Byte (December 1985)

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_{Cover of the December 1985 issue of Byte}

Byte was perhaps the best multi-format computer magazine there was, particularly if you wanted something more technical. Eventually, it mostly just covered the PC but that was just a reflection of the market. The December 1985 issue was huge at over 500 pages and includes:

Features

Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar: Turnkey Bulleting-Board System - A project to create a BBS for the SB180 single-board computer.

Programming Project: A SIMPL Compiler, Part I: The Basics - The first in a three part series on building a compiler for a virtual machine.

Product Description: The Tandy 600 and the Tandy 3000 - A brief look at the new Tandy 600 and the new Tandy 3000. The Tandy 600 is a laptop featuring an 80C88 CPU, built-in 360k 3.5-inch disk drive, and 32K of RAM (upgradeable to 224K). The Tandy 3000 is an IBM AT clone featuring an 8-MHz 80286 CPU, 512K of RAM, 20 MB hard drive, and 1.2 MB 5.25" floppy disk drive for $3599. A two floppy drive version with no hard drive cost $2599.

English Recognition - Making computers understand regular English language commands.

Scientific Applications Software - An overview of scientific software. Some of the packages looked at here include Math/Library, MicroSUB MATH, NAG FORTRAN PC50 Library, The Scientific Desk, Linpack, PC-MATLAB, SEOS, TKSolver, The Economic Software Package, MICROBI, and more.

Programming Insight: Virtual Fielding in Microsoft BASIC - A technique for handling files with record lengths longer than a sector in Microsoft BASIC.

Programming Insight: Travesty with Database - A program called Breakdown which is a high speed Travesty Generator (I had to look up what that was).

_{Table of Contents from the December 1985 issue of Byte}

Themes

An Overview of Conferencing Systems - This article looks at available conferencing systems. The modern equivalents would be things like Zoom, Teams, etc. (though video wasn't a thing yet). Software looked at here includes COM, EIES, PARTI, NOTEPAD, and more.

Conferencing Standards - An article on developing a standard communications protocol for conferencing between multiple computers.

Database Structure in PortaCOM - A look at database structures used in conferencing and in PortaCOM in particular.

The Network Applications Manager - Implementation of a computer conferencing system.

Storage Architectures - How to store the data needed for a conferencing system.

Common Ground - A microcomputer based conferencing system built for science teachers.

Local Power In A Remote Link - A two=part software solution to the I/O bottleneck when connecting to a remote system.

Conversations - An article based on a paper entitled "Conversations: An Alternative to Memos and Conferences".

Cross-System Conferencing With CLACR - Description of software designed to link disparate systems.

_{Table of Contents from the December 1985 issue of Byte (continued)}

Reviews

The AT&T PC 6300 - A PC compatible computer featuring an 8-MHz 8086-2 CPU, a high resolution color display, 128K of RAM and two 360K floppy drives or 256K of RAM wit a 10 MB hard drive and one 360K floppy. Prices range from $2745 to $3975.

The Tandy 200 and the NEC PC-8401A - The Tandy 200 is a laptop featuring a 2.4 MHz 80C85 CPU, 24K RAM (expandable to 74K), 300bps modem, some built-in software (such as a basic word processor and address book), and more for $999. The NEC PC-8401A is a laptop featuring a Z80-compatible CPU, 64K RAM (expandable to 96K), 300bps modem, CP/M, and more for $999.

Golden Common LISP - A LIST environment for microcomputers.

The Norton Utilities - This collection of tools for managing your hard drive would become indispensable for many users over the years.

HyperDrive For The Macintosh - A 10 or 20 MB hard drive installed inside your 512K Macintosh. These would set you back $1695 or $2195 installed.

Upgrades For The TRS-80 Model 100 - Upgrades for adding up to a total of 96K of RAM, adding disk drives, and expanding the display to 80 columns.

The IBM Proprinter - A dot matrix printer with a single sheet feeder in addition to tractor feed paper.

Panasonic's 4-Color Graphic Penwriter - A combination electronic typewriter, printer, and graph maker.

Kernel

Computing at Chaos Manor: The European Connection - A look at various products including Ampro Z80 computers, Lilith Computer, the NEC PC-8201 and PC-8401 Starlet, SideCar and SideStar, and The Ultimate ROM.

Byte U.K.: The Torch Triple X - A detailed look at the Torch Triple X Unix based microcomputer featuring a 68010 CPU, 1 MB RAM, and more.

Byte Japan: Computing In Taiwan - The Computex '85 computer show and a look at software piracy.

According to Webster: Microcomputer Color Graphics - Observations - A look at Mac communications software (including Red Ryder), the Atari 520ST, Amiga, SideKick, and more.

Editorial: New Services - BYTE program listings on disk, BYTECOM conferencing in Europe, and more.

Microbytes - The Fairchild 32-bit 33MHz Clipper CPU, IBM token-ring network, new laser printer, and more.

Letters - Letters from readers about Travesty, recursion in Pascal, Adware, the history of Heath, and more.

What's New - Turbo Lightning spell checker/thesaurus, the AT&T PC 6300, MC68000 plug-in with UNIX System V, electroluminescent flat panel display for DOS, C Compiler for the Apple IIe, Sperry PC/IT Personal Computer, IBM PC touchpad, Inmos Transputer, and more.

Ask Byte - Questions answered about printer buffers for the Mac, the Shugart SA400 disk drive, using IBM PC disks in a DEC Rainbow, choosing the right modem and hard drive, memory chips for a homebrew computer, and more.

Book Reviews - Reviews of Back to Basic: The History of Corruption, and Future of the Language, Ethical Issues in the Use of Computers, and IBM PC/8088 Assembly Language.