Favourite System 80 (and TRS-80 Model 1) Books
1. Learning Level
2 by David A. Lien
2. TRS-80 Assembly Language by
Hubert. S. Howe Jr.
3. Basic faster and better &
other mysteries by Lewis Rosenfelde
4. The Captain 80 Book of
Basic Adventures by Robert Liddil
5. 80-Micro Review Guide (1st Edition)
6. Molymerx, Mail
Order Software Catalogue
The first three books above were invaluable tutorials, giving me skills I still appreciate to this day. The latter three were well-thumbed through and often used, so I've included them here also.
Enjoy the memories.
1. Learning Level 2 by David A. Lien
This
was the first book I bought after my shiny new System-80. I found
that the author had assumed I'd read the Tandy TRS-80 Level 1 manual (which
he'd also written) so I borrowed one from my wife (who used a TRS-80 at
work) and read it first!
I loved this book. It was easy and fun to read, and showed me that programming could be simple and rewarding. It was my first introduction to BASIC and I was amazed how powerful it seemed, on such a small machine too!. Not surprising I guess, as my previous exposure to computer languages had been in a 100-level University computer course where we wrote simple FORTRAN code on punch cards with a paper clip!
Some people have criticized David Lien's books as being condescending. While today they might seem so, at the time when computers were new and very un-intuitive, I felt they were excellent.
(download
- 12 Mb PDF)
2. TRS-80 Assembly Language by Hubert. S. Howe Jr.
No,
I never did completely understand the mysteries of the Z80 and assembly
code but this book took me a long way! The fact that the System
80 had minor incompatibilities with the TRS-80, forced us to learn to
use a machine language monitor or an editor/assembler so we could patch
machine language programs to get them to work properly. (or at least understand
what the patch was doing.). Clearly written and
understandable.
(download
- 9 MB PDF)
3. Basic faster and better & other mysteries by Lewis Rosenfelder
Ahh,
the hidden mysteries of BASIC! This book was quite a revelation.
The things you could do with PEEKS and POKES. Never would I have
to twiddle my thumbs waiting for a slow BASIC sort or for the SET command
to chug through drawing a line again.
A very informative book. After using it, plain BASIC was somehow just not the same!
(download
- 35 Mb PDF)
4. The Captain 80 Book of Basic Adventures by Robert Liddil
I
loved adventure games. I bought this book with the intention of
typing some in. I never did, but I was such as fan of these games
I just had to include this book on this site.
5. 80 Micro Review guide
As
the cover says, 500 reviews of TRS-80 software, hardware and books.
I used to drool over this wishing I could afford the nifty programs and
hardware listed *sigh*.
(download
- 48.3 Mb PDF)
6. Molymerx, Mail Order Software Catalogue
Not
really a book, but a loose-leaf software catalogue from a New Zealand firm specialising
in the importation and distribution of TRS-80/System80/Video Genie software.
Descriptions of the programs were very comprehensive...more like reviews. Software outlets were not common for the TRS-80 and System 80 in New Zealand, especially in later years and the Molymerx catalogue filled the gap. They also distributed software in Australia through Micro-80.
You can download
a catalogue (33 MB) and/or click here to read an interview with its founder.