

            C128 Book Reviews


     There is finally some information
   available  on  the  Commodore  C128
   computer: Commodore 64/128 Assembly
   Language   Programming,   and   The
   Official Book for the Commodore 128
   Personal Computer.  Both  of  these
   may   be   available   at  a  local
   bookstore,  but  can   be   ordered
   direct  from  the publisher, Howard
   W.  Sams  &  Co.  Inc.   at   (800)
   428-SAMS, operator 150.
     I got both of these books as soon
   as I  heard  about  them,  and  was
   promptly   disappointed.   This  is
   because I'm  interested  in  really
   technical  things  like: a detailed
   memory map  of the C128 in C128 and
   CP/M  modes, a detailed description
   of    the    hardware    and    the
   memory/device manager.
     The    Assembly   Language   book
   glossed  over  the  C128  and  CP/M
   modes  by  discussing the C128 only
   in C64 mode, where  it's  identical
   to the C64.
     The  'Official Book' for the C128
   was   more   satisfying,    though:
   seperate  chapters  on each mode of
   the   C128   (including   a    good
   introduction   to   CP/M  and  	 's
   commands),     a     chapter     on
   peripherals,  discussion of the new
   BASIC 7.0 commands,  a  chapter  on
   graphics     (using    BASIC    7.0
   commands), and a final  chapter  on
   music  and  sound (again, BASIC 7.0
   commands, mostly). There are memory
   maps  for  each  mode,  showing how
   ROM, RAM, and the I/O  devices  are
   arranged,  and  the  memory/ device
   manager     is     described     as
   'intelligent', which is intriguing.
     Overall,  the  latter  book  does
	  contain a lot of  good  information
   for anyone considering the purchase
   of a C128  system   (or for  a  new
   owner)  with  it's  descriptions of
   Basic  7.0  and  CP/M,  along  with
   discussions  of  software  for each
   mode and how to get  public  domain
   software free).
    Now, to get my hands on a C128!


