Microstyle - Revision history

Cpcmaniaco: /* Hardware */

2021-04-25T12:19:12Z

‎Hardware

Fgbrain at 08:20, 8 December 2011

2011-12-08T08:20:00Z

Fgbrain: /* Hardware */

2011-12-08T08:00:32Z

‎Hardware

Robcfg: Added link to the John Morrison EPROM programmer, that was manufactured by Microstyle

2010-11-21T13:11:28Z

Added link to the John Morrison EPROM programmer, that was manufactured by Microstyle

Nocash: /* Avatar and GVL Microform */

2010-08-11T09:41:38Z

‎Avatar and GVL Microform

Nocash: /* Hardware */

2010-08-09T19:47:41Z

‎Hardware

Cpcmaniaco at 21:20, 25 May 2009

2009-05-25T21:20:53Z

Cpcmaniaco: /* Software */

2009-04-23T10:12:36Z

‎Software

PulkoMandy at 09:55, 3 January 2007

2007-01-03T09:55:32Z

ChaRleyTroniC at 18:29, 27 September 2006

2006-09-27T18:29:17Z

New page

Microstyle was a UK hardware company run by [[Phil Craven]], based in a private house in Low Moor, Bradford.

The company traded for many years and, along with [[Siren Software]], was the largest supplier of 3.5in B-drives. It advertised in [[Amstrad Action]] and other magazines every month without fail. However, among CPC users, it had a reputation for abysmal order fulfilment, cashing customers' cheques and not sending their goods.

== Avatar and GVL Microform ==

When Microstyle's reputation had been sufficiently besmirched and orders had begun to fall, Phil Craven closed the company and started up under a new name, 'Avatar'. (The word means "a new personification of a familiar idea" - a fairly obvious reference to the fact that Avatar was simply Microstyle reincarnated.)

Avatar was originally based in St Albans, as if to hide its origins, but soon moved back to Phil Craven's house in Bradford. The monthly magazine adverts were almost identical to the Microstyle ones.

Microstyle/Avatar software was also sold by a company called GVL Bagsform (a betting term), which soon changed its name to GVL Microform. This was run by Phil Craven's brother John, but had a much better reputation for delivery.

== Software ==

* [[MS800]]
* 'Style ROM' (includes Auntie John's Space Invaders and some printer utilities)
* [[Maxidos]]
* [[Procopy]]
* [[Cirkit]] twin-port serial interface (resold)

== Hardware ==

* 3.5in disc drives
* ABBA switch
* ROM-board
* RAM-ROM
* EPROM programmer
* Plus-to-CPC expansion port adapter

== Parody ==

A song that circulated among British CPC users at the time was called "Phil Craven's Avatar", to the tune of "Radio Gaga" by Queen. The words were "All I need is / Phil Craven's Avatar / Phil Craven's Avatar / Phil Craven's Avatar / Where's my disc drive gone? / Should have gone to John".

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 * ROM-board
 * [[Microstyle RAMROM]]
-* [[John_Morrison|EPROM programmer]]
+* [[John Morrison EPROM Programmer]]
 * Plus-to-CPC expansion port adapter

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:55, 3 January 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[Category:CPC related companies]]
	Microstyle was a UK hardware company run by [[Phil Craven]], based in a private house in Low Moor, Bradford.		Microstyle was a UK hardware company run by [[Phil Craven]], based in a private house in Low Moor, Bradford.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 It advertised in [[Amstrad Action]] and other magazines every month without fail.
-However, among CPC users, it had a reputation for abysmal order fulfilment, cashing customers' cheques and not sending their goods.
+However, among CPC users, it had a reputation for abysmal order fulfillment, cashing customers' cheques and not sending their goods.
 == Avatar and GVL Microform ==

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 The monthly magazine adverts were almost identical to the Microstyle ones.
-Microstyle/Avatar software was also sold by a company called GVL Bagsform (a betting term), which soon changed its name to GVL Microform.
+Microstyle/Avatar software was also sold by a company called '''GVL Bagsform''' (a betting term), which soon changed its name to '''GVL Microform''', GVL was run by Phil's brother John Craven, but had a much better reputation for delivery.
-−
-This was run by Phil Craven's brother John, but had a much better reputation for delivery.
 == Software ==

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 * ABBA switch
 * ROM-board
-* RAM-ROM
+* [[Microstyle RAMROM]]
 * EPROM programmer
 * Plus-to-CPC expansion port adapter

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Microstyle was a UK hardware company run by [[Phil Craven]], based in a private house in Low Moor, Bradford.
-The company traded for many years and, along with [[Siren Software]], was the largest supplier of 3.5in B-drives. It advertised in [[Amstrad Action]] and other magazines every month without fail. However, among CPC users, it had a reputation for abysmal order fulfilment, cashing customers' cheques and not sending their goods.
+The company traded for many years and, along with [[Siren Software]], was the largest supplier of 3.5in B-drives.
 == Avatar and GVL Microform ==
-When Microstyle's reputation had been sufficiently besmirched and orders had begun to fall, Phil Craven closed the company and started up under a new name, 'Avatar'. (The word means "a new personification of a familiar idea" - a fairly obvious reference to the fact that Avatar was simply Microstyle reincarnated.)
+When Microstyle's reputation had been sufficiently besmirched and orders had begun to fall, Phil Craven closed the company and started up under a new name, 'Avatar'.
-Avatar was originally based in St Albans, as if to hide its origins, but soon moved back to Phil Craven's house in Bradford. The monthly magazine adverts were almost identical to the Microstyle ones.
+(The word means "a new personification of a familiar idea" - a fairly obvious reference to the fact that Avatar was simply Microstyle reincarnated.)
-Microstyle/Avatar software was also sold by a company called GVL Bagsform (a betting term), which soon changed its name to GVL Microform. This was run by Phil Craven's brother John, but had a much better reputation for delivery.
+Avatar was originally based in St Albans, as if to hide its origins, but soon moved back to Phil Craven's house in Bradford.
 == Software ==
@@ Line 19: / Line 28: @@
 * 'Style ROM' (includes Auntie John's Space Invaders and some printer utilities)
 * [[Maxidos]]
-* [[Procopy]]
+* [[CPC Procopy]]
 * [[Cirkit]] twin-port serial interface (resold)
@@ Line 33: / Line 42: @@
 == Parody ==
-A song that circulated among British CPC users at the time was called "Phil Craven's Avatar", to the tune of "Radio Gaga" by Queen. The words were "All I need is / Phil Craven's Avatar / Phil Craven's Avatar / Phil Craven's Avatar / Where's my disc drive gone? / Should have gone to John".
+A song that circulated among British CPC users at the time was called "Phil Craven's Avatar", to the tune of "Radio Gaga" by Queen.