RPC2 cancelled, Acorn WS cancelled, Acorn World cancelled!! HAR
Kaustav Bhattacharya
Acorn World 98 cancelled, huh?
Risc PC 2 cancelled. It was going to happen at some stage :)
Work Station division... EXPLODE!!!!! :)
wwwwweeeeeeeeee!!!!!
Ferdinand Veldmans
<3600FF72...@bbc.co.uk>...
> AHAHAHA!!! mwah ha ha!! hehe HAHAHAAH!!!!
> Acorn World 98 cancelled, huh?
> Risc PC 2 cancelled. It was going to happen at some stage :)
> Work Station division... EXPLODE!!!!! :)
>
> wwwwweeeeeeeeee!!!!!
Dickhead.
--
Ferdinand Veldmans (aka LogiX of Topix)
f.vel...@ehv.tass.philips.com
Visit TopixWEB at http://www.dse.nl/~topix/
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Windows 98 - Who do you want to fool today?
Liam Gretton
<URL:mailto:k.bhatt...@bbc.co.uk> wrote:
> AHAHAHA!!! mwah ha ha!! hehe HAHAHAAH!!!!
> Acorn World 98 cancelled, huh?
> Risc PC 2 cancelled. It was going to happen at some stage :)
> Work Station division... EXPLODE!!!!! :)
>
> wwwwweeeeeeeeee!!!!!
I'm sure all those who have just lost their jobs will be jumping for joy
too.
Grow up.
--
Liam Gretton l...@star.le.ac.uk
Space Research Centre, li...@binliner.demon.co.uk
Physics and Astronomy Dept, phone +44 (0) 116 223 1039
Leicester University, fax +44 (0) 116 252 2464
Leicester LE1 7RH, UK http://xmm4.xra.le.ac.uk/
Greg Hennessy
<k.bhatt...@bbc.co.uk> wrote:
Hmmm what have the fanatics to say now ?
greg
Ian Molton
Oh god, look what crawled out from under it's stone now.
--
-Ian aka Lennier
Acorn Computers, the best in the world
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hawk/
BaBe - Women's human rights organisation in Croatia
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hawk/babe/
Preferences: Cats, Zap, Purple, Aspie
Richard D Skegg
reported is true, then I am bl**dy brassed off with Acorn.
There are a large number of us IT Co-ordinators who have loyally
supported Acorn through thick and thin. Then to read of them dropping
Acorn World and RPC2 is more than just a bit annoying.
Richard D Skegg
PS Those people at Acorn who've just lost their jobs must think that the
buffon jumping for joy is a really nice fella. My greatest sympathy to
them all. Many thanks for all the hard work you must have put in over
the years.
Richard D Skegg
Richard
Liam Gretton
<URL:mailto:win...@pftp.org.uk> wrote:
> There are a large number of us IT Co-ordinators who have loyally supported
> Acorn through thick and thin. Then to read of them dropping Acorn World
> and RPC2 is more than just a bit annoying.
So much for their declarations of loyalty to existing users eh?
I think that the cancellation of AW98 will do an awful lot of harm, as this
is one of the only times of the year that many Acorn developers get to meet
customers face to face, and more importantly, sell them their products.
I guess the top brass at Acorn decided it would be too embarrassing to face
angry enthusiasts who were looking forward to buying a new machine.
Ian Molton
Liam Gretton <l...@star.le.ac.uk> wrote:
> I guess the top brass at Acorn decided it would be too embarrassing to
> face angry enthusiasts who were looking forward to buying a new machine.
They still havent spoken to the entusiasts - we had to find out elsewhere.
Neil Spellings
> In article <ant17153...@xmm4.xra.le.ac.uk>,
> Liam Gretton <l...@star.le.ac.uk> wrote:
> > I guess the top brass at Acorn decided it would be too embarrassing to
> > face angry enthusiasts who were looking forward to buying a new machine.
>
> They still havent spoken to the entusiasts - we had to find out elsewhere.
Indeed they havn't - I heard from a friend (who's luckily kept his job!)
A few of my own thoughts :
I hope somebody does buy-up the rights to manufacture Phoebe, as all the
development work has been done and it is effectively a working product.
RISC OS will survive - Acorn use it far too many of their now 'core' products
to let it fall by the wayside.
I've yet to comprehend the impact on developers and dealers, although that I
suppose will depend if anyone buys up the rights to continue producing
workstations.
Obviously my comiserations go to all those made redundant, although I know all
are highly skilled inviduals who should have no problems gaining employment.
Still not a nice situation to be in though.
Acorn World '98 being cancelled will mean alot of lost sales, although I'm
sure the other shows will go ahead as planned, and will probably be even
better supported as a result. Shame it had to happen to the biggest show of
the year though.
Well, another month and Acorn Workstations _would_ have made 20 years!
Regards,
/Neil/
--
+-------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Neil Spellings | Spellings Computer Services Ltd |
| NT Systems Analyst | Telephone 0171 451 1960 |
+-------------------------+---------------------------------+
| StrongARM Acorn RiscPC Owner |
| Chairman, Association of Acorn User Groups (AAUG) |
+------------- http://www.argonet.co.uk/scs/ ---------------+
Views expressed are entirely my own...
Barry Wickett
<URL:mailto:jo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
>
Acorn only seem to have released a press release and not told anybody
officially!
There is no mention of it on their website. No CSA.announce. No
apologies for all who have stuck with them all these years. They are
dumping the side of the market that most of us are interested in so they
don't need to be nice to us anymore. Is this the picture other people
are getting?
Perhaps some of us were being too faithful.
Barry
John Hammell
<URL:mailto:jo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
>
>
> Jon
>
Yep, they are still selling tickets fast and furious!
They were willing to take my credit card details 10 mins ago!
--
John Hammell
Neil Spellings
> Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
I suspect noone's got round to telling them - Acorn employees themselves
only found out this morning. They'll be alot of work to do sorting out
cancellation fees and refunds etc.
Greg Hennessy
<mh12...@cr10m.staffs.ac.uk> wrote:
>Oh god, look what crawled out from under it's stone now.
Taking these disclosures rationally I see.
greg
dgs
> Hmmm what have the fanatics to say now ?
The next meeting of the Manchester Acorn User Group will be at
7:15pm on Monday 28th September, where Mark Moxon will have
"lots to talk about". Venue TBA.
best regards,
Your friendly local fanatic(s).
Manchester Acorn User Group - http://www.acorn.manchester.ac.uk/
RPC x86 Card Info Pages - http://acorn.cybervillage.co.uk/pccard/
"And the band played on" - anonymous Acorn Workstations employee
Fred Bambrough
Jonathan Porter <jo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
I know. I placed my order for tickets at 5.30 this evening!
Don't know what to say. I feel just so...
It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
--
Fred
Mailto:fr...@ypical.demon.co.uk
PGP key available
Peter Howkins
He may be irrational, but at least he's irational with style. Unlike you
who
reminds me of a vulture some what.
Peter
--
Peter Howkins
<p.j.h...@lboro.ac.uk>
Dave Roberts
<URL:mailto:fr...@ypical.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Don't know what to say. I feel just so...
>
> It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
My feelings exactly. It is extremely upsetting to think that all that I see
and read here might very soon just disappear. As you say, a whole community
has just had its guts ripped out! Acorn has been a part of my life for over
14 years (no small part!), the Acorn 'net community for 5. I almost feel as
if someone (may have :) just died...
Still... Kudos to Noah Demo 3 and !Lander for encouraging me to get an
Archy when I was looking at moving to a PC. I never regretted it!
That said, I still have some spare cash sitting around and if what once was
Acorn could be resurrected, with some hope of a future (ie this
announcement hasn't just shattered 3rd party development (Hold in there
Vanders!)), I know where I'd put it.
[misc only]
--
Dave Roberts
Da...@pharpech.demon.co.uk
mrp...@leeds.ac.uk
exa...@my-dejanews.com
> > Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> > Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
> >
Picture the scenario! Acorn staff have been working day and night, flat
out to get Acorn World up and running, Phoebe up and running and NCs up and
running. We get told that we are now unemployed and all you lot can do is
*bitch* and *moan* that we did not immediatly go onto the newsgroups and
the WWW pages to tell you!!
> Acorn only seem to have released a press release and not told anybody
> officially!
>
> There is no mention of it on their website. No CSA.announce. No
> apologies for all who have stuck with them all these years. They are
> dumping the side of the market that most of us are interested in so they
> don't need to be nice to us anymore. Is this the picture other people
> are getting?
Wake up Barry. This is the real world!! 75 people are now considering
how are they going to pay the mortgage next month, send the kids to school
with no lunch money etc etc. We loved Acorn as well and spent two and a
halfyears fighting internally to make the RPC et all stay as a product.
<Soap Box ON>
I have personally been reading the newsgroups for nearly 3 months on and off
and all I see in these groups is doom and gloom. Any opportunity to knock
Acorn and it's taken. We had customers phoning the support lines saying
"I own an A3010 that I bought in 1990, I am a loyal Acorn customer. How do
I convert my files to a PC?" Some loyal customer eh?? This was a very
common call.
Clan member phoning up complaining that the Clan magazine was too shiney!!
Clan member phoning up complaing they do not get a disocunt on their RPC
purchase.
WAKE UP!!!! For Ł15 LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP, you have helped push Acorn into
the descision of closing the Products business...
How many news items have YOU read from people complaining that Phoebe was
too poor a spec? TOO DAMN MANY!
<Soap Box OFF>
> Perhaps some of us were being too faithful.
Like all the Acorn staff who seem to have been forgotten about.
From a Very disappointed ex Acorn employee who fought hard for you and feels
very let down by this community!
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
exa...@my-dejanews.com
Barry Wickett <Ba...@tquest.org.uk> wrote:
> In article <4887138...@argonet.co.uk>, Jonathan Porter
> <URL:mailto:jo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> > Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> > Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
> >
> officially!
>
> There is no mention of it on their website. No CSA.announce. No
> apologies for all who have stuck with them all these years. They are
> dumping the side of the market that most of us are interested in so they
> don't need to be nice to us anymore. Is this the picture other people
> are getting?
Back in the real world, 75 people have just lost their jobs remember
>
> Perhaps some of us were being too faithful.
>
> Barry
John Hammell
<URL:mailto:jo...@jhammell.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <4887138...@argonet.co.uk>, Jonathan Porter
> <URL:mailto:jo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> > Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> > Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
> >
> >
> > Jon
> >
>
> Yep, they are still selling tickets fast and furious!
>
> They were willing to take my credit card details 10 mins ago!
>
Can't someone else take the show over???
What about all the other exhibitors ... couldn't they get together?
--
John Hammell
John Rees
<neil.sp...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> I hope somebody does buy-up the rights to manufacture Phoebe, as all the
> development work has been done and it is effectively a working product.
It struck me that the last re-structuring,was designed to make it
easier to sell off the Workstation Division. They created a nice entity
that could easily be floated off.
--
John Campbell Rees
<jw...@argonet.co.uk> http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/jwcr/index.htm
"Just like swatting flies with a laser cannon. The aims a bit tricky, but it sure takes care of the flies" - Lord Miles Vorkosigan from "Komarr" by Lois McMaster Bujold
Nicholas Foster
<URL:mailto:Da...@pharpech.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <8dbe1d8748%fr...@ypical.demon.co.uk>, Fred Bambrough
> <URL:mailto:fr...@ypical.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Don't know what to say. I feel just so...
> >
> > It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
>
> My feelings exactly. It is extremely upsetting to think that all that I see
> and read here might very soon just disappear. As you say, a whole community
> has just had its guts ripped out! Acorn has been a part of my life for over
> 14 years (no small part!), the Acorn 'net community for 5. I almost feel as
> if someone (may have :) just died...
I think I am going to cry :-( .. Never a sader story told.
>
> Still... Kudos to Noah Demo 3 and !Lander for encouraging me to get an
> Archy when I was looking at moving to a PC. I never regretted it!
>
> That said, I still have some spare cash sitting around and if what once was
> Acorn could be resurrected, with some hope of a future (ie this
> announcement hasn't just shattered 3rd party development (Hold in there
> Vanders!)), I know where I'd put it.
>
> [misc only]
>
--
Best Wishes,
Nick mailto:ni...@foster.newnet.co.uk
mailto:ni...@weblocust.co.uk
http://www.weblocust.co.uk/ - Web site design and construction for everyone.
Roger W Wylde
<URL:mailto:fr...@ypical.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Jonathan Porter <jo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> > Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
>
Acorn an nice big cancellation fee.
>
> Don't know what to say. I feel just so...
Gutted, I think is the word, I was in the process of
shopping around the dealers for the best deal having
got the 500ukp deposit together. I still want to buy
the machine, even if there's no upgrade path. Streuth,
I'd even pay up front before the machine was built.
>
> It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
So true, people wouldn't buy beebs and Masters from me
if there wasn't something about owning a quality
british machine.
I just hope the fateful decision wasn't made on the
basis of the current reservation count. With the
deadline a month and a half away, there was plenty
of time for people to still place there orders.
Just when things like a positive Acorn reference
on the Sunday Times CD ROM made it look like
they had a positive public image (ie they actually
exist).
Please Acorn, please tell me this is a cheap way
of drumming up custom, to see how much support
there really is.
Roger (seriously depressed, off to watch Friends).
--
Roger Wylde (Acorn Risc PC, 200Mhz StrongARM, 50Mb and A4 Laptop, 4Mb)
_____ _ ___ _____ _ _ mailto:ro...@nifty.demon.co.uk
| _ | | _|_ _| |_| | Visit the Nifty Web Site
| | | | | |_ | | \ / url:http://www.nifty.demon.co.uk
| | | | | _| | | | | Home of Nifty Software - lots of free software
|_| |_|_|_| |_| |_| & Witley Court - Worcestershire's premier ruin
-BBCs and Masters as well as other stuff, all for sale on the Nifty Site-
- Download NiftyMenu - the easy way to organise your apps -
John Rees
> > Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> > Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
It seems that no-one has bothred telling the people who design the
Acorn official web site. According to the Workstation Division's pages,
everything is still fine and dandy, and orders are still being taken for
Phoebe.
Greg Hennessy
<p.j.h...@lboro.ac.uk> wrote:
>He may be irrational, but at least he's irational with style. Unlike you
>who
>reminds me of a vulture some what.
Must be these large wings on my back :-)
greg
Matt Rix
> Don't know what to say. I feel just so...
> It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
I know exactly what you mean.
That's what happens when companies like Micro$haft become all-powerful; it
stifles innovation, not promotes it. Just using MicroSoft software is enough
to remind me why I have fought to be different all these years. I'm damn
well not going to stop now.
--
Matt Rix !!! JOIN CONVERGENCE INTERNATIONAL - THE NON-WINTEL USER GROUP: !!!
http://surf.to/bigrisc/ http://www.convergence.org/
To respond by e-mail, first remove "||REMOVE||" from my e-mail address
Adam Evans
<URL:mailto:exa...@my-dejanews.com> wrote:
>
> Wake up Barry. This is the real world!! 75 people are now considering
> how are they going to pay the mortgage next month, send the kids to school
> with no lunch money etc etc. We loved Acorn as well and spent two and a
> halfyears fighting internally to make the RPC et all stay as a product.
It could be more than 75 people, if dealers, devlopers, software houses
fail to survive with moral in the market low!
Everyone needs to pick themselves up, hope that the Workstations division
does surive (somehow), and then really make things work.
Adam Evans
Paul Stewart
Today is a sad day. A truely sad day for all of us.
Hey, aren't we forgetting something here. There are more companies than Acorn producing RISC OS computers.
There's IMS with their peanut and then there's the MEDI. As long as RISC OS computers are still being
produced, then it's not too bad.
Okay, we've been let down by Acorn. Now we have to support those companies still making RISC OS computers.
If we don't RISC OS will fade away like the Atari and the Amiga. We have to keep on supporting it, because
it we don't, the Medi and the Peanut will not be developed further, nor will the software that supports the
RISC OS platform. It's up us, the supporters of RISC OS and the developers to keep the light shining. Maybe
if it shines bright enough, there will be a good future for the RISC OS platform - there has to be light at
the end of the tunnel. If you look at the information from Bloomberg UK, Acorn aren't completely deserting
us, they are still going to continue to manufacture the RISC PC and the A7000+ computers. Maybe the RISC PC2
will eventually be launched, maybe it won't but as RISC OS supporters we owe it to ourselves to ensure that
it carries on in desktop computers and to ensure that it survives well on into the future.
The time has come to stop tearing Acorn apart, to stop the harsh comments that have come from this newsgroup
in the past regarding the RISC PC2. Let's face it they haven't exactly helped, have they? I mean for a
newsgroup that is supposed to be Pro Acorn, Pro RISC OS. Of late there have been far too many negative
comments about Acorn and their new computer. Anyone would think this was the ANTI-ACORN newsgroup. We've
shot ourselves in the foot many times, time I'm afraid it might be once to often (just like the Tory party)
this time.
Now is the time to show solidarity.
Now is the time to unite behind what is left.
Now is the time to show that when to going get's tough, we stay for the entire ride, and don't bail out.
It's up to us, we can make a difference. We can break the mould that Microsoft is making for everyone. We
can defy the odds.
I intend to stick with RISC OS, and attend the next big show. wherever that may be. I hope you do to.
Regards Paul Stewart.
Supporting RISC OS to the end !!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Cartmell
<exa...@my-dejanews.com> wrote:
> a Very disappointed ex Acorn employee who fought hard for you and feels
> very let down by this community
Every sympathy. I for one am sorry that I didn't make more positive
comments here - but I was making such comments to people who might buy the
excellent products.
There was no expectation here that an Acorn employee would comment - I'd
assumed that those who were in contact here would be too bloody angry to be
coherent (your mail is commendable in its restraint).
My very best wishes to you and your (ex)colleagues - and is it too much to
expect that you might be working again on an Acorn-like platform?
--
John Cartmell
Manchester
using Acorn RiscPC & StrongARM
Paul C.Robinson
> > It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
>
>
> We gotta keep going some how.. u're's very sad and P***ed :(
I had my own company which I had to fold in 1990 and I never felt
as bad as I did today. (Nothing to do with Acorn just for the info.)
Then I read this news group and there is light in the form of a buy out.
IF they have sorted out the IOMD2 problems before the Phoebe team went
home then we still may see it.
Lets just look for a moment.
Most of the parts to make Phoebe are standard PC kit.
It is only the yellow box, front cover, mother board and CPU card
that needs to be manufactured. The remainder should be off the shelf
stuff.
When I was at the last dealer day, Russell and Chris were explaning
how the Clan deposit deal would work. So lets look at that. I thought that
if we start at the RRP of 1,499 ex VAT.
They offerd a 425.53 ex VAT Clan discount.
142.40 Dealer Bonus
149.90 normal dealer discount
Say 200.00 for standard items CDROM, HD, floppy, PSU, memory ect.
(This may be even less depending on quantity)
581.17 left to produce and assemble.
Not much left for profit. But in numbers, well that is different.
So if the price remained the same and clan members still sent in their
deposits, then someone may still be able to make a go of it.
There are 15,000 Clan members. Many of which have or were prepared
to pay the deposit. A good start dont you think.
Any takers?
--
PC Robinson Acorn@heart
Aleph One Support:- Tel UK (00 44) 1708 403028 Fax UK (00 44) 171 9199401
Aleph One Ltd, Bottisham, CAMBRIDGE, CB5 9BA, UK Tel (00 44) 1223 811679
Web site http://www.aleph1.co.uk/
Acorn Dealer authorization number 7003 South Essex.
The Havering Acorn Centre:- Tel 01708 852225 Fax 0171 9199401
Web site http://www.havaccnt.demon.co.uk/
Martin Piper
Dear all.
We at TBA Software find it very difficult to come to terms with the news
that Acorn have decided to close the workstations department. We are extremely
sad that Acorn have decided that this closure of the workstations section
should happen.
We are also very shocked that Acorn World 98 has been postponed and
that the Pheobe, one of our greatest hopes for the next gen machine, is not to
go into production. Our deepest sympathies also go out to the workers and
their famalies that must be feeling very insecure at the moment.
We are also very sorry to the public in general and I'm sure our
associates at RComp will join us in saying that we intend to still produce
great games for the Acorn as long as it remains practical to do so.
It would be quite natural at this stage to point a finger of blame or feel
angry at Acorn for not doing more to protect the workstations department but
in reality there is no body to blame, least of all Acorn, who probably had very
good reasons for taking such a step.
It is going to take a while to deal with this news, but it is now up to you
the consumer and us the companies of the Acorn market to band together and make
sure the scene doesn't die.
--
Martin Piper
Partner, TBA Software.
Free demo downloads of our software at http://www.tba-software.co.uk/
Quake is nearly upon us! Tremble before the power that is Quake.
Andrew P. Harmsworth Esq.
This was my impression at first. But the facts are all there - users let
Acorn down. You cannot expect a new machine to launch if few people want to
buy it. Last I heard, numbers were as low as 200 reserved - that would have
generated little profit, if at all, and they could not have even thought of
producing that few. Afterall - to put it into perspective, there are 10,000
new RiscPCs still in stock - all very useful. All probably to be sold now
through Xemplar.
People have been saying that we should all go out and buy Phoebe as if Acorn
were a charity. I'd LOVE to have bought one, but the problem is that Acorn's
are just too damn good in terms of longevity - my StrongARM RiscPC is simply
too good to be true, even after nearly two years. I have no need for Phoebe,
and I suspect that that is the case with most people.
Hence: few orders placed for Phoebe. Acorn slash price effectively 500ukp -
and still? Few orders for Phoebe. Acorn shelve Phoebe. In terms of business
sense - it all makes sense. Sad? YES. I'm not saying it isn't, and I'm not
saying that Phoebe wouldn't have been a dream machine - but now it is all a
dream.
The market has rallied behind Acorn shares, with 600,000 sold today whilst
the FTSE itself DIVED. This is good news, not bad - if Acorn are to have a
future, they have more chance of it now, than if they'd launched Phoebe and
made a terrible loss (more than that spent already).
APH
--
Science Coursework http://start.at/scirep * Warwick School * * *
Warwick School http://welcome.to/warwick * WARWICK * Physics Dept
Solar System http://travel.to/theplanets * CV34 6PP, UK * 01926 776464
* * * * * * my own views * * * a...@warwick.warwks.sch.uk * * * *
Nathan Briggs
> It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
My feelings exactly.
<depressed period=ad_infinitum>
Nathan [wishing he didn't have to write this] Briggs :-(((((((((((((((((((
* ...less brains than a Rehus monkey after the third course of a Vietnamise wedding banquet.
/\ Yes, this is in ref. to the Acorn board! (I fixed this tagline :-)
--
Nathan Briggs, Acorn Programmer __ Clan Acorn: Member _
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/briggs/ (_ __ __ o _ _ _|_ _|_
bri...@argonet.co.uk __) |_| | | | | | _> (_) | |_
David Courtney
<Pa...@havaccnt.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Lets just look for a moment.
> Most of the parts to make Phoebe are standard PC kit.
> It is only the yellow box, front cover, mother board and CPU card
> that needs to be manufactured. The remainder should be off the shelf
> stuff
Acorn should only of made and sold exactly these parts. + RiscOS. :-)
It's the attempt to make other bits that put the price up.
It's the price to spec that killed the sales.
I'm sure the above could be run of a production line at 300 pounds a set.
And the PC parts aren't even the real state of the art.
Same spec Pheobe for 700 quid anyone. :-) I'm not kidding.
As for the producer, well if it doesn't sound too crazy.
There's this company in cambridge called Acorn, that consider
themselves experts in this area. Maybe they could run off a batch
on a sub contraction basis. Might have to take on some more staff!
--
Toodle Pip
_________________________________________________
David A. Courtney http://www.jinksies.com/fun.htm Interactive Fun
Risc OS Stuff at ftp://ftp.jinksies.oaktree.co.uk/pub/raw '-'-'-'-'-'-'-'
David Thorn
On Thu, 17 Sep 1998, Martin Piper wrote:
>
> We are also very sorry to the public in general and I'm sure our
> associates at RComp will join us in saying that we intend to still produce
> great games for the Acorn as long as it remains practical to do so.
>
So, about tuesday then?
> It would be quite natural at this stage to point a finger of blame or feel
> angry at Acorn for not doing more to protect the workstations department but
> in reality there is no body to blame, least of all Acorn, who probably had very
> good reasons for taking such a step.
>
No, there were no *really* good reasons. The development money had been
spent, even if they had only put the machines for which a deposit has
been paid into production they would still have made less of a loss than
they have now.
I remember P. Bondar saying at a conference that the SA RPC cost less than
300 UKP to supply, and the rest went towards new technologies. Now, we
as people whi have over the years religiously bought these new
techonologies have lost out for something that Acorn have failed at in
real terms (the Oracle contract is a classic example).
> It is going to take a while to deal with this news, but it is now up to you
> the consumer and us the companies of the Acorn market to band together and make
> sure the scene doesn't die.
>
Fuck it, and you know it. Most of ius now, particularly those who have
put money aside for a new machine are going to go out in the next week and
buy a PII 400 or whatever.
Most people stuck with the platform in the face of much better opposition
in the vain belief something better would come along.
It hasn't.
That's all folks.
Dave.
Barry Wickett
> Fred Bambrough <fr...@ypical.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
>
A little extreme I think.
Even if nobody takes on the Workstations side of things Acorns and their
users will be around for quite a few years yet :-)
Barry
Barry Wickett
> > <URL:mailto:jo...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> > > Scuse me but what is this AW98 canceled.. erm try telling that to London
> > > Arena Box office!! not for them it's not!??
> > >
>
> out to get Acorn World up and running, Phoebe up and running and NCs up and
> running. We get told that we are now unemployed and all you lot can do is
> *bitch* and *moan* that we did not immediatly go onto the newsgroups and
> the WWW pages to tell you!!
>
> > officially!
> >
> > There is no mention of it on their website. No CSA.announce. No
> > apologies for all who have stuck with them all these years. They are
> > dumping the side of the market that most of us are interested in so they
> > don't need to be nice to us anymore. Is this the picture other people
> > are getting?
>
> how are they going to pay the mortgage next month, send the kids to school
> with no lunch money etc etc. We loved Acorn as well and spent two and a
> halfyears fighting internally to make the RPC et all stay as a product.
>
Acorn forgetting that it is mainly a bunch of enthusiastic people. Not
just an entity.
I've been unemployed myself, luckily it was only I that went without.
> <Soap Box ON>
>
> I have personally been reading the newsgroups for nearly 3 months on and off
> and all I see in these groups is doom and gloom. Any opportunity to knock
> Acorn and it's taken. We had customers phoning the support lines saying
> "I own an A3010 that I bought in 1990, I am a loyal Acorn customer. How do
> I convert my files to a PC?" Some loyal customer eh?? This was a very
> common call.
>
> Clan member phoning up complaining that the Clan magazine was too shiney!!
> Clan member phoning up complaing they do not get a disocunt on their RPC
> purchase.
>
> WAKE UP!!!! For £15 LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP, you have helped push Acorn into
> the descision of closing the Products business...
>
> How many news items have YOU read from people complaining that Phoebe was
> too poor a spec? TOO DAMN MANY!
Not everything has been doom and gloom. There were a lot of positive
postings from people like myself who work with Acorn computers every
day. I work with them in a business environment and sell many inside
science exhibits. I couldn't do my job to the level I do without the use
of my Acorn.
I went to the developers conferences and got excited about the release
of RPC2. I was happy with the progression from RPC1. We had many plans
for what we would do with a more powerful machine *and* loved the
colour! We would have bought many and sent them around the world as we
have done with RPC1s.
>
> <Soap Box OFF>
>
> > Perhaps some of us were being too faithful.
>
> Like all the Acorn staff who seem to have been forgotten about.
>
Many postings to this group have remembered them, and mentioned nothing
else.
I've been faithful to Acorn since the early eighties. I too was feeling
a little forgotten about. However, to me this announcement does not mean
unemployment.
>
> From a Very disappointed ex Acorn employee who fought hard for you and feels
> very let down by this community!
I'm sorry you feel so let down. People slagging others off always seem
to shout the loudest. Thanks for fighting.
Barry
dgs
Barry Wickett <Ba...@tquest.org.uk> wrote:
> > > It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
> >
> > That just died :(
>
> A little extreme I think.
>
> Even if nobody takes on the Workstations side of things Acorns and their
> users will be around for quite a few years yet :-)
As ever, Barry, you summarise it so well. MAUG announced its new
URL yesterday, and its next meeting today. Plenty of energy
left as yet.
Manchester Acorn User Group - http://www.acorn.manchester.ac.uk/
RPC x86 Card Info Pages - http://acorn.cybervillage.co.uk/pccard/
"And the band played on" - Anonymous Acorn Workstations employee
John Waddell
<URL:mailto:k.bhatt...@bbc.co.uk> wrote:
> AHAHAHA!!! mwah ha ha!! hehe HAHAHAAH!!!!
> Acorn World 98 cancelled, huh?
> Risc PC 2 cancelled. It was going to happen at some stage :)
> Work Station division... EXPLODE!!!!! :)
>
> wwwwweeeeeeeeee!!!!!
>
> http://quote.bloomberg.com/analytics/bquote.cgi?story_num=603780470&view=story&version
> =front.quote.uk.cfg
>
Who is this turd?
--
John Waddell, Langbank, Renfrewshire
Darren Salt
John Rees <jw...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <360138B4...@argonet.co.uk>, Neil Spellings
> <neil.sp...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
>> I hope somebody does buy-up the rights to manufacture Phoebe, as all the
>> development work has been done and it is effectively a working product.
> It struck me that the last re-structuring,was designed to make it easier to
> sell off the Workstation Division. They created a nice entity that could
> easily be floated off.
Hindsight. Wonderful thing; if only we had it at the time... :-|
--
| Darren Salt anti-UCE | nr. Ashington, | ds@youmustbejoking,demon,co,uk
| Acorn Risc PC, A3010, | Northumberland | ds@zap,uk,eu,org
| Spec+3, BBC Master 128 | Toon Army | arcsalt@spuddy,mew,co,uk
| Ni!
Borg bumper sticker: "We Brake for Technology."
Ross Tierney
> development work has been done and it is effectively a working product.
It's not a matter of 'buying up' the rights. Other than licencing RISC OS
for it, they'd sell the design for virtually nothing - it'll never make them
any money, so they can virtually give it away. They've already written-off
the development costs so that won't make any difference either.
The problem is making the damn thing in quantities. 2000 unit (a pretty
small number) would cost millions. There are very few companies around
willing to spend that speculating that enough Acorn users still exist who
are willing to buy it when the original manufacturer won't touch it.
Supported platform? Nah.
Acorn have shot themselves in the foot on this one IMHO. *AND* they've
ruined any chance of somebody else taking up the reigns.
> RISC OS will survive - Acorn use it far too many of their now 'core'
> products to let it fall by the wayside.
You and I won't see RISC OS around for much longer. It won't be on our
desktops once the Linux STB's hit the market and M$ push in next year
heavily with Web TV. Acorn won't even get a serious look-in. They just shot
themselves in the foot - and soon now I suspect they'll notice they've just
shot a hole in the boat under them. Water is now flowing in.
> I've yet to comprehend the impact on developers and dealers, although that
> I suppose will depend if anyone buys up the rights to continue producing
> workstations.
You've hit on something very serious there too. Acorn have a history of
having supported their enthusiast market pretty well over the years. They've
just binned that.
Do you think that new consultancy clients will want to work with a company
that cans products and customers that easily?
Me neither.
> Obviously my comiserations go to all those made redundant, although I know
> all are highly skilled inviduals who should have no problems gaining
> employment. Still not a nice situation to be in though.
Hundreds of others are facing imminent unemployment soon too. The dealers &
developers have hundreds of staff who are ow all facing P45's - possibly
including myself. Not a situation I'm overjoyed about.
> Acorn World '98 being cancelled will mean alot of lost sales, although I'm
> sure the other shows will go ahead as planned, and will probably be even
> better supported as a result. Shame it had to happen to the biggest show of
> the year though.
Sales of what exactly? Other than Peanut there won't be another computer for
any of us. I have to agree though, the thought of an SA-powered laptop does
sound mighty, mighty appealing now though. Better start saving my
dole-money :)
> Well, another month and Acorn Workstations _would_ have made 20 years!
Stupid is as Stupd does. Cest la vie.
Ross Tierney.
r...@eidos.co.uk "...Breathing in... Breathing out..."
kra...@argonet.co.uk -An Old Friend
Ross Tierney
> Can't someone else take the show over???
>
> What about all the other exhibitors ... couldn't they get together?
S'cuse me? Nobody has stood firmer against the Wintel tide than me, but even
I can't see the point - other than as a wake.
Mind you, that would be one *helluva* party!
Hey! Lets do it!!! :)
Ross Tierney
> It struck me that the last re-structuring,was designed to make it
> easier to sell off the Workstation Division. They created a nice entity
> that could easily be floated off.
Yup. That had been the plan. Sadly though, management in the new Acorn
'didn't have the time' - and that's straight from the big-wigs as I hear it.
If they had just waited a few more weeks, or perhaps a month, put Phoebe on
hold under the cover of a 'problem with IOMD2' that would have been
eminently plausible and would have allowed those looking at a buy-out a
chance to negotiate.
They didn't wait; and so they've killed it stone-cold.
Ross Tierney
> Acorn could be resurrected, with some hope of a future (ie this
> announcement hasn't just shattered 3rd party development (Hold in there
> Vanders!)), I know where I'd put it.
Now all we need are another 1,998 others who feel that way and we CAN
resurect the RPC2. Sadly, as even the manufacturer wouldn't support it, I
doubt we'll get 19.
Ian Molton
> Regards Paul Stewart.
> Supporting RISC OS to the end !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will NEVER buy a wintel box.
Now I cant get a Phoebe, I will buy either a CATs or an Alpha. (Probably
CATs, as I like ARM processors. (I wonder if we'll see an FP capable ARM10
CATS II ?)
--
-Ian aka Lennier
Acorn Computers, the best in the world
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hawk/
BaBe - Women's human rights organisation in Croatia
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hawk/babe/
Preferences: Cats, Zap, Purple, Aspie
Ian Molton
Fred Bambrough <fr...@ypical.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> It's not just a computer. It's a whole bloody community.
I shall miss the community spirit - there's nothing quite like it anywhere
else. :-(
Ian Molton
Roger W Wylde <ro...@nifty.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Roger (seriously depressed, off to watch Friends).
My god, you MUST be depressed :-)
(I'm gutted, personally. Something just died. It was the last credible
british desktop computer. Britain will never have a desktop machine again.)