Kilobaud Microcomputing was originally conceived as KiloByte Microcomputing but that name went unused as the publishers didn't feel like advertising their goals. The Kilobaud prefix was eventually removed as well and Microcomputing lived on.
Microcomputing was a typical general purpose Personal Computer magazine like Byte and Creative Computing. It offered product reviews, technical information and the occasional program listing for the reader to type in. — Vintage Computer
8K MEMORY CARDS ANNOUNCED -
For those 6800 systems needing the maximum possible amount of memory, Southwest Technical Products announ- ces 8K memory cards. These memory expansion cards have 8K Bytes of low power MOS memory per board. These kits feature the new 4K static RAMS that are now becoming available. These new RAMS make it possible to put 8K of memory on a board without crowding the parts, or using small hard to solder connecting lines. These new memory boards feature DIP switch address selec- tion and a write protect switch on each board.
The low power consumption of this new memory board makes it possible to use up to 48K of memory in the stand- ard 6800 chassis with the stock power supply. Priced at $250.00 these mem- ory cards cost no more than less dense memories from other sources.
Wayne Green
What Will Kilobaud Be Like?
Tell you what — first I’ll tell you what / want in a computer magazine and then you tell me what you want — for the fact is that Kilobaud will be mostly what you want, but I won’t know what that is until you respond.
I look upon computers as fun — a hobby. But I’m by no means oblivious to the coming small computer market.
I realize that if I am going to be in a position to take advantage of the market to come I need to know all I can about computers — how to design them — how to program them — how to use them — how to service them. I have to know what hardware is available and what it will do — what peripherals will work with what systems — what sources there are for programs — what test equipment I need — things like that.
The primary thing I expect from a computer magazine is that I be able to understand it. If I don’t understand articles, that is not my fault, but the fault of the editor. I don’t want to be patronized and I don’t want to be talked down to; I just want to learn as much as I can and have fun while I’m at it.
This brings me to my concept of Kilobaud. I don’t know how much of it will stick, we’ll see. My idea is to publish a computer magazine which will make it possible for newcomers to computing to get up to speed. It is all too easy to get so involved with advanced ideas that you forget the beginner — we’ve done this a bit with 73 in recent years and I’m working hard to get back to where some of 73 is for Novices.
I view Kilobaud much as I do 73 — as a medium for hobbyists to contact hobbyists — sort of a large scale newsletter. We’ll try to keep the editorial ego trips down and go light on the avuncular advice (except in the editorials and answers to letters).
You, the reader and hobbyist, are a prime contributor to Kilobaud. Please make sure you keep an accurate log of your work with your computer system, making note of all problems you encounter and the solutions to same. There may be parts missing from a kit — lousy or perhaps misread instructions — faulty parts — whatever. If you’ll write up your adventures for the letters section of Kilobaud, a lot of people will be able to benefit from your experiences. I’ll try to keep such phrases as “reinventing the wheel” and “bells and whistles” out of Kilobaud ... with your cooperation.
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