For those who can access that great expanse of area called the World Wide Web, here is some new places to visit that are of interest to the Commodore community. In early 1994, when the US Commodore WWW Site started, the number of sites online that catered to Commodore numbered in the 10's. Now, the number is in the 100's. What a change.
If you know of a site that is not listed here, please feel free to send itto the magazine. The following links have been gleaned from those recently changed or added to the US Commodore WWW Site Links page.
To encourage these sites to strive to continually enhance their creations,and because we like to gripe :-), we'll point out an improvements that could be made at each site.
Companies
- Computer Workshops Incorporated
CWI shows off their newest software offerings on this well-crafted WWW site. The darkbackground provides for visual effects, and the content is good as well. At the time we "hit" the page, CWI was working on a new game called Nether for the 64/128. From the information, it looks like a 3D action adventure. CWI offers both CBM and MS-DOS titles. Some are shareware, while others are commercial. C=Hacking: We don't mind the MS-DOS information, but the diehard CBM user should be able to skip it. As of now, it's all on the same page.
- QWKRR128, by Rod Gasson
Gaelyne Moranec, a supporter of QWKRR, presents this site for new and advanced users. The site is devoted to QWKRR128, a QWK-based offline mail reading program for BBS and Internet use, and Browser, a utility for reading large files on the 64/128. The site is clean and simple, with no fancy graphics, but lots of meaty information. Links include the QWKRR128 user's manual, the actual product's binaries, and helper applications needed to use QWKRR128. C=Hacking gripe: It's hard to tell what all I need to read Internet email via QWKRR128.
- RMS Computer Systems
RMS offers up its line of services from this site, including software distribution, parts and accessories, and consulting/training. RMS can even design your WWW pages. The pages are colorful and clean, using either Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator extension depending on the browser chosen off the home page. RMS offers the C-Net BBS software for sale and present information on the 64 and 128 versions of the program. C=Hacking gripe: The home page offers a choice of using Netscape or Microsoft Explorer. What about the Lynx text mode browser? Which do they pick?
Publications
- Commodore World
CMD's publications is presented at this site, with select articles, and information for potential writers and subscribers is detailed. The site is laid out well and provides for easy reading. Of course, we're not sure it does justice to the magazine, but that's true of LOADSTAR's home page as well. C=Hacking gripe: the site needs updating, as the change dates are 9-95. When they do update it, we hope they'll remove that annoying "blink" tag!
User's Groups
- Canada Commodore Users Group of Nova Scotia
The site makes use of color and graphics to provide links to a number of Commodore content sites on the Internet. It links up with other user groups on the 'Net, and provides a public download area for software retrieval. C=Hacking gripe: We still think this is a user's group, but no meetings, minutes, newsletters, or times and dates were mentioned. Where are they?
- Metro C-64/128 User's Group
Meeting dates, times, agendas, and some general information are provided on this page. You can also learn about this groups parent organization, the Metroplex Commodore Computer Club. C=Hacking gripe: Some newsletters from past meetings and a bit more about the group would be nice.
- The Middle Peninsula Computer Users Group
Go here to find out just WHY the group is named this way. Meeting times, dates, places, past newsletter articles, and background information is provided. The site has a sprinkle of color and graphcis to break up the text. C=Hacking gripe: It looks like the group is multi-platform, but no mention is made of what Commodore 8-bit owners will find at meetings. Maybe we missed it.
Demo Groups
- The EQUINOXE WWW Site
This demo group puts on a good show, with content and color on their WWW site. Here is where you can find the announcement on the upcoming Shout! #2 magazine release. The list of links is impressive as well. C=Hacking gripe: The front page use of large font sizes is a bit overdone.
- The OMNI/Revenge WWW Site
Color and content are also mixed well on this site. A bit of history about Revenge is given, links to the demos to download is present, and information about upcoming releases is detailed. C=Hacking gripe: We'd like to know more about the person behind the well-done page.
Miscellaneous
- Dan Fandrich's Commodore Languages List
Extensive doesn't really describe this page, which provides information on assemblers, compilers, cross-compilers, and interpreters for many different programming langauges supported by the Commodore 8-bit. Rare items like language support for the 264 series and the SuperPET are described as well. C=Hacking gripe: the page is HUGE. Any chance of a breakdown into spearate files?
- The Commodore VIC-20 Cartridge List
Cartridges from many different software companies are detailed, and both games and utilities are listed. As with the Programming Language Page, this list is extensive. It notes in the opening credits the transitions the list has made to arrive at this current form. C=Hacking gripe: same as for the langauge list. This thing is LARGE, and might benefit from a more hierarchical listing treatment.
- John Elliot's WWW Site
This page explores the use of Commodore computers and other "orphan" machines to better education by improving the student/ computer ratio. The information presented in this site is heartwarming, as it shows practical uses to dispel the myth that 8-bits are truly useless. C=Hacking gripe: Not really a gripe, but we sure would like to see more of these real world examples.
- The Alternate Reality WWW Site
For those wanting to relive the best of this game for the 64, visit this site. Everything from tips to tricks, stories to confidential material, and screenshots are available at this site. C=Hacking gripe: The color scheme is a bit rough on the eyes, but it does look neat.
- Fredrik Ekman's Tolkien Games WWW Site
The name says it all. If you've ever played a Tolkien game, here is where they are listed and examined. Fredrik gives the history of each game, the solutions if there are any, and describes the game itself. C=Hacking gripe: We left impressed with the information but wondering why someone would go to this effort. Tell us, Fredrik.
- Todd Elliott's Commodore 64/128 WWW Site
Todd provides some commentary and links to hardware hacks and ML tips. Of particular interest is his introduction to the Commodore C64 and C128 computers, which explains some of the history behind the machines. Our favorite passage in this page details his experiences with Radio Shack.... C=Hacking gripe: We'd like to know how Todd Elliott fits into the Commodore 8-bit arena.
Change of Address
Document Revision A
- Initial Document created on 1996-03-15 by Jim Brain
- Update of document on 1996-05-16 by Julie Brain