[editor : Carl T. Helmers Jr.] [publisher : Wayne Green] [art : Nancy Estle, Neal Kandel, Peri Mahoney, Bob Sawyer] #Magazine
[theme : For Profit] [author : Ryland] #Magazine
Extract : « As an editor of BYTE, I gave a tour of the author-pitfall jungle to several interested people at a recent (if imaginary) small systems conference. Below is what transpired.
"OK, gentlemen, step right this way; we're heading into the jungle now. Be careful of the pitfall directly to your left. Any questions about the terrain so far?"
"Well, I have an idea for an article, but it's not very original ... ," says one of the tourists, dropping into the pitfall.
"Oops! warned him about that! Anyway, the rest of you can benefit from his mistake: that objection just doesn't stand. A new idea might seem (seeem) old hat to you, simply because you thought of it. Or, a variation on an old idea can certainly be material for print - what scientist dares claim absolute originality for his research? [...] »
[author : Carl Helmers] #Edito
Extract : « This is the first issue of a new publication - BYTE - a monthly compendium of information for the owners and users of the new microcomputer systems becoming widely available at modera te cost. To formal and informal students of computer science, the choice of the name BYTE is quite appropriate. For a large number of applications of this new technology of inexpensive computers, character string and text, data (basic unit, one byte) is an important consideration. Bytes are the un its of data manipulated by many of the small computer systems designed by readers - or assembled usi ng one of a number of kit products now on the market. [...] »
[author : Wayne Green] #Edito
Extract : « Two series of events came together and triggered BYTE. One was the surprising response I received from the readers of 73 Magazine (amateur radio) every time I published an article involving computers. Being a curious person I decided to learn more about them, only to find my way blocked by formidable obstacles. The more I tried to dig into the subject the more I found that there was a need for information that was not being satisfied. [...] »
TABLE OF CONTENTS
[theme : Hardware] [author : Mikkelsen] #Electronic
Extract : « The surplus market is saturated with used printed circuit boards from early computer systems which offer a very inexpensive per chip source of ICs. Used boards typically contain 50-200 chips of small scale or medium scale integration, usually with many simple two input gates and four bit data registers. Common part numbers include 7400, 7402, 7404, 7408, 74126, 74174, 74175, etc. Through careful shopping, I have found boards with large numbers of multiplexors such as 74151, 74153, and even scratch pad registers 7489. After removing chips from the boards and eliminating any non-functional units, cost per chip is from 3 to 8 cents, resulting in an overall cost of about one fourth to one tenth of the individual chip cost through other surplus outlets. [...] »
[theme : Hardware] [author : Helmers] #Electronic #Keyboard
Extract : « Did you ever wonder about the use of surplus keyboards for use in your system? Here is an article describing one way to analyze such a keyboard - illustrated by a particular model which is available through one of BYTE's advertisers. Do you use a surplus keyboard already? This is one of the most common and usable of surplus subsystems - I'd like to see a few reader submitted articles on use of various keyboards available in surplus channels. [...] »
[theme : Applications] [author : Helmers] #Simulation #Glossary
Extract : « Games played with computer equipment are applications of value above and beyond the momentary "hack" value of putting together an interesting program. The creation of a game is one of the best ways to learn about the art and technique of programming with real hardware and software systems. LIFE Line concerns a game - the Game of LIFE, originated by Charles Conway and first publicized by Martin Gardner in Scientific American. The Game of LIFE serves as the central theme of LIFE Line - a well defined application of the type of hardware and software which is within the reach of BYTE readers. The description of the LIFE application is the "down to earth" goal of LIFE Line. However, I have an ulterior motive as well - LIFE Line is a very convenient and practical vehicle for teaching ideas about program and system design which you can apply for your own use. Even if you never implement a graphics output device and interactive input keyboards, you can gain knowledge and improve your skills by reading and reflecting upon the points to be made in LIFE Line. The LIFE application also has the side benefit of illustrating some techniques of interactive which can visual graphics be used much more generally. [...] »
[theme : Hardware] [author : Chamberlin] #Microprocessor #Tips
Extract : « At this time there are three microprocessor chips or chip sets readily available to the hobbyist: the 8008, the 8080, and the IMP-16. The first two were pioneered by Intel and the last is a National Semiconductor invention. Chips and/or kits utilizing each of the three microprocessors are available from at least two sources catering to hobbyists as of this writing. This level of availability and popularity is not even approached by other microprocessors, therefore this discussion is being confined to these three. [...] »
[theme : Review] [author : Hogenson] #Review #ComputerKit
Extract : « Microcomputers, microcomputers and more microcomputers! The number of options you have for a homebrew system is expanding at a rapid rate - with the corresponding difficulty in picking and choosing among the options. BYTE has an answer to this problem - reviews of kits and equipment from various manufacturers and advertisers in the magazine. The idea of a review is to give the user's evaluation of the product - and in the process aid you in the choice of equipment for your own homebrew system. Here is BYTE's first review of an 8008 product - the RGS 008A microcomputer kit (made by RGS Electronics, 3650 Charles St., Suite K, Santa Clara CA 95050).
James Hogenson provides this review of the RGS product, based upon his own experiences assembling and utilizing the computer. Jim built the kit early this year as part of his high school Science Fair project activities designing an oscilloscope CRT display. I think you'll find Jim's account to be a useful source of information on the RGS product. [...] »
[theme : Hardware] [author : Lancaster] #Interface #Electronic
Extract : « We all know microcomputers use parallel data for internal operations. Computers - mini, micro or maxi - are often specified with the "bus data width" as a key parameter. This is the number of parallel bits which participate in operations at one time . Typical microprocessors now available have bus data widths of 4, 8, 12, or 16 bits. If you employ a used minicomputer in your system you may enjoy a 12, 16, 18, or 24 or even 32-bit wide bus. When shuffling data to or from memory and peripherals, the parallel lines of the bus are defined simultaneously - and you have to run at least as many physical wires to each interfaced subsystem.
When wire is at a premium you can get by with only one channel if the data is sent in a time-ordered sequence, one bit at a time. Communications and peripheral interfaces thrive on diets of serial bits provided the speed is relatively low.
In this article, Don Lancaster provides us with an excerpt from his forthcoming book, TV Typewriter Cookbook, to be published by Howard W. Sams, Indianapolis, Indiana. Don describes the basics of parallel to serial conversion and its inverse, using UART technology to do the transformation. His article this month concerns UARTs and serial interfaces which are relatively self-contained - local wires, tape recorders, etc. He also covers the communications aspects of serial data... radio and telephone network modem hardware.
While Don wrote the article from the point of view of the TV Typewriter technology which he pioneered, the problems he discusses are just as applicable to the home brew computer context... simply read "computer" every time you see TVT in the text. Don's comments on the serial cassette interface will provide one input to the discussion of various possible recording interfaces in the pages of BYTE. [...] »
[theme : Software] [author : Fylstra] #Assembly #Method #Programming
Extract : « To date I have not seen any detail descriptions of home brew self assembler systems for microcomputers such as the 8008, 8080, 6800 or PACE. Maybe Dan Fylstra's description of assemblers will start a few readers off in that direction. Dan describes in general terms what assemblers do, scanning techniques, symbol tables, hashing methods and some of the more advanced "bells and whistles" you might employ. Use Dan's article as a source of ideas on the organization and features for your own assembler software designs. [...] »
#Association
Extract : « The increasing interest in microcomputers for home and fun and games as well as practical work has led to a number of information centers the clubs and newsletters organized by readers of BYTE to help promote communications among practitioners of this art. For this first issue of BYTE, I've collected together a "dump" (in English character text, not hexadecimal) of my files on the subject to date. [...] »
#Book
Extract : « Until somebody invents a direct link between human brains, the only way to find out about methods and techniques is to read someone else's "memory dump " ... books, magazines and other sources. Associate Editor Dan Fylstra has provided us with three reviews of books which will prove useful in your home brew computer work. These memory dumps are not in hexadecimal or octal - and are definitely "readable."
The Elements of Programming Style by Brian W. Kernighan and P. J. Plauger. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1974. $3.95. [...]
Designing Logic Systems Using State Machines by Christopher R. Clare. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1973. $9.50. [...]
TTL Cookbook by Don Lancaster. Howard W. Sams & Co., Indianapolis, 1974. $8.95. [...] »