HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: eopa21@festival.ed.ac.uk (R Spooner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Computer Concepts
Date: 13 Nov 92 16:18:30 GMT

All this talk about Computer Concepts' new upgrade policy on Impression
is surely only one aspect of the problem. The FaxPack was late, bad, wrong,
not as advertised, late, and so on. The Scanlight Professional was OK
but there is no after sales support. the support staff are
always unhelpful (well, one of them is good), ArtWorks is late and
full of bugs, LaserDirect does not work on RO3.1, and so on.

I think the common factor here is that CC has gone way down hill
recently. They used to be really really good, but I have not
been impressed with anything since Impression.

-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Roger Spooner			| The nice thing  about  standards is that
University of Edinburgh		| there are so many of them to choose from.
R.I.W.Spooner@ed.ac.uk        	|		    -- Andrew S. Tanenbaum
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: gtoal@cursci.demon.co.uk (Graham Toal)
Subject: The new Acorn Machine 
Distribution: world
Organization: Current Drugs
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 18:24:41 +0000


In article <lfubeqINNkrj@cronkite> andyf@yama.uk.sun.com writes:
>Incidentally, I was having a look through a friends RISC iX machine the
>other night, and I came across loads of code bearing 'Copyright 19**
>Sun Microsystems'. I was wondering if RISC iX is based upon Sun OS.
>If anyone knows, cos' I obviously don't, please e-mail or post.

That will most likely be the NFS code which was released by Sun. RiscIx
is based on the Berekely 4.2 tape I'm almost 100% sure.

G
From: cstevens@vax.oxford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Impression postscript errors
Date: 8 Nov 92 15:26:51 GMT
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620

Hello out there
	I'm trying to use the postscript printer driver from acorn along with
computer concepts impression junior. If I use it to create a postscript file
and then carry this file onto our university mainframe (they have a postscript
laser printer I don't!) then pritn it on the OCE 6750 PS printer I get error
codes coming back and no output, things like Tx undefined command, or UM
unknown command. However if I print a drawfile or just a plain !edited text
file the printer is completely happy with the results and prints quite happily.
Looking at the files, Impression seems to put a lot of extra information in the
beginning of the file as compared to draw and edit, but not knowing much about
this I havn't made much progress. Things like replacing the Tx in the file with
T just allows the UM adn other errors to get through.
Any ideas?
Chris Stevens
CSTEVENS@UK.AC.OX.VAX 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: amw@cs.bham.ac.uk (Andy Wood)
Subject: Re: DragASprite / Modified filer.
Organization: School of Computer Science, The University of Birmingham, UK
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 15:49:30 GMT

ahersee@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Andrew Hersee) writes:

> [personalised directory icons patch]

> Is there enough demand ?

One vote from me!

> In fact why don't I get together with 'this person' and we could release a
> patch which did both solid drags and nice directory sprites?

Excellent idea. You could ask for contributions for a definative *good* set
of icons and templates to supply with it. And I don't just mean rehashed Acorn
ones - lets use some imagination! Do what Acorn should have done in the first
place!

Andy...      (A willing volunteer when it comes to issues of look and feel!)
-- 

Andy Wood : amw@cs.bham.ac.uk
From: mcg@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: DragASprite / Modified filer.
Date: 11 Nov 92 15:29:57 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <1992Nov9.145812.5336@cm.cf.ac.uk>, I.J.Grimstead@cm.cf.ac.uk (Ian 'the Grim' Grimstead) writes:
> In article <1992Nov6.214741.5081@dcs.warwick.ac.uk>, ahersee@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Andrew Hersee) writes:
> 
> ... stuff deleted ...
> 
> |> Some of you may wonder why the filer and pinboard don't use DragASprite. Well
> |> drag a sprite is only designed to drag one sprite and when copying files
> |> by dragging things between filer windows you can drag more than one file. 
> |> (Same on pinboard). This would require more than one sprite. Now what acorn 
> |> could have done is allowed solid drag when dragging one file but think of the
> |> confusion when someone drags more than one file! Hence the sensible decision
> |> we see now.
> |> 
> |> Ok it is possible to do. All you need to do is plot the multiple files you
> |> are going to drag in a sprite and then drag that larger sprite. (I may work
> |> on this if no one else succedes).
> 
> Wouldn't it be better to have a special icon representing a "stack" of files,
> i.e. a multiple drag. Methinks Open Windows' FileMgr uses this - much more
> satisfactory.
> 
> Any other offers ?

Hmm, yeah try and get away from the Mac style block outline drag by having
 a specific icon for multiple file  dragging.

    A suggestion for the sequence of multiple selection dragging could be:
       i) user selects folders.
      ii) when dragging is initiated the following occurs:
             1) "Morphing" the border outline down to a single icon.
             2) drag icon.
             

      iii) when dropped into a window of pinboard
             3) "Expansion" of single icon (via perspective "openwindow style" 
                 projection) to border outline
             4)  Outline -> multiple icons. 


An idea for the drag icon is a stack of folders (sheets of paper) tied with a 
nice bow at the top......


		From Martin Glanvill	(mcg@waikato.ac.nz)

   -----------*********======| Have a nice day |======*********-----------
							              ######## 
	 			    ^				      #####/|#
University of Waikato		    0  				      ####/.|#
Hamilton			   -|-	 			      ###/__|#
New Zealand			    ^				      ##/   |#
				  _/ \_				      ########
                      
----------------****=====| A quote to make your day |======****-----------------
Believe not much them that seem to despise riches; for they despise them that
 despair of them; and none are worse when they come to them.  Be not
 penny-wise; riches have wings, and sometimes they fly away of themselves,
 sometimes they must be set flying to bring in more.
                                        -- Bacon
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: rsxdp@unicorn.nott.ac.uk (D.Pead)
Subject: Re: CC's upgrade policy.
Organization: Shell Centre for Maths Education, University of Nottingham
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 09:43:43 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.093307.12077@waikato.ac.nz> bwc@waikato.ac.nz (Ug!) writes:
>D.Pead writes:
>> Can't say I blame them - they must have spent a fortune in sending out
>> Impression upgrades.  Most other firms would at least have charged for
>> the Impression 1 -> 2 upgrade (which was free if you could put up with a
>> addenum to the old manual and no new fonts).
>
>Sorry, not free.  Cheaper.  I should know, since I payed for it...
>
In the UK it was free:   You had a choice of a free upgrade, which contained
the new application and a short addennum to the Impression 1 manual
or 20 pounds got you the complete set of clip art and fonts and a
new manual (you had to re-cycle the binder).
Maybe this choice was not offered in NZ...

>> no plans to upgrade this package".  Did anybody SEE the upgrade system
>> from MS Word for DOS to Word for Windows?
>
>You mean there *was* one?  Damn!
>
Something like "Buy an upgrade pack from your dealer, fill in the form
inside and then send off for the new product"...


Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: valerio@sabrina.dei.unipd.it ( Valerio Pulese )
Subject: Re: New machines
Organization: D.E.I. Universita' di Padova, Italia
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 15:53:31 GMT

In article <1992Nov13.131513.12073@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> jabell@nyx.cs.du.edu (James Bell) writes:
>
>
>Hi guys,
>Thanks for all your replies to my last messages.
>Somebody told me recently that new machines from
>Acorn may use an 80486 processor for graphics work,
>working with the VIDCII to free up the ARMXXX. This
>sounds like pure imagination - could it be true?

What I have heard is that the new PCSoft (ex PCEmulator) with a 486
Card can use ARM as graphic coprocessor on  Windows 3.? with
appropriate drivers.

Noise or rumour?

		Valerio
P.S.
Anybody did read my article on comp.sys.acorn.tech ?
Still waiting an answer...





-- 
E-mail:   valerio@sabrina.dei.unipd.it
Man-mail: Valerio Pulese
	  V.Volturno 23/7 30038 Spinea VENICE - ITALY
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: styrrell@nyx.cs.du.edu (Stuart Tyrrell)
Subject: Re: Arc's RTC
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 12:05:50 GMT

agodwin@acorn.co.uk (Adrian Godwin) writes:


>Before you spend any money, try removing the batteries and leaving the machine
>for several hours (until the voltage on the clock chip really has gone to zero).
>Then, refit the batteries and do a power-on-delete.

>There's a bit in the clock control register which can stop the clock : removing power
>from the chip performs a hardware reset on the device and ensures that this bit is in the
>proper state.

I had a similar problemwith my A3000 after messing around with the IIC
bus. Unfortunately, you can't take the battery out of the A3000!

The solution was to **breifly** short across the power rails of the
PCF8583 chip. There are current limiting resitors in the circuit, so as
long as you're quick, no damage to the battery should occur (you'll only
get sprayed with  shrapnel and nicad anyway!)

I would reccomend doing the same thing to the A400 series, ensuring you
have removed your duracells first - this will ensure that the PCF8583
resets completely.

**** WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT SHORT ACROSS THE BATTERY ITSELF ON THE
A3000!! ****

Hope this helps a little,


Stuart.

Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: braindl@uhura.aston.ac.uk (DL BRAIN)
Subject: An idea...?
Organization: Aston University
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 10:34:14 GMT

This is a possibly quite silly idea that just occured to me, and I wondered
how technically possible it was:-

You can fit a PC on a card inside your arc so how possible would an ARC card be
Ie giving you two processors, two main memories etc. This would have to work a
little like the PC card does. ie each task loaded to
the second processor would run in a window of the main processor, under the  
control of an application running on the main pro.

How possible is it..it might be quite handy, double the memory, and the ability
to farm out stuff that might hang the machine up for a bit (printing/archiving)
to a second processor.

Or should I just drink less cocoa before lunchtime?

-- 
===============================================================================
|David Brain at Aston University (Comp. Sci.)     Braindl@uk.ac.aston.uhura   |
|             Smile. All the time. (It'll really get to them.)                |
============================Beyond the Pale====================================
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: nas20@cl.cam.ac.uk (Nick Smith)
Subject: Re: DragASprite proper use.
Reply-To: nas20@phx.cam.ac.uk (Nick Smith)
Organization: U of Cambridge Comp Lab, UK
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 13:44:21 GMT

In article <20020@acorn.co.uk> DWallin@acorn.co.uk (Dick Wallin) writes:
>In article <lfevaoINN4vd@cronkite> andyf@yama.uk.sun.com (Andrew Fox - Sun UK - Answer centre) writes:
>
>Loads deleted.
>
>>Whilst I agree that apps should do DragASprite checking via the CMOS
>>bit, it would seem that most people definitely prefer the new style
>>of sprite dragging. This is especially evident from the number of
>>pleas I have had for the 'ForceADrag' module since my original
>>posting.
>
>Unfortunately, you are wrong here, I believe. Market research (yep we do
>some of this!) actually showed that the majority did NOT want solid sprite
>dragging, so it is not set as default.
>
>Dick Wallin

It's rather a shame that you didn't bother to incorporate DragASprite across
*all* the ROM s/w - eg, Pinboard, Filer. It would save us doing so many messy
little hacks ! There are other examples of this sort of inconsistency in
RO3.1 I feel - eg, the lovely multiple-selection drag boxes that Pinboard,
Draw and the Filer use - so why not Paint ? It's such a shame, and new users
probably find it confusing.

On the whole, though, RO3.1 is a fantasic improvement - well done all you 
development team members !

--
Nick Smith, Rm.226, Churchill College, Cambridge ! Email: nas20@uk.ac.cam.phx
.sig quote wanted - must be under guarantee.     ! Tel: (0223) 465596
From: gpalmer@cs.strath.ac.uk (Gary J Palmer IE91)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Replay Harrier @ Newcastle
Date: 12 Nov 92 13:46:49 GMT
Organization: Comp. Sci. Dept., Strathclyde Univ., Glasgow, Scotland.

In article <1992Nov12.111207.9157@aston.ac.uk> braindl@uhura.aston.ac.uk (DL BRAIN) writes:
->I fiddled with the settings in the file and managed to get it playing at ~30
->frames per second,(On an A5000 Mode28 taking the file from the Hard Disk) 
->although at ~40fps the machine hung. (Ok this just makes the film too quick but
->I just wanted to see how many fps were possible)

I managed to get it working at -speed 2 on an ARM2 machine (with memc1a). I was
taking flypast2 off a 800k ram disc, and on a 4Mb machine, so I imagine,
seeing that it needed to have all 4mb free, that it de-compressed the whole
thing into memory and played it. (BTW, going from the comments and code in
the player, -speed 2 should be 25fps)

->I found that stopping the film and re-sarting it lead to the picture breaking
->up, (does it do this for anyone else who's tried it?) but the sound was un-
->efected.

I think I know what the problem is. To get even more compression, they've 
stripped the palatte info from every frame apart from the first (At a guess),
so starting from anything apart from the first frame lead to incorrect
palettes. Would anyone from Acorn like to comment on this possibility??

->Another interesting bit was in one of the text files where while talking about
->very high fps films it says "...requires ARM3 (or better) to work..."
->_or better_ hmm.... maybe there is some truth in the ARMXXX rumers.

I think that may be because I've heard rumours that inside Acorn themselves,
they have taken the pick of the early run of ARM3 chips and clocked them
at ridiculous speeds.... Also, they quite often run up new processors in
existing archis for a few months before trying to put the processor into a new
motherboard. So it is very likely that ARM700's (and maybe even ARM800)'s are
running at Acorn. More likely is that they have stuck an ARM6x0 into an archi
and started clocking it at high speeds, with higher RAM speeds, etc, to see
what they can achieve (in a desperate hope to outrun the 80486 (don't worry,
I'll wash my mouth out after saying that dirty word :-) ).

-- 
JANET		: gpalmer@uk.ac.strath.cs
Other Nets	: gpalmer%cs.strath.ac.uk@ plus one of :-
BITNET: UKACRL     UUCP: ukc.uucp    Internet: nsfnet-relay.ac.uk
Programmers do it on Archimedes. #include <std.disclaimer>
From: banksie@khantazi.welly.gen.nz (Philip R. Banks)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Bug alert : RO3.1 corrupts DOS files
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 23:57:39 +1300
Reply-To: banks_p@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Organization: My Arc.

kortink@cs.utwente.nl (John Kortink) writes:

> E.g. what we have here is certain corruption that occurs when writing files
> with a specific length to DOS floppy (possibly with a specific configuration
> resulting in specific buffer sizes etc., I don't know, Acorn does), and
> *not* dismounting or re-accessing the floppy (which is usual, hands up
> everybody who always dismounts each and every floppy before removal), and
> then removing it to be read on another machine.
> 
> Over to you, Acorn. What's your excuse ? This is bloody dangerous !

   I seem to recall Acorn putting out a warning not too long ago, with RO3.1
I think in the release addendum for the A5000 was where I saw it, warning
you to *always* dismount DOS discs before removing them. 

   Also I suspect you will find almost all floppy users of RO2, like me,
have become very ingrained into the habit of always dismounting once
finished with a disc... It's RO3 John, it's rotting your good habits. :-)

    Philip

--
Philip R. Banks  Syntax: mail < banks_p@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz >            @@@@@/|
                                                                        @@@@/#|
                                                                        @@@/##|
And who are we to criticize or scorn the the things that they do?       @@/---|
For we shall seek and we shall find Ammonia Avenue. ---A.P.P.           @/    |
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: guttorm@hp825.bih.no (Guttorm Vik)
Subject: Re: Apps hanging instead of quitting in RO3.1
Organization: Bergen College of Engineering, Bergen, Norway.
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 17:42:31 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.110220.12082@waikato.ac.nz> pdenize@waikato.ac.nz writes:
>I have had a number of programs hang in RISC OS 3.10 when they are asked to
>quit.  As they quit sometimes I am led to wonder if it is not some interaction
>caused by some other application.
>
>Has anyone located any reason that might explain this ?
>
>Paul Denize

I've had this problem with the new version of StrongED that I'm developing.
What happens in my case, is that when a file is changed I open a dbox asking
the user if he's sure. When the user now clicks on the 3D "Quit" button 
the program sometimes crash.
Initially I suspected that a stray pointer somewhere had screwed up my data
or the program itself, but a short test-program in BASIC crashed in a similar
way.
The problem seems to be that the OS lowers the 3D button, the program quits,
and then the OS tries to raise the button again.. boom..

The button type was "R5" (I think), but I also managed to crash with button
type "R1". The icon types I tried (which both crashed) was "Report when 
clicked" and "Report when released".. The one sure to crash every time was
R5 with report when clicked.
              _
A frustrated (-)rmStrong....
From: davism@uhura.aston.ac.uk (Mik Davis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: The new Acorn Machine
Date: 9 Nov 92 17:24:11 GMT
Organization: Aston University

EEE92002@UK.AC.BHAM.IBM3090 writes:
: Has anyone else hear the rumours of a new Acorn machine that will appear
: next year?
: 
: So far, it will have the new VIDC, an improved ARM600 processor running
: at an incredible 28MIPS!!! and only run RISC-OS applications under
: emulation.

  Well if this is the case, lets hope the RiscOS emulator is better than 
the current BBC emulator

-- 
___________________________________________.
 Mik Davis at Aston University, Birmingham |   .  .  __          .
                                           |   |\/|  | \  _,_  _  _
E-Mail: davism@uhura.aston.ac.uk           |   |  |. |_/ |_| \/ |/_'
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: ahersee@dcs.warwick.ac.uk (Andrew Hersee)
Subject: Re: RISC OS 3 Impression..
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Warwick University, England
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 13:08:34 GMT

davism@uhura.aston.ac.uk (Mik Davis) writes:

>  Can Techwriter produce a draw-file or something similar of an equation.
>This would be VERY useful for people who DO need a page designer but also need
>the odd equation or formula.
>  Alternatively, if Impression could have some method of reading Techwriter
>files, that would be quite useful too.

A new version just out can indeed save Draw files.

>  While we're on the subject, does anyone know how much easiwriter and
>techwriter cost please?

Easiwriter = #114 + VAT
TechWriter = #235 + VAT

Andrew

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     Email: ahersee@dcs.warwick.ac.uk
                Snail Mail: Andrew Hersee
                            The Red House
                            Tallington
                            Nr. STAMFORD
                            Lincs
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: smb@cs.nott.ac.uk (Simon Burrows)
Subject: Re: DragASprite / Modified filer.
Organization: Nottingham University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 19:33:20 GMT

In article <BxIByI.C2G@cs.bham.ac.uk> amw@cs.bham.ac.uk (Andy Wood) writes:
>Excellent idea. You could ask for contributions for a definative *good* set
>of icons and templates to supply with it. And I don't just mean rehashed Acorn
>ones - lets use some imagination! Do what Acorn should have done in the first
>place!

Lots of people have already designed their own replacement icon sprites
and tool sprites - the problem is that which ones you like is very much
a matter of personal taste. I personally find the Acorn ones quite
acceptable, but that doesn't mean that I haven't modified a number of them
for my own use, and I'm sure that people in Acorn do exactly the same thing.
>
>Andy...      (A willing volunteer when it comes to issues of look and feel!)
>-- 
>

Simon
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Burrows   smb@cs.nott.ac.uk  psyhsmb@unicorn.nott.ac.uk  +44 533 712030
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: smb@cs.nott.ac.uk (Simon Burrows)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Acorn Press Release (Major Ad. Campaign)
Date: 12 Nov 92 11:23:31 GMT
Organization: Nottingham University

In article <20055@acorn.co.uk> bsalter@acorn.co.uk writes:
>Acorn Launches Major Ad Campaign
>>
>Acorn Computers Ltd has launched a high profile advertising campaign
>to reinforce its assault on the Consumer market. 
>

Wonderful, excellent, brilliant. Acorn is going places! An "assault" on the
Consumer market - that must be a new word in Acorn's vocabulary. Acorn's
"Vision for the Future" looks to provide solutions for the Consumer and
Multimedia markets, so let's hope that their next releases are brought to
market in an equally aggressive manner (through the appropriate forums).

>The TV campaign started on Tuesday 10th November and will be used
>extensively in the run-up to Christmas. It will appear on TVam, Sky,
>Channel 4 and a number of ITV regions. The press ads have already made
>appearances (Mail on Sunday, 8.11.92; and Daily Telegraph 10.11.92)
>and will continue to back up the TV campaign covering a comprehensive
>range of broadsheets, tabloids and magazine such as Radio Times.

I happened to see both of those newspapers, and assumed that the rest of
the newspapers were carrying adverts as well...Never mind... 

>The ads feature freephone numbers and coupons inviting potential
>customers to send off for more information and a demonstration disk. 
>All enquiries are then allocated to specialist dealers on an exclusive
>basis for local follow-up. 

Ah, so this is the free TDK disc which will "knaw at people's curiosity,
making them want to go down to their dealer to find out what is on it"
(quote - Bob Coates @Acorn). What's on the disc?

>ENDS Further information from Simon Lovesey on 0223 254254
>

Excellent stuff Acorn. Let's hope that the "Vision for the Future" really
does lead to exciting times in the not-too distant future.

Simon
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Burrows   smb@cs.nott.ac.uk  psyhsmb@unicorn.nott.ac.uk  +44 533 712030
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