Win an Omega at Wakefield 2003 - RISC OS News, Software and Information

Win an Omega at Wakefield 2003

Published: 20th Mar 2003, 15:22:54GMT Source: drobe.co.uk
By Chris Williams

Page 1 of 1

WROCC announces "top prize" draws for show goers [Updated 01:45 22/3/2003]

This following piece of news seems to have been emailed to just us so consider it an exclusive or something. The Wakefield 2003 event committee have issued an announcement today which contains details of a series prize draws to take place during the May RISC OS show held in the north of the UK.

"The organisers are pleased to announce an exciting Prize Draw for the visitors at Wakefield 2003", exclaims Chris Hughes in the WROCC press release. "The top prize being a MicroDigital Omega computer, a CD read/writer and software, and a 5.1 speaker system for the Omega. The prizes are being donated by MicroDigital Limited."

Other exhibitors will also be donating prizes to be given away in draws held throughout the one-day-only event with the winner for the above top prize being picked at 4pm that day. Instructions and more details coming up soon on the show website and also available on the day, we're informed.

Well, this is all very exciting news and we're indeed hoping that a stunt like this will provide extra incentive for users pondering attending the show, except there's just one tiny, little problem - the Omega isn't able to ship at the moment due to legal hold ups. So one would conclude Microdigital are confident enough to have machines shipping by May because we'd dread to think of the riot that would break out come May when show goers trekking across the UK get told at the doors, "Sorry folks, still no Omega, those pesky legal tangles eh?"

So if it's not three weeks, it's two months and we expect this is some kind of good news for Omega deposit holders, you trusting lot. Also, we'd like to bring to your attention the fact that Microdigital's recent visit to Germany has made the local German press - look look, an Omega! That could be yours.

Stuff besides
Chris also commented that besides the prize draws, the show is an excellent time to meet developers and companies and see new products before picking up new kit on show offers. Apparently the list of exhibitors is growing daily and while travel, times and entrance fee details can be found on the show website, Chris tells us a PDF based information booklet is being put together for online publication. Fancy. Could this be an event to not miss? The WROCC like to bill their Wakefield events as "the premier shows in the RISCOS Calendar" and just maybe they're striving to live up to this assertion.

Update
Chris Hughes, show co-ordinator of the Wakefield 2003 event, emailed us today pointing out that we'd some how bungled the handling of the above announcement by, funnily enough, quoting him directly; here's his correction:

Chris

Please note some confusion seems to have occured in your rewrite of the press release. Microdigital have offered three prizes.

1) An Omega
2) A CD/RW with software
3) A 5.1 Surround system for Omega

Not one prize as you seem to have implied, well that my understanding of David Atkins offer anyway. I will check with him again.

Hope that clears that up. By the way, Chris also today alluded on usenet that this year's event was very nearly cancelled last Friday.

Links
Wakefield 2003 website

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tribbles2 20/3/03 4:33PM	[humor]Ahh the chance to win something that doesn't exist.[/humor] Seriously, this would be a cool prize.
SparkY 20/3/03 4:41PM	Shocked that the Wakefield organisers would risk their credibility at something so risky happening...I'd love to see it but I'll only now and believe it... -- Gavin Smith, Carrickfergus
SparkY 20/3/03 4:43PM	Er lesson - don't write hasty comments when management are around and you aren't concentrating I'll only believe it now when I see it... -- Gavin Smith, Carrickfergus
thegman 20/3/03 4:48PM	I don't think the organiser's credibility is at risk, only MD's.
flibble 20/3/03 5:23PM	Win an Omega a Wakefield 2003, buy an Omega at Wakefield 2008.
sa110 20/3/03 6:41PM	Flibble, you got the inside knowledge on the official launch date, I see. -- Paul Stewart, Bletchley, Milton Keynes
knutson 20/3/03 8:04PM	Great prizes. It's almost worth the return airticket from New Zealand...Last time I won something at a show, it was Lotus Improv for the NeXT computer (quite a few years ago now). Pity I never had a NeXT to run it on... -- Steve Knutson
ksattic 20/3/03 9:08PM	I wonder if you actually have to turn up to enter the draw - or if the draw is included in the ticket price. I can't go, but I'd buy a ticket to enter the prize draw! Is the fact that this prize comes with with 5.1 speakers a sign that it will have Dolby Digital capabilities? Otherwise I see no reason why to mention that it comes with 5.1 speakers. -- Simon Wilson, Boulder, Colorado
danielbarron 21/3/03 1:46AM	Dolby Digital 5.1 - how old hat. I much prefer my DTS system.
john-pettigrew 21/3/03 9:13AM	Get a grip - there isn't a RO computer that does more than stereo ATM, so 5.1 is a huge step forward! John -- http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/
AMS 21/3/03 1:30PM	Their web site only mentions STEREO output. If that is the case then they're bundling a set of 5.1 speakers and that can all that can be said about it. If they wanted to use 5.1 output they'd either need 6 analogue outs on the soundcard or S/PDIF (I don't recall seeing that mentioned either). That is unless they've upped the spec, if they don't explicitly state that then I suspect that it's stereo only and nothing more should be inferred. -- Annraoi McShane,
mavhc 21/3/03 2:29PM	They mentioned the possibility of upgrading the spec to 5.1 sound in one of their news articles.
AMS 21/3/03 6:42PM	I looked at the minimum spec description, which probably needs a bit of updating. They do mention "digital stereo" sound (that I suppose could* be s/pdif). And as you say they mention 5.1 sound in their news article. -- Annraoi McShane,*
The Doctor 21/3/03 8:54PM	Either way, you stand to win an elusive Omega and a set of nice sounding speakers! Cheers!