RISC-PC continuing to be manufactured, or not?
Paul Clark
comments on it, and it seems kind of fundamental:
Will the existing RISC-PC continue to be manufactured? Boland talked
about 'building only to order', which presumably means Acorn won't stock
them or the components to build them. If so, are there any dealers with
deep enough pockets and/or big enough markets to stock them? If not,
who is going to be buying them with a 2-3 month lead time (typical of
the components involved), and in sufficient quantities to justify
tooling for it (ASIC masking, PCB runs, placement, testing, plastics)?
Basically, apart from the fact the RISC-PC is known to work, this seems
to put the _current_ product line on the same basis as Phoebe - i.e.
"If they come, we will build it"
If this is the case, does anyone know the existing stock available in
the distribution chain, and how long it is projected to last? I have
OEM/VAR colleagues whose products depend on this...
What is Castle Technologies part in all this? Why did the 'consortium
of dealers' (Steering Group?) appear again in the release - I thought
they had 'pulled back' after the Begeman short-circuit.
So many questions, so few answers...
P.
--
Paul Clark mailto:p...@sysmag.com $ whois pc52
Systems Magic Ltd. http://www.sysmag.com
Russell Buckner
Paul Clark <p...@sysmag.com> wrote:
> Why did the 'consortium
> of dealers' (Steering Group?) appear again in the release - I thought
> they had 'pulled back' after the Begeman short-circuit.
What _is_ going on?
There was a posting announcing a meeting at the end of November, but no
news since.
As a user with a shopping list for hardware (mostly) and some software,
this silence is making me increasingly reluctant to part with any cash.
I fully realise that these things take time, and I wouldn't want anyone to
'jump the gun' and jeopardise the future for RISC OS by letting slip
'confidential' information, but without any news for some time I am
beginning to fear the worst :-(
If something positive doesn't shows signs of happening soon, I'll just
enjoy using my machine as it is, for as long as it lasts.
The dealers involved must realise that they need to do something to put
some confidence back into the market (and possibly revive their turnover
figures a little)
Russell
--
___ _ _
| _ \_ _ ______ ___| | | Russell Buckner - rjbu...@argonet.co.uk
| / || (_-<_-</ -_) | | Acorn Risc PC 700 50m 1.0G 8xCD
|_|_\\_,_/__/__/\___|_|_| StrongArm Soon - if I can ever get one!
dave lawton
Russell Buckner <rjbu...@argonet.co.uk> wrote in article
<48b5887c0...@argonet.co.uk>...
> In article <3677EE9...@sysmag.com>,
> Paul Clark <p...@sysmag.com> wrote:
> > Why did the 'consortium
> > of dealers' (Steering Group?) appear again in the release - I thought
> > they had 'pulled back' after the Begeman short-circuit.
>
> What _is_ going on?
>
> There was a posting announcing a meeting at the end of November, but no
> news since.
>
> As a user with a shopping list for hardware (mostly) and some software,
> this silence is making me increasingly reluctant to part with any cash.
> I fully realise that these things take time, and I wouldn't want anyone
to
> 'jump the gun' and jeopardise the future for RISC OS by letting slip
> 'confidential' information, but without any news for some time I am
> beginning to fear the worst :-(
>
> If something positive doesn't shows signs of happening soon, I'll just
> enjoy using my machine as it is, for as long as it lasts.
>
> The dealers involved must realise that they need to do something to put
> some confidence back into the market (and possibly revive their turnover
> figures a little)
>
> Russell
>
I posted this with some other bits on 4/12
paraphrased from the front page of PC DEALER dated 02/12/98
Paul Middleton, official representative for The Steering Group, revealed '
The working title for the organisation is The Risc OS Foundation, it will
take over management and development of Risc OS, and also it will be in
charge of licensing technology to hardware vendors. At the moment at least
3 vendors are interested.'
Paul also added ' the foundation will undertake research and development of
the OS to develop a 32-bit platform '
See also the thread A.Arc World 15/13
also look at castle's site <www.castle-technology.co.uk>
When would you like to buy your RiscPC then ?
--
Etc. Computers
Still selling Acorns
Doncaster South Yorkshire
Paul Clark
> I posted this with some other bits on 4/12
Yes, I saw that - fine and dandy, if it comes off (it seemed to be
'under discussion' last I heard), but we still need someone to actually
build the things. There seems to be a widespread underestimation of
quite how hard, and expensive, production is going to be.
> See also the thread A.Arc World 15/13
I just went back through DejaNews to look at that - I hadn't noticed it
before (I wish people would use more meaningful Subject:'s!)...
> also look at castle's site <www.castle-technology.co.uk>
...and I had a look at that, too...
...but given Acorn's announcement this week, I'm still at a loss as to
the long-term future for the RISC-PC (the current one, not Phoebe).
There were a lot of weasle words used which implied to me that they were
trying to extract themselves 'with honor' after a 'decent interval'.
So, the Big Questions seem to me to be:
a) Are Castle Technology going to manufacture the machines? I don't
just mean VAR'ing the bare machine with disks and software, I mean the
motherboard (mainly) and case.
b) Or can Castle generate the 'specific orders' Acorn wants, with enough
volume and lead-time?
c) Or is someone else going to manufacture it?
I'm sorry to sound irritated, but as an 'interested outsider'
(ex-insider) I'm amazed that no-one is able to say "Yes, you will be
able to buy the existing RISC-PC or developments of it for the next N
years" (N>=3) - without such a commitment, the market for an independent
platform will dry up overnight.
However, I'm aware that the world doesn't revolve around c.s.a.m,
(Shock!), so if such commitments have been made in magazines or at the
shows I'd be grateful to hear it, and I'll shut up (for a while ;-)
Orjan Larsson
> Will the existing RISC-PC continue to be manufactured? Boland talked
> about 'building only to order', which presumably means Acorn won't stock
> them or the components to build them. If so, are there any dealers with
Another company with an A as the first character in their name, are
using BuiltToOrder system on their web, and they are selling pretty much
8-)
(Couldnt resist it, one has to remember that Built to order can mean
very different things....)
Orjan
Stuart Bell
> Another company with an A as the first character in their name, are
> using BuiltToOrder system on their web, and they are selling pretty much
> 8-)
Except the demand over Christmas is expected to be so high for their
machines that the built-to-order facility is, I undertstand, suspended
for a month! No comment.
--
Stuart Bell working in a Wintel-free zone.
PB-100 FAQ at www.argonet.co.uk/users/sabell/pb100.html
JR's Duo FAQ at www.argonet.co.uk/users/sabell/duo.html
Looking for an LC575 logic board - or a cheap LC630!
Paul Clark
> Another company with an A as the first character in their name, are
> using BuiltToOrder system on their web, and they are selling pretty much
Apple? Whoever, doesn't that just mean they aren't stocking completed
boxes, and just put together the MB, disk, RAM, case (and screen, if
it's the iMac you're talking about) on a 'Just in Time' basis? That
makes sense (particularly for disks, which are on an exponential
MB/price curve at the moment), and of course this is how the OEM PC
builders work, but you can't do it with own-built electronics - the
setup costs and lead times are far too high.
I had assumed (with characteristic pessimism, I admit) that Acorn meant
'built to order' for electronics (MB) as well, since I had assumed
Castle Electronics were doing the final OEM'ing (disk, RAM) already
anyway. But maybe I'm wrong - you've offered a more positive
interpretation, certainly.
So the key question is, then - is Acorn going to stock RPC motherboards,
or not? And if not, who is? - somebody has to.
Stuart Bell
> I had assumed (with characteristic pessimism, I admit) that Acorn meant
> 'built to order' for electronics (MB) as well,
I'm pretty sure they did, effectively saying "We have the Motherboard
layout data, and will make x00 motherboards whenever anyone orders x00
motherboards." (Or complete machines - it's irrelevant. The point is
that they won't make stock that they haven't pre-sold.) Bad news.
Russell Buckner
Got one! (see sig) :-)
What about a Strong Arm Upgrade though? :-(
Chris Evans
<URL:mailto:rjbu...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <01be2956$025c9220$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>,
> dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> > When would you like to buy your RiscPC then ?
>
> Got one! (see sig) :-)
>
> What about a Strong Arm Upgrade though? :-(
A small batch of StrongARM Upgrades is due this month some in
each of the early months next year.
All decembers shipments are pre sold, Castle are now saying
that orders placed by dealers with them now are expected to be
shipped in February.
Regarding RiscPC's if Castle and Acorn VAR's will irrevocable
Order enough RiscPC's (for delivery over a number of months)
then Acorn will order them from the Factory.
How many is 'enough' is confidential, I don't think it is massive,
so I see no problem.
Chris Evans
--
CJE Micro's / NCS 'Acorn Centre of Technology'
Telephone: (01903) 523222 Fax: (01903) 523679
ch...@cje.co.uk http://www.cje.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN.
N/V/S Fazakerley
wrote:
>
> In article <48b687c6a...@argonet.co.uk>, Russell Buckner
> <URL:mailto:rjbu...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> > In article <01be2956$025c9220$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>,
> > dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> > > When would you like to buy your RiscPC then ?
> >
> > Got one! (see sig) :-)
> >
> > What about a Strong Arm Upgrade though? :-(
>
> A small batch of StrongARM Upgrades is due this month some in
> each of the early months next year.
Will they be revision T SAs?
-Neil F.
dave lawton
Russell Buckner <rjbu...@argonet.co.uk> wrote in article
<01be2b6f$6f4f8840$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>...
> In article <01be2956$025c9220$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>,
> dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> > When would you like to buy your RiscPC then ?
>
> Got one! (see sig) :-)
>
> What about a Strong Arm Upgrade though? :-(
I think that Chris Evans has already answered this, but just to make sure,
the next two batches of SA upgrades are due one at the begining and one at
the end of Jan(99), but advance orders have already wiped out any free
stock. However the next one after those (mid Feb) is mainly free. I also
have a bit of info on RiscPC & A7000 but I can't release it as yet.
Martin Longley
dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> I also have a bit of info on RiscPC & A7000 but I can't release it as yet.
There seems to be alot of information that can't be released just yet. Any
idea when?
Martin Longley
--
mar...@lexiconlifeline.co.uk
Acorn User Editorial
Martin Longley <Mar...@lexiconlifeline.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <01be2dec$1d369240$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>,
> dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> > I also have a bit of info on RiscPC & A7000 but I can't release it as
> > yet.
>
> There seems to be alot of information that can't be released just yet. Any
> idea when?
When it's no longer commercially sensitive.
[He replied helpfully]
--
Steve Turnbull
Editor, Acorn User (edi...@acornuser.com)
http://www.acornuser.com/
PGP key available
Rey Cobham
dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> Russell Buckner <rjbu...@argonet.co.uk> wrote in article
> <01be2b6f$6f4f8840$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>...
> > In article <01be2956$025c9220$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>,
> > dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> > > When would you like to buy your RiscPC then ?
> >
> > Got one! (see sig) :-)
> >
> > What about a Strong Arm Upgrade though? :-(
> I think that Chris Evans has already answered this, but just to make
> sure, the next two batches of SA upgrades are due one at the begining
> and one at the end of Jan(99), but advance orders have already wiped out
> any free stock. However the next one after those (mid Feb) is mainly
> free. I also have a bit of info on RiscPC & A7000 but I can't release it
> as yet.
At last! But are they the older (rev S?) versions or the RISC OS4
friendly type? I've got one on order but don't fancy having to spend
another 100 quid upgrading to get the most out of it. It's going to work
out costly enough as it is - upgrading Style etc to SA versions,
StrongGuard...
Has the price for RO4 actually been decided yet? (someone suggested a
somewhat scary price of around 150 quid!). If it is this high then it'll
certainly be dropping back on my shopping list - I may eventually get
round to stumping up the cash simply to help out the new developers (/not/
Acorn I presume).
WRT RISC OS4 has it been determined what'll happen to files with 'long
filenames' when they're used on previous versions of RISC OS - assuming
floppy disks (other portable media?) will be allowed longer names. My
mother is about as untechnical as you can possibly get and she works
mainly on an A3000 but also on our Risc PC, transferring the files when
necessary - any restrictions would undoubtably cause problems...
TTFN
Rey
--
The Dark Lord Of All is awaiting his sig. file
Web-Site: TBA Real Soon
E-Mail: fo...@argonet.co.uk
Dickon Hood
Rey Cobham <fo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
: WRT RISC OS4 has it been determined what'll happen to files with 'long
: filenames' when they're used on previous versions of RISC OS - assuming
: floppy disks (other portable media?) will be allowed longer names.
They are: [EF]+ format. 'Disc not understood, has it been formatted?'
errors. Gave me a fright...
: My mother is about as untechnical as you can possibly get and she works
: mainly on an A3000 but also on our Risc PC, transferring the files when
: necessary - any restrictions would undoubtably cause problems... TTFN
Format the discs on the A3K then (which you'll need to do anyway as they're
HD by default), or nake sure she formats them with E format, not E+.
This is, of course, assuming that the OS is ever released. 'Oink' <flap>
comes to mind...
--
Dickon Hood
Due to binaries posted to non-binary newsgroups, my .sig is
temporarily unavailable. Normal service will be resumed as soon as
possible. We apologise for the inconvenience in the mean time.
Henry Helliwell
In message <c154eab848%aued...@acornuser.idg.co.uk>
Acorn User Editorial <aued...@post.idg.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <48b8e92a...@argonet.co.uk>
> Martin Longley <Mar...@lexiconlifeline.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <01be2dec$1d369240$LocalHost@qizhqdcd>,
> > dave lawton <e...@cwcom.net> wrote:
> > > I also have a bit of info on RiscPC & A7000 but I can't release it as
> > > yet.
> >
> > There seems to be alot of information that can't be released just yet. Any
> > idea when?
>
> When it's no longer commercially sensitive.
Who (out side the world of Acorn/RISC OS) would want infomation about
Acorn's computers? (Or is that also sensitive?)
--
Henry Helliwell he...@stohelit.demon.co.uk
PGP Key http://www.stohelit.demon.co.uk/key.asc
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Rey Cobham
Dickon Hood <dicko...@fluff.org> wrote:
> In message <48b8f20...@argonet.co.uk>
> Rey Cobham <fo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> : WRT RISC OS4 has it been determined what'll happen to files with 'long
> : filenames' when they're used on previous versions of RISC OS - assuming
> : floppy disks (other portable media?) will be allowed longer names.
> They are: [EF]+ format. 'Disc not understood, has it been formatted?'
> errors. Gave me a fright...
I bet it did!
> : My mother is about as untechnical as you can possibly get and she works
> : mainly on an A3000 but also on our Risc PC, transferring the files when
> : necessary - any restrictions would undoubtably cause problems... TTFN
> Format the discs on the A3K then (which you'll need to do anyway as
> they're HD by default), or nake sure she formats them with E format, not
> E+.
D'oh! For some reason (known only to the fridge keeper -hic) I assumed
the long filenames would work on older floppy formats. As Mumsy doesn't
worry/know about formatting disks this'd be no problem.
Ta for the help.
> This is, of course, assuming that the OS is ever released. 'Oink' <flap>
> comes to mind...
LOL
How can you possibly say that? Acorn have put it on their Web site! ;o>
BTW I presume the 'normal dealer channels' mentioned are the pre-Castle
Technology ones. Anybody know?
Anyhow the release of RO4 can only be a good thing - as long as the funds
are going to someone interested in the future of RISC OS desktop machines.
Stephen Crocker
Rey Cobham <fo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <14165b948%dicko...@splurge.fluff.org>,
> Dickon Hood <dicko...@fluff.org> wrote:
>
> > This is, of course, assuming that the OS is ever released. 'Oink' <flap>
> > comes to mind...
> LOL
> How can you possibly say that? Acorn have put it on their Web site! ;o>
Like Phoebe...
> Anyhow the release of RO4 can only be a good thing - as long as the funds
> are going to someone interested in the future of RISC OS desktop machines.
Some chance! Why do I get the feeling that this was a move to get the
Steering Group out of the way?
--
x^ ( ) _________ // Email: mailto:cr...@crok.demon.co.uk
< U O |_|_|_|_|_| O || WWW: http://www.crok.demon.co.uk
\, |/|\ _________ [ ]
. |/^\ . 2 . /__\
... Two most common elements in the universe: Hydrogen & Stupidity.
Andrew Wineberg
Rey Cobham <fo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> BTW I presume the 'normal dealer channels' mentioned are the pre-Castle
> Technology ones. Anybody know?
From a perusal of the rest of Acorn's new, mysterious, website, in
particular <URL:http://www.acorn.com/acorn/sales/>, it would appear that
the 'normal dealer channels' are post-CTL. It is all very intriguing.
--
Andrew Wineberg <A.Win...@BTINTERNET.COM>
<URL:http://www.BTINTERNET.COM/~a.wineberg/> for my portrait and details
Everymans Wine
<cr...@crok.demon.co.uk> wrote:
:) Why do I get the feeling that this was a move to get the
:) Steering Group out of the way?
Oh that's horrible. If that's true I could just scream.
Peter.
--
Everymans Wine, Tel: +44 (0) 1743 36 24 66
100 Frankwell, Shrewsbury, Fax: +44 (0) 1743 23 12 48
United Kingdom, SY3 8JS. WWW: http://www.everymans.com/
Dickon Hood
Stephen Crocker <cr...@crok.demon.co.uk> wrote:
: Before being shot for writing message <48ba7b8...@argonet.co.uk>
: Rey Cobham <fo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
: > Anyhow the release of RO4 can only be a good thing - as long as the funds
: > are going to someone interested in the future of RISC OS desktop machines.
: Some chance! Why do I get the feeling that this was a move to get the
: Steering Group out of the way?
Because you're even more cynical than me?
Dickon Hood
Rey Cobham <fo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
: In article <14165b948%dicko...@splurge.fluff.org>,
: Dickon Hood <dicko...@fluff.org> wrote:
: > This is, of course, assuming that the [ROS 4] is ever released. 'Oink'
: > <flap> comes to mind...
: LOL
: How can you possibly say that? Acorn have put it on their Web site! ;o>
I *think* I wrote that before I read the announcements about the release,
however a *hell* of a lot of alcohol and a large number of sleepless nights
have clouded my memory somewhat, and I can't be bothered to check the
datestamps :-)