Home Computer Magazine, Volume 5, Number 5, 1985

Home Computer Magazine started life as 99’er which was a magazine dedicated to the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A computer. However, that computer was discontinued in 1983, a victim of a price war with Commodore, and shortly afterwards 99’er became Home Computer Magazine. HCM exclusively covered the TI-99/4A, Apple II, VIC-20, Commodore 64, IBM-PC, and Atari 8-bit computers. However, Home Computer Magazine only lasted about two years in this incarnation.

Volume 5, Number 5 of Home Computer Magazine (from 1985) included the following:

Features

NanoProcessor – This type-in program is a visual simulation of a CPU. It provides a visualization of the effect of machine language commands. There are versions of this program for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, PC/PCjr and TI-99/4A.
Electronic Typewriter – A simple word processor that simulates a typewriter. Type-in versions are provided for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64 and PC/PCjr.
TI Card-Trix – A program for creating and printing 3×5″ index cards for the TI-99/4A.
The Plains of Salisbury – A mini-King Arthur themed turn-based war game with a 3 screen map. Versions are included for the Apple II, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, PC/PCjr and TI-99/4A.
Vital Signs – A cardio-vascular simulator. You can alter things like air quality and activity level to see the effects on bondy temperature, blood pressure, etc. Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, PC/PCjr and TI-99/4A versions all included.
Apple Seedlings – Frequency Blender for the Apple II. This program allows you to create and combine waveforms by specifying frequency and amplitude.
Commodore Hornblower – Ring Modulation & Synchronization – working with the SID chip on the Commodore 64 to create various sound effects.
IBMpressions – Creating 3D graphics on the IBM PC/PCjr using shadow effects.
Atari Atrium – Creating multi-track music (up to 4) on your Atari 8-bit computer.
Razzle Dazzle – A calculator program for the TI-99/4A that can calculate and print up to 10 decimal places. Something taken for granted today.
Algorithm-A-Tricks – A more detailed look into the math behind the Vital Signs program above.
Soundbytes – An article on creating electronic music with home computers.

Product Reviews

Home Print Studio – A review of several desktop publishing type programs including Fontrix (Apple II, PC/PCjr), The Print Shop (Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64), Graphx (TI-99/4A), Fontmaster (Commodore 64), The Printographer (Apple II), Printworks (PC/PCjr, Tandy 1000), Fancy Font (PC/PCjr), Facelift (Apple II, Commodore 64, PC/PCjr), and Select-A-Font (PC/PCjr). To my recollection, The Print Shop was by far the most popular of these.
Listen to the Mockingbird – The Mockingboard was a sound card and speech synthesizer (depending on the version you purchased) for the Apple II. The Apple II did not have a sophisticated sound chip like the Atari and Commodore 64.
Music Synthesizer – A music composition program for the TI-99/4A. It does not get a very positive review here.
Music Construction Set – A music composition program by Electronic Arts for the Apple II, Macintosh, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, and PC/PCjr.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Next to Zork, this was probably the most popular text adventure that ever was. It was also created by the same company, Infocom. HHGttG is reviewed here for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit Commodore 64, PC/PCjr and TI-99/4A though it plays the same on all of them and ultimately many other computers. While it may not have been necessary to have ready the book, it sure does help.
The Magic of Music Videos: A Review of Sight & Sound’s Music Video Kit – This is a tool for creating music videos on the Commodore 64. While there is no actual video, it provides various sound tracks and graphics with which to create your own animations.

Departments

On Screen – What’s new in HCM including new debugging aids for type-in programs and a new “Soundbytes” column.
Letters to the Editor – Various questions and requests from readers including a request for Atari coverage (which started this issue), a letter about a bug in a date calculation, a question about telecommunicating with the Commodore 64 and more.
HCM Product News – News about new and upcoming products including Computereyes for the Atari 8-bit, the Axiom SLP printer, X-10 interfaces for the Commodore 64 and Apple II and much more.

…and much more!