MicroScope

Launched in 1982, the first issue of MicroScope was published on 23 September in broadsheet format. It was first produced by Dennis Publishing Ltd who during this period became a leading publisher of computer enthusiast magazines in the United Kingdom. Felix Dennis was chairman and Peter Jackson took control of the paper as its founding editor.

In the early 1980s, driven by a growth in sales of IBM microcomputers and with the arrival of distribution - particularly Northamber and Westcoast[4] the ICT channel emerged.

In 1998, Dennis Publishing Ltd sold MicroScope to Reed Business Information, along with a number of other titles including The VAR, Network Reseller News and Business & Technology.[5]

In the early 2000s, the magazine maintained its coverage of the industry which expanded to include specialist distributors, including the likes of Hammer, CMS Distribution, Magirus, Wick Hill and Zycko. The reseller level also adapted to increasingly complex customer needs with the emergence of technology and vertical market specialists.

MicroScope observed that the channel is moving more towards a subscription-based consumption model. There has been a growth in the number of managed service providers (MSPs) and most of the major distributors have established their own cloud marketplaces, providing applications and services.

The channel has continued to evolve and adapt to changing market needs and is now seen by many customers as the 'trusted advisors' helping them with their digital transformation needs. Over the course of the channel’s transformation the magazine consistently spectated and commented on the ICT channel marketplace, now through monthly digital magazines, but also with daily news content on the website.

In March 2011, MicroScope was sold to TechTarget ceasing print edition publication and became an online magazine; the last printed edition was published on Monday 28 March 2011. Computer Weekly published its last print edition on Tuesday 5 April 2011 and similarly transferred to a digital format.

The editor-in-chief, commonly known simply as “the Editor”, of MicroScope is charged with formulating the magazine's editorial policies and overseeing corporate operations. Since its 1982 founding, the editors have been:

• Peter Jackson: 1982 - 1984
• Guy Kewney: 1984 - 1986 (Served as editor at large from 1982 - 1984)
• John Lettice: 1987 - 1991
• Keith Rodgers: 1991 - 1996
• Billy MacInnes: 1996 - 2002
• Simon Quicke: 2002–present

The MicroScope Awards for Channel Excellence (MicroScope ACEs) were launched in 2007 as prestigious awards with the aim of rewarding the achievements of distributors and resellers across the channel.

The entry process for the awards would kick off around November or Late October with the award ceremony usually taking place in late May or Early June in Central London.

The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts including analysts, independent consultants and editorial staff from MicroScope. The shortlist drawn up by the judges was then posted online with the readership of the magazine then given an opportunity to vote for the winners.

Award Categories as follows:

Reseller

• SME reseller of the year
• Storage reseller of the year
• AV reseller of the year
• Networking/comms reseller of the year
• security reseller of the year

Distributor

• Security distributor of the year
• Storage distributor of the year
• Networking/comms distributor of the year
• AV distributor of the year

Editor's choice

• Vendor of the year

During their first 3 years, the Microscope ACE’s grew and established themselves as one of the leading industry awards. Following the sale of MicroScope to TechTarget, the 2011 awards ceremony was postponed.

The ACEs continued to run digitally until 2016 before the format was postponed awaiting future development.

25th anniversary awards as follows:

• Most influential person of the past 25 years
• Most significant vendor of the past 25 years
• Most significant distributor of the past 25 years
• Most significant reseller of the past 25 years