Byte (September 1987)

3 months ago (Edited)

_{Cover of the September 1987 issue of Byte}

Byte was a bit more technical than most mainstream computer magazines of the time. It really was more for hobbyists than just users. The September 1987 issue includes:

Features

A Programmer's Introduction to OS/2 - A guide to writing applications in OS/2. OS/2 was a more advanced OS than DOS but it never really caught on in a mainstream way. I remember really wanting OS/2 when version 2.1 was out. It's promise of running DOS and Win 3.1 apps simultaneously (in addition to OS/2 apps of course) really appealed to me. Unfortunately, it didn't work right with the video card in my 486/DX2-66. It was a frustrating experience.
The New Generation: A Closer Look - Benchmarking the 80386 and the 68020.

Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar: Build the Circuit Cellar AT Computer, Part 1: AT Basics - Designing a 286 based PC on a card.

Programming Project: Crafting Reusable Software in Modula-2 - Building reusable program libraries with careful design in Modula-2.

_{Table of Contents from of the September 1987 issue of Byte}

Theme: Printer Technologies

Color Printing - A look at the color printing technologies of the time. For the most part, they are basically the same as what we have today though really only ink jet and laser have survived in mainstream use.

Vector-to-Raster Algorithms - Methods for converting what is on the screen to the printer.

Page Printers - They are really talking about laser printers here. The problem at the time was that they were very expensive (and still are relatively speaking though not nearly so much so) and they weren't high enough resolution to desktop publishing (300 dpi at the time).

Print Quality - A look at the various factors that influence print quality and how to objectively measure it.

Engineering Close-Ups: Taming the Hot Heads - With increased print speeds comes increased print head temperatures. A look at how this problem is being resolved.

_{Table of Contents from the September 1987 issue of Byte (continued)}

Reviews

The Kaypro 386 - Kaypro's entry into the 386 market. This machine incudes at 16 MHz 386 CPU, 51k RAM on board with an optional 2-megabyte expansion board that can be expanded to 16 megabytes, a 1.2 MB 5.25" floppy drive, hard drive options ranging from 40 megabytes to 330 megabytes, and more. A model with no hard drive and 512K RAM would set you back $4495.

Mail-Order Performance - A look at two 286 based PCs including the Proteus Technology's Proteus 286GT and PC Design's GV-286.

The NEC Multispeed - A look at this NEC laptop that includes the NEC V30 CPU that can operate at 4.77 and 9.54 MHz, 640K RAM, and a 720K 3.5" disk drive for $2195.

The Micro Clipper Graphics Subsystem - A high-end graphics card for CAD systems for $3295.

PC-MOS/386 - A DOS compatible multitasking and multiuser OS for 386 based PCs. I'm continually surprised by how many of these sorts of multitasking DOS systems were around.

Kernel

Computing at Chaos Manor: In the Chips - A look at various products including Chessmaster 2000, the DSI-785 68020 Coprocessor Board, Eureka: The Solver from Borland, Faery Tale Adventure, the Kaypro 386, pc-ditto, SpeedStor, and VOPT.

Applications Only: Potpourri - A look at new software including MemoryMate, Mirror II, Tracker, Oyster, Guide, and The Comic Strip Factory.

Departments

Editorial: Mere Conservatism - or Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt? - Why people chose the IBM PC AT over other machines such as the Compaq 386 and IBM PS/2 Model 80 among others as the best general-purpose microcomputer.

Letters and Review Feedback - Letters from readers about Lyrix word processor, the C-terp C interpreter, desktop publishing, and more.

Microbytes - Problems in the U.S. semiconductor industry; a look at Apple's Cray Simulation Engine used for UI design; MacBrain neural computing software for the Mac Plus/SE/II; and more.

What's New - Hypercard and MultiFinder bundled with 1-megabyte Macs; PaintJet color printers from HP; OS/286 and OS/286 protected mode operating systems; System V/386 for the 80386; Rodine 450 RX 45 megabyte hard drive for the Macintosh SE/II; Z80 CP/M card from MicroSolutions for the IBM PC; Data General's Model 2T laptop; and more.