Machine Language for the Commodore 64, 128, and Other Commodore Computers [Paperback]

Jim Butterfield (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Paper); Rev Exp Su edition (April 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893036641
• ISBN-13: 978-0893036645
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,472,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Much hyped cult book., September 22, 2008

By 

W. E. P. Bovelander (Leerdam, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Machine Language for the Commodore 64, 128, and Other Commodore Computers (Paperback)

When you start looking for a Machine Language book for Commodore computers, this is where most end up. Hence the prices you encounter. Although it is a good book, it is not worth the ridiculous prices I have seen if you judge by content alone.

Most importantly, the book is incomplete! The most important ML mnemonics are explained with accessible text and example code which brings the message across quite well. But many mnemonics are just listed and never get explained. That makes this book far from the "definitive" book it has been called by some.

There are also errors in the book. For example: Butterfield mentions somewhere that a certain way of handling Interrupt Requests will be explained "later". Later maybe, but not in this book. Bad editing I guess.

This book's organisation is a bit hazy. You will notice this best when you look for references to a certain command in the index and find several, none of which explain the complete command. That means that this was probably meant as a book you should read as a novell (cover to cover). Most computer books today are written as references.

If you are new to ML on commodore computers this book will provide a solid and worthy introduction to computer organisation and machine language. It will also provide some of the more complex issues like Interrupt Requests and I/O handling, which may be interesting for the more advanced reader as well.

I think Butterfield attempted to write a book that would be interesting to the novice and expert reader, but the publisher woudn't allow him to write the thick book that would be required for that. It's quite thin!

I also think this book is worh less than what I paid (about $50) and much, much less than some of the prices I have seen, if you judge the book by its contents alone. If you want to own a cult-book with magical status, it is worth anything you are willing to lay down. A must-have anyway!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, May 5, 2001

By 

W. Marshall (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Machine Language for the Commodore 64, 128, and Other Commodore Computers (Paperback)

I taught myself assembly on the C=64 with this book. Easy to follow, great examples and just a great wealth of information.

A classic book. It's fun even to just thumb through it now. :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 30, 2000

By 

Kevin Smith (Arkansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Machine Language for the Commodore 64, 128, and Other Commodore Computers (Paperback)

A difinitive work from the difinitive Commodore guy. Extremely easy to read and comprehend. If you can find a copy, and are wanting to learn assembly/machine language on a Commodore computer, I'd highly recommend it. Book includes excellent instructions, example programs, a type-in monitor (written in BASIC) and excellent reference appendixes.

Don't pass this one up.