knutson
6/11/03 9:03PM |
Any idea how may RiscPC systems were produced over the last 9 years?
In it's day the RiscPC was a truely unique and innovative computer. It still makes me smile when I hear the hard disk kick into life and that wonderful soft beep signals virus free productivity in less than 20 seconds. Any chance of a feature article about the history of this great machine? |
rod
6/11/03 9:14PM |
Well a sad day, what a fantastic machine, I really think that the modular box system is something that no modern computer has bettered.
A feature article on the RiscPC, its uses and people's memories of it would be great!
Right, time to see if Ebay has one going spare... |
jess
6/11/03 9:28PM |
The RPC must still have had a reasonable level of demand left, for them to bother to find out if more could be made. |
simo (-0.9)
6/11/03 9:30PM |
Chocky: do you have to have a weird/warped/sarcastic answer to every question? [actually don't answer that]
Did we ever come to a conclusion as to whether the Kinetic was a kind of feasability study for the Iyonix by Castle?
Hmm, looks like time for my 2 SA-RPC's to be eBay'ed so I can buy that new PC..... |
dgs (-0.1)
6/11/03 10:24PM |
In reply to knutson:
I would guess somewhere in the region of fifty to sixty thousand RiscPCs were produced, but it could be more than that.
Sadly, I imagine most of them are no longer in regular use.
dgs |
Spriteman (+2.5)
6/11/03 10:33PM |
In reply to simo:
Yeah, Chocky has an answer to just about everything 
You may have noticed that he's one that would prefer you give something than ask for something. I can see where he's coming from but it reminds me of the days when there was so much activity on the platform that you'd get stuff before you even knew you wanted it. Ah, it's a bit quieter now.
The Kinetic was just a way of getting a bit more life out of the RiscPC and thus allowing CTL to get a better return for their investment. Acorn had considered a Kinetic board in its day but concluded that the gains weren't worth it. However, they had the Phoebe on the way to make better use of the StrongARM so you can see why they didn't bother. Apart frm keeping interest (and money) in the platform I can't see how the Kinetic would have helped the Iyonix.
Anyway, surely just because they've stopped making the machines it doesn't mean that it is time to sell yours? IMHO the RiscPC has been past it for a long time. I'm actually surprised it has still been selling given its price and the difference in price between it and the vastly superior Iyonix.
--
Spriteman |
timephoenix
7/11/03 5:41AM |
In my opinion the RiscPC is certainly the best machine Acorn ever made. Clever hardware engineering and case design made it a killer machine in its time. A real shame Castle might not make any more of them.
I wonder if A7000s will go too? If they go as well as RPC, it leaves a bit of a gap in the market; there will no longer be a budget RISC OS desktop. There will be a big price jump between old 56MHz machines and the 1200 quid Iyonixes / Omegas. Perhaps Castle could design a new budget machine (like the RiscPC had the A7000, the Iyonix could have the A8000 or something). |
ksattic
7/11/03 6:17AM |
In reply to timephoenix:
I think that the Microdigital Mico and Riscstation computers will continue to be made, though for a 100% feature-complete budget computer, the A7000(+) is still the best. By feature complete, I mean a machine with working sound and network abilities (presuming both still aren't available in the clone machines). |
jess
7/11/03 7:23AM |
Sound is definately available on the Mico. Network cards are apparently available too.
I wasn't aware that the Riscstation ever had an issue with sound or networking. (Both on board unlike the mico I think).
The Mico Hard drive performance is far better than an A7000. |
rod
7/11/03 8:22AM |
In reply to Jess:
still can't get sound on my Mico! Have returned the machine but still no success! What's the secret?!
A reasonable budget machine is crucial, the Iyonix and Omega are great for higher-end users but we surely still need a cheaper, less well spec-ed machine available as wel? |
larryfi
7/11/03 9:16AM |
I still wish that there was the money in the market to produce a machine that looked a little different to your average PC. It's all very well telling everyone how wonderful your machine is, but when the outside doesn't look any different to a normal cheapo PC box, it doesn't set itself apart from the rest (yes, I know we know better, but others dont). The RiscPC box (and all the other Acorn designs) did this well - how many times have you played 'spot the Acorn' on TV progs of a few years back? I'd have difficulty noticing an Iyonix... Oh, for a nice Nucleus.  |
nunfetishist (-0.5)
7/11/03 10:12AM |
Personally, I've always thought of the RiscPC as one of the worst machines Acorn ever designed. It had the case design from hell (if you wanted to upgrade your RAM, you had to remove all the slices, all the expansion cards, and such. Loads and loads of wasted space [ie, above the CPU cards in extra slices] while stuff was squeezed up into a corner). It was also a slow machine when released, when considering what 1699 could buy you at the time.
My favourite personally was always the A540. Built like a tank, and with an ARM3, and FPA, and a colour card, it often felt faster than original RiscPCs. And it can run Acorn's UNIX. |
larryfi
7/11/03 10:38AM |
In reply to nunfetishist:
Actually, I have to agree with you - the A540 was cracking - in fact all of the Axxx range had a great case design (it being the same . One of the reasons I liked the RPC case was the extruding drive section - certainly an Axxx throwback - and it showed a kind of 'family linkage' between the machines. I also agree with you on the internal problems of the RPC case, mind - I only ever got to 2 slices, but what a arse on! I kind of let it off a bit for the space wastage over at the processor side though, as it was ideal for anyone to produce a tall second-processor add-on. Not that anyone did. I hit someone with a A310 once. Did more damage than I expected.
So come on, everyone - what was your fave Acorn design?! |
nunfetishist
7/11/03 10:44AM |
Allan Boothroyd, the chap who designed the RiscPC case, as well as the BBC Micro's case, as well as numerous other products is famed for designing things that look nice, but never thinking about the inside. People who buy his services must remember that he designs the outside only. Acorn didn't seem to realise that.
I once dropped an A540 down 5 or 6 steps. It was fine. Not a single dent on it. Two of the steps needed replacing though, as it'd snapped two of them. |
larryfi
7/11/03 10:59AM |
In reply to nunfetishist:
Now that's what I call machine design! |
bucksboy
7/11/03 11:23AM |
In reply to nunfetishist:
I recall someone saying they'd backed their car over an A3000, which apparently survived in working order, although the case was cracked.
In reply to Larryfi:
favourite machine? the one I'm typing this on (Kinetic RPC+VF2). Its predecessor was an A410/1, which with the benefit of hindsight was a poor bargain compared to an A5000, but I was not savvy enough at the time to realise. Question: is there scope for 'factory reconditioned' s/h RPCs? Given the basic reliability of the RPC this would be an acceptable substitute for a new machine for most purposes surely, and cheaper too presumably? |
librarian16 (-1.5)
7/11/03 11:33AM |
When is the computer woprld going to learn how to spell "publicly"? ) |
Goodrick
7/11/03 12:45PM |
The RiscPC is still a great machine. I have upgraded my RiscPC600 with OS4, a Kinetics card and extra memory. It beats my Pentium 4 PC every time for reliability and use. If the software was about, Microsoft would not get a look in. |
larryfi
7/11/03 1:06PM |
I think I might start a 'fave Acorn design' thread on csa.misc - it'd be nice to know which design (not electronic, but aesthetic / physical) has appealed to people most over the years. Besides, I've not been on the csa groups for a while! My tops (in no order) are the BBC B, Axxx, RiscPC, and the Master Compact had a certain something. Does anyone remember Potato Econet? |
The Doctor (+1.5)
7/11/03 1:44PM |
In answer to one of the posts way above, the RiscStation seems to have no problems with it's sound at all.
It has networking on board (10base) and a 10/100base card available.
I'm not sure about SCSI and USB for the RiscStation though.
In any case, it would be the one I chose if the choice was only between the RiscStation and Mico.
Cheers! |
jess (-1.0)
7/11/03 2:32PM |
In reply to Rod:
There are some modules needed as well. I found I had to edit out the modem lines is the obey file and iirc it needed to go in predesk. It's my brother's system if this isn't enough to get you sorted email me and I'll pull off the details next time I'm on it.
jess at
itworshop.
uklinux.
net |
JessFranco (-1.0)
7/11/03 3:18PM |
The RiscPC is the best computer ever made, full stop. No computer company made anything so flexible, robust, expandible, future-proof and just so darned character-laden as the RiscPC.
Now 'killer design' is simply about making computers that look like a lamp from Habitat.
I'd sugest a strangely high proportion of RPCs made are still in active use of some sort or another. Heck, my mother still uses her RPC daily, despite having a Mac laptop. It still feels instant-fast for the work she does in Artworks, Draw, Datapower and Impression and it hasn't had half the expansion it could have - she doesn't read Drobe or any acorn publications and has no idea there's an 'iyonix'. One of my granddad's friends still uses an A5000 regularly, using nothing but Publisher, another uses an A4000 and Style. |
AndrewDuffell  (-1.5)
7/11/03 4:10PM |
BTW, if anyone wants a "Brand New" RiscPC there is one on eBay ATM. I expect it will reach I higher price now that if it was put on eBay last month. |
em2ac
8/11/03 12:09AM |
The 'Wasted' Space above the processor card in the RiscPC, was usefull for double width cards, such as the millipeede cards. Plus I think there is a special double width podule expander for a RiscPC slice?
My A310 was superb, but I recieved an iyonix (looks around hopefully), then I woudl do the same as I did to my PC, buy an aluminium case with windows + cold cathodes  kool RISC OS box woudl be worth it! |
Tezza
8/11/03 1:35AM |
I have 15 200Mhz RPC's sitting in the corner of the bathroom at home that would probably really enjoy a better home. How much is one of these fella's worth these days, keeping in mind that I'm in australia and sadly there isnt much of a market for them here (They have already been advertised in the paper with no response).
As for my fav acorn, it would have to be the RiscPc. Its the only machine that Ive ever owned and can call mine! There has been many an occasion where Ive impressed my friends with the speed that it can be turned into 20 parts, without the need for any tools (other than myself) It gets alot of use when Im doing my uni work etc., and the only thing that I find it cant do is open lectureers powerpoint slides 
When someone can show me a PC that I can use without getting frustrated or without it crashing I will move my RPC to the side and get one of those things, only I very much doubt the old girl on my desk will be moved in the next 5 years.
If anyone is interested in a RPC email me and I'll forward you the details........wonder how much it costs to post one.. |
Tezza
8/11/03 1:38AM |
should I include my email address in that last post?
its [Email: tj.houston [at] student.qut.edu.au ] |
jess
8/11/03 8:53AM |
Start an acorn user group at uni? |
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It's been reported that 
The RiscPC was officially, publically 
