Mike O'Riordan, Sales and Marketing Director at Acorn Computers Ltd, comments:
"The launch of these new products means Acorn can offer schools and individuals a comprehensive and expanded range of powerful and affordable computers. The A7000 is a powerful multimedia, network-ready, 32-bit RISC computer, which at £749 offers unbeatable value for money. We expect it rapidly to become the educational standard."He continues:
"The new Risc PC 600 and the Risc PC 700 continue the tradition of high-performance multimedia systems offering multi-processor capability, running Windows as a native operating system alongside Acorn's intuitive RISC OS, which has been continually refined since its launch in 1989. We now have models with more RAM, more ROM and built-in networking capacity for lower prices. Schools have asked for this power at lower prices and this is what we have delivered."All the new models come with increased ROM (4MB) which contains Acorn's ROM-based 32-bit operating system, RISC OS, freeing RAM memory for applications and the hard drive for storing data. By contrast, DOS and Windows operating systems reside in main memory and users have to buy more RAM to achieve a similar level of performance. Plug and play networking using Acorn Access is also available in ROM on all the new Acorn models, making networking as simple as slotting in a network card.
The A7000 is the latest addition to the A-series range and provides faster 32-bit multimedia functionality and improved networking capabilities. All three new A7000 models are available with an optional built-in CD ROM drive for under £100, and faster serial and parallel ports have been included to enable quicker printing and communications connections.
The A7000 2MB Net costs £749 (REP*), £1049 inc VAT (RRP) and is a hard-discless personal computer with a built-in Ethernet networking card. With enhanced screen resolutions, memory and sound performance, the A7000 2MB Net is ideally suited to the networking needs of schools and is designed to be used with any Acorn networking solution, whether peer to peer or fileserver technology. The A7000 also comes in two other new configurations: 2MB of DRAM and a 425 MB hard disc priced at £799 (REP) or £1099 inc VAT (RRP), or with 4MB of DRAM and a 425MB hard disc, priced at £875 (REP) or £1199 inc VAT (RRP).
The entry-level Risc PC 600, now with the 32-bit 33 MHz ARM 610 processor, has been updated to include 16-bit sound and built-in networking software, and has been reduced in price to £999 (REP) or £1349 inc VAT (RRP). Additionally, all new Risc PC models come with a minimum of 4MB of DRAM as standard and are available with an optional low cost CD ROM drive.
The new Risc PC 700 takes full advantage of the new 32-bit 40 MHz ARM 710 processor, with increased execution speed. The Risc PC 700 is available in two configurations: The Risc PC 700 with 1MB of VRAM, 4MB of DRAM and a 425MB hard disc will cost £1199 (REP) and £1599 inc VAT (RRP); the top-of-the-range Risc PC 700 with 2MB of VRAM, 8MB of DRAM and an 850MB hard disc will cost £1499 (REP) or £1989 inc VAT (RRP).
The Risc PC is Acorn's top-of-the-range personal computer which, through its innovative modular construction, allows fast and easy upgradeability. The Risc PC also has an innovative second processor slot for extra processor cards and, by adding a PC card starting at less than £100, can run a secondary operating system such as Windows natively, rather than under emulation. The new Risc PC range offers all the traditional strengths of RISC processing coupled with the additional benefits of interconnection and interworking with other technologies and products.
The Risc PC, which was originally launched in April 1994, was recently praised by the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Shephard, when it won First Place Gold in the secondary schools' category of the 1994/95 Educational Computing and Technology Awards. It was also chosen as Best RISC Product of the Year 1994 by Chip, one of Germany's foremost computing publications.
Founded in 1978, Acorn Computers Ltd designs, develops and markets appropriate technologies to identified markets and is one of the world's leading suppliers of information technology to education. The first supplier of low-cost 32-bit RISC based personal computers in 1987, Acorn remains one of the most cost-effective research and development organisations in the industry, renowned for technology innovation which has led to the formation of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and Online Media.
Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media. Acorn Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. Online Media, a division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the objective to design interactive multimedia products.
* REP: Recommended Education Price. All REPs shown are ex VAT.