Acorn Risc PC Press Releases
agl...@acorn.co.uk
Acorn Computers Launches the Risc PC Range
Acorn Computers, the leading supplier of 32-bit RISC based personal
computers, has today announced a new family of Acorn products. The Acorn
Risc PC is based on a new architecture offering significantly increased
speed and graphics, and enhanced functionality and connectivity.
The Risc PC's improved performance is enabled by: the ARM 610 RISC
processor; full 24-bit colour support; unique second processor capability,
offering users access to other environments such as DOS or Windows; and an
innovative modular case design allowing easy and low-cost expansion. This
is all supported by the latest release of RISC OS, Acorn's acclaimed
operating environment. Compatible with over 90% of existing RISC OS
software, the Acorn Risc PC will be launched with over 3,000 software
applications already available.
Sam Wauchope, Managing Director of Acorn Computers comments: "The launch
of the Risc PC marks a major leap forward in technology for Acorn and its
customers. The innovative design of the Risc PC offers exceptional
performance and value for money. In terms of speed, graphics and true
multimedia, the Risc PC is the best personal computer available today.
Risc PC's compatibility with existing software, coupled with a guaranteed
low-cost processor upgrade path, and simple and effective expansion with
industry standard memory and peripherals, ensures that existing and new
Acorn customers have their investment protected for the future. As the
requirements of our users develop, Risc PC will be able to cope with and
exceed these."
Acorn is committed to the innovative use of technology and works with
industry partners and customers to provide appropriate systems for its
target markets. As a result, Acorn has developed a product line-up that
matches both the market's expectations and open system requirements.
Initially three product configurations will be offered.
Founded in 1978, with 1992 revenues of #48.2m, Acorn Computers is the
premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the leading
provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. In 1990,
Acorn established an associate company, Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) in a
joint venture with Apple Computer and VLSI Technology Inc to develop and
exploit further Acorn's RISC processor technology. Acorn works closely
with a strong community of other industry partners, users and software
developers to provide innovative technology solutions for the education,
consumer, publishing and international markets. Acorn Computers Limited is
part of the Acorn Computer Group plc, which went public on the USM in 1983.
---
PR29/15.4.94
A wealth of applications available today for the Acorn Risc PC
Acorn Computers, the leading supplier of 32-bit RISC based personal
computers, will launch its range of Risc PC systems with a multitude of
applications already available to run on it. Thousands of existing RISC OS
titles are available to Risc PC users. The backward compatibility of the
Risc PC means that over 90% of existing RISC OS applications run with the
new architecture. In addition, the Risc PC's unique dual processor
capability will allow access to software from other environments, most
notably with Windows or DOS.
Offering existing Acorn users excellent investment protection, users will
be able to run software in every application category from the day the Risc
PC is launched, from education to consumer, business, the home, and print
and publishing. The advanced technology of the Risc PC, with features such
as 16 million colours and increased processor speed and memory, will improve
the performance of existing RISC OS applications, as well as openingthe door
to a host of new applications.
In addition to the existing base of applications, Acorn has been working
with independent software developers to develop new solutions which will
take advantage of the new architecture. For example, Risc PC will
demonstrate the full capabilities of multimedia applications with increased
RAM and the Full Motion Video on Acorn Replay. Risc PC's true 24-bit
colour, delivering 16 million colours, will also greatly improve graphics
applications.
Sam Wauchope, Managing Director of Acorn Computers, comments: "The launch
of the Risc PC with such a huge number of software titles available to run
on it will greatly benefit users. Risc PC's phenomenal capabilities will
also offer software developers an elegant and suppotive development
platform, paving the way for a whole new generation of multimedia software
development."
Every Risc PC will be shipped with an application called !Products, a
database giving users information about running existing RISC OS
applications on the Risc PC. Information is included on approximately 850
current applications detailing whether they will run without amendments, if
any minor configuration changes are needed or an upgrade is required. In
the very few cases where an upgrade is required, details are provided of how
to obtain this.
Founded in 1978, with 1992 revenues of #48.2m, Acorn Computers is the
premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the leading
provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. In 1990,
Acorn established an associate company, Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) in a
joint venture with Apple Computer and VLSI Technology Inc to develop and
exploit further Acorn's RISC processor technology. Acorn works closely
with a strong community of other industry partners, users and software
developers to provide innovative technology solutions for the education,
consumer, publishing and international markets. Acorn Computers Limited is
part of the Acorn Computer Group plc, which went public on the USM in 1983.
---
PR30/15.4.94
Acorn Computers launches biggest ever marketing campaign with the Risc PC.
Acorn Computers, the leading supplier of 32 bit RISC based personal
computers, is launching its new range, the Risc PC, with its biggest ever
marketing push. The launch marks a major leap forward for Acorn and, by
exploiting the latest in the ARM 32-bit RISC processor designs, Acorn has
opened the door to a world of opportunities in multimedia and innovative
multiplatform technology.
The Risc PC will have revolutionary implications in Acorn's strongholds of
education and the home, but increasingly also in Acorn's newest target
market - the use of multimedia for professional purposes. The campaign will
include direct mail, national, trade and regional press advertising and a
three day London-based launch event.
Mike O'Riordan, Sales and Marketing Director of Acorn Computers, comments:
"The campaign will illustrate that, with the Risc PC, Acorn has produced a
product range which is innovative in both technology and design. The
products are fully capable of meeting users' needs today and also provide
the technology and upgrade path to meet their requirements tomorrow. In
sheer speed, graphics, video performance and in multimedia, the Risc PC is
unrivalled by any other personal computer.
Furthermore, Acorn's unique second processor capability, which permits the
user to run an Intel or other processor alongside Acorn's own processor
whilst sharing memory and other facilities, means those who need to access,
for example, DOS or Windows applications can do so while exploiting the
unique advantages offered by the Risc PC."
Acorn's marketing campaign is built around the theme 'A world of
opportunities' which serves to highlight the wealth of opportunities that
the new range will offer for users, and also for Acorn and its developer
community.
In addition the theme reflects the fact that the Risc PC's innovative
design will present further opportunities for Acorn to expand its programme
of industry partnerships. Acorn has already established a number of highly
successful joint initiatives with major players, including Novell, Apple,
Psion and Kodak, and the Risc PC now opens up the field for wider
opportunities on the international stage.
Founded in 1978, with 1992 revenues of #48.2m, Acorn Computers is the
premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the leading
provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. In 1990, Acorn
established an associate company, Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) in a joint
venture with Apple Computer and VLSI Technology Inc to develop and exploit
further Acorn's RISC processor technology. Acorn works closely with a
strong community of other industry partners, users and software developers
to provide innovative technology solutions for the education, consumer,
publishing and international markets. Acorn Computers Limited is part of
the Acorn Computer Group plc, which went public on the USM in 1983.
---
Technical Overview
Key Benefits of Risc PC
-----------------------
The world's most cost-effective, efficient 32-bit RISC computers.
Low cost processor upgrade strategy, protecting the users investment today
and into the future.
RISC OS - a powerful, muli-tasking operating system, tried and tested by
millions of users.
A wealth of powerful applications software from personal productivity
tools to true multimedia. True 24-bit colour delivering 16 million colours.
Low cost access to DOS and Windows applications.
Lightning fast manipulation of still and moving images.
High-performance multi-channel stereo sound as standard on all models.
Modular and upgradeable computer systems that grow with users needs
The ARM 610 processor
---------------------
Like its predecessor the ARM 3, the ARM610 is designed by Advanced RISC
Machines (ARM) Limited and is a 32-bit RISC CPU with a 4 KB cache. The new
processor gives the Acorn Risc PC exceptional performance, particularly in
full-colour modes (when fitted with VRAM). For example, it is approximately
twice as fast as the Acorn A5000 in 16 colour VGA mode.
Future upgradeability is guaranteed as faster versions of the ARM 600 and
future generations of the ARM700 (Q4 1994) and ARM800 will be available for
use in the Acorn RISC family for seamless migration.
Risc PC can address up to 256MB of memory, and although current technology
limits its physical memory to 128MB using commercially available DRAM, the
Risc PC has more than enough RAM to load and manipulate the largest
full-colour images and combine them with text, graphics, video and sound.
Risc PC also supports up to 2MB of VRAM.
Dual processor facility offers full 486 PC capability
-----------------------------------------------------
The Risc PC's open architecture makes it possible to fit a second
processor to the computer, sharing all the memory, input and output
facilities of the main ARM610 processor. This represents a tremendous cost
advantage over traditional processors mounted on an expansion card, which
often required memory to be duplicated. Any processor may be used, provided
its card contains all necessary arbitration logic.
The first of these second processors to be offered on the Risc PC will be
a 25/33 Mhz 486SX PC card including DOS and Windows. With a PC Card fitted,
the Risc PC will behave just like an ordinary 486 PC with Windows and a
graphics accelerator offering SVGA video (800 by 600 with 16 million
colours).
A special Application Specific IC (ASIC) is currently being developed
embodying all the speed dependent PC logic. Performance will be further
enhanced by an optional 32KB or 128KB secondary cache on the processor chip,
which will be managed by a cache controller included in the ASIC.
It is expected that even higher performance PC cards, using the P24T type
Pentium processors, will soon be introduced. Other uses of the dual
processor capability are also being planned by independent developers.
DMA Extended Bus Interface (DEBI)
---------------------------------
The Risc PC can take two single-width expansion cards in its standard
configuration, plus two more for every centre-section added to the system.
The DEBI bus also supports Direct Memory Access (DMA), so data can be read
from and written to system RAM by expansion cards, without interrupting the
CPU.
The new DEBI bus makes it possible to implement even higher performance
expansion cards handling large amounts of data, such as video-capture and
direct-drive printer cards, which can have substantial on-card buffer
memory, directly addressable to the ARM processor.
Acorn and multimedia
--------------------
Acorn has consistently been a pioneer in the development of multimedia,
from the earliest days of the BBC Micro, with sound, colour and graphics, to
the latest innovations in full motion video and in the natural integration
of CD-ROM technology with computers. As described above, every Risc PC
comes with full 24-bit colour capability; the support for up to 256MB RAM
and 2MB of VRAM; and a large hard disk (minimum of 210MB). Stereo sound and
video playback are also standard. An integral CD-ROM drive providing Photo
CD support is also available as an added option. This all makes the new
Risc PC the ideal choice for multimedia applications.
The Risc PC has eight channels of stereo sound as standard and has a
built-in speaker and stereo headphones socket. This is complemented by
Acorn Replay - Acorn's full motion video system. A world leader, Acorn
Replay has made it possible for thousands of users to put together
multimedia publications on Acorn computers at low cost. Acorn Replay's
playback software, ARPlayer, is included with every Risc PC, together with a
number of movies demonstrating the capabilities of Acorn Replay.
Acorn's heritage in multimedia means a strong base of multimedia authoring
applications already exist. These enable the user to combine video, audio,
text and images in hypertext-linked documents which can be designed for
interactive training, reference and project work.
Networking
----------
The preferred means of networking is Ethernet and Acorn supports both
thick and thin media. Additional multi-session cards will enable one or
more protocol stacks (e.g. TCP/IP and IPX) to be run simultaneously
regardless of the type of media. The use of industry standards enables
Acorn users to run mixed network environments with different types of
machines where they are running standard software.
Full 24-bit colour
------------------
The Risc PC offers a choice of up to 16 million colours and up to 1600 by
1200 resolution. Industry standard TIFF and JPEG 24-bit colour images can
be loaded into the Risc PC, decompressed on the fly and displayed as RISC OS
bit image files.
Made possible by a new ARM VIDC20 video chip, a new colour picker or
palette allows the user to work in one of the three colour modes - RGB,
CMYK and HSV.
Optional CD-ROM drive
---------------------
The Risc PC has an empty 5.25" drive bay, ready to receive an optional
CD-ROM, providing an integrated, neat CD-ROM solution. Both RISC OS and
(using a PC card) DOS CD-ROMs can be used. Acorn Replay movies can be
played from CD-ROM, and (subject to copyright) images copied from both RISC
OS and DOS format disc, translated into sprites, edited and used in RISC OS
applications.
The optional CD-ROM drive enables the user to read Kodak Photo CD-format
discs, while the video performance of the Risc PC ensures that none of the
original picture quality is lost. Once displayed on the computer, PhotoCD
images can be edited and dropped into multimedia publications.
New, versatile case design
--------------------------
The Acorn Risc PC range features an innovative case design. Leading
design house Cambridge Product Design has combined contemporary styling and
ergonomics to produce a product that is both aesthetically pleasing and
practical. Constructed in a high-impact-resistant plastic, which is usually
used in the manufacture of visors and riot shields, the case is robust and
hard wearing. To cut down electrical emissions, the inside has been metal
sprayed.
The case's modular construction makes upgrading simple as the Risc PC can
be taken apart in seconds without any tools. The Risc PC supports an almost
limitless range of configurations and upgrades (memory, disc drives, CD-ROM
drives, expansion cards, network cards and even additional processors) and
therefore this ease of access is important.
The base system contains a 3.5" floppy disk drive, a hard disk (at least
210 MB), one vacant bay for a 5.25" device (e.g. CD-ROM), two available
expansion slots and a space for a networking card. Each additional system
layer, or 'slice', enables the user to add an additional 3.5" device, a
5.25" device and two more expansion cards. Up to six additional slices can
be added in total (the maximum number of expansion cards per system is
eight.) Adding extra devices or cards is achieved very simply. Cards are
slotted directly into the back of the computer; network cards and additional
3.5" or 5.25" devices involve simply removing the lid and plugging in.
Monitors
--------
The AKF60 Super VGA 14" monitor is included as standard with all initial
Risc PC confirgurations. As an option, users of any of the Risc PC models
can upgrade to an AKF85 17" monitor. The AKF85 will provide a high quality
alternate monitor for users needing up to 1600 by 1200 resolution.
Initial Product Configurations
System Configuration RRP ex VAT
Acorn Risc PC 600 2MB DRAM #1249
210MB hard disk
Acorn Risc PC 600 4MB DRAM #1399
1MB VRAM
210MB hard disk
Acorn Risc PC 600 8MB DRAM #1699
1MB VRAM
420MB hard disk
_______________________________________________________________________________
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