The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

7 ' SUPPLEMENT TO McHENEY PLAINDEALER • Home computer, video gan^s mix 'n match many capabilities By Art Levis, Editor, Consumer Electronics Monthly The video game you buy for fun and entertainment today m«ht just become the home coniputer you balance the chptfkbook with tomor­ row. And the home computer purchased to help with those complex income tax returns could easily end up being used more often to play chess, backgammon or Star Trek. Best of both worlds When games and comput­ ers first began to show up in consumer electronic stores several years ago, the shop­ per was forced to choose be- tween one idea or the other--or simply purchase both. But, as technological in­ novation continued its relent­ less march forward, game manufacturers discovered they could begin to offer the U.S. consumer the best of both worlds. At the same time, com­ puter suppliers found they could just as easily incorpo­ rate entertainment into their products with no sacrifice in computing abilities. Both segments of the mar­ ket also discovered some­ thing else, and this latter dis­ covery was probably the most important one for the American buying public; computers and games could be given a far wider variety of functions with only minimal price changes. Here's a sample of what you can now find at your local consumer electronics store: A broad range of pro­ grammable games(those sophisticated little units which operate with snap-in cartridges) is now available and many feature what are being called computer peripherals or computer add-ons. Several major game mak­ ers who introduced pro­ grammable consoles over the past few years are now offer­ ing accessory keyboards-- ranging in price from $10 to $30--which greatly expand the capabilities of the game itself. If you already own one of those programmables, just a few extra dollars will magi­ cally transform it into a mini-computer. Called alphanumeric keyboards, these add-ons allow the user to do more than just fire at space ships, shoot it out with the sheriff or draw doodles. Now it js possible to truly interact with the game and give it specific instructions on what to do and when to do it. With some new key­ boards, for instance, basic mathematic. history and other types of tests can be taken, or the keyboard can be used as a calculator with the results displayed on the screen. As more emphasis is placed on keyboards, pro­ grammable game manufac­ turers are rapidly adding new titles to existing cartridge li­ braries, sold through the same stores which sell the games. Some new cartridges re­ main focused on game -- rather than computer--uses, but they are far more compli­ cated than earlier ones, and require far more active par­ ticipation on the part of the player. Advance to 'Basic' Still other new cartridges being introduced concentrate on computational (household budget management, etc.) functions. A few programmable game suppliers offer alphanumeric keyboards as integral com­ ponents of the basic game consoles, with no add-on peripherals needed to boost the unit's capacities beyond mere game playing. These same firms are also beginning to introduce more and more computer-like car­ tridges, and one even offers a UE shi - PAGE 11 -WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1»7» turers offer simpler versions, without the added computer functions, in the $100 range. Although these units gen­ erally aren't capable of doing much for your budget prob­ lems, they do use those handy snap-in cartridges, and the variety of games the user can play is limited only by the number of additional cartridges he wants to buy. If the video game player isn't really interested in pro­ gramming his or her fun. the "dedicated" option is still open. The word "dedicated" in games simply means that the unit only does one basic thing; unlike a program­ mable, new cartridges can't be added to expand the program written in a sim­ plified form of "Basic," the language most ofteti used by professional programmers to talk things over' with those big IBM computers. Prices on programmable games cover a broad spectrum--from about $150 to $300--and the careful opper is certain to find something in that range to suit his or her needs. If something a little less expensive in programmables is desired, several manufac- number of games it will play. If you're in the market for something more sophisti­ cated, take a look at the true home computers now being offered. Computer prices start at the $500 level, and shoot cleanup to the $5,000 range. vl But those designed strictly for home use by the non­ technical consumer generally fall into the $500--$1,200 bracket, with the more ex­ pensive systems designed for combined home-small busi­ ness applications. As mentioned, the com­ puter purchaser doesn't lose the game-playing option, since most computers now being made for the home also include game programs. GOOBfYOUtm KOHOMY STARTS Choose This Goodyear Value For Long, Low* Cost Mileage! For Pickups, Vans,̂ Campers, Light Trucks Rib Hi-Miler is the tire to see. Check out the hefty 5-rib tread, the buttressed shoulders, the big footprint. Inside, there's an all nylon cord body that helps keep this tire going, mile after mile after mile. See it today! *d925 •H 800-16.5 TL m m L.R.C. plus FrM Mounting On *3 24 F.E.T. Standard On* Piece Rims TRACKER A T... ALL TERRAIN TRACTION FOR GO ANYWHERE FREEDOM! r*r Blackwall Site & Type Lead Range OUR PRICE Plus F.E.T. and old tire 750-16TT D 158.25 $3.70 8.75- 16.5TT D $68.75 $3.93 9.50- 16.5TT D $71.32 $4.49 I A TRACKER LT... NYLON DEPENDABILITY HELPS KEEP YOU ON THE GO! Sba Sldawall Lead Range OUR PRICE Phis F.E.T. and aid tire 10-15 Blackwall B $60 ,$4.23 10-15 OWL B $65 $4.23 11-15 OWL B $70 $4.50 *60 Outline White Latter Size 9-15, LR B, plus *4.10 F.E.T. and old tire RV,4WDl PICKUPS AND VANS *46 Skat T»pa Lead Range OUR PRICE Nat F.E.T. and eld tire 950.16.5 D $74.13 $4.4* L78-15 TL C $43.00 $3.59 8.00-16.i^TL- $59.00 $3.24 8.75-16.5 TL D $••.00 $3.93 G78-15 TL blackwall LR C. plus $3.18 F.E.T. and old tire FrM Mounting On Standard On* Piaca Rime! Headquarters For Light Truck Service Too! Lube, Oil & Filter m Front-End Alignment Most Vt-, And 1-Ton Trucks • Change oil and oil filter • Add major brand 10/30 oil • Lubricate entire chassis • Call first for appointment Twin 1-Beam Toe-Set Only $10.50 • Complete camber-caster correction • Precision toe-in setting to factory specifications • Available for most V2-, and 1-ton trucks CREDIT TERMS GOODYEAR TIRE CENTER m OWNED AND OPERATED BY: McHENRY CHECKPOINT, INC. V 4400 W. RTE. 120 McHENRY, ILL. PHONE 385-7300 HOURS: Monday through Saturday. 8 to 6