Difference between revisions of "The Amstrad User"

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'''The Amstrad User (TAU)''' was published in Australia by Strategy Publications in Mount Waverley, Victoria (not to be confused with Strategy Software in Tasmania that produced [[Computing With The Amstrad - Australian Edition]]), with the first issue coming out in February 1985 (@ $3.00 per issue) and the last issue being December 1990 (71 issues in total).
+
'''The Amstrad User (TAU)''' was published in Australia by Strategy Publications in Mount Waverley, Victoria (not to be confused with Strategy Software in Tasmania that produced [[Computing With The Amstrad - Australian Edition]]), with the first issue coming out in [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Amstrad_User_-_Issue_01_(_Feb._85_) February 1985] (@ $3.00 per issue) and the last issue being [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Amstrad_User_-_Issue_71_(_Dec._90_) December 1990] (71 issues in total).
  
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To start with, it soley covered the Amstrad CPC 464, then the CPC 664 & CPC 6128. As other Amstrad computers were released the magazine covered them all. At its peak, the range the magazine covered was: CPC, PCW8256, PCW8512, PCW9512, PC1512, PC1640, PPC512, PPC640, PC2086, PC2286, PC2386, PC20, PC1286, PC1386, ALT286, ALT386SX, PC3086, PC3286 and PC386SX.
+
To start with, it soley covered the Amstrad CPC 464, then the CPC 664 & eventually the CPC 6128. As other Amstrad computers were released the magazine covered them all. At its peak, the range the magazine covered was: CPC Range (464, 664, 6128), PCW Range (8256, 8512, 9512), PC Range (1512, 1640, 2086, 2286, 2386, 20, 1286, 1386, 3086, 3286 & 386SX), PPC (Portable) Range (512 & 640) and the ALT (Laptop) Range (286 & 386SX).
  
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It was an independent publication, originally sourcing and writing all it's own articles and content from writers mostly within Australia. As this became more difficult with time, it set up agreements with Future Publishing and Database Publications to reprint content from their respective magazines - Amstrad Action, 8000 Plus and CPC Computing (formerly Computing with the Amstrad).
+
It was an independent publication, originally sourcing and writing all it's own articles and content from writers mostly within Australia. As this became more difficult with time, it set up agrements with Future Publishing and Database Publications to reprint content from their respective magazines - [[Amstrad Action]], 8000 Plus and CPC Computing (formerly [[Computing with the Amstrad]]).
  
 
It had a fairly conventional layout and design and each issue included things like games reviews, type-ins, game cheats, an adventure section, software reviews, hardware, basic & machine code tutorials, CP/M and letters to the editor. It generally separated CPC only content from PCW and PC content - however sometimes articles were published that were generally applicable to all of the Amstrad machines.
 
It had a fairly conventional layout and design and each issue included things like games reviews, type-ins, game cheats, an adventure section, software reviews, hardware, basic & machine code tutorials, CP/M and letters to the editor. It generally separated CPC only content from PCW and PC content - however sometimes articles were published that were generally applicable to all of the Amstrad machines.
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The magazine was also available on tape for Amstrad CPC users, and it included any type-ins that were in that issue plus bonus material. This was on a subscriber only basis and the tape was never directly sold with the magazine.
 
The magazine was also available on tape for Amstrad CPC users, and it included any type-ins that were in that issue plus bonus material. This was on a subscriber only basis and the tape was never directly sold with the magazine.
  
−
The magazine was widely available throughout Australia and New Zealand from 1985 through to the end of 1990. It was also available to the general oceania region - nearby countries such as New Caledonia, Brunei, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Singapore, Tonga, Tokelau, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands - although on a more limited and not as timely basis.
+
The magazine was widely available throughout Australia and New Zealand from 1985 through to the end of 1990. It was also available to the general oceania region - nearby countries such as New Caledonia, Brunei, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Singapore, Tonga, Tokelau, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands - although on a more limited and not as timely basis. It was a reasonable sized magazine. Early issues being around 32 pages, with the magazine peaking at 72 pages. Most issues though, were 64 pages.
  
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It was a reasonable sized magazine. Early issues being around 32 pages, with the magazine peaking at 72 pages. Most issues though, were 64 pages.
+
Strategy Publications also had a physical shop, in which you could walk in and buy back issues of the magazine, software, hardware etc. Advertising for The Amstrad User was also supplied with Amstrad models purchased in Australia which mentioned that The Amstrad User was Australia's best selling magazine packed with reviews, programs, hints and user group information. A separate page had a subscription purchase slip ready to go for you.
  
 +
<gallery caption="TAU paperwork that came with Amstrad purchase">
 +
Image:TAUAdvertising1.png|TAU Advertising
 +
Image:TAUAdvertising2.png|TAU Subscription
 +
</gallery>
  
 
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{| align="center" valign="top"
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'''1991 - Name Change'''
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'''1991 - Magazine overhaul'''
  
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After issue 71 (Dec 1990), it became known as "The PC Mag plus The Amstrad User" (Jan 1991 was the first issue @ $4.50 per issue) - issues were no longer numbered. It still contained Amstrad CPC/PCW/PC content and was obviously trying to appeal to the broader PC clone market (IBM Compatible owners) - rather than specifically just the Amstrad. This was a hard decision the Editor said (In [[Issue_71_(_Dec._90_)]]) - Amstrad Australia in Sydney had dropped the CPC range (along with the PCW8512) by 1989 and was refusing to support or import them (including the CPC plus range) even though the parent company in the UK was still releasing models. They decided instead to concentrate on the PC compatibles. This was reflected by the change in the message seen at the top of the magazine - it started out as "The magazine for PC Beginners" and eventually changed into "For Amstrad, IBM and other PC Compatibles beginners" - although, there was content that was not necessarily only for beginners.  
+
After [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_Amstrad_User_-_Issue_71_(_Dec._90_) issue 71 (Dec 1990)], The Amstrad User became known as '''The PC Mag plus The Amstrad User''' with [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_PC_Mag_%2B_The_Amstrad_User_-_Jan_1991 January 1991] being the first issue @ $4.50 per magazine (issues were no longer numbered). It still contained Amstrad CPC/PCW/PC content and was obviously trying to appeal to the broader PC clone market (IBM Compatible owners) - rather than specifically just the Amstrad. This was a hard decision the Editor said [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:TAU_71Page2.JPG here in Issue 71] - Amstrad Australia in Sydney had dropped the CPC range (along with the PCW8512) by 1989 and was refusing to import them (including the CPC plus range - which had the effect of the general Oceania region missing out on the CPC Plus range) or support them - even though the parent company in the UK had pulled the plug on the CPC range, they were still releasing CPC Plus models. Amstrad Australia decided instead to concentrate on the PC compatibles market. It was a simple case of mathematics - rapidly declining CPC market and a rapidly increasing PC Clone/Compatible market. For the magazine, this was reflected by the change in the message seen at the top of the magazine - it started out as "The magazine for PC Beginners" and eventually changed into "For Amstrad, IBM and other PC Compatibles beginners" - although, there was content that was not necessarily only for beginners.
  
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The magazine started out at 64 pages and eventually became 48 pages. Amstrad content was approximately 20 pages and this was a mix of CPC & PCW content - so it was obvious that CPC content was a lot smaller then it used to be. CPC content continued to shrink over time. The magazine ran until September 1991 (9 issues in total) with Strategy Publications ceasing to produce the magazine around then due to obviously declining magazine sales, popularity of Amstrad machines and the rise of other PC compatible magazines. It is unknown if Strategy Publications completely ceased operations, changed their name or merged with another publisher.
+
The magazine started out at 64 pages and eventually became 48 pages. Amstrad content was approximately 20 pages and this was a mix of CPC & PCW content - so it was obvious that CPC content was a lot smaller than it used to be. CPC content continued to shrink over time. The magazine ran until [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/The_PC_Mag_%2B_The_Amstrad_User_-_Sep_1991 September 1991] (9 issues in total) with Strategy Publications ceasing to produce the magazine around then due to obviously declining magazine sales, declining Amstrad software/hardware suppliers, declining advertising revenue and of course the declining popularity of Amstrad machines coupled with the rise of other PC compatibles (and other magazines). It is unknown if Strategy Publications completely ceased operations, changed their name or merged with another publisher.
  
  
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'''Note on the scans:''' All table of contents, news, letters, game cheats, game reviews, adventures and other CPC relevant sections (type-ins, software/hardware) of these magazines has been scanned and uploaded. Generally most PCW/PC content & advertising has been skipped - unless CPC content happens to be on the same page.
+
'''Note on the scans:''' Some of the issues are scanned in full - all pages and some just have the table of contents, news, letters, game cheats, game reviews, adventures and other CPC relevant sections (type-ins, software/hardware) only. Generally most PCW/PC content & advertising has been skipped - unless CPC content happens to be on the same page.
  
 
== Magazine Scans ==
 
== Magazine Scans ==
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Image:TAU 03.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 03 ( Apr. 85 )]]
 
Image:TAU 03.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 03 ( Apr. 85 )]]
 
Image:TAU 04.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 04 ( May. 85 )]]
 
Image:TAU 04.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 04 ( May. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 05.jpg|[[Issue 05 ( Jun. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 05.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 05 ( Jun. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 06.jpg|[[Issue 06 ( Jul. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 06.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 06 ( Jul. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 07.jpg|[[Issue 07 ( Aug. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 07.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 07 ( Aug. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 08.jpg|[[Issue 08 ( Sep. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 08.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 08 ( Sep. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 09.jpg|[[Issue 09 ( Oct. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 09.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 09 ( Oct. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 10.jpg|[[Issue 10 ( Nov. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 10.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 10 ( Nov. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 11.jpg|[[Issue 11 ( Dec. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 11.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 11 ( Dec. 85 )]]
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Image:TAU 12.jpg|[[Issue 12 ( Jan. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 12.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 12 ( Jan. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 13.jpg|[[Issue 13 ( Feb. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 13.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 13 ( Feb. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 14.jpg|[[Issue 14 ( Mar. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 14.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 14 ( Mar. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 15.jpg|[[Issue 15 ( Apr. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 15.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 15 ( Apr. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 16.jpg|[[Issue 16 ( May. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 16.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 16 ( May. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 17.jpg|[[Issue 17 ( Jun. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 17.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 17 ( Jun. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU-18.jpg|[[Issue 18 ( Jul. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU-18.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 18 ( Jul. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU-19.jpg|[[Issue 19 ( Aug. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU-19.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 19 ( Aug. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 20.jpg|[[Issue 20 ( Sep. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 20.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 20 ( Sep. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 21.jpg|[[Issue 21 ( Oct. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 21.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 21 ( Oct. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 22.jpg|[[Issue 22 ( Nov. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 22.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 22 ( Nov. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU-23.jpg|[[Issue 23 ( Dec. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU-23.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 23 ( Dec. 86 )]]
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Image:TAU 24.jpg|[[Issue 24 ( Jan. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 24.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 24 ( Jan. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU-25.jpg|[[Issue 25 ( Feb. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU-25.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 25 ( Feb. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 26.jpg|[[Issue 26 ( Mar. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 26.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 26 ( Mar. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 27.jpg|[[Issue 27 ( Apr. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 27.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 27 ( Apr. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU-28.jpg|[[Issue 28 ( May. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU-28.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 28 ( May. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 29.jpg|[[Issue 29 ( Jun. 87 )]]
+
Image:TAU 29.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 29 ( Jun. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU-30.jpg|[[Issue 30 ( Jul. 87 )]]
+
Image:TAU-30.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 30 ( Jul. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 31.jpg|[[Issue 31 ( Aug. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 31.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 31 ( Aug. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 32.jpg|[[Issue 32 ( Sep. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 32.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 32 ( Sep. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU-33.jpg|[[Issue 33 ( Oct. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU-33.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 33 ( Oct. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 34.jpg|[[Issue 34 ( Nov. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 34.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 34 ( Nov. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 35.jpg|[[Issue 35 ( Dec. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 35.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 35 ( Dec. 87 )]]
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Image:TAU 36.jpg|[[Issue 36 ( Jan. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 36.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 36 ( Jan. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 37.jpg|[[Issue 37 ( Feb. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 37.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 37 ( Feb. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-38.jpg|[[Issue 38 ( Mar. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-38.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 38 ( Mar. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 39.jpg|[[Issue 39 ( Apr. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 39.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 39 ( Apr. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-40.jpg|[[Issue 40 ( May. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-40.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 40 ( May. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-41.jpg|[[Issue 41 ( Jun. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-41.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 41 ( Jun. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-42.jpg|[[Issue 42 ( Jul. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-42.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 42 ( Jul. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 43.jpg|[[Issue 43 ( Aug. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 43.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 43 ( Aug. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-44.jpg|[[Issue 44 ( Sep. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-44.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 44 ( Sep. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 45.jpg|[[Issue 45 ( Oct. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 45.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 45 ( Oct. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-46.jpg|[[Issue 46 ( Nov. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-46.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 46 ( Nov. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 47.jpg|[[Issue 47 ( Dec. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU 47.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 47 ( Dec. 88 )]]
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Image:TAU-48.jpg|[[Issue 48 ( Jan. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU-48.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 48 ( Jan. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 49.jpg|[[Issue 49 ( Feb. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 49.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 49 ( Feb. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 50.jpg|[[Issue 50 ( Mar. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 50.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 50 ( Mar. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU-51.jpg|[[Issue 51 ( Apr. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU-51.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 51 ( Apr. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 52.jpg|[[Issue 52 ( May. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 52.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 52 ( May. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 53.jpg|[[Issue 53 ( Jun. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 53.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 53 ( Jun. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 54.jpg|[[Issue 54 ( Jul. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 54.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 54 ( Jul. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 55.jpg|[[Issue 55 ( Aug. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 55.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 55 ( Aug. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 56.jpg|[[Issue 56 ( Sep. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 56.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 56 ( Sep. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 57.jpg|[[Issue 57 ( Oct. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 57.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 57 ( Oct. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 58.jpg|[[Issue 58 ( Nov. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 58.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 58 ( Nov. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 59.jpg|[[Issue 59 ( Dec. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 59.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 59 ( Dec. 89 )]]
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Image:TAU 60.jpg|[[Issue 60 ( Jan. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 60.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 60 ( Jan. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 61.jpg|[[Issue 61 ( Feb. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 61.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 61 ( Feb. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 62.jpg|[[Issue 62 ( Mar. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 62.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 62 ( Mar. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU-63.jpg|[[Issue 63 ( Apr. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU-63.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 63 ( Apr. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 64.jpg|[[Issue 64 ( May. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 64.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 64 ( May. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 65.jpg|[[Issue 65 ( Jun. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 65.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 65 ( Jun. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 66.jpg|[[Issue 66 ( Jul. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 66.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 66 ( Jul. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU-67.jpg|[[Issue 67 ( Aug. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU-67.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 67 ( Aug. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 68.jpg|[[Issue 68 ( Sep. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 68.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 68 ( Sep. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 69.jpg|[[Issue 69 ( Oct. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 69.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 69 ( Oct. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 70.jpg|[[Issue 70 ( Nov. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 70.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 70 ( Nov. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 71.jpg|[[Issue 71 ( Dec. 90 )]]
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Image:TAU 71.jpg|[[The Amstrad User - Issue 71 ( Dec. 90 )]]
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
  
 
<gallery caption="The PC Mag plus The Amstrad User">
 
<gallery caption="The PC Mag plus The Amstrad User">
−
Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Jan91.jpg| [[First Issue (Jan '91)]]
+
Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Jan91.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Jan 1991]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Feb91.jpg| [[Second Issue (Feb '91)]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Feb91.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Feb 1991]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU.jpg|[[Third Issue (Mar '91)]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU.jpg|[[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Mar 1991]]
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Image:NoPicture.png| [[Fourth Issue (Apr '91)]]
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Image:TAU+PCMag Apr91 cover.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Apr 1991]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_May91.jpg| [[Fifth Issue (May '91)]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_May91.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - May 1991]]
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Image:NoPicture.png| [[Sixth Issue (Jun '91)]]
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Image:TAU+PCMag-Jun91 Front.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Jun 1991]]
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Image:NoPicture.png| [[Seventh Issue (Jul '91)]]
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Image:TAU+PCMag-Jul-91.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Jul 1991]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Aug91.jpg| [[Eighth Issue (Aug '91)]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Aug91.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Aug 1991]]
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Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Sep91.jpg| [[Final Issue (Sep '91)]]
+
Image:ThePCMagPlusTAU_Sep91.jpg| [[The PC Mag + The Amstrad User - Sep 1991]]
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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The team at The Amstrad User released a collection of type-ins and programs in the late 80's called High Energy Programs for the Amstrad. It contained programs that had appeared in previous magazines and also new material.
 
The team at The Amstrad User released a collection of type-ins and programs in the late 80's called High Energy Programs for the Amstrad. It contained programs that had appeared in previous magazines and also new material.
 +
 +
== Download ==
 +
In addition to the above online scans, entire PDF's can be downloaded from [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=dldir;sa=list;id=12 the forum here]
 +
 +
== Links ==
 +
[http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcarchives/index.php?page=articles&num=183 CPC Power] lists all the programs and utilities that appear in the magazine and you can download some of the programs.
  
 
[[Category:CPC Press]]
 
[[Category:CPC Press]]

Latest revision as of 00:17, 22 March 2017

TAU-title.jpg

The Amstrad User (TAU) was published in Australia by Strategy Publications in Mount Waverley, Victoria (not to be confused with Strategy Software in Tasmania that produced Computing With The Amstrad - Australian Edition), with the first issue coming out in February 1985 (@ $3.00 per issue) and the last issue being December 1990 (71 issues in total).

To start with, it soley covered the Amstrad CPC 464, then the CPC 664 & eventually the CPC 6128. As other Amstrad computers were released the magazine covered them all. At its peak, the range the magazine covered was: CPC Range (464, 664, 6128), PCW Range (8256, 8512, 9512), PC Range (1512, 1640, 2086, 2286, 2386, 20, 1286, 1386, 3086, 3286 & 386SX), PPC (Portable) Range (512 & 640) and the ALT (Laptop) Range (286 & 386SX).

It was an independent publication, originally sourcing and writing all it's own articles and content from writers mostly within Australia. As this became more difficult with time, it set up agrements with Future Publishing and Database Publications to reprint content from their respective magazines - Amstrad Action, 8000 Plus and CPC Computing (formerly Computing with the Amstrad).

It had a fairly conventional layout and design and each issue included things like games reviews, type-ins, game cheats, an adventure section, software reviews, hardware, basic & machine code tutorials, CP/M and letters to the editor. It generally separated CPC only content from PCW and PC content - however sometimes articles were published that were generally applicable to all of the Amstrad machines.

The magazine was also available on tape for Amstrad CPC users, and it included any type-ins that were in that issue plus bonus material. This was on a subscriber only basis and the tape was never directly sold with the magazine.

The magazine was widely available throughout Australia and New Zealand from 1985 through to the end of 1990. It was also available to the general oceania region - nearby countries such as New Caledonia, Brunei, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Singapore, Tonga, Tokelau, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands - although on a more limited and not as timely basis. It was a reasonable sized magazine. Early issues being around 32 pages, with the magazine peaking at 72 pages. Most issues though, were 64 pages.

Strategy Publications also had a physical shop, in which you could walk in and buy back issues of the magazine, software, hardware etc. Advertising for The Amstrad User was also supplied with Amstrad models purchased in Australia which mentioned that The Amstrad User was Australia's best selling magazine packed with reviews, programs, hints and user group information. A separate page had a subscription purchase slip ready to go for you.

  • TAU paperwork that came with Amstrad purchase

  • TAU Advertising

  • TAU Subscription

ThePCMagPlusTAULogo.jpg

1991 - Magazine overhaul

After issue 71 (Dec 1990), The Amstrad User became known as The PC Mag plus The Amstrad User with January 1991 being the first issue @ $4.50 per magazine (issues were no longer numbered). It still contained Amstrad CPC/PCW/PC content and was obviously trying to appeal to the broader PC clone market (IBM Compatible owners) - rather than specifically just the Amstrad. This was a hard decision the Editor said here in Issue 71 - Amstrad Australia in Sydney had dropped the CPC range (along with the PCW8512) by 1989 and was refusing to import them (including the CPC plus range - which had the effect of the general Oceania region missing out on the CPC Plus range) or support them - even though the parent company in the UK had pulled the plug on the CPC range, they were still releasing CPC Plus models. Amstrad Australia decided instead to concentrate on the PC compatibles market. It was a simple case of mathematics - rapidly declining CPC market and a rapidly increasing PC Clone/Compatible market. For the magazine, this was reflected by the change in the message seen at the top of the magazine - it started out as "The magazine for PC Beginners" and eventually changed into "For Amstrad, IBM and other PC Compatibles beginners" - although, there was content that was not necessarily only for beginners.

The magazine started out at 64 pages and eventually became 48 pages. Amstrad content was approximately 20 pages and this was a mix of CPC & PCW content - so it was obvious that CPC content was a lot smaller than it used to be. CPC content continued to shrink over time. The magazine ran until September 1991 (9 issues in total) with Strategy Publications ceasing to produce the magazine around then due to obviously declining magazine sales, declining Amstrad software/hardware suppliers, declining advertising revenue and of course the declining popularity of Amstrad machines coupled with the rise of other PC compatibles (and other magazines). It is unknown if Strategy Publications completely ceased operations, changed their name or merged with another publisher.


Note on the scans: Some of the issues are scanned in full - all pages and some just have the table of contents, news, letters, game cheats, game reviews, adventures and other CPC relevant sections (type-ins, software/hardware) only. Generally most PCW/PC content & advertising has been skipped - unless CPC content happens to be on the same page.

Magazine Scans



  • The Amstrad User - other publications
  • High Energy Programs.jpg

The team at The Amstrad User released a collection of type-ins and programs in the late 80's called High Energy Programs for the Amstrad. It contained programs that had appeared in previous magazines and also new material.

Download

In addition to the above online scans, entire PDF's can be downloaded from the forum here

Links

CPC Power lists all the programs and utilities that appear in the magazine and you can download some of the programs.

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