Cover story review in 8000Plus Magazine 1988
How did STOP PRESS do against the competition? Answer below.
The revolutionary Direct Access Control Panel used to operate all PCW STOP PRESS functions. By simply holding down two of the buttons on the three button mouse, the control panel instantly appears. Then, by simply clicking on the appropriate icon, a feature would be activated. In addition, if the user preferred, the GRID REFERENCE letters & numbers around the edge of the panel allowed a co-ordinate to be punched in to activate a feature. For example:
To draw a circle, simply key in [I-4] (or [4-I]) and the CIRCLE tool will be selected. A great way to work if you did not want to keep having to activate the control panel. And unlike today's Windows and Mac based key commands, our Direct Access system allows ALL features to be operated using key commands, while the grid reference around the edge of the panel provide a reminder. PCW STOP PRESS included a range of other innovations including a built in graph plotting system (see icons [J-1] to [J-8] ), and the ability to capture LIVE video DIRECT to the screen using an attached video digitizer. (Yes, this was 1987, and no one else had ever done it before.)
The PIXEL EDITOR (Zoom)
1987: Notice the letter 'R' in the word WAR in the headline?
This is shown enlarged in the zoom window on the lower right of the image. Most of today's (1995) pixel editors do NOT allow you to see the area you are working on at its original size. With ours, you do. In addition, the pixel editing window automatically re-positions itself around the screen depending on which part of the image you are working on.
Cover story in 8000Plus Magazine - The Shootout
"... a superb package, well thought out and fun to use"
Computer Shopper magazine, December 1988
"The one thing that Stop Press, Tecnation's new desktop publishing package, can show the software industry is that even when a market looks over-crowded you can still find a niche by taking a new and imaginative approach."
8000 Plus magazine, February 1988
"All things considered this is an excellent package. The program is fast and powerful, easy to use and flexible."
Computing with the Amstrad PCW magazine, February 1988
"At a fraction of the cost of big DTP packages, Ross Blackman considers is fantastic value for money."
Personal Computer World magazine, March 1988
"I have used all the DTP packages for the PCW ... but have always been left feeling that they were not so good as I might have wished, nor so comprehensive. Stop Press fulfils all my wishes and more.
Your Amstrad PCW magazine, April 1988
"I can strongly recommend Stop Press"
Personal Computer World magazine
"the best graphics available in a DTP package"
8000 Plus magazine
"I have been totally satisfied with its versatility and performance"
G. Saunders, Stafford (user)
"May I add a genuine unsolicited commendation on Stop Press, an excellent package with a splendid selection of utilities"
B. Orr, Leigh-on-Sea (user)
DESCRIPTION
Designer Desktop Publishing application for the Amstrad PCW
ORIGINAL PLATFORM
Amstrad PCW (Personal Computer Wordprocessor)
OTHER PLATFORM(S)
BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC 128, Commodore 64
CONCEPTION
1986
LAUNCH DATE
1987
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Advanced Memory Systems Ltd (Subsequently acquired by Logitech.)
