Input

Input was a British part-work magazine published by Marshall Cavendish across 1984 and 1985. Sold weekly at newsagents, the 52 issues built into a comprehensive computing education covering programming, hardware, and applications across multiple platforms.

Part-works were a distinctly British phenomenon - magazines sold progressively that collected into reference sets. Input was the definitive computing part-work, teaching an entire generation to program.

Fast facts

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Issues: 52 weekly parts
Years: 1984-1985 — 52 weekly parts is one year, not two
Price: ~£1.25 per issue
Binders: Available for collection
Platforms: Multi-platform (Spectrum, C64, BBC, etc.)

Content Structure

Each issue covered:

Programming lessons - BASIC, progressing to advanced
Type-in programs - Working code to enter
Hardware explanation - How computers work
Applications - Word processing, databases
Conversion tables - Multi-platform support
Reference sections - Built into complete guide

The Part-Work Model

Part-works had unique characteristics:

Weekly purchase - Affordable £1-2 each
Progressive learning - Built skills over time
Collection incentive - Complete the set
Binders - Organise into reference books
Newsagent distribution - Widely available

Educational Approach

Input provided:

Structured curriculum
Multi-platform coverage
Beginner to advanced progression
Practical projects
Reference material

Collected Value

A complete Input collection became:

Programming textbook
Hardware reference
Software guide
Application tutorials

Many kept their collections for years.

Other Computing Part-Works

Input wasn’t alone:

The Home Computer Course (Orbis)
Computer Tutor (Marshall Cavendish)
How to Program Your… series

Legacy

Part-works demonstrated that:

Progressive learning worked
Affordable weekly cost enabled access
Multi-platform coverage was valuable
Reference collections had lasting use

The complete computing course