Classic Computer Magazine Archive CREATIVE COMPUTING VOL. 10, NO. 12 / DECEMBER 1984 / PAGE 200

Micros and modems: telecommunicating with personal computers. (book reviews) Brian J. Murphy.

A much more technically oriented telecommunications primer is Micros and Modems: Telecommunicating with Personal Computers (Reston Publishing Co., 168 pp., $16.95) by Jack M. Niles. This book covers much of the same ground as the first two volumes described above. The difference is a heavier emphasis on the theory and almost total lack of consumer-oriented material, such as evaluations of software and hardware.

What you will find are some sample communications programs written in Cromemco 32K structured Basic and in Z80 assembly code. In addition, there is a discussion of the principles and techniques for programming your modem. The book also discusses file transfers, networking, and business applications in some detail, and the entertainment possibilities in very little detail.

There is a lot of meat for you to chew on here. This book is perfect for those who are serious about telecommunications as a hobby and who have a strong "do-it-yourself" streak when it comes to software.

Review Grade: A