David D. Busch

This is not a book that one reads cover-to-cover, just for fun. It's a reference book that one skims and then uses the table of contents and index to answer questions as they come up while one is using the camera. Author has published many books; that surely keeps him off the street much of the time because the books are very detailed and precise. This one is a good reference and has been used by professionals. I prefer the paperback version for that reason.

This is not a book that one reads cover-to-cover, just for fun. It's a reference book that one skims and then uses the table of contents and index to answer questions as they come up while one is using the camera. Author has published many books; that surely keeps him off the street much of the time because the books are very detailed and precise. This one is a good reference and has been used by professionals. I prefer the paperback version for that reason. If this review looks similar show more (alike) to the Sony A6600 review, that's because I have used both books with both cameras. show less

A great reference book that explains not only the features of the camera but also why to use certain settings. I learned a great deal about photography and about this specific camera.

The book did not get five stars because I did not a few editorial issues mostly in illustrations being incorrectly labeled or referenced.

This book consists of subroutines for BASIC programmers. Although the program modules and snippets were written with Model 100 BASIC in mind, they will work just as well with the MS-DOS version of line-numbered BASIC.

In all, there are seventy subroutines in this book categorized into nine groups: (1) Simulating Joysticks and Paddles, (2) Using the Clock and Interrupts, (3) Using Sound, (4) BASIC Tricks, (5) Game Routines, (6) Data Files, (7) Business and Financial Subroutines, (8) Add New show more Capabilities, and (9) Bits and Bytes.

Each subroutine is presented in a clearly understandable way: (1) Name, (2) What it Does, (3) Variables, (4) How To Use the Subroutine, (5) Line-By-Line Description, (6) You Supply, (7) Result, and (8) BASIC Listing.

Personally, I did not find these subroutines to be as useful as the ones written by Grillo and Robertson (1983) in their Subroutine Sandwich and More Subroutine Sandwich. As a matter of fact, I did very little BASIC programming on my Model 100 and ran very few BASIC programs on it.

About the Radio Shack Model 100 Portable Computer

The TRS-80 Model 100 portable computer was introduced in 1983. It was one of the first-ever notebook computers. The computer was sold through Radio Shack stores and became very popular with over six million units sold worldwide.

It was one of the best computers I ever owned. I especially liked its almost instantaneous boot-up time. It was a great note-taking machine in meetings because it made no noise -- no fans, no keyboard click. I was so pleased with mine that I purchased two more as gifts for my children. Model 100s were sturdy, practical, and portable. I bought mine in 1983 and used it well into the 1990s, long after DOS-powered laptops had taken over the market. I used it mostly for note-taking in meetings.

Almost 25 years after the Model 100's introduction, you can still find people who do real work on them. For example, the Model 100 is still popular with journalists. They like its compactness, exceptional battery life, ruggedness, and built-in modem. Another popular use is by hobbyists for remote monitoring, remote control, and ham radio use.

In summary, Model 100 features include:

•Microsoft BASIC programming language
•built-in word processing software
•built-in telecommunications software
•port for connecting a cassette recorder or external 3.5-inch floppy drive
•built-in, full-size keyboard
•monochrome LCD display, readable both in dim light and in bright sunlight
•serial port
•optional 300 baud modem
•the size of a standard three-ring binder
•runs about 20 hours on readily available AA batteries
•contains no moving parts
•ROM modules could be purchased with various built-in applications

Trivia: The Model 100 was the first popular notebook computer.

More Trivia: The guts of a Model 100 were used in the Mars Pathfinder probe's Sojourner rover.

Still More Trivia: The model 100 was the last computer system for which Bill Gates personally wrote the code for its built-in BASIC programming language. show less