424 Calendar/ ck 7440 Program- CCS industrial quality modules give you eleven reliable, inexpensive tools to expand the capa- bilities of Apple |! computers. Available through 921 computer retailers nationally. There's one near you. Apple, Apple Il are trademarks of Apple Computer Corporation. California Computer Systems 250 Caribbean Drive Sunnyvale, California 94086 408) 734-5811 elex 171959 CCS SUVL PUT ONE OVER ON APPLE II. Introducing Station II. The Apple II Support System. you control access to your Apple. In other words, it makes your Apple II your personal computer, IT’S DESIGNED FOR II-GETHERNESS. Station Il is designed specifically for Apple II by secure it. Now you can slide your ~ a) Apple II, so Station II has a ke And a lock. And two ways to — design consultants to Apple Com- Apple inside, lock it and leave it. __«. puter. It pulls your Apple and peri- ~~ Safe and sound. It puts the clamps on pherals together into an attractive, easy- theft, and beyond that, you control to-use, integrated system. who gets inside your Apple and who Your Apple is free to slide in and out, so doesn't. there's no unstacking and restacking peri- Your programs are safe, too. Because pherals everytime you need to get inside. Station II has a line voltage surge sup- And you can choose the distance from ressor, ready to intercept power surges keyboard to monitor that's most com- Betore they can wipe out your program. fortable for you. Station II even posi- What’ more, the key means conven- tions your monitor at just the right ‘i ) ience. With one twist f of the wrist you can : tte angle for maximum viewing ease. power up your entire ee. TT CLEARS YOUR DESK OF system. Plus, you can lock 4 “i CORDS AND GABLES. your Apple “on” or “off” ‘ Station Il is equipped TT MAKES YOUR APPLE with three built-in power @ MORE FRUITFUL. Z outlets, so the cords and ee | That's what happens when you put cables that normally clutter Qep 3 one over on Apple II. So look for your. work area are ee away neatly M Station II at your computer deale: inside. Now one cord, Station II's own, Ae trace powers your entire system. : Trace Systems, Inc. 1928 Old Middlefield Way Mountain View, CA 94043. (41) 964-3115 Apple and Apple Il are registered trademarks of Apple Computer. Letters to the Editor Off Track On Pirates Sir: In the old days, sailing ships had problems with pirates. Two great na- tions used opposite solutions to re- duce piracy. Spain increased the cannon and armor on it ships. This increased the weight, cost and slowed down the vessels making them less desirable as a shipping vehicle. Eng- land, conversely, did the opposite. It lightly armed its small, inexpensive ships thus making them lighter and faster. They were better at their in- tended purpose—to trade and deliver cargo quickly. History has shown us that England won, not because they avoided pirates better than Spain, but because they did not let pirates get in the way of good business—in this case—efficient shipping. This bit of historical fact has great import in the Software Piracy Problem of today. Many companies are spend- ing too much time and money worry- ing about pirates. They reduce, if not ruin the useability of their products (programs) with locked disks, unlist- able programs, secret source code, hidden locks, codes inROM chips, full page ads devoted to pirates, etc. These devices have made many pro- grams inefficient, costly to produce and support. The buyer is taxed greatly for he cannot make modifications or back-up copies. Often he is inconven- ienced by added expenses for back- 8 ups or future modifications. This hurts sales and angers good customers. There is a better way, as exempli- fied by our company, Andent, Inc. We produce Apple Il software for health professionals (medical/dental sys- tems, appointments, hypnosis, etc.). We have been in business since 1978, which makes us one of the oldest software houses for microcomputers. Weare making aprofit . . . and always have. We pay our bills and program- mers on time. All our software is unlocked and can be copied for back- up purposes. We support all sales offering free replacement of damaged disks. All our software is listable and can be modified by the user. There is internal as well as written documenta- tion. We do our business in this way because it pays. It pays us, and it pays our customers for buying our soft- ware. Because our software is un- locked, there is little or not problem with: Back-ups (our customers make their own) Updates (we mail out a letter with changes) Phone calls—documentation and listings tell you how to make modifi- cations. Changes in DOS (e.g. DOS 3.2 to 3.3) Hard disk compatibility Slot compatibility Printer slot and special character problems Disk recalls Equipment compatibility (weird in- terfaces, old computer models, etc.) Low cost of programming and de- bugging The business community, our cus- tomers, like this. They are buying a program... not a software lease. They have immediate support since changes and problems can be made over the phone or by the letter. They can back up immediately and for as many times as needed. They like our low prices. Unlocked software is GOOD FOR BUSINESS, our busi- ness, your business and the custo- mer's business. But what about pirates? Large scale pirates, those enterprising souls who copy our programs and sell them world wide, are discovered and given an option to become our dealers and Pay us a royalty on distributed soft- ware (or meet us in court). As in the old sailing days, reformed pirates (pri- vateers) make the BEST dealers and we don't mind sharing the wealth. For those who don't want to cooperate, we go back in history for the remedy. The English and Spanish both learned that a few executions were good for the morale of the troops. Small time pirates (give it to your friends) can be controlled by low program cost, regis- tration, continuing up-dates and doc- umentation. It just doesn’t pay to get our programs second hand. ST ZA ii A Aa_ ey be’ NN A gi BY The bugs are on the loose, and they're hungry. Defend against ants’ antics, malicious millipedes, and the menacing medfly invasion. Bug Attack will keep the whole family captive with colorful creatures and superb sound effects. Expert de-buggers who defeat the bugs in the three gardens beware, as they must face a five-fly formation with a deadly flight pattern! Defeat the Bug Attack at your local computer store. Brought to you by: Written by James L. Nitchals Bug Attack requires Apple Il, 48k. (13 or 16 sector). 4984 by Cavalier Computer *Apple is.a Trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Exclusively distributed by ICAVALIER COMPUTER SOFISEE Re, om 8295 So. La Cienega Bivd., Inglewood, CA 90304 ees cuss Se A aan a pi Bbc atcbleng (800) 421-5770 In Calif. (800) 262-4242 ss If your statistics package is hard to use, you aren’t using HSD software! HSD statistics software is menu driven, written with professional research in mind. You can easily do biomedical or agricultural statistics with HSD programs. HSD ANOVA $74.95 Analysis of Variance | 1 to 8 Independent Factors Bolanced Designs Between and/or Within Subjects Designs Up to 1400 Data Points with 48K Memory Anova Table Output Treatment Means and Standard Deviations HSD STATS $99.95 Analysis of 7 Samples of 200 Descriptive Statistics 10 Data Transformations Frequency Distribution, Bargraph Chi Square, Scattergram Correlation Matrix Linear Regression 3T Tests HSD REGRESS $99.95 Complete Multiple Regression Analysis Up to 25 Variables Up to 300 Cases/Variable Descriptive Statistics Correlation Matrices Regression on Any Subset of Variables Regression on Any Order of Variables Hi-Res Scatterplot & Residual Plot Apple II, 48K With Disk, 3.2 or 3.3 DOS, Applesoft Call (213) 993-8536 to Order or Write: HUMAN SYSTEMS DYNAMICS, 9249 Reseda Blvd., Suite 107 Northridge, CA 91324 Andent, Inc. believes that a sale of software is just that—the sale of pro- grams, listings, source code, back up capability ... a complete sale. Our customers do not buy a disguised lease—they buy and own our pro- ducts. We do this because locking programs is very expensive, time consuming and hurts sales. It is time the industry realizes, like the sailing ships of old, that our prime business is producing and distributing a product, not fighting pirates. E. J. Neiburger President Andent, Inc. Sir: The RENUMBER utility program sup- plied with Apple DOS 3.2 and 3.3 has an insidious bug—after you use RENUM- BER, your program may still appear to run perfectly, so you may not even notice that your program's operations have been altered! RENUMBER will correctly change all line number references to agree with the new line numbers. Unfortunately, RE- NUMBER may also alter any number in an arithmetic expression which (a) follows an asterisk (the multiply operator), and (b) has the same value as a preRENUMBER line number. | obtained the corrections for the DOS 3.2 version from the Apple Hotline in May of 1980. | just discovered that the problem still exists in the DOS 3.3 version, andI am still seeing letters in various magazines from perplexed Apple users. The fixes for the DOS 3.2 and DOS 3.3 versions of the program are similar—they involve swapping two data values in the program, as follows: Dos 32 Dos 33 From BASIC POKE 4815,172 POKE 4789,172 POKE 4816,171 POKE 4790,171 From monitor * 12CF: AC AB * 1285: AC AB To permanently correct the RENUM- BER program, you must (a) LOAD RENUMBER (b) Do the two POKEs for your ver- sion of DOS. (c) SAVE RENUMBER All Apple owners should take note of these fixes—even if you don't use RE- NUMBER, you'll be able to help out the next guy, who may not have read about this problem! For your future reference, Apple dealers have a loose-leaf notebook which answers commonly.asked ques- tions — including “What's wrong with RE- NUMBER?” —you just have to know to ask! —Robert C. Leedom Glenwood, MD. VisiCalc Converter The Context Connector con- verts any data into VisiCalc without re-typing. It converts company computer numbers, Dow Jones or any standard files. The Connector is avail- able at leading computer stores. Context Management Systems 23864 Hawthorne Blvd. Suite 101 Torrance, CA 90505 (213) 378-8277 VisiCalc™ is a trademark of Personal Software -CC EE MAC Ja=--~ THE VISUAL COMPOSITION SYSTEM RELEASE 1.0 NOW AVAILABLE e408 FIRE ORGAN ™M CEEMAC 1S THE LANGUAGE OF FIRE ORGAN. WHICH WAS THE IST “SOFT VISUAL ALBUM’. A SYSTEM TO CREATE PERFORMANCE LEVEL ABSTRACT VISUALS TO ACCOMPANY MUSIC HAS ELUDED OUR GRASP FOR EONS. ry PERSONAL SEARCH HAS LED TO CEEMAC. DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT THIS NEW ART FORM, CEEMAC PROVIDES A HIGHLY INTERACTIVE COMPOSING ENVIRONMENT. IT REQUIRES AN APPLE 1C COMPUTER RUNNING DOS 3.3 WITH 48K OF RAM MEMORY. THE LANGUAGE COMES WITH @ FIFTY PAGE MANUAL AND OVER FORTY SCORES INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL 35 FROM FIRE ORGAN. THEY HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY COMMENTED BY THE COMPOSERS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED. - POSTAGE. | IN THE USA + ‘x ADD NOTHING FOR Taxi ‘ HeNDLING. ETC, ANYWHER! VAGABONDO ENTERPRISES 1300 E ALGONOUIN SCHAUMBURG TL - 60: (DIRECT MATL ORDERS ONLY WHY DO UNNECESSARY SURGERY ON YOUR APPLE? So or later, you're going to need a 16K memory-expansion for your Apple. When you do, we suggest you buy it on the card that doesn’t require poking about on the motherboard — nor removing a RAM chip, installing a strap, etc. he Ramex 16™RAM Board just plugs in. Its simple, reliable, and does its own memory refresh, with no additional connections. R: Pascal, Fortran, FP, INT and other alternate languages, 56K CPM with a Z80 Softcard, increase usable memory for Visicalc by 16K. The possibilities are endless. Do it with the finest, closed-track engraved, epoxy sealed, 16K Apple and Applesoh ae reistered trademarks of pple Bmpr, ne Pascal registered tiesdemark of he Regen of the of 6, San ego, a repre trademark of Personal Sofware CPM isa registered trademark of Dg Research, Ine 780 a regteted trademark of Zs, Ie Sofcard isa repistered trademark of Microsc board available — the Ramex 16. And do it without unnecessary surgery on your Apple. n spite of its quality, the Ramex 16 costs less than most other expansion boards — just $139.95. And it comes with a one year limited warranty, instead of the usual 90 days. GCG the Ramex 16 from your local dealer, or order direct. Visa and Mastercard holders call toll-free, 1-800-835-2246. TM OMEGA MICROWARE, INC. 222 SO. RIVERSIDE PLAZA CHICAGO, IL 60606 312-648-1944 Zz Look, ma, no straps! WHY YOU NEED THE MANAGER. f you've invested money in one or more Apple memory-expansion cards, The Manager will make them work for you. he Manager will set up a complete turnkey memory management system for you, using, either one or two 16K cards (including your old firmware card—no need to sell it for a song). he Manager's first utility, HIDOS!™ will hand you back 10.5K of your Apple's memory space by loading DOS onto a RAM card at boot. HIDOS will automatically load an alternate language onto an available 16K card. And it will amend a copy of your System Master so that the utilities (FID, RENUMBER, etc.) make full use of the extra available memory. ‘he Manager's second utility, SOLIDOS™ will turn a 16K card into a 45-sector disk-drive emulator that gives you instantaneous access to a large “disk” file for incredibly fast sorts, searches and calculations. Er short, The Manager makes using memory- expansion cards for your Apple into a simple, no-hassle pleasure. Available at your local dealer or direct for an introductory price of just $34.95. I you have not yet invested in a 16K card, but are thinking about it, may we suggest the Ramex 16 Even though the Ramex 16 is top quality, its low price ($139.95) will save you more than enough to get The Manager, too! Mastercard and Visa holders order toll-free, 1-800-835-2246. OV Ve OMEGA MICROWARE, INC. 222 SO. RIVERSIDE PLAZA CHICA‘ GO, IL 60606 312-648-1944 Sd con Plantins eS a pet at a seed... THE UNDERWORLD APPLE As most of you know, we're constantly on the lookout for stories and leads about the many and varied uses to which our favorite machines have been put. We've heard of Apples on oil rigs and in archaeological digs, on farms and in cities; the uses are universal. So it shouldn't have come as a surprise to read that the police in a medium sized city recently raided what we will calla House of Negotiable Affection, only to find that an Apple was being used by the entrepreneurs involved to catalog and file both the employees and the customers. Rates, dates, times, and results were all on file, presumably with an eye toward forecasting market trends. Two thoughts occur, one sardonic, the other serious. First, a question: What kind of software were they using? DB Mistress? One of the farm breeding record packages? Maybe they rolled their own programs. By the way, if you have any suggestions along this ludicrous line, send’em to us; the three or four best will receive a free Apple Orchard subscription or extension. The second thought is the serious one. Given that the Apple is a device for improving business information handling, it's not too much of a leap to see them utilized in support of illegal activities. (We're not talking about disk piracy, Hiram, this is the Big Leagues.) If there’s a horse handicapping program, or a football oddsmaking program, chances are that among the users are some who are profiting on a professional basis in areas where the gendarmerie frowns on that sort of thing. One has visions of disk files replacing the “flash paper” allegedly used by numbers bankers, with a bar magnet ready for use in case of a raid. Could it be that amortization schedules are useful to loan sharks? Please don't ask about crop growth programs in California or Colombia. 12 Well, don’t blame the computer; it’s only a tool, as we've said here before. It will be used for good or for ill, as its operator is inclined to good or ill. What is interesting is that local, state, and national law enforcement agencies have become aware of the potential for aid to criminal activities that a microcomputer can provide. At all levels, we're beginning to see police personnel learning about Apples and other computers. Some are computer hob- byists, or have become so; others just see it as part of the job of trying to keep ahead of lawbreakers in the 1980's. The machines are on duty in many police stations, keeping track of and cross-referencing information in the more mundane areas of detective work. (It's interesting that some of these units are the personal property of the law enforcement officers, brought in for their own convenience. It's a result of the kind of bureau- cracy that denies official funding, on the grounds that the main large computer should be used . . . but try to gain access to the monster. . . .) The bottom line is that while Apples are being used in some rotten barrels, it is equally true that those who protect us are benefitting from the existence of our favorite machines. You may even be able to help the agencies in your community to improve their skills, which would be a good thing for every- body. And if you would violate the law with the aid of a com- puter, you should know that the law enforcement agencies are not unaware of how to do it... and how to find you. NEW...FOR APPLE Il” FROM PROMETHEUS VERSAcard 1. Serial Input/Output Interface 2. Parallel Output Interface 4 4 3. Precision Clock/Calendar 4 BSR Control ALL ON ONE CARD with true simultaneous operation . . at a down-to-earth price! CHECK THESE FEATURES: True simultaneous operation! VERSAcard’s unique hardware selection circuitry make your Apple “think” that separate cards are installed. This allows VERSAcard interface ports to be compatible with existing software such as APPLE PASCAL, Microsoft Softcard', and most other Apple software. The Serial Input/Output port is RS-232C _ Battery back-up supplied. And, best of all, it's software standard with crystal controlled baud rates from | compatible with Thunderclock. This makes numer- 19.2K to 110 baud. You can connect with a CRT ter- ous other software packages immediately usable. Inter- minal, line printer, or virtually any RS-232 modem. _ rupts are supported. VERSAcards “Terminal” mode, along with modem, SR Control. Add an ultrasonic transducer, and connects you with the Source or a variety of othercom- VERS Acard provides you with remote control through puters. “Terminal” mode also allows you to output to your BSR X-10 Home Control System. both printer and display simultaneously. 2 : 4 s Onboard firmware provides optional auto line feed, The versatile Parallel Output Interface is configured video, paging, terminal mode, lower to upper case, 8th for the Centronics standard and is easily configured for bit set or clear ... and more. These versatile device other standards. Simply hookup your Epson, Okidata, —_ drivers permit connection to virtually any standard peri- IDS, or other printer and begin printing. pheral. The Prometheus engineering staff is available to help. With any peripheral and special device interface Precision Clock/Calendar. With all standard real-time Problems. Call us, we'd like to hear from you. clock/calendar functions and one second resolution. YCD-1 VERSAcard @ $249.00 each. Compare Key Features VERSAcard CPS MultiFunction Card Reale Gockinertaces? | YES ves BSR Control Interface? YES NO Compatible w/ Apple Pascal? YES NO. Special Pascal disk required. Compatible with CP/M? YES NO. Special CP/M disk required. Interrupts? YES NO Apple Modification? NO YES “NEW . . . Applications/Diagnostic disk—available 1st quarter '82” Dealer inquiries invited. VERSAcard-the only Apple peripheral card you're likely ever to need! ay Prometnets ponds are pomp ietehy tested and urned-in. rior to shipment. one-year warranty covers pane and labor. = : Y PROMETHEUS PRODUCTS INCORPORATED Registered Trade Marks: (1) Apple Computers, Inc. (2) Microsoft Consumer Products. 49277 Fremont Blvd. » Fremont, CA 94538 « (415) 490-2370 Ask about the new PROMETHEUS 128K RAM card. LET THERE BE LOGIC A Note on the Evolution of Computer Programming Techniques by Joe Budge “A major concern is frequently voiced in connection with very fast computing machines, particularly in view of the extremely high speeds which may now be hoped for, is that they will do themselves out of business rapidly; that is, that they will outrun the planning and coding which they require and, there- fore, run out of work.” —John von Neumann, 1949 Modern observers commonly fear that the efforts required by computer programming hobble computer usefulness and form a major stumbling block in future computer develop- ment. John von Neumann, the inventor of computers, echoed the same concern thirty-two years ago when only a few compu- ters existed. Today there are millions of computers in the public’s hands, and a million score of potential applications exist. Yet good application programs take a year or more to design, write, and debug. The large investment of effort means only a fraction of the programs demanded actually exist. Indi- vidualised programs for personal computers are now almost impossible. It is feared that a shortage of programming talent will block the computer's true potential. But the fears of 1949 did not prove true, so what about the fears of 1982? Similar fears have been present at several times in the history of programming. Each time the concern ledto a revolu- tionary step in programming techniques. At every occurrence the revolution was characterized by a major crisis in two pro- gramming aspects: capacity and complexity. Crises in capacity arose when demands for service exceeded supply under then- current methods. Incapacity was always fed by a crisis in complexity, wherein programming problems became too involved for programmers to effectively cope. Many times a revolution in programming techniques has resolved the dou- ble crisis. New methods relaxes pressures until applications caught up with the new techniques, bringing on the next crisis. All signs indicate that we now find ourselves in a crisis of capacity and complexity. History shows that we can soon expect a solution. Let us look at the past, then, to examine our present situation. FROM BEER TO BITS Programming began with the development of the moveable cam in the 10th Century A.D. The cam itself is an eccentric bump off the side of a rotating shaft. As the shaft turns the cam pushes against a lever, which causes action. Cams first appeared in the third century B.C. in Greece. With cheap labor available mechanisation languished until the Dark Ages. The cam was rediscovered in 890 A.D. at the alpine monastery of St. Gall, possibly during the translation of Greek writings. The monks attached a cam to the shaft of the waterwheel to drive a hammer up and down. This hammer was used to replace the exhausting labor of pounding barley into malt for the monks’ ale. This, the trip-hammer, was tremendously popular and quickly spread through the crude industries of Europe. One such industry was textile weaving which used the hammer to 14 texture wool and pound cleaning ingredients. In the tenth century one group of weavers, made prosperous by the new technology, gave thanks by donating a new carillon to their church. The carillon of Mechelen became the world’s first music box. Pegs, placed in holes on the surface of a rotating drum, pushed against levers to ring the bells. As holes extended around the drum’s surface, pegs could be moved to play any tune. This was the moveable cam. In the Mechelen carillon we see the first elements of pro- gramming. The technique consisted of four steps: creating a tune, translating it to a series of specific instructions for operat- ing the machine, transferring these instructions into a physical pattern which would automatically direct the machine's actions, and debugging. Program debugging was important even at this early stage, for the whole town could hear any mistakes! What pressures or fortuitous events might have brought about this invention can only be guessed at. Perhaps a shortage of trained musicians was the cause. At any rate, the carillon and its immediate descendants did little besides prove their inven- tor's cleverness. Music box technology remained static during the next 900 years for the want of practical applications. In the interim other forms of entertainment picked up the principle, using it for animated figures and player organs. Finally, inthe seventeenth century the textile industry faced the first crisis of capacity and complexity we shall encounter. Oriental patterns of high com- WieGeiNG THE —ogi Gla TO THE PAS e The future belongs to microcomputers. At SSI, we apply tomorrow’s programming techniques to re-create some Classic battles of the past. As proof, we offer our latest games for the Apple® computer*: PURSUIT OF THE GRAF SPEE and THE ROAD TO GETTYSBURG. PURSUIT OF THE GRAF SPEE” transports you back to the South Atlantic of 1939 so you can command the deadly German pocket battleship to sink enemy merchant vessels while eluding British and French war- ships. Or you can direct the Allied fleet to locate and destroy the scourge of your ship- ping lanes. If you're familiar with Computer Bismarck — which has become something of a phe- nomenon in gaming circles — you owe it to yourself to try this game. Like its older brother, PURSUIT OF THE GRAF SPEE has all the thrill of the chase, heightened by the complexity and richness of detail such as complete ship ratings for speed and strength, fuel restric- tions, refueling capabilities, and realistic rules governing sighting and visibility. However, we've also added a remarkable tactical combat system that accounts for gunfire accuracy, torpedoes and smoke screens. When it comes to calculating ship damage and battle results, you simply leave all the work to the computer, which does everything instantly and unerringly. Apple is 0 registered trademark oF Apple Computer Inc. If you're so inclined, you can even engage in combat by using miniatures. Enter the results of your off-line battle and the computer will incorporate them into the strategic game. This simulation contains two scenarios, all played on a 19-by-19 square-grid map of the South Atlantic displayed in colorful Hi-Res graphics. The first recounts the entire 25-day historic chase, where shadowing, pursuit and elusive maneuvers are your primary concerns. The second simulates the Battle of the River Plate, where the Graf Spee — already located — must deal with three British ships. Finally, the solitaire scenario lets youmatch wits against the computer as it directs the Graf Spee. We wish you luck. THE ROAD TO GETTYSBURG" takes you even further back in time, to that fateful battle of 1863. This board-assisted computer simulation is designed to let you experience the actual feel of a Civil War command. Like a teal Union or Confederate general, you must deal with the slow and frustrating dispatch system — your only means of communication with your troops. Knowledge of troop posi- tions and estimates of enemy strength are only as good as your reconnaissance patrols. The computer plays the individual corps commanders who implement your orders. STRATEGIC SIMULATIONS INC Based on their historical leadership ratings, they may misinterpret or even disobey your directives. Before you move a corps, you must consider the effects of weather, terrain, corps morale, fatigue, and even straggling on your troops. THE ROAD TO GETTYSBURG simulates the entire week-long campaign. Depending on your strategies, the town of Gettysburg may not be involved at all. For those who wantto dispense with long- range planning, we've provided a scenario that just simulates the three-day Battle of Gettysburg. There is also a solitaire scenario so you can play anytime against a tough computer opponent. Again, you can use miniatures to resolve all battles if you so desire. This game is made for all you avid strategists out there. After you're done playing it, you'll feally know the pleasure and pain of being a Robert E. Lee! If you're interested in what the future has in store for the past, visit your local computer/ game store and get these SSI games today. At $59.95 each, they must surely be the best bargain in time travel! To order with your VISA or MC, call toll free 800-227-1617, ext. 335 (800-772-3545, ext. 335 in California). To order by mail, send your check to Strategic Simulations Inc, 465 Fairchild Drive, Suite 108, Mountain View, CA 94043. All our games carry a 14-day money back guarantee. *48K Apple® Il with ROM and one floppy disc drive. ‘As part of our demanding standards of excellence, we use MAXEll floppy dises. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD DESIGNERS. We're always on the lookout for high-quality games from independent designers. If youhave game programs thatyou’d like SSI to publish, give us a call at (415) 964-1353 or write to SSI, 465 Fairchild Drive, Suite 108, Mountain View, CA 94043. plexity were in demand then. Weaving complex patterns was long, difficult work in which one mistake could ruin the entire piece. Basile Bouchon, son of a player organ maker, adapted the programmable music box idea to control the weaving pattern of a loom. Complex patterns could be generated easily and quickly with the new loom. At that time the music and weave patterns were punched in paper which was wrapped around the drum. Pegs were then inserted in the open holes. In 1741 Jaques de Voucanson, a talented maker of animated figures, improved the design by eliminating the pegs. Wires probed into the holes in the paper to determine weave design. While music box looms were helpful, they still didn’t solve the problem for very complex patterns. The pattern was limited to the circumference of the drum. In 1800 Joseph Marlie Jacquard eliminated the drum altogether, replacing it with a belt of punched cards that could be of any length. At a stroke, patterns of any size and complexity could be reliably dupli- cated. With this success programmable process control, using the old music box techniques modified by infinite program length, swept through the Industrial Revolution. Aided by the need for fast, error free processes in performing complex, variable tasks, the new technology was applied to metalwork- ing and fabrication in many industries. The second crisis of capacity and complexity occurred in the U.S. Census Office in 1880. Tabulation of that year’s census took eight years to complete. During that time the population had grown and Congress demanded additional types of infor- mation. The next census was expected to have six times the amount of information, which would take 48 years to finish. This was clearly unacceptable for a ten-year census. Upon a suggestion from his boss an engineer in the Census Bureau undertook the task of adapting Jacquard cards to the process- ing of information. In 1889 Herman Hollerith published his design for the new tabulating system. Information was repres- ented by quarter-inch holes punched in cards by a keyboard- punching machine. Other machines sensed the holes electri- cally to drive various counters. Hollerith's system introduced an important new element in programming technique: the translation of information into physical patterns in order to further process that information. This is to be distinguished from earlier techniques which applied the translated informa- tion directly to process control. Hollerith's machines quickly proved superior to non- mechanical methods of information processing. Hollerith was granted the contracts for the censuses of 1890 and 1900. The Hollerith system gained acceptance with other governments and large companies facing similar information processing problems. But because of the expense of the machines and the labor of card-punching, the system was not immediately useful for smaller applications. In financial trouble, Hollerith sold his company in 1911. After merging with other companies, the corporation’s name was changed in 1924 to International Business Machines. OF SPIES AND BOMBS The theoretical basis for automatic calculating machines was laid by two men. In 1836 Charles Babbage proposed a calculator controlled by two sets of Jacquard cards. One set would contain the numbers to be operated upon while the other set would contain the controlling information. The tech- 16 nology of the time could not build such a machine, so the idea languished. Babbage’s work was largely forgotten until the Second World War, by which time it had only peripheral impact. Babbage’s ideas were independently rediscovered in 1936 by the mathematician Alan Turing as presented in his Paper on computable numbers. Again the technology was not adequate, nor was the need desperate, so Turing’s theories remained unapplied until late in World War II. During the war the British built extensive staff and facilities for decoding intercepted German communications. Spies provided the British with the plans of the German coding machines. For successful coding, the machine's starting posi- tion needed to be determined for each message. This could only be found by strategic application of brute force: trying all possible starting positions until one worked. Partial solutions could provide cludes, so the entire set of possible starting positions needed not be tried. Nevertheless the number of possible positions was astronomical. A message could not be decoded manually in time for the end of the war. The decoding task provided the third crisis in capacity and complexity. In 1943 and 1944 Turing and his associates on the decoding staff built computing machines, named Colossi, to overcome this hurdle. A Colossus machine used two sets of information: a coded message, on punched paper tape, and possible solution keys, in computer memory. Various opera- tions were performed on the data based on a program given to the machine by front panel switches. While the details of programming remain classified, an important technique was evident. This was the first application of programmed informa- tion controlling the processing of other information. Machines similar in principle were built by Bell Labs and a Harvard-IBM consortium. War also provided the fourth crisis in capacity and complex- ity. Gunnery and bombing ballistics required extensive use of tables to allow for wind, powder load, declination, and so forth. These tables could have been determined empirically, but the Army took a dim view of shooting our own planes for the necessary experiments. In 1946 the U.S. Army commissioned the design and construction of ENIAC to compute ballistic trajectories. John Mauchly, at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering, provided the theoreti- cal design. ENIAC was the first computer designed for calcula- tions, and the first totally electronic computer. Calculations which would have taken seven man-years to finish could be computed in thirty seconds. As a calculator, ENIAC was similar in its fundamentals to modern pocket calculators with memory registers. The central processor allowed the four arithmatic functions and registers for the temporary storage of results. ENIAC departed from calculators in the addition of conditional logic to allow compar- isons of two numbers and in providing facilities for the auto- matic control of operations. Central processors of modern computers work essentially the same way. ENIAC was significant in introducing computing techniques to general problems. Its mechanics combined elements from the past. Operand information was provided on punched cards while the control program was provided by setting up a tele- phone exchange style plugboard. Banks of jacks were set in the plugboard for each step in the calculation. Appropriate connections would direct the operations for each step. By FINALLY, WINCHESTER TECHNOLOGY WITH FULL SOFTWARE SUPPORT FOR THE APPLE Il COMPUTER* Now the latest advance in mass storage is easily added to your Apple II computer system. The new 9670-110A BushelDisc® from Creative Micro Systems is a magnetic disc storage module that provides 10 megabytes of fast, reliable Winchester storage and an integral 1 megabyte flexible diskette backup channel. You can expand the system with additional drives for as much as 80 megabytes of on-line storage. Your BushelDisc comes as a complete system with the Winchester and floppy drives, an intelligent controller and a power subsystem packaged in a compact, attractive enclosure. Interface is plug-in easy because the BushelDisc’s host adapter fits in a single I/O slot. Advanced features include support of EPDT (Enhanced Programmed Data Transfer) and transparent data error correction. Our intelligent controller executes high level commands, taking the burden off the Apple processor and our unitized power subsystem takes the burden off the “Trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. flirademark of Digital Research, Inc The BushelDisc no power from the T/O slot power bus. system requires Apple II chassis. Each BushelDisc is shipped with the software interfaces to the three widely used operating systems—DOS 3.3, PASCAL 1.1, and CP/M. f These interfaces provide performance without compromise allowing single-directory access and unlimited file size. Try that on your next mailing list job. Once again, the Creative approach delivers an extremely powerful, yet low cost system. Call us at (213) 493-2484 for details, including price and delivery facts. Generous OEM volume discounts are available. Creative Micro Systems, 3822 Cerritos Avenue, Los Alamitos, California 90720. [enrs] CREATIVE MICRO SYSTEMS COMPUTER SCIENCE COMES OF AGE In the late 40's only a handful of true computers existed. These were all giant “brains,” custom built for universities and the government. Von Neumann's theories of design and pro- gramming were published and quickly adopted because of their obvious advantages. Problems of programming capacity and complexity still continued, however. The main bottleneck was the expression of a computer program. All instructions had to be translated into numeric form before being punched onto tape for feeding into the computer. This translation was both time-consuming and confusing. Once a program was expressed numerically, it could no longer be easily understood by anyone. Consequently errors, either in programming or typing, were difficult to find. Steps to solve this problem were taken by the introduction of assemblers and trace routines. An intuitive leap was required to realize that by using the power of the computer itself, programming could be signifi- cantly simplified. In 1948 M. E. Conway introduced the substi- tution of English abbreviations for numerically expressed instructions. A computer program, using these abbreviations for data, could then look up the corresponding numeric instructions and assemble the desired program directly in memory. In 1951 S. Gill wrote a control routine which would go through a program one step at atime, displaying the computer status at each step. This, the trace routine, proved invaluable in finding programming errors. It soon became apparent that computers could be generally useful. In 1952 IBM introduced the first commercial computer based upon von Neumann's principles. With one machine design in the hands of many users, the programming tech- niques of the computer scientists were quickly implemented. The techniques were propagated by the appearance of SHARE, the Society to Help Avoid Redundant Effort. Once implemented, assemblers, subroutines, and trace routines became generally available. These programming techniques still required considerable effort, which gave rise to the concerns von Neumann expressed in 1949, While computers had not run out of work to do, they required expensive staffs of highly trained programmers to translate problems into flowcharts and assembly language. A considerable body of subroutines had been built up, but pro- gramming still required that the linkages between subroutines be specified in minute detail. During the period between 1952 and 1956 several theoreticians began exploring the concepts of high level computer languages and implementing the results. Languages work like assemblers in substituting words for computer code. But unlike assembler words, a computer language word can stand for one or several subroutines. These words can then be built into semi-English or algebraic phrases to form complex functions. Phrases, in turn, can be put together to build routines and whole programs. The impact of computer languages on programming tech- niques cannot be understated. One phrase (or line) can be written in a matter of minutes, and represents several hours of assembly-level programming. Moreover, being more like a natural language, a high level language is more easily learned by computer users. These advantages fostered the rapid adop- 18 tion of languages among all computer programmers. Unfor- tunately it is impossible to write a completely general language which is applicable to all computer problems. Different prob- lems can require different terms for their proper expression and solution. As a consequence languages are continually modified, refined, and rewritten from scratch. Due to this evo- lution, FORTRAN is the only surviving language from the 1952-1956 period. In 1972 as many as 170 different languages were in use, and more have been invented since then. High level computer languages themselves brought on the seventh crisis of capacity and complexity. With the greater efficiencies languages provided, it became possible to approach more and more complex computer problems. Whereas 1,000 program steps were considered exorbitant in 1946, by 1968 programs of 10,000 lines were routine. Once again the complexity overwhelmed programmers, causing errors and inefficient program production. To solve the crisis E. W. Dijkstra developed the theory and practice of top-down structured programming in 1968. The theory was based on his proof that any program could be broken down into three fundamental building blocks. These were the sequential step, the conditional branch (If . . .Then . .. Else), and the loop which repeats until a certain condition is met (Do loop). Top-down structured programming was a technique in which a problem solution was first stated in general terms, following which it was broken down into simpler parts that were either primitive elements or statements requir- ing further refinement. The breakdown continued until the entire solution was represented in primitive elements. At that point the solution could be translated into the high level lan- guage. Once coded, any changes had to be carefully docu- mented to aid further debugging and program maintenance. The technique required tremendous discipline, but rewarded programmers with the ability to solve complex problems in fractions of the time previously required. The imposition of discipline slowed the adoption of structured programming, but necessity finally prevailed. Simultaneous with Dijkstra’s work on structured program- ming, an alternate solution to the complexity problem was developing. As languages had originally been implemented, each word corresponded to a specific group of machine lan- guage subroutines. The BASIC programming language is a good example of this. The introduction of ALGOL in 1958 provided a new type of structure. ALGOL was the first of the so-called “user defineable languages.” Like other languages, ALGOL gave the programmer words which represented groups of machine language instructions. In addition ALGOL allowed the programmer to build a routine and subsequently refer to that routine with one word. For example, the pro- grammer might design a complex routine to sort a data list. That routine could thereafter be invoked simply by the word “SORT.” Thus one word could stand for many others, vastly reducing programming complexity. This feature “takes con- trol of ‘what is good for the user’ out of the hands of the language developers and puts it in the hands of the users” (Sammet, 1972). DISK PRICE BREAKTHROUGH Buy direct from the manufacturer and save on high-performance disk systems for Apple II. There's probably nothing that would add more power and usefulness to your Apple than a bigger, faster disk. Now Lobo Drives offers a whole family of disk upgrade options— direct from the manu- facturer, at substantial savings. We cut out the middleman—not the quality. Make no mistake—Lobo’s low prices are for highest quality, ultra-reliable systems. We take no shortcuts in design, manufacturing, testing, and burn-in. That's why Lobo systems are probably the only ones you'll find anywhere with a 1-year parts and labor guarantee. Lobo uses only Shugart or Seagate drives—the standards of the industry. We put them in rugged metal cabinets, with heavy-duty fan-cooled power supplies and our own proven controllers and interfaces. So whether you want 8" floppies, a Winchester system, or just a less expensive Apple-equivalent disk, Lobo delivers top quality for less. You'll find our disk price breakthrough can mean a real performance breakthrough for your Apple II! ER | 8” Floppy Disk Systems Upto 2.2 megabytes of on-line storage with two double-sided, double-density 8" flop- pies (1.1 megabytes with single-sided drives) DOS 3.3 capabilities are supported. Interface plugs into any Apple I/O slot (except 0) Lobos optional CP/M includes a special DENSITY command to permit reading and writ- ing standard single-density disks Optional Pascal software lets you store the| entire Apple Pascal system on one side of one 8” disk—with lots of room left for program files. Two beeper en DRIVES Model 8202 $1625.00 TWO DOUBLE: SIDED DRIVES Model 5202CA $2025.00 Winchester Disk Systems Programs that make heavy use of disk files will get a spectacular performance boost when you plug in up to 8 megabytes of ultra- fast hard disk storage, And imagine the con- venience of having all your program and data files immediately available whenever you boot IMPORTANT: many hard disk systems now being sold have no provision for backing up the disk (using standard Apple minifloppies, you'd need about three dozen diskettes to com- pletely back up a 5 MB drivel). Lobo hard aisk systems come with a built-in double-sided, quad-density floppy drive that can store the complete contents of the hard disk on six or seven floppies. This floppy drive also adds the equivalent of at least 5 more Apple disk drives to your total on-line storage! 5%" SYSTEM: ONE 5MB HARD DISK PLUS ONE 737 kB FLOPPY Model 950A $3633.00 8" SYSTEM: ONE 8 MB HARD DISK PLUS ONE 1.2 MB FLOPPY $4459.00 Model 1850A Both include Lobo DMA interface usable in Apple slot 1-7 and DOS 3.3 patches. CP/M optional (see below) the sytem Apple-Compatible Minifloppy Systems Both the disk drive and the interface card are functionally identical and plug- compatible with Apple Disk Il equipment. Lobo and Apple drives may be freely mixed on a Lobo or Apple interface card, and the Lobo interface features a switch to select 13 or 16 sector boot. The only other difference is the price and Lobo's unique 1-year guarantee! DISK DRIVE WITH INTERFACE CARD Model 3101-1 DISK DRIVE ONLY $455.00 Model 3101 $385.00 Software and Accessories All Lobo disk systems come complete with interface card and any necessary patches to DOS 3.3, Use of Apple Pascal with Lobo 8" floppy drives requires the Lobo Pascal Creator disk and documentation: Running CP/M with Lobo Winchester or 8” floppy systems requires a Microsoft SoftCard, an Apple Language card (or Micro- soft RAM Card or equivalent), and the Lobo CP/M disk. Pascal is not currently supported on Lobo Winchester systems PASCAL CREATOR DISK AND DOCUMENTATION $54.00 CP/M DISK AND DOCUMENTATION $54.00 CP/M DISK WITH MICROSOFT SOFTCARD $355.00 MICROSOFT 16KRAMCARD $175.00 APPLE FAN (RECOMMENDED FOR HEAVILY LOADED SYSTEMS) CLIPS ON LEFT SIDE OF COMPUTER $72.00 Ordering Information All prices include shipping and hand- ling. California residents add 6% sales tax. Credit card orders shipped within 24 hours. Personal checks require 2-3 weeks for clearance before shipment. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. The Lobo Warranty All Lobo hardware products carry a limited 1-year parts and labor warranty. Call or write for complete warranty statement. 41982 Lobo Drives International P/Mis a trademark of Digital Research Corp. SoftCard is a trademark of Microsoft. Apple Il is a trademark of Apple Computer, inc. So= TOLL-FREE ORDER NUMBERS: U.S. (except California); 800-233-1245 In California: 800-322-6103 or 800-322-6104 Hours: 7AM—5PM Pacific Time Write for free catalog: rte § INTERNATIONAL LOBO DRIVES INTERNATIONAL Dept. A03 358 S. Fairview Ave Goleta, CA 93117 using a plugboard ENIAC could read its instructions with electronic speed, rather than the slower electromechanical speed of a punched control tape. Similar technologies and techniques were employed by more limited electromechanical calculators developed by Harvard with IBM. These calculators were widely used by business and science in the late 40's, spreading the basic ENIAC programming technique. While ENIAC was considered a giant “brain,” it suffered one severe disadvantage. Once a program was determined on paper, it took roughly eight hours to set up the plugboard. This, for a program which could execute in five minutes! Recogniz- ing this problem in 1946, von Neumann proposed storing the program instructions in computer memory. This new tech- nique revolutionized computer programming in many ways. Its immediate effect was to drastically cut the time for inputting a controlling program into a computer. A new “brain,” dubbed MANIAC, was quickly built by the Army to implement von Neumann's idea. MANIAC’s primary job was solving the com- plex equations involved in designing the hydrogen bomb. Experience with MANIAC soon pointed out unforeseen implications of memory-based programs, bringing on the fifth crisis of capacity and complexity within a year of MANIAC's construction. With the entire program now in memory, pro- cess control could jump from one part of the program to another based upon the results of conditional logic operations. The program could even modify itself as its operations pro- gressed. At once computer programs were no longer sequen- tially organized steps and could not be dealt with by simply listing the operations in order. On top of that, the increased throughput of the machine demanded faster translation of the problem into operating steps and machine code on the part of the programmer. Von Neumann introduced two new programming tech- niques to solve the crisis. He invented a new branch of logical science and on this based flowcharting to describe program logic. A flowchart is essentially a schematic diagram of the movement of operations control through the program. Flow- chart writing, as a technique, was introduced between the programming stages of defining a problem and specifying stepwise instructions for its solution. The demand for faster programming was partially solved by introducing subroutines. Von Neumann recognized that many programs used identical pieces of code. Rather than re-write and recode these sections for every program, he began to save them on tape. These sections could then be re-loaded into the computer in the appropriate parts of other programs, saving considerable time. 20 Several languages since ALGOL have adopted the principles of user defineable languages. All contain deficiencies which prevent their widespread adoption. This can be seen most easily by examining two modern user defineable languages: Pascal and FORTH. Both provide the programmer with his own ability to define language words. But in Pascal the defined words can't be transferred from program to program. Routines must be completely respecified in each and every program. Consequently there is a strong tendency for the Pascal pro- grammer to customize his routines for each application. Many of the economies of the user-defineable language are lost. FORTH, on the other hand, provides for the necessary transfer of routines between programs. This language unfortunately suffers from excessive abstruseness, however. Math and data storage techniques are based on Reverse Polish Notation and are stack-oriented. In English, this means the language is modelled after the underlying architecture of the computer. No attempt is made to bridge the gap between a computer's way of thinking and a human's way. As a result of implementation deficiencies, user defineable languages were unable to con- tribute to the solution of the early 1970's crisis of capacity and complexity. Their flexibility implied defineable structure. Due to this the languages were widely used to complement top- down structured programming, which provided the real solution. This account brings us up to the present. We have examined seven crises in capacity and complexity. Each brought about a revolution in programming. The first two occurred before computers existed. Demand for intricate textiles led to auto- mated process control. The vast scope of the 1890 U.S. Cen- sus provided impetus for the development of automated information processing. The third crisis occurred during World War II, when code breaking forced the construction of one- purpose computers and their control programs. Ballistics stu- dies brought on the fourth crisis. This crisis was resolved by the introduction of general-purpose computers containing memory-based programs. The new computer architecture was the cause of the fifth crisis. A new logical science had to be invented to handle program logic flow. The incomprehensibility of computers generated the sixth crisis, causing the develop- ment of assemblers and high-level languages which expressed computer instructions in human terms. Finally, the scope of program applications brought on the seventh crisis. Develop- ment of top-down structured programming provided the solu- tion. Poorly implemented user defineable languages also attempted to resolve the crisis, but failed. THE EIGHTH CRISIS While based on a solid foundation of computer science, programming techniques remain a highly disciplined art. Skills in the following procedures must be in the repertoire of every computer programmer: 1. Defining the problem 2. Outlining the solution 3. Selecting and representing algorithms 4. Coding 5. Debugging 6. Testing and validating 7. Documenting 8. Program maintenance (from Schneider, et al, 1978) Of these techniques, only coding can be viewed as reasona- bly straightforward. Even here, use of the technique presup- poses intimate knowledge of the computer language selected. None of the skills are intuitive, so they must be acquired through appropriate training. This training involves education in logic, mathematics, computer languages, writing, and problem-solving. Needless to say, training a computer pro- grammer is both costly and time consuming. While anyone with a computer might become a programmer, few users will have the appropriate combination of time, talent, and interest. Experience with modern computer users indicates that fewer than 10% will acquire the necessary skills. Once the repertoire of techniques has been assimilated by a programmer, the question then becomes when and where to apply it? As mentioned above, a reasonably useful program can take a year or more to complete. Before undertaking the task, it would be useful to know how extensive is the demand for the solution which the program will provide. This is fre- quently unknowable, and can only be guessed. In addition the exact length of the programming task is uncertain. Against these risks, the programmer must balance the availability and adoptability of existing programs to the task at hand. As a consequence programming is usually started only when a problem is clearly and commonly perceived, is costly in rela- tion to its automated solution, and is previously unsolved or inadequately solved. The current state of unsatisfied program demand points to another crisis in capacity and complexity. Capacity is bound by the availability of skilled programmers. Computers have grown in numbers several thousand fold since the last programming breakthrough, while the number of programmers has only grown slowly. Complexity is bound by the efforts and lead times of program development, forcing general rather than specific solutions. As in past crises, one might expect one or several breakthroughs which will surmount the hurdles. The seeds of these breakthroughs might already be with us. Two recent developments seem promising and bear future observation. The first of these is the source code generator. As with the development of languages, the power of the computer is being turned to the generation of its own programs. In a source code generator the programmer is questioned, by a computer program on the nature of his flowchart. The genera- tor then proceeds to perform the actual coding task. These routines are still primitive, and have not yet resulted in a com- plete, finished application program. The second breakthrough comes from the development of an object-oriented language, Smalltalk. Since the days of ENIAC, programmers have had to deal separately with data and the procedures to process that data. Matching appropriate procedures to various forms of data is unquestionably a time consuming art. In Smalltalk a given data structure implies the procedures which may operate upon it. An object is such a data structure with its associated procedures. To manipulate the data the programmer need only specify the desired result. The computer then selects the appropriate procedure and carries it out. Smalltalk was developed by the research labs of Xerox Corporation and released in August, 1981. Conse- quently its utility for general programming remains to be determined. Despite the uncertainties, both source code gen- erators and Smalltalk hold out hope of breaking the program- ming barrier. REFERENCES Burke, J., 1978, Connections. Little, Brown & Co., pp 87-113. Galler, B. A., 1962, The Languages of Computers. McGraw-Hill, NY 244 pp. Johnson, B., 1978, The Secret War. Methuen, NY pp. 305-349. Jungk, R., 1956, Brighter Than a Thousand Suns. trans. by J. Cleugh. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, NY 369 pp. Knuth, D. E., 1973, The Art of Computer Programming, Volume I: Fundamental Algorithms. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 634 pp. Linger, R. C. & Mills, H. D., 1977, On the Development of Large Reliable Programs. in Current Trends in Programming Metho- dology. v.1, R. T. Yeh, ed., Prentice Hall, NJ, pp. 120-139. Moore, C. H., 1980, The Evolution of Forth, an Unusual Language. Byte, 5:8; pp. 76-92. Randell, B., 1973, The Origins of Digital Computers: Selected Pap- ers. Springer-Verlag, NY. Robson, D., 1981, Object-Oriented Software Systems. Byte, 6:8; pp. 74-86. Sammet, J. E., 1972, Programming Languages: History and Future. Comm. of the ACM, 15:7; pp. 601-611. Schneider, G. M., et al, 1978, An Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving with PASCAL. John Wiley & Sons, NY 394 pp. von Neumann, J., 1963, Collected Works: Design of Computers, Theory of Automata, and Numerical Analysis. V. 5, A. H. Taub, ed., Macmillan, NY, 784 pp. 21 CAI: Choosing Hardware and Software by Ted Perry and Geoff Zawolkow As computers become more and more useful in the educa- tional setting, the educator is faced with a number of questions, in the two basic areas of hardware and software. It may not surprise you to hear that we consider the more important area to be software, rather than hardware. As you read, keep the following questions in mind: What are my computer needs? Which computer system (hardware and software) best meets those needs? How will new programs that! want be acquired or written? In general, what are the alternatives when looking fora system to do educational computing? These questions neces- sitate careful consideration, and answers should be found before buying a computer system. SOFTWARE The discussion and decision as to what type of computer system to purchase is an important one. However, nothing is more important than the amount and type of educational software available for that system. Since software for one sys- tem rarely runs on another, care must be taken to insure that appropriate software is available (or can be written) for the machine you choose. Generally, there are three types of soft- ware available: 1. Canned Software The first type is commercially developed, “canned” pro- grams. As with existing textbooks purchased from publishing companies, the content of this material cannot be altered in 22 any way by the local teacher. It must, therefore, be used in the form provided. The advantages of this type of software are cost effective ness and ease of use. The material can be sold at a relatively low price per copy, since the software house or publisher expects to sell many copies. To do this, the software must be written in subject areas that are widely taught at a large number of schools. Examples of material with general appeal are drill and practice in math facts, or vocabulary development programs. This type of program is generally easy to use, since it Tequires no input on the teacher's part. No special training is required of the teacher; all he or she needs to know is how to turn the computer on, and start the program running. Most software in this category has the additional advantage of a student management system. The system keeps track of student progress on particular lessons, and in some cases will provide additional work, either on the computer or from other learning aids. Again, this adds to the ease of use of this software. The weakness of this software is its lack of adaptabvility to specific student needs. This major drawback to commercial canned programs arises when a teacher feels that the software presents information which is inappropriate to the needs of a particular class or student; there’s no way to add to or change the material. Either the teacher uses the computer lessons as they are, or the computer is not used. So, despite their advantages, the canned programs cannot, alone, provide the most effective CAI system for a school or an individual. 2. Teacher Developed Software The most obvious solution to the problem of software adap- tability is to provide programming expertise to the teacher, either by training the teacher to program or by allowing the teacher to work with a programmer. In either case, the teacher becomes the author of new educational software, which can be adapted at the school site. This kind of software has the advantage that it is written and modified to meet the specifications of the teacher; it’s a cus- tom tailored program. New software can be written as new applications are found. Using this approach, software can be written which has all of the benefits of canned software, while having the added feature of changeability to meet specific local needs. But there are several flaws: time, and money. If you are familiar with computer programming you know that writing new software requires a large time commitment, even for simple programs. The more complex the task, the more time it takes to complete. Unfortunately, teachers today do not have the time to write computer programs and teach as well. And even if they did, the amount of time and training required to learn programming would be prohibitive for most teachers. Well, programmers can be provided to actually write the software as teachers request it. But most schools just don’t have the money to hire enough programmers to meet the daily requests of the teaching staff. Since programmers are expen- sive, it's doubtful that even the “richest” school district could afford to hire a large enough programming staff. While, on a limited basis, providing programming skills or programmers to teachers can be helpful, it can’t provide the complete answer to an effective CAI system. 3. Authoring Systems A third type of software is called an “authoring” system. It allows a teacher, without programming knowledge, to put individualized lessons into the computer. A computer pro- grammer develops software which provides a “framework” and guides the teacher through the creation of a computerized lesson. An authoring system is a tool used by the teacher to design and build educational lessons on the comnputer, in much the same way that a teacher designs and builds other educational materials like dittos, transparencies, and diagrams for the class. The advantage of this system is that it puts lesson develop- ment directly into the hands of the teacher, without the need for extensive training. Once the authoring system has been developed, the programmer is no longer needed, saving both programming salaries and lesson development time. Since the teacher has complete control over the lesson creation process, lessons can be easily written or modified to meet specific student needs. While an authoring system gives the teacher more flexibility than either canned software or locally developed software, it does have its price. That price, which a teacher must pay, is lesson development time. Remember that in the other two software types, the teacher uses existing programs as is. With an authoring system, the teacher is actually responsible for “authoring” the final product; he or she puts the “meat” on that framework. Yes, it's much easier and faster than preparing a program from scratch, but it still requires the teacher's time. There are two ways to alleviate this problem. The first is to collect all developed lessons into a library, which can be shared by all of the teachers at a school. Given enough time, a large variety of lessons will be collected and will be available to all of the teachers, assuming that a filing and cataloging system is in place. Second, aides can be used to actually type lessons into the computer, with the teacher's time utilized in the design and general layout of lessons. While each of the software types discussed have their advan- tages and disadvantges, an authoring system provides the most versatility in Computer Aided Instruction, by providing the teacher with flexibility at a low price. It puts lesson devel- opment under the control of the teacher and allows for the development of software to meet the individual needs of each student. HARDWARE What kind of hardware (the machinery) should be used in an educational system? Not too many years ago, it was an impos- sible dream. But in the past five years, many changes have taken place in the hardware available to educators. Let's trace the volution. 1. Large Timeshare Systems This was the “mainframe,” or large computer option; time- share systems consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), multiplexer, disk, drum, or tape storage units, with telephone hookups (modems) providing the link from the computer in the basement to many classroom terminals, A timeshare computer allows users to share the central processing unit and disk drives, which in the past tended to be the most expensive components of the computer system. Another advantage to timeshare is that it allows all the termi- nals connected to have access to the same programs from the central disk storage. Although many large school districts already have a central- ized computer system for business functions, the high cost of terminals and telephone connections often prohibit the use of the computer for educational functions. In addition, the systems’ dependence on telephone connec: tions necessitates locating the computer terminals in one cen- tral place and running telephone or cable lines to each terminal location. Placement of terminals in individual classrooms is both costly and difficult. The timeshare system is further limited because the central processing unit's computing power is being used to run multi- ple terminals, and therefore often cannot provide desired fea- tures such as color graphics, voice and sound production, and animation. Difficulties with timeshare systems lead us to inves- tigate the microcomputer; but let's not be too harsh on what we call the computer “dinosaurs” today; it's not too long ago that they were the only game in town. 2. Microcomputers Recent technological changes have facilitated the develop- ment of the microcomputer, a small self-contained computer system that looks like a terminal for an older system, but which 23 ae contains its own CPU and storage system. Since it’s self- contained, it can be set up in any location. And, the cost is not much more than that of the timeshare system’s terminals alone, which makes the microcomputer both adaptable and affordable. And the microcomputer'’s flexibility also gives the user some features often missing in the timeshare system; graphics and sound. The main drawback of the micro is that since each compu- ter is independent, it requires its own storage system. Thus, if a school has twenty computers, a copy of each program must be provided to each computer separately to allow all of the com- puters access to the same information. Keeping track of student responses to computerized les- sons becomes particularly difficult with independent micros; full information on a student is scattered among one or more of the disks in the school. This co-ordination of information, which was accomplished automatically on the timeshare sys- tem is more cumbersome with independent micros. 3. Networked Microcomputers The solution to the problem of access to software and student records is solved by the networked microcomputer system, a compromise between the independent microcom- puter and the fully integrated timeshare system. The compu- ters each perform their own processing, but unlike indepen- dent units, they share a central data storage system. Networking not only allows all of the micros access to the same data, but if a school has a large number of computers, it’s actually less expensive than purchasing individual disk drives for each computer. LL As with any solution, this too has a drawback: loss of some of the flexibility inherent in an independent system. We're back to cables being needed to connect up the system, which reduces portability of the machines. In an educational setting where a computer laboratory is to be established, the networked microcomputer is ideal. Inde- pendent micros are preferred where the units must be shared or moved from place to place. The best solution, which has been worked out for the Apple Il, is the unit that is flexible enough to be used either as part of a network, or unplugged for use on its own. CONCLUSION Equipment flexibility, reliability and cost are important fac- tors in the hardware selection process, but without the soft- ware, the use and benefits will be limited. Educational software that meets the requirements of a given situation is not easy to find, but it is the controlling factor in the success of a CAI system. Thanks to the large number of software producers involved with Apple II software, there seems to be more good educa- tional software available for the Apple than for all of the other micro brands combined. That software availability, along with the equipment reliability and capability of operation alone or as part of a network, gives the Apple a considerable head start in helping educators to solve the local CAI equation. r) ECHO J][™ SPEECH SYNTHESIZER INLIMITED VOCABULARY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Give your Apple* something to talk about with an ECHO ][ Speech Synthesizer. The ECHO ][ offers in- telligible voice-output while using a minimum of RAM. The ECHO J[ uses LPC technology pioneered by Texas Instruments, coupled with a phoneme-based operating system allowing you to create any vocabulary desired. Variable stress, pitch and volume let your Apple ask questions or make exclamations while also allowing for optimal quality. Speech can easily be added to BASIC programs with PRINT statements. The applications of synthesized speech are limited only by your imagination. From educational programs to games to business applications, speech-output adds a new dimension to your Apple’s capabilities. The ECHO ][ Speech Synthesizer comes complete with speaker and cable, instruction manual, speech editing features and a sample vocabulary. The ECHO ][ requires 48K, Applesoft and at least one disk drive. Suggested list price is $225. For further information, contact your dealer or Street Electronics Corporation. Dealer inquiries welcome. * Trademark of Apple Computer Company STREET ELECTRONICS CORPORATION 3152 E. La Palma Ave., Suite D Anaheim, CA 92806 (714) 632-9950 SUP'R’MOD II +x SUP'R’TERMINAL >¢ SUP'R’FAN > SUP'R’SWITCHER SUP'R’FAN © Fits inside the APPLE II case © Powered by 117VAC and does not depend on the Apple Power Supply ¢ Brushless AC Motor for no electrical noise © Does not interfere with all present Apple Peripherals © Mounts with one screw—no drilling required © Will not interfere with magnetic media such as metal cased monitors or disks in close proximity (less than % gauss) Lowers IC surface temperatures © Weighs only 18 oz. SUP'R'’SWITCHER © 90 to 135 VAC/60Hz or 180 to 270 VAC/S0Hz input © Fully protected — voltage/current © Overvoltage protection 0-50 C full load operating temperature © Output voltage current +5V @ 6A -R2V@I1A +12V @ 1A -5V@I1A © Weight—234 Ibs © Size 3%” H 9%” D 64,” W © Mounts on left side of Apple II Sufficient current to handle all 8 slots © Plugs directly into the Apple II motherboard SUP‘R’ TERMINAL © 80 Columns by 24 lines, upper and lower case; all 128 ASCII characters © Includes an Upper and Lower case 5x8 dot matrix ASCII character set, and inverse alpha characters © Character set can be user definable © Shift Lock feature © Works with APPLE PASCAL and APPLE BASIC © Compatible with ALL APPLE Il peripherals © CP/M Output cursor* Pascal 1.1 Keypress and type ahead in firmware* © 3K bytes of bank switched static ram © 2K bytes of ROM © The only board with continuous direct memory mapped screened ram © The only board that interprets VIABS by firmware (version 2.2) © The only board with an adjustable scrolling window © The only 80 column board that is synchronous with the APPLE Il © Fully programmable cursor © Works with CORVUS and NESTAR Systems Version 25, APPLE Ilis a trademark of APPLE Computer Co. CP/Mis a trademark of Digital Research SUP'R’MOD II The SUP‘R’MOD II is a wide band black and white or color compatible interface system intended to convert the home TV to a full video display for home computers, CCTV cameras and similar systems which output NTSC compatible composite video. The SUP‘R’MOD II is pre-tuned to U.S. channel 33 (UHF), includes a coaxial cable and antenna transformer, and in conjunction with a standard home TV set, insures safe isolation and high performance. SYMBOL DESCRIPTION TYPICAL UNIT F. Vision Carrier 5915 MHz+0.5 Ie Supply Current 20 Ma VO (Hi) RF Output, Vinog = 0 15 Mv VO (Low) RF Output, Vinod = 1.5 20.0 dB Rj,(mod) Modulation input resistance 700.0 Ohm Vos,(Min) Oscillator stop voltage 2.0 Volt Veo Voltage +5to +12 Volts DC M &R ENTERPRISES 910 George Street Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408) 980-0160 I GOIN.A.dNS 54 TWNINAALAdNS 4+ NWAadNS > YFHILIMS.A.dNS A COMPARISON OF MAGIC WINDOW, EASYWRITER & PIE WRITER* WORD PROCESSORS by David Harvey INTRODUCTION first comparison is a specific, point-by-point, comparison and focuses on the following topics: 1. General approach 2. System control 3. Text editing features 4. Text entry and formatting features 5. Miscellaneous system features There are nearly two dozen word processing systems cur- rently on the market for the Apple II microcomputer. The task of choosing the one system that is just right for the work that you do could be monumental. Your first thought might be to try out several systems in order to choose the one that works = best. Since this approach is both time consuming and expen- *PIE Writer, by Hayden Book Co, is a revised version of Apple PIE, formerly A pita F product of Programma International. sive, you probably will avoid it if at all possible. The most common approach is to solicit recommendations from other users and to gather as much information as you can, before purchasing and learning a particular system. The problem with this approach is that most people will recommend the system that they themselves use because they know what the system can do. Further, all producers of word processing systems will promise that their systems can do many and wonderful things. Indeed, they probably can! The most common approach, therefore, often leads to a less than optimal choice. Once such a choice is made and the system is used, you are very unlikely to even consider changing word processors. You are, in a sense, captive because you will want to avoid the time and inconvenience required to learn a new system. How do L fove i tet me count the Lays (1. O0EL2), } i les are red, y VN is s bye Irecently decided | wanted a word processing system for my Apple II. Since I was a relatively new user of word processing systems, | had not sure way of sorting through the claims and promises made. | did not want to start with a system without being sure that it was going to be the best choice. I evaluated three systems, Magic Window, EasyWriter, and PIE Writer (ref- erenced in the text as MW, EW, and PW respectively). | com- pared the systems in two ways, first for the methods and key-strokes used to effect specific editing functions and second, for the relative ease of use when employed to process text materials typical of home and professional settings. The 26 The second comparison is a general, subjectively weighted comparison of the unique features being offered by these systems when used to process the text material peculiar to my needs. l used the three systems on two Apple Il computers, each equipped with disk drive and Epson MX-80 printer. One was also fitted with a Paymar lower case adapter. But, since neither computer was equipped with an 80-column board, the sys- tems were tested using only the normal, 40 character, monitor screen. | tested the ability of each system to process certain text material, namely, reports, letters, and charts & tables. My eva- luation does not extend to do such things as: access foreign files, edit computer programs, form letters, etc. Part I SPECIFIC FEATURES COMPARED 1. General Approach: A word processing session generally follows a sequence of operations in which the user: © boots disk, enters editing mode, types rough draft © saves draft, prints draft, makes editorial corrections © recalls draft, edits/formats draft, saves draft © prints final draft, and repeats above as necessary Throughout the session, editing text and formatting text are the principal activities, and this is where the system's features and characteristics are most significant. Editing includes cur- sor control, viewing text, and character/line editing functions. Editing operations are achieved through the use of multiple keystroke commands. While editing commands are all very similar for these systems, there are two very important differ- ences between the way MW and the way PW and EW approach word processing in general. These differences are found in methods used for viewing and formatting text. The producers of MW liken their system to a typewriter with a small window mounted just above the keyboard through which the user views only a portion of the total page being typed (i.e. 40 characters x 23 lines). The MW user types his text exactly as he would like to see it printed. As they say in their introduction, “What you see is . . . what you get.” The user, therefore, must type the full line of text, typically 65 to 70 characters long, or nearly the width of two monitor screens. This means the MW because first, they do not care how the text looks at this stage, and second, when using EW and PW (in paragraph mode), wrap-around occurs at column 38, keeping the entire text on the viewing screen. To set up paragraphs, indents, and other text positioning, the EW or PW user inserts into the text, non- printing format “codes” and visualizes in his mind how the final text will look when it is formatted and typed. Although the paragraph mode is characteristic of both EW and PW, the PW user can opt for a “no-fill” mode. In the no-fill mode, PW is similar to MW with regard to viewing and printing text material. Two additional major differences between EW and PW are first, in EW there is no auxiliary screen; instead, there is word wrap-around when inserting more text than can be handled on a 38 character line, and second, upon scrolling text off the screen, all unnecessary blank characters are deleted to econ- omize on disk storage space. For viewing text, both the MW and EW/PW approaches have drawbacks. The MW user is handicapped by the inability to read the text very easily. The rapid right-left-right scrolling (using tabs) in order to see and read a full line of text is reminiscent of watching a tennis match while standing at the net. On the other hand, the EW/PW user is able to read text without scrolling sidways. But since everything is in short sent- ence fragments, he too is limited and needs extensive vertical scrolling to see more than a couple of sentences on either side of the cursor. These viewing approaches are simply methods for coping with a 40 character screen. My comments do not apply to systems equipped with an 80 column board. As for formatting text, there are again positive and negative features to the two approaches. Formatting text manually with MW takes longer, but it is much simpler and does not require that you remember a long list of format codes needed to format text as in PW and to a lesser extent EW. 2. System Control: Word processors are required to perform at least four basic functions: editing, filing, formatting, and printing. Additionally, most word processing systems provide support programs for interfacing with the user's particular hardware configuration. Table 1 describes the approach used by each of the three word processors to direct the user through 7 user is unable to view the complete line of text at any time. MW their respective systems and subsystems. TABLE 1—SYSTEM CONTROL FEATURES Function Magic Window EasyWriter PIE Writer Editing EDITOR Editing Command—E/R Formatting *FORMAT Format c.i.t. FORMAT cit. Filing *FILER “Disk filing Command—DOS Printing *PRINTER *File printing FORMAT —print Configuration *“CONFGRTN “Printer confgtn SYSGEN P or F System Control *SUBSYS MENU cent’ P or K Command—E/R/F *=menu driven c.i.t=codes in text includes what is called a “wrap-around” feature. That is, it The primary difference noted for these systems is their sends a carriage return when the line length is reached. The respective use of menu-driven system control features, and wrap-around feature automatically moves partially completed formatting codes-in-text. In Table 1, it is obvious that MW words to the next line of text. Wrap-around allows the userto _— effects system control almost entirely through the use of type text without paying attention to line length or carriage menu-driven subsystems. These subsystems are accessed re returns. through the main traffic controller, “Subsystem Menu.” The ig The EW and PW user is not concerned with how the text | approach PW uses is nearly the opposite. There are only two looks as typed, only how it will look when it is formatted and principal subsystems in PW, the Pie “Command Processor” printed. That process occurs during the printing cycle. Both and