| ★ APPLICATIONS ★ PAO/PRESSE ★ MICRODESIGN PLUS ★ |
MICRODESIGN PLUS (Amstrad Action) | MICRODESIGN PLUS (Amstrad Computer User) |
Bob Adams casts his beady eye over the latest updates to the MicroDesign suite.Long time users of the CPC may well have used or remember reading about a program by the name of MICRODESIGN. This was released by Siren Software in 1987 and was billed as "a fast and versatile drafting package, designed to produce graphic artwork and technical drawings on a dot matrix printer". The competition at that time consisted of two main rivals - ART STUDIO and STOP PRESS. Users of MicroDesign mainly agreed that the speed, professional feel and print quality was indeed superior to the competition but it didn't do enough in other areas to make it a genuinely user-friendly product. Enter one Peter Campbell. He thought highly enough of the MicroDesign program so he offered Siren Software a list of improvements that he felt would turn it into a winner, Unfortunately, Siren were not interested and that was how it stayed until they stopped supporting the product altogether in January 1991. The program rights then returned to its original authors, Hogsoft. Peter, not a man to give up, easily even though several years had now passed, then contacted Hogsoft with his ideas for improving the program and they agreed to let him go ahead. This then gave Peter a problem, as he was an ideas man but not a programmer. Fate was smiling on him however, and he made the acquaintance of Jess "I think in machine code" Harpur. There then followed a three way collaboration between Hogsoft (who are now called Creative Technology Ltd,) Jess Harpur and Peter Campbell, resulting in a complete enhancement package for the original MicroDesign program now being available, called MICRODESIGN PLUS. So what do you get for your money? First of all, you must have the original program as this is purely an upgrade that needs the source files from your original disc. Installing the upgrade is very simple and is done for you automatically, compiling and dumping the new enhanced program to a fresh disc. If you haven't got the original MicroDesign never fear, as CampurSoft can supply you with that as well.
What I like about it all is that it is such an easy to program to use. CampurSoft do supply a nicely printed manual (produced by their own program I'm pleased to say) which explains all the finer points but I doubt if you'll need it much. The whole program is menu driven and the menus are on screen alongside the working area. All you need is just the ability to be able to press the right key and the next operation will be performed for you. Even I can cope with that. What I can't cope with however, is drawing. I cannot draw on paper, let alone on a computer screen but once again, CampurSoft have the answer. On side two of the enhancer disc are 30 items of clip-art, converted to the correct format and all ready for use. Finally, I must mention the aftersales support. Peter and Jess are continuing to work on and develop this program still further, so who knows what the future may hold, but for now they will be running a help-line for anybody that is seeking guidance. Details are in the manual. This is really a great improvement over the old version and allows for much more versatility of use. Your creativity need no longer be cramped by the program. Available by Mail Order from CampurSoft. 16 Slatefield St, Gallowgate,Glasgow G311UA.041 554 4735.Price: £13-75.Originai MicroDesign £19-99. (Was £24-99)Both MicroDesign and MicroDesign Plus £29-99. ACU (May 1992) |
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