Sinclair User

Overview

Sinclair User launched in 1982, predating the Spectrum itself by covering the ZX81. When the Spectrum arrived, the magazine provided the technical depth that serious users wanted. Less irreverent than CRASH or Your Sinclair, Sinclair User appealed to programmers and hardware enthusiasts alongside gamers.

Fast facts

• Publisher: ECC Publications, later EMAP.
• First issue: April 1982.
• Final issue: May 1993 (156 issues).
• Focus: technical coverage, programming, hardware, plus games.
• Competitors: CRASH, Your Sinclair.
• Cover tapes: introduced software giveaways.

The content

Sinclair User balanced coverage:

Technical content:

• Programming tutorials and type-in listings.
• Hardware reviews and modifications.
• Machine code guides.
• Peripheral coverage.

Games coverage:

• Reviews with ratings.
• Industry news.
• Developer interviews.
• Tips and maps.

The audience

The magazine attracted:

• Programmers: learning machine code and BASIC.
• Enthusiasts: wanting hardware knowledge.
• Gamers: seeking reviews and coverage.
• Adults: the tone was more mature than competitors.

Cover tapes

Sinclair User pioneered cover-mounted software:

• Cassettes attached to magazines.
• Demos, full games, utilities.
• Value proposition that drove sales.
• Later adopted by all competitors.

The competition

Three major Spectrum magazines served the market:

• CRASH: gaming focus, irreverent humour.
• Your Sinclair: comedy, games, personality.
• Sinclair User: technical depth, serious approach.

Different magazines for different readers; many bought all three.

Legacy

Sinclair User served programmers as well as gamers. Its technical focus helped readers understand their machines, not just play games on them. When the Spectrum era ended, the magazine had documented the platform’s technical possibilities alongside its gaming library.

See also

• CRASH
• Your Sinclair
• Sinclair ZX Spectrum
• The Rise of the Bedroom Coder