Instead, IMS (Innovative Media Solutions) have collaborated with Interconnnex UK Ltd, using licensed Risc OS technology from Acorn and built their own portable around it.
The machine, shown for the first time to the general public, was unveiled at the recent Wakefield Acorn show on Saturday 16th May.
The heart of the system is the ARM 7500FE processor, as used in the A7000+, also, as with the A7000+ the operating system is Risc OS 3.71.
Some facts and figures...
For further information, check out the IMS web site at http://www.ims-cdc.demon.co.uk/.
Stuart Marshall (17-05-1998)
The roadshow is designed to allow shoppers the chance to browse the Internet under expert tuition and guidance from several Cyber Guide staff. All visitors will be invited to sit down with a free soft drink and be introduced to the Acorn Network Computer and the world wide web.
Each Cafe will be set up for a week at a time and is equipped with 24 Acorn Network Computers. In addition, for consumers who want to understand more about the concept of the network computer, a seminar section is run twice a day at 11am and 1pm.
A list of cyber cafe dates are as follows:-
May 26th - May 31st Princess Square, Bracknell
June 2nd - June 7th The Friary Centre, Guildford
June 9th - June 14th The Chequers centre, Maidstone
June 16th - June 21st Lakeside Shopping Centre
June 23rd - June 28th The Arndale Centre, Luton
June 30th - July 5th The Grafton Centre, Cambridge
For further information, please contact Kerri Davies at Acorn Group
Limited on 01223 725267.
Obviously at this early stage it is unsure what specifications the new machine would have, but it is believed that the machine would contain between 2 and 4 high end StrongARM processors. (It is likely that Digital will have a 300Mhz versions available by then).
A new VIDC controller is being developed, and it is likely there would be multiple VIDC controllers on the new board. Getting the screen refresh rate up would enable the clock rate to be increased dramatically, this would in turn also allow for additional VRAM to be introduced - which obviously means higher resolutions and even more colours.
The case which will house the new machine has yet to be designed, however Peter Bondar has assured the Acorn community that it will NOT be a PC style case. As to whether the present Risc PC case will be used - that is also undecided. An obvious advantage of using the existing case is that ART would perhaps be able to make a new motherboard available, enabling existing Risc PC users to simply switch boards, rather than their whole machine.
Stuart Marshall (17-11-1996)
ART expected to ship the first 2,000 units of the new super chip by the end of October 1996 - meaning all backlogs would be cleared in time for Acorn World. A huge promotion of the processor would take place at Acorn World and beyond with special StrongARM roadshows planned.
Stuart Marshall (22-09-1996)
