[osswid]

One of the nice things about Basic was that you didn't need to know how to use a text editor to program in it. Line numbers and the LIST command got you started. vi and emacs are a bit much for the wee ones. You can use a simple text editor, but there's still the concept of files, saving, extensions, vs. the integrated environment that a microcomputer Basic provided.

<power on>

10 print "Hello, World."

RUN

Doesn't get simpler than that.

[cubicle67]

ah yes it does...

  10 ? "Hello, World"

(yes, I know that's not what you were talking about)

[rbanffy]

IIRC (actually I could fire up one and check, but I'm too lazy for that) if you had an Atari 8-bit computer, you could go:

10 PR. "Hello, World"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbanffy/4208561088/

The simpler FX-series CASIO BASIC pocket computers used "PRT" for that. Cool gadgets.