Penguin

Differences between version 11 and predecessor to the previous major change of Acorn.

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Newer page: version 11 Last edited on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 11:44:05 pm by AristotlePagaltzis Revert
Older page: version 10 Last edited on Tuesday, August 5, 2003 2:26:20 pm by DavidHallett Revert
@@ -1,28 +1,20 @@
-A series of [ARM] and [StrongARM] based computers , running [RiscOS] .  
-For more comprehensive info, see [FOLDOC|http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/foldoc.cgi?query=acorn] 
+A now disfunct, innovative british system design company - and the story of an underdog who didn't but did win , kinda . See also [FOLDOC|http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/foldoc.cgi?query=acorn] 
  
-Very popular with some schools as they were the successor to [BBC ] model B micros in a lot of classrooms before the rise of the [PC ]. 
+(One of?) their first products was the Electron computer. It plugged into the television, had 16 KB of memory, and ran [BASIC ] in [ROM]. You could load programs from cassette tape via a normal audio tape deck, or you could type them in. A floppy disk, even a harddrive, were available as insanely expensive expansion modules. The [CPU] was a 6502B, just slightly different from what powered the hugely successful [Commodore64] home computer. Unfortunately, neither graphics nor sound capabilities could hold a candle to those of the [Commodore64 ]. 
  
-''Note to original author, I do not believe the [Acorn]s ever used the [StrongARM] Chip, just the [ARM] . I could be wrong so I just leave this note .'' 
+''I had one of those.. *sigh* memories ..'' --AristotlePagaltzis  
  
-''Whoever made the above comment is incorrect. The [RiscPC] series of computers made by [Acorn ] used the [StrongARM ] processor.'' --DavidHallett  
+The next model was the Acorn [BBC ]. Because they were British, schools in the UK used the [BBC ] computers. Some schools in NewZealand followed suit. The BBC Model B also had a 6502 processor. This was probably mid -to -late 80's to early 90's.  
  
-''Yeah , you're right Olly, it was late , I was lazy! - BTW, I DTPed our Te Awamutu College school magazine on an Archimedes (A3000?) back when a [GUI] was SERIOUSLY cool ...'' --GreigMcGill  
+After that was the Acorn Archimedes. They were very popular with some schools as they were the successor to [BBC] model B micros in a lot of classrooms before the rise of the [PC]. Their [CPU] was [Acorn] 's own , later incredibly successful [ARM] chip. Their OS was called RiscOS , which had a [GUI] and was very well designed . Eventually, though, schools and the public started using the cheaper mass -produced drivel that still haunts us today.  
  
-Actually, Acorn was the company
+''I DTPed our Te Awamutu College school magazine on an Archimedes (A3000?) back when a [GUI] was __seriously__ cool ...'' --GreigMcGill  
  
-We used to have an Acorn Electron computer. It plugged in to the television, had 16 KB of memory, and ran [BASIC ] in [ROM ]. You could load programs from cassette tape via a normal audio tape deck , or you could type them in .  
-No idea what sort of chip these ran
+An attempt to counter the rising popularity of the then so-called "[IBM] compatibles" was called [RiscPC] and ran the [StrongARM ] series [CPU ]s . These too ran RiscOS and had a novel system design consisting of modules. To update the hardware , you didn't have to open the case, you just added a new module just as you do to "update" your stereo system. Unfortunately. .. 
  
-'' In case you're referring to the Acorn Electron , I actually had one of those. The [CPU ] was a 6502 just slightly different from what powered the hugely successful [Commodore64 ] home computer. Unfortunately, neither graphics nor sound capabilities could hold a candle to those of the [Commodore64] . --AristotlePagaltzis''  
+In the end , [Acorn ] Computers Ltd. was shut down (accompanied by much mourning in the connaissant geek community), as [WinTel ] machines dominated the market and drove them out of business
  
-The next model was the Acorn [BBC ]. Because they were British, schools in the UK used the [BBC] computers . Some schools in NewZealand followed suit . Again , I don't know what sort of chips these ran. This was probably mid-to-late 80's to early 90's.  
-  
-''The BBC Model B had a 6502 processor. --DavidHallett''  
-  
-After that was the Acorn Archimedes . This definitely had an [ARM ] chip in it, and ran the flash RiscOS with a [GUI ]. [RiscOS] was very well designed. Unfortunately...  
-  
-Eventually , schools (and the public) started using the cheaper mass -produced drivel that still haunts us today ... 
+However, the [CPU ] design was sourced out to the newly funded [ARM Ltd .|http://www .arm.com] , an IntellectualProperty only company that holds the rights to the [StrongARM] architecture . Even [Intel ] have licensed it, and a huge market share of hand held and embedded devices nowadays run on [StrongARM ] derivatives . So , in a way, " the king is dead - long live the king" ... 
  
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 Part of CategoryCompany and OldComputers 
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