TUAW Bookshelf: Apple II Reference Manual

TUAW BOOKSHELF

Apple was kind enough to include a veritable encyclopedia of information with my Apple ][. Inside the big, red manual, you'll find complete step-by-step instructions for setting up the machine, adjusting a tape recorder for optimal use, plenty of programs to get you started, and a handy reference for the hardware inside.

I found the manual easy to read, although given the constraints of typing programs by hand using a typewriter, some code was printed using a dot matrix printer. Mr. Wozniak includes excellent code to help you build your own programs, however, and code for interfacing with the likes of a teletype, should you need printed output. There are critical routines for floating point calculations, which I'm sure some will appreciate.

Apple introduces a little design philosophy in the manual, which is a welcome break from the volumes used to learn the 5100, for example. Rumors on our sister site Engadget say Tandy is working on a consumer machine with BASIC and a human-readable manual as well, but I'll believe that when I see it. Anyway, the Apple ][ manual has some sample code for making actual audio tones using the built-in speaker (a novel idea, by the way). Why use audio in a program? Here's the design philosophy I found interesting:

"Computers can perform marvelous feats of mathematical computation at well beyond the speed capable of most human minds. They are fast, cold and accurate; man on the other hand is slower, has emotion, and makes errors. These differences create problems when the two interact with one another. So to reduce this problem humanizing of the computer is needed. Humanizing means incorporating within the computer procedures that aid in a computer's usage. One such technique is the addition of a tone subroutine."

It's like they want to make the computer more *personal*, somehow.

Once you've seen how to make graphics, sounds and even interaction and I/O in code, the manual wraps up with a thorough examination of the included hardware. This is a hobbyists' machine, after all. The schematics and diagrams will have you fully understanding how the computer addresses memory and controls video, plus many other miracles I can't believe they crammed into such a small package.

This valuable red book of data comes free with your Apple ][, but I wouldn't part with it! You'll find yourself referring to it time and again. Check out the photostat gallery below for a few sample pages.

 Apple II Manual

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TUAW BOOKSHELF Apple was kind enough to include a veritable encyclopedia of information with my Apple ][. Inside the big, red manual,...

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Dave M.

I still have my Apple ][ Reference Manual ("The Red Book") here. It's a shame it's not really worth anything. It should be a collector's item. :)

April 01 2009 at 3:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Dave M.'s comment

Tod

What do you mean it's worthless? I just shelled out $230 for one on eBay!

April 01 2009 at 4:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dave M.

Tod, really. I had no idea. Last time I looked at eBay to see if anyone was selling the Red book, I couldn't find many and the ones I did find were only going for about $10. I feel that the book is worth way more than that since the computer itself has almost become a collectors item.

It's nice to hear that my Red book might very well catch a nice price someday. :)

April 01 2009 at 8:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Joe

No thanks. I'll be sticking with my C64 for now. Code samples in the manual are nice, I guess, but they don't hold a candle to magazines like Compute!

Besides, I've got my eyes on a Seikosha dot matrix. Mark my words, Apple will never come out with a printer that can compete with it.

April 01 2009 at 1:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Joe's comment

Tony

Compute! was OK, by Byte was the REAL magazine...

April 01 2009 at 4:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

VanillaSpice

Always was a Nibble fan, myself.

April 01 2009 at 10:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply