The Boot Hill of Sinclair publishing has more stones than I thought until I began reminiscing. I subscribed to those listed from their first issue until their demise. These magazines taught me how to use the ZX80, ZX81, TS1000, TS2068, and the Sinclair QL. They also sponsored a sense of camaraderie and cooperation amongst Sinclair and Timex users and their supporters that has not been equaled. I think that the Olsen family who published SYNTAX likely can be credited with starting this traditional spirit of S-T users in North America. Fred Nachbaur, a Canadian who founded Syncware News, also had a lot to do with building the spirit of this unorganized but cooperating group of users in two great Countries. We ignored boundaries in our quest for education and hobby computing. Each successive publisher has contributed greatly to continue a communications link across the great distance from the Arctic to the semi-tropic and the Atlantic to the Pacific between Sinclair Timex users and their supporters. Most of us cut our “computer teeth” with these magazines. We also owe them our thanks for providing the media to allow entrepreneur designers to reach us with needed software and devices that have enhanced our computing abilities.
This era of Sinclair Timex publishing is about to come to a close. Update seems to be the last survivor and the subscription support is insufficient to allow continuance beyond this subscription year. The issue year ends with the July issue, which will be the closing issue.
My own part in the publishing scene has been enjoyable, but a lot of hard work. Subscriptions never reached the level that would allow the hiring of even a typist, and the magazine collating has been by hand. The writing part has been the easiest. Copying and assembling 30,000 to 50,000 pages by hand (to save a buck) is not the way that most magazines are published. I believe that you will understand when I say that I have reached the “burn out” stage. And I hope that this will also help all understand why the publishers of SyncWare News and Quantum Levels made their decision to close out.
SNUG MAY BE THE LAST DEFENDER OF THE FORT
Last year I offered “Update magazine on a platter” to SNUG. I am publically renewing this offer to SNUG for them to take over publishing Update as the SNUG publication with the October 1990 issue. At last report SNUG had around 130 members most of whom are subscribers to Update. The result of SNUG taking Update and continuing would be a FOUR FOLD increase in SNUG membership and a better chance for them to succeed in accomplishing their goals. I would invision SNUG trimming Update to about 30 pages, which would provide a modest profit to help support some of their other goals. Once Update discontinues publication this chance will be lost forever. Also lost will be the communications link between most of the active Sinclair users and their supporting programmers and suppliers. Once this link is lost it will be practically impossible for SNUG to build itself into a viable group. In fact, it just wont happen.
The two remaining issues of Update can be used by SNUG to announce their intentions and to encourage folks to re-subscribe. I believe that SNUG has the responsibility to accept this offer and prevent publication support from expiring.
The most important need that SNUG can fulfill is the continuance of publication support. The alternative is obscurity. SNUG is a non-profit organization operated by volenteers. Sinclair Magazine publishing for the past five years has also been non-profit, but accomplished by “single volenteers”. If we could do it singly then SNUG can do it as a group organization. It is now time for SNUG to progress from the talking stage to the doing stage and to fulfill their chartered obligations.
My view is that SNUG needs courage and vigor from their staff to gain volenteers and participation by the users. That, and SNUG’s success, can only be achieved by continuous publicity and a steady “sell job” in their own publication. Now is the time for SNUG members to write and give guidance to the SNUG staff about this important need. And, that is how it is for the future support of Sinclair Computing in North America (as I see it). Bill Jones