Archive Magazine 1997/ARCHIVE_97.iso/text/products/volume_06

Text File | 1995-06-25 | 241KB | 4,548 lines

Å   1.6Mb Drives for pre-A5000 computers Ö Arxe Systems have produced an
interface called the Alpha Dual Card. This is a 16 bit SCSI controller
plus a PC standard high density controller. This uses its own filing
system called QuadFS, functionally identical to ADFS. The controller
used also supports 4Mb drives and a future upgrade will provide support
for 3.2Mb ADFS and 2.88Mb DOS discs. The card is available in three
versions with optional external cases for A3000: SCSI Only ú89, High
Density Only (inc 2Mb drive) ú159 (or ú109 without the floppy drive),
Both SCSI and High Density (inc 2Mb drive) ú209. (All prices are ex
VAT.)
6.1
Å A3010/3020/4000 memory upgrades Ö We can now get hold of memory
upgrades for the new computers at the following prices: 1 Ö 2 Mb for the
A3010 is ú50, 1 Ö 4 Mb for the A3010 is ú175, 2 Ö 4 Mb for the A3020 and
A4000 is ú100.
6.1
Å   A4 Trackerballs Ö Those (relatively few!) people who have got hold of
an A4 Notebook may be looking for a trackerball alternative to the
mouse. Two have come to our notice so far. The first is a serial port
mouse from PEP Associates. This comes with special software because it
uses the serial port instead of the mouse port.
6.1
The other is a hardware modified Genius trackerball from Atomwide. Both
types clip onto the side of the A4 and can, with practice, be operated
single-handedly but the Genius one uses the mouse socket and so does not
need special software. It is available from Archive for ú58. See Brian
Cowanæs comments about this on page 65.
6.1
Å   Acorn Ethernet Card III is the new version of the Acorn Ethernet card.
This is improved in various ways and is cheaper! The new price is ú149
+VAT or ú162 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Ancient Egypt Ö Oak Solutions have produced a package to allow
children to investigate life in the time of the Pharaohs. The material
relates to History Key Stage 2 and Technology AT 5. The package costs
ú50 +VAT from Oak Solutions or ú55 through Archive.
6.1
Å   ArcFAX Ö There is a new generation of modems that can connect to fax
machines as well as sending data as normal. David Pilling has capital
ised on this and produced ArcFAX which enables one of these modems to be
used as a computer-controlled fax. The software costs ú23.96 from David
Pilling. (See Price List for Archive price.)
6.1
Å   Archive magazine special deal Ö Most of the back issues of the Archive
magazine are stored on the first floor of 96a Vauxhall Street (i.e.
above my head as I write!) and we are getting concerned about the
structure of the building. As you can see from the picture opposite, we
need to get rid of a few back copies of Archive. Seriously, one or two
cracks are beginning to appear in the walls and it has been suggested
that we should reduce the load on the upper storey. We are therefore
offering special deals on bundles of Archive magazines: Volumes 1 Ö 5
for ú25 and Volumes 1 Ö 4 for ú22. There are one or two issues that we
are getting low on, so we cannot guarantee that you will get every
single issue. None have run out yet but if you want to be sure of a full
set, send your money in straight away. Also, if we do run out of any of
them, we will give a 50p token for each one that is missing.  This is
definitely not Évapourwareæ Ö there will be no waiting Ö I can per
sonally guarantee that they are öin stock nowò!
6.1
Å   Artworks is here!!!! Ö It has been a long time coming but it was most
definitely worth the wait. Artworks is in stock now at ú169 +VAT (or
ú180 through Archive). This would be good value if all you got was the
Artworks program but included in the package are 14 discs full of fonts
and clip-art. This includes a staggering 220 outline fonts. (You can
tell your PC friends that the screen display is five times faster than
CorelDraw on a 486-50 PC!) For a full review, see page 33.
6.1
Å   Battle of the Somme is a multimedia presentation focussing on the
events that occurred around 1st July 1916. The main package is ú95 +VAT
from Oak Solutions and there is a Laservision video disc with 35 minutes
of video and 60 minutes of audio which, if bought at the same time is
ú50 +VAT.
6.1
Å   CableNews is Lingenuityæs presentation package. It was used to create
the presentation graphics for the launch of Acornæs new machines in
August. It costs ú149 +VAT for a single user (ú160 through Archive),
ú420 +VAT for a site licence for up to ten users, ú676 +VAT for up to
thirty users and ú575 +VAT for a commercial distribution licence.
6.1
Å   Canon BJ10ex price drop Ö The distribution price of the BJ10ex has
just dropped slightly and CC have echoed that in the retail price of
their Turbo-driven BJ10exæs. The Archive price has dropped from ú275 to
ú260. (Actually, I have just pensioned off the 23(sic)-pin Panasonic
1124 dot matrix printer I was using at home and swapped it for a BJ10ex.
I am very impressed with both the speed and the quality of the new
printer and the reduced size is very helpful with a restricted desk
space. If I was doing work at home, I always used to save it on disc and
bring it to work to print out Ö not any more!)
6.1
Å   Canon Colour Printers in stock Ö The Computer Concepts colour printers
are now available from stock. They are Canon BJC800 printers with CCæs
own Turbo-Driver software that makes them work very effectively with the
Acorn RISC-OS computers. Sadly this is a monochrome magazine but I can
assure you that the output is very impressive Ö see the review on page
45 for more details. The price, including the Turbo Driver software and
lead is ú1895 +VAT (ú2,100 through Archive). The ink cartridges are also
available: cyan, magenta and yellow are ú22 each and black is ú17. The
Turbo Driver software plus printer lead is available separately for ú99
+VAT (ú105 through Archive).
6.1
Å   Chaos is a new game from Matt Black. It is a shoot-æem-up game with
the usual enemy ships and mutants but it has a competitive edge. You can
have player versus player or, with the appropriate interface, you can
have up to four players at once. Chaos is ú25 (no VAT) from Matt Black.
6.1
Å   Chartwell 1.1 Ö Risc Developments have released an updated version of
their graphs and charts pack offering various new features including
negative values in bar charts, more flexible handling of data limits and
easier labelling and titling. The price is still ú29.95 inclusive from
R.D. and the upgrade is free for existing users.
6.1
Å   DeskEdit2 was released on 1st October by Risc Developments. This has
various enhancements including Basic renumber, Basic indenter, program
meræs calculator and throwback. The price is ú31.95 inc VAT and there is
an upgrade for ú9.95 inc VAT.
6.1
Å   DrawPlus version 2╖20 is now available. This supports all of the
objects used by RISC-OSá3 Draw (including transformed text and sprites)
as well as some Vector objects. Text-to-path works under both operating
systems (ROM and disc fonts) and interpolation is available for path
objects. Upgrades are available in the usual way.
6.1
Å   EasiWriter II Ö Icon Technology have upgraded their EasiWriter
document processor with extra features such as mailmerge and single key
case conversion. The price is still the same: It costs ú150 +VAT or ú160
through Archive.
6.1
Å   Freddy Teddy strikes again! Ö In ÉThe Puddle and the Wardrobeæ, Freddy
gets in a muddle and steps in a puddle. While helping him out, pre-
readers and early readers will be encouraged in visual discrimination,
logical thinking, sequencing, comparison and memory Ö and they will have
fun too, I trust. The Puddle and the Wardrobe costs ú29.95 +VAT from
Topologika or ú32 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Fun School 4 has now appeared. (What do you mean, you havenæt finished
Fun School 2 yet?!) It comes in the usual three age levels: Under 5æs,
5æs Ö 7æs and 7æs Ö 11æs. They are ú24.99 each from Database Publi
cations or ú23 through Archive.
6.1
Å   IEEE488 interface Ö Anyone wanting to link an Archimedes to existing
IEEE488 instruments will be interested in Intelligent Interfacesæ
IEEE488 interface which comes, complete with software, for ú299 +VAT or
ú325 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Imagery Ö Palette Studio have created a new image-creation tool which
takes over where Paint leaves off. It provides 256 colour painting and
image processing with support for outline fonts. Imagery contains
various tools for creating artwork from scratch or for processing
existing pictures captured by digitisers or scanners. It costs ú89.95
inc VAT from Palette Studio.
6.1
Å   Language and literacy for Special Needs Ö The Xavier Educational
Software Ltd at the Department of Psychology, Bangor University now has
four packages for the Archimedes. Soapbox (ú35 +VAT) links spelling
patterns and vowel sounds by using sampled speech, Punctuate (ú32 +VAT)
helps with punctuation, ThinkLink (ú30 +VAT) aims to help with reading,
memory, classification and sequence and ArcSpell 1 and 2 (ú29.50 +VAT
each) provide a wide range of programs to help the dyslexic pupil.
6.1
Å   Magpie Ö Longman Logotronæs multimedia package, Magpie, now includes
facilities for Acorn Replay and CD audio. The upgrade is free to
registered users and the price remains unchanged at ú59 +VAT from
Longman-Logotron or ú64 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Mapper Series software Ö This has nothing to do with geography but is
edIT Softwareæs name for their new range of topic-based IT software for
primary schools. The packs currently available are Bodymapper, Weather
mapper and Homemapper. These are ú44.95 +VAT each with site licences at
ú89.90 +VAT (up to 5) and ú134.85 +VAT (5+). There are also French
versions of each of these packs, at the same price each, and other
language versions are being developed. (EdIT also sell a range of
measuring equipment to go with the mapper packs.)
6.1
Å   MicroSpell 3 Ö David Pilling has produced a stand-alone desktop
spelling checker with a 200,000 word dictionary for just ú5.99 (or ú6
through Archive). Owners of MicroSpell 1 or 2 can have a free upgrade by
returning their discs to David.
6.1
Å   Network technical support Ö SJ Research have published a technical
support hotline number which people can use if they have technical
questions about networking matters. This line goes straight to the
engineers without going through the SJ Research switchboard. The number
is: 0223Ö414532.
6.1
Å   Oh no! More Lemmings! Ö For those insomniacs who are gluttons for more
punishment, there are now over 100 more Lemmings levels available for
you as ÉOh no, More Lemmingsæ. The price is ú19.95 Krisalis or ú18
through Archive. You need the original Lemmings disc to play the new
levels Ö it is not a stand-alone package.
6.1
Å   PaySYS is a payroll system from KAS Software (also available for BBC/
Master) costing ú75.
6.1
Å   PC Emulator documentation Ö The manual for the 1.8 version of the PC
Emulator is available separately at ú8 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Polyominoes are now part of the National Curriculum and so Topologika
have provided three programs which deal with various aspects such as
tessellation, pentominoes and hexominoes.  Polyominoes costs ú29.95 +VAT
from Topologika or ú32 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Portable is the name of a subscription magazine all about the A4
Notebook and associated products. It costs ú15 for six issues. Contact
Ned Abell, ÉWeatherpostæ, Hollywell Lane, Bayton Common, Kidderminster.
6.1
Å   Printer drivers for Canon LBP printers Ö Ace Computing now have a
printer driver (ú16 +VAT or ú17 through Archive) for the Canon LBP range
of printers working through the standard ports (serial or parallel).
This is important because it makes the Laser Direct HiRes4 printer
usable on the A3010, A3020 and A4000 computers, albeit without the high
speed of the Laser Direct interface which will not fit in these newer
computers. You could, for example, sit an LBP4-LD between an A5000 and
an A4000, the one being connected via the video link and the other by a
parallel port cable, and switch between the two by using the printeræs
front panel.
6.1
Å   ProDrivers are Ace Computingæs enhanced RISC-OS 3 printer drivers.
They provide full 24-bit half-toned and dithered output, an application
to print automatically to file and then from file to printer as a
background task, and a CMYK colour separation package. This can be used,
for example, to provide full colour prints on mono printers (like ICSæs
ColourSep Ö see the article last month on page 34 and the comments this
month on page 17) or to enhance the black output from a Deskjet 500C.
ProDrivers are ú40+VAT from Ace or ú44 through Archive. (Upgrades are
available from Ace for ú25 +VAT.)
6.1
Å   Removable drives prices DOWN again Ö Once again, the prices of
removable drives have dropped. The 42Mb drives have dropped slightly
from ú455 to ú445 but the 84Mb drives have dropped more dramatically
from ú670 to ú590. The 42Mb cartridges have also dropped by ú5 to ú65.
We are selling more and more of these drives and are finding that the
number of drives returned because of faults is getting less despite the
increased numbers so it looks as if some of the earlier unreliability
problems have been overcome. However, donæt be deceived, these are OPEN
hard drives and so CANNOT be as reliable as the fixed hard disc systems.
If portability is important or if you are just using them for backup
purposes, they are, in my view, the best thing since sliced bread!
6.1
Å   RS423 serial interface Ö Intelligent Interfaces produce a dual RS423
serial interface on a single half-width podule for the Archimedes. It
costs ú199 +VAT or ú220 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Saxon Life Ö Oak Solutions have produced a package to allow children
to follow the Saxon invasion of Britain. The material relates to History
Key Stage 2. The cost is ú50 +VAT from Oak Solutions or ú55 through
Archive.
6.1
Å   Sound Lab software Ö Oak Solutions have produced some more advanced
software for use with their Oak Recorder. Sound Lab allows samples to be
turned into relocatable modules and provides a real-time display with a
spectrum analyser and a simple oscilloscope. The price is ú14.95 +VAT or
ú18 through Archive.
6.1
Å   SparkFS Ö David Pilling has produced a full filing system for
compressed files. It reads and writes files compressed in a wide range
of formats: SEAarc, PKarc, Zip, Tar, Spark, BtoA/AtoB, Boo, FCET and
UNIX Compress. In addition, there are nine more formats that it will
read but not write. SparkFS is ú23.96 from David Pilling. (See Price
List for Archive price.) It is also available from David as an upgrade
from Spark and/or ArcFS. You can have ú5.99 off the price for each
program. Send him both discs and you need only pay ú11.98.
6.1
Å   Special Access Pack Ö When you buy an Acorn computer, you can buy, at
the same time, a Special Needs pack for ú99 +VAT (ú105 through Archive).
This includes a hardware expansion card to enable you to link to various
interface units, a disc of special software to provide assistance in
various ways and a copy of a resource book for special needs. For
partially-sighted users, there is a coupon to enable you to get a free
audio tape of the manual.
6.1
Å   StartWrite Ö (nothing to do with childrenæs shoes) Icon Technology
have produced a word processor Éfor the younger generationæ called
StartWrite. The price is ú49 +VAT or ú53 through Archive.
6.1
Å   Text-to-Braille Ö Royal London Society for the Blind has produced an
Archimedes application that converts ASCII text files to a Grade 2
Braille file that can then be output to a suitable Braille printer. The
application costs ú25 from the Dorton IT Centre, Dorton House, Seal,
Sevenoaks  TN15 0ED. (0732Ö61477) (0732Ö63363)
6.1
Å   Tiles is the first offering from a new educational software company
called Brain Games. It is a crossword game which is aimed to teach a
variety of skills: strategy, vocabulary, foreign languages, spelling and
arithmetic. The English version is ú19.75 and extra language discs will
be available in due course, starting with French and German, hopefully
before Christmas.
6.1
Å   TV Fun and Games Ö HS Software have produced a three-game set of
programs aimed at 5Ö9 year olds covering areas of the National Curricu
lum including Maths, English, Science and Geography. The price is ú22.95
from HS or ú21 through Archive.
6.1
Å   VISYS is a video cataloguing system from KAS Software (also available
for IBM PC) costing ú75.
6.1
Å   Whale Facts Ö This is a multimedia database from Topologika about...
whales!  It includes sound samples and pictures for you to print out
yourself. Whale Facts costs ú29.95 +VAT from Topologika or ú32 through
Archive.
6.1
Å   Wortgut is a German/English dictionary from New Era Software costing
ú25 (no VAT).
6.1

Å   10 out of 10 English Ö Another of Triple Ræs educational packages is
now ready. This package consists of six games said to cover Éten
essential areas of English and aims to reinforce the traditional values
of the languageæ. Childrenæs progress is monitored automatically, so you
can see how they are getting on! The price is ú25.95 from Fourth
Dimension or ú24 through Archive.
6.2
Å   486 card Ö Aleph One have released a 486 card for the Archimedes at
the same price as the old 386, ú495 +VAT (ú545 through Archive). The
price of the 386 card has dropped to ú395 (ú440 through Archive). The
memory upgrade to 4M is ú110 through Archive as is the numeric coproces
sor. There is now some special Windows driver software for ú25 +VAT (ú28
through Archive). This uses the Archimedes CPU as a graphics co-
processor for the PC, accelerating Windows displays Éby up to 20 timesæ.
The driver software is free to all existing owners Ö contact Aleph One.
6.2
Å   A4 Trackerball Ö The trackerball for the A4 Notebook that PEP
Associates are producing was mentioned last month but we now have some
pricing information. If you already own a Trackman Portable, you can buy
the cables to connect it to the A4 and the necessary software from PEP
for ú19 + VAT. If you want the trackerball as well as the software and
cables, it will cost you ú45 + VAT and for the full pack, which includes
carrying case plus a whole load of connectors and adaptors for use with
other PCs, it will cost you ú95 + VAT.
6.2
Å   Acorn Assist is the title of Acornæs latest scheme to help teachers,
lecturers, educational support staff and those in full-time further
education. Anyone in that category can buy:
6.2
A3020 (2M FD) + AKF40 monitor   ú780
6.2
A3020 (2M FD) + AKF18 monitor   ú830
6.2
A4000 Home Office (2M HD80) + AKF40   ú1049
6.2
A4000 Home Office (2M HD80) + AKF18   ú1099
6.2
A5000 Læng Curve (2M HD80) + AKF18   ú1499
6.2
A4 Notebook (4M HD60)   ú1799
6.2
JP150 printer (until 31/12/92)   ú210
6.2
(All prices include VAT.)
6.2
If you would like any of these, ring us and we will send you an
application form. Get your school/college/etc to stamp it and send it in
with a cheque for the required amount and we will put you in the queue
and supply a computer as soon as possible.
6.2
(We have A5000s in stock but all the other computers are still in very
short supply, so if you want one, I suggest you get a cheque into us as
soon as possible.)
6.2
Å   Ancient Greece Ö Chalksoft have produced a package designed to help
with National Curriculum in History Ö CSU5 for Key Stage 2. With it, you
can Évisitæ seven important times/locations and learn about life in
Ancient Greece. The cost is ú25 + VAT from Chalksoft.
6.2
Å   ArcFS2 Ö Software42 have produced an update to the compression filing
system ArcFS. The price is ú20 with no VAT because Software42 are not
VAT registered.
6.2
Å   ArcTrack is a RISC-OS compliant satellite tracking program. Features
include simple updating of keplers (with elements from the packet
network), multiple satellites and multiple footprints, constant display
of satellites in range and time of next AOS or LOS. ArcTrack is
available for ú20 inc VAT from Amsat-UK.
6.2
Å   BibleMaster Ö At last, Hodder and Stoughton have released their (PC
Emulator version) BibleMaster program in two versions: The New Interna
tional Version is ú35 (ú32 through Archive) and the version with both
Good News and NIV is ú60 (ú55 through Archive).
6.2
Å   CADet is Minerva Softwareæs new CAD program. It includes a multitask
ing plotter driver and has Émany features not normally found in a CAD
package at this price, including on-the-fly snaps for ease of accurate
drawingæ. The price is ú149 +áVAT from Minerva or ú160 through Archive.
6.2
Å   Canon BJC800 colour printer price drop. These amazing new A3 colour
printers, reviewed last month (p45) have dropped in price from ú2,100 to
ú1,800 Ö still a lot of money, but you get a lot of printer!
6.2
Å   ColourCard is Computer Conceptsæ graphics accelerator card. It
provides higher resolution graphics with less flicker (i.e. higher
refresh rates) than an unaided Archimedes and, by using a secondary
video frame-store, uses less processor time for the display leaving more
processor power for the Archimedes to use on, say, improving the redraw
speed of your art package. In 16 and 256 colour screen modes, all the
colours are selectable from 16 million hues so that, for example,
scanned images can be seen on screen in 256 true grey levels. The card
costs ú249 (+ú6 carriage) + VAT from Wild Vision or Computer Concepts or
ú280 inclusive through Archive.
6.2
Å   DBEdit is 4Mationæs new multitasking desktop Basic editor Ö which also
edits Obey, Command and Text files. The program is written in machine
code for speed. It operates on Basic programs in tokenised form, making
it possible to edit programs of more than 500 Kb on a 1 Mb machine. The
price is ú30 + VAT from 4Mation or ú33 through Archive.
6.2
Å   DTP and Programmersæ Utilities is a disc of utilities for DTP and
programming(!) from Software42. The price is ú15 with no VAT because
Software42 are not VAT registered.
6.2
Å   Engineering software Ö Richard Fallas & Associates have produced a
range of software for (civil) engineering applications. Storm provides a
modified rational method of stormwater analysis. Highway offers
horizontal alignment design of roads, straights, arcs and transition
spirals plus hierarchical networks of spurs. Vertcur is concerned with
the vertical alignment design of roads. Plotwise provides control of
plotfile output to allow pausing, tracing, partial re-plots, etc. Other
programs and PipeDream spreadsheets are also available. For full
details, ring or fax Richard Fallas on 0296Ö770555. (These applications
complement the programs for structural analysis of 2D frames and grids
from Vision Six.)
6.2
Å   Enigma is a compression filing system with security facilities from
Electronic Solutions. The cost is ú59.95 + VAT.
6.2
Å   Eureka Ö Longman Logotronæs spreadsheet application is due to emerge
from its long gestation period at the end of October, so it should be a
Éproduct availableæ by the time you get this magazine. Features include
over 150 built-in functions, graphs and charts on-screen styles with box
shading and colours, multiple sheets with file linking, user defined
functions and function macros plus import and export facilities in a
wide range of formats. The price is ú119 + VAT or ú130 through Archive.
Site licences are also available.
6.2
(It sounds as if we shall have to have a Eureka-Line to complement
PipeLine. If anyone can think of a better name and/or is prepared to
have a go at editing the column, please let me know. Ed.)
6.2
Å   Food for Thought is a four disc set of clipart with a food-related
theme. It comes complete with full documentation about using Draw Ö
indeed, one of the discs contains a tutorial. The price is ú16.95 + VAT
from Sherston Software.
6.2
Å   Helix Basic is back Ö PDK Technologies have taken over Helix Basic
from Craddock Computing and it is available again now for ú99.95 inc VAT
or ú92 through Archive.
6.2
Å   Help3 consists of a tutorial manual, a disc and a quick reference
card. The aim of the package is to introduce people to using the
Archimedes computers in general and RISC-OS 3 in particular. The price
is ú9.95 (no VAT) from Sherston Software.
6.2
Å   Joysticks and utilities are available from Electronic Solutions. If
you want to use different types of joysticks with the Archimedes then
contact them for full details.
6.2
Å   LandBuild is a 3D fractal landscape program from Software42. The price
is ú15 with no VAT because Software42 are not VAT registered.
6.2
Å   Mac CD-ROM drives Ö As with the Syquest drives and, more recently,
fixed SCSI hard drives, we have gone to Apple Mac suppliers for CD-ROMs.
The ones we have found are relatively speedy Chinon drives at ú480 inc
VAT. These can be run on Morley or Acorn SCSI cards by using CDFS/FSCSI
(ú22 through Archive) or on Oak SCSI cards by buying their new ROMs. The
good news is that these drives come with four free CD-ROMs Ö the bad
news is that they are in Mac format so, unless someone has some suitable
software, you cannot actually use them!
6.2
Å   Memory upgrades for A3010/20/4000 Ö We now have stocks of all the
memory upgrades for the new computers. A3010 1Ö2Mb is ú50, A3010 1Ö4Mb
is ú175, A3020 2Ö4Mb is ú100 and A4000 2Ö4Mb is also ú100.
6.2
Å   MicroDrive Designer Ö CISæs MicroDrive now has a course designer.
(Youæd be amazed how many people think MicroDrive is a car racing game!)
You can create your own courses from scratch or edit existing golf
courses. The price is ú39.95 from CIS or ú37 through Archive. (I have a
review which I hope to fit in next month Ö I just couldnæt fit it in
this time.)
6.2
Å   PipeDream Books Ö Two books to help you with PipeDream are now
available from Colton Software. The first is Getting Started with
PipeDream 4 (for spreadsheets and charts). This costs ú3.95 from Colton.
The second book which includes a disc is a Teacheræs Introduction to
Spreadsheets using PipeDream 4. This is ú5.95 inc VAT from Colton
Software.
6.2
Å   Revelation imagePro is Longman Logotronæs name for their successor to
Revelation2. New features include: load drawfiles onto page, colour-
shift enhanced, marks and tools menus amalgamated, new grey-shift
dialogue, improved image processing and various other improvements based
on user feedback. The price is ú139 + VAT or ú150 through Archive. Site
licences are also available.
6.2
Å   RISC-OS 3.1 Ö The supply of RISC-OS 3.1, even after two months, is
still VERY poor, particulary the A5000 version. This is presumably
because Acorn think it more important to concentrate on those who are
still using RISC-OS 2. At the Acorn User Show, I (and quite a few
Archive subscribers!) made some strong comments to Acorn about the way
they were favouring those dealers who buy directly from them over those
who, like N.C.S. have to buy through a distributor. I donæt know if it
has done any good, but in the last week or so, the supply has improved
slightly, so most of you should, I hope, have your RISC-OS 3.1s before
Christmas. (STOP PRESS: See inside front cover for latest situation.)
6.2
Å   Shareware and Careware prices down Ö We have decided to drop the price
of Shareware and Careware discs and also the monthly program discs.
Because of the large amount of money raised for charity by the Careware
discs (around ú10,000 per year) we are only dropping the price from ú6
to ú5 but the Shareware and monthly program discs are dropping to ú2
each. This is done on the basis that, generally, people buy two or more
discs at a time. So, although selling one disc at ú2 hardly covers
costs, selling two or more at a time is more viable. We decided it was
too complicated to have different prices for one-off purchases, so it
will be a straight ú2 per disc from now on.
6.2
(Those who have purchased monthly program discs in advance will be
granted one extra disc for every two they have outstanding, excluding
this monthæs disc. So, for example, if you are booked up for all of
volume 6, There is no need to do anything about this Ö it will happen
automatically and you will be informed when your last disc is being sent
out to you.)
6.2
Å   SmArt files Ö Two more SmArt files are available from 4Mation for use
with their SmArt Filer software. They are Fiddles and Drums Ö which is
exactly what it says Ö and Fantasy which has dragons, wizards, trolls,
etc. Each pack is ú16 + VAT from 4Mation or ú18 through Archive.
6.2
Å   Spell no longer ÉMicroæ Ö David Pillingæs spelling checker, now
version 3, has changed its name from MicroSpell to just Spell. The price
is still ú6 through Archive. For a comparative review, see page 19.
6.2
Å   TableMate is a table-making utility which takes data in CSV, SID or
its own data format and allows you to lay it out neatly. It is particu
larly useful with Impression Junior which doesnæt have its own table
facilities. The price is ú21 (no VAT) from Dalriada Data Technology.
6.2
Å   Tasker allows you to convert any non-WIMP application so that it
multitasks on the Archimedes. The cost is ú34.95 + VAT from Electronic
Solutions.
6.2
Å   VGA monitor utilities are available from Electronic Solutions for
ú9.95 + VAT. These utilities are designed to allow you to get the most
out of your VGA monitor and maximise compatibility with applications and
games which usually only accept standard monitors and multisyncs.
6.2
Å   WindowEd is a multi-document template editor for RISC-OS. Features
include: up to eight template files in memory at once; windows, icons
and sprites can be grabbed from other applications; Étoolboxæ allows you
to move, scroll and resize windows that do not have the necessary
gadgets; timed auto-save; full support for Interface module for 3D
effects. The application comes with utilities: Hotspot to magnify area
around the mouse pointer; wastebin; Mouselock which locks the mouse to X
or Y axes; Command which allows *commands to be executed from within the
desktop. The whole package, including documentation, is available from
Armen Software for ú35 including VAT and carriage or ú32 through
Archive.
6.2

Å   A4 Notebooks Ö At last, we have cleared all the back orders of A4
Model IIæs and can now supply them direct from stock. However, the A4
Model Iæs, the hard drive-less version, are still on what we call the
RSN list Ö available Éreal soon nowæ!
6.3
Å   Ace colour ProDriver Ö Ace have produced a version of their ProDriver
for the Hewlett Packard DJ550C colour printer. The price is ú47 inc VAT
from Ace or ú44 through Archive.
6.3
Å   Acorn AKF17 monitors Ö Acorn have some AKF17 standard resolution
monitors that they are trying to get rid of. They are brand new monitors
as supplied with the A3000æs. They donæt have a tilt-and-swivel stand
but otherwise they are functionally similar to the newer AKF30æs and
40æs. The price will be ú150 including VAT and carriage from Archive.
6.3
Å   Acorn Pocket Books Ö Acorn have changed their policy about Pocket
Books. Non-educational dealers are now going to be allowed to sell them.
In fact, we have several Pocket Books in stock.
6.3
Å   Acorn Pocket Book accessories Ö Acorn say that the Pocket Book
accessories will be available at the end of November, i.e. before this
magazine is published. However, I suggest you ring us to check avail
ability before sending orders. The items that we know about are: A-Link
at ú46, parallel printer link at ú28, 128Kb RAM disc at ú74, 256Kb flash
disc at ú65, 512Kb flash disc at ú111, OPL Editor at ú65 and the mains
adaptor at ú15. All these are VAT inclusive Archive prices.
6.3
Å   Arcventure II Ö The Egyptians Ö Sherston Software have released their
educational package aimed at 2nd and 3rd year juniors who are studying
Egypt. The children join a simulated archaeological dig to see what they
can find buried beneath the sand. The price is ú29.95 +VAT from
Sherston.
6.3
Å   Automatic embroidery Ö TechSoft UK Ltd have produced a system which
combines a Poem 500 computer controlled embroidery machine and Archi
medes software called, Arc Embroidery. The system allows images created
as Draw files to be embroidered directly onto a variety of materials
(cotton cloth, felt, denim, jersey, etc) in an area up to 90 ╫ 90mm and
with a variety of user-definable stitches such as satin, ribbed, zig-
zag, etc. The user can also control pattern size, stitch length, fill
density, fill direction, etc. The software even prompts the user for
thread changes as required. The price, including the software, is
ú749.95 + VAT.
6.3
Å   Battery-Pack for BJ10ex Ö If you are using a BJ10ex with an A4, you
can make the printer portable too by buying a battery-pack costing ú46
through Archive. This is trickle-charged from the normal power supply
and allows the printer to be completely free-standing.
6.3
Å   Budget games Ö Arcade is a set of four RISC-OS arcade games costing
ú5.95 (no VAT) from David Ramsden, 7 Chevet Lane, Wakefield, West
Yorkshire WF2 6HN. Drop Rock is a Repton-type game from Soft Rock
Software for ú3.49 (no VAT). Winds of Change is Éan Archimedes albumæ
for ú1.99 (no VAT) also from Soft Rock Software.
6.3
Å   Canon BJ200 Ö Canon have now produced an updated version of their
BJ10ex Ö the BJ200. This is functionally similar to the BJ10ex but
faster Ö and it includes a cut sheet feeder as standard. Computer
Concepts are producing a version of their Turbo-Driver software for it.
The price of the software will be ú49 +VAT from CC or ú53 through
Archive. The printers themselves are available from Archive for ú340 inc
VAT.
6.3
Å   CD-ROM mastering Ö EESOX offer a low-cost CD-ROM mastering service.
The cost can be as low as ú150 for the first master and ú50 for
successive copies. These masters can then be used for mass production
later, if required.
6.3
Å   CD Simulator is a package to simulate the operation of a CD-ROM to
help you in creating and testing your own CD-ROMs. The software costs
ú129 +VAT also from EESOX.
6.3
Å   Colour cards Ö Two more colour cards are now available. SpeedGraph is
produced by Evolution Trading Ltd in Switzerland (available through MAPS
Ltd in the UK) and costs ú350 (DM 950, sFr 900) all inclusive. It
provides 1024 ╫ 768 in 16 colours (chosen from 4096) and up to 800 ╫ 600
in 256 colours (restrictively chosen from 4096) and up to 1024 ╫ 768 in
4096 colours for the display of static pictures. StateMachine G8 Plus is
ú249 +VAT (a recently reduced price) offers 1280 ╫ 1024 in 4 colours,
1152 ╫ 900 in 4 colours and 1152 ╫ 848 in 16 colours on monitors that
offer a 64 kHz or greater line rate. For professional work, StateMachine
also offer the G8 Professional which provides 768 ╫ 576 CCIR PAL. This
costs ú349 +VAT.
6.3
(At the Computer Shopper Show, CC put one of their cards in my A540. It
gave me, amongst other modes, 1600 ╫ 600 in 16 colours on my Eizo T560iT
with the computer still going at full speed. That will make a huge
difference when it comes to laying out the magazine. I canæt wait to get
a production model. Ed.)
6.3
Å   Colour driver upgrade Ö Risc Developments have an upgrade to their
500C driver which will also now work with the DJ550C colour printer. The
price is ú15 + VAT + ú2 carriage from Risc Developments.
6.3
Å   Courses galore Ö Broad Oak Computers have extended their range of
computer courses. They now offer BBC Basic V Programming, C Programming,
Impression II, Pendown, Pipedream, Schema and WIMP Programming in BBC
Basic.
6.3
Å   Cyborg is an arcade-style, multi-location adventure game in which you
don your cybertronic exo-skeletal suit(!) and face the terrors of an
unknown planet. The price is ú25.95 + ú1 postage from Alpine Software.
6.3
Å   Eureka NOT available Ö We said last month that Eureka was Édue to
emerge from its long gestation period at the end of Octoberæ. This was
based what Longman Logotronæs press and telephone advice. However, they
are now saying that they can Ésee no reason why you should not have it
before Christmasæ. We will NOT be mentioning Eureka again until it
really is a ÉProduct Availableæ!
6.3
Å   Fervour is an action game from Clares. You roll a ball along intricate
pathways with holes to be avoided and bonuses to be picked up en route Ö
each level must be done within a set time limit. You can even create
your own levels. The price is ú24.95 from Clares or ú23 through Archive.
6.3
Å   Guardian (version3) is a virus killer that is Écapable of killing all
known Archimedes virusesæ. This is available free of charge from Digital
Phenomena and is also on this monthæs program disc. A technical support
and advice service is also provided free of charge on a Viewdata system
(7E1) on 0705Ö871531.
6.3
Å   HP Deskjet550C colour printer Ö Hewlett Packard have produced an
improved colour printer based on their popular DJ500C. The DJ500C has a
carriage that takes a single cartridge, either a black cartridge or a
colour one. The disadvantage of this is that if you are using the colour
cartridge, blacks come out a muddy colour. (It is possible to get round
this by using colour separation software but it means changing cartri
dges and passing the paper through the printer twice.)
6.3
The new 550C, however, has both a black cartridge and a colour cartridge
on the carriage. With appropriate driver software (such as Aceæs
ProDriver mentioned above), the colour cartridge will automatically be
used for the coloured bits while the black cartridge is used for the
blacks Ö so the blacks really are black. The Archive price of the 550C
is ú590. (The Archive prices of the other HP Deskjet printers have been
reduced. The DJ500 mono is now ú380 and the DJ500C is ú480.)
6.3
Å   Impact the Database is Circle Softwareæs new database which has
mailmerge links to Impression. It also provides direct data import and
export, simple data selection filters, multiple indexing and label
printing. The price is ú58.69 inc VAT from Circle Software.
6.3
Å   IronMask Ö Turing Tools have produced a password-controlled file
security system for RISC-OS machines. Files shielded by IronMask are
immune from RISC-OS filing operations Ö they cannot be opened, run,
copied, moved, deleted or renamed. The price is ú59 (no VAT) from Turing
Tools.
6.3
Å   LinkWord is Éa new concept in language learningæ from Minerva. It is
based on (human) memory techniques to enable you to learn a new language
É2 to 3 times faster than conventional methodsæ. It is available in
three languages Ö French, German and Spanish and costs ú39.95 +VAT per
language from Minerva or ú44 through Archive.
6.3
Å   Masterfile 3 Ö Risc Developments have released a new version of their
Masterfile database so that it is now RISC-OS compliant. The price is
ú49 + VAT + ú2 carriage from Risc Developments.
6.3
Å   Monitor stands Ö We have found a source of monitor stands for A3010
and A3020 computers Ö in the appropriate colours. They include a slot at
the right for the floppy drive and on the left to enable you to get at
the reset button. They cost ú20 each through Archive.
6.3
Å   NetView is a network utility program that allows an Archimedes station
to view the screen of another BBC, Master or Archimedes on the network.
The price is ú34.99 (no VAT) from Sanjay Pattni, Flat 11, 86 Ifield
Road, London  SW10 9AD.
6.3
Å   New titles from G.A.Herdmann Educational are Chemical Spectra at
ú19.99 (no VAT) and DTP Images discs 12 and 13 at ú8.99 each (no VAT)
which consist of clipart for science teachers.
6.3
Å   Populous Ö Krisalisæ latest arcade adventure game for the Archimedes,
Populous, is now available. The price is ú29.99 from Krisalis or ú28
through Archive.
6.3
Å   Rhythm-Bed is a full-blown drum sequencer from Clares costing ú49.95
or ú46 through Archive. Percussion tracks can be built up on screen,
played by the application through the Archimedesæ own sound output or on
a MIDI instrument. The percussion sequence can also be transferred into
other applications such as Rhapsody.
6.3
Å   RISC-OS 3.10 Ö If you remember, Acornæs Managing Director said (or
implied) on 26th October that Acorn would be fulfilling all our back
orders of RISC-OS 3.1 for RISC-OS 2 machines within three weeks. We are
happy to say that we have now had enough to fulfil all back orders.
(However, this does NOT apply to RISC-OS 3.1 for A5000 users Ö these are
still in short supply.) We have a few left as free stock but it might be
better to ring to enquire about availability before sending in an order
because demand continues to out-strip supply.
6.3
Å   Sound Engineer is EMRæs application for handling sound samples. It
provides envelope shaping, full use via MIDI, re-pitching, etc. Sounds
can be played through its control panel, via a keyboard window or
through a MIDI instrument. Its features include threshold recording, cut
& paste, auto-looping, 3D FFT printout, direct disc playback, harmonic
wave generation plus spectrum analyser, oscilloscope and amplitude
displays. The cost is ú59 +VAT from EMR.
6.3
Å   TextAid is a set of utilities for manipulating text. It can be used
alongside other RISC-OS packages and provides user-definable macros,
conversion between CSV, TSV and text. It also has the ability to insert
printer control-codes. It costs ú9.95 inclusive from Rheingold
Enterprises.
6.3

Å   Aldebaran Ö In this new game Éthat shows what the Archimedes is
capable ofæ, you explore twelve fractal planets, fight off various
enemies and save a star from destruction. It is produced by Evolution
Trading in Switzerland and is available in the UK through MAPS Ltd for
ú34.90 inc VAT.
6.4
Å   Aleph One PC card under ú400 Ö While stocks last, we have some Aleph
One 386 1Mb PC podules for ú395 due to over-stocking just before the 486
appeared on the scene! (We are having to sell these at a loss!!)
6.4
Å   Archive price rise Ö As we said last month, the price of the Archive
annual subscription (12 issues) is increasing from ú17 to ú19 as from
1st February 1993. All subscriptions received before that date will be
honoured even if they are not actually due. The new overseas rates are
ú26 for Europe, Australia/N.Z., etc ú37 and the rest of the world ú34.
6.4
The Technical Help Service is also going to be increasing from ú10 a
year to ú15 a year. However, this is to reflect the fact that we are
installing a dedicated Technical Help Hotline. The main NCS phone line
is usually fairly busy, so we will issue THS users with a special
confidential phone number which they can ring to get solutions to their
technical problems. We are hoping the line will be open by the end of
January and all holders of a current THS subscription will then receive
a letter informing them about the new service.
6.4
Å   Atomwide VIDC enhancer Ö Atomwide have stopped producing their VIDC
Enhancer and have released the VIDC Plus software into the public
domain. This is now available as Careware Disc 18 (ú6 to subscribers Ö
see below). We have also been given permission by Atomwide to get
another company to make them for us (in any case, the enhancers and hope
to have some VIDC enhancers made up shortly. This will allow us to
fulfil existing orders and to continue to supply enhancers in future.
6.4
Å   BBC Acorn User Show Ö In April 1993 (15th Ö 17th) Safesell Exhibi
tions, who have been responsible for the London Acorn User Shows, will
be organising an Acorn User Show in Harrogate at the International
Exhibition Centre. This has come out of the fact that the London
exhibition has been taken over by Acorn themselves and will, from 1993,
be The World of Acorn. We hope that Norwich Computer Services will be
represented at both exhibitions.
6.4
Å   Careware Disc 18 Ö This disc contains the public domain version (1.61
16-Mar-92) of Atomwideæs VIDC Plus software. This supports a host of
monitors giving a wide range of extra modes for all A-series computers.
There are two versions of the software on the disc:
6.4
The A540/A5000 version does not need any additional hardware and
supports the following monitors: Eizo 9060, Eizo 9070, Eizo F550i, Eizo
T560i, HP-D1187, MicroHL, PanaSync, Quadram (AKF 18), Taxan 1095, Taxan
770, Taxan 775, Taxan 795, Taxan 875, Taxan 970.
6.4
The A400/A3000 version must have the Atomwide VIDC enhancer hardware to
support the following monitors: Eizo 9060, Eizo 9070, HP-D1187, MicroHL,
PanaSync, Quadram (AKF 18), Switcher, Taxan 1095, Taxan 770, Taxan 775,
Taxan 795, Taxan 875, Taxan 970.
6.4
Å   Chatter is 4Mationæs new comms package. This is a full RISC-OS
compatible program providing ANSI, Viewdata and Teletel display
protocols, and Campus 2000, X, Y and Z-modem transfers. The price is
ú37.50 from 4Mation or ú35 through Archive.
6.4
Å   Desktop Tracker Ö This is Leading Edgeæs RISC-OS compatible version of
their Tracker software which allows you to enter your own music and
sounds, and also to play existing Tracker music of which there is a lot
available in PD libraries. If you have a Midi interface, you can play
the tracker tunes through a Midi instrument. Desktop Tracker is ú69 inc
VAT from Leading Edge or ú63 through Archive.
6.4
Å   EFF fonts Ö There is now a range of over 500 RISC-OS 3 fonts available
from EFF. They have also dropped the price of their RISC-OS 2 fonts by
30%. The new fonts have automatic kerning so that, for example, the word
öAWAYò transferred into RISC-OS 3 fonts would automatically come out as
öAWAYò.
6.4
Å   Eureka! Ö I have a real live copy of Eureka in my hands. It is
available NOW.
6.4
Å   Game Makeræs Manual Ö For those who want to write their own games for
the Archimedes, this new book will provide some of the basics to get you
started. The price is ú14.95 from Sigma Press or ú14 through Archive.
6.4
Å   Games galore Ö There are various games for the Archimedes that we have
missed out on along the way. The following have now been added to the
Archive games list:
6.4
Black Angel, the 3D space combat simulation from 4th Dimension is ú32
through Archive.
6.4
Chopper Force, the 3D futuristic helicopter simulation from 4th
Dimension is ú32 through Archive.
6.4
Galactic Dan is a 3D arcade adventure combat game from 4th Dimension and
is ú24 through Archive.
6.4
Gribblyæs Day Out is an arcade action game from CoinAge. This is ú24
through Archive.
6.4
Krisalis Compendium which includes Mad Professor Mariarti, Terramex,
Pipemania and Revelation (the game, not the art package!). This is ú28
through Archive.
6.4
Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 the driving game from Krisalis with a Turbo
Esprit or Lotus Elan is ú24 through Archive. (This is currently making
life a misery for the adults of the Beverley household Ö öIf you donæt
come for lunch now I shall switch the so-and-so computer off!ò)
6.4
Omar Sharifæs Bridge is a bridge game from Krisalis including on-line
help for ú28 through Archive.
6.4
Å   Hawk V9 Mk II Ö Wild Vision have produced a new version of their well-
established Hawk V9 digitiser. It is now a single width podule which
saves a podule slot (Mk I was a dual width podule). The software has
been upgraded to offer a live display window in the desktop. The grabbed
video picture is then displayed with full dithered colours. There is
also a special mono format useful for preparing material for monochrome
DTP work. It comes with fully RISC-OS compliant software providing an
öextensive range of image scaling and enhancing optionsò allowing
sprites produced to be dragged straight into whatever desktop appli
cations you are using. The price is now ú269 +VAT from Wild Vision or
ú305 through Archive.
6.4
Å   IDE internal drives Ö Yes, weære finally succumbing to pressure to
stock internal IDE hard drives for the A3000 (and A3010). We want to
assess which we consider to be good enough quality and low enough power
consumption to be a reasonable risk for putting into a computer without
a fan. If readers have a drive they would like to recommend from their
own experience, let us know. If suppliers would like us to consider
their IDE drives, they too should get in touch with us to arrange a loan
of one of their units for assessment.
6.4
Å   Joystick interface Ö The new Leading Edge Joystick Mk2 is now
available. It plugs into the printer port and takes two Amiga/Atari type
joysticks. With the software provided, it claims to be able to be used
with övirtually any piece of softwareò. It includes a switch so that the
interface does not have to be removed in order to use the printer port
as normal. (I tried it with an Artworks and an Impression dongle hanging
off the back and they worked fine.) It is compatible with all Acorn 32-
bit computers and with RISC-OS 3.1. The price is ú38 through Archive.
6.4
Å   Landmarks Civil War Ö The latest in Longman Logotronæs series of
Landmarks packages is Civil War. The price is ú24 +VAT from Longman
Logotron or ú26 through Archive.
6.4
Å   Midi Tracker Ö This software from Leading Edge allows you to play
existing Tracker music, of which there is a lot available in PD
libraries, through a Midi interface to a Midi instrument. It gives you
the ability to add keyboard setups, several being pre-defined. Midi
Tracker is ú19 inc VAT from Leading Edge or ú18 through Archive.
6.4
Å   Midi Interface Ö This is Leading Edgeæs Midi interface. It has Midi in
and out, conforms to Acornæs Midi standard and is cheap! Midi Interface
is ú42 inc VAT from Leading Edge or ú40 through Archive. The other
advantage/disadvantage is that it does not take up a podule slot but
uses the Econet interface. The Midi in and out sockets are on short
flying leads that plug into the Econet socket.
6.4
Å   Midi Sampler Interface Ö This is a combination of a Midi interface (as
above) and an audio sampler. Again, it has Midi in and out on flying
leads and an audio plug for the sound input. It can sample up to 50 KHz.
(If you are wondering who would want to sample frequencies that high,
Leading Edge assure me that someone is using one of these samplers for
his research into bat sounds!) The Midi Sampler Interface is ú94 inc VAT
from Leading Edge or ú88 through Archive.
6.4
Å   Picture it! Ö This is an object-oriented drawing package aimed at
education. It takes drawfiles as objects and allows pupils to make
drawfile pictures by combining the objects and then colouring them,
arranging them and even animating them. The price is ú29.95 +VAT for a
single user or ú49.95 +VAT for a site licence from Appian Way Software.
They also do topic disks at ú8.50 +VAT each. These include buildings,
ships, birds, clothes (4 volumes), mini-beasts (2 volumes), dinosaurs,
transport and Christmas. You can, of course, make up your own sets of
objects from any source of drawfile clipart.
6.4
Å   SCSI cards and drives Ö We are now stocking Leading Edgeæs SCSI cards
plus their 80Mb SCSI drive solutions for the different Acorn 32-bit
computers.
6.4
For A300/400 there are 80Mb drives with standard podules: Internal 8-bit
ú405, internal 16-bit (i.e. a faster interface) ú460, external (which
has its own p.s.u.) 8-bit ú555, 16-bit ú605.
6.4
If you just want the SCSI card, the 8-bit version is ú105 and the 16-bit
version is ú145.
6.4
For A3000 owners, there is a Hardbox which is an 80Mb drive in a metal
box with its own p.s.u. that attaches to the external interface. This is
available as 8-bit at ú485 and 16-bit at ú530. There is also an 8-bit
Turbo external version at ú605. This uses a separate external cased
drive with its own p.s.u. which links via a cable to an internal 8-bit
interface. The interface has extra hardware that makes it rather faster
than the standard 8-bit SCSI interface Ö though not as fast as the 16-
bit interface.
6.4
If you just want a SCSI card, the internal A3000 8-bit version is ú105,
the external A3000 8-bit version is ú115 (including case) and the 16-bit
external version is ú155 (including case). The 8-bit internal turbo
version is also ú145.
6.4
There is also a special version of the 8-bit internal (non-turbo) SCSI
card which includes a User Port. This is ú150. This is particularly
useful for schools, for example, where they want to use something like a
concept keyboard or an interface box as well as having a hard drive.
6.4
Another option for A3000 owners is to buy an empty hardbox with its own
p.s.u. You then buy your own SCSI interface (not necessarily a Leading
Edge one) and a 3╜ö SCSI hard drive and put it all in the hardbox. This
costs ú125 for the box and p.s.u.
6.4
N.B. ALL Leading Edge SCSI cards are CD-ROM compatible, i.e. they do not
need any extra software, whether in ROM or on disc, in order to connect
to CD-ROMs. (The 16-bit card is ú145 which, if you need to use CD-ROM
compares very favourably with the Morley 16-bit card at ú160 plus ú22
for the CDFS filing system.)
6.4
Å   SpySnatcher is Topologikaæs latest addition to their range of classic
text adventures. Your job is to help MI7æs chief, known as ÉZæ, to
unearth a Émoleæ. The price is ú15 inc VAT from Topologika. (Send to
Topologika for their free Adventure Games catalogue.)
6.4
Å   TechWriter Ö Icon Technologyæs TechWriter builds on their successful
EasiWriter wordprocessor and adds mathematical typesetting with the
addition of a fully integrated WYSIWYG equation editor. The price is
ú250 +VAT from Icon or ú270 through Archive.
6.4

Å   A3010 digital joystick software Ö At last the A3010 joystick ports can
start being used properly! The Leading Edge have just released a
software package which allows the digital joystick ports on the A3010 to
be used correctly. The A3010 öJoymasterò enables the built-in joystick
ports to be used with games not specifically written to support Acornæs
Joystick Standard. It allows custom design of joystick and keyboard
controls, and includes a unique ömappingò feature which allows a
joystick to emulate keystrokes or mouse controls. In practice, this
means that it should work with just about any game written for the
Archimedes as well as having the capability to work in the desktop. Also
included with the package are several pre-defined joystick mappings
designed to work with many of the more popular games. The Archive price
is ú28. For those of you still in the dark about joysticks and the
supporting software and hardware, we hope to be giving some help in next
monthæs Archive.
6.5
Å   A3020/A4000 Econet upgrade Ö HCCS have beaten Acorn to it Ö they now
have an AUN-compatible Econet upgrade available for the A3020 and A4000
for ú39 +VAT (ú43 through Archive). There is an Econet cable sold
separately for ú10 +VAT (or ú11 through Archive).
6.5
Å   ABC of Art is a set of clipart drawn using Artworks and available in
Artworks or Draw format. The first in the series has nine illustrations,
Aborigine, AC_Cobra, Acorn, Aeroplane, Aerosol, Alsatian, Arches, Arrows
and a letter A. The price is ú8 inclusive from J Jeffery, Tideways,
South Road, Bream, Somerset  TA8 2SE.
6.5
Å   A Beginneræs Guide to Wimp Programming Ö Martyn Fox has written a 180-
page book which sets out to explain wimp programming (in Basic) from the
very beginning. The price is ú14.95 from Sigma Press or ú14 through
Archive. If you want a disc to save you typing in all the programs
yourself, you have to write direct to the author and send ú3.95. The
name and address is given in the book.
6.5
Å   Aldebaran Ö This new game mentioned last month is now available
through Archive for ú32.
6.5
Å   Ancestry upgrade Ö Minerva have produced a new version of Ancestry
which, amongst other things, allows on-screen preview of the sideways
print mode. Also, the key-disc copy-protection system is no longer used.
Send your master disc plus a cheque for ú11.75 to Minerva.
6.5
Å   An Eye for Spelling is an educational program providing a visual
approach to spelling. It contains 3,500 words which are aimed at
children in the 5Ö11 year age range and are grouped according to letter
patterns. An Eye for Spelling is ú35 +VAT (including a site licence)
from ESM or ú38 through Archive.
6.5
Å   Arc Embroidery price drop Ö Techsoftæs computer embroidery package
(see review on page 61) has dropped in price from ú749.95 +VAT to
ú699.95 +VAT. (This may be because they now have competition Ö see page
7.)
6.5
Å   Archive Monthly Program Discs Ö We get asked, fairly regularly, about
the Archive monthly program discs. Basically, all they consist of is any
programs and data files that are referred to in the magazine plus any
other bits and pieces that come our way. We sometimes use the disc to
send out updated versions of PD software, we try to put on it updates of
the ArcScan magazine data for Archive (Shareware 7) and, in future, we
will try to fit on the updates to the Archive Words Discs for Hints &
Tips and Products Available, i.e. the text of that monthæs H & T and
Products Available columns in Edit format. The discs are ú2 each. You
can buy them individually or the whole of the current year for ú24 Ö I
realise that this is not a discount, but ordering them in advance is a
convenience for you and extra admin for us!
6.5
Å   Archive Monthly Program Disc Index Ö If you want to know what the
monthly program discs actually contain, the most up-to-date list we have
is an Edit format index which appears on the Archive Products Available
Words Disc (ú2) Ö see opposite.
6.5
Å   Archive Words Discs Ö A number of people have asked if we can supply
Archive magazine in machine readable format. Thus far I have resisted
the pressure for copyright reasons. However, I recently created some
Edit files of the text of all the Archive magazines that were created on
the Archimedes Ö i.e. from Archive 4.5 onwards. (Prior to that they were
produced on Apple Macs.) I have found it extremely helpful to be able to
load up one file of text containing all the words of, say, volume 5
(2.6Mb of text!) and search through for some reference or other. These
files are now permanently on my pinboard. I have therefore decided to
release these files for sale on disc. They are:
6.5
Wordsáá4.5 Ö 4.8   ú2
6.5
Wordsáá4.9 Ö 4.12   ú2
6.5
Words  5.1 Ö 5.6   ú2
6.5
Words  5.7 Ö 5.12   ú2
6.5
Words  6.1 Ö 6.4*   ú2
6.5
Please note the licence conditions of these discs Ö they are only for
sale to those people who already own copies of the magazines to which
they refer. We are not asking for proof of purchase but are trusting
your honesty. The alternative to this licence condition would be to sell
the discs for, say, ú5 each to make them comparable with the cost of
buying the magazine but this we did not want to do. N.B. If you want the
back issues of the actual magazines, they are all still available at
special prices: Vols 1Ö4 at ú22 and Vols 1Ö5 at ú25.
6.5
á*Volume 6 will have to be on three discs (assuming we continue to
generate these 80-page issues!) as there is too much text, even when
compressed, to fit onto two discs. Volume 5 just squeezes onto two discs
in compressed format.
6.5
N.B. The Edit files are so large that you need a 2Mb machine to un-
compress the files from the individual discs. If you then want to
combine, say, all of volume 5, you will need a 4Mb machine.
6.5
Å   Archive Products Available Compilation. This goes right back to the
very beginning of Archiveæs life because we took the trouble, for our
own purposes, to go back to the issues that were produced on the Mac to
collect all this information. We find it very useful to have all this
information in a single file. If we want to know, for example, if there
has ever been a product that dealt with electronic circuit analysis, we
just load up this file and search for the appropriate words. Also
included on the disc are lists of the contents of the Shareware,
Careware and Archive monthly program discs in Edit format. This disc
costs ú2 from Archive.
6.5
Å   Archive Hints & Tips Compilation. This is another extremely useful
compilation for anybody who uses an Archimedes machine Ö I donæt know
why we didnæt think of doing it before! These discs contain all the
Hints & Tips columns plus some of the specialist hints & tips columns
like Impression, First Word Plus, RISC-OS 2 and RISC-OS 3. As with the
Products Available Compilation, it goes right back to the beginning of
Archive. The way we envisage them being used is that you load them into
Edit, search for the word(s) you are looking for, identify which
magazine contains the hint you want, then go and look it up in the
actual magazine. These Edit files contain no formatting and the sections
that were transferred from the Apple Mac may contain inaccuracies and
some program segments are missing, so please refer to the original text
in the magazine. These discs are ú6 each.
6.5
They are:
6.5
Hints  Vols (1 Ö 4)   ú6
6.5
Hints  Vols 5 & 6   ú6
6.5
Hints  Vols (1 Ö 6)   ú10
6.5
(The Hints 1Ö6 disc is only recommended for use on machines with 2Mb or
more as it will not un-compress into a 1Mb machine.)
6.5
Å   Archive Shareware & Careware Compilations Ö We have just realised that
those who own removable drives might wish to get hold of PD software in
bulk! We have therefore produced two compilation removable discs. All
the Archive Shareware discs (over 40 all together) have been put onto
one 42M cartridge. This disc is ú75. All the Archive Careware discs (19
so far) have also been put onto a single 42M cartridge. The cost is ú100
and, of this, ú75 covers the cost of the media plus duplication and ú25
goes to charity.
6.5
Å   Artroom CD-ROM Ö Matt Black have produced a CD-ROM version of their
Image Club clipart library (Archive 5.11 p2). For ú295 +ú2 p&p (no VAT),
you get over 4,000 clipart images, all in EPS format, that can be loaded
directly into ArtWorks.
6.5
Å   BookMaker Ö BookMaker is a DTP program that allows teachers and pupils
to produce storybooks. It allows you to manipulate text and graphics and
its features can be tailored by the teacher to the age and ability of
the pupils. The price is ú49.95 +VAT from RESOURCE for a single user
licence. This price includes the BookWorm application which allows
BookMaker books to be replayed a page at a time or as an animation.
6.5
Å   BookStore is an educational program aimed at children in Key Stages 1
& 2. It provides a framework for children to write, store and retrieve
book reviews. BookStore costs ú39.50 +VAT (including a site licence)
from ESM or ú43 through Archive.
6.5
Å   Careware 18 Ö Atomwide have released the software for their VIDC
Enhancers into the public domain. We have made it available on Careware
18 and added various other utilities for monitors. (We hope to have the
VIDC Enhancer hardware on sale again soon.)
6.5
The rest of the disc contains: iconbar mode number display, extended
screen modes for the Sony CPD-1402, mode 108 which provides 1024╫448
pixels & 16 colours @ 59Hz, mode 112 for the Acorn AKF18 m/s monitor,
VIDC enhancer modules for NEC 3D, tweaked PC emulator modes for NEC 3D,
extended screen modes (76-102) for NEC 3D, mode creation and editing for
pre-A5000s with AKF18, module for modes 0-15 for use on an A410 with an
AKF18 monitor, alternative to Atomwideæs VIDC enhancer software. The
price is ú5 from Archive.
6.5
Å   Careware 19 Ö This disc contains a range of utilities for graphics
file conversion (much of which used to be on Careware 13) and some
statistics software. The price is ú5 from Archive.
6.5
Graphics utilities consist of the latest versions of: !CGM->Draw (2.60),
!Draw->CGM (1.10), !Draw->EPS (1.10), !Draw->Met (1.00) (Draw to OS2
Metafiles), !Dxf-CGM (1.00), !Plotter (1.30) which allows drawfiles to
be plotted to a SketchMate A4 plotter, !Creator (1.13) which converts
sprites to GIF, TIFF, AIM and PBM and !Translator (6.45) which converts
various graphics filetypes to sprites.
6.5
The suite of stand-alone statistical utilities written in Basic consists
of: Transfer to/from PipeDream/Edit/ASCII text, graph drawing/plotting,
histograms, area under curve, half-life calculation, mean, deviation &
variance calculations, T-tests, regression analysis, linear regression,
F-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman
correlation, chi▓, Fisher exact test, Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, sample &
survival stats, covariate analysis, one-way independence tests, two-way
independence test, Altman-Bland test, predicted & PC calculation.
6.5
Å   Choices is an educational utility that allows students to do a wide
range of activities by selecting images. Preferences can be expressed as
well as giving right answers. It uses still or moving images, sprites or
drawfiles and allows jigsaws to be made. Teachers can modify existing
activities (four discs of resources are included) or create their own
activities. The price is ú35 +VAT from Widgit Software.
6.5
Å   ClearView hypertext utility (mentioned in Archive 5.8 p2)  has dropped
in price to ú29.95 inc VAT from DEC_dATA.
6.5
Å   Clipart Ö Software42 have three discs of clipart on offer at ú15 per
disc, inclusive. They are 1ÖElectronics, 2ÖAnimals and Birds, 3ÖPeople.
6.5
Bright Ideas have produced eleven discs of clipart: 1ÖGeneral,
2ÖTransport, 3ÖCostumes, 4ÖEntertainment, 5ÖBugs to Slugs, 6ÖRoad Signs,
7ÖSports Equipment, 8ÖSports Figures, 9ÖDinosaurs, 10ÖSymbols, 11ÖTools.
These discs are ú8 +VAT each from Desktop Projects.
6.5
Å   Courses, various Ö The ARM Club are arranging various courses on
topics such as music, games, teaching for teachers(!), Impression,
PipeDream, Squirrel, Genesis. For details, contact Dr Nick Evans, 19
Woodberry Way, Londoná N12 0HE.
6.5
Å   Craftshop 1, Craftshop 2, Jigsaw and Jiglet from 4Mation have all come
down in price. Each is now ú19.95 +VAT from 4Mation or ú22 through
Archive.
6.5
Å   Cyborg the arcade-style, multi-location adventure game from Alpine
Software (mentioned in Archive 6.3 p3) is now available through Archive
for ú24.
6.5
Å   DDE Pascal upgrade Ö Acorn have upgraded their (PD) DDE Pascal to
version 4.10. The main changes are that several bugs have been fixed,
forward function declarations now work, range checking on assignment has
been added, the optimiser has been improved, the predefined type ÉErroræ
has been renamed ÉOS_Erroræ as ÉErroræ caused name clashes with some
programs and Éinputæ and Éoutputæ can now be used explicitly without
declaring them in the program header (except when compiling with -ISO).
6.5
If you want the updated version you can either buy another copy of
Careware 17 at ú5 or send your old Careware 17 back with a donation to
charity and we will upgrade it for you.
6.5
Å   Desktop Folio Ö ESM have reduced the price of their word-processor/DTP
package to ú64 +VAT (ú70 through Archive). A site licence is available
from ESM for ú180 +VAT. They also now have five curriculum packs for use
with Desktop Folio. The subjects are: World War II, Christmas, Space,
Maths and Editors. The latter is a set of material for anyone designing
newspapers, magazines, etc. These packs are ú22.50 +VAT each (including
a site licence) from ESM.
6.5
Å   Eizo prices up Ö As from February 1st, the price of Eizo monitors has
risen slightly. The 9060 has gone up to an Archive price of ú550, the
F550 to ú980, the F750 to ú1650, the T560iT to ú1500, and the T660iT to
ú2100.
6.5
Å   Expanded keyboard Ö Northwest SEMERC have produced an expanded
keyboard for use on Archimedes computers. It works with A300, A400,
A540, A3000, A4000 and A5000 (although the A3000 needs an interface unit
fitted inside the computer). The keyboard comes complete with a
perforated steel key guard which enables users with poor motor control
to rest their hands thus avoiding unwanted key-presses. For those who
find multiple key-presses (e.g. <ctrl-V>, etc) difficult or impossible,
there is an electronic control which allows Ésticky keysæ to be used,
i.e. <shift>, <ctrl> or <alt> can effectively be held down while another
key is pressed Ö all with single key-presses.
6.5
Å   Fades is an addition to Silica Software Systemsæ art package, Flare.
It adds a carousel facility to allow you to build up a rolling display
of Flare pictures or other sprites. The complete pack of Flare + Fades
is ú29.30 (or ú22 for education) and the upgrade to add Fades is ú7 if
you send your original disc back to Silica.
6.5
Å   Gestalt 2: Money & Shopping is an educational program from Basing
Educational Software. This desktop application is aimed at primary and
special needs and allows pupils to deal with coins and notes to exact
quantities and to deal with rounding up. The price is ú30 +VAT from
Basing.
6.5
Å   Gestalt Number is a set of six educational programs for primary and
special needs pupils dealing with counting, number recognition,
sequencing, categorization, number bonds and multiplication. The price
is ú50 +VAT from Basing Educational Software.
6.5
Å   Grannyæs back! Ö Those who remember Grannyæs Garden from the BBC B
days will be pleased to hear that 4Mation have re-released it as a 4-
disc set for the Archimedes. The plot is the same but it has all new
graphics. Grannyæs Garden is ú24.50 +VAT (ú27 through Archive) and there
is a site licence (ú49 +VAT) and a Grannyæs Garden Resource Pack (ú10
+VAT) also available from 4Mation.
6.5
Å   HiVision Digitiser Ö HCCS have produced a colour digitiser in their
Vision range that digitises at 508 line ╫ 720 pixel. You will need 2Mb
minimum to run the software and 4Mb is recommended. The A3000 version
(internal) is ú129 +VAT (ú145 through Archive), the A3000 version
(external) is ú142 +VAT (ú160 through Archive), the standard podule
version (A300/400/5000) is ú129 +VAT (ú145 through Archive), the
MicroPodule version is also ú129 +VAT (ú145 through Archive).
6.5
Å   Ixion Ö This is a futuristic 3D adventure game from Software42. The
price is ú25 inclusive from Software42.
6.5
Å   Joysticks interface Ö Magnetic Image have produced (yet another)
joystick interface. However, this is unique in that it has four digital
joystick ports and supports joysticks with a second fire button Ö
something that other interfaces donæt do. The package consists of a
software module and a hardware dongle for the printer port which has a
trailing lead to the four-port interface box. This dongle is a Éthrough
connectoræ allowing you to connect the printer at the same time and it
has a switch to allow you to select between the printer and the joystick
interface. There is even a second fire button for each port in case your
existing joystick doesnæt have one. As with all joystick interfaces,
there are some games that just donæt support joysticks and it is worth
checking before you buy games. Price is ú34.95 from Magnetic Image.
6.5
Å   Kepler is Spacetechæs satellite orbital predication software. This
RISC-OS application costs ú29.50 inc VAT from Spacetech.
6.5
Å   KidPix is an art package aimed at children in Key Stages 1 & 2. This
costs ú37.50 +VAT from ESM or ú41 through Archive.
6.5
Å   Label Printer is a utility from Software42 for designing labels using
sprites and drawfiles and printing them onto tractor-feed mounted
labels. The price is ú15 inclusive from Software42.
6.5
Å Linguist is a computerised foreign language dictionary currently
containing 18 languages: Afrikaans, Cornish, Chinese, Danish, Dutch,
Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Irish, Italian,
Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Welsh. Linguist
consists of a dictionary, a quiz/game and an Éautomatic dictionary look-
upæ which allows you to drop a text file onto it and, by doing a trans-
literation, it will give you a vague idea of the textæs content although
it will obviously not be a proper translation of the text.
6.5
Linguist is available from Bits æn Bytes for ú30 inc VAT. This includes
all 18 languages and more are currently being added Ö the price includes
a free upgrade to the new languages as and when available.
6.5
Å   Masterfile 3 Ö Risc Developments have released a new version of their
long-standing database in Archimedes format. The price is ú49 +VAT from
Risc Developments.
6.5
Å   Mitre Software Ö Owners of DiscTree and/or TimeWatch need to know that
Mitre Software has ceased trading. However, until 30th June 1993, you
can get your software upgraded to make it RISC-OS 3 compatible free-of-
charge. To do this, send your original system disc together with an
S.A.E. to the address at the back of the magazine.
6.5
Å   My World 2 Ö This is an upgraded version of the application produced
by Northwest SEMERC which allows children to manipulate drawfiles. New
screens include Goldilocks and an improved version of Teddy screen for
infants as well as Make a Town for juniors. Secondary school students
can use My World for Electronics pictures and to investigate Pythagorasæ
theorem. For Key Stage 3 foreign language students, there is Dessin and
Grandeur. New functions include screen-linking for story-telling,
rotate, re-size and flip objects, and pop-up windows for access to
further libraries. It costs ú28 +VAT and there are over 18 My World
resource packs available. The original, simpler version of My World is
still available at ú18 +VAT from NW SEMERC.
6.5
Å   Noot is an animation package for education from 4Mation. It is
particularly aimed at pre-school, infant and junior to provide öa
stimulating environment for language developmentò. The price is ú45 +VAT
(ú48 through Archive) for a single user. Additional key-discs at ú10
+VAT and a site licence at ú90 +VAT are available from 4Mation.
6.5
Å   Parish Magazine is a clipart and text collection from DEC_dATA. It
consists of three discs of clipart plus a disc of the full text of the
King James Version of the New Testament. The price is ú19.95 inc VAT
from DEC_dATA.
6.5
Å   PenDown Etoiles Ö the French version of Longman Logotronæs educational
word-processor is available now. Intended to complement the 5 year
Etoiles French course from the BBC and Longman, it is aimed at Key
Stages 3 and 4 for Modern Foreign Languages. It includes a 72,000 word
French dictionary. The price is ú54 +VAT from Longman or ú58 through
Archive. Longman also do a site licence for ú330 +VAT and there is an
upgrade licence for PenDown and PenDown Plus licence holders.
6.5
Å   Perspectives Ö Techsoft have produced a new 3D design package which
allows wireframe drawings to be created in any of three orthographic
windows, the result being displayed in the fourth window. It can
instantly change from 1st to 3rd angle. The pictorial view can be
isometric, oblique or perspective and the perspective view can be
rotated and zoomed. There is also a special stereo viewing mode for use
with the special glasses provided and the view can be rotated to allow
you to view the object from any direction. Perspectives is ú45 +VAT from
Techsoft for a single copy or ú75 +VAT for an educational site licence.
6.5
Å   PlayBack is Risc Developmentsæ mouse recording software. It allows you
to create demonstrations of programs that run in the desktop. PlayBack
costs ú19 +VAT from Risc Developments.
6.5
Å   Podd Ö This well-known character from the BBC educational world has
now made it into Archimedes format. This is a language-development
program aimed at Key Stages 1 & 2 Ö and itæs also good fun! Podd is
ú27.50 +VAT (including a site licence) from ESM or ú30 through Archive.
6.5
Å   POEM Embroidery System Ö Commotion have produced a computer embroidery
system based on the same POEM500 personal embroidery machine as used by
Techsoft. Commotionæs price, including öPoetryò software is ú699.95
+VAT. Poetry accepts sprites and drawfiles but also has its own built-in
art package. (The software is ready now, but not the manual. We will
review it when it does become available.)
6.5
Å   PowerRouter is an add-on to Silicon Visionæs ArcPCB. It takes an
ArcPCB design in öratæs nestò form and generates a multi-layer routed
design using ö100% rip-up re-tryò techniques. The price is ú195 incVAT
from Silicon Vision. (ArcPCB is ú125 inc VAT.)
6.5
Å   PrimeWord Ö Minerva have released their new word processor aimed at
educational users. It is a font-based wordprocessor with spelling
checker and dictionary. It can import graphics into the text and the
package is configurable to make it suitable at different levels within
the school. The price is ú59 +VAT (or ú64 through Archive) or ú236 +VAT
for a site licence from Minerva.
6.5
Å   QuickShow Ö This is an Éeasy-to-useæ slide show presentation and video
titling package from Desktop Projects Ltd. The price is ú25 +VAT from
Desktop Projects.
6.5
Å   QuickSound Ö Desktop Projects Ltd have produced a utility for handling
sound samples. It allows you to load, play, convert and resave samples.
It takes Armadeus and Tracker samples and can produce modules for use in
other applications. You can also apply special effects to the sound
samples. The price is ú10 +VAT from Desktop Projects.
6.5
Å   QuickTile Ö This utility, also from Desktop Projects Ltd, allows you
to print posters from drawfiles and sprites. It works with any RISC-OS
application and will automatically generate crop marks on the individual
sheets that make up the whole poster. The price is ú25 +VAT from Desktop
Projects.
6.5
Å   Repton is back Ö So now we are up to Repton 4! Superior Software have
just released ÉEgo: Repton 4æ which provides 30 levels of play and, on
each level, you have to build up a jigsaw puzzle of a famous person or
place by collecting pieces scattered around the level. The price is
ú24.95 from Superior or ú23 through Archive.
6.5
Å   Satpack 1 is a satellite orbit prediction package from Unilab. The
price is ú20.23 +VAT from Unilab.
6.5
Å   ScreenPlay is Widgit Softwareæs framework program to help children
create animated stories incorporating pictures, text and sound. It is
aimed for primary use and also for older pupils (or adults) with
learning difficulties. The main pack consisting of an introductory demo
disc, a story disc, a resources disc and a severe learning difficulties
disc costs ú35 +VAT from Widgit. They also have a training video for
teachers which can be hired for 5 working days for ú2 +VAT or purchased
for ú10.50 +VAT.
6.5
Å   SCSI cards for CDROM use Ö We said last month that the Leading Edge
SCSI cards all had CDFS built-in. This wasnæt quite true. The CDFS is
supplied on disc and is not in ROM as it is on, say, the Morley SCSI
card. You have to load the CDFS from disc within your boot file.
6.5
On the subject of CDFS, you should note that all new Morley SCSI podules
will contain the CDFS in ROM and the price remains as it was Ö ú160 for
the uncached one and ú220 for the cached one. Anyone who has an existing
Morley SCSI card can get a new ROM from Morley for ú15 +VAT.
6.5
Å   Sherston Software Ö From now on, we will be selling the educational
programs produced by Sherston Software. Here is a list of those that we
have already mentioned and/or reviewed in the magazine:
6.5
Title                       Archive Price   Reference
6.5
Arcventure Romans   ú32   6.3   p2
6.5
Arcventure Egyptians   ú32
   4.9   p2
6.5
Christmas AllSorts   ú18
   5.3   p49
6.5
Crystal Rain Forest   ú43
   6.2   p58
6.5
Food for Thought   ú18   6.2   p3
6.5
Graph-IT   ú21   5.12   p63
6.5
Help3   ú9   6.2   p3
6.5
Hilighter   ú49   6.5   p71
6.5
Split an Image   ú18   5.11
   p30
6.5
Viewpoints   ú43   4.11   p52
6.5
There are four other Archimedes packages which Sherston produce (and
which we will be selling) that havenæt yet had a mention in Archive.
6.5
Animated Numbers is for children aged 3 Ö 6 and has three activities
illustrating the numbers 1 to 10. The price is ú23 through Archive.
6.5
Badger Trails is a multimedia simulation about badgers. As well as the
computer program, the pack includes a video showing the discovery of a
badger sett and the setting up of a hide to observe the badgers. The
price is ú38 through Archive.
6.5
Connections is designed to support infant maths and number work and is
aimed at 5 Ö 8 year olds. Children simply have to alter the contents of
each window to make the connections true. The price is ú30 through
Archive.
6.5
Splash is an art package specifically designed for young children. (This
should not be confused with Splosh from WECC Ö which is also an art
package for young children!) The price is ú22 through Archive which
includes a free site licence.
6.5
Å   Special Needs Trackerball Ö Northwest SEMERC have now produced a
trackerball which will give access to mouse-controlled software for
people with poor motor control. It includes a guard to act as a hand-
rest for the user to avoid unnecessary ball spin or button pressing.
There are also special buttons to produce double-click and drag effects.
The price is ú269 +VAT from NW SEMERC.
6.5
Å   Spheres of Chaos, the inter-galactic shoot-æem-up game from Matt Black
as mentioned in Archive 6.1 p3, is now available through Archive for
ú23.
6.5
Å   Snippet 2 Ö The new version of 4Mationæs Snippet (see 5.12 p37) has a
new price Ö ú37.50 +VAT from 4Mation or ú40 through Archive.
6.5
Å   Splosh is an art package specifically designed for young children Ébut
with features for everyoneæ. The introductory price from WECC is ú19
+VAT which includes a free site licence.
6.5
Å   Talking books Ö Sherston have just released the first of their Talking
Books series Ö Naughty Stories. These feature recorded human speech and
allow the children to move from page to page listening to the story at
the click of a button. They can even ask the computer to repeat words
they are unsure of. The first three stories are: Billy the Bothersome
Bully, Doris the Dotty Dog and Edwinaæs Energetic Elephant. They are
ú9.95 +VAT each or ú11 through Archive.
6.5
Å   Teletext adaptor software Ö With the new teletext franchise for ITV
and Channel 4, the multitasking teletext software from Ivoryash Ltd no
longer works 100% because of the change of format. Existing customers
can receive a free upgrade by returning the original disk and a stamped
addressed label to Ivoryash Ltd. The current price for new customers is
ú25 inc VAT and p&p.
6.5
Å   Through the Dragonæs Eye is a Look and Read Adventure from Longman
Logotron. It is intended to link with the BBC Schoolsæ Television
program of the same name. The price is ú24 +VAT through Longmans or ú26
through Archive.
6.5
Å   Time-Traveller are ESMæs history packs aimed at children in Key Stage
2. There are currently five packs at different prices Ö Britain since
the 1930s and The Victorians are ú32.50 +VAT each from ESM or ú35
through Archive, Trade & Industry and Medieval Realms are ú39.50 +VAT
each from ESM or ú43 through Archive and the fifth pack is Time
Traveller Personal which is basically a shell into which you can put
your own history Ö local history or whatever. It comes with a sample
data disc for history from 1891 to 1990. This costs ú37.50 +VAT from ESM
or ú41 through Archive. The price of each pack includes a site licence.
6.5
Å   TOM the Computer Simulator Ö This is a computer simulator for use in
Computer Science or Electronics courses. It is a desktop application
that allows you to simulate a processor with 48 bytes of memory. You
program it by poking machine code instructions into the various
locations and watch the program counter and accumulator as your program
runs. This application costs ú29.95 +VAT (or ú99.95 for a site licence)
from Keylink Computers.
6.5
Å   Ultimate Expansion System Ö This is an expansion system for ALL Acorn
32-bit computers. It is such an important new product that I have
devoted a whole article to it Ö see page 11.
6.5
Å   Vanguard Clipart Volume 1 Ö This is a önew kind of design resource for
DTP usersò from Matt Black. It consists of 50+ images designed to be öas
versatile and attention-grabbing as possibleò. As well as the images on
disc, you get a 12-page booklet with an index of the clipart plus design
ideas, hints & tips, etc for getting the most out of Impression,
Artworks, Draw, etc. This first disc has images relating to öfantasy,
tools and stationaryò (sic). The price is ú14.99 + ú2 p&p (no VAT) from
Matt Black.
6.5
Å   WolfPack Ö This is a flight simulation game from Software42 set in
World War 3. The price is ú20 inclusive from Software42.
6.5
Å   Wordz Ö Colton Softwareæs new wordprocessor (as described in the
PipeLine-Z column this month Ö see page 21) is now in stock. The price
is ú99 + VAT (or ú105 through Archive).
6.5
Å   Xword is a desktop crossword puzzle program from David Ramsden. It
includes 50 cryptic puzzles for you to solve plus some rudimentary (his
word) programs for entering and editing your own puzzles (maximum 20 ╫
20 letters). Send ú5.95 to David Ramsden at 7 Chevet Lane, Wakefield
WF2 6HN.
6.5
Review software received...
6.5
We have received review copies of the following: Ancient Greece, Arcade,
ArcTrack, Bright Ideas Clipart, Chatter, Choices, Drop Rock, Ego: Rep
ton4, Fantasy + Fiddles & Drums (SmArt files), Flare + Fades, Impact,
Ixion, Label Printer, Landmarks Ö Civil War, Linkword (Spanish), PenDown
Etoiles, Perspectives, Picture It!, Precision, Punctuate, QuickShow,
QuickTile, SatPacká1, Soapbox, Software42 Clipart, Splosh, SpySnatcher,
The Puddle and the Wardrobe, ThinkLink, Through the Dragonæs Eye, Tiles,
Whale Facts, WindowEd, Wolfpack, Xword, Yes Chancellor II.ááA
6.5

6.5
The Ultimate Expansion System?
6.5
Paul Beverley
6.5
This isnæt really a review as such Ö more an extension of the Products
Available column. However, I feel that the subject, HCCSæs Ultimate
Expansion System, is so important that it is worthy of a separate
article.
6.5
The two problems
6.5
(1)ááWe have had quite a few queries recently from subscribers whose
Archimedes computers are full with four podules. They ask whether anyone
makes an expansion box that will allow them to have more than four
podules on an A300/400/540/5000. The answer, sadly, is Énoæ. The reason
is that the electronics of the podule interface will not tolerate cables
of more than a few cm in length.
6.5
(2)ááAnyone thinking of buying one of Acornæs latest batch of computers
Ö A3010, A3020 or A4000 Ö will be only too aware of one major limitation
that these three computers share. They can only take one single internal
mini-podule and, unlike the old A3000, cannot take an external podule.
6.5
How, you may ask, could Acorn make what seems to be such a short-sighted
design decision? Well, the story is that they were hoping that third
party suppliers would produce a range of add-ons that use the bi-
directional parallel port (or the serial port). Then the single internal
podule could be used for a SCSI interface which would give access to a
whole range of other (albeit more expensive) devices.
6.5
So, when we are advising cusomers about buying, for example, a DTP
system, we offer an economy system using a BJ10ex inkjet printer and,
say, an A4000 or even an A3010. However, as soon as the customer thinks
in terms of a Laser Direct printer, the price shoots up and not just by
the difference in price between the two printers. Laser Direct is not
available as a mini podule, so you need a machine, like the A5000, that
will take standard-sized podules... ...or that used to be the case...
6.5
The solution
6.5
HCCS have made the most of the increased electronic miniaturisation
available these days and introduced the ÉMicroPoduleæ. Standard Euro
card-sized podules are about 17cm ╫ 10cm, minipodules are 16cm ╫ 7cm,
while the new MicroPodules are only 8cm ╫ 5cm Ö slightly smaller than a
credit card. This means you can mount two MicroPodules side-by-side onto
a standard-size podule and up to three MicroPodules side-by-side on a
minipodule.
6.5

6.5
The MultiPodules
6.5
HCCS are making carrier podules which they have called ÉMultiPodulesæ.
The MultiPodule for the A300/400/540/5000 computers (part number: K3410)
costs ú39 +VAT (ú43 through Archive) and takes, as I have said, two
MicroPodules.
6.5
For the A3010, there is an entry-level MultiPodule (K3110) at ú41.70
+VAT (ú46 through Archive) which provides a user port and allows the
connection of two MicroPodules.
6.5
If you want a hard drive in your A3010, you can have a minipodule that
will fit two MicroPodules and carries a 20Mb IDE drive and a user port
(K3132) for ú271.49 +VAT (ú303 through Archive) or with a 30Mb drive
(K3133) for ú297.02 +VAT (ú330 through Archive) or with a 60Mb drive
(K3136) for ú399.15 +VAT (ú445 through Archive).
6.5
As soon as you expand a MultiPodule by adding a hard drive or a
MicroPodule, you ought really to add a power supply and fan. If you buy
a hard drive version, as above, the power supply and fan are included as
part of the package. If you need to buy them separately, they come as
K3150 which will cost ú30 +VAT (or ú33 through Archive).
6.5
The A3020 and A4000 have space internally for an IDE hard drive, so
there is no need to use up valuable podule space. For these computers,
there is a MultiPodule (K3210) which will take up to three MicroPodules
and has a user port as well. It costs ú39 +VAT or ú43 through Archive.
6.5
(There will also be an A3000 version of this which is an identical
podule but you need an extension cable to enable it to fit properly with
the A3000æs existing cabling.)
6.5
The MicroPodules
6.5
The success of this venture depends on the number of different
MicroPodules available. HCCS themselves have started to produce their
own range of MicroPodules and are obviously going to be producing more.
However, they are also talking to other third-party suppliers with a
view to licensing other podules for production at MicroPodule size.
6.5
HCCS MicroPodules
6.5
There are four HCCS MicroPodules that can, at the time of writing, be
classed as ÉProducts Availableæ. The SCSI MicroPodule costs ú99 +VAT
(ú110 through Archive) and is an 8-bit interface which includes CDFS as
standard so, as well as using it to access hard drives, including
removables, you can access CD-ROM drives. This isnæt a 16-bit interface
but unless you are dealing with large SCSI drives, the speed of data
transfer is going to be limited by the drive and not the interface. You
can run Acorn Replay through one of these podules, although only at 12
frames per second.
6.5
The Colour Vision Digitiser MicroPodule costs ú79 +VAT (ú88 through
Archive). This is the standard resolution Vision Digitiser (see Archive
5.12 p43 and 6.2 p23).
6.5
The HiVision Digitiser MicroPodule costs ú129 +VAT (ú145 through
Archive). This is a colour digitiser that digitises at 508 line ╫ 720
pixel. (You will need 2Mb minimum to run the software and 4Mb is
recommended.)
6.5
The Laser Express MicroPodule costs ú249 +VAT (ú278 through Archive).
This provides the hardware and software needed to link directly to a
Canon LBP4 laser printer that has a video interface fitted.
6.5
Starter Packs
6.5
If you want to buy a MicroPodule but donæt want a hard drive, you will,
as I have said, need a power supply and fan. To keep the initial cost
down, HCCS are doing three Starter Packs as follows (each consists of
the MicroPodule plus a power supply and fan):
6.5
The HiVision Starter Pack (K3140) is ú149 +VAT (ú166) through Archive.
The Laser Express Starter Pack (K3141) is ú269 +VAT (ú300) through
Archive and the SCSI Starter Pack (K3142) is ú119 +VAT (ú133) through
Archive.
6.5
Podules under development
6.5
During the course of 1993, HCCS are hoping to release MicroPodules for:
Analogue input (almost ready and priced at ú29 +VAT or ú32 through
Archive), MIDI/Sound Sampler, Serial, Ethernet and Colour video out
(which will be useful for output to video recorders or large display
monitors).
6.5
Third-party MicroPodules
6.5
HCCS are currently in discussions with Computer Concepts about the
production of MicroPodule versions of Laser Direct and ScanLight. HCCS
are also hoping to find a company who could make a PC MicroPodule.
6.5
Not all standard-size podules will squash down onto a MicroPodule Ö it
depends on the chip count, of course. However, there should, hopefully,
be a number of other interfaces appearing in MicroPodule format over the
coming months.
6.5
The implications
6.5
A number of important implications occur to me as I consider HCCSæ
innovative podule project:
6.5
A300/400/540/5000 computers could (in theory at least) have up to eight
podules. I say Éin theoryæ firstly because there arenæt eight different
podules available yet. Secondly, for most of us, it isnæt a case of
starting from scratch. We already have a number of standard-size
podules, so adding various MicroPodules mounted on MultiPodules isnæt
quite such a clear option for financial reasons Ö but in a new
machine... !
6.5
A3000 owners can also benefit from these new systems. There is no
reason, as far as I can see, why any of the boards originally intended
for A3010/3020/4000 shouldnæt be used in an A3000.
6.5
Schools will, I think, be particularly pleased to see HCCSæ new
developments. The fact that a user port is available as well as various
MicroPodules is a great plus Ö the ability to link to concept keyboards,
interfacing boxes, etc comes, therefore, at no extra cost and without
taking up a podule slot. The combination of user port and multiple
serial ports means that these interfaces are ideally suited for special
needs applications. Also, being able to move MicroPodules around between
machines, including between standard-size podules and minipodules will
make life much easier because of the increased flexibility. (They are
also considerably easier to get in and out than minipodules!)
6.5
If you own an A3010, you donæt have to use a MultiPodule with an IDE
internal drive. You could, instead, buy a three-way MultiPodule and use
one of your three MicroPodule slots for a SCSI interface. Then you could
put an external SCSI drive onto the computer Ö perhaps bigger and faster
than the IDE drives.
6.5
Conclusion
6.5
Am I over-stating the importance of MicroPodules? Only time will tell
and it will obviously depend on how well other podule manufacturers pick
up on the idea.
6.5
I think that Acorn should be extremely grateful to HCCS Ö the increased
flexibility provided by MicroPodules makes A3010, A3020 and A4000
computers much more attractive and can only serve to increase their
sales, albeit occasionally at the expense of the sale of an A5000.ááA
6.5

Å   2067BC Ö This arcade adventure game from Oregan Developmentsæ which
was reviewed in Archive 6.4 p31 is now available through Archive for
ú18.
6.6
Å   16 bit per pixel upgrade for G8 Plus Ö With the introduction of the 16
bpp Replay de-compressor from Acorn, State Machine have released an
upgrade for their G8 colour card that allows full animation
compatibility in the new 32768 true colour modes.
6.6
As well as offering a variety of animation-compatible true colour modes,
24 bpp clear files can be loaded which are converted and displayed
automatically by a new !TrueView application. !TrueView allows panning
and scaling of images larger than the screen and will cope with all
formats of clear files.
6.6
Along with !TrueView, the new !ARMovie application licensed from Acorn
Computers Ltd is included along with some sample clear files.
6.6
This upgrade allows 25 frames per second animation in true colour at
medium resolutions. The new modes available are 576╫424, 800╫300 and a
50 frames per second update, 384╫288, which can be double buffered for
flicker free animation. With this upgrade, 16 bpp digitisers will be
able to offer high quality real time preview modes without dithering.
6.6
The upgrade is available when purchasing the G8 card for an extra ú30
+VAT. As a special offer to existing G8 users, the 16 bpp upgrade is
available for ú20 +VAT including p&p and new software.
6.6
A further enhancement to the G8 allows all TV broadcast modes (modes 12,
13, etc) to be displayed at full-size on any monitor. All G8 cards now
include this feature as standard and any existing users of the G8 that
require full screen TV broadcast modes (e.g. to play Interdictor on VGA
monitors) can be upgraded for ú10 +VAT including return postage. Note
that this upgrade is included with the 16 bpp upgrade.
6.6
Å   Amateur radio software Ö Steve Hunt (G3TXQ) has a selection of amateur
radio software available for the Archimedes. A morse tutor, an antenna
designer, frequency prediction and filter design programs are available
on a compilation disc priced ú9.95 (inc VAT and p&p). For details, send
an S.A.E. to Steve Hunt, 21 Green Street, Milton Malsor, Northampton NN7
3AT.
6.6
Å   Archivist Ö Oregan Developmentsæ data management system is now up to
version 4.7. Extra features include store/display sprites, drawfiles and
text, play Symphony/Maestro/Tracker files, Impression Impulse link,
Specific label printer and enhanced reports generator. Anyone with
version 4.00 or later can upgrade free of charge from Oregan by
returning their registration cards. Anyone with an earlier version can
upgrade for ú5 direct from Oregan. Archivist is now available through
Archive for ú32.
6.6
Å   ArtWorks Viewer Ö This software allows ArtWorks files to be viewed on
Archimedes computers that donæt have ArtWorks installed. Since it can be
distributed without charge, it is an ideal way of passing on ArtWorks
files. The images can be loaded using the ArtWorks Viewer and,
furthermore, they can be examined in more or less detail by zooming in
and out. The Viewer is now included in the ArtWorks package and a free
copy can be obtained on request by calling Computer Concepts.
6.6
Å   Balloons + The Zoo is Freddy Teddyæs latest adventure encouraging
children with counting and addition. It costs ú30 +VAT from Topologika
or ú33 through Archive.
6.6
Å   Broadcast Loader Ö This product is no longer available as its
facilities are contained as standard in the new operating system, RISC-
OS 3.1.
6.6
Å   CASA update Ö There is now a RISC-OS 3.1 version of CASA (Computer
Assisted Structural Analysis). Because of the different way that RISC-OS
3 handles integers, it needed a re-write of the software, the result
being that the program now needs a minimum of 2Mb to run it. Please note
also that CASA is available only from W. C. Smith & Associates and NOT
from Vision Six Ltd. (Only the name has changed Ö the address remains
the same.)
6.6
Å   Christmas Adventure Ö (Slightly unseasonal, sorry!) Help Father
Christmas to find his map and ensure that the children get their
presents. This adventure game from Storm Educational Software is aimed
at children aged 5 to 8 and should help them in reading, mapping, memory
work and decision-making. The price is ú25.99 from Storm or ú24 through
Archive.
6.6
Å   ColourCard updates Ö In my comparisons of the Colourcard and the
G8Plus (Archive 6.4 p27), I said that I preferred the 25Hz screen update
speed which the G8 offered despite the fact that this slightly reduced
the processor speed. Well, CC have now released a free software update
for the ColourCard which gives users the option to configure the screen
update speed to 25Hz, rather than the default 12Hz. This software-only
upgrade is available free on request from both Computer Concepts and
Wild Vision (but not from Norwich Computer Services).
6.6
Another development of the ColourCard is a new (external) A3000 version
of the board. This is now available as an option at the time of purchase
or as an upgrade kit for existing owners. Wild Vision say that it can be
fitted by the individual but that a number of people may prefer to have
a local dealer do the fitting. If you have an existing card and want to
fit it onto an A3000, the fitting kit can be obtained from Wild Vision
for a handling charge of ú8.50 +VAT. This applies to boards that say
öIssue 2ò on them but if you have one of the very early Issue 1 boards,
you will have to return it to Wild Vision for updating and the handling
charge will be ú10 +VAT.
6.6
Å   Concept keyboard Ö Northwest SEMERC have now produced an A4 version of
the Oldham Overlay Keyboard (a concept keyboard by any other name). This
A4 board is an exact scaled down version of the A3 board so that
overlays can be reduced or enlarged on a photocopier for use on either
keyboard. The educational price of the A4 keyboard is ú115 +VAT from NW
SEMERC.
6.6
Å   Curves software pack Ö This is a set of eleven programs from
Topologika aimed at junior and middle school children but it also
enables GCSE students to explore complex curves and loci. The pack
includes the programs and a 90-page book entitled Curves. It contains an
audio tape with stories and other educational material and a 48-page
activities book. The complete pack costs ú40 +VAT from Topologika or ú43
through Archive.
6.6
Å   Digital Symphony Ö This is a Soundtrack Editor from Oregan
Developments which is said to be fully Amiga compatible. Its features
include built-in sample editing, standard musical notation display, 40
special effects, importing of Maestro and OctaMED files, fully Midi
compatible, CD quality sample playback rate, track size only limited by
memory size, flexible cut/paste options and global search/replace/
exchange. Digital Symphony costs ú49.95 all inclusive from Oregan
Developments or ú48 through Archive.
6.6
Å   Eizo 340iW Ö Eizo have just launched an excellent new monitor which
can be used on the Archimedes computers. It is a flat screen, 15ö
monitor with electronic control Ö just like the more expensive 17ò Eizos
(F550i and T560iT). This means you can program it to get the best size,
position, shape, etc for each of the different modes you use. It has the
same dot pitch as the 9060 Ö 0.28mm Ö which means that the screen in
made up of more dots and therefore gives a better resolution. I have
tried it with a G8Plus graphics card and I can display (in the 1600 ╫
600 dot mode) a double page A4 spread, such as the Archive magazine and
read and edit the text perfectly well!
6.6
There are two other improvements of this monitor over its predecessors
(apart from its more Émodernæ styling). Firstly, the power cable and the
video cable are in a recess under the back of the monitor so they donæt
stick out and add that extra 2 or 3 inconvenient inches to the depth of
the monitor. Secondly, Eizo have introduced a power-saving feature
(thatæs the ÉWæ in the model name). If you use a normal software screen-
blanker, this will reduce consumption to about 80% but then if, after 3
minutes, the monitor sees that there is still no (blue) signal coming
from the computer, it shuts down to a standby mode which reduces power
to about 10%. Then after a user-selectable time (5 to 60 mins) it drops
further to a 7% power consumption level. Then as soon as you touch the
mouse or keyboard and restore the video output, the monitor comes back
to its normal display.
6.6
The price? Oh yes, I nearly forgot. For the extra 1ö in screen size,
plus electronic control, plus power saving, you only have to pay ú120
more than the 9060, i.e. its Archive price is ú670 inc VAT and carriage.
6.6
Å   Fanfold paper for inkjets Ö Following a request for any company that
supplied fanfold paper for use on inkjet printers, Mike King of Guernsey
came up with Inmac Ltd of Runcorn, Cheshire. (Phone 0928Ö579000, Fax
0800 611116) Apparently they supply fanfold paper in the following
sizes: 280 ╫ 210 (ú16.90), 305 ╫ 210 (ú17.90), A4 (ú19.95). The prices
are per 1,000 sheets but do not include carriage.
6.6
Å   Faxpack Ö CC have finally implemented the long-awaited FaxPack file
transfer and answering machine features. The new software also includes
an option to transmit faxes through the Mercury Network, for users who
already subscribe to Mercury. The software and EPROM upgrade is
available free on request. (Computer Concepts will do the upgrade if
customers feel nervous about changing the EPROM themselves.)
6.6
(Iæve just had a thought! How many Archive contributors have got
FaxPacks? If I set one up out-of-hours, you could file-transfer articles
to me. If you are an Archive contributor and would be interested in
doing that, perhaps you would let me know. Thanks. Ed.)
6.6
Å   Look and Listen Ö This is a series of five educational programs from
Brilliant Computing aimed at encouraging children to be more aware when
crossing the road. It appears that a fundamental requirement of safe
road use is an awareness of sound, which direction it is coming from and
if it is an incoming or an outgoing source. These games use the high
quality stereo sound output of the Archimedes to develop sound
discrimination and awareness. The price is ú25 +VAT from Brilliant
Computing.
6.6
Å   Numerator Workcards Ö This is a FREE 54-page A4 workbook for use with
Numerator. It provides a set of activity sheets providing ideas for
using Numerator in the classroom from beginners to more advanced users.
Registered Numerator users may obtain a free copy by ringing the Longman
Logotron sales desk on 0223Ö425558.
6.6
Å   Masterfile 3 Ö Risc Developmentsæ database is now available through
Archive for ú54.
6.6
Å   Myth of Moby Dick Ö This is an adventure game with maths, geography
and language elements. It is suitable for special needs as well as
mainstream pupils. The cost is ú30 +VAT from Topologika or ú33 through
Archive.
6.6
Å   PipeDream price drop Ö PipeDream3 is now ú79 +VAT (ú85 through
Archive) and PipeDream4 is ú129+VAT (ú140 through Archive).
6.6
Å   Round the World Yacht Race Ö This is an extensive project package from
Storm Educational Software based around a computer program but with
program guide, study notes, flow chart and a map of the prevailing winds
and currents. It is aimed at 9+ year olds and develops skills in
science, maths, geography, science & technology and encourages role
play. The price is ú34.99 from Storm or ú32 through Archive.
6.6
Å   Smart Alex Ö Brilliant Computing have produced an interesting
educational program in which children can Étalkæ, via the keyboard, to
Alex (who can be male, female, caucasian or coloured), encouraging them
to talk about feelings, emotions and expressions. The price is ú25 +VAT
from Brilliant Computing.
6.6
Å   Smudge the Spaniel Ö This consists of three educational programs from
Storm Educational Software aimed at Maths and English for children aged
4 to 8 years. This involves early learners in counting, reading, writing
and ordering. One of the programs reinforces addition and subtraction
and should encourage language development. The programs have options to
suit a range of ages and abilities. The price is ú25.99 inclusive from
Storm or ú24 through Archive.
6.6
Å   Squish Ö This is a transparent sprite compactor designed for use with
existing applications. It is aimed at publishers who are running out of
disc space or want to speed up sprite loading. This is designed for use
by software developers or ötechnically awareò users. For more details,
contact Ian Sowden of Honeypot.
6.6
Å   Stock Pack Ö Topologika have produced a content-free stock control and
simple accounting pack aimed at education Ö secondary or F.E. levels.
Handle 450 products and 250 customers Ö and make sure you get the VAT
correct. This costs ú40 +VAT from Topologika or ú43 through Archive.
6.6
Å   Teletext on AUN networks Ö XOB have produced a version of their
Teletext serving software which is AUN compatible. It runs from a Morley
Teletext adaptor and provides Teletext access to all machines on the
network, Ethernet or Econet, across bridges and through gateways. The
cost of the site licence is ú154 +VAT from XOB.
6.6
Å   TextAid Ö Rheingold Enterprisesæ utilities for manipulating text which
can be used alongside other RISC-OS packages has grown in scope and
(slightly) in price. It is now ú12.95 inclusive from Rheingold
Enterprises or ú12 through Archive. (We have a long and favourable
review which we hope to fit in next monthæs magazine. It does seem to
offer a wide range of facilities Ö which is why we have added it to the
Archive Price List. Ed)
6.6
Å   The Spoken Word Ö This is a new educational package from Wyddfa
Software aimed at National Curriculum AT 1 and 21 at level 1. It aims to
encourage an understanding of the spoken word and to stimulate an
interest in reading. The child can produce bright pictures, the colours
being shown with their written names and different objects can be
selected from their written names and/or from an outline drawing. The
computer responds aloud by naming both the chosen colour and the object.
The software costs ú20 inclusive from Wyddfa Software.
6.6
Å   Ultimate Expansion Confusion Ö HCCSæs Ultimate Expansion System is
very impressive but a little confusing to work out whatæs what. We
didnæt help by introducing a couple of mistakes into the information we
gave. (Our excuse is that the article was produced at very high speed
after the BETT Show.) First of all, we got the pricing of the Starter
Packs wrong on the Price List Ö that wasnæt too difficult to spot
because the prices of the micropodules were quoted as being identical to
the Starter Packs. The Archive prices were correct in the article, viz:
HiVision Starter Pack ú166, Laser Express Starter Pack ú300 and SCSI
Starter Pack ú133.
6.6
However, what the article did get wrong was the description of what you
actually get in a Starter Pack. i.e. you get the micropodule plus a
power supply and fan, as stated, but you also get the multipodule to put
it onto Ö so it really is very good value for money (although HCCS say
these are introductory prices). If you take the SCSI podule, for
example, and add up the micropodule plus multipodule plus p.s.u., it
comes to an Archive price of ú110 + ú43 + ú33 = ú186. Compare that to
the Pack price of ú133 and you see that you get a ú53 saving!
6.6
Please note too that you MUST tell us which model of computer you are
putting the podules into as the Starter Packs are different for A3000,
A3010, A3020, A4000 and Éthe restæ. Also, because there are so many
different permutations and combinations, we cannot guarantee to hold
them all in stock, so the turn-around for orders may not be up to our
usual (hopefully high) standard. If you are in a rush, you will have to
forego the Archive discount and go direct to HCCS.
6.6
Å   Used floppy discs Ö We have a large number of used floppy discs, some
of which have hardly ever been used, e.g. PD discs that had the wrong
label on. We have reformatted them and are making them available for
charity at ú20 for 50 discs.
6.6

Å   Ace Printer Drivers Ö To clarify the situation about the different
drivers available, here is a list of the two types, Standard and
ProDriver, with notes on which work on RISC-OS 2 and 3. The Pro-Drivers
work on RISC-OS 3 only.
6.7
Ace RISC-OS Standard Printer Drivers
6.7
(Archive price ú17 each)
6.7
Canon PJ1080A (RISC-OS 2 only)
6.7
Canon LBP4/8 (RISC-OS 3 only)
6.7
ColourCel (RISC-OS 2 only)
6.7
Epson JX compatible (RISC-OS 2 only)
6.7
Epson ESC-P2 (RISC-OS 3 only)
6.7
HP DJ500C/550C/PaintJet (RISC-OS 2 & 3)
6.7
Ace RISC-OS 3 ProDrivers (RISC-OS 2 only)
6.7
(Archive price ú44 each)
6.7
Canon LBP4/8
6.7
Epson ESC-P2
6.7
HP DJ500C/550C/PaintJet
6.7
Shell for Acorn printer drivers (ProDriver A1 upgrade) (Archive price
ú27)
6.7
(Epson ESC-P2 refers to Epsonæs newest printer code standard so it
applies to Epsonæs latest printers such as the Stylus 800. It is
downwards compatible so it can be used with all Epson compatible
printers within the limitations of the facilities of each given
printer.)
6.7
Å   Advance is Acornæs new integrated software suite. It runs on RISC-OS
3.1 machines (1Mb or more) and provides word-processor, spreadsheet,
database and graphs package. The WP has some DTP-like facilities as well
as the usual WP facilities, including a 60,000 word spell-checker, and
can, of course, take output from the other programs in the suite.
6.7
Advance is aimed particularly at education and Acorn have involved some
educationalists in the development of the suite. (You may see a certain
similarity between these programs and existing applications because
Advance was a joint effort between CC, Clares, CRM, Iota and Acorn.)
6.7
The pricing is fairly complex. The single user version is ú99 +VAT (ú105
through Archive), the site licence for primary schools is ú199 +VAT
(ú215 through Archive) and the secondary school site licence is ú499
+VAT (ú520 through Archive). By Acornæs definition, primary includes
special needs schools but all other schools, including middle schools,
will have to pay the secondary school price.
6.7
Acorn also do an Off-site Disc Pack for ú99 +VAT (ú105 through Archive).
This is a set of ten key discs, allowing  pupils and staff to use
Advance on their computers at home. However, it may only be purchased by
schools with a licence.
6.7
Å   Badger Trails price increase Ö Sherston Software have increased the
price of Badger Trails from ú35 to ú39.95 +VAT. The Archive price is now
ú44.
6.7
Å   Budget games Ö David Ramsdenæs Arcade, which is a set of four RISC-OS
arcade games costing ú5.95 (no VAT), is now also available as four
separate games at ú1.99 each from David Ramsden, 7 Chevet Lane,
Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 6HN. The games are Chomper, Intruders,
RockSmash and Armageddon.
6.7
Å   Bulletin is a bulletin board system from XOB for use over Econet. 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 ú69 +VAT from XOB or ú75
through Archive.
6.7
Å   Dabhand Guide to Impression Ö Anne Rooney has written a 400+ page
guide to Impression with 23 chapters attempting to cover all aspects of
using Impression from getting Impression installed on your computer to
the finer points of using the Impression Business Supplement. It costs
ú14.95 through Dabs Press or ú15 (including postage) through Archive.
6.7
Å   DrawHelp Ö This isnæt a new product but it is a helpful introduction
to Draw, produced by Sherston Software. As we are now stocking their
products, it is available through Archive for ú15. (ú15.95 through
Sherston.) It was written for the RISC-OS 2 version of Draw but serves
as an introduction to the RISC-OS 3 version as well, even though it
doesnæt cover the newer features.
6.7
Å   Epson Stylus 800 Ö A new inkjet printer has been released by Epson. It
seems comparable with the Canon BJ200 but the ink doesnæt seem to run as
much on cheap paper so it gives a crisper printout. It can be driven
from standard RISC-OS drivers but, for best effect, use the Ace Pro-
Driver. The Archive price is ú330 or ú370 if bought with the Pro-Driver.
This compares with the Canon BJ200 at ú355 on its own or ú393 with the
CC Turbo-Driver.
6.7
Å   FirstLogo Ö Longman Logotron have produced a version of Logo for use
with primary schools children. It aims to provide an environment where
children can experience computer-based problem-solving as required by
the National Curriculum. The price is ú24 +VAT from Longman Logotron (or
ú26 through Archive) for a single user or ú72 +VAT (ú78 through Archive)
for a primary site licence.
6.7
Å   Graphics on the ARM Ö This is a new book by Roger Amos Ö a 400+ page
guide to various aspects of graphics on the Archimedes range of
computers. It covers such things as fonts, Draw, Vector, 3D graphics,
Paint, art packages, image processing, ray-tracing, animation and
mathematical and abstract graphics. It costs ú14.95 through Dabs Press
or ú15 (inc postage) through Archive.
6.7
Å   HCCS 16-bit SCSI cards Ö HCCS sell a 16-bit SCSI card which includes
full support for CD-ROM. These cost ú99 +VAT or ú110 inclusive through
Archive.
6.7
Å   IronMask 2.0 Multi-User Edition Ö IronMask 2.00 is a major upgrade of
Turing Tools RISC-OS file security system, providing password-controlled
access to important files and directories. IronMask 2.0 supports up to
63 PIN identified users plus an administrative superuser. The superuser
is identified at installation and is responsible for adding and removing
subsequent users. Any signed-on user has the ability to öshieldò or
öunshieldò files by means of a private key. Shielded files are
completely inaccessible to file-handling operations until they are
unshielded using the original key. Automatic time-out guards an
unattended IronMask session from opportunist entry.
6.7
IronMask 2.0 Multi-User Edition is available from Turing Tools for ú65
(inclusive) for installation on one computer or ú195 (inclusive) for
unlimited use on a single site. Educational site licences are available
at a discount, available by individual arrangement.
6.7
IronMask 1.2 continues to be available as IronMask 1.2 Personal Edition,
at the reduced price of ú49 inclusive. IronMask 1 customers can upgrade
to IronMask 2.0 for ú10 on application to Turing Tools.
6.7
Å   Memory upgrades down Ö HCCS have reduced the prices of their memory
upgrades for the new A3000/4000 computers. A 1Mb upgrade for the A3010
is now just ú35 inc VAT through Archive and the 2Mb upgrades for A3020/
4000 are ú70 inc VAT through Archive.
6.7
Å   MIDI files Ö A company called Words & Music has translated a large
number of MIDI files into Archimedes format. There are three volumes of
classical music, one of ragtime music and one of drum tracks. The discs
are ú10.95 each (no VAT) or you can buy all five discs for ú48.75.
6.7
Å   NetChat Ö NetChat is a network communication system providing machine
to machine interaction over Acorn networks. Amongst other things, it
allows users to communicate with each other by a conferencing system
which provides for simultaneous conversations between several users.
Messages may be typed directly into a Éconversation windowæ or pre-
prepared text files may be sent by simply dragging them onto the NetChat
icon. The core NetChat module also allows files, applications and
complete directories to be passed between machines even in the absence
of a fileserver.
6.7
There are also facilities that allow the keyboard of one machine to
control directly a remote machine or to allow operating system commands
to be sent to a remote machine, permitting modules and programs to be
run on one machine from another machine. You can also get a snapshot
view of another computeræs screen. To show the realtime interaction,
there is an Othello game played by users on different machines.
6.7
A site licence for NetChat costs ú84 +VAT or ú92 through Archive.
6.7
Å   NetManage Ö A new piece of software has appeared from Australia which
will be of great help to Network Managers. NetManage, from Suitable
Software, is a network management tool for use on AUN over Econet or
Ethernet. It allows you to create and maintain user password files on
Acornæs Level 3, Filestore and Level 4 fileservers. The price is ú50 (no
VAT) from Suitable Software in the U.K. or $125 in Australia.
6.7
Å   On-site warranty Ö Acorn offer on-site service and warranty on all
their new computers: A3010, A3020, A4000 and A5000. You can choose 1-
year or 3-year warranties and the cost depends on the type of computer
and whether or not it has a hard drive. The Acorn monitor you purchased
at the same time is included in the warranty. These warranties have to
be purchased at the time of purchase of the computer or within 30-days
thereafter. The prices are: 1-year A5000 Ö ú39.95 (ú37 through Archive),
1-year A3010/3020/4000 ú29.95 (ú28 through Archive), 3-year A5000 Ö
ú79.95 (ú74 through Archive), 3-year A3020HD and A4000 ú59.95 (ú60
through Archive) and 3-year A3010 and A3020FD ú49.95 (ú46 through
Archive).
6.7
Å   Optima is NW SEMERCæs new hypermedia database. It allows users to link
words, pictures and sounds so that you can create talking books,
branching stories, adventures and viewdata systems. It costs ú18 +VAT
from NW SEMERC.
6.7
Å   Parallel port SCSI adaptor Ö Atomwide have produced a SCSI adaptor
which plugs into the bidirectional printer port of the new machines. The
price is ú49.95 +VAT (ú55 through Archive). See Hardware Column on page
55 for details.
6.7
Å   Phases 3 Ö NW SEMERC have released the latest version of their RISC-OS
word-processor for children aged 5 upwards. With its extra facilities,
Phases 3 still only costs ú18 +VAT.
6.7
Å   Pocket Book / Psion 3 products Ö We have increased our range of
products for the Pocket Book and reduced the prices of some of the
memory products.
6.7
   Acorn   Archive
6.7
Parallel Link   ú29.95   ú28
6.7
RAM Disc 128Kb   ú79.95   ú74
6.7
RAM Disc 512Kb   Öááá   ú138
6.7
RAM Disc 1Mb   Öááá   ú278
6.7
Flash Disc 128Kb   Öááá   ú37
6.7
Flash Disc 256Kb   ú69.95   ú65
6.7
Flash Disc 512Kb   ú119.95   ú93
6.7
Flash Disc 1Mb   Öááá   ú185
6.7
Flash Disc 2Mb   Öááá   ú278
6.7
OPL Editor   ú69.95   ú65
6.7
Mains Adaptor   ú14.95   ú15
6.7
Å   RiscCAD Junior is a 2D draughting system which provides a wide range
of draughting facilities, all working in the RISC-OS environment. The
Junior version of RiscCAD is available now for ú80 +VAT from Davyn
Software. A Professional version should be available by the time you
read this and will cost ú130 +VAT.
6.7
Å   S-Base is Longman Logotronæs exciting new database. It is not just a
straight database but has a database language called S (what else?)
which allows you to write your own procedures and mini-programs using an
Edit-like editor for program editing. S-Base comes with a template
editor, with Draw-like tools for creating the layout of your databases.
It can handle a range of data types including integer, FP, string, date,
time and you can even define your own data types. It can also handle
large objects like sprites or Replay files. The personal version costs
ú99 +VAT (ú105 through Archive) and the developeræs version costs ú199
+VAT (ú215 through Archive). With the developeræs version, you can
create databases which can be compiled and then, once compiled, can be
run independently of S-Base. The resultant databases cannot be edited
but they come with a royalty-free version of the S runtime system, so
you can give away or sell the database as you wish.
6.7
(We are hoping to use S-Base to create an all-singing, all-dancing
database for the Archive office and we hope to install it on the network
as soon as the S-Base network version becomes available! We are
certainly going to need an S-Base Column in Archive. Is anyone
interested in running it for us? Ed)
6.7
Å   Serenade is a desktop MIDI sequencer from Clares. It provides 16-track
record and playback, keyboard capture, transpose, quantise, full editing
facilities, guitar chord input, etc. Serenade costs ú135 inc VAT or ú125
through Archive.
6.7
Å   SideShow is a video-titling package from Computer Concepts distributed
with the Wild Vision Chroma-Genlocks. It functions around Draw and
thereby acts as a medium for overlaying drawn objects, sprites and/or
text onto video. It offers sequencing of screens with blanking, looping
and scrolling. It will not be sold as a stand-alone package but existing
owners of Chroma-Genlock boards can upgrade their ChromaText software
free of charge through Wild Vision if they do so before 30th June 1993.
The Chroma-Genlock package costs ú259.68 including VAT and carriage or
ú240 through Archive.
6.7
Å   SyQuest removable drives Ö There is now an alternative version of the
SyQuest 84Mb removable drive. The older versions would read 42Mb discs
but could not write them but the new drives can read and write both
sizes of discs. This is a great bonus to anyone who is likely to want to
exchange data between sites. The new drives will cost ú670 instead of
ú590 for the older version.
6.7
Å   Teletext on AUN networks Ö XOBæs Teletext serving software, mentioned
last month, is now available through Archive for ú169.
6.7
Å   Ultimate Expansion expansion Ö The range of HCCSæs Ultimate Expansion
system is increasing Ö and dropping in price. There is now a User Port/
Analogue Port Starter Pack for ú79 +VAT (ú88 through Archive). The A3010
20M Ultimate 2-slot multipodule has dropped from ú303 to ú250 (Archive
price) and the 60M Ultimate 2-slot multipodule has dropped from ú445 to
ú335 (Archive price). The SCSI starter Pack has dropped from ú133
(Archive) to ú100 and the Archive price of the SCSI micropodule has
dropped from ú110 to ú77.
6.7
Å   WordSearch Ö If you want to make up a word-square (words hidden in
various directions within a matrix of letters) then Davyn Software can
make life easier for you. For ú17 +VAT, they offer WordSearch which
takes an Edit file of words and creates a word-square for you.
6.7

Å    10 Out of 10 Early Essentials Ö Following on from 10/10 Maths and 10/
10 English, 4th Dimension have produced 10 out of 10 Early Essentials
which is for the under 7æs and provides programs that develop concepts
of shape and colour, numbers, alphabet, science, tables and bonds,
logic, algebra, time, properties and words. All this for only ú25.95 or
ú24 through Archive!
6.8
Å    Acorn Multimedia Expansion Unit Ö This is a metal unit containing a
CD-ROM drive but with space for a second drive unit. It comes either
with or without a SCSI interface and the interface is either an 8-bit
internal podule for A3000/4000 machines or a 16-bit standard-width
podule for other Archimedes computers. The prices are ú599 +VAT with a
SCSI interfaces and ú499 +VAT without. (The dealer margin on these is
very small, so the Archive prices are not discounted Ö ú590 and ú705
including VAT and carriage.)
6.8
If you have your own SCSI card, you need to be sure that it has the CDFS
included and that it is at least version 2.13. Also, this version of
CDFS need RISCáOS version 3.10 or later.
6.8
The cabling on the unit is long enough to put it alongside the computer
or you could put it on top of or underneath the computer, subject to a
maximum loading of 16kg.
6.8
The unit will take two internal SCSI devices. One of them must be a 3╜ö
unit, entirely enclosed, and the other a 5╝ò half-height unit with an
external fascia or a 3╜ö in a 5╝ò cradle. Having an external fascia
allows for the use of removable media such as SyQuests or magneto-
optical devices although some of the MO units are physically too long to
fit in the case.
6.8
If you want a power amplifier for the sound output, this can also be
fitted internally.
6.8
You should note, however, that the internal p.s.u. will only have enough
spare capacity for ONE unit in addition to the CD-ROM, i.e. one extra
drive or a power amplifier. Also, if you add an extra unit, you will
need to fit a fan Ö for which space and fitting points are provided.
6.8
Å    Acorn Options Ö This is a scheme by which schools and colleges can
obtain Acorn computers on a rental scheme. Capital expenditure is tight,
so this scheme provides a way of getting hold of the latest in computer
technology without large up-front payments. Acorn Authorised Education
Dealers such as Norwich Computer Services can supply Acorn computer
equipment and the educational establishments pay a quarterly rental over
three or five years. At the end of that period, it may be possible for
schools to maintain title of the equipment but the terms have still to
be finalised. In any case, considering the rate at which technology
moves on, it might be better to think in terms of a three or five year
replacement cycle for computers. It is also possible to add more
equipment to the rental scheme as the years go by. For more details,
ring Norwich Computer Servicesæ education hot-line.
6.8
Å    Archive binders Ö More price rises, Iæm afraid! The latest batch of
binders have gone up in price, so we are now having to charge ú6 each.
(Does anyone know of a manufacturer we can try who might be cheaper?
Ed.)
6.8
öThese binders are too small!ò We have been told that, with the ever-
increasing thickness of the Archive magazines, people are having
difficulty fitting them into the binders! Admittedly, it is getting more
difficult to fit them in but it is often because people are not fitting
them correctly. The idea is that only the front and back magazines have
their rods fitted into the holes. The other ten rods should be put into
the slot. The only reason they have so many holes is so that you can use
different holes during the course of the year as the binder fills up.
6.8
Å    Archive Monthly Program Discs Ö For the benefit of new-comers to
Archive, let me explain about the monthly program discs. These discs
contain any of the data which contributors send in each month that are
relevant to their articles. For example, last month we included a list
(contributed by Rob Brown) of items of software that were or were not
compatible with RISCáOS 3. If there is not much material that needs to
go on the disc, in a given month, we try to find some PD software or
some other useful information that we can add ourselves.
6.8
If there is a particular monthæs disc that you want to buy, they are
available at ú2 a disc. You can order these discs in advance, again at
ú2 each or at ú20 for a full year, i.e. 12 discs.
6.8
Å    ArtSchool Ö This is a painting program for new computer users. Drawing
tools can be temporarily excluded by a teacher or parent using a
separate program so that the user is not confused by too many icons. It
has a built-in help facility and, for the more advanced user, the 256
colour modes can be used with graduated fills and cycling colours. The
price is ú29.95 inc VAT from Micro Studio or ú28 through Archive.
6.8
Å    BattleChess from Krisalis Software is a chess game with a difference.
As well as being able to play chess against a human opponent or against
the computer, you get the benefit of some very impressive animation
sequences when a piece is taken. The price is ú25.99 inc VAT from
Krisalis or ú24 through Archive.
6.8
Å    Careware and Shareware Ö This month we have two new Careware discs and
three new Shareware discs. The graphics conversion utilities on Careware
19 have grown somewhat so that the statistics routines have had to be
transferred onto Careware 20. If you want an update of Careware 19, just
send the old disc back.
6.8
Careware 20 Ö SkyView v1.01 is an excellent Ésky simulationæ program by
Nigel Hawkes for use by the naked eye astronomer. Any part of the night
sky can be examined and information is available on most celestial
objects. Also on the disc is the suite of stand-alone statistical
utilities written in Basicáby Bob Richards, listed in Archive 6.5 p4 as
being part of Careware 19.
6.8
Careware 21 consists of clipart produced by Steve and Anne Bruntlett Ö
various drawfiles on a religious theme plus some scanned drawings.
6.8
Shareware 48 is a demo version of !G-Draft 1.0, a 2D CAD package
including various example CAD drawings and some symbol libraries.
6.8
Shareware 49 has various graphical demos in Basic, a suite of desktop
utilities, some Draw utilities for PCB layout work, a Épresentationæ
utility to display multiple drawfiles in succession, a desktop utility
to calculate Ébest-fitæ data, an excellent 2D graphing tool allowing
multiple graphs to be built up using text file data, a useful desktop
mathematics/learning tool covering bar graphs, Euclidean algorithms,
factorization, fractions, greatest common divisor, least common multiple
and prime number search.
6.8
Shareware 50 contains ProTrack and associated files from Gil Damoiseaux
& Bernard Jungen. This utility allows SoundTracker and ProTracker files
to be played. It includes several facilities for monitoring and
modifying the tunes.
6.8
Å    Christian clipart Ö Ian Gooding has a range of about 30 discs of
Christian clipart in sprite, drawfile and Artworks formats. The discs
are ú7.99 each plus ú2.50 p&p per order. For a full catalogue, write to
Ian Gooding, 18 Larksfield, Covingham, Swindon, SN3 5AD.
6.8
Å    Courses Galore Ö You can now combine computer training courses with
some site-seeing in a beautiful part of the U.K. Ö the Norfolk Broads.
Norwich Computer Services is going to be putting on some training
courses here in Norwich. You can choose the type and price of your own
accommodation from a list (which we will provide) of hotels and guest
houses as well as camping and caravan sites.
6.8
We are hoping to start this summer, but what we need to know fairly
urgently, is:
6.8
(1) What subjects should we cover? Applications such as Impression,
PipeDream, PinPoint, PenDown, Vector, Squirrel, S-Base, PC Emulator,
Revelation, Magpie, etc? Beginners courses, e.g. Introducing RISCáOS?
Programming, e.g. BBC Basic V or C or WIMP Programming?
6.8
(2) How long should the courses be and when? e.g. mid-week or weekend?
How about a Bank Holiday weekend with course work on Saturday and
Monday, leaving Sunday as a day of rest?
6.8
Tell us what you want and we will see what we can arrange for you.
6.8
Å    DataPower, Iota Softwareæs new Éeasy-to-useæ database, is available
now. It is RISCáOS compliant, uses outline fonts and has features which
include unlimited length of field, unlimited number of fields in a
record, unlimited number of views of a database, has multi-line text
field-type which accepts an unlimited amount of text. It offers
mailmerge and WYSIWYG labelling. It offers a range of graphing
facilities and can be used over a network. The price is ú149 +VAT (ú160
through Archive) for a single user, ú347 +VAT (ú375 through Archive) for
a site licence for up to 10 machines and ú599 +VAT (ú650 through
Archive) for an unrestricted site licence.
6.8
Å    Double-life ink cassettes Ö We are now stocking double-life black ink
cassettes for the Deskjet 500s. Standard cassettes are ú18 and double-
life are ú25. (We havenæt tested them, so we cannot guarantee that
ödoubleò actually means what it says!)
6.8
Å    Eizo prices up again Ö Because of the strength of the Yen against the
Pound, monitor prices are going up again. The 9060SZ is now ú600 (these
are also in short supply), the F340i-W is ú720, the F550i-W is ú1020,
the T560iT is ú1560 and the T660iT is ú2260. The Taxan 795 has also gone
up in price to ú640.
6.8
Å    Ethernet interfaces Ö EtherLan 100 is an A3000 version of i│æs
EtherLan 200 interface. The EtherLan 100 costs ú220 +VAT although there
are educational prices. Ring i│ for details.
6.8
Å    FontWay is a font managing application from XOB (which works only with
RISCáOS 3.10 onwards). This allows you to set up pre-selected sets of
fonts and add and subtract fonts easily. It also gives you a font-
viewing window. It costs ú16 +VAT from XOB or ú18 through Archive for a
single user licence. A site licence is ú64 +VAT from XOB or ú72 through
Archive.
6.8
(Keeps your eyes peeled for an extremely powerful font filing system
that should be available soon from another software house. It even
allows you to drop an Impression or Artworks document, for example, into
its window and it will automatically select and load the fonts needed!
It sounds too good to be true! Ed.)
6.8
Å    Karma Ö We have had some enquiries recently about the progress of
Karma. We are extremely sorry to have to report the death of one of the
two programmers, Rick Delarre, in a motorcycle accident recently. We do
not yet know how this will affect the future of the project but if we
get any further news, we will let you know. We would like to express our
sincere condolences to Rickæs family and friends.
6.8
Å    Knowledge Organiser 2 Ö Clares have released an updated version of
their Knowledge Organiser which is a free-form text database. Clares
describe it as being örelationalò and say that the search engine is
ömore powerful than any yet seenò. The price is ú99.95 inc VAT or ú93
through Archive.
6.8
I have had a chance to play with KO II and am writing a review of it for
the magazine. It seems to be an extremely versatile and powerful
application and I am hoping to use it to create and distribute an
Archimedes hints & tips database. Clares are providing us with a licence
so that we can distribute the read-only version of KO II with the hints
& tips database Ö watch this space! Ed.
6.8
Å    Microvitec Cubscan 1440 Ö Microvitec have now produced a 14ö multisync
monitor aimed at the Archimedes market. It has the same resolution as
the Eizo 9060 with dot pitch of 0.28mm and scans from 15 to 40 kHz but
it is rather cheaper. The Eizo 9060 has just gone up to ú600 whereas the
Cubscan 1440 will sell at an Archive price of ú480. The scanning range
is slightly higher at 40kHz compared to the 9060æs 38.5 kHz but it
shouldnæt make much practical difference. It also has the advantage over
the 9060 of having electronically control picture positioning. It senses
the different signals that come in and sets up the screen to a preset
position which you can program into it. These presets only apply to the
size and position of the picture and not to the huge range of parameters
that can be preset on all the Eizo monitors from the F340iW upwards.
6.8
If it costs ú120 less than a 9060 and has electronic position control,
are the days of the 9060 numbered? Well, we put the Cubscan 1440 next to
a 9060 to compare them. First of all, although the dot pitch is supposed
to be the same, the 9060 is definitely clearer when viewing small text
and secondly, we feel that the styling of the Cubscan leaves a lot to be
desired Ö but that is obviously a lot more subjective than the picture
clarity. Also, the control of the Cubscan has no audible or tactile
feedback Ö you just press a button and watch the screen shrink or grow.
Is the 9060 worth ú120 more? Hmmm, itæs difficult to say Ö I think it is
too much of an individual decision to make any general pronouncement
about it.
6.8
Å    NetChat Ö This is a real-time electronic mail and peer-to-peer file-
space sharer, mentioned last month as being available from Archive for
ú92. What we forgot to say was that it was produced by XOB Ö sorry about
that!
6.8
Å    NetGain for Ethernet Ö Digital Services have launched a new product
that speeds up loading times on Levelá4 Fileservers using Ethernet. Data
rates can be increased markedly and application loading times
correspondingly reduced. This costs ú200 for the server pack and the
first ten machines. Additional 10 station packs are ú100 +VAT from
Digital Services.
6.8
Å    North Sea is the latest curriculum datafile from Anglia Television.
For ú22 +VAT, you get a 28-page workbook and a datafile disc. This is
for use with KeyPlus version 2.5 or later.
6.8
Å    PassMan IV Ö This is XOBæs password management software. It provides
facilities on Level IV fileservers to view and set usersæ passwords,
boot option, free space, etc. PassMan IV costs ú49 +VAT from XOB or ú54
through Archive.
6.8
Å    PC386/486 cards for A3020/4000 Ö Acorn are now selling PC cards for
the A3020 and A4000 computers. The costs are ú275 +VAT (ú310 through
Archive) for the 1Mb PC386 and ú499 +VAT (ú560 through Archive) for the
4Mb PC486 card. (In case you are wondering, these cards are supplied to
Acorn by Aleph One Ö there is still no sign of the long-lost Watford
Electronicsæ PC card.) The 486 price includes the Windows driver
software which speeds up Windows applications.
6.8
Å    !Perform Ö This is a utility, normally supplied with Claresæ VoxBox,
which allows up to twelve Rhapsody scores to be played in sequence.
Clares have very kindly released it into the public domain and it is
available on this monthæs program disc.
6.8
Å    ProCAD Ö This is the professional version of Minervaæs CADet 2D
draughting package. Facilities include multiple drawings, fast zoom and
pan, 32 layers, BS308 automatic dimensioning, ruled line and graphic
fills, user-designed symbols, multiple line types, four plottable fonts,
bill of material type reports, roll-back undo, on-the-fly snaps, import/
export of DXF, advanced construction tools, CSV import, multitasking
plotter driver. The single user price is ú495 +VAT (ú535 through
Archive) and a site licence for up to 30 machines is ú1580 +VAT from
Minerva.
6.8
Å    QuickType is a touch-typing tutor that allows the teacher to set up
exercises tailored to the pupils rather than being limited to the
exercises specified by the programmer. This costs ú32 +VAT from XOB or
ú35 through Archive. A site licence is ú99 +VAT from XOB or ú108 through
Archive.
6.8
Å    RemoteFS is now available. Atomwideæs inter-computer communication
software was described by Brian Cowan last month (Archive 6.7 p55). It
is now available for ú49 +VAT or ú53 through Archive. For that price,
you get the software plus a serial lead and a parallel lead although you
should remember that the parallel lead will only work on the newer
computers with the bidirectional parallel port (A5000/4000/3020/3010).
The serial cable will work on all Archimedes computers although the
A3000 must have a serial port upgrade fitted (ú21 through Archive).
6.8
Å    Removable drive price up Ö The price of 42Mb removable drive has
followed the general upward trend of imported goods. The new Archive
price is ú485. The cartridges are still ú75 each and the 84Mb drives
remain at the price stated last month of ú590 for the standard drive and
ú670 for the enhanced version that writes as well as reads the 42Mb
cartridges.
6.8
Å    Sherston software prices up Ö There has been a small across-the-board
rise in prices of all Sherstonæs software. New prices are as per the
Archive Price List.
6.8
Å    SimCity Ö Krisalis Software have produced an Archimedes version of
this famous city-simulation game. It is claimed to be the best-selling
computer game ever with sales in excess of half a million copies
worldwide! The price is ú34.99 inc VAT from Krisalis or ú32 through
Archive.
6.8
Å    SUMthing Ö From the same author as Droom and Dust comes SUMthing, a
maths program with a difference. Thee six different programs in the pack
involving placing numbers in order, number sentences, reading numbers,
digital roots and number bonds. It can be set up for the individualæs
particular level within National Curriculum levels 2 to 4 and the
pupilæs work is recorded for the teacher to check later. It is aimed at
Maths AT2 & 3 at Key Stage 1 & 2. It costs ú19.95 +VAT from RESOURCE or
ú22 through Archive.
6.8
Å    SuperMon II is XOBæs Network Manageræs utility which allows you to
monitor and control remote stations. It lists logged-on users and
stations, opens any directory on the network, has a digital clock,
calculator, protect facility. With it you can log off selected stations,
halt and restart stations, view and/or blank remote stationæs screens,
send text messages, force commands on remote machines and zap
(irreversibly!) software running in a remote machine. SuperMon II is ú89
+VAT from XOB or ú98 through Archive.
6.8
Å    Switch Ö This is a new game from Soft Rock Software (whose motto is
ösoftware on a shoestringò!) costing just ú3.49 inclusive. It is öbest
described as an on-going puzzleò. From the description, it sounds like a
glorified Tetris.
6.8
Å    TechnoDream is here Ö What was going to be Nevryon 2 has now appeared
as TechnoDream published by Superior Software. The price is ú24.95 or
ú23 from Archive.
6.8
Å    Topographer Ö Dave Clare writes, öDue to the tragic death of Ricky
Delarre, Clares Micro Supplies have delayed the release of Topographer.
The Clares team found working with Ricky a very rewarding experience. He
was a very professional programmer who took a pride in his work.
6.8
Topographer was literally hours away from being finished. It is a
reflection of Rickyæs popularity that his colleague, Ian Robinson, has
immediately stepped in to complete Topographer so that it can be
released as a fitting tribute to Ricky.
6.8
He will be missed by all at Clares, and his death is a great loss to
everyone in the Acorn world as well as to his family and his wife,
Jayne.ò
6.8

Å    A3000 rechargeable batteries Ö There seems to have been a world
shortage of A3000 rechargeable batteries. They are needed because some
of these batteries do fail in course of time. We have some available now
at ú7 each.
6.9
Å    A3000 cases Ö We also have a few complete A3000 plastic cases Ö upper
and lower parts Ö but with no sticky labels on them. They are available
from Archive, while stocks last, for ú20 per complete case.
6.9
Å    A3020 Discovery Pack Ö Acorn have just launched a new computer package
aimed at Primary schools. The idea is to provide a system that teachers
can plug in, switch on and go! It includes software pre-installed on the
hard drive, instructions for beginners to RISCáOS and curriculum
material and guidance on classroom use. The idea is that even teachers
who consider themselves complete beginners or who are currently only
familiar with BBC Bs and Masters can have confidence to get started with
a 32-bit system and the best and most up-to-date software.
6.9
The package consists of an A3020 with hard drive plus Acornæs Advance
(WP/spreadsheet/database/graphing Ö see the review on page 33);
Sherstonæs Crystal Rainforest which is an adventure simulation and Logo
application (see 6.2 p58); Longmanæs Magpie multimedia authoring system
(see 6.5 p71) incorporating Acornæs Replay full motion video utility;
two primary fonts and an application to re-size the mouse pointer. There
is also a Magpie application installed on the hard drive which
introduces the user to the Discovery system and to Acornæs education
support network. It includes a couple of Replay video clips.
6.9
The pack also includes teacher support materials which introduce the
software and offer practical advice to teachers on integrating IT into
standard classroom activities. The guide includes project frameworks and
examples of childrenæs work produced using the software in the Discovery
Pack. It also includes appendices covering the National Curriculum in
England and the Scottish 5Ö14 Curriculum, mapping the software in the
Pack to curriculum targets.
6.9
You also get a heat-sensitive mouse mat which reveals hidden pictures
(the mind boggles!), an audio training tape introducing the desktop
environment and the use of the operating system, a two-year academic
wall-planner, a copy of the educational software/hardware directory and
vouchers giving discounts on educational software and peripherals from
eight companies who specialise in primary education.
6.9
The price is ú1149 +VAT = ú1350 including a standard resolution monitor
but as an introductory offer, Archive subscribers can have a multisync
monitor instead for an extra ú30.
6.9
Å    A5000 fan quietener Ö If you are fed up with the noise of the A5000
fan, here is the answer. There is now an A5000 version of Ray
Maidstoneæs famous fan quietener. They are ú21 through Archive.
6.9
Å    A540 RAM price down Ö The bad news is that Atomwide are no longer
supplying 4Mb RAM upgrades for the A540 (they were much cheaper than
Acornæs version). The good news is that Acorn have dropped the price of
their RAM upgrade. They are now ú299 inc VAT or ú280 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Acorn Education Directory Ö Acorn and APA Multimedia have combined to
make the Education Directory available as a CD-ROM. The directory gives
a listing of the huge range of software and hardware available for Acorn
32-bit computers. The CD-ROM costs ú29 +VAT from APA Multimedia Ltd and
this price includes a site licence.
6.9
Å    Acorn Multimedia Units Ö Just to say that although they were supposed
to be available when we mentioned them last month, they didnæt quite
make it. Anyway, we now have them in stock.
6.9
Å    Acorn multisync monitors Ö To clear stocks, we are selling Acorn AKF18
multisync monitors at ú270. (We sold quite a lot of them last month but
still have a few left Ö give us a ring if you are interested.)
6.9
If you want to buy a multisync at the same time as an A3010, A3020 or
A4000, you can have it for the price of standard resolution monitor
(again, while stocks last).
6.9
To use the AKF18 with pre-A5000 computers, we advise using a VIDC
enhancer (available once again through Archive Ö see page 10) and the
software on Careware 18.
6.9
 Å    Almanac Ö This is a Desktop Organiser from Stallion Software. It
features dairy events, anniversaries, job scheduler, correspondence
logging, address book, linking between entries and filtering. Almanac
costs ú60 (+ú2 p&p) +VAT from Stallion Software.
6.9
Å    Annual Service Kit Ö I thought it would be good to remind owners of
A310/410/420/440 machines about changing fan filters and batteries.
There are two reasons for the reminder. The first is that I have just
discovered that if your batteries give up the ghost, when RISCáOS 3
tries to start up, it will fail the start-up test and you will think
your computer has suffered some terminal illness. Secondly, Acorn have
just increased the dealer price of the fan filters by 273% (yes, the new
price is 3.73 times the old price)! So when our current stock is
finished, we will have to increase the price of the annual service kits
(fan filter + batteries) from ú3 to ú6! (I think it would be better to
buy the batteries from your local shop and vacuum your existing fan
filter and wash it in a mild soapy solution. Ed.)
6.9
Å    Archive Arcscan files Ö Readers may not be aware that if you have a
copy of ArcScan III from Beebug (ú14 through Archive) you can buy a copy
of our Shareware Disc 7 which has the (virtually) up-to-date files for
the six volumes of Archive magazine. These files have been prepared
faithfully, month by month for many years now by Eric Ayers, one of our
longer-standing Archive readers. Thanks very much, Eric!
6.9
We have been asked why we donæt put the ArcScan files on the monthly
program disc every month. This is partly because Eric needs time to
prepare them. The magazine is finalised and goes to the printers on a
Tuesday, the Price List is finished and goes to the printers on the
Thursday, (I collapse in a heap on Friday) and the magazine goes out to
subscribers on the Tuesday so there isnæt a lot of time to get the
ArcScan files prepared! We do put updates on the monthly disc every now
and then when there is enough space. However, at any time, you can send
in your Shareware 7 disc and have it updated with the latest Arcscan
files Ö a pound for admin would be appreciated but isnæt obligatory.
6.9
Å    ArcScan III Ö Risc Developmentsæ database now has datafiles for all
Acornæs manuals, including the RISCáOS 3 PRM and also Acornæs DDE and
the Fortran compiler documentation. ArcScan III is ú12.81 +VAT or ú14
through Archive.
6.9
Å    Arcventure III Ö The Vikings Ö Sherston Software have released their
educational package aimed at 7Ö11 year olds who are studying the
Vikings. The children join a simulated archaeological dig at Coppergate
in York (Jorvik). The price is ú31.95 +VAT from Sherston or ú35 through
Archive.
6.9
Å    ARM3 price drop Ö We still have some of the ARM3æs (for the pre-A5000
computers) that do not have a socket for a floating-point accelerator
chip so we are selling them off at ú180 each (while stocks last). If you
want one fitted into an A3000, it costs ú265 but that includes the cost
of collecting your computer, removing the ARM2, mounting a socket,
putting in the ARM3 and sending it back to you.
6.9
Å    AutoCopy Ö Anyone having to copy large numbers of discs will be
pleased to hear about Look Systemæs latest product Ö AutoCopy. This is a
multitasking application for use with our Xpress autoloaders (see
overleaf for special offer) or the new budget autoloaders (also see
overleaf) or with the Ventuno copiers that we used to supply. It will
copy a large range of disc formats, e.g. DFS, ADFS, MS-DOS, etc.
6.9
There are four copy modes which allow AutoCopy to cater for a wide
variety of disc duplicating needs. These are source copying (one master
disc, many copies), backup copying (many master discs, many copies),
image copying (one disc image, many copies) and batch copying (many disc
images, many copies) Ö a disc image is a copy of a master disc which has
already been read into memory or stored on another medium such as a hard
drive. If required, disc images can be compressed when memory is
limited.
6.9
When discs are copied, they are formatted, copied and verified in a
single pass to improve the speed of throughput. However, if quality
assurance is the most importance factor, discs can also be verified in a
second pass.
6.9
If required, Archimedes disc IDæs can be updated and user functions that
are written in Basic can also be added to extend AutoCopyæs facilities.
The AutoCopy software costs ú350 from LOOKsystems.
6.9
(A text file of the complete specification of AutoCopy is included on
the monthly program disc.)
6.9
Å    Auto-loading Disc Copier Ö Any day now (we hope!) we will be getting a
new budget-price auto-loading disc copier. The price is less than half
the price of the Xpress copier that we have been selling for several
years now. Admittedly, it will only handle 3╜ö discs but if you donæt
need to copy 5╝ò discs, you can save yourself over a thousand pounds!
The price is just ú1150 inc VAT through Archive compared with ú2750 for
the Xpress copier (but see the special offer below). This price includes
(a) software to enable it to run on a PC compatible computer, (b)
single-tasking software for use with Archimedes computers and (c) a
serial cable to connect it to an Archimedes computer.
6.9
If you want to run it on an A5000, you really need a floppy drive
extension cable (ú18) as the cable is a bit too short to plug directly
into the socket on the main p.c.b. If you only want to copy up to 800Kb
Archimedes and 720Kb PC formats, you can run it on one of the old
Archimedes machines (A310/410/420/440/540) but you will need an extra
hardware interface and cable costing ú50 through Archive. If you do want
to copy 1.6Mb and 1.44Mb (PC) formats and you donæt want to tie up an
A5000, it will be possible to use an A3010/3020/4000 but it needs some
work doing on the auto-loader software and maybe even a bit of a fiddle
on the hardware but we havenæt finalised this. (If you are interested,
ring us and weæll let you know how far we have progressed with it.)
6.9
The single-tasking software allows you to do basic copying but if you
want multitasking software with all sorts of batch copying facilities
then Auto-copy from LOOK Systems is ú350. (LOOK Systems works in the
same office building as Norwich Computer Services Ö although there is no
financial link between the two companies (!) Ö so we can dispatch
AutoCopy at the same time as the autoloader if you send one cheque for
ú350 made out to LOOK Systems and another to Norwich Computer Services
for ú1150 plus whatever interface/cable you want.)
6.9
Å    Autoloader special offer! ú1,000 off! Ö We have an auto-loader in
stock that is six months old although it is virtually unused. It was
returned by a customer because of the length of time we took to develop
the interface that it needs to be able to work with one of the older
Archimedes computers (i.e. pre-A5000). With the coming of the Éhalf-
priceæ Autoloaders (see above), we suspect that this Xpress copier would
be difficult to sell at or even near full price! We have decided to cut
our losses and sell it at ú1750 instead of the full ú2750. This is a
complete price including cables, interface and single-tasking software.
This autoloader can also copy 5╝ö discs if a suitable drive is purchased
(costing ú320 through Archive).
6.9
Å    Axis Ö This is a shootæ-em-up game set in a maze filled with tanks,
gun emplacements and end-of-level bonuses. In later levels, there are
Écloakedæ tanks, electric fences and other hazards that make finishing
the game quite a puzzle. It costs ú24.99 inclusive from TBA Software.
6.9
Å    BASIC VI manual Ö Acorn have now reprinted the BASIC manual but have
included features relating to BASIC VI. The Archive price is ú20
including p&p.
6.9
Å    BBC Master128 is no more! Ö Acorn say they have ceased production of
the Master128 because of rising costs and difficulty of supply of
certain parts. Acorn still have some in stock which should provide
enough to supply orders for a few months to come.
6.9
Å    Blood Sport Ö Matt Black have produced a budget-priced game (ú9.99 +ú2
p&p, no VAT) which will appeal to öfans of the beat-æem-up genreò. It is
a martial arts simulation for one or two players.
6.9
Å    CardMania is a two-disc pack from C.I.S. with four card games Ö Gin
Rummy, Chinese Patience, Two-pack Clock Patience and Cribbage. It costs
ú19.95 from C.I.S. or ú18 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Careware disc pricing Ö Because of increase in costs of overheads, we
have reluctantly had to increase the amount that we charge for admin on
Careware discs. This means that of the ú5 which you pay, ú2 (less the
VAT) goes towards admin leaving ú3 to send to charity. Hitherto, we have
effectively been subsidising the charity payments by only taking out ú1
of the ú5.
6.9
The amounts raised for charity through Careware and charitable sales of
secondhand equipment through Archive have been 1989/90 Ö ú19,625, 1990/
91 Ö ú17,847 and 1991/92 Ö ú13,005. In our 1992/93 year, we have so far
raised ú11,781 but the accounting year runs to the end of June.
6.9
Our grateful thanks go to Archive subscribers from the various charities
that have benefitted over the last few years.
6.9
Donæt forget that if you have old Archimedes hardware or software that
we can sell for charity, all you have to do is send it in to the Archive
office. Thanks.
6.9
Å    CD-ROM drives Ö Cumana have launched a new CD-ROM drive which has a
double-speed mode and is able to handle multi-session PhotoCDs. The 600
series drives offer an average access time of 295 ms and a maximum data
transfer rate of 307 Kb/s. Its 256Kb buffer enhances the performance of
the drive. It also comes with software to play audio CDs. The price is
ú429 +VAT to education (education price through Archive is ú515 inc VAT
& carriage) or ú609 +VAT to the end user (ú590 inclusive through
Archive).
6.9
(The Chinon standard speed drives we have been selling for a while now
are on offer at the moment at ú420 inclusive through Archive.)
6.9
Å    Chemistry is a budget package for Chemistry teachers from a new
software house called PTW Software. For ú15 inclusive, the package
includes a site licence. The contents of the package are a screen font
which includes subscripted numbers as used in chemical formulae, 150Kb
of drawfile clipart and an application which is based around the
periodic table of the elements.
6.9
Å    Christian clipart Ö We mentioned Ian Goodingæs Christian clipart last
month and it drew quite a lot of interest. Ian has extended the range a
bit further. The titles available at present: (1) Christmas Story; (2)
Christmas Symbols; (3) Easter Ö story of death & resurrection, symbols
of new life; (4) Harvest; (5) Christian Symbols Ö the rest of the church
year; (6) Money, Poverty & War; (7) Environment Ö pollution, factories,
forests; (8) Mission & World Scene Ö missionary, global and Third World
issues; (9) Baptist History & Membership; (10) Apologetics Ö questions &
sceptical views, proofs for God; (11) Evangelism; (12) Lifestyle Ö vices
and virtues, stress and the rat-race; (13) Banners Ö pictures with blank
areas for text, billboards, animals, people; (14) Borders; (15)
Editorial Flair Ö pencils, telephones, sissors, arrows, stars; (16)
Illuminated Letters; (17) Adults & Youth; (18) Children & Families; (19)
Celebration Ö parties of all kinds, food, fun; (20) Music Ö instruments,
players, singers, musical notes; (21) Leisure Ö outings, sport,
gardening & flowers; (22) Weddings; (23) OT Stories Ö from Adam to Amos;
(24) NT Stories Ö Gospels and Acts; (25) NT Parables & Sayings; (26)
Bible Maps Ö Holy Land, Temple; (27) History, Prophecy & Bible Study Ö
charts, outlines, fulfilments, Bible books; (28) OT Background &
Archaeology; (29) NT Background & Archaeology; (30) Sideliners Ö figures
who shout messages from the sidelines, speech bubbles; (31) Good News
Bible OT stories from the Books of Moses; (32) GNB OT stories from rest
of OT; (33) GNB NT stories up to Holy Week; (34) GNB NT stories from
Holy Week through Acts; (35) GNB texts from the OT, each text with
illustration; (36) GNB texts from NT, each text with illustration. The
clipart is in sprite, drawfile and Artworks formats. The discs are ú7.99
each plus ú2.50 p&p per order. For a full catalogue, write to Ian
Gooding, 18 Larksfield, Covingham, Swindon, SN3 5AD.
6.9
Å    Compose World Ö This is described by its publisher, Expressive
Software Products, as a musical exploration program. Phrases of music
are represented by pictures or words and these phrases can then be built
up, block by block. It is Midi compatible and can be used by all ages
from 5 upwards. It includes a phrase editor so that you can build up
music from note level Ö although no musical notation appears anywhere.
Compose World costs ú48 +VAT from ESP. This price includes a site
licence.
6.9
Å    CSVtoText Ö This application (which was reviewed last month on page
71) has been updated and improved as a result of user feedback. Also,
the rights to the program have been transferred to Dabhand Computing who
will be selling it at ú15 +VAT.
6.9
Å    Dragonball Ö This is an Arkanoid look-alike from TBA Software. It is
said to retain the look-and-feel of the arcade game. It costs ú15.99
inclusive from TBA Software.
6.9
Å    DTP booklet (free!) Ö The report that Archive commissioned into the
relative merits of Macs, PCs and Archimedes computers for doing DTP is
still available free of charge to subscribers Ö or indeed to anyone who
is interested! In the year since it was first published, the prices have
changed quite a bit so we have printed an update to the comparative
prices table and include that as an extra sheet in the booklet. Because
the comparison is of general interest, I have printed a copy of it in
this issue Ö see page 15.
6.9
Å    EMU for Acorn machines Ö Cumana have launched a new multiple interface
for A3000/3010/3020/4000 computers. The Expandable Multi-Use interface
is designed to allow seven different interfaces to be connected to the
single mini-podule expansion slot. The baseboard, which comes complete
with user port, can be upgraded to accommodate IDE, Midi, analogue, SCSI
and Cumanaæs own Companion interfaces. The baseboard and user port costs
ú51.02 +VAT (educational price ú49 +VAT) from Cumana.
6.9
Å    E-Numix is a mathematical strategy game for one or two players,
specially designed to aid and enhance the manipulation and processing of
numerical equations and calculations. It involves a ÉScrabble⌐æ-like
board. You are given a random set of numbers in each turn and, playing
either against the computer or another player, you have to gain control
of the board and obtain the highest possible score. E-Numix costs ú24.95
from C.I.S. or ú23 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Foundation Calligrapher Ö This is a writing tutor package from Design
Concept for use in primary schools. The idea is that it illustrates on
the screen the motions required for each letter to be formed. It takes
place slowly enough for the children to copy the motions. It uses a
special font designed for the ÉFoundation of Writing: LetterFormsæ
Scheme. Foundation Calligrapher costs ú15 from Design Concept and
requires at least one member of the Foundation font family to be
available, costing ú8. (Carriage on all orders is ú2. No VAT is
charged.)
6.9
Å    Full Phase is the latest in a series of Phases packages from Northwest
SEMERCæs. It is a talking wordprocessor (the speech can be switched
off!) enabling young pupils to combine text and graphics. Talking WP has
been shown to be a very powerful tool, particularly in helping children
with dyslexia. Full Phases includes a word list facility so that
children can pick up words from a list on screen and place them in their
text. The word lists are editable by the teacher or parent. It can also
be used with an Oldham Overlay Keyboard. Full Phases is available from
Northwest SEMERC for ú28 +VAT +p&p.
6.9
Å    Genup Lite Ö This application from APA Multimedia allows you to
compile your Genesis applications to become öfast, small, network
compatible and fully indexedò. It consists of a compiler and run-time
code, a fast indexer allowing users access to the Genup Lite
ÉSupersearchæ facility, example applications and !Bookmark Ö a utility
allowing users to mark resources for later use. Genup costs ú79 +VAT
from APA Multimedia Ltd. There is an education price of ú49 +VAT and
they also do site licences.
6.9
Å    GreyHawk is a grey-scale video digitiser aimed at DTP users. Most
colour digitisers can only provide 16 or 64 grey-levels but this
dedicated grey-scale digitiser produces full 8-bit (256 grey level)
images. It makes use of CCæs ScanLight Plus software with all the image
manipulation that it provides. The real-time screen display is in 16-
grey levels but ColourCard (or G8/16) owners can display the full 256
grey levels and Impression II users can get simulated 256 grey levels by
using enhanced graphics (dithering). The half-width podule has a BNC
input socket and takes signals from any PAL composite source. The
GreyHawk digitiser costs ú99 (+ ú6 carriage) +VAT from Wild Vision or
ú115 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Guardian Professional Ö Digital Phenomena who launched a PD virus
protector called Guardian3 (available on Archive program disc 6.3) have
now produced a commercial version with a range of extra utilities
including a disc sector editor. Even with all the extra utilities, it is
still only ú9.95 (inclusive) from Digital Phenomena. They also do an
educational site licence for ú24.95.
6.9
Å    Humanoids & Robotix Ö Remember Defender on the BBC Micro? Or Minervaæs
Orion on the Archimedes? Well, C.I.S. have produced a Defender look-
alike called Humanoids.
6.9
Robotix, on the other hand is a shoot-æem-up, with you in the middle of
the screen being attacked from all directions by various robot-like
creatures.
6.9
The two come together on one disc for ú19.95 from C.I.S. or ú18 through
Archive.
6.9
Å    Image Animator Ö This application from Iota Software allows you to
drop sprites or drawfiles onto a film window, frame by frame, until you
have a complete cartoon. You can edit sections of the cartoon, splice
it, etc. The price is ú69 +VAT or ú75 through Archive. A site licence
version is available for ú199 +VAT or ú210 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Image Gallery Ö This is a CD-ROM with over 1,100 high quality colour
images, each stored twice, at full size and at reduced size to allow
quick previewing of the images. The images cover a wide range of subject
including transport, animals, plants, people and buildings. The disc
comes with Archimedes search and retrieval software to aid you in
finding the picture you want. The price is ú45 +VAT from Eesox.
6.9
Å    KeyCount Ö Anglia Television have produced a spreadsheet/graphs
package for use in primary schools. It comes complete with a disc of
example sheets to show the possibilities within the classroom of a
spreadsheet application. It is linked with the Key-series and Keynote
datafiles can be loaded straight into KeyCount. It costs ú32.50 +VAT
from Anglia Television. They also have a range of site licence prices.
6.9
Å    Killerbugs is a space-invaders look-alike from C.I.S. The graphics and
sound effects are very good. The price is ú19.95 from C.I.S. or ú18
through Archive.
6.9
Å    Landmarks Elizabeth I Ö Longman Logotron have released another of
their Landmarks history series. This time itæs Elizabeth I. The price is
ú24 +VAT from Longman Logotron or ú26 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Mac SCSI drives Ö The pricing on SCSI drives fluctuates rather a lot
but currently we can do the following drives, listed below. (The prices
in brackets include Morley SCSI podule Ö uncached for drives up to 200M
and cached for 560Mb and 1Gb. You can compare prices with the Morley
drives below.)
6.9
    80Mb Internal Ö ú260  (ú420)
6.9
    120Mb Internal Ö ú340  (ú500)
6.9
    200Mb Internal Ö ú460  (ú620)
6.9
    560Mb Internal Ö ú840  (ú1060)
6.9
    1000Mb Internal Ö ú1040  (ú1260)
6.9
    80Mb External Ö ú390  (ú550)
6.9
    120Mb External Ö ú470  (ú630)
6.9
    200Mb External Ö ú590  (ú750)
6.9
    560Mb External Ö ú970  (ú1190)
6.9
    1000Mb External Ö ú1170  (ú1390)
6.9
These are all fast, good quality drives so they represent very good
value for money.
6.9
We also have one 245Mb external Atomwide drive available for ú650.
6.9
Å    MineHunt Ö This is a game for the PocketBook! (The first one?)
Identify the squares that are clear or contain a mine. MineHunt is
available for ú5 inclusive from Dawes Computer Consultants Ltd.
6.9
Å    Mini Expansion Adaptor Ö Pineapple Software have produced an interface
that provides a 16-bit external podule slot for A3000/3010/3020/4000. On
the A3000, it gives you a second external connector and on the others it
will allow A3000-type external podules to be fitted. You should note
that it only provides access to the 8-bit bus not the full 16-bit bus.
Pineapple say, öThere are a number of products that will only run on the
A3000 by using the external socket, and this new card will enable most,
if not all, of those products to work with the newer range of
computers.ò
6.9
Å    Monthly Program Disc Ö Although I try to put a list of the contents of
the monthly program disc on the Price List, I thought it might be useful
to mention each month what was on last monthæs disc! So, on the May disc
(6.8) were: (1) PipeLine Column files, (2) ROM speed test programs, (3)
Perform Ö Rhapsody file player, (4) SmoothM Ö a utility for mouse
movement averaging for use in art packages and (5) some modified
toolsprites and high resolution icon sprites.
6.9
Å    Morley SCSI drives Ö There has been some re-pricing of the Morley SCSI
drives. These come complete with SCSI interface.
6.9
    40Mb Internal Ö ú340
6.9
    80Mb Internal Ö ú510
6.9
    240Mb Internal Ö ú740
6.9
    40Mb External Ö ú430
6.9
    80Mb External Ö ú590
6.9
    240Mb External Ö ú810
6.9
Å    Parallel port SCSI adaptors Ö Atomwide have produced a second version
of their parallel port SCSI adaptor. Their Mono/SCSI interface (ú55
through Archive) simply provides a SCSI interface through a
bidirectional parallel port (i.e. A3010/3020/4000/5000 and A4) but does
not allow for using a printer or a dongle on the same port. The newer
Printer/SCSI interface which is ú79 +VAT from Atomwide or ú83 inclusive
through Archive, has two connectors, one for SCSI and one giving the
through connections needed for a printer. This also means that you can
connect a dongle in series with the printer connector Ö which was a
major frustration with the earlier Mono/SCSI interface. Another first
for Atomwide! (See the File Transfer article on page 55 for more
details. Ed.)
6.9
Å    Payroll Manager Ö Silicon Vision have produced a RISCáOS application
to handle payroll functions including the latest budget changes.
Features include weekly/monthly wages, book or percentage values, wage
slips, cash breakdown, P14/P60, pension deduction, holiday pay,
selection for tables A, B or C, etc. The price is ú99.95 inc VAT from
Silicon Vision.
6.9
Å    Photopia is an image processor from C.I.S. It allows you to manipulate
256-colour images (not 16-colour) and offers such features as colour
swap, solarize, negative, convert to 64-colour, convert to B&W, colour
invert, brightness, saturation and contrast control, greyscale, anti-
alias, wash, pixellate, linear fade, radial fade, mirror (X and Y), 180░
rotate, ripple effect and more besides. It costs ú14.95 from C.I.S. or
ú14 through Archive. At that price, it represents an excellent
introduction to image graphics.
6.9
Å    PrimeWord Ö Minerva have launched a font-based RISCáOS wordprocessor
aimed at the primary school market. It is configurable so that it can be
used at a range of different levels and can handle multiple documents
and multiple views per document. Frequently used commands and features
are accessed directly via a button bar. PrimeWord costs ú60 +VAT from
Minerva (ú65 through Archive) and there is a primary site licence for
ú90 +VAT (ú100 through Archive) and a secondary site licence for ú240
+VAT (ú265 through Archive).
6.9
Å    Real McCoy 4 Ö The Fourth Dimension have released the fourth of their
Real McCoy series of games compilations. This one contains Grievous
Bodily æARM, Galactic Dan, X-Fire and Cataclysm. It costs ú34.95 inc VAT
from the Fourth Dimension or ú32 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Revelation 2 price drop Ö The price of Revelation 2 has dropped to ú76
+VAT or ú82 through Archive. The CD-ROM version is ú99 +VAT or ú107
through Archive. The price of Revelation ImagePro is ú139 + VAT or ú150
through Archive. It was the ImagePro version that was reviewed by
Gabriel Swords last month but Revelation 2 includes a very large
proportion of the features of the ImagePro version, so for just over
half the price, it is well worth considering.
6.9
Å    RISCáOS 3 Programmeræs Reference Manuals are here! Ö The long-awaited
RISCáOS 3 PRMæs are now available from stock at Norwich Computer
Services. The full price is ú99 (zero VAT) but they are so heavy that
the Archive discount is more than swallowed up in carriage charge. The
Archive price therefore is ú100 inclusive of carriage.
6.9
The manual has been totally restructured to take account of the
differences between programming for RISC OS 2 and RISC OS 3 and is now
over 3,000 pages long Ö almost double the size of the original PRM.
6.9
The manual is contained in four bound volumes plus an additional index
volume. They are Éperfectæ bound, not ring bound, sadly! They are held
in a cardboard library case so that they will be self-standing on your
bookcase or shelf Ö if itæs strong enough to take the weight Ö 7.2kg! It
will also include a newly revised RISC OS Style Guide, available from
the autumn. (Those who buy the new PRM before this date will be sent a
copy of the Style Guide as soon as it is available.)
6.9
As an added bonus, Acorn we have included many programming examples in
the text, and there are also detailed sections describing ways to
exploit the various aspects of programming for RISC OS.
6.9
Å    RISCáOS 3 Programmeræs Reference Manual as an upgrade Ö Upgrades for
existing owners of the RISC OS 2 PRM are available for ú59, plus ú4
postage and packing, from Vector Services. Cheques should be made
payable to öAcorn Directò and the index front cover of the old manual
only should be sent as proof of ownership of the RISC OS 2 version.
6.9
Å    Sea, Trade & Empire is Anglia Televisionæs latest set of curriculum
datafiles for use by schools who are using Key, Keynote or KeyPlus. It
is aimed at History Key Stage 3, Britain 1750 to 1900 and costs ú22 +VAT
from Anglia Television.
6.9
Å    Serpents is an arcade action game with over forty levels of önon-stop
arcade action, some easy, some tricky and some positively mind-bending
with a combination of speed and puzzle elements.ò It bears some
resemblance to Pacman but the object you direct around the maze is a
worm-like being of variable length and it has to eat or be eaten by
other similar animals. Serpents costs ú19.95 from CIS or ú18 through
Archive.
6.9
Å    Small Steps is a package from Resource aimed at primary and special
needs. It breaks down each National Curriculum attainment target in
Small Steps and helps you with its administration and record-keeping.
The first pack is available now: English, Maths and Social Development
levels 1, 2 and 3. It costs ú99 +VAT for a single user and ú199 +VAT for
a site licence. A second pack covering History, Geography, Technology,
Music and Art at the same levels is in preparation. It will cost ú49
+VAT for a single user or ú99 +VAT for a site licence.
6.9
Å    SongBook is a set of original and educational songs from EMR based on
their Storybook sets. These are aimed at 3 to 10 year olds and special
needs pupils. Each set of five songs costs ú24.95 +VAT from EMR.
6.9
Å    SuperSnake is another budget arcade game. It is an up-to-date version
of the ever-popular snake game. It has 20 levels for you to cope with
and even has a two-player option so that you can pit your wits against a
friend instead of the computer. SuperSnake costs ú4.99 inclusive from
Digital Phenomena.
6.9
Å    Talking PenDown is our second talking wordprocessor this month.
PenDown, which is well known in the education world, is now available
with speech facilities added. The complete package, which needs no extra
hardware, costs ú64 +VAT or ú69 through Archive. Existing PenDown users
can upgrade for ú32 +VAT by contacting Longman Logotron directly (site
licences can be upgraded for ú64 +VAT).
6.9
Å    Taxan 789 Ö Thanks to Mike Lane (see Comment Column on page 50) the
Taxan 789 has been brought to our notice as a good monitor to use with a
G8/16 or a ColourCard. It has a dot pitch of 0.28mm (same as 9060 and
Cubscan 1440) but its frequency scanning range is 30 to 60 kHz, which
means that it can cope with some of the higher resolution 256 colour
modes that the other monitors canæt manage. Also, it is cheaper! The
Archive price is ú440 (cf ú600 and ú480 for the 9060 and 1440
respectively).
6.9
Å    The Hacker Ö This is the only currently available competitor to Games
Wizard. This software from Doggysoft allows you to change the number of
lives, find passwords and so on. It sounds as if it needs a bit of
technical know-how to use for creating your own cheats but it comes with
ready-made cheats for well over fifty games. It costs ú5 inclusive from
Doggysoft (but cheques should be made payable to öA Cloverò).
6.9
Å    Time-Traveller are ESMæs educational history packs. The latest one to
be released is aimed at children in Key Stage 3. It is entitled The
Making of the United Kingdom and covers 1500 to 1750. It costs ú39.50
+VAT from ESM or ú43 through Archive. The price includes a site licence.
6.9
Å    Topographer is the latest release from Clares. It is an innovative
piece of software that allows you to draw 2D maps in Ordnance Survey
style and then create a 3D picture of the terrain viewed from any
position Ö sounds a wonderful aid for geography teaching amongst other
things. The price is ú79.95 inc VAT or ú75 through Archive.
6.9
Å    Training courses Ö Minerva are now offering a one-day Artworks
training course at their training centre for ú110 +VAT.
6.9
(We havenæt had much response to our offer of putting on courses here in
Norwich. Unless we hear from you soon, weæll have to drop the idea. You
can phone in your requests if you prefer.)
6.9
Å    VIDC Enhancers Ö Put the flag out! We now have stocks of VIDC
enhancers again so that A310/410/420/440 owners can have some improved
video modes and can use monitors that donæt run down to the low
frequencies that mode 12, etc use Ö e.g. Eizo F340iW, F550iW and T560iT
or Taxan 795, 789, etc. We have been able to keep the price down to ú28
but that does not include the software that runs them. That has been put
into the public domain by Atomwide and we have put it on Careware disc
18 which costs ú5 (of which ú3 goes to charity).
6.9
Å    WIMP Programmeræs Toolkit is Risc Developmentsæ collection of twelve
programs for the development and debugging of Wimp programs. It now
includes Acornæs FormEd program supplied under licence. It costs ú19.95
inc VAT from Risc Developments.
6.9
Å    WIMP Programming for All is the title of a relatively new book (but
now revised to relate specifically to RISCáOS 3) from Risc Developments
written by Lee Calcraft and Alan Wrigley. It costs ú12.95 and there is a
disc at ú4.95 which contains all the programs listed in the book.
6.9
Å    Woodland is a CD-ROM from APA Multimedia. It has öthousands of pages
of detailed informationò including sounds samples, which provides an
exploration of British woodlands and their bird, animal and plant life.
It is optimised for use across networks and comes with a network site
licence. Woodland costs ú150 +VAT from APA Multimedia Ltd.
6.9
Å    Woodland Junior is a floppy-disc version of Woodland from APA
Multimedia. It is installable onto hard disc and requires 6Mb of free
space. It costs ú79 +VAT from APA Multimedia Ltd and is upgradable to
the full version. There is an education price of ú49 +VAT and they will
also do site licences.
6.9
Å    Words Disc Ö The Archive Words Disc for issues 6.5 Ö 6.8 is now
available, price ú2.
6.9
Å    Zool is a new arcade game from Gremlin Graphics. Zool is, apparently,
a Ninja of the Nth dimension who is öan interstellar cosmos dweller,
quicker than a flash and sharper than the seven samuraiò! Whatever he
is, Zool is certainly the ögame of the momentò in the Beverley
household. (I used to think we only had two children but the average
number of children in the house at the moment is about four or five and
the power-amplified Zool-assisted output of the Archimedes sound system
has to be heard to be believed!) Zool costs ú25.99 from Gremlin Graphics
or ú24 through Archive.
6.9

Å    1st Paint Ö Keyboard Technology have produced an art package aimed at
Primary Schools. 1st Paint has all the normal art drawing functions you
would expect, including access to a picture library, editable colour
palette and a choice of eight patterns and eight picture stamps. 1st
Paint costs ú35 +VAT from Keyboard Technology.
6.10
Å    A3010 IFEL upgrade Ö IFEL have produced a 4Mb upgrade for the A3010.
This costs ú107 +VAT from IFEL or ú120 through Archive.
6.10
Å    A3010/3020/4000 Technical Reference Manual Ö This is now available and
in stock. It includes a full system description, parts list, network
interface specifications and circuit diagrams for all the computers.
This costs ú29.95 from Acorn or ú33 including carriage through Archive.
(N.B. Despite the price of this compared with the A4 TRM, it actually
contains a much larger amount of information. The contents of the A4 TRM
weighs about 600g whereas the A3010etc TRM weighs over 2╜kg!)
6.10
Å    A4 Technical Reference Manual Ö The TRM for the A4 is now available
and in stock. It includes a full system description, parts list, monitor
adaptor cable specifications, expansion bay details and circuit diagrams
including main pcb and Econet pcb. This costs ú65 from Acorn or ú64
including carriage through Archive.
6.10
Å    A4000S Ö Acorn and Northwest SEMERC have combined to release a system
for special needs based on the A4000. The hardware is extended with a
Cumana EMU expansion unit and a user port, and there is software pre-
installed on the hard drive: Phases #3, My World, Choices, GridIT and
Screenplay plus clipart including pictures and symbols for keyboard
overlays. The education price of the A4000S is ú899 +VAT including an
AKF18 multisync monitor. There is an upgrade pack available for existing
A4000 owners costing ú119.50 +VAT.
6.10
Å    A5000 improvement Ö The 4Mb/120Mb version of the A5000 has been
increased in specification at no extra cost. It now has a 160Mb hard
drive and the price remains at ú1599 +VAT (ú1879 through Archive).
6.10
Å    Amazing Maths Ö This is a competitive educational program from
Cambridge Software House. It is based on mental maths work and provides
practice on number bonding, multiplication, division, addition and
subtraction. It is concept keyboard and touch screen compatible. The
price is ú19.95 +VAT from CSH.
6.10
Å    Archimedes Disc Rescue Ö Anyone who has been örescuedò by LOOKsystemsæ
package will be able to testify to its value but you really need to buy
it before things go wrong Ö think of it as an insurance policy. It was
reviewed by Mike Allum in Archive 6.1 p23 and Gareth Long is working on
a more in-depth review at the moment which we hope will be published
soon. Archimedes Disc Rescue costs ú35 inc VAT through LOOKsystems and
is now available through Archive for ú33.
6.10
Å    Archive Monthly Program Disc Ö This month it contains: material from
Genesis/Magpie Column, two JPEG applications, PipelineZ bits, C multi-
threading demo, ARM cache on-off application, öHow to write for Archiveò
document plus some Artworks material if it arrives in time.
6.10
Å    Archivist Professional Ö This data management system from Oregan
Developmentsæ has been upgraded again, this time as ÉArchivist
Professionalæ. This now offers a card index for text, figures, graphics
and sound. The cards will also accommodate complete text files, limited
only by computer or disc memory and these, like the graphics and sound,
are stored in the file as resources which can be exported into other
applications. Selections of cards with a common theme can be compiled
into subsets. The price is ú44.95, with a site licence available at ú50,
and upgrades from version 4 at ú10 and version 2.4 at ú15.
6.10
Å    Artworks Renderer Ö If anyone is developing an application and wants
to allow it to display and print Artworks files, you can get a copy of
the Artworks rendering software, plus documentation, from Computer
Concepts. (Artworks has currently sold over 5,000 copies plus over 100
site licences!) However, before you publish an application using CCæs
software, you have to obtain a licence from them. There will usually be
no charge for this licence, especially where the application promotes or
supports the use of Artworks but they reserve the right to set a charge
for the licence or to withhold the licence altogether, at their
discretion. For example, I doubt that they would grant a licence to
someone using it to help them write an art package!
6.10
CC are also preparing documentation (currently 250 pages and rising!) on
how to implement further Artworks modules (see David Wildæs comments
last month, p22). This will cost you ú10 +VAT for the necessary source
code plus the manual as an Impression document on disc.
6.10
Å    Auto-loading disc copier Ö We gave information last month about the
new budget (3╜ö only) auto-loading disc copier. The copier costs ú1150
inc VAT and comes with very basic software. The LOOKsystemsæ AutoCopy
software is multitasking, very sophisticated and easy-to-use but it
costs ú350. However, we have worked out a deal whereby you can buy the
two together for ú1350 instead of ú1500, i.e. the software is almost
half price. This is fortunate because we have realised that the single-
tasking software that comes free with the auto-loader only works on the
pre-A5000 computers and doesnæt seem to work properly on RISCáOS 3!
6.10
Å    Canon BJ200 price drop Ö Canon have reduced the price of the BJ200
(some HP prices went up last month!) so that the BJ200 on its own is now
ú340 through Archive and the BJ200 with TurboDriver is available at ú380
through Archive. (The BJ200 is actually cheaper if bought directly from
CC. This is because they buy in such large quantities. However, they
wonæt give any dealer discount on this particular model Ö or the BJ230.
Their price, including the TurboDriver, is ú335 inc VAT & carriage.)
6.10
Å    Canon BJ230 Ö Canon have also just released an A3-sized printer
similar to the BJ200 and not much higher in price. The BJ230 on its own
costs ú390 through Archive and the BJ230 with TurboDriver is available
for ú430 through Archive. (The BJ230 is actually cheaper if bought
directly from CC. Their price, including the TurboDriver, is ú387 inc
VAT & carriage.)
6.10
Å    Canon BJC800 price drop Ö Canonæs A3-sized colour printer is now
available for ú1650 through Archive or ú1700 including the CC
TurboDriver and lead.
6.10
Å    C User Group Ö C programmers may be interested to know that the C User
Group UK is forming a sub-group to concentrate on issues relating to C
users in the Acorn world. Membership of the parent group is ú12 (or ú5
for students) and an extra ú5 for membership of the Acorn sub-group.
Contact Bob Docker, 4 Lexfield House, 75áHighbury New Park, London, N5
2EY.
6.10
Å    Darryl the Dragon is a new problem-solving adventure program for
younger users (key stages 1 & 2). If you enjoyed Grannyæs Garden, you
will love Darryl the Dragon. Darryl has caught a cold and lost his fiery
breath which, being a good dragon, he uses to cook his food, warm his
bed at night and toast marshmallows for his friends. Will you help him
to collect the things he needs to make his breath flame again? The
single-user version is ú19 +VAT (ú21 through Archive) and a primary site
licence costs ú39 +VAT (ú42 through Archive). There is also a set of
Activity Sheets available from 4Mation for ú10 +VAT.
6.10
Å    DBEdit upgrade Ö 4Mation have produced an enhanced version of DBEdit
incorporating many of the suggestions of existing users. The version
remains at ú30 +VAT (ú33 through Archive) and existing users can upgrade
free of charge by sending their master disc back to 4Mation. The new
version contains a ReadMe file with documentation for the extra
features.
6.10
(They donæt ask for an S.A.E. or paddibag but since they are offering a
free upgrade, I think it would be a nice gesture. It would show that we
appreciate their generosity and encourage them to continue that policy!
Ed.)
6.10
Å    !DrawPaint Ö In response to the plea for an easy way of converting a
drawfile into a sprite, the Derbyshire Support Centre for IT (DESCIT)
has told us about !DrawPaint. It is an application that loads onto the
iconbar. It allows you to drag a drawfile onto it and it provides a
spritefile icon for dragging to a filer window or straight into another
application. This utility costs ú10. Send cheques payable to öDerbyshire
County Councilò to Pam Winn at DESCIT.
6.10
Å    Fast PC Emulator Ö A new product has just come on the market to
compete with Acornæs PC Emulator. The Faster PC Emulator is hand-coded
in ARM assembler and claims to offer the following advantages: faster
graphics handling, more accurate sound implementation, support for some
Tandy video modes (useful for games), on-line configuration
modifications allowed. (It sounds almost too good to be true when you
think of the man-hours of work Acorn have put into their Emulator over
the years!) The cost is ú19.95 including p&p. Send your cheque (made
payable to D.J.Lawrence) to: !FasterPC, 33 High Street, Farnborough,
GU14 6ES. N.B. It requires an Acorn ARM computer running RISC OS 2 or 3,
minimum 2Mb RAM and MS DOS or DR DOS.
6.10
(We have a copy for evaluation and it looks as if it should be thought
of as a Ésecond string to your bowæ rather than as a complete
replacement for Acornæs PC Emulator Ö but perhaps I shouldnæt pre-judge
it before the full review. Ed.)
6.10
Å    Fonts galore Ö Monotypeæs quality typefaces, previously available on
other computer systems, are now available for the Archimedes.
LOOKsystems are supplying these fonts for Acorn RISC OS computers and
have just released their first pack of 100 fonts for ú95 (inc VAT, UK
postage paid).
6.10
Adrian Look, explains, öThe PC and Mac platforms have just experienced
Éthe TrueType revolutionæ Ö type foundries can supply typefaces in
TrueType format and thus avoid using Adobe PostScript with its
accompanying royalties. As a result, font prices have fallen
dramatically with TrueType fonts costing less than a tenth of their
PostScript equivalents.
6.10
These changes have made it much more viable to convert fonts into
RISCáOS format. By releasing Monotype fonts, we will transform the range
and quality of typefaces that are available for the Archimedes... and
they will be better value for money!ò
6.10
Fonts include: Goudy Text, Lombardic Capitals, Bembo, Poliphilius,
Blado, Dante, Goudy Old Style, Janson, Baskerville, Garamond, Platin,
Platin Expert, Century Old Style, Century Expanded, News Gothic,
Rockwell, Arial, Gill Sans, Braggadocio, Headline, Matura, Mercurius
Script, Neographic, Onyx, Palace Script, Pepita, Perpetua, Swing, 20th
Century, Zeitgeist Cameo.
6.10
The fonts are supplied in either RISC OS 2 or 3 format including
scaffolding and kerning pairs (RISC OS 3 only). Skeleton lines are not
yet provided but will soon be available as a free upgrade. 100 Monotype
fonts (Pack 1) will cost ú95 from LOOKsystems or ú90 through Archive.
6.10
Å    F.R.E.D. Ö This is a new arcade game from Software42, said to be öthe
ultimate arcade puzzle gameò. F.R.E.D. costs ú20 from Software42.
6.10
Å    Gemini is a matching pairs game from Cambridge Software House. It has
three levels of difficulty and you can put in your own sprites to make
up your own games. It is touch screen compatible and costs ú29.95 +VAT
from CSH.
6.10
Å    HP Deskjet 510 Ö The HP Deskjet 500 has been replaced by the DJ510. It
is basically the same except that it is faster in text mode (which most
Acorn printer drivers donæt use anyway!). Still, it works out cheaper
than the DJ500 Ö partly because we have found a cheaper supplier. The
Archive price is ú360 instead of ú390. You can run it with the Acorn
printer drivers but for extra speed and improved features (on RISCáOS
3.1) use the Ace PROdriver (ú44) or the new TurboDriver mentioned below
(ú53 including cable).
6.10
Å    HP Deskjet 1200C Ö Hewlett Packard have just released an A3 colour
inkjet printer which works out somewhat cheaper than the Canon BJC800,
currently priced at ú1650. The Archive price is ú1390 inclusive. You
would be well advised to run it on RISCáOS 3.1 and buy an Ace PROdriver
(ú44) or the new TurboDriver mentioned below (ú53 including a printer
cable).
6.10
Å    HP ÉPortableæ Deskjet 500 Ö Hewlett Packard have just released a
portable Deskjet printer, presumably to rival the Canon BJ10ex (and the
new 10sx). All I have been able to find out about it so far is the
price. We can sell it without sheet-feeder for ú300 or with a sheet-
feeder for ú350.
6.10
Å    HP Laserjet 4L Ö You can now get a 300 d.p.i. laser printer for ú670
inc VAT and carriage. Hewlett Packard have recently launched the
Laserjet 4L. You can run it with the Acorn printer drivers but for extra
speed and improved features, on RISCáOS 3.1, use the Ace PROdriver (ú44)
or the new TurboDriver mentioned below (ú53 including a printer cable).
6.10
Å    IronMask 2.1 Ö IronMask 2.1 is an upgrade of Turing Tools RISCáOS file
security system, in response to usersæ comments. IronMask 2.0 customers
can upgrade to IronMask 2.1 by returning their master disc to Turing
Tools.
6.10
Å    Jackbox is a jack-box version of Holdfastæs Joypad computer keypad
(see below). It provides switch inputs via ╝ö jack sockets for each for
the cursor and fire buttons equivalent to the Joypad. It has a standard
Atari style digital joystick connector and can be used with the Leading
Edge Joystick Interface (ú38 through Archive). The Jackbox costs ú25
+VAT from Holdfast Computing.
6.10
Å    Joypad is a computer keypad which is öfriendlier and tougher than a
mouseò. It is particularly designed for children and special needs
users. It has a standard Atari style digital joystick connector and can
be used with the Leading Edge Joystick Interface (ú38 through Archive).
The Joypad costs ú21.27 +VAT from Holdfast Computing.
6.10
Å    My First Words Ö This is an öinnovative way of helping children to
readò from Cambridge Software House. It aims to help 4 to 7 year-olds to
make up and print their own sentences. It is content-free (i.e. you can
put in whatever words you want to use) but comes set up with sample
files from the GINN 360 reading scheme as used by many primary schools
in the U.K. The price is ú29.95 +VAT from CSH.
6.10
Å    Multimedia Encyclopedia Ö Hutchinsons have now released the full
RISCáOS version of their encyclopedia CD-ROM. This now includes over
1,500 photographs plus illustrations, maps and textual data and over 250
sound clips. It has over 25,000 articles, thousands of cross-references
and hundreds of tables all classified under six headings: Aspects of
Society, History, The Arts, Places, Life Sciences and Science &
Technology. It is published by Attica Cybernetics Ltd and is priced at
ú149 (+ú5 p&p) +VAT.
6.10
Å    Numero 62 is a multi-language version of N║62 Honeypot Lane from
Resource aimed at primary school work in a whole range of subjects. It
is based round the idea of exploring and discovering the routines and
relationships that exist within a household through a year. At the press
of a key you can switch between English, French, German or Spanish.
Numero 62 is ú35 +VAT from Resource or ú38 through Archive.
6.10
Å    PAL + SVHS encoder Ö Pineapple produce an adaptor that takes the RGB
output from the Archimedes and creates a PAL encoded signal. There is
also a socket so that you can have a normal RGB monitor connected at the
same time. These are ú69 +VAT from Pineapple or ú75 through Archive.
There is also a version that has an SVHS output as well as the PAL
output. This can be very useful if youæve got a TV or video with an SVHS
socket. This version is ú79 +VAT from Pineapple or ú86 through Archive.
6.10
Å    Paradroid 2000 is Coin-Ageæs conversion of the Amiga game of the same
name. It is a droid-based shoot æem up with a certain amount of
strategic thinking needed to enable you to complete each level
successfully. The price is ú25.99 from Coin-Age or ú24 through Archive.
6.10
Å    Pre-formatted 1.6Mb discs Ö For the benefit of floptical owners, we
are offering pre-formatted 1.6Mb discs Ö ú17 for 10. (This is because
Morley flopticals can read and write 1.6Mb discs but not format them.)
6.10
Å    re-Print Ö (This is a product coming in September.) T-J Reproductions
are offering some help for professional and semi-professional designers
using Archimedes and trying to öinterfaceò with commercial printers. T-J
are producing re-Print which is part magazine, part reference manual,
part training guide and part DTP support group. This is being set up as
a result of T-J Reproductionsæ experience of running a DTP bureau for
Archimedes users. The annual cost will be ú68 (zero VAT) from T-J
Reproductions (ú58 if received by 31st July). It may be that you have
something to offer Ö if so, get in touch with them and start the mutual
support going as soon as possible.
6.10
Å    Sand Harvest Ö This is a computer-based role-play simulation for
geography and IT at key stages 3 & 4. In it, you experience the
difficulties of life in the Sahel. The three roles to be played are
nomad, government officer and villager. The cost of Sand Harvest,
including teacheræs and pupilæs guides, is ú68.15 (inclusive) for a
single-user version and ú103.40 for a site licence from CWDE Software.
6.10
Å    ÉSay-itæ language tutors Ö Bits ænæ Bytes are producing a series of
discs for different languages aimed to provide language listening
practice. Each disc has digitised speaking of the words in the given
language and you have to say which of four possible translations is
correct. You can choose whether the foreign word is just spoken or also
appears in written form on screen. We have so far seen !Dis-le (French,
two discs), !Dilo (Spanish) and !Sprich (German) but there are others
including !Gong-che (Chinese!) and all of them are being distributed by
Bits ænæ Bytes on a shareware basis. Write to them for full details.
(Readers in the Netherlands and Germany, may like to know that they also
have an English-Dutch version and an English-German version.)
6.10
Å    Symbol Collection Ö Widgit Software have released a collection of
1,000 drawfile symbols comprising most of the Rebus Glossary which can
be used to provide pre-reading aids for early learners or literacy aids
for adult learners with special educational needs. The Symbol Collection
costs ú25 +VAT from Widgit Software.
6.10
Å    Taxan 789 LR monitor (again!) Ö We have tried out the 14ö Taxan 789LR
(LR just stands for low radiation) at Mike Laneæs suggestion and it does
indeed work very well with the State Machine colour cards. (We havenæt
yet had a chance to try it on the CC Colourcard but weære pretty sure it
will be OK.) In a mode like 1024╫768, it is very clear and very
noticeably better than the Acorn multisync and even the Eizo 9060 looks
a little fuzzy by comparison. The 9060, despite being rather more
expensive) does not go up to such high horizontal frequencies as the 789
and so it cannot manage 256 colour modes at some of the higher
resolutions.
6.10
If you try to push up to 1152╫848 (16 colours) or 1152╫424 (256
colours), the 789 displays it OK but it is obviously beyond the
resolution of the tube and so the quality suffers. If you reckon that
the picture is 260mm wide (measured) and the dot pitch is 0.28mm, that
suggests about 900 dots horizontally so there is a limit to what you can
expect the monitor to do. Certainly, although you can display the
1600╫600, 16-colour mode, it isnæt very enjoyable to use because the
monitor obviously is working beyond its capabilities.
6.10
Still, at ú440 for the monitor + ú280 for a G8 or ColourCard (or ú314
for G16), the Taxan 789LR represents a very cost effective way of
getting a significant improvement to the video output of the Archimedes.
The next step better would be the 15ö Eizo F340iW at ú720 and the
improvement in display quality, though noticeable, is not that
significant for the extra ú280. The main difference is that you get a
wider range of adjustments and that it is micro-processor controlled, so
you donæt have to keep fiddling with the controls Ö this is a very
significant factor if you are someone who changes modes a lot.
6.10
If you want higher resolutions, you really have to go up to 17ö or 20ò.
I am hoping to try out some of the Taxan 17ö and 20ò monitors so that I
can compare them with the Eizos whose prices have gone up so much
recently Ö Taxanæs prices actually went down on 1st June!
6.10
If you want to use the Taxan 789LR without a colour card, A310/3000/410/
420/440 owners will need a VIDC enhancer (ú28), Careware 18 software
(ú5) and a 15/9-pin adaptor (ú12) as the computer is 9-pin and the
monitor has a fixed lead with a 15-pin plug. So the total is
ú440+28+5+12 = ú485. Owners of A5000/3010/3020/4000 wonæt need the VIDC
enhancer or the adaptor but they will need the Careware 18 software,
i.e. ú445 total. The A540 doesnæt need the VIDC enhancer either but it
does need the Careware 18 software and the 15/9-pin adaptor, i.e. ú457
total.
6.10
If you want to use a Taxan 789LR with a colour card, all you need is the
monitor and the card. There is no need for any extra adaptors, etc.
Remember, too, that the colour cards are standard size podules and
therefore will not fit in A3000/3010/3020/4000 although they will work
on the A3000 if you have an external case to put it in.
6.10
(By the way, we still have one or two Acorn multisync monitors for sale
at ú270. The same applies as for the Taxan 789 in terms of VIDC
enhancers and adaptors. In fact, strangely enough, the plastic cases of
these two monitors, all except for the screen surround, are identical Ö
it must have come from the same case manufacturer and been made in the
same mould!)
6.10
Although I have waxed lyrical about the Taxan 789, you need to be aware
that it is only monitors like the Eizo 9060 and the Microvitec 1440 that
will work properly with all games. The reason is that they have a
frequency range that goes down low enough not to need a colour card or a
VIDC enhancer to increase the frequency. Some games use Éillegalæ poking
of the video controller to increase their speed and those that do so
will not work on the colour cards and some of them wonæt work with a
VIDC enhancer either.
6.10
Å    Turbo Driver range grows Ö Computer Concepts have launched two more in
their series of TurboDrivers for improving the quality and speed of
printer drivers for RISCáOS 3. The Hewlett-Packard TurboDriver can be
used with Deskjet, Deskjet Plus, Deskjet 500, the new Deskjet 510 and
the colour printers: Deskjet 500C and 550C (also, presumably, the new
DJ1200C). This also includes a version for Laserjet printers. CC claim
öinitial tests show that the TurboDrivers print and return control
anything between three to ten times faster than either the Acorn drivers
or the Ace PROdriversò (Quite a claim! We are going to have to get
someone to check it out for us! Ed.)
6.10
The second new TurboDriver is for the Epson Stylus 800. This one is
claimed to return control to the user öfive times faster than the Ace
PROdriversò.
6.10
The new TurboDrivers will handle full 24-bit colour separations and
offer öPostScript-like control over half-tone screens, i.e. programmable
screen types and screen angle, screen density, etc. The drivers cost ú49
+VAT from Computer Concepts or ú53 through Archive. (N.B. They require
RISCáOS 3.1 or later and 2Mb RAM minimum.)
6.10
Å    TV Adaptor Ö Acorn sell an adaptor that will take the RGB output from
an Archimedes and produce a UHF signal that you can plug straight into
the aerial input of a TV. The quality of the signal is obviously limited
by converting the signal to UHF but if a TV is all you have then it is
very useful. The TV adaptor is ú59 +VAT from Acorn or ú65 through
Archive.
6.10
Å    Vector upgrade Ö 4Mation have now released Vector version 1.1 which
has a number of extra facilities added at the request of existing users.
The upgrade is ú10 +VAT from 4Mation if you send back your Vector
application disc. Extra features include: graphics level control
(controls the amount of detail shown on screen), auto-save options, more
mask options, text-to-path on multiple objects, rotate/skew/scale/
transform about origin, overlay lines, auto layers and keyboard short-
cuts. The price of the new version remains the same Ö ú85 +VAT or ú92
through Archive.
6.10
Å    Viking Library Ö Widgit Software have produced a resource pack
comprising over 250 symbols, with their accompanying words, to help
children read and write about Vikings. It costs ú12.50 +VAT from Widgit
and is for use with their language, communication and literacy package,
From Pictures to Words, which costs ú35 +VAT from Widgit.
6.10
Å    Virtual Golf is Fourth Dimensionæs new golf game. öNo more power
meters Ö you control the swing by moving the mouse.ò Gordon Keyæs latest
golf game is based on the Wentworth course and has features including:
up to four players, strokeplay, matchplay, six tournaments, animated
course maps, auto-caddy, replays, game-saving, course viewing options,
practice options and driving range. This new game costs ú34.95 from
Fourth Dimension or ú33 through Archive.
6.10
Å    World Development Database Ö This database provides social and
economic statistics on 129 countries in computerised form for use with
either KeyPlus or Grass databases. The pack includes geography and maths
coursework material. It costs ú30 +VAT for the KeyPlus version and ú25
+VAT for the Grass version and is produced by CWDE Software.
6.10

Products Available
6.11
Å    10 Out of 10 Maths (Algebra) is the second maths pack from Triple R,
the educational arm of Fourth Dimension. This package covers patterns,
sequences, formulae, graphs, equations, inequalities and symbols. It
covers Curriculum Attainment Target 3 (Algebra) and has material and
levels suitable for children aged 6 to 16 on Key Stages 1 to 4. The
price is ú25.95 from Fourth Dimension or ú24 through Archive.
6.11
Å    ú50 off the Pocket Book price Ö During the summer, Acorn are offering
ú50 off the price of the Pocket Book. So you can buy a Pocket Book from
Archive for just ú200. The educational package consisting of eleven
Pocket Books plus an A-Link is ú1699.50 +VAT. (ú1990 inc VAT through
Archive.) Both these offers last until 30th September. What is more,
Acorn have created the Émissing linkæ! The almost universal comment
about the Pocket Book is öWhy no diary?!ò and so...
6.11
Å    Acorn Schedule is a new application on SSD ROM for the Pocket Book. It
includes a diary, personal organiser, calendar and timetable. The normal
price will be ú49.95 inc VAT but there is a special introductory price
of ú19.95 (ú19 through Archive) until 30th September.
6.11
Å    !AppFS is a network application which speeds up the delivery of
applications to the users. A site licence costs ú100 +VAT from Angelsoft
Educational although it is going up to ú130 +VAT on 1st September.
6.11
Å    Astro upgrade Ö Topologika have released version 2 of Astro. This is a
set of interactive programs for exploring Earth in Space, i.e. it deals
with the solar system, seasons, the moon, comets, spacecraft, etc. Astro
2 costs ú37.50 +VAT including p&p or ú41 through Archive. The upgrade
from 1 to 2 costs ú8.50 +VAT including p&p from Topologika.
6.11
Å    CD special prices Ö Cumana are offering CDs at special prices up to
the end of December 1993. Their World of Number discs aimed at Key
Stages 3 & 4 are all ú59 +VAT + carriage each (ú66 through Archive):
Number Games & Short Tasks, Perspectives, Picture Gallery and Who Stole
the Decimal Point? The four-disc set of Creepy Crawlies, Dictionary of
the Living World, Grooves and Image Warehouse is ú149 +VAT + carriage
(ú164 through Archive) and the Space Encyclopedia is ú39 +VAT + carriage
(ú44 through Archive).
6.11
Å    Champions is a games compilation package from Krisalis. It consists of
World Class Leader Board (golf), Manchester United, World Championship
Squash and World Championship Boxing Manager. This compilation costs
ú29.99 from Krisalis or ú28 through Archive.
6.11
Å    ColourBurst from State Machine is a full CCIR PAL, television and
video recorder compatible graphics card. A new facility of the
ColourBurst is the ability to display a full interlaced overscan TV
mode. This is double the vertical TV resolution currently attainable
with the Archimedes. ColourBurst could therefore be very useful where
access to a large TV type monitor is available.
6.11
ColourBurst provides all of the facilities of the G16 while adding:
larger desktop modes, larger ArtWorks and TrueView preview modes (with
1Mb of on-board memory the desktop can be previewed in up to 1152╫848 in
256 colours and ArtWorks can use the 800╫600 16 bit per pixel modes);
direct recording to video; on-line broadcasting in 256 colours at
768╫576 and other resolutions (the optional PAL genlock expansion allows
the ColourBurst to be synchronised to any external RGB, PAL or S-Video
source); an on-board expansion system to allow various options to be
added without taking up any more expansion slots. The options to be
available during July include: A simple sync genlock, an RGB bandwidth
limiter, a composite PAL and S-Video encoder, a full PAL genlock
expansion and an internal RGB video switch for the A540 and A5000.
6.11
ColourBurst costs ú475 including VAT & carriage or ú440 through Archive.
6.11
Å    Demonæs Lair Ö This is Fourth Dimensionæs new isometric arcade
adventure. A friendly dragon has been chained up by an evil demon and
you and your people are being terrorised by all sorts of nasties. Your
job is to destroy the demon and free the people before their supply of
food runs out. Demonæs Lair is ú25.95 from Fourth Dimension or ú24
through Archive.
6.11
Å    DrawAid Ö This application, which allows you to create drawfiles from
within Basic programs (reviewed in Archive 5.1 p57) has now been
upgraded to version 2. The new version has been speeded up and now
allows the use of outline fonts. It is fully multitasking on RISCáOS 3.1
and can produce multiple drawfiles from a single Basic program. Further
enhancements include additional drawing procedures, procedures to handle
sprites and to input data from CSV files. Extended colour facilities
have also been added allowing definition of any of 16 million colours in
the drawfile. The application comes with fifty varied examples ranging
over topics such as barcode production, gear wheel drawing and the
plotting of mathematical functions.
6.11
Carvic Manufacturing have increased the price from ú10 to ú12(!) (no
VAT) It seems to be excellent value at that price. DrawAid 1 users can
receive a complete new package of DrawAid 2 by returning their master
disc plus ú6 to Carvic.
6.11
Å    Eizo monitor prices rising again Ö We have just been told by Eizo UK
that the prices of their monitors are going up again on 1st August
although they donæt say by how much. So if you are thinking of buying an
Eizo monitor, I suggest you get on the phone to Norwich Computer
Services a.s.a.p.
6.11
Å    Electronics magazine database Ö M. Kay has produced a set of ArcScan
data files covering four electronics magazines for the three years Jan
1990 to Dec 1992. This covers Practical Electronics, Everyday
Electronics, Maplin Electronics and Everyday with Practical Electronics.
Send a cheque for ú5 to Mike Kay, 69 Cobnar Road, Woodseats, Sheffield,
S8 8QD.
6.11
Å    Ethernet interfaces Ö Risc Developmentsæ Ethernet cards are all now
available. They are doing an A3000 mini-podule version for 10base2 (ú139
+VAT) and an A5000 half-width podule (ú139 +VAT) which also has a
connector for 10base5. There are also internal Ethernet interfaces
(10base2) for the A3020/4000 so that the minipodule slot is still free
for other purposes (ú159 +VAT). If you are looking at using 10baseT,
twisted pair Ethernet, Risc Developments have a standard podule version
(A5000 etc) which is also ú139 +VAT.
6.11
Å    Eureka 2 is now available. It is said to have öover 100 enhancements
and exciting improvements over the first releaseò. All registered users
will receive a free upgrade and the price remains at ú119 + VAT or ú130
through Archive. When Chris Johnson gets his upgrade copy, I expect he
will be able to fill us in with a few details.
6.11
Å    Floating point accelerator Ö At long last, the FPA is available and in
stock at Norwich Computer Services. The price is ú99 +VAT or ú107
through Archive. It can be fitted as standard into A5000s but the only
other users who can take advantage of it at the moment are owners of
ARM3 upgrades that have an FPA socket on them and owners of the later
issue A540s which have an FPA socket on the processor card. Owners of
older A540s (like me) can get a a free upgrade done by öyour local Acorn
dealerò (good news!) but the upgrade board wonæt be available until the
autumn (bad news!). Brian Cowan has done some initial tests on the FPA
in his Hardware Column on page 18 and made some technical comments about
it. Also, if you want more technical information, you can get a 62-page
data booklet through Vector Services (Acorn Direct) in Wellingborough
for ú10 inclusive.
6.11
Å    Gothic and Medieval Fonts and Decoration Ö The Datafile have released
a three-disc set of fonts and artwork. It consists of five outline fonts
plus some Draw fonts plus some Draw clipart for decoration purposes. The
pack costs ú31.50 inclusive from Datafile.
6.11
Å    HP Deskjet 1200C Ö (Iæll try to get it right this month...) Hewlett
Packard have just released an A4 (NOT A3!) colour inkjet printer. The
Archive price is ú1390 inclusive. The advantage over the 550C is that it
runs at roughly twice the speed and offers a 600╫300 dpi enhanced mode.
It has 2M RAM as standard, upgradable to 26Mb! It is also fully Laserjet
AND PostScript (Apple) compatible Ö the parallel Centronics interface is
standard but others are available as options. For Archimedes use, you
would be well advised to run it on RISCáOS 3.1 and buy an Ace PROdriver
(ú44) or the new TurboDriver (ú53 including a printer cable) when it is
available.
6.11
Å    Imagine upgrade Ö Topologika have released version 2 of their art and
maths pack, Imagine. Imagine 2 has three gallery discs and includes a
free site licence. It costs ú47.50 +VAT including p&p or ú51 through
Archive. The upgrade from 1átoá2 costs ú11 +áVAT including p&p from
Topologika.
6.11
Å    Krisalis Collection is an arcade games compilation package from
Krisalis. It consists of Mad Professor Mariarti, Revelation, Terramex
and PipeMania. This compilation costs ú29.99 from Krisalis or ú28
through Archive.
6.11
Å    Letters is an educational package from Oak Solutions aimed at Key
Stage 1 English. It provides a fun way for children to learn their
alphabet. It costs ú45 + p&p +VAT from Oak Solutions.
6.11
Å    Midi / User / Analogue interfaces Ö Morley Electronics have introduced
some new cards which provide a Midi interface as well as the user and
analogue ports. They are still selling their user/analogue card
(minipodule) for A3000 series computers (ú49 +VAT or ú53 through
Archive) but now they have a minipodule that has Midi (in, out and
through) as well as user and analogue (ú57 +VAT or ú62 through Archive).
If you want a standard podule version, the analogue/user port is one
half-width podule (ú49 +VAT or ú53 through Archive) and the Midi add-on
for it (ú35 +VAT or ú38 through Archive) is a separate half-width podule
linked by a cable. It can be placed above or by the side of the other
podule for flexibility.
6.11
Å    Oak Logic is Oak Solutionsæ new package designed to allow logic
circuits to be designed and tested on screen before being made. When you
have created your circuits with logic gates, inputs and outputs plus
astables and indicator lamps, you can watch the logic states change and
generate a truth table. Oak Logic is ú99.95 + carriage + VAT from Oak
Solutions or ú110 through Archive.
6.11
Å    OakPCB Ö The latest version of Oak Solutionsæ PCB and schematic design
software supports up to four-layer boards plus solder mask and drilling
layers, it allows tracks to intelligently attach themselves to pads, it
uses outline fonts and allows import and export of drawfiles. The new
version of WorraCAD is ú99.95 + carriage + VAT from Oak Solutions or
ú110 through Archive.
6.11
Å    Oak Recorder 2 Ö Oak Solutions have upgraded their Oak Recorder. The
new version includes the SoundLab software sold separately for users of
the old Oak Recorder for ú19.95 +p&p +VAT (ú22 through Archive). The
other two improvements are a better microphone and the fact that the
microphone is plugged into a socket so that other sound sources can plug
into the interface ready for sampling. The price of Oak Recorder II is
ú39.95 + carriage +VAT or ú48 through Archive.
6.11
Å    PhotoLib Ö Matt Black are now selling the PhotoLib CD which contains
over 4,000 colour photographs in compressed J-PEG format. The CD
contains pictures with a whole range of different themes and there are
also CDs of pictures on individual themes. PhotoLib CD costs ú299 from
Matt Black (no VAT).
6.11
Å    Pocket Book/Series 3 goodies Ö There is now a wealth of programs and
add-ons available for the Pocket Book and Psion 3 computers. Some of
these applications have been around for some months (bear in mind that
the Series 3 has been around for some two or three years now). Useful
books include First Steps in Programming the Psion Series 3, Serious
Programming on the Psion Series 3, Introduction to Using the Psion
Series 3 and Graphics Programming on the Psion Series 3. Software
includes a Spell Checker & Thesaurus (OK, so the Spell Checker isnæt
much use, but this includes a 100,000 word dictionary and 660,000
synonym thesaurus!), the Berlitz Interpreter which translates over
28,000 words between English, French, Spanish, German and Italian,
Personal Accounts & Expenses, Professional Finance (interest rates, IRR,
depreciation) and Finance Pack 3, Psion Chess, Games Pack 1 (seven
arcade games), Games Pack 2 (six strategy games), Games Pack 3 (five
assorted games), Series 3 Tools (an excellent suite of utilities to help
manage your computer) and Time Base Solo which helps to schedule your
time. Finally, there is an excellent black aluminium desk stand which
tilts the Pocket Book/Series 3 forward making the screen easier to read
and the keyboard more accessible. Please contact us for prices and
further details. Also note that, as yet, it is not guaranteed that all
of these programs will work on the Pocket Book.
6.11
Å Pocket Book Assistants Ö A company called Portable Software have
produced a range of software Éassistantsæ to the Series 3 range: Timing
Assistant helps you plan, time, record and enjoy how your time is spent
(their sales pitch, not mine!); Banking Assistant puts you in control of
your business, private or international cash flows; Text Assistant lets
you assemble documents without lots of typing (basically, it consists of
a suite of libraries of predefined styles and sentences to allow you to
build up letters and documents easily); Sales Assistant is a small
business or mobile traderæs dream Ö order processing and customer care
on a Pocket Book! Finally, there is Data Assistant which is provided
with all of the previous assistants, except Banking Assistant. This is a
suite of utilities to extend the built-in data filing system. Again,
contact us for further details and prices.
6.11
Å    Primary Nature is an educational package from Oak Solutions aimed at
Key Stage 2 Science covering hedgerows, pond life and food chains. It
costs ú45 + p&p +VAT from Oak Solutions.
6.11
Å    ProSheet Ö Silicon Vision have produced an affordable spreadsheet
aimed at education. ProSheet has all the standard spreadsheet functions
plus statistics, trig and Boolean functions. It has a hot-linked
graphing facility with 3D graphs with rotate and tilt options. Other
features include fixed and FP numerics, calculator pad and outline font
support even on an individual cell basis. It works on a 1Mb machine.
ProSheet costs ú39.95 +VAT or ú44 through Archive. At last, it looks as
if we have an economically priced, full-function spreadsheet.
6.11
Å    S-Base Developer Plus is now available, as is S-Net Server. S-Base
Developer Plus (ú299 +VAT or ú325 through Archive) allows the user to
develop and compile applications into stand-alone programs which then do
not require S-Base. They can run as single user applications or, when
loaded into S-Net, can be served to multiple users over a network. S-Net
licences are available for business (ú600 +VAT or ú650 through Archive)
and education (ú299 +VAT or ú325 through Archive).
6.11
Å    Sleuth, Risc Developmentsæ economy OCR program should be available by
the time you read this. The program is ready but the packaging isnæt
quite finished Ö it should be finished by the end of July. The cost is
ú49 +VAT + ú2 carriage from Risc Developments. (Sleuth was previewed in
May Acorn User and commented on in Archive 6.8 p15 and 6.9 p50. We hope
to have a full review as soon as it is available.)
6.11
Å    Special needs keyboard Ö Special Access Systems have produced an
expanded keyboard for computer users with poor motor control. The
keyboard has a nylon-coated steel case which acts as a keyguard. It has
a built-in LCD display which enables the user to program the keyboardæs
special functions including key delays, sound effects and Ésticky keysæ
for producing those awkward key combinations which we so easily take for
granted, e.g. <shift-alt-,> for a É╫æ character. The keyboard costs ú475
+ p&p + VAT from Special Access Systems.
6.11
Å    Turbo Drivers (RISCáOS 3.1) Ö CC have just sent us the first fully
RISCáOS 3.1 compatible Turbo Driver. This is the Canon driver which will
cope with BJ10, BJ20, BJ200, BJ230, BJ300, BJ330 and BJC800. (At the
time of writing, the HP drivers are still not ready Ö I said they were
last month Ö sorry to mislead you. I will let you know when they are
ready. There seem to be one or two technical problems.)
6.11
Å    User / Analogue / Econet interface Ö Risc Developments have produced a
card that provides a user port and an analogue port on A3000/4000
machines. The cost is ú44.95 +VAT. It has an optional Econet interface
which brings the price to ú79.95 +VAT. This means that, in an A3020 or
an A4000, a standard Ethernet interface could be added to the machine
thus making it into a gateway between the two network standards. There
is an A5000 version of this board but, because of lack of space on the
backplate, the Econet is provided as a cable to connect to the existing
Econet connector. The prices are the same as for the A3000 versions.
Both interfaces include a boot ROM for AUN so that there is no need to
run AUN up from disc at switch-on.
6.11
Å    Video Splitter Ö If anyone wants to have more than one monitor running
on an Archimedes computer then a company called Scene Double have just
the thing for you. These splitters, which are UK manufactured, have a
very wide bandwidth and will easily cope with the output even from a
colour card. It is an external box with its own power supply and has a
cable to link into the back of the computer. It has outputs which can
then feed into four different monitors or other video devices. We have
had one in the office to try and it works fine. The Scene Double
splitter costs ú299 +VAT or ú325 through Archive.
6.11
Å    Visual Backup is Dabhand Computingæs hard disc backup program. It aims
to make the backup process as interactive as possible, most operations
being based around a directory tree viewer. Visual Backup costs ú49.95
inclusive from Dabhand Computing or ú46 through Archive.
6.11
Å    WordBank Ö Topologika have released an application which lets you
Écollectæ words, and their meanings, in English, Welsh, French or
German. You can display your word sets alongside your story in your own
WP or DTP application, click on a word and it is inserted into your
story. Wordbank costs ú25 +VAT + p&p from Topologika or ú30 through
Archive.
6.11
Å    WorraCAD upgrade Ö Oak Solutions have updated WorraCAD in various ways
including giving it a new icon-based user interface and also support for
ellipses. It maintains it high accuracy, its ability to produce drawings
larger than A0 and can export in Draw format. The new version of
WorraCAD is ú99.95 + carriage + VAT from Oak Solutions or ú110 through
Archive.
6.11

Å    Acorn have moved Ö Acorn Computersæ new address is Acorn House, Vision
Park, Histon, Cambridge, CB4 4AE. The telephone numbers all remain
unchanged Ö switchboard: 0223Ö254254 and fax is on 0223Ö254262. Vision
Park is appropriately named as the place from which Acorn will be
delivering their new ÉVision for the Futureæ... watch this space!
6.12
Å    Alpha-Sound from Xavier Educational Software Ltd (ú29.50 +VAT) helps
children with their letter/sound correspondence and alphabet sequencing.
Sampled speech is used throughout and the teacher has control over the
selection of letters and sounds. It provides printed report sheets for
some tasks.
6.12
Å    ARM3 upgrade upgrades! Ö If you have got an ARM3 upgrade without an
fpa socket, we are prepared to do a part-exchange on your old ARM3.
There isnæt much of a market for second-hand ARM3æs without fpa socket,
but we are prepared to offer ú60 off your old ARM3 against one of the
new ones. If anyone then wants to buy these second-hand ARM3æs we will
sell them at ú75. (We have to add VAT to the ú60, = ú70.50, before we
add anything for admin and postage.) The part-exchange price for the
ARM3 + fpa would therefore be ú185 + ú107 Ö ú60 = ú232.
6.12
Å    Artworks and Impression are available in a new dongle-less version for
network use. It now works with all the new Ethernet cards including i│,
Beebug and Digital Services as well as Acorn, Atomwide, Oak and SJ Nexus
cards that they worked with previously.
6.12
Å    Back trouble? Ö Anyone who has back trouble and is doing a reasonable
amount of computer work should consider buying a decent chair. For over
five years now, I have been using a Stokke Wing chair Ö see opposite. In
fact, I have two Ö one in the office and one at home. Iæm always singing
their praises to people who visit me. I find that if I ever have to use
a conventional office chair for any length of time, I get back-ache
whereas I can (and do) sit on my Wings (so to speak!) for hours on end
without tiring.
6.12
öIf they are so good, why donæt you sell them?ò someone said to me
recently. Why indeed?! So, I have made an arrangement with an importer
(they are Scandinavian chairs Ö you might guess!) and I can sell them
for ú320 inclusive. They have a five-caster base so you can move around
easily and a gas-lift mechanism so that you can adjust the height for
the best position relative to your monitor and keyboard. The chairs are
extremely robust and the material with which they are covered is very
good quality. The one I use in the office is just beginning to wear a
bit thin on one side of the knee-pad after over four years of constant
use.
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Iæm so confident that you will be pleased with them that I will give you
a full refund if you buy one and find you donæt like it. You may feel
that ú320 is a lot of money for a chair but as far as I am concerned, it
is a kind of insurance policy Ö keeping my back in good condition Ö and
Iæm prepared to pay for that. I can say from personal experience that
they are very long-lasting but in any case, they come with a five-year
guarantee (although this does not apply to the covering material).
6.12
The Wing chairs come in natural beech, rosewood and teak and the covers
are available in black, blue, brown, red, cream or grey.
6.12
Å    CIS prices Ö The special offer that we had last month for some of the
Cambridge International Software packages has finished but C.I.S. have
had a general price drop. New prices are as follows:
6.12
Serpents    ú10
6.12
KillerBugs    ú10
6.12
Humanoids & Robotics    ú10
6.12
CardMania    ú10
6.12
MicroDrive II    ú19
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MicroDrive Designer    ú19
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Mah Jong    ú10
6.12
Crisis    ú10
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FireBall II    ú10
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Chequered Flag    ú10
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TurboType    ú19
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Sound-FX Maker    ú19
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Photopia    ú23
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E-Numix    ú10
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Mental Maths & Memory Magic    ú10
6.12
Å    DataPower is Iotaæs new database for RISC OS computers. Amongst other
features, it has support for ArtWorks files, so that they can be stored
directly in a database file. All pictures stored using DataPower
(including drawfiles and sprites) are compressed Éon the flyæ, so
storing them in a database file saves you disc space. Datapower costs
ú149 from Iota or ú160 through Archive. Site licences are available from
Archive at ú375 for up to 10 machines and ú650 for more than 10
machines.
6.12
Å    Diet Manager (updated) Ö For the weight-conscious Archimedes owners,
this multitasking application will allow you to keep track of all those
calories (and proteins and fats). It also gives information about
energy, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals contained in
individual foods, complete meals or diets. This updated program from
MEWsoft costs ú55 inclusive.
6.12
Å    Eizo monitor pricing Ö It wasnæt a ploy to get you to buy monitors
quickly, honestly! Eizo did say that the prices were going to be
increased on 1st August. They then said they were trying to avoid
raising prices. Now they are saying that there will be öa number of
changes in our price list from the 1st September.ò All I can do is
report to you what they are saying.
6.12
Å    FontDir Ö LOOKsystemsæ font filing system, as mentioned several times
already in Archive, has reached the stage that the program is ready but
the full documentation has still to be written. Brian Cowan has a pre-
release version and has reviewed it Ö see page 13. When it is released,
the price will be ú35 inc VAT from LOOKsystems or ú33 through Archive.
6.12
LOOKsystems are not predicting when the manual will be ready, so anyone
desperate to get hold a copy of FontDir can have a pre-release copy, as
supplied to Brian Cowan, by sending ú33 to Archive. We have arranged
with LOOKsystems that we supply this on the understanding that (1)áit
only has limited documentation, (2)áthe full documentation will be
supplied free of charge by LOOKsystems as and when it is ready, (3)
until the full package is available, you must not contact LOOKsystems
for technical assistance Ö if Adrian is too busy answering technical
calls, the manual will never get written anyway!
6.12
Å    Forms Suite Plus allows you to combine large size and standard text
with lines boxes and grids. You can include drawfiles and sprites into
your form and the resultant form can be saved as a drawfile for
inclusion in DTP packages, etc. Forms Suite Plus costs ú55 inc p&p from
MEWsoft.
6.12
Å    Frontier 2000 Ö öTwo thousand years of history for 8 year olds to
adultò. Cambridge Software House have produced a simulation/resource
package for history that could be useful in the primary classroom, in
the secondary school or in the home. There is a disc version for ú95
+VAT (which needs a 2Mb computer) and a CD-ROM version for ú175 +VAT
which is bigger and better with more paper resources as well as more
computer data. The CD-ROM plus the disc version are available as one
pack for ú195 +VAT.
6.12
Å    Hatchback is a new utility from 4Mation. It allows you, simply and
easily, to add various types of cross-hatching, striping and patterning
into drawfiles. Hatchback costs ú35 from 4Mation or ú38 through Archive.
6.12
Å    Keystroke is a new desktop utility which allows you to perform a range
of desktop activities, including using existing desktop programs like
Impression by just pressing keys. For example, at a single keystroke you
can call up Impression master pages and go straight to the master page
you want to edit. You can add auto-save to those applications that lack
it. You can even make up your own button bar. It comes with example
files of keystroke definitions for Filer, Paint, Draw, DrawPlus,
TypeStudio, Vector, WorraCAD, Ovation and Impression amongst other.
Keystroke is available from Quantum Software. (This software was brought
to our attention by a subscriber, Richard Skemp, who thinks it is
ösimple, powerful and very usefulò.)
6.12
Å    Mac removable drives Ö The 42Mb and 84Mb removable drives have had a
major drop in prices this month. The 42Mb has dropped from ú485 to ú410
and the 84Mb has dropped from ú670 to ú550! (This is the drive that will
read and write both the 42Mb and the 84Mb cartridges.) The prices
include cables (please specify podule type) and one cartridge. The 42Mb
cartridges stay at ú75 but the 84Mb cartridges go down from ú120 to
ú100. This price drop has probably been precipitated by the arrival
of...
6.12
Å    New 105M 3╜ö removable drives Ö There is now a 3╜ò removable drive
from the same manufacturer (SyQuest) as the well-established 5╝ö units.
The new drives have a formatted capacity of 105Mb. We have had a brief
opportunity to try one and they seem to be much faster than even the
84Mb drives. Here is a summary of the quoted specification plus our own
observations (in italics):
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    42Mb    84Mb    105Mb
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Size    5╝ö    5╝ò    3╜ö
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Speed (rpm)    3,200    3,200
3,600
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Ave access (ms)20    20    15
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Buffer size (Kb)    8    32    64
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Transfer rate (Kb/s)    590
900    1370
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öFile copyò test (Kb/s)    45    47
60
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Max power (W)    28    28    6
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Ave power (W)    13    13    3.5
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Cartridge weight (g)    183
183    79
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Drive price (ext)    ú410    ú550
ú570
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Media    ú75    ú100    ú75
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Cost/Mb    ú1.79    ú1.19    71p
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As you can see, the price of the 105Mb drives is very similar to the
84Mb drives and the media, as well as holding slightly more data per
disc, are somewhat cheaper (ú75 compared with ú110) and especially so
when you works out the price per Mb (71p cf ú1.19).
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The internal units look like being ú490 each and they fit perfectly into
a normal second floppy drive slot. This mean that owners of A5000s can
put one in the second floppy drive slot Ö a wonderfully neat solution
for anyone who is looking for more data storage (who isnæt?!) and/or who
is concerned about backup of their existing drive and/or data security
in, say, a school environment. A310/A400/A540 owners could also install
an internal 105Mb removable although only as an alternative to the
internal hard drive. Also, you would have to hack a hole in the fascia
of your computer. (I have three spare two-slot fascias available for ú10
each, if anyone wants them but I am using the fourth one for my own
A540! Ed.)
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The other significant comparison between the 5╝ö and the 3╜ò removables
is that the smaller drives only take a maximum of 6W power compared with
28W for the larger ones. Anyone who has, like me, felt nervous at the
temperature that their removable cartridges reached on a hot summeræs
day, should be well pleased with these new drives Ö and the external
units donæt need Éwind tunnelæ sized cooling fans!
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These drives really look superb. When you see them, you really cannot
believe that such a small unit could hold so much data and be so fast.
Obviously, as these are new devices, I cannot say anything about the
long-term reliability but the manufacturer claims the same ömean time
between failuresò (100,000 hours) as for the older drives.
6.12
öWhat about magneto-optical drives? They are 3╜ö and hold 128Mb and the
discs are cheaper!ò The trouble with optical drives is that they can
only manage 675Kb/s on reading and about 250Kb/s on writing (cf 1,370Kb/
s on both) and the average access time is only about 40ms (cf 15ms).
Also, although the discs would cost about ú40 each (cf ú75), the drives
themselves would cost about ú1,100 instead of ú570.
6.12
öThey look very nice and I would like to buy one but will the price drop
five minutes after I have bought it? The 42Mb drives were ú680 when you
first sold them!ò No, I donæt think it will, not for a few months,
anyway. The thing is that I am gambling that the buying price will be
dropping at least a little, so what I have done is to set the Archive
price as low as I dare, allowing only a very small profit margin. That
way, I can hopefully sell larger numbers initially and then, if the
buying price does drop a little, it will bring it back to a more
realistic profit margin. I cannot (sadly!) predict the future, but my
guess is that it will be several months before the Archive price will
drop. On the other hand, if I get several early orders, I might be able
to force the buying price down a bit Ö in which case, everyone will get
the resultant lower selling price. So, if you are prepared to have a go
with one of these new drives, send in your order as soon as possible Ö I
will wait a week or so, to see what other orders I get and whether I
can, as a result, reduce the price.
6.12
I shall certainly be going over to using them myself. For the last six
months, I have had to carry two 42Mb cartridges back and forth every day
Ö one isnæt enough and I didnæt feel I could justify the cost of going
to 84Mb. However, the step up in size/speed/convenience ratio that these
new drives represent is certainly worthwhile for me. I will obviously
let you know how I get on with them.
6.12
(Many thanks to David Bower, one of our subscribers, for bringing these
exciting new drives to our attention. Ed.)
6.12
Å    Pictogram is a program from KudlianSoft that teaches children the use
of graphs for representing data. This is aimed at Key Stage 1 data-
handling. The datafiles it uses are compatible with DataPlot in
DataSweet. Pictogram costs ú20 +VAT from KudlianSoft but this price
includes a site licence.
6.12
Å    RemoteFS no longer comes with both serial and parallel cables as
standard. You have to choose which type you require. The Archive prices
are Serial ú53 and Parallel ú53 but if you do want both, you can have
Serial + Parallel for ú64.
6.12
Å    RISCáOS 3.1 upgrades Ö Acorn have now withdrawn the A5000 RISCáOS 3.1
upgrade. (They have already sold several times as many copies of this
upgrade as A5000s with RISCáOS 3.0!) The only upgrade available now is
the full upgrade (Archive price ú50 inc carriage) which includes manuals
and has the software on two 800Kb discs instead of one 1.6Mb disc.
6.12
Å    ScanLight Video 256 Ö This is a greyscale scanner and video digitiser,
combined on a single card Ö what a good idea! It combines the Computer
Concepts ScanLight 256 scanner (5.4 p30) and the Wild Vision GreyHawk
video digitiser (6.9 p7) on one single-width expansion card. The scanner
is a 400 dpi, 256 grey level scanner and the digitiser offers real-time
greyscale video digitising from any video source with quarter screen
real-time previewing.
6.12
The individual products will continue to be available and upgrades are
possible from either the scanner or digitiser to the combined ScanLight
Video. Upgrade pricing and details are available from Computer Concepts
or Wild Vision. The new ScanLight Video costs ú220 + VAT + carriage or
ú245 through Archive.
6.12
Å    Sleuth Ö Risc Developmentsæ OCR program, Sleuth, is in stock now. We
hope to have a review of it fairly soon. The price is ú49 +VAT from Risc
Developments or ú54 through Archive.
6.12
Å    Stunt Racer 2000 Ö In the year 2037, the world of motor sport has
developed somewhat. Will your driving skills match up to the demands of
the 16 courses across a variety of terrains doing jumps and loop the
loops? 4th Dimensionæs new racing game works on 1Mb machines and will
install onto a hard disc. Stunt Racer 2000 costs ú34.95 from 4th
Dimension or ú32 through Archive.
6.12
Å    Soapbox from Xavier Educational Software Ltd (ú35 +VAT) links spelling
patterns and vowel sounds by using sampled speech. As each word is
pronounced, the consonant pattern is emphasised by highlighting and
contrasts are made between words with short and long vowel sounds. 400
words are included but you can add your own words by using a sound
sampler such as the Oak Recorder.
6.12
Å    Sound Advice Ö This is a new 24-track sequencer for the Archimedes
produced by The Really Small Software Company. It includes support for
both Midi and the internal sound system allowing up to 32 internal
sounds in a song. It is pattern-based with the number of patterns
limited only by memory. It runs on a 1Mb Archimedes and costs ú39.95
inclusive from TRSSC with an education price of ú31.95.
6.12
Å    The Dungeon Ö 4th Dimension have produced a new 3D adventure game
which works on 2Mb machines and will install onto a hard disc. The plot
is that you have fallen through a hole into a subterranean world
inhabited by all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures, most of whom
need to be avoided or fought. It has an option for ARM3 machines to
benefit from improved smoothness of animation. The Dungeon costs ú34.95
from 4th Dimension or ú32 through Archive.
6.12
Å    Turbo drivers Ö Computer Concepts have said that their Turbo Drivers
for the HP Deskjet, Deskjet Plus, Deskjet colour and Laserjet 2, 3 and 4
are definitely now available. Their Epson Stylus 800 Turbo Driver is
also available now.
6.12
Å    Word Library is a program from KudlianSoft that provides a small
window containing a list of words which, when clicked upon, can be
entered into any desktop application which accepts text. This can be
used up to secondary level and is particularly useful within modern
languages. Word Library costs ú20 +VAT from KudlianSoft but this price
includes a site licence.
6.12