Your Atari computer. (book reviews)

The Atari Bookshelf

Hundreds of books on computing have come out so far this year. Just as sales of Atari computers represent a small fraction of the computer market, the number of books pertaining to the Atari is equally small. Still the titles number in the dozens, so some recommendations in this column are long overdue.

There are two books that every Atari computer user must have. The first one has been around for almost two years. Still, its content and organization represent the best single reference for Atari information. Your Atari Computer by Lon Poole, Martin McNiff, and Steven Cook is published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill and affectionately called "The Purple Book." This $16 book covers the Atari computer system and Atari 8K Basic. The section on introductory and advanced graphics is one of the best I have seen anywhere.

Although the Purple Book does not discuss the XL computers, the information is still relevant. The appendices alone are probably worth the price of the book. They include material on memory usage, error messages, functions, PEEK and POKE locations, and conversion tables. Also, there are numerous programs and examples that reinforce the written information.

Review Grade: A