Manuals which come with computers are not always up to scratch and the Oric 1 user guide is certainly no exception. But an abundance of authors are ready to fill the gap with further volumes.

This is one of them. It may seem late, but a sticker on the cover says it's for Atmos owners as well.

The author of this hefty tome has split the book into 17 chapters and seven appendices. The approach to understanding is a slow and long-wiinded explanation of the Oric's features with plenty of cartoons and diagrams. Such pretty graphics can always help explain subjects, but in this book they are used to excess.

Mr. McLean does touch all the relevant topics, dwelling on them at length but without providing much real substance. The programming examples are of the Mickey Mouse variety, which do not fully demonstrate features under discussion.

Eventually wading through the whole book, I did pick up a wealth of information along the way.

David Janda