_{Cover of the February 1986 issue of Compute!}

Compute! was probably the best multi-format computer magazine of the mid 1980s though I mostly stuck with Commodore specific magazines. In February 1986 a wide variety of computers were covered including the Commodore 64, PC/DOS machines, Apple II, Atari ST, Macintosh, TI-99/4A, Atari 8-bit, Amiga, and probably others. This issue includes:

Features

• Genealogy of a Chip: The 68000 Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow - The 16-bit Motorola 68000 CPU was at the heart of the next generation of computers including the Amiga, Atari ST and Macintosh. While concentrating on the 68000, this article discusses the origin of a number of CPUs, including the 8088, 4004, 6502 and others.


• A Quantum Leap: From 6502 to 68000 - More about the 68000 and all the things that makes it better than the 6502 that 8-bit computers such as the Commodore 64, Apple II and Atari 8-bit were based on.


• High Rise - A type-in game in which you are a worker who must descend a partially completed high rise building while avoiding pitfalls such as a giant bird and a patrol robot. There are versions for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and Atari 8-bit.

Reviews

• Reach for the Stars for Commodore and Apple - A conquer the galaxy strategy game that can be played by up to four players.


• PC/InterComm For Atari 520ST - One of the first full-featured commercial telecommunications programs for the Atari ST.


• Write 'n Spell - A word processor with spell checker for DOS based PCs that will work with the PCjr.


• Microsoft BASIC 2.1 for Macintosh - Unlike some older 8-bit computers, newer 16-bit computers did not have BASIC built-in. The reviewer notes that this iteration of BASIC for the Mac is very similar to AmigaBASIC.


• Bank Street Mailer and Bank Street Filer - Mailer was designed for creating mailing lists and Filer is a database manager. They were designed to work together as well as with Bank Street Writer and both are rated highly here. They were available for the Apple II and Commodore 64.

_{Table of Contents from the February 1986 issue of Compute!}

Columns and Departments

• The Editor's Notes - A look at the past year and the year to come, including commentary on IBM's advertising campaign for the discontinued PCjr, increasing Commodore 64 and Amiga sales, and more.


• Readers' Feedback - Comments on "core war" and worms, programatically setting numlock on a PC, Compute!'s future support of Amiga, and more.


• HOTWARE - A list of best selling software according to Billboard. The top game was F-15 Strike Eagle for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64 and DOS. The top educational program was Typing Tutor III for the Apple II, Commodore 64, DOS and Macintosh. The top home management program was Print Shop for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, and Commodore 64.


• Telecomputing Today: Gadgets for Better Telecomputing - Hands-free phone devices, surge protectors, printer buffers and RS-232 switch boxes are discussed.


• The Beginner's Page: The Hidden Numbers Behind Strings - All about ASCII.


• Computers and Society: The Human Side of Telecommuting - The effects of the lack of socialization when working from home. This seems more relevant today than ever though there are better ways to communicate remotely now.


• The World Inside the Computer: Arjan Singh Khalsa - A Prophet of Bionic Man - The TV show The Six Million Dollar Man is mentioned but this article is more about using computers to enhance people's abilities. For instance, using a computerized wheelchair, using computers as a learning tool, etc.

The Journal

• High-Speed String Search for Atari BASIC - A small machine language program that adds a new BASIC function to Atari 8-bit computers that allows for quickly searching strings.


• IBM Screen Swapping - Storing and retrieving a screen full of graphics using BASIC on the PC.


• Speedy Strings for Commodore - A machine language routine for quickly loading lots of data into memory on the Commodore 64.


• Introduction to AmigaDOS, Part 2 - Creating a custom AmigaDOS disk on the Amiga.


• MessageMaker 64 - A type in program for creating graphical messages on the Commodore 64 that can also be printed out as signs or banners.


• Commodore 64 Program Profiler - A type-in utility that will tell you which lines in your BASIC program take the most time to execute.


• Atari Typo Tool - A type-in program to help you find mistakes (typos) in your programs.


• ST Doodler - A Logo program that provides a simple drawing application for any Atari ST with Logo.

_{Back cover of the February 1986 issue of Compute!}

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