_{Cover of the November 1981 issue of Compute!}

Compute! was one of the better multi-format computer magazines of the 1980s (and early 1990s). In 1981, Compute! was focused on computers based on the 6502 CPU. At the time, this included the Commodore PET, Atari 8-bit and Apple II in addition to more obscure entries like the KIM and others. The November 1981 issue includes:

Table of Contents

• The Editor's Notes - Atari educational sales in Minnesota; a preview of the SuperPET coverage in this issue; Recreational Computing merges with Compute!; and more.


• Computers and Society - Simplifying computer interfaces to make home computers a mass market success.


• Ask the Reader - Questions asked and answered by readers. Some topics in this issue include interfacing the Vortax Type 'N Talk speech synthesizer to the Atari 800; graphics modes 9-11 on the Atari 400/800; the Commodore 4010 Voice Synthesizer; sequential file access on the OSI C3; and operating a Commodore 3016 and 3040 floppy drive via a marine 12v battery.


• Guest Commentary: The Three Laws - Isaac Asimov writes about applying/adapting the Three Laws of Robotics to other things.


• The Beginner's Page - An example of creating a database management program in BASIC.


• Basically Useful BASIC: A Flower Sale Program - A BASIC program written for the PET that keeps track of flower sales for a Cub Scout Den.


• SuperPET's Super Software - A look at the University of Waterloo's design and use of the new Commodore SuperPET, a modification of the existing Commodore PET (8032) that adds a 6809 processor among other enhancements.

_{Table of Contents from the November 1981 issue of Compute!}

The Apple Gazette

• An Apple Primer - Using PEEKs, POKEs and CALLs on the Apple II.


• Page Flipper: Five Hires and Four Lores Pages for the Apple - Storing graphics and text in memory and switching between them.

The Atari Gazette

• Atari Data Management/Database System: An Atari Database - A database management system in BASIC to type in for your Atari.


• A Program for Writing Programs on the Atari 400/800 Computers - This type-in program that will create BASIC statements for you based on a series of questions.


• INSIGHT: Atari - The first of a multi-part series of interacting with Atari I/O via assembly.


• Atari Timing Delays - A program for creating a precise timing delay in Atari BASIC.


• Printing Numbers That Make Cents - A BASIC routine to print consistently formatted numbers, particularly for currency representation.


• Formatting Input - Two BASIC routines for inputting data via a table.

The OSI Gazette

• OSI Relocation Or What's NEW? - Relocating BASIC programs and using the NEW command on OSI machines.


• Data Handling - A guide to handling data on the OSI Superboard.

The PET Gazette

• COMPUTE! Interview: Kit Spencer, CBM's New US Marketing Director - Some background on Kit Spencer, differences in marketing between the U.S. and U.K., the future of technology (an LED TV is mentioned) in general and the future of Commodore specifically.


• COMPUTE! Overview: Power - An overview of POWER which is a ROM chip that plugs into the PET to provide additional BASIC commands.


• The PET Speaks - A program for the PET that allows it to reproduce speech from audio cassettes.


• Machine Language: Monitoring Progress - A guide to using the machine language monitor on the PET.


• Directory For 3.0 - A program for displaying a disk directory from your own program when using BASIC 3.0.

The SBC Gazette

• Nuts and Volts: Build Your Own Controllers, Part III - Part 3 of an ongoing series about building a controller using a single board computer and using a home computer as a development system.


• Review: DOS/64 A Disk Operating System (6502 Software) - Using DOS/64 with the KIM.

• New Products - New products looked at this month include Home Accounting System for the Atari, The Depreciation Planner for the Apple II, an 80 Column adapter for the Commodore PET/CBM, the PEDISK II Floppy Disk System for the Rockwell AIM, Graphics Composer for the Atari 400/800, and more.

_{Back cover of the November 1981 issue of Compute!}

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