The author being an engineer, it is also very possible that he may have used an Altair, IMSAI or other S-100 system. On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 9:12 AM Brian L via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Gregg,
Since this was slightly before my time, I ran your question through some AI sorcery.
It feels partial to the "1977 Trinity" of 'microcomputers' at the time. Which would have been the Apple II, Commodore PET 2001, and the Tandy TRS-80 Model I.
In my opinion, this seems to fit around the possible computers used when writing this book.
Brian
On 3/25/2026 8:31 AM, Gregg Levine via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Hello! I own a book written by Lee Correy, whose actual name is G. Harry Stine. That book is "Star Driver". For the curious I can supply a synopsis.
In it they mention a microcomputer and they wrote a program in BASIC for handling a heck of a lot of complicated mathematical issues. One of the characters does own a classic programmable calculator for comparison. They were able to make both ideas work by the way for solving the problems in the theme of the book.
Now the question, the book is copyrighted 1980, which means the author was writing it over a three year period leading up to that point in time. Is there a list someplace that tells what systems were available then? ---- Gregg C Levine gregg.drwho8@gmail.com "This signature was once found posting rude messages in English in the Moscow subway."