Simple "how-to" documents for various computer platforms

[Nebulon]

Since some of us collectors are now getting a chance to use computing platforms that we didn't really get much hands-on exposure to way back when, it would be nice if there were "top 20 commands" guides for the various retro-computers. These are great ways to distill the information you'd normally see in a book, down to a page or two.

 

Examples include:

 

http://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/coco.html

 

http://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/amiga.html

 

http://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/msdos.html

 

http://www.oldsoftware.com/Commtips.html (a bit wordy, but still cool)

 

 

Does anyone have or know of anything like this for other machines? Atari, Apple II, Vic 20, NEC PC-88, TI-99/4A, TRS-80 Model series, Commodore PET, Adam, MSX, etc...

[JamesD]

A couple related to the Apple II. The first links to several other relevant pages.

http://www.landsnail.com/a2ref3.htm

http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/apple2/faq/06-004-What-commands-are-available-in-DOS-3-3.html#.UyITD_ldXLE

[JamesD]

I thought the CoCo used:
copy"file.ext" to "file.ext:1"

I guess I'm out of practice.

[carlsson]

For the PET and VIC-20, most of what is said in the C64/128 article holds true. Of course there are additional pecularities, but you'd get a long way from reading it.

[jhd]

This is really helpful!

 

I have no interest in collecting original, vintage hardware, but I have been exploring various 8-bit computer emulators, and it is sometimes a challenge even to figure out how to load a file, get a disk directory, etc. due to a lack of adequate documentation.

[Nebulon]

This is really helpful!

 

I have no interest in collecting original, vintage hardware, but I have been exploring various 8-bit computer emulators, and it is sometimes a challenge even to figure out how to load a file, get a disk directory, etc. due to a lack of adequate documentation.

This emulator is amazingly accurate. Sound is a bit scratchy, but the rest is rock solid -- right down to disk operations. You can even create new diskettes, add and delete files to and from them, and copy between real and virtual diskettes. I've successfully run this on Windows 98se, 2000, and XP. So you could write a program on the Color Computer, save it to virtual diskette on your PC hard drive, and then copy your programs to a real Color Computer diskette (if you have access to a 5.25" DS/DD PC drive). Or you could copy the files to a real Color Computer using drive wire or some other cable transfer utility.

 

http://www.classiccmp.org/cpmarchives/trs80/mirrors/www.discover-net.net/~dmkeil/coco/index.htm

 

F5 - configure the virtual Color Computer (swap joysticks from left to right port, invert colors, etc...)

F4 - add cartridge (for disk drive support, add the virtual disk controller cartridge)

F9 - From here you can place a virtual diskette in the drive.

F10 - reset the virtual Color Computer

 

There are two version of the emulator. One emulates the Color Computer 2 and the other emulates the Color Computer 3.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Nebulon

[thegamezmaster]

I've got a ton of Commodore stuff that I wish there were easy to use guides on how to use stuff without a lot of technical stuff that I can't even begin to understand. Must be me.

[Retro-Z]

The Atari 8-bit computers have an FAQ page that I've found handy at times: http://www.atarimania.com/faq-atari-400-800-xl-xe.html

 

One thing that is not always mentioned in simple terms is that cassette based programs come in BASIC language and Machine language forms, and have to be loaded a bit differently (for instance, using "CLOADM" instead of "CLOAD"). Sounds simple, but if you are just getting into vintage computing, this may not be readily apparent at first since the documentation is pretty poor overall.

[Nebulon]

I've got a ton of Commodore stuff that I wish there were easy to use guides on how to use stuff without a lot of technical stuff that I can't even begin to understand. Must be me.

I totally agree.

 

I'd like to know more about load and save for both disk and tape on the C64, since I'm pretty new to that machine from a user standpoint.

[Keatah]

The best way of getting into vintage computing is to have the original (or PDF) manuals at hand. Typically each vintage platform has about 5 or 6 "required reading" publications associated with it. Throw in 1 more, the instructions to the emulator, if you're doing emulation.

 

One should always look at the various OEM manuals that came with the machine. Or the 3rd party books of the era. This way you avoid the bullshit of the internet and as a bonus you get the same experience as one did back in the day. But you'll actually have to read and think about how to do something (OMFG!) compared to having it all laid out for you. A side-effect is you might learn something.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Keatah

[Nebulon]

The best way of getting into vintage computing is to have the original (or PDF) manuals at hand. Typically each vintage platform has about 5 or 6 "required reading" publications associated with it. Throw in 1 more, the instructions to the emulator, if you're doing emulation.

 

One should always look at the various OEM manuals that came with the machine. Or the 3rd party books of the era. This way you avoid the bullshit of the internet and as a bonus you get the same experience as one did back in the day. But you'll actually have to read and think about how to do something (OMFG!) compared to having it all laid out for you. A side-effect is you might learn something.

I agree with you. However, there's definitely still a place for quick top-20 command lists for various platforms to give people a running start. Not all the OEM manuals that came with the machines were all that great -- like the old DOS 3 manuals or the AmigaDOS manuals. Many of them lack real examples or use custom methods of listing commands in a way that can be confusing for new users. e.g. the over-abundance of parentheses. Then there are the systems that have hundreds (or even thousands) of command/switch combinations. Not everyone has the time to delve into them and then figure out by trial, error, and experience what the essentials are (especially when trying to tackle numerous platforms).

 

To this day, I still try to approach things the way children do, in that I like to jump in and try out the interface, try some commands that others have recommended, and then look things up as I need to. Even industry professionals that use extremely complex software only really use about 20% of the commands on a regular basis. The rest of the functions are things they'll look up if they need to. I'm speaking both from experience and paraphrasing other established power-users.

 

That being said, I should mention that different people learn faster in different ways. So if there are people out there that prefer to read the entire manual first, then great. I'm glad it works for them. I eventually do read manuals cover to cover, but not until I've tried the software first.

[thegamezmaster]

I totally agree.

 

I'd like to know more about load and save for both disk and tape on the C64, since I'm pretty new to that machine from a user standpoint.

Lemon64 is a great site for anything Commodore. And people are very willing to help. Plus you can search for specific topics too. I use it a lot.