• Tag Archives C128
  •  RUN (August 1986)

    Source: RUN – Issue Number 32 – August 1986



    RUN, subtitled “The Commodore C-128/C-64 Home Computing Guide”, was one of a few magazines I spent my scarece resources on as a kid. I loved my Commodore 64 and essentially learned BASIC programming with magazines like this and got “free” software via the type-in programs provided. The August 1986 issue includes:

    Features

    • Enter The On-Line World of Lucasfilm – Lucasfilm and QuantumLink have teamed up to bring you a new concept in on-line interactive game-playing.
    • Disk Keeper – Do all your diskkeeping chores, from formatting to making disk jacket labels, with this one program.
    • Bootmaker 128/64 – If you like the autoboot capbility of the C-128 in 128 mode, you’ll love this program that lets you autoboot in 64 mode, too.
    • Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker – Choose a software package that will point you toward the right career and then help you shine in it.
    • Add Some Character to Your C-64 – Run this program and you’ll whip up some “instant” custom characters.

    Departments

    • RUNning Ruminations – Discover ReRUN
    • Magic – The original column of hints and tips that lets you perform computing wizardry.
    • Software Gallery
      • Grover’s Animal Adventures
      • Superscript
      • Elite and the Silver Disk Series
      • Leader Board
      • Bank Street Filer
      • WillWriter
    • Second Annual RUNaway Contest – Here’s your chance to be a winner in RUN’s giveaway sweepstakes worth over $25,000 in prizes. And, just for entering, you’ll receive a free QuantumLink terminal program!
    • Basically Speaking – An exploration of Basic programming fundamentals.
    • Telecomputing Workshop – Advice and answers to your questions on modems, terminal programs, on-line networks, bulletin boards and more.
    • Q-Link Happenings – This month we introduce a new feature that keeps you informed about the latest services on QuantumLink.
    • The Resource Center – Teachers, administrators and students are getting on-line as the nation’s schools enter the telecommunications age.
    • New Products RUNdown
    • How To Type In Listings
    • RUN Amok – We run corrected.
    • Coming Attractions

    …and more!

    As a side note, Quantum Link was an onlin-service designed specifically for Commodore users. It would later become America On-Line. The second feature above mentions a collaboration between Quantum Link and Lucasfilm. This would be Habitat which was way, way ahead of its time. Basically, it let you control an avatar and you could go to different rooms for different activites. Chat, play games, etc. Sadly, I never had a chance to try this.


  • Computer Direct (November 1988)

    Source: Ahoy! AmigaUser – Issue Number 3 – November 1988

    It seems like in the 1980s there were more mail order places for computer equipment then there are internet sites today. Strictly speaking that’s probably not true but it just seems like today everything is Amazon, Amazon, Amazon (with a little Newegg thrown in). This ad is from a popular (it seemed so to me at the time anyway) mail order business called Computer Direct that sold various computers and accessories.

    Computer Direct was where most of my Commodore stuff came from. While my Commodore 64c itself probably did not come from here, my 1541-II disk drive, monitor, printer, printer interface, my first modem and even a replacement power supply for my Commodore 64 all came from Computer Direct. Their prices were great and support was superb. You could return anything within 15 days for any reason and they offered a 90-day replacement policy. They even provided technical support if you gave them a call. Try getting that from Amazon (ok, their return policy is pretty good).

    Computer Direct’s ads were hard to miss. They were typically a multi-page affair and in bright yellow. This particular ad happens to be from the November 1988 issue of Ahoy!’s AmigaUser but I was still getting stuff for my Commodore 64 at that time. I think Christmas 1988 was when I got a Magnavox monitor (which I still have along with all the other pieces mentioned above) to replace my crappy tiny color TV that you had to smack every once in a while to unscramble the picture.

    I’m not sure whatever happened to Computer Direct. I know they were founded in 1979 and I found ads for them through at least 1993. There seem to be a bunch of businesses out there with the name “Computer Direct” but none of them appear to be related to the original. I think the Internet ultimately put a lot of these companies out of business…at least the ones that could not adapt fast enough.


  • Commodore World – Issue Number 1 – April 1994

    The premiere issue of Commodore World.

    commodore_world_issue_01-01

    Source: Commodore World – Issue Number 1 – April 1994