.info (magazine)
Encyclopedia
.info was a computer magazine covering Commodore
8-bit computers and later the Amiga
. It was published from 1983 to 1992.
The first few issues of the magazine were published by Dunnington operating as a sole proprietorship
in the state of Washington. After a few issues, he moved the company to Iowa
, eventually incorporating as Info Publications, Inc.. This, in turn, became a limited partnership
, (Info Publications Ltd), which published the magazine until its demise.
INFO=64 was produced using personal computers. An editorial statement in each issue explained that the magazine was produced using only "lay equipment", such as home computer
s and 35mm camera
s, that were inexpensively available to the general public. Early issues were typeset using a Commodore 64
and a dot-matrix printer, giving the magazine a distinctive hand-crafted appearance.
The magazine soon switched to a more professional appearance using laser printer
s and Newsroom
and GEOS
software for the 8-bit Commodores, before changing its editorial focus and publishing platform to the Amiga, and changing its name to .info, which was the file extension of Amiga icon files.
The Computer Press Association
named .info as one of two 'Runners-Up' in the category of Best Computer Magazine - Circulation Less Than 50,000 at its seventh annual awards ceremony in April 1992. Computers in Accounting won that category, which included well over 100 computer magazines at the time, but .info tied with the slicker and much better-funded NeXTWORLD.
Ironically, .info was in serious financial trouble by then, and the publisher was desperately seeking someone to buy the magazine. The magazine closed its doors in April 1992, and on September 20 the magazine's assets were auctioned off.
Over the course of its run, .info absorbed three pioneering Commodore magazines that ceased publication during the "great extinction" that struck computer magazines in the late 1980s. These were Jim Oldfield
and James Strassma's Midnite Software Gazette (which had previously absorbed 'The Paper', one of the oldest independent publications supporting Commodore computers), Mitch Lopes' RoboCity News (the one-time official publication of FAUG, the First Amiga Users' Group, before it was spun off), and Chris Zamara and Nick Sullivan's Transactor (the official publication of TPUG, the Toronto PET Users' Group). Unfortunately, when .info ceased publication, the receivers stood in the way of allowing .infos publisher to find another magazine to fulfill its subscriptions.
A full set of the entire run of INFO magazine, including photocopies of the original newsletter along with other documents related to the magazine, is housed in the library of the State Historical Society of Iowa
in Iowa City, Iowa
.
Commodore International
Commodore is the commonly used name for Commodore Business Machines , the U.S.-based home computer manufacturer and electronics manufacturer headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which also housed Commodore's corporate parent company, Commodore International Limited...
8-bit computers and later the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
. It was published from 1983 to 1992.
History
INFO=64 began as a newsletter published by its founder, Benn Dunnington, operating out of a spare bedroom in his home. After a few issues, the entrepreneurial spirit struck and he decided to expand it into a full-fledged magazine.The first few issues of the magazine were published by Dunnington operating as a sole proprietorship
Sole proprietorship
A sole proprietorship, also known as the sole trader or simply a proprietorship, is a type of business entity that is owned and run by one individual and in which there is no legal distinction between the owner and the business. The owner receives all profits and has unlimited responsibility for...
in the state of Washington. After a few issues, he moved the company to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, eventually incorporating as Info Publications, Inc.. This, in turn, became a limited partnership
Limited partnership
A limited partnership is a form of partnership similar to a general partnership, except that in addition to one or more general partners , there are one or more limited partners . It is a partnership in which only one partner is required to be a general partner.The GPs are, in all major respects,...
, (Info Publications Ltd), which published the magazine until its demise.
INFO=64 was produced using personal computers. An editorial statement in each issue explained that the magazine was produced using only "lay equipment", such as home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
s and 35mm camera
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
s, that were inexpensively available to the general public. Early issues were typeset using a Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and a dot-matrix printer, giving the magazine a distinctive hand-crafted appearance.
The magazine soon switched to a more professional appearance using laser printer
Laser printer
A laser printer is a common type of computer printer that rapidly produces high quality text and graphics on plain paper. As with digital photocopiers and multifunction printers , laser printers employ a xerographic printing process, but differ from analog photocopiers in that the image is produced...
s and Newsroom
Newsroom
A newsroom is the place where journalists—reporters, editors, and producers, along with other staffers—work to gather news to be published in a newspaper or magazine or broadcast on television, cable or radio...
and GEOS
GEOS
GEOS may refer to:Computer software*GEOS , an operating system originally designed for the Commodore 64*GEOS , a DOS-based graphical user interface and x86 operating system...
software for the 8-bit Commodores, before changing its editorial focus and publishing platform to the Amiga, and changing its name to .info, which was the file extension of Amiga icon files.
The Computer Press Association
Computer Press Association
Founded in 1983, the Computer Press Association was established to promote excellence in the field of computer journalism. The association was composed of working editors, writers, producers, and freelancers who covered issues related to computers and technology...
named .info as one of two 'Runners-Up' in the category of Best Computer Magazine - Circulation Less Than 50,000 at its seventh annual awards ceremony in April 1992. Computers in Accounting won that category, which included well over 100 computer magazines at the time, but .info tied with the slicker and much better-funded NeXTWORLD.
Ironically, .info was in serious financial trouble by then, and the publisher was desperately seeking someone to buy the magazine. The magazine closed its doors in April 1992, and on September 20 the magazine's assets were auctioned off.
Over the course of its run, .info absorbed three pioneering Commodore magazines that ceased publication during the "great extinction" that struck computer magazines in the late 1980s. These were Jim Oldfield
Jim Oldfield
Jim Oldfield is an author, editor, and reviewer famous for his work with Commodore computers. He is married to Deb Oldfield and is the father of James, Jon, and Jason Oldfield....
and James Strassma's Midnite Software Gazette (which had previously absorbed 'The Paper', one of the oldest independent publications supporting Commodore computers), Mitch Lopes' RoboCity News (the one-time official publication of FAUG, the First Amiga Users' Group, before it was spun off), and Chris Zamara and Nick Sullivan's Transactor (the official publication of TPUG, the Toronto PET Users' Group). Unfortunately, when .info ceased publication, the receivers stood in the way of allowing .infos publisher to find another magazine to fulfill its subscriptions.
A full set of the entire run of INFO magazine, including photocopies of the original newsletter along with other documents related to the magazine, is housed in the library of the State Historical Society of Iowa
State Historical Society of Iowa
The State Historical Society of Iowa , a division of the , serves as the official historical repository for the State of Iowa and also provides grants, public education, and outreach about Iowa history and archaeology. The SHSI maintains a museum, library, archives, and research center in Des...
in Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
Staff & Writers
- Benn Dunnington - Founder, Publisher, Editor
- Mark R. Brown - Managing Editor
- Tom Malcom - Senior Editor
- Jim OldfieldJim OldfieldJim Oldfield is an author, editor, and reviewer famous for his work with Commodore computers. He is married to Deb Oldfield and is the father of James, Jon, and Jason Oldfield....
- Associate Editor (after acquisition of 'Midnite Software Gazette') - Carol Brown - Advertising Director (through issue 31)
- Anna Folkers - Advertising Director (issues 32-49)
- Megan Ward - Art & Production Director
- Kent A. Embree - Art & Production Assistant
- Tony Bodensteiner - Art & Production Assistant
- Marty Amorin - Data Manager (early issues)
- Judith Kilbury-Cobb - Data Manager (through issue 47) / Staff Writer
- Krista L. Kapacinskas - Data Manager (issue 49)
- Chris Zamara - Technical Editor (after acquisition of 'The Transactor')
- Nick Sullivan - Technical Editor (after acquisition of 'The Transactor')
- Bradley W. Schenck - Contributing Editor / Graphics Columnist
- Harv Laser - Contributing Editor / Multimedia Columnist
- Peggy Herrington - Contributing Editor / Music & Sounds Columnist (through issue 42)
- Bob Lindstrom - Contributing Editor / Music Columnist (issues 44-49)
- Oran J. Sands III - Contributing Editor / Video Columnist
- Jeff Lowenthal - Contributing Editor / Public Domain Columnist
- Don Romero - Contributing Editor / GEOS Columnist & 'CHUMP' computer magazine parody guru
- Jim Meyer - Contributing Editor / Productivity Software Reviewer
- Mort Kevelson - Contributing Editor / Hardware Reviewer
- Gregory Conley - Contributing Editor / Cartoonist
- Warren Block - Contributing Editor
- David Martin - Writer
- Bob Baker - Writer
- Daniel Barrett - Writer
- Mindy Skelton - Writer
- Jim ButterfieldJim Butterfield-External links:* * featuring Brad Templeton, Jim Butterfield, and Steve Punter** * * , previous unpublished, presented by the Personal Computer Museum, Brantford, Ontario...
- Writer - Dave HaynieDave HaynieDave Haynie is the former Commodore International chief engineer on high end and advanced projects. He is still quite vocal in the Amiga community.-Beginnings:...
- Writer
External links
- Partial .info index from the Amiga University Library
- Partial Gallery of .info covers from Benn Dunnington, founder, publisher