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So What's the A6 Computer from STD Really Like?
Front cover and reprint by kind permission of Qercus magazine. So what's the A6 computer from STD really like? (A reprint from Qercus issue 268) The A6 What is the A6? The A6 is a new generation of RISC OS computer. It is based around a high-specification PC running Windows XP. An emulation environment called VirtualRPC enables this machine to appear to RISC OS as if it is a traditional RiscPC machine, and so normal RISC OS applications can be run. Can I run all RiscPC applications? Virtually all, yes. The exception are those which rely on direct access to the parallel or serial ports such as the dongled versions of Impression, although the non-dongled versions work fine, and some modem diallers - internet connections are provided by the emulation environment via the internal modem or network interface. How fast? The A6 will generally run user applications much more quickly than the fastest StrongARM RiscPC. Applications which rely on the transfer of large amounts of data, such as DTP or graphics manipulaton will perform faster still. Such applications also benefit from 8MB of "VVRAM", which means that large screenmodes in true colour are no problem. Our new A6+ offers further enhancements and even better performance - see the last page of this leaflet for details. You're biased! Yes, we are - we specified the A6 to offer an ideal RISC OS emulation environment and we're proud of our achievements. But don't take our word for it - enclosed is a copy of a review of the A6 computer which originally appeared in Qercus issue 268. -
Using Your Desktop
Valade_06.qxd 3/31/05 2:58 PM Page 73 CHAPTER 6 Using Your Desktop inux provides two basic types of interface for you to use when working with your computer: GUI (graphical user interface) and CLI (command-line interface). An L overview of the interface types is provided in Chapter 5. In this chapter, the most common type of interface, a GUI called a desktop, is discussed in detail. The CLI is dis- cussed in detail in Chapter 7. Linux can start without a desktop, but most users prefer to have Linux start with a desk- top. The installation instructions provided in Chapter 4 result in a desktop opening at startup. A desktop interface functions as the top of your desk, supplying an empty work- ing surface and a set of tools. Different distributions provide different desktops, but most provide KDE (K Desktop Environment) and/or GNOME (Gnu Network Object Model Environment)—the Big Two of Linux desktops. The default desktop differs by distribution. For instance, Fedora defaults to GNOME, and Mandrake/SuSE defaults to KDE. However, you can change the default once you decide which desktop you prefer. KDE and GNOME are open source software, each developed in a project of its own. New versions are released independently of Linux releases or the release of any specific Linux distribution. As a result, different distributions include different KDE and/or GNOME versions. In addition, KDE and GNOME are very configurable. Almost everything about them can be changed. Consequently, KDE and GNOME don’t look exactly the same in different distributions or versions of distributions. -
Raspberry Pi 400
Advertisement 40 years of improving on the best. In 1981 the first BBC Microcomputer was released with 16K RAM, 8 colours, and a clock speed of 2MHz. Over the next 40 years a pedigree of fast machines running the world’s best operating system, RISC OS, appeared. We won’t bore you with the rest of the facts. Except to tell you about the latest computer. Which runs RISC OS*, of course. It has 253,952 as much RAM, 2 million more colours, runs 900 times faster, and is 10 times lighter than the BBC Microcomputer. BBC Microcomputer Model A. 8 colours, 16K RAM, 2MHz, 3700g. Raspberry Pi 400. 16M colours, 3968MB RAM, 1.8GHz, 386g. The new Raspberry Pi 400. Still improving on the best. Raspberry Pi 400 machine available from all good internet retailers. RISC OS downloadable separately. *Other operating systems available. “Raspberry Pi” is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. E&OE. Drag ’N Drop | www.dragdrop.co.uk | Winter 2021 | Page 2 Contents EDITORIAL Welcome to another edition of Drag ’N Drop. Amongst the gloom of the pandemic, there’s something to look forward to in 2021 and that’s 40 years of the BBC Micro. Incredible to think the little beige machine and its sucessors like the Archimedes and RISC OS introduced many people to computers and programming in a fun way, your editor being just one! Were it not for that I doubt I would have been remotely interested in computers as they’d just be drab, inaccessible things running horrible operating systems. -
Risc PC X86 Card User Guide Risc PC X86 Card User Guide Copyright © 1995 Acorn Computers Limited
Risc PC x86 Card User Guide Risc PC x86 Card User Guide Copyright © 1995 Acorn Computers Limited. All rights reserved. Published by Acorn Computers Technical Publications Department. Neither the whole nor any part of the information contained in, nor the product described in, this manual may be adapted or reproduced in any material form except with the prior written approval of Acorn Computers Limited. The product described in this manual and products for use with it are subject to continuous development and improvement. All information of a technical nature and particulars of the product and its use ( including the information and particulars in this manual) are given by Acorn Computers Limited in good faith. However, Acorn Computers Limited cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any information or particulars in this manual. This product is not intended for use as a critical component in life support devices or any system in which failure could be expected to result in personal injury. Acorn supplies its products through an international dealer network. These outlets are trained in the use and support of Acorn products and are available to help resolve any queries you may have. The Risc PC x86 Cards are designed by Acorn Computers Limited. ACORN is a trademark of Acorn Computers Limited PC-DOS is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation All other trademarks are acknowledged. Published by Acorn Computers Limited Part number 1411,003 Issue 1, September 1995 Guarantee (valid in UK only) This equipment is guaranteed by Acorn Computers Limited ("ACORN") against mechanical and electrical defects subject to the conditions set out below. -
Updated Virtualrpc Components for RISC OS 6
ne of the main things that keeps me using my Risc PC is the versatility of the operating system - mainly due to it’s universal draw file format. For Oinstance I construct the centre pages in Artworks as this now has excellent PDF export facilities. However for proofing the magazine before it gets sent to the printers I like to do a printout to see if everything works properly. Because Artworks now can deal with multiple pages it is very easy to save each page either as an Artworks file or Draw file directly into the magazine’s Ovation Pro file by dragging and dropping. A two second job! Other computer platforms don’t generally have this facility of moving files directly into open application windows. Generally to move a file to another application you have to use the dreaded ‘save as’ filer window - choose a suitable format - navigate to where you need to save the file - save it - go to the other application - open a filer window - navigate to the saved file - open it in the new application. If you need to transfer a different file type you generally have to go through all that palaver again. Two seconds on RISC OS, thirty seconds on OS X or Windows. Draw is a great program with no real equivalent on a PC or Mac. For instance it can be put to good use in music for constructing objects the original program can’t do. I use the Sibelius music setting program on both RISC OS and Windows. The RISC OS still has one or two advantages over the PC version, one of which is it’s ability to export to Draw. -
Why Aren't Operating Systems Getting Faster As Fast As Hardware?
O C T O B E R 1 9 8 9 WRL Technical Note TN-11 Why Aren't Operating Systems Getting Faster As Fast As Hardware? John Ousterhout d i g i t a l Western Research Laboratory 100 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, California 94301 USA The Western Research Laboratory (WRL) is a computer systems research group that was founded by Digital Equipment Corporation in 1982. Our focus is computer science research relevant to the design and application of high performance scientific computers. We test our ideas by designing, building, and using real systems. The systems we build are research prototypes; they are not intended to become products. There is a second research laboratory located in Palo Alto, the Systems Research Cen- ter (SRC). Other Digital research groups are located in Paris (PRL) and in Cambridge, Massachusetts (CRL). Our research is directed towards mainstream high-performance computer systems. Our prototypes are intended to foreshadow the future computing environments used by many Digital customers. The long-term goal of WRL is to aid and accelerate the development of high-performance uni- and multi-processors. The research projects within WRL will address various aspects of high-performance computing. We believe that significant advances in computer systems do not come from any single technological advance. Technologies, both hardware and software, do not all advance at the same pace. System design is the art of composing systems which use each level of technology in an appropriate balance. A major advance in overall system performance will require reexamination of all aspects of the system. -
Acorn Archimedes
Copyright © Acorn Computers Limited 1988 Neither the whole nor any part of the information contained in, nor the product described in this Guide may be adapted or reproduced in any material form except with the prior written approval of Acorn Computers Limited. The products described in this manual are subject to continuous development and improvement. All information of a technical nature and particulars of the products and their use (including the information and particulars in this Guide) are given by Acorn Computers Limited in good faith. However, Acorn Computers Limited cannot accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any information or particulars in this manual, or any incorrect use of the products. All maintenance and service on the products must be carried out by Acorn Computers' authorised dealers. Acorn Computers Limited can accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage caused by service, maintenance or repair by unauthorised personnel. All correspondence should be addressed to: Customer Support and Service Acorn Computers Limited Fulbourn Road Cherry Hinton Cambridge CB1 4JN Information can also be obtained from the Acorn Support Information Database (SID). This is a direct dial viewdata system available to registered SID users. Initially, access SID on Cambridge (0223) 243642: this will allow you to inspect the system and use a response frame for registration. ACORN, ARCHIMEDES and ECONET are trademarks of Acorn Computers Limited. Within this publication, the term 'BBC' is used as an abbreviation for 'British Broadcasting Corporation'. Edition 2 First published 1988 Published by Acorn Computers Limited ISBN 1 85250 055 7 Part number 0483,000 Issue 1 1 2 Welcome to the Archimedes personal workstation This guide introduces your new Archimedes personal workstation. -
The Application Tutorial and Listings Book for RISC OS Computers
The Application Tutorial and Listings Book for RISC OS Computers www.dragdrop.co.uk The Application Tutorial and Listings Book for RISC OS Computers © 2021 Chris Dewhurst ISBN 9781800681309 First published 2021 by Independent Publishing Network (IPN) https://bookisbn.org.uk The author is indebted to the past and present writers of fine software applications for the RISC OS computer platform, without which this book would have been very difficult to produce. Produced on RISC OS computers using Impression Style, Draw, Artworks, PostScript3 printer driver, and the Kyocera Ecosys M5521cdn multifunctional device. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are hereby acknowledged. Raspberry Pi anmd the Raspberry Pi logos are registered trademarks of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Printed and bound in Great Britain by Drag ’N Drop Publications, Dingwall, Scotland. www.dragdrop.co.uk [email protected] Typeset in 11/12pt Plato. Acknowledgements This book would not have been possible without the following people. Thanks to Tony Bartram at www.amcog.co.uk for help in testing the Envelope Editor (Chapter 8) which was written for the RDSP module (written by Tony). Thanks to Geoff McVeigh for help testing the Plotter and Notepad (Chapter 10). Thanks to the fiendly assistance of members of the forum at riscosopen.org.uk, not forgetting the work done by ROOL on RISC OS itself. Finally thanks to Sybil Harris at www.sybilharris.com for once again providing the amazing front cover artwork. Contents Acknowledgements . 3 1 . Introduction . 11 Programs . 11 Equipment . 12 Variable Names. 12 Typing in programs Edit. 12 Currently Selected Directory. 13 Checksum Routine . -
RISC OS Power on Self Test
26th January 1993 Support Group Application Note Number: 225 Issue: 1.00 Author: PFD RISC OS power on self test RISC OS 3.10 performs a series of tests to the hardware of the system on power up. This Application note describes those tests and how to interpret the information provided by them. Applicable Related Hardware : Any ARM based system Application fitted with RISC OS 3.10. Notes: None Copyright © Acorn Computers Limited 1993 Neither whole nor any part of the information contained in this note may be adapted or reproduced in any form except with the prior written approval of Acorn Computers Limited. Support Group Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this leaflet is true and correct at Acorn Computers Limited the time of printing. However, the products described in this leaflet are subject to continuous Acorn House development and improvements and Acorn Computers Limited reserves the right to change its specifications at any time. Acorn Computers Limited cannot accept liability for any loss Vision Park or damage arising from the use of any information or particulars in this leaflet. ACORN, Histon, Cambridge ECONET and ARCHIMEDES are trademarks of Acorn Computers Limited. CB4 4AE Support Group Application Note No. 225, Issue 1.00 26th January 1993 In a normal power-on self test (POST) sequence, the screen colour is first set to purple to indicate testing has started. The first part of the test (which performs a brief ROM and RAM test and initialises the IO and Video controllers) passes within less than a second and is not easily visible. -
Emulation by Gerald Fitton
Emulation by Gerald Fitton Lust, thro’ some certain strainers well refin’d, Is gentle love, and charms all womankind: Envy, to which th’ ignoble mind’s a slave, Is emulation in the learn’d or brave: Nor virtue, male or female, can we name, But what will grow on pride, or grow on shame. Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744) An Essay on Man: Epistle II (1733) Alexander Pope Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. In his Essay on Man he suggests that, rather than feel envious of someone else’s superior abilities or their situation, we should regard them as an example to be emulated. Through emulation rather than envy there are times when the pupil overtakes their master to become better than the person whom, initially, they were seeking to emulate. Is this what has happened to RISC OS? Building a Computer I am sure that, like me, many of you will have built a Windows Desktop computer from parts. I have a vague recollection of reading a series of articles in Archive describing how to do it. The components are: a tower, usually complete with power supply and control buttons; a motherboard usually complete with a CPU, heatsink, fan, ports for ethernet, mouse, keyboard and USB connections; 2 or 4 strips of RAM which are plugged into the motherboard; often, but not always, there is a separate graphics card and, less often these days, a separate sound card; the component list is completed with a DVD writer, one or more hard drives and, rarely these days, a floppy disc drive. -
Editorial 2 Beginner's Page 3 News and Application
EDITORIAL Editorial 2 It’s great to see new people writing articles for Drag ’N Drop, your Beginner’s Page 3 editor can take a back seat (sort of!) Some of you will remember Paul News and application Stewart who used to edit the updates 4 magazine. He is back with his impressions of the Raspberry Ro Missile Command 5 Lite machine and an article on how to get your Raspberry Pi working Schema 2 11 Copyright © Drag 'N Drop 2018 Produced on RISC OS computers wirelessly. Raspberry Ro Lite 16 This issue has been blessed with contributions Norman Lawrence starts a great from the following people: new series on the spreadsheet Anatomy of a Font 19 Paul Stewart (Raspberry Ro Lite review, and Go application Schema 2 which has Wireless with the Vonets VP11G made a comeback and might well Window Closer 24 Norman Lawrence (Schema 2 series) knock Fireworkz and Pipedream Christopher Dewhurst (everything else) from their perches and become the Go Wireless with the Vonets The views expressed in this magazine are not ‘RISC OS Excel’. necessarily those of the editor. Alternative views Plus we have the usual range of VP11G 29 are always welcome and can be expressed by reviews and type-in stuff. Do you either writing an article or a short editorial. fancy your hand at being a missile Icon Clipboard 31 All articles and advertisements are published in commander? Window Closer and good faith. No materials in this publication are Artworks 2,X3 33 meant to be offesnsive or misleading. If you Icon Clipboard are two desktop come across something you believe is either of usefulties complete with ‘how it the above please contact the editor using the 32-bit PMS Voices 34 details below. -
RISC OS 3 Software Upgrade Fitting Instructions
RISC OS 3 software upgrade fitting instructions Contents Page number Introduction 2 Packing list 2 An overview of the software upgrade procedure 4 Identifying your upgrade 4 Upgrading your computers hardware 5 Equipment required 5 Removing the computer's cover 6 Where to go next 7 Upgrading instructions for Archimedes 305, 310, 440 and R140 computers 8 Upgrading instructions for Archimedes 410/1, 420/1 and 440/1 computers 13 Upgrading instructions for Archimedes 540 and 8260 computers 18 Upgrading instructions for A3000 computers 24 Upgrading instructions for A5000 computers 30 Restarting the computer 35 Configuring the computer 35 Updating the RISC OS Applications Suite 35 Appendix A Main PCB Link settings for RISC OS 3 4Mb ROMs 37 Appendix B Main PCB Link settings for RISC OS 2 1Mb ROM/EPROM 39 1 Introduction Introduction These instructions describe how to upgrade your machine to the new Acorn operating system, R1SC OS 3, by fitting new ROMs in your machine. ROM is an acronym for Read Only Memory; it is a chip which fits inside the computer on its main printed circuit board (PCB). The ROM contains the new operating system. Before you begin this upgrade, please read all of these instructions carefully. If you do not feel confident to carry out this upgrade, please take the upgrade kit and your computer to an Acorn Dealer, who will install it for you: The dealer may make a charge for installing it — such a charge shall be entirely at the discretion of the dealer: If you decide to carry out this upgrade yourself, you carry it out entirely at your own risk: A3000 computers Some early A3000 computers should only be upgraded by Acorn Computers authorised dealers: See page 24 for more information.