HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: goodwin@edieng.enet.dec.com (Pete Goodwin)
Subject: Re: RISCOS 3.1, the final conclusions..
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 12:36:40 GMT


In article <1992Sep11.090616.7812@utwente.nl>, loek@pico8.nt.el.utwente.nl (Loek L. Frederiks) writes...

>- If you are using outline fonts, things go much faster. Acorn please
>  confirm has RISCOS 3.1 12 built-in fonts (RISCOS 3.0 contained only
>  3 fonts).

In my version of 3.1, there are three fonts: Corpus, Trinity and, um, Homerton?
System was also there as well. The other fonts were on disk.

>- If you accessing files or doing some other filesystem tasks, the filer
>  gets high priority. On ARM2/RISCOS2 machines you had to wait till your
>  drive had done the job, so I think ARM2 users will still wait till the
>  filer has completed its task. If you are formatting a floppy, and moving
>  some windows in the desktop at the same time, I think you drink a cup
>  of coffee and just sit and wait. To be honest, you can always turn the
>  multi-tasking filer off. Besides, this I think that ARM2 users are no
>  "power users". Thus while their files are saved, they already doing
>  some other desktop job. Power users are always in a hurry ? Has somebody
>  tried to use a soundtracker program (ProTrack) and to format a floppy at
>  the same time ?

That's funny, formatting was multitasking. Even on an ARM2 it was never that
slow.

>To my opinion, nothing has changed a lot. The only difference is that application
>writers have to be carefull when writing their code. Make things always as
>fast as possible and don't use clumsy constructions.

From RISC OS 3.0 maybe! For me, with RISC OS 2 it's a helluva difference. I
like the multitasking filer/formatter. I like the Pinboard. I like the
extensions to the filer menu - and don't forget, if multitasking filing
operations are too slow for you, you can click on menu and select 'Faster'.

Now if only I could work out why my SCSI has stopped working (whimper).

Pete Goodwin
goodwin@system.enet.dec.com
From: mjb@tnord06.grenoble.hp.com (Mike Bright)
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 07:56:32 GMT
Subject: where can I get RISC OS 3.1?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, GND
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn



... on a related theme ...

Does anyone know of an Acorn dealer in France?

Cheers,
Mike.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-Mail:       Michael_Bright@hpgnd.grenoble.hp.com || 100024.1101@compuserve.com
              S=mjb;OU1=grenoble;OU2=unix;O=hp;P=hp;A=ATLAS 400;C=FR
In-Real-Life: Michael Bright
Organisation: Hewlett-Packard Grenoble, Telecom Networks Operation
Address:      5, ave Raymond Chanas, 38320 Eybens, FRANCE
Telephone:    [+33] 76 62 58 23 FAX 76 62 14 88
Home:         [+33] 76 54 62 37
From: andyf@yama.uk.sun.com (Andrew Fox - Sun UK - Answer centre)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: RISC OS 3.10
Date: 10 Sep 92 08:30:05 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: andyf@yama.uk.sun.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: yama.uk.sun.com

jamesh@castle.ed.ac.uk (James Hammerton) writes:-

In a recent article I saw this:

>If you are running on an 8MHz ARM2 machine, I wouldn't advise that you
>rush into upgrading to RISC OS 3.10. If possible, see it working on
>somebody else's 8MHz ARM2 before taking the plunge, and make up your
>mind whether the speed is acceptable for you or not.

I'm thinking of adding RO 3.10 to my A310 (4 megs + 40 meg HD) and I
was wondering just how the new OS slows things down. I only have a
standard colour monitor so the performance in hi-res modes isn't all
that important. Does it slow the whole machine down or is it only in the
desktop that things run slowly? And just how much slower would it be?

James

In reply....

Many people writing to this group have, I feel, given a very one sided view when
talking about RISC OS 3.10 running on an ARM2 machine.

I myself have been running RISC OS 3.xx on my A310 for nearly two years now, in
the guise of various developers versions. In all that time not once have I bitched
about how slow it is.

I have now installed RISC OS 3.10 in my A310 and am more than satisfied with it.
In my opinion the new features provided far outway the marginal decrease in speed that
is exhibited.

The multi-tasking filer is very useful and has increased my productivity greatly in
circumstances where previously I had to go away and have a cup of coffee. The only
time it is a nuisance is when writing DOS disks.....it then slows this operation
down so much, it could be going backwards (even on ARM3). The solution is easy, run !Configure and turn off interactive file copying while writing to DOS disks.

Many people have also complained about how long the machine takes to start after a
CTRL-BREAK or CTRL-RESET. I would suggest that these people read the release notes
with RISC OS 3.10. They tell you of various *FX calls that will disable certain
startup tests. My A310 desktop comes up after about 4 seconds.........certainly not
the 20-30 seconds some have been suggesting (and yes I am auto-starting !Edit and 
!Paint).

All in all, RISC OS 3.10 is a definite improvement, it has still got it's problems
when running certain 3rd party apps, but if you bought the package, then you'll
probably get a free RISC OS 3 upgrade.......... :-)

If I were you James, I'd upgrade now................
I mean, if you don't like it, you can always put RISC OS 2.00 back in........ ;-)


Andy F.

********************************************************************************
** Disclaimer: *****************************************************************
********************************************************************************
** The opinions expressed above in no way represent those of Sun Microsystems **
********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************
From: ngardner@acorn.co.uk (Neil Gardner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: RISCOS 3.10 installation
Date: 11 Sep 92 12:31:19 GMT
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England


In article <15371@suns8.crosfield.co.uk> you wrote:

>
>Any  help about the  RISCiX problem  before I downgrade (and  return RISCOS
>3.10)  would  be  appreciated otherwise: bye bye multitasking filer (sniff)
>bye bye apps in ROM :(
>

I can't remember on which page it's covered, but you will find a section in
the release note covering using RISC iX under RISC OS 3.

Basically you have to run !Patch to modify the RISC iX boot s/w.  The !Patch
help file documents it.

>dave.
>

--Neil
ngardner@acorn.co.uk
From: aglover@acorn.co.uk
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn.announce
Subject: Presentation of new products for IT advisors/purchasers in Southern England
Date: 14 Sep 92 13:57:14 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.acorn
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England

Are you responsible for advising or purchasing I.T. in education?

Would you like to see the new Acorn range?

Are you based in Southern England?

If so then take advantage of Acorn's open invitation to educationalists to
share Acorn's VISION FOR THE FUTURE 

This is a unique chance to discuss the very latest developments. Acorn's
education staff will be presenting the recently announced range of new
products, including:

* the new Acorn Pocket Book * the Acorn A3020, the latest addition to the 
A3000 range *  the Acorn A4000, a new mid-range platform * four new A5000
models * the Acorn A4, the critically acclaimed Notebook.

We will also be introducing new and unique educational support arrangements,
as well as providing an exhibition for that vital "hands-on" experience.

The events are at:

Mon 14th Sept: Hillscourt Conference Centre, Rose Hill, Rednall,BIRMINGHAM

Tues 15th Sept: Swallow Royal Hotel, College Green, BRISTOL 

Weds 16th Sept: Woodlands Park Hotel, Woodlands Lane, Cobham, SURREY

Thurs 17th Sept: Down Hall Hotel, Hatfield Heath, Nr BISHOPS STORTFORD

The exhibition will open from 2pm with presentations at 2.30 and 4.30.

If you would like to attend please 'phone the Education Business Unit at
Acorn on 0223 245200 or fax 0223 210685


_______________________________________________________________________________

aglover@acorn.co.uk, moderator of comp.sys.acorn.announce. Submissions to
announce-request@acorn.co.uk, other related mail to announcer@acorn.co.uk.
From: Albert.Koelmans@Newcastle.ac.uk
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn.announce
Subject: Additions and/or replacements on the Newcastle Info Server
Date: 14 Sep 92 07:50:24 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.acorn
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England


readnews (0.21) and pdlist have been replaced by the latest versions.



 
To retrieve a file from the archive, send a message to 
info-server@newcastle.ac.uk with the following content:

line-limit 1000
request: sources
topic: archimedes filename
request: end

where filename is replaced by the name of the file that you want.
A filename of 'index' will send you the latest index file.
A filename of 'tail_index' will send you the list of the last 50 files added
to the archive.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SOFTWARE IS VIRUS FREE BEFORE SENDING IT TO ME


--

E-mail address:  Albert.Koelmans@newcastle.ac.uk
Computing Science Department, University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK (telephone +44 091-2228155,fax 2228232) 

_______________________________________________________________________________

aglover@acorn.co.uk, moderator of comp.sys.acorn.announce. Submissions to
announce-request@acorn.co.uk, other related mail to announcer@acorn.co.uk.
From: Albert.Koelmans@newcastle.ac.uk
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn.announce
Subject: Additions and/or replacements on the Newcastle Info Server
Date: 14 Sep 92 07:47:30 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.acorn
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England


Updated software:

calenary has been replaced by the latest version.







 
To retrieve a file from the archive, send a message to 
info-server@newcastle.ac.uk with the following content:

line-limit 1000
request: sources
topic: archimedes filename
request: end

where filename is replaced by the name of the file that you want.
A filename of 'index' will send you the latest index file.
A filename of 'tail_index' will send you the list of the last 50 files added
to the archive.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SOFTWARE IS VIRUS FREE BEFORE SENDING IT TO ME


--

E-mail address:  Albert.Koelmans@newcastle.ac.uk
Computing Science Department, University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK (telephone +44 091-2228155,fax 2228232) 

_______________________________________________________________________________

aglover@acorn.co.uk, moderator of comp.sys.acorn.announce. Submissions to
announce-request@acorn.co.uk, other related mail to announcer@acorn.co.uk.
From: Albert.Koelmans@newcastle.ac.uk
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn.announce
Subject: Additions and/or replacements on the Newcastle Info Server
Date: 14 Sep 92 07:49:13 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.acorn
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England

The following file from the binaries newsgroup has been added:

sciapp

New software:

filler - a desktop game.
taskw  - a utility to run non-desktop programs under the desktop.
Both programs by Dmitri Petrov.


towers - a desktop game. By DT Michaelides.



 
To retrieve a file from the archive, send a message to 
info-server@newcastle.ac.uk with the following content:

line-limit 1000
request: sources
topic: archimedes filename
request: end

where filename is replaced by the name of the file that you want.
A filename of 'index' will send you the latest index file.
A filename of 'tail_index' will send you the list of the last 50 files added
to the archive.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SOFTWARE IS VIRUS FREE BEFORE SENDING IT TO ME


--

E-mail address:  Albert.Koelmans@newcastle.ac.uk
Computing Science Department, University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK (telephone +44 091-2228155,fax 2228232) 

_______________________________________________________________________________

aglover@acorn.co.uk, moderator of comp.sys.acorn.announce. Submissions to
announce-request@acorn.co.uk, other related mail to announcer@acorn.co.uk.
From: jwil1@cs.aukuni.ac.nz (TMOTA)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Authorship (Was: Disasters?)
Date: 10 Sep 92 01:34:27 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept. University of Auckland

amell@nyx.cs.du.edu (Andrew P.Mell) writes:

>Talking of Acorn Manuals, I hope that they will abandon the strange paper
>format they use at present and move to A4 pages in loose leaf folders like
>the Sun manuals. Its so much easier to read and update then. I dread to
>think how much bookshelf space the new RO3 PRMs are going to take.

A very good idea... and just think how much easier and cheaper it would be
to upgrade the manuals - just pop open the binder and replace a few pages.
Upgrades could also be released more frequently... (like the idea that
modules would be released every couple of weeks to upgrade bits of the OS
if people wanted to upgrade... not that we've seen more than 4 or 5 modules
released over as many years... but the concept is good ;-)
-- 
_________________  "I'd like to answer this question in two ways:
  /____ _ _/_ __       First in my normal voice, and then
 // / //_//_ /_/       in a silly, high-pitched whine." (Monty Python)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: goodwin@edieng.enet.dec.com (Pete Goodwin)
Subject: Re: A5000 NS
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 07:55:05 GMT


In article <1992Sep8.004754.17113@cs.aukuni.ac.nz>, jwil1@cs.aukuni.ac.nz (TMOTA) writes...
>ojg@crosfield.co.uk (oliver gunasekara) writes:
> 
>>One annoning feature of the A3010 is that the PSU seemes to buzz. Is
>>this ment to happen? If I tap the computers case it stops!
> 
>Things that make buzzing sounds are usually speakers or bad connections.
>speakers don't usually stop buzzing when you tap them, so I'd suspect
>a bad connection somewhere - it might pay to have someone check it out.

On the A3010 I saw in a shop the case was vibrating - the power supply was
definately the culprit. It also made the monitor it was plugged into swim a
little. Are the PSU's on the new machines a bit suspect?

Pete Goodwin
goodwin@system.enet.dec.com
From: tomc@siesoft.co.uk (Tom Crossland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Demo Competition / A7000 [ARM7xx/VIDC2] details
Date: 15 Sep 92 11:38:25 GMT
Reply-To: tomc@siesoft.co.uk
Organization: Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems Ltd.

u894776@bruny.cc.utas.edu.au (James McCoull) writes:

Erm... may I ask who is going to judge this thing? I mean there are
several ways of writing an impressive demo... Some demos look very
impressive but aren't technically difficult or adventurous. Others
are very impressive technically but look $#!+. etc.
--
___ _ __
  ((_))))... tomc@siesoft.co.uk, ma11tc@surrey.ac.uk, etc.
From: ernie@tartarus.uwa.edu.au (Ernest Ong)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Where can I get an A4000/A5000 for a reasonable price ?
Date: 12 Sep 1992 18:50:04 GMT
Organization: The University of Westrn Australia
NNTP-Posting-Host: tartarus.uwa.edu.au
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5


Hi!

I am an Archive subscriber. Archive is published by Norwich Computer
Services and they provide *REAL* good mail order service ... even for
hardware. 

Before you jump into any conclusion, I do NOT work for them!

If you subscribe to Archive for 17 British pounds a year (12 issues -
and they have ALWAYS been the FIRST to report on most new Acorn machines
so far - they were the first for the A5000 and now the new
A3000/4000/5000 range too, before any other mags could get them - very
detailed too!) here are the prices (inc VAT and UK carriage):

   (1) A5000 2M/HD80 + multisync 1644
   (2)  "   4M/HD120 +    "     1879
   (3) Learning Curve (same as [1]) 1699
   If prefer Eizo 9606SZ instead of Acorn's multisync add 200 pounds.

   (4) A4000 2M/HD80 + monitor (NOT m/s) 998
   (5) Home Office (same as [4]) 1233
   If prefer Eizo add 259 pounds.

All prices in British pounds, inc VAT (remove for overseas) and also UK
carriage. Don't forget that these are members prices. Norwich Computer
Services can be contacted on:

   Tel: (0603) 766592
   Fax: (0603) 764011

Trust me - their concept of "support" is something that you've got to
experience to believe. If you fax through a question, they'll reply
almost instantaneously (within 1 hour at the latest).

The person to contact is Paul Beverley (editor of Archive) - he's a cool
guy. Not only will you get discounts on software AND hardware as a
member, but also incredible support. 

Hope you like 'em!

cheers, Ernie Ong. 

P.S. I do NOT work for NCS and am NOT connected to them in anyway (other
than as a subscriber). My sincerest apologies for posting it in this
group - the mail-daemon refused to send off my mail...
From: row@bnr.co.uk (Reuben Wells)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: SCSI Card Capabilities
Date: 14 Sep 92 10:59:55 GMT
Reply-To: row@bnr.co.uk (Reuben Wells)
Organization: BNR Europe Limited, London Road, Harlow, Essex, GB

In the referenced article lithgow@usl.com (Malcolm Lithgow) writes:
>Having decided to buy an SCSI card, I would like to leave my expansion
>options open. Especially, I would like to be able to use the tapefs on
>Newcastle (I can borrow a tape-drive from work every month or so for
>back-ups), and I would also like to buy a CD-ROM sometime in the
>future.

I have a Serial Port 16 Bit SCSI card which is faster than the Acorn
card and works with a version of TapeFS that Brian Brunswick altered
for me. It all works fine with a 150 Meg tape drive :-) I could
post it to Newcastle if anyone wants it (and its ok with Brian). I had
a Maxtor 200 Meg drive that managed to delevier 1500K per second on 
my card and only 1200K per second on the Acorn card yet the Acorn
card is over twice the price !

Dunno about support for CD ROM drives though, but can't see why it
wouldn't work :-) The only thing the Acorn card does that other cards 
can't is, it supports background read ahead write behind.

Oh and before I forget you can have mine for only 90 pounds (I have
got to find a way of get rid of this Acorn kit !) only 11 months
old.

Reuben O. Wells	- BNR Europe Ltd - (+44) 279 403704
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
From: N.D.Moss2@lut.ac.uk (AnonyMoss) 
Subject: Arc port of UNIX crypt
Reply-To: N.D.Moss2@lut.ac.uk (AnonyMoss)
Organization: Loughborough University, UK.
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 92 11:12:58 GMT

Hello all,

Like the subject says, does anybody have a compiled port of the crypt
program as found on UNIX machines, or failing that, a program which can
decrypt using the same procedure?

Ta,
Neil.
-- 
    o__     Bike it   : My opinions are :  It would tear me apart, to feel
   _.>/ _ You'll like :   my own, and   :  no-one ever cared for me-ee-e-e
  (_) \(_)    it!     :    not LUT's    : 'Tower of Strength' - The Mission
==N.D.Moss2@uk.ac.lut=======================================================
From: csellers@acorn.co.uk (Carl Sellers)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Of RISCOS 3 and ARM 2s
Date: 8 Sep 92 10:40:13 GMT
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England

I have two A3000's with RISC OS 3 version 3.10 and 2Mb of memory, other than
that they are out of the box machines.

The perfomance is very acceptable from these machines, certainly it is
comparable with the ARM3 upgraded R140 I use as my main machine.

I realise that this goes very much against the grain of other opinions
expressed on these newsgroups, but there is a very good explanation for this
which may have been overlooked.

The A3000's are running in mode 12, my "normal" machine is running in mode
102 which uses vast amounts of processor time just to update the screen. I
am therefore prepared to accept a reduction in out and out speed on my
normal machine for a desktop which I can fit lots of things on.

Most people don't use such abnormal screen modes and so don't have the same
perception of the speed difference as I. Certainly when I use an AKF17
monitor I don't even attempt to use such an outragous screen mode, and so
am quite happy with the speed from an ARM2 based machine with RISC OS 3.

--carl
From: gtoal@ibmpcug.co.uk (Graham Toal)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: OS differences and improvements
Date: 6 Sep 92 14:09:38 GMT
Organization: The IBM PC User Group, UK.

In article <1992Sep3.105742.15810@cs.utwente.nl> kortink@cs.utwente.nl (John Kortink) writes:
>When I use Unix, there is nothing cryptic at all about command names
>like ls, cat and grep. *You know what they do*, after you use them
>a couple of times, and you always do if you use the OS in question
>seriously.

Exactly.  They are *icons* - after sufficient use your brain plugs
them directly from concept to keyboard while bypassing the semantics
of the command name itself.  Just like visual icons on windows systems -
if you have to work out what they do from the picture, you take *ages*
to do anything.  It's only after repeated use that the _icon_ comes to
represent the concept.  Actually, text icons are better than visual
ones because the brain has to do more conscious processing to coordinate
a move to an icon as opposed to the use of 'muscle memory' in typing runes.

G
--
From: torbenm@diku.dk (Torben AEgidius Mogensen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Looking for literature...
Date: 11 Sep 92 09:15:46 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, U of Copenhagen

blekken@fwi.uva.nl (Erwin 'Yaaah' Blekkenhorst (I88)) writes:

>	I am looking for any books, arcticles etc. concerning the ARM.

Stephen Furbar (sp?) from Manchester University has written a book
called something like "RISC computer structure" (The exact title
escapes me), which describes the ARM in detail. Furbar is ine of the
designers of the original ARM.

	Torben Mogensen (torbenm@diku.dk)
From: pcolmer@acorn.co.uk (Philip Colmer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: A3010 views
Date: 15 Sep 92 09:39:30 GMT
Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England

In article <10445@baird.cs.strath.ac.uk> sproven@cs.strath.ac.uk (Simon B Proven IE91) writes:

>for instance, MiG29 on an ARM2@8MHz is MUCH faster than the same game on the
>Amiga 500 - simply because on the 500, the CPU is doing all the work as the
>blitter can't draw polygons.  I've heard that the Amiga programmers are
>chuffed with 400 polygons/sec, but IMHO MiG29 on the Arc must be doing more
>like 1000/sec

 Another example is Swiv. I've been told that on the Amiga version,
there is a coded limit to the number of bullets you can fire 'cos if
there were any more, the game would slow down. Now look at the
Archimedes version ... :-)

 Loadsa bullets!

--Fil.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
        Practise random kindness and senseless acts of beauty
From: nicho@VNET.IBM.COM
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: ARcterm7 and KA9Q
Date: 8 Sep 92 13:33:47 GMT
Reply-To: nicho@vnet.ibm.com

In <1992Sep8.124530.857@siesoft.co.uk> Tom Crossland writes:
>I would guess it's because they both want access to the serial port
>simultaneously, so when KA9Q pulls some data from the serial input
>buffer, ArcTerm can't see it, and visa versa.
  I'd buy this, except that a combination of KA9Q and GrapeVine
works perfectly. I'm desperately looking for a solution, otherwise
I'm going to have to send Arcterm7 back. I can live without BBS access,
I can't live without Internet :-)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
               ** Of course I don't speak for IBM **
Greg Nicholls ... nicho@vnet.ibm.com or nicho@cix.compulink.co.uk
                  voice/fax: 44-794-516038
From: erik@blade (Erik Manders)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Where can I get an A4000/A5000 for a reasonable price ?
Date: 14 Sep 92 10:26:52 GMT
Organization: MCGV Stack, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands.
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4

Hi,

I have just received the new pricelist for The Netherlands:

	system		price(quid)	price(guilders)
			  inc VAT	  inc VAT	
	A4000HD80	 980		3195
	A5000HD80  2MB	1500		4895
	A5000HD120 4MB	1750		5695
	Acorn Multisync  300		1000
	
 These are official prices, so the actual price may be lower. 

bye now,

	Michael-Dennis

Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn