








               The World's Simplest Computer

                 Copyright (c), 1990, 1991
          by Chester Langin, all rights reserved

                      Langin Software
                       532 W. 3rd St.
                    Centralia, IL  62801
                       CIS:  73770,615

                    _______
               ____|__     |               (tm)
            --|       |    |-------------------
              |   ____|__  |  Association of
              |  |       |_|  Shareware
              |__|   o   |    Professionals
            -----|   |   |---------------------
                 |___|___|    MEMBER


Users of "The World's Simplest Computer" must
accept this disclaimer of warranty:

 "The World's Simplest Computer" is supplied as is.
 The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or
 implied, including, without limitation, the
 warranties of merchantability and of fitness for
 any purpose.  The author assumes no liability for
 damages, direct or consequential, which may result
 from the use of it.




                      <<<  Page 2  >>>


                     Table of Contents

        Welcome                                   3
        What is it?                               3
        Who is it for?                            5
        Installation                              6
        Tutorial                                  6

        Appendix A -- A list of files             7
        Appendix B -- Langin Software             8




                      <<<  Page 3  >>>


     ***************
     **  Welcome  **
     ***************

Welcome to "The World's Simplest Computer."


     *******************
     **  What is it?  **
     *******************

"The World's Simplest Computer" is a 66-page book which
illustrates the basic operation of digital electronic
computers.

It is not a program.  Rather, it is a collection of
computer art files, in the GIF format, which illustrate
basic concepts of personal computers.

The computer art was accomplished in the EGA 640x350
12-color format.  However, it can be viewed by any
computer which can display GIF files of this resolution
or better.  Sorry, CGA will not work well enough.

The concepts covered in the book are . . .

 Bits, bytes, nibbles, and words and how they represent
 numbers, letters, and ideas.

 How bytes represent ASCII and pixels.  How ASCII letters
 are converted to pixels.

 Addresses, the CPU, RAM, the bus, interrupts, chips,
 and memory maps.  How a computer adds bytes.

 Computer hardware:  Disk drives, the keyboard, the video
 display, circuit boards, dip switches, and other add ons.

 Bugs.




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 What happens when . . .
  A program is loaded
  A program is executed
  A document is typed
  A document is printed
  A document is saved

 The basic work routine:
  Load program
  Load data
  Change data
  Save data

 Writing a program . . .
  Loading the language
  Typing the new program
  Translating the code

 Computer "intelligence"

 The world's simplest computer

All concepts are illustrated.

The concepts apply to all types of personal computers,
not just IBM compatibles.




                      <<<  Page 5  >>>


     **********************
     **  Who is it for?  **
     **********************

This book is for four types of people:

1)  Computer beginners.

2)  Intermediate computer users who "just don't
    understand" what is going on inside a computer.

3)  Experienced computer users who need to train the
    above two types.

4)  People in computer stores who can use it as a
    slide show display.


     ********************
     **  Installation  **
     ********************

This book does not supply a program to view the files.
You must supply your own.

Many GIF viewers are on the market, and no single one is
"the best."  It depends on what computer you are using
and on what type of video display you have.  Many of these
viewers are located on CompuServe in the GRAPHSUP forum in
LIB 3 (Decoders & Encoders).

That said, the book has been tested on VPIC (see the
tutorial) for IBM compatibles.  To find VPIC, search the
filename VPIC*.* on the above-mentioned forum and library.

For general help on graphics, enter GO CIS:PIC-1 on
CompuServe.

Once you have a viewer, place all of the files for this
book in a unique directory.  Start the viewer and specify
the directory which contains the files for this book.

Start with PAGE00 and continue in order to PAGE64.  Go
at any time to PAGENDX which contains the index to the
book.




                      <<<  Page 6  >>>


     ****************
     **  Tutorial  **
     ****************

If you are reading this on your computer screen, you
should first print the manual.  Make sure all of files
are in the default directory.  Refer to a DOS manual
to see what this means.  To print the manual, enter
PRINTMAN from the DOS prompt.

It is assumed that you will be looking at the printed
manual as you try out the book.

This tutorial is for VPIC (see "Installation" on where
to find VPIC).  However, many other GIF viewers can
also be used to display this book.

The tutorial is a series of steps.

1)  Start VPIC (you may need to set it up, first, for your
    particular type of video).

2)  Press <F9> and then enter the directory which contains
    the files for this book.

3)  The files should be displayed on the video screen.
    They will be from PAGE00 to PAGE64 plus PAGENDX.

4)  Highlight PAGE00 and press <ENTER>.  You will see the
    title page.  When you are ready, press <ESC>.

5)  Highlight PAGE01 and press <ENTER>.  You will see
    Page 1.  Press <ESC> when ready.

6)  Select each page in order until you are finished.

7)  To see the book as a slide show, use the space bar to
    highlight every page.  Then press, <F2>.  Each page
    will be displayed in order for a few seconds each.
    Press <ESC> to stop the slide show.

8)  To exit the program,  press <ESC>.




                      <<<  Page 7  >>>


     ******************
     **  Appendix A  **
     ******************

A list of files.

PAGE00.GIF to PAGE64.GIF and PAGENDX.GIF are the files
which contain the book, itself.

Other files included are:

MANUAL.TXT     This file!

PRINTMAN.BAT   A batch file to print the manual.

README.TXT     A file with important information.

README.BAT     A batch file which displays README.TXT.

ORDERFRM.TXT   The order form to register.

REGISTER.BAT   A batch file which prints the order form.

VENDOR.DOC     A text file with information for shareware
               distributors.




                      <<<  Page 8  >>>


     ******************
     **  Appendix B  **
     ******************

Langin Software.

The author, Chester Langin has written a paperback
book, "An Easy Course in Using DOS," illustrated by
Virginia Rohrbacher.  You can order it from Grapevine
Publications by calling 1-800-338-4331.  They accept
credit cards. It's $22.00 plus postage and handling.

The author has a program, "DosEA -- For Absolute
Beginners," which is a hypertext tutorial on using DOS.
You can download it from CompuServe (DEA.ZIP in the
IBMAPP LIB 11) or send $5.00 to Langin Software.  The
registration fee is $39.00.  It gets you a copy of the
book, too, plus another program, "DosEA -- Find that
Command!" which helps you find DOS commands to do your
computer chores.

You may also like "Hangman for Students," the
classic hangman game with word lists divided by
grade level, from Grade 1 to Grade 5 -- also
junior high and senior high.  Kids like it.
Make your own word lists.  Get a sample copy for
$5.00.  For the registration fee of $19.00,
you get a supplemental program which allows
ASCII text file word lists to be changed to a
format useable by "Hangman for Students."
On CompuServe, it is in IBMNEW LIB 6.

Another program by the same author is "Tear Down the
Wall," which builds a brick wall on the computer screen.
You break out a brick and see how much falls.  The more
that falls, the more points you get.  Play against the
computer.  Listen to Pink Floyd while you play (not
included).  Work out your aggressions.  $5.00 gets you
a sample copy, or register it by sending $9.00 and
get a hint sheet, too.  On CompuServe in IBMNEW LIB 6.

"Nine Men's Morris" is an ancient game of strategy you
can play against the computer.  It is like tic-tac-toe,
but more complicated.  It looks easy, but isn't.  Sample
copy: $5.00.  Register for $9.00 and get a tip sheet.
On CompuServe in IBMNEW LIB 6.




                      <<<  Page 9  >>>


Other programs are under development.  Use LANGIN
for a keyword search to find them on CompuServe in the
coming months.  Or, register any of my programs and
you'll be updated on future developments.

You can contact Chester Langin in the following ways:

!NOWRAP
CompuServe:  73770,615
GT Power Network:  Node 011/000
Mail:  532 W. 3rd St., Centralia, IL  62801
!WRAP

Non-USA orders add USA $5.00; use funds drawn on
USA bank.

