Archive Magazine 1995/ARCHIVE95.iso/text/products/volume_05/issue_05

Text File | 1995-02-16 | 18KB | 321 lines

Å   A5000 floppy drive extension cables Ö Ray has made up some extension
cables (ú18 each) so that you can have a socket at the back of your
A5000 to plug an external floppy drive into without going inside the box
each time you want to connect and disconnect. Note that these are not
electronic buffers. Acorn say they donæt need to be buffered although,
in view of the problems noted in the Comment Column on page 9, it might
be good to have an interface. Thatæs not for buffering but to provide a
degree of flexibility over the various control lines used by different
types of drives Ö not all floppy drives are recognised if they are just
plugged straight into the socket.
5.5
Å   A5000 availability Ö We still cannot get enough A5000æs, especially
the Learning Curve version Ö well, they come in fits and starts. Acorn
have said that their will be more available in mid-February so, if you
want an A5000, I suggest you send in a cheque to book your place in the
queue.
5.5
Å   Acorn Publishing System Ö Acorn have launched a DTP bundle comprising
a 4M A540, Eizo 9060S monitor, and Computer Concepts HiRes 8 printer,
Scanlight Professional flatbed scanner (300 d.p.i. 256 grey levels),
Impression II, Equasor and the Impression Business Supplement. All for
ú4995 +VAT = ú5869. The price of these products separately is ú6196 even
at Archive discount prices.
5.5
(I know what you are thinking, öWhy use an A540? Why not an A5000?ò.
Part of the reason is that, being realistic, to make good use of a 300
d.p.i., 256 grey level scanner, 4M of ram is hardly going to be enough
and, officially, the A5000 is only a 4M machine. Also, the Acorn multi-
sync may be cheap but itæs not realistic to think of using it for a
system of this calibre. So, now that Atomwide are shipping their 8M
upgrades for the A5000, what would an 8M system cost using each
computer. Adding ú315 for a 4M upgrade to the A540 gives ú6182. Compare
that with making it up with a 2M A5000 plus ú590 for a 2Ö8M upgrade
including replacing the 40M IDE with a 100M high speed SCSI and the
Acorn multisync with an Eizo. That would cost you, at Archive prices,
ú5935. For the extra ú247, you gain the ability to go up to 16M but you
lose the ability to use 1.6M floppy discs and, at present, access to
RISC-OS 3, though that will soon (?) be available for A540 costing in
the region of ú100 thus increasing the difference to approx. ú347.)
5.5
Å   Acorn SCSI card / Syquest removable drive solution Ö Those of you who
have had problems running the 42M and 84M Syquest removable hard drives
on the A540, (i.e. on the latest version of the Acorn SCSI podule), will
be pleased to know that we have a fix which seems to work OK. Acorn are
working on a öproperò fix Ö they have been for some considerable time
now Ö but at least this will allow you to use the removable drives. If
you want a copy of the software patch that Adrian has written, just send
us a blank, formatted disc and a small donation for our charity pot and
weæll send you a copy.
5.5
Å   Aleph One ARM3 prices down (again!) Ö Aleph One have now joined CJE
Micros in providing ARM3 upgrades at ú199 +VAT (ú225 through Archive).
5.5
Å   Atomwide SCSI drives Ö The prices of Atomwide drives has decreased
this month and the range has been extended to 400M. This is good news
because they use the fast, high quality, Pro-Quantum drives which seem
to be about the best drives around at the moment. I am using a 200M Pro-
Quantum as my main drive and, as I have said before, it is ffffast! They
are the same drives that Oak use for their High Speed range but the 100M
and 200M now work out cheaper, even with the Oak SCSI boards. The prices
are....
5.5
   50M   Internal Ö   ú285
5.5
   100M   Internal Ö   ú395
5.5
   200M   Internal Ö   ú685
5.5
   400M   Internal Ö   ú1055
5.5
   50M   External Ö   ú370
5.5
   100M   External Ö   ú485
5.5
   200M   External Ö   ú775
5.5
   400M   External Ö   ú1145
5.5
Add ú200 to each for an Oak SCSI podule so that you can compare prices
with the Oak HS range.
5.5
Å   BibleMaster Ö Many readers have asked if there is a computer version
of the bible available for the Archimedes. I have looked around for ages
and found nothing. (Does anyone know different?) So, I am breaking with
my normal rule of not supplying PC products! BibleMaster is a new
computerised bible for PC compatibles, which works under the PC emulator
provided you have at least 4M free in your PC partition. It is based on
the New International Version and is sold by Hodder & Stoughton for
ú49.95 inc VAT (ú45 through Archive). You can look at two passages at
the same time, export text to disc for inclusion in word-processed
material (but check the copyright situation first!) and you can keep and
edit a verse list for study purposes. It has over half a million cross
references and an on-line help facility.
5.5
Å   !Bulletin is a bulletin board communication system from XOB for use
over Econet networks. It provides the usual bulletin board services
including electronic mail, special interest groups and closed user
groups. This fully RISC-OS compliant software runs on any Archimedes,
supports up to 1,500 users and comes with a site/network licence for ú67
from XOB.
5.5
Å   CableNews is Lingenuityæs new frame-based presentation system. It
allows you to prepare presentations from sprites and draw files and with
text using outline fonts. The price is ú169 +VAT from Lingenuity with
educational prices and site licences also available.
5.5
Å   CalcSheet Ö Following comments from a reviewer, (the review was never
published) Trail Software has removed CalcSheet from sale with immediate
effect. Any customers who are unsatisfied with the product can have a
full refund from Trail Software.
5.5
Å   CoCo is a control language for the Archimedes produced by Commotion.
For ú49.95 +VAT, it provides a RISC-OS environment control language that
will allow you to operate an interface device with switch inputs and
outputs as well as motors with variable power and direction control.
Lego UK have adopted CoCo for use with their InterfaceA.
5.5
Å   Concept keyboard Ö Northwest SEMERC have produced the Oldham Overlay
Keyboard (a concept keyboard by any other name). This A3 board with 128
switches costs ú166.67 +VAT from NW SEMERC. There is an optional switch
input (ú50 +VAT) to allow special needs switches to be connected for
people with severe physical difficulties.
5.5
Å   Detour is a file manipulation utility to enable you to overcome
problems with software written to run on a specific filesystem, drive or
directory. It can be used for a number of purposes including acting as a
virus protector. The price is ú19.95 inc VAT from Electronic Solutions.
5.5
Å   DrawPlus update Ö This has now been updated to version 2.10. It
includes some minor bug fixes and is compatible with the A5000. The
updated version has been put onto Careware Disc 13. Existing Careware 13
owners can send their discs back for update Ö a further small charity
donation would be appreciated but is not obligatory.
5.5
Å   DTP For All Ö Bruce Goatlyæs new book has just been published by
Wileys / Sigma. It costs ú12.95. For details, see the review on page 22.
5.5
Å   Electronic Bible Ö Hereæs the ultimate(?) add-on for your Archimedes.
A pocket-sized electronic bible (smaller than a personal organiser) with
LCD display and full ASCII keyboard that contains the whole of the bible
Ö both old and new testaments Ö plus concordance and thesaurus. It
allows you to look for the occurrence of multiple words Ö you could
find, say, all the places where the words öJesusò and öPhariseeò
occurred in the same verse or within a couple of verses (you choose) Ö
this is much more powerful than a straight concordance. The Electronic
Bible has a serial link, so we are working on a cable and software to
allow the output to be fed into an Archimedes. Electronic Bible costs
ú250 from Hodder & Stoughton or ú235 through Archive and the link will
soon be available for ú25, we hope.
5.5
Å   Ethernet card for A3000 Ö Atomwide are now marketing an Ethernet card
for the A3000 at ú229 +VAT (or ú255 through Archive). It can be used
with thin Ethernet cabling and Acornæs TCP/IP or AUN software to provide
cost-effective networking to mainframes, minis etc. This is an internal
8-bit podule but a 16 bit standard podule version for use on thick or
thin Ethernet will also be available in a couple of weeks time. The
price will be the same as the A3000 version.
5.5
Å   FastType Ö Micro Guide have published a typing tutor under the title
FastType. It is a fully RISC-OS complaint application. It is also
supplied with a disc of PD special needs software as the author is
continuing to develop FastType particularly for those with special
needs. The cost is ú19.95 inclusive from Micro Guide.
5.5
Å   Floating point accelerator Ö DT Software have harnessed some PC
hardware Ö an 80287XL FPA Ö to improve the speed of the Archimedes
floating point functions. It comes on a single podule and, in software
terms, is linked in to where the floating point emulator normally
resides. It has the great advantage (unlike the Acorn FP co-processor)
of being ARM3 compatible. The 80287XL is, apparently, almost equivalent
to an 80387 and it runs at 37 MHz. (A 60MHz version is under develop
ment!) It provides 3 to 4 times speed increase on multiply on an A540
and even better improvement on lesser machines. Trig and transcendental
functions show an even more marked improvement. The price is ú174.95
inc-luding VAT from DT Software or ú165 through Archive.
5.5
Å   Geoscan the world geography database has been updated to take account
of some of the changes that have taken place in world geography
recently(!) and has also had various new features added including
!Geobrief which contains background information on over 200 countries
and territories. This is in a common text format which allows for easy
inclusion in WP / DTP work by students. There is also an application
which allows students to print out the main information in various ways
to a standard dot-matrix printer. The price for the new version of
Geoscan is ú45 from Passkey Marketing or ú42 through Archive.
5.5
Å   Good Impression Ö is a book of layouts, designs and graphics which can
be created with Impression. It costs ú26.95 from ÉWord Processingæ or
ú25 through Archive. For more details, see the review on page 47.
5.5
Å   Helix Basic is a öfully functional Basic V language interpreterò
designed to allow öanyone, whatever their programming experience to
write professional RISC-OS compliant multi-tasking programs.ò Quite a
claim! The price is ú99.95 inc VAT from Craddock Computer Systems.
5.5
Å   Insight is a data-logging package from Longman Logotron. It provides
the software interface for data-logging interfaces such as Sense and
Control, LogIT and Philip Harris. It allows data to be taken in either
at very high speed or on a ötime-lapseò basis and provides analysis and
display of the received data. The price is ú69 +VAT from Longman
Logotron or ú75 through Archive.
5.5
Å   James Pond, the fishy special agent, is now available. This is an
arcade adventure with a ögreenò slant and a degree of humour. ú25.99
from Krisalis or ú24 through Archive.
5.5
Å   Key Author Ö a multi-media Presentation System produced by ITV Schools
division. It aims to provide a multi-media system that links in with
their Key Plus database system. The cost depends on the type and size of
establishment purchasing it from an individual user at ú55 and a (<150
pupil) primary school at ú65 to a (>800 pupil) secondary at ú180 and a
FE/HE college at ú450.
5.5
Å   Mah Jong, The Game Ö Mah Jong Patience has been out for quite a while
now but here is the proper Mah Jong game. You have to pit your wits
against three other players, all of whom are the computer playing a öno
holds barredò game. This implements the Western rules of Mah Jong, not
the original Chinese rules. The cost is ú22.50 from Cambridge Interna
tional Software or ú21 through Archive.
5.5
Å   MatchMaker seems to be the ultimate in interfacing for special needs
applications. It will allow öany switch to... operate any Archimedes
programò. Quite a claim, but Matchmaker itself contains a sophisticated
micro-processor system and has its own 20 ╫ 4 character LCD display.
This is available for ú850 +VAT from SRS Systems Ltd.
5.5
Å   PC emulator upgrades (listen carefully, please, while I try to
explain... ) There are two upgrade products to allow you to obtain the
1.7 version of the PC Emulator, one for MS-DOS users (öthe AKA48 PC
Emulator 1.7 upgradeò) and one for DR-DOS users, i.e. those who bought a
Learning Curve pack (öthe AKA45 PC Emulator 1.7 + DR-DOS 5.00 upgradeò).
5.5
Who should upgrade? Itæs only really users of A5000æs (since 1.6 doesnæt
work on RISC-OS3) or those with versions before 1.6 that need to
upgrade.
5.5
How much does it cost? For MS-DOS users, the AKA48 costs ú17.62 inc VAT
if you already have 1.6 or ú34.07 if your version is earlier than 1.6.
For DR-DOS users, the AKA45 which includes an upgrade from 3.41 to 5.00,
costs ú45.82.
5.5
Where do I get it from? You can only get your upgrade by mail order
(though they do accept official orders from educational establishments)
from Acorn Direct in Wellingborough.
5.5
What do I have to send? Send a cheque payable to ÉAcorn Directæ (or
official order) with your PC Emulator disc to Acorn Direct, (not us!).
If you have version 1.6, send the ösmall PC Emulator (CGA) discò. For
AKA48 (MS-DOS) do NOT send your MS-DOS disc. For AKA45 (DR-DOS) you must
send your DR-DOS registration number.
5.5
How long does the offer last? You must upgrade before 27th March 1992.
5.5
If there is anything you donæt understand, please DONæT ring Norwich
Computer Services but address your queries to Acorn Customer Services on
0223Ö245200.
5.5
Å   PC expansion card Ö (breaking the normal rules about only mentioning
products that are actually available now) Aleph Oneæs 386 PC expansion
card should be available by the end of February at ú495 +VAT (or ú545
through Archive). It is claimed to offer between 10 and 20 times the
speed of the software emulator alone (though that is presumably
comparing with a non-ARM3 machine). It uses a 386SX compatible micropro
cessor and has 1M of ram upgradable to 4M and occupies a single half-
width podule. In operation, it is just seen as an extension to the
original PC emulator but it does allow very rapid, almost single key
switching between the PC environment and RISC-OS. We saw it operating at
the BETT Show with Flight Simulator running at a very respectable speed.
(Watford Electronics were also supposed to be showing their PC card at
the BETT Show but potential customers were told that it would be
available ösoonò but that they were unable actually to demonstrate it.)
5.5
Å   Printer drivers  Ö We are going to be stocking Ace Computingæs printer
drivers including their latest one for the Deskjet 500C colour printer.
They are ú16 +VAT each or ú17 through Archive. Printer drivers available
are Deskjet 500C, Paintjet, Epson JX and compatibles (inc Star LC10,
XB24 and Citizen Swift-24 with colour ribbon), Canon PJ 1080-A and
ColourCel.
5.5
Å   Removable SCSI drive prices down Ö The prices of the removable drives
and cartridges have dropped again this month. The 42M drives are now
under ú500 Ö well, ú495 Ö but that includes VAT and carriage. The extra
42M cartridges are now ú70. The 84M drives are down to ú680 and the
extra cartridges to ú120.
5.5
Å   Shareware Disc 17 update Ö Acorn have now released a RISC-OS Extras
Extras disc which we are distributing as Shareware Disc 17. The disc
contains the latest printer drivers, modules, etc (version numbers shown
below) along with a virus killer and protection module. If you already
have Shareware 17, send it in for an update but we would be grateful for
a small donation to charity to accompany it. Thanks.
5.5
Modules: Econet 5.48, Hourglass 2.02, IRQUtils 0.12, NetFiler 0.24,
NetFS 5.53, NetPrint 5.30, NetStatus 2.01, SoundScheduler 1.13, VGAModes
1.45; printer drivers: !PrinterDM 2.46, !PrinterIX 2.46, !PrinterLJ
2.46, !PrinterPS 2.46; system: !Scrap 0.53, !SysMerge, !System 0.52
which includes Clib 3.75, Colours 0.52, FPEmulator 2.80, MessageTrans
0.06, WimpUtils 0.04; utilities: BigDelete, FSVersion, SetStation; virus
kit: !Killer 1.17, VProtect 1.06.
5.5
Å   Twilight is a screen saver program with a difference from The Really
Good Software Company. It is multi-tasking so that applications that are
running can continue even after the screen has been switched off. It
also has password facilities and a hot-key combination that sends your
screen to sleep instantly. The price is ú29.95.
5.5
Å   Want a dirt cheap A540?! Ö You may have seen adverts for A540æs at
ú1999 +VAT (ú2349); well, we know a man who can sell you one for even
less! Seriously though, if you are interested in a new A540, we may be
able to get one for you at (just) under ú2000 inc VAT. They wonæt be
covered by Acorn warranty because they are already several months old
(although unused and boxed) but we would cover them with our own NCS
warranty. Give us a ring if you are at all interested.
5.5
Å   A3000 spares Ö A company that uses A3000 motherboards has a fair
number of A3000 cases, power supplies and keyboards sitting around
gathering dust. We can sell them at about half the normal spares price,
i.e cases ú15, p.s.u.æs ú24, keyboards ú18. Give me a ring if
ineterested.
5.5