Practical Things to Do With a Microcomputer

Wow, what a great book! I found this gem in a used-book store, and being interested in programming and electronics, I decided to buy it. It's amazing how much information is packed into this little book! You don't see books like these anymore.The book is filled with source code for different applications, including encryption/decryption, games, and even programs to control mini robots with! Yes, you heard me! The book teaches you how to build a robot, and control it with a computer program! It shows you how to solder (very nice instructions on it, actually), use pcb's, and much more! Some of the projects may seem a bit impractical to do these days, but reading about them (and trying em, if you're inclined) will definately teach you something.This book is illustrated very nicely on every page, and makes computers a fun, amazing subject. All the projects and programs can really enlighten the tech-savvy of us ;). The BASIC programs aren't necessarily advanced, but they touch on a lot of subjects. Even though this book was written in the early 80's, I was amazed that it was so useful even today. The general concepts of today's technology have been around for a long time, and this book shows you how to really get your hands dirty; a change from today's fancy computer interfaces.If you want a book that will inspire you, give you many programs (written in BASIC, by the way) to open up your technology horizons, or even just a bit of microcomputer nostalgia, I highly recommend this! It's perfect for teenagers or hobbyists.