Brainsoft are offering an RS423 connecting lead plus software for £14
which allows you to transfer programs, data files, w/p files etc from a
BBC to the Archimedes. This is done “by turning the BBC into a disc
drive controlled from the Archimedes”!
1.2
Video Digitiser
1.2
Those of you who went to the PCW Show would have seen the impressive
demonstrations that Mike Harrison was doing of his Archimedes digitiser
which Watford Electronics are marketting. The basic resolution is 512 x
256, in 64 grey levels, though you can go up to 512 x 512 on a station
ary object. The speed depends on the resolution, but at 512 x 256 it
does approximately 10 frames/second and 128 x 128, 25 frames/second. The
low level software driver will be in ROM and will include frame
grabbing, previewing, scaling, rotation, X/Y flip, negative and pseudo-
colour images, printer dumps and data compression. These will all be
available via OS commands and SWI calls, so programs can be written in
BASIC or other languages with access to these facilities. Price is
“around the £200 mark” and availability is “hopefully the first week in
November”.
1.2
Logo
1.2
Logo devotees will be interested to know of two ways of getting Logo
going on the Archimedes. The first is LOGOsoft’s Master Logo. It will
run under the 6502 emulator and is available now. Ring Chris Squire on
01-891-0989 for more details.
1.2
For a Logo that will make best use of Archi-medes’ amazing processing
speed, you will have to wait for Logotron’s Archimedes Logo which uses
full native ARM mode.
1.2
Lindy Beveridge, Logotron’s PR agency, writes: “The arrival of Acorn’s
Archimedes is excellent news for Logo users, and Logotron, whose Logo is
the standard for British school with over 50,000 users, now supplies it
to run on the Archimedes, taking full advantage its high speed process
ing power. Schools already using Logotron Logo will be perfectly at home
with the new software but will notice a considerably enhanced
performance.
1.2
Archimedes Logo has all the features of a mainframe Logo. It is the most
powerful debugging environment for Logo with a workspace of potentially
up to 16 Mbytes, the largest Logo workspace on a microcomputer. There is
a 132 column editor with 1024 x 1024 pixel graphics resolution.
Documentation for the new Logo indicates ways in which Logo users can
benefit from the power of the Archimedes.
1.2
The first generation of 8-bit educational computers was never able to do
full justice to the potential of Logo because of limited memory space
and relatively slow processors. “These restrictions have limited the
take-up of Logo, but things will change rapidly when people see Logo on
the Archimedes”, says Logotron’s technical director, Christopher Roper.
The Archimedes Logo was developed jointly by Acorn and Logotron so that
it is functionally compatible with Logotron Logo and has all the
characteristic extensions.
1.2
For further information, please contact Wendy Frazer on 0223 323656.”
1.2
(Ed: I was a bit suspicious of the 1024 x 1024 pixels and asked Logotron
to confirm it. They said that it was done by re-programming the VIDC
controller and obviously was using a multi-sync monitor. They said that
Archimedes Logo should be available in full release version in “four to
six weeks” from now, which would make it the end of November or the
beginning of December.)
1.2
Computer Concepts’ Wordwise Plus is now available for the Archimedes −
working under the emulator. £29 (+VAT) for the complete package and £10
(+VAT) for an up-grade for those who already have the ROM version for
the BBC. (See the separate article.)
1.2
It’s not strictly Archimedes, but you may be interested to know that
Intelligent Interfaces who produced the IEEE interface podule that we
mentioned last month, have now launched an ARM second processor for the
BBC micro. For £999 +VAT you get a 6.6MHz RISC chip with 4MBytes of RAM.
The Twin Editor and BBC BASIC are supplied with it. For more details,
contact Mr N Ray of Intelligent Interfaces, on 0789 415875.
1.2
We have a pre-release version of Artisan from Clares Micros − it’s a
very impressive art package using the WIMP environment. It has tremen
dous potential and looks as if it should come up to the standard of some
of the Apple Macintosh art software, but we are not going to review it
until we get the full release version. It is difficult to give a fair
review when a number of the features are still missing.
1.2
• Those who are used to using our own Continuous Processing ROM with
Wordwise Plus will be pleased to know that it is now available in disc
form. The facilities are those of CP-ROM3, not CP-ROM2. We are making it
available for £8 as an up-grade (i.e. if you already have CP-ROM 2 or 3)
and as a new purchase for £18 including manual.
1.3
• The Inter Series software (-WORD -SHEET and -CHART) from Computer
Concepts is now available but only on ROM, so you will need a back-plane
and a ROM-podule before you can get started. CC are producing their own
ROM podule (see below). If you already have any of the Inter-ROMs, you
can up-grade them to the Archimedes versions for £11.50 per ROM but this
can only be done directly through CC, not through the Archive magazine.
1.3
• Computer Concepts’ ROM podule is to have 8 slots, like the Acorn
equivalent, but instead of having only two slots for RAM and the other
six slots for ROM, each of the eight slots can contain either RAM or ROM
and there will be an optional battery back-up available. The unit will
come with a ROM filing system so that ROM images can be loaded and saved
and any RAM on the board can be used as a RAMdisc. Price: £49.95+VAT,
(7.5% discount if bought through Archive.) availability “December” −
probably around Christmas.
1.3
• A true Archimedes word-processor! Clares Micros have produced
Imagewriter. Price £29.95 (£27.50 through the magazine) and it should be
available by the time you receive this magazine. We will review it
a.s.a.p.
1.3
• APL Interpreter − One of our readers tells us that a “free” APL
interpreter will soon be available for the Archimedes. Anyone interested
should get themselves put on the mailing list for the project, stating
that they are using an Archimedes and, when it is available, they will
be informed of the exact cost of disk and copying (of the order of a few
pounds). They should write to:- I-APL Ltd, 2 Blenheim Road, St Albans,
AL1 4NR. The interpreter is designed for educational use, but does
follow the ISO standard.
1.3
• Acorn Languages − The full release versions of C, LISP and PROLOG are
all available now and PASCAL and FORTRAN77 should be available by the
time you get this magazine. A version of KERMIT is being tested at the
moment and should be available at £49 + VAT at the beginning of January.
1.3
You need to be aware however that none of the compiled languages comes
with an editor. Acornsoft supply an editor separately − TWIN which can
also be used as a BASIC editor by using keywords TWIN or TWINO. The
editor, which is used almost exclusively by Acorn’s own software
engineers, costs £29 plus VAT in its pre-release version, but Acorn have
not yet decided what their up-grade policy is going to be when the full
release version of TWIN becomes available. Acorn say that the present
version is perfectly adequate for preparing source code files for the
various compilers; it’s just that the new version will make better use
of the capabilities of the Archimedes.
1.3
• Text processor/editor for compiled languages. An alternative to TWIN
is to be produced by Tubelink for ‘probably’ £19.95. Further details
from Tubelink.
1.3
• Advanced Statistical software − An extremely impressive looking
software package has been produced by Serious Statistical Software. The
package contains so many different facilities, none of which means
anything to me, that I won’t even attempt to give a summary. If you know
what “variation inflation factors” and the “Nelder-Mead algorithm” are
then this package is probably for you! Price £150, but they will give
7.5% discount if you quote your Archive number. We are intending to do a
full review of this in a later issue of Archive.
1.3
• Contex Computing have released a range of programs for the Archimedes.
These are upgraded versions of the original BBC programs, making use of
the superior speed and facilities of Archimedes. (Upgrades are available
for existing users.) They include: Bank Manager (£25) for handling
personal finance including a range of different accounts, credit
accounts, transfers, cash flow, bank reconciliation, reports, foreign
currency and lots more, Business Utilities (£12) which works with
Manager and adds trials balance and spreadsheet analysis, suitable for
self-employed businessmen and professionals, Typing Tutor (£15), Easy
Reader (£12.50) (I’ll have to get Tim to review it!) and Madlibs
(£12.50), “a hilarious game which also teaches English grammar.” Contex
will give 10% discount to Archive readers if you quote your membership
number when you order direct from them.
1.3
• RESOURCE, the educational software publishers are to publish a set of
utilities to allow programmers to identify and cure problems in
converting software to run under the 6502 emulator. For example,
“BBCrun” creates an environment in which some “illegally” programmed
software will operate as if on a standard BBC or Master. They are also
doing a Versatile Interface Podule which will allow sampling of analogue
data (up to 60kHz) via two A to D converters. 32 digital interface lines
are also available on this system. To work with this is EARS, a dual
channel digital recording system which can use the VIP to sample sounds
and then play them back through the computer’s audio system.
1.3
RESOURCE are also working on an up-date of their best selling “DROOM” −
mathematical “adventure” type software for junior through to secondary
pupils.
1.3
• Another art package has been published − Arctist from Fairhurst
Instruments Ltd. − needs 1 Meg of ram but only costs £19.95. We’ll try
to get a comparative review done of that and Artisan.
1.3
• Éand a drawing package − Pineapple Software have released their
DIAGRAM II drawing package. It has been up-graded for the Archimedes.
Again, we’ll get this reviewed as soon as we can.
• The first desktop publishing package for the Archimedes! That is the
claim of LTS Ltd, and no other company has yet informed Archive of a
similar package being available. Newsmaster has 34 fonts in sizes from 8
to 60 point with a variety of typefaces. Over 170 dotmatrix, inkjet and
laser printers are supported. The cost is just £60+VAT but it needs
1Mbyte of ram and Acorn’s IBM emulator which suggests that it might not
be as fast as one might hope on an Archimedes. When we get a review
copy, we’ll let you know how good it really is.
1.4
• Heraldry program. As requested in the HELP section last month, there
is a program for heraldry − written for BBC, but being up-dated for
Archimedes. Details from Northern Educational Software.
1.4
• Abracadabra − a series of self contained procedures and function for
use with the LIBRARY function of BBC BASIC V. The first disc will be
available in January − more details from Abacus Training.
1.4
• Election 1987 is a series of data files and associated programs giving
you access to the results of the last parliamentary election. Details
from Abacus Training.
1.4
• The Programmer’s Reference Manual is now available − two volumes, as
mentioned in the last issue and we have been able to arrange a discount
so we can make it available to Archive subscribers for £28 including
post & packing. The manual comes shrink wrapped with what is euphemi
sticly referred to as an ‘Addendum’ − 5 pages of addenda and 13 pages of
corrigenda! Be warned that it will take you some considerable time if
you want to go through the manual making the actual corrections. It does
have an index − indeed you get two copies of it − one in the back of
each volume − that makes life easier. The bad news is that the index
only gives a page number and doesn’t tell you which volume. You have to
remember that volume 2 starts at page 355.
1.4
Norwich Computer Services is now an Acorn dealer, so we will be stocking some of the smaller items of Acorn hardware and software. We can offer 7.5% discount to members as with other things we sell, but please ring to confirm if you are not sure whether we stock a given item.
1.5
• CC ROM Podule £53 (Full price: £56.35) or £63 (£68.94) with battery back-up. (Should be available by the time you get this magazine!)
1.5
• Back Plane (£44.85 — £42 now available through Archive)
1.5
• I/O Podule (£90.85 — £84 now available through Archive)
1.5
• IFEL Electronics have produced their own backplane for two podules — £35.65 inc VAT.
1.5
• BBC to Archimedes Conversion Utilities. If youÕve got some precious BBC programs that you are trying to get working on the Archimedes, help is at hand. RESOURCE are marketing a whole suite of programs (written by Acorn software engineers) to help you get your BBC programs working properly under the 6502 emulator. Price: £15.95.
1.5
• Teletext and TV Adapter. Solidisk are launching a programmable TV tuner with Teletext adapter for the Archimedes which is on special offer until the end of March at £79.95 inc VAT and carriage. (Normal price £103.) TheyÕve sent us one to have a look at, so weÕll let you know what we think next month.
1.5
• Brainsoft have now released a new improved version of their Archimedes-BBC link package. The new package will access ADFS on the BBC end as well as DFS and the Archimedes desktop has a ÔBig BenÕ clock and a 40-function scientific calculator. Then as an optional extra, for just £5, you can have a text editor for use with compilers. It will allow you to edit 2,000 lines of text, and have two windows open on the text at the same time. The basic software is only £8, £14 with the RS423 lead, but add £5 to either price for the editor. We now have a phone number — see Factfile at the back of the magazine.
1.5
• Beebug have also released a BBC to Archimedes link which also works on both DFS and ADFS but which has a 3 metre cable instead of a 1 metre cable and “more sophisticated software” according to a comparative review in RISC User magazine.
1.5
• CCD Computer Services are offering three new pieces of Archimedes
software: A graphics library for Fortran (£49.50), a text editor for
compiled languages with full screen editing, an editing command language
and access to the operating system, handling 5,000 lines of text
(£19.50), and a printer buffer module (£12.50).
1.6
• Font Designer − an editor for BBC fonts on the Archimedes. (N.B. 8 x 8
characters, not fancy fonts) For £8.95, APL Software send you an editor,
manual and 15 sample fonts including scientific symbols. We’ve got a
review copy and it looks quite good − you can invert, flip, rotate,
shift, angle, copy etc − all mouse-driven.
1.6
• Archimedes Logo is here! Logotron have released their full Archimedes
version of Logo (i.e. it does not run under the 6502 emulator). It is
claimed to be over 10 times faster than BBC Logo, will use all Archi
medes graphics modes plus a 1024 x 960 pixel graphics resolution mode.
It gives program control over error handling so that the level of help
offered by error messages can be adjusted to suit students’ needs, it
supports the FPU and has a multiple screen turtle control mode. For £60
you get reference manual, tutorial manual and example files. (Note that
extension modules written in 6502 code will NOT be compatible. Logotron
say that various Archimedes extension modules will appear during 1988.)