The Amstrad User WikiPage

[AMSDOS]

I have a problem with this page. My problem is this:

After issue 71, it became known as 'The PC Mag' plus 'The Amstrad User' (Jan 1991 was the first issue @ $4.50 per issue). It still contained CPC/PCW/PC content and was definiteley starting to expand beyond Amstrad....It ran like this for a while eventually losing all CPC content. Not sure what became of it.

Someone seems to know more about this magazine than myself    Can someone tell me if this magazine indeed dumped CPC content. I have a couple of issues and the impression I got from those few magazines I collected from my Newsagent was that the September 1991 Issue of the "The PC Mag plus The Amstrad User" was the last issue. I even recall going to the place in Melbourne buying some games and after that time the September magazine was their last published issue. But the September issue had CPC material in it. I think that issue had a Type-in of "Engelbert Jump A Lot" (QBert Clone) which ironically was reviewed later on in AA's Public Domain pages. 

Or does someone know different?

[Border 7]

Hey - check back there now. I have been meaning to get around to tidying this up a tad.

Do you still have your old magazines? If so, why not scan the covers and upload...?

[AMSDOS]

Hey - check back there now. I have been meaning to get around to tidying this up a tad.

So I see! 

Do you still have your old magazines? If so, why not scan the covers and upload...?

Yes, I've got a whole bulk of scanning I'm going to eventually get around to, some type-ins from TAU for Johnny Olsen to look over, I can easily scan through the Front Covers along with those other pages, though nobody is telling me at what size they want the covers scanned in. I can scan at 300dpi but for a front cover it's a bit extreme (size wise), I think 150dpi is more than adequate, just let me know if it's too much though.

[Border_7]

Cool, Perhaps we should coordinate on the TAU scanning, so we dont both end up scanning the same issue twice?

I'll list all the issue #'s I have, you do the same (The PC mag + TAU too!) and then maybe work something out???

150 dpi im sure is fine...

[Border_7]

Ok, well - it turns out I had more issues than I thought!! 

TAU
1985: #5, #6, #7, #9, #10
1986: #12-23 (entire year)
1987: #24-35 (entire year)
1988: #36-47 (entire year)
1989: #48-52, #56, #57
1990: #65-#71

The PC Mag + TAU
1991: March

[AMSDOS]

Ok, well - it turns out I had more issues than I thought!! 

TAU
1985: #5, #6, #7, #9, #10
1986: #12-23 (entire year)
1987: #24-35 (entire year)
1988: #36-47 (entire year)
1989: #48-52, #56, #57
1990: #65-#71

The PC Mag + TAU
1991: March

I was fortunate to pick up Issues #1 through to #36 in very good condition when I brought my own CPC6128 many moons ago to which I've tried to preserve them as best as I could, though I'm doing some program scans for Johnny Olsen - Down The Mine Part 1 & 2 from Issue 2 & 3, A definitive Black Jack Parts 1 & 2 from Issue 18 & 19 and The Lighthouse from Issues 24,25 & 26. In order to avoid damaging those Magazines I've had to Photocopy - A3 seems to be a good way of copying it (both sides - 24c at Officeworks) and cut them down from that and scan it in. The amount of effort to do this has meant a time consuming excersise!    After Issue 36 I haven't got a lot, all issues I brought personally, so I've send a few of those programs from those issues to CPC-Power, along with some of the early ones which weren't published in the UK mags. Some of the programs from the really early TAUs (Issue 1 for example) has programs in it which were in the mag which would eventually become ACU.

The later TAUs I picked up were:

Issue 59 ( Dec. 89 )
Issue 63 ( Apr. 90 )
Issue 64 ( May. 90 )
Issue 65 ( Jun. 90 )
Issue 66 ( Jul. 90 )
Issue 67 ( Aug. 90 )
Issue 68 ( Sep. 90 )
Issue 69 ( Oct. 90 )
Issue 71 ( Dec. 90 )

After that I got the April Edition of The PC Mag + TAU personally from Strategic Publications cause I order some software from them and I collected the June til the end with September edition of The PC Mag + TAU from the Newsagent.

[Border_7]

Hey, excellent. Between us we come close to the full set!!

I'd like to see those last few PC Mag + TAU's...

Your scan process does sound very labour intensive!!! Defintaley when time permits....

I scanned, edited and uploaded Issue #5 as a bit of a test to see how long it would take. Scanning was actually the easy part...the file fiddling, naming and wiki editing / uploading all burns time... ~3 hours per mag (32 pages) was my approx - the later ones got up to 70+ pages... based on that logic, could be looking at well over 3 hours. Hmmm

anyway...

Have a look @ #5: http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Amstrad_User

Files arent too big in size, but all readable...a wee bit grubby here and there 

[AMSDOS]

Hey, excellent. Between us we come close to the full set!!

I'd like to see those last few PC Mag + TAU's...

Your scan process does sound very labour intensive!!! Defintaley when time permits....

I scanned, edited and uploaded Issue #5 as a bit of a test to see how long it would take. Scanning was actually the easy part...the file fiddling, naming and wiki editing / uploading all burns time... ~3 hours per mag (32 pages) was my approx - the later ones got up to 70+ pages... based on that logic, could be looking at well over 3 hours. Hmmm

anyway...

Have a look @ #5: http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Amstrad_User

Files arent too big in size, but all readable...a wee bit grubby here and there 

Probably a good choice scanning in Issue 5 cause it's got that interesting Map Draw program from Len Heitman!    Sadly it needs typing in I think!    People up North will be able to turn their monitors upside down! 

Maybe with those later issues it would be a good strategy to focus on the CPC relevant sections, with The PC Mag + TAU they pretty much divided the magazine so PC had more emphasis and the CPC/PCW had their own section. That would at least help cut time down from the number of pages scanned.

Can you let me know what scanning resolution DPI your scanning in so I can match it, I'm been doing 150dpi and making PDFs just to collect the images as pages, though doing it at that quality runs easily into the Megabytes - 7 pages for instance is around 4Mb.

[Border_7]

Yeah thet map draw will need typing in - haha (I'm too busy scanning!)

That is probably a good idea re: PC Mag - scan only CPC section... You could always start with just the front covers too, and get them up there!! Even the pages you have already scanned could be slotted in to the relevant magazine / page number etc...

always plenty to do! 

I was using 'Automatic' on my scanner and producing jpg's. The image sizes varied from 2-3mb each to 800kb for some. The dimensions were quite large though... I did a bit of quick editing (just in paint brush) to reduce the size down to under 500kb...All was readable still...

Maybe I'll tackle my March issue of the PC Mag + TAU next...and I'll use 150 dpi and see how that all goes...

[Border_7]

Alrighty, well The PC Mag + TAU (March '91) is up. Used 150dpi - seemed fine.

If I get around to doing any more, I'll start with issues that you dont have!

i.e the #37 to #57 range...

Happy reading & Scanning!

[Border_7]

Oh, btw - I have extra copies of Issues #20, #21, #26, #40, #43, #44, #48 & #71.

Let me know if you (or anyone you know on here would be interested).

[AMSDOS]

Alrighty, well The PC Mag + TAU (March '91) is up. Used 150dpi - seemed fine.

Looks good!

If I get around to doing any more, I'll start with issues that you dont have!

i.e the #37 to #57 range...

Happy reading & Scanning!

That's fine, it probably won't be til after Christmas til I'll be able to get anything done! And work for me is in demand! If I get any opportunity I'll start scanning in The PC Mag + TAU.

[Gryzor]

Oooh how I'd love those extra issues!!!

[Ygdrazil]

Hi Border_7


Great work, love your uploads 


Can't wait to browse through those australian magazines!!


/Ygdrazil

Looks good!

That's fine, it probably won't be til after Christmas til I'll be able to get anything done! And work for me is in demand! If I get any opportunity I'll start scanning in The PC Mag + TAU.

[Border_7]

Gryzor: I'll post em to Greece!

Ygdrazil: Thanks! It's hard work, but worth it in the end!

[AMSDOS]

Hi Border_7


Great work, love your uploads 


Can't wait to browse through those australian magazines!!


/Ygdrazil

Er? Send your "Likes" to Border_7 <> me!

[Border_7]

Hey CP/M User, likely to get any scanning done of those other TAU Mags??

[Border_7]

Hey CP/M - You dont live near Canberra by any chance?


Reason I ask is the NLA (National Library of Australia) has copies of the PC Mag + TAU: Jan, Feb, May, Aug & Sept editions. I know you have some of the other missing ones. You can visit in person and browse them/copy them for free, or do a interlibrary loan or get copies done and emailed to you (for a fee). Just thought you might be interested to know. Between your mags and the ones they have - that's the whole set!


I'll find out what their copying fees are as I'm interested to read these... no doubt you would be too? I put the covers here:


The Amstrad User - CPCWiki

[Gryzor]

Boy, wish I could find copies of CPC magazines in our library

[AMSDOS]

Hey CP/M - You dont live near Canberra by any chance?

I wish.

Reason I ask is the NLA (National Library of Australia) has copies of the PC Mag + TAU: Jan, Feb, May, Aug & Sept editions. I know you have some of the other missing ones. You can visit in person and browse them/copy them for free, or do a interlibrary loan or get copies done and emailed to you (for a fee). Just thought you might be interested to know. Between your mags and the ones they have - that's the whole set!

I noticed your PM was saying they could only copy 10% of the Magazines. That is a copyright issue. The problem is while the publisher "Strategic Publications" I think they were called are no longer around, some body else might have the copyright on those magazines. I'm unsure how it works when companies disappear what happens to copyright in that case, I think when another body buys them out then they obtain whatever that company had, though those things can get sold off I think to other groups.

I'll find out what their copying fees are as I'm interested to read these... no doubt you would be too? I put the covers here:

The Amstrad User - CPCWiki

I'm unsure if that library would have any information regarding who might have copyright, or if they can lead you in the right direction with regard to what would of happened to Strategic Publications when they folded up. I find it all a bit puzzling.

[Border_7]

Boy, wish I could find copies of CPC magazines in our library

hehe - yeah well I guess you have the Acropolis and other ancient awesome ruins... and lil' old OZ gets CPC mags!

I wish.


I noticed your PM was saying they could only copy 10% of the Magazines. That is a copyright issue. The problem is while the publisher "Strategic Publications" I think they were called are no longer around, some body else might have the copyright on those magazines. I'm unsure how it works when companies disappear what happens to copyright in that case, I think when another body buys them out then they obtain whatever that company had, though those things can get sold off I think to other groups.

I'm unsure if that library would have any information regarding who might have copyright, or if they can lead you in the right direction with regard to what would of happened to Strategic Publications when they folded up. I find it all a bit puzzling.

I do too. I've got a couple of ppl (from the NLA) actually running around trying to find that out for me. So worse case we get 10% of those missing magazines. Potentially one good obtain a different 10% each time and eventually get the whole thing - but hopefully someone else out there has them??? Good thing you have the rest  . Just got to get them scanned and uploaded. Were you planning on removing the staples and scanning them in as A3? just remember, I don't mind doing the formatting, cropping, uploading etc etc if that takes some of the effort off your shoulder.... cheers

[AMSDOS]

 

hehe - yeah well I guess you have the Acropolis and other ancient awesome ruins... and lil' old OZ gets CPC mags!

 


I do too. I've got a couple of ppl (from the NLA) actually running around trying to find that out for me. So worse case we get 10% of those missing magazines. Potentially one good obtain a different 10% each time and eventually get the whole thing - but hopefully someone else out there has them??? Good thing you have the rest  . Just got to get them scanned and uploaded. Were you planning on removing the staples and scanning them in as A3? just remember, I don't mind doing the formatting, cropping, uploading etc etc if that takes some of the effort off your shoulder.... cheers

Unsure how that works with the 10%, presumably a 60 page magazine would give you 6 pages to play with. If "little Johnny come lately" came in off the street and wanted to make copies from those magazines, if they could copy more than the 10% restriction, or if that's simply something the staff are only allowed to do. 


What I had in mind with my issues of TAU was to simply photocopy them A3 size (with the staples still in them) and scan in those photocopies. The pages are in a Mono coloured format with some pages with 2 tone coloured dyed with those early issues. I'll be able to scan in the front and back page though which are sometimes in colour.

[Border_7]

Unsure how that works with the 10%, presumably a 60 page magazine would give you 6 pages to play with. If "little Johnny come lately" came in off the street and wanted to make copies from those magazines, if they could copy more than the 10% restriction, or if that's simply something the staff are only allowed to do. 


What I had in mind with my issues of TAU was to simply photocopy them A3 size (with the staples still in them) and scan in those photocopies. The pages are in a Mono coloured format with some pages with 2 tone coloured dyed with those early issues. I'll be able to scan in the front and back page though which are sometimes in colour.

I just got off the phone with them - yeah, if you physically go in there you can essentially copy them all / same of you do a inter library loan (quite pricey though). Staff won't do more than 10% just because they aren't allowed do.... except for under certain circumstances... such as the publisher is long defunct, they hold essentially the only copies known, there has been a decent amount of time since they folded (20 years) and you have made every effort to make contact with publisher (or the estate or whatever holds the copyrights now) then under the Copyright Act (1968) the fair dealing provisions section, exceptions can be made.


So, I'm pushing hard for them to make these exceptions in order to get Jan, Feb and May (as you have the rest). I'll let you know what happens!


Regarding the scanning, that sounds ok for the TAU mags. I think you only need to worry about these issues: 1,2,3,4,8,11,59,63,64 and the PC Mag+TAU ones you have. They generally are two tone hey, so that should be fine - although the covers are full colour - but you only need to scan April, June and July covers of the PC Mag+TAU. You can probably scan those direct.


Cheers..... look forward to seeing them!

[Border_7]

Some good news CP/M user, they will allow copies to be made of the PC Mag + TAU under the "Not Commercially available" provision... So I'll get these ones done:


Jan, Feb and May 1991.


No need to get the others since you have those ones!


They also have TAU as well - but I once you and Axelay have scanned yours, I'll see what TAU's are left - can't be that many then...


Cheers

[AMSDOS]

Some good news CP/M user, they will allow copies to be made of the PC Mag + TAU under the "Not Commercially available" provision... So I'll get these ones done:


Jan, Feb and May 1991.


No need to get the others since you have those ones!


They also have TAU as well - but I once you and Axelay have scanned yours, I'll see what TAU's are left - can't be that many then...


Cheers

That's great!    I couldn't help but think that nearly anything is "Not Commercially available" though. Could that potentially mean that anything which is CPC related could be subjected to the scanners?