ZX Computings - OpenLibra

14-year olds the rudiments of
computing using a ZX81, and
you want to do it 'by the book'
this is the book to buy, but if
you're not. . . have a good look
at it in the shop before you
decide. ZX81 BASIC Book,
Newnes Technical Books, ISBN
0 408 01178 5.
The ZX81 Pocket
Book
Trevor accurately sums up the
thinking behind the book, and
explains how it differs from the
ZX80 Pocket Book, in his introduction:
"This is our second
book along these lines. . .
although the style is hopefully
less clinical. . . Newcomers to
computing will hopefully find
something more challenging
than just another set of games
to copy and run ... I have . . .
tried to expand on the 'useful
subroutines', as I think these
give a much clearer picture of
how certain features can be
highlighted and how you can
stretch the ZX81 to its utmost
..."
Book reviews
The programs in the book are
good, and varied. They vary
from the good-for-a-weaklaugh
PIN THE TAIL ON THE
DONKEY to a TUNNELS AND
TROLLS CHARACTER GENER-
ATOR, with some maths
(STANDARD DEVIATION) and
machine code (DICE SIMULA-
TION) along the way.
A number of additional 1 K
programs are scattered
throughout the book. The approach
of the book is, as Trevor
said in his foreward, 'less
clinical' than his earlier book, so
string handling is up near the
front, and clearly and simply explained.
You'll pick up a number of
useful ideas which you'll want
to use in many programs. My
favourite, and one which I see
over and over again in other
people's programs, showing
how well the lesson has been
learned, is the use of PAUSE
4E4 (which Trevor suggests
you memorise as PAUSE forever)
at the end of a game to
freeze the action until any key is
retouched to give you a replay.
The ZX81 Pocket Book, Phipps
Associates, ISBN 0 950 7302
2 X.
What Can I Do With
1K?
The ZX81 publishing bandwagon
is one which a number
of people including myself
have jumped onto, with mixed
results. Some of the books
have a 'bad feel' to them, as
they were produced just for ihf
money, while others feel gooc
and deliver the product the*
covers proclaim. This book i <
one that delivers.
When I first reviewed tN*
ZX81, I was highly critical afc
the miniscule IK provided or
board, but along with manf Thl
others, I have since then learr»;'° r
ed a number of tricks tJ t
squeeze the maximum intt P|0
Clive's unforgiving RAM. Rogt hav
Valentine has also learned tht »Vn
lessons of program packing pr
With 1K?, V £r H Computer Sa
vices.
ZX COMPUTING SUMMER 19^ cc