Background
The UK Atari Computer Owners Club (UKACOC) was
formed by a group of Atari enthusiasts who worked at
Maplin
Electronics in Southend, England, during the early 1980s. The first club newsletter was a
somewhat amateur affair created using a dot matrix printer and
photocopier, but from
issue 3 the appearance was dramatically improved by virtue of
professional typesetting. Editorial quality improved dramatically
too. The publication schedule was quarterly, with distribution by subscription
only.
Not surprisingly, people found it a
little awkward referring to the 'magazine of the UK Atari Computer Owners
Club' so with issue 8 the
more straightforward title of 'Monitor' was chosen. The club
actually wanted to use the name 'Atari Monitor' but reportedly Atari
Corp objected - although by
issue 19 this had
apparently ceased to be an issue.
The magazine tended to focus on the more serious and
technical aspects of Atari computing - understandable given the
connection with Maplin, which was well known for its electronics DIY
project kits. Indeed, articles relating to hardware modifications
and add-ons were commonplace.
From issue 5 the magazine commenced an epic tutorial
series by Keith Mayhew on 6502 machine code, called "Cracking The
Code", which was still going in the final
issue 21.
The club created
a unique library of 8-bit public domain software,
available through a "3 for 1' exchange scheme. Under the terms of
this scheme, members were entitled to receive three programs from the
library in exchange for every one they donated. Alternatively, a
small payment could be made for each program required. Unusually,
the club was willing to receive and distribute software on cassette
as well as disk.
The 8-bit library continually expanded with
new items, with updates printed in every edition of the
magazine. One program in each was chosen as a "Star Program" and the
author awarded a £10 prize.
With the launch of Atari ST machines
in 1985, ST coverage was added to the magazine's content. As well as
regular software reviews, an ST Programming series (also by Keith
Mayhew) was started in
issue 15 and in
issue 16 an ST public domain library was founded.
The final issue
issue 21,
published in 1989, came with no
official announcement of the club's demise but followed soon after
the closure of Database Publications' Atari User, and was simply a
reflection of the terminal decline in mainstream Atari support.
UKACOC and Monitor is still remembered though as a
vital source of user support during the '80s heyday of Atari home
computing.
Credits
This site has been designed and constructed by Paul
Rixon, who contributed the '8 Bit Matters' column in issues 20 and
21.
