David H. Ahl (born May 17, 1939) is an American author who is the founder of Creative Computing magazine. He is also the author of many how-tobooks, including BASIC Computer Games, the first computer book to sell more than a million copies.[1]
Before he even received his last cheque, he was rehired into a DEC division dedicated to developing new hardware. This group became caught up in building a computer that was smaller than any yet built, intending to bring the new product into new markets such as schools. DEC built a machine combining a PDP-8 with a VT50 terminal, and another that crammed a PDP-11 into a small portable chassis. When it was presented to DEC's Operations Committee, the engineering side loved it but the sales side was worried it would cut into the sales of their existing lines. The decision ultimately fell to Ken Olsen, who finally stated that "I can't see any reason that anyone would want a computer of his own." With that, the project was dead.
Frustrated, Ahl left DEC in 1974, and started Creative Computing, one of the earliest magazines covering the microcomputer revolution.[2] For the next decade Creative Computing covered the whole spectrum of hobbyist, home, and personal computing, and although Ahl sold the publication to Ziff Davis in the early 1980s, he continued in his capacity as Editor-in-Chief.
In 2010, David Ahl helped re-publish a Special 25th and 30th Anniversary Edition of two of his classic programming books, specifically for a new development environment for beginners, called Microsoft Small Basic.[3]
In June 2022, Ahl released everything he had ever written, from prose to software, into the public domain.[4]
References
^Anderson, J. J. (November 1984). "Dave tells Ahl--the history of Creative computing". Creative Computing. 10 (11): 66–8+.
^Freiberger & Swaine (2000). Fire in the Valley: The Making of The Personal Computer (Second Edition), McGraw Hill, ISBN0-07-135892-7.
^Ahl, David, "Further Thoughts (2010)" March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
^Barela, Anne (June 16, 2022). "David Ahl places all his classic computing publications into the Public Domain". Adafruit Industries - Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers!. AdaFruit. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Ahl.
Basic Computer Games: Microsoft Small Basic Edition — Special 30th Anniversary Edition Edited by David H. Ahl
David Ahl's Small Basic Computer Adventures — Special 25th Anniversary Edition by David H. Ahl & Philip Conrod
David H. Ahl Biography from Who's Who In America at David Ahl's personal site
by David Ahl
by David Ahl
by David Ahl
David H. Ahl's Homepage
February 22, 2023
david, born, 1939, american, author, founder, creative, computing, magazine, also, author, many, books, including, basic, computer, games, first, computer, book, sell, more, than, million, copies, living, computer, museum, 2013born, 1939, 1939nationalityameric. David H Ahl born May 17 1939 is an American author who is the founder of Creative Computing magazine He is also the author of many how to books including BASIC Computer Games the first computer book to sell more than a million copies 1 David H AhlAhl at the Living Computer Museum in 2013Born 1939 05 17 17 May 1939NationalityAmericanOccupationAuthorCareer EditAfter earning degrees in electrical engineering and business administration while completing his Ph D in educational psychology Digital Equipment Corporation hired Ahl as a marketing consultant in 1969 to develop its educational products line He edited EDU DEC s newsletter on educational uses of computers that regularly published instructions for playing computer games on minicomputers Ahl also talked DEC into publishing a book he had put together 101 BASIC Computer Games During the 1973 recession DEC cut back on educational product development and Ahl was dismissed Before he even received his last cheque he was rehired into a DEC division dedicated to developing new hardware This group became caught up in building a computer that was smaller than any yet built intending to bring the new product into new markets such as schools DEC built a machine combining a PDP 8 with a VT50 terminal and another that crammed a PDP 11 into a small portable chassis When it was presented to DEC s Operations Committee the engineering side loved it but the sales side was worried it would cut into the sales of their existing lines The decision ultimately fell to Ken Olsen who finally stated that I can t see any reason that anyone would want a computer of his own With that the project was dead Frustrated Ahl left DEC in 1974 and started Creative Computing one of the earliest magazines covering the microcomputer revolution 2 For the next decade Creative Computing covered the whole spectrum of hobbyist home and personal computing and although Ahl sold the publication to Ziff Davis in the early 1980s he continued in his capacity as Editor in Chief In 2010 David Ahl helped re publish a Special 25th and 30th Anniversary Edition of two of his classic programming books specifically for a new development environment for beginners called Microsoft Small Basic 3 In June 2022 Ahl released everything he had ever written from prose to software into the public domain 4 References Edit Anderson J J November 1984 Dave tells Ahl the history of Creative computing Creative Computing 10 11 66 8 Freiberger amp Swaine 2000 Fire in the Valley The Making of The Personal Computer Second Edition McGraw Hill ISBN 0 07 135892 7 Ahl David Further Thoughts 2010 Archived March 3 2016 at the Wayback Machine Barela Anne June 16 2022 David Ahl places all his classic computing publications into the Public Domain Adafruit Industries Makers hackers artists designers and engineers AdaFruit Retrieved November 8 2022 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Ahl Basic Computer Games Microsoft Small Basic Edition Special 30th Anniversary Edition Edited by David H Ahl David Ahl s Small Basic Computer Adventures Special 25th Anniversary Edition by David H Ahl amp Philip Conrod David H Ahl Biography from Who s Who In America at David Ahl s personal site Basic Computer Games by David Ahl More Basic Computer Games by David Ahl Big Computer Games by David Ahl David H Ahl s Homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David H Ahl amp oldid 1120703718, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
