log in | register | forums
Show:
Go:
Forums
Username:

Password:

User accounts
Register new account
Forgot password
Forum stats
List of members
Search the forums

Advanced search
Recent discussions
- Elsear brings super-fast Networking to Risc PC/A7000/A7000+ (News:)
- Latest hardware upgrade from RISCOSbits (News:)
- Announcing the TIB 2024 Advent Calendar (News:1)
- Code GCC produces that makes you cry #12684 (Prog:39)
- RISCOSbits releases a new laptop solution (News:)
- Rougol November 2024 meeting on monday (News:)
- Drag'n'Drop 14i1 edition reviewed (News:)
- WROCC November 2024 talk o...ay - Andrew Rawnsley (ROD) (News:2)
- October 2024 News Summary (News:3)
- RISC OS London Show Report 2024 (News:1)
Related articles
- Rounding Up February
- Wakefield 2001 show report
- R-Comp prepare for Wakefield [updated]
- Iconbar in update shocker!
- Wakefield 2003 - the preview
- BBC Bs, 100bTs and other quickies
- Wakefield 2000 show report
- Castle Up For Grabs
- Wakey Wakey, it's show time again!
- Show! There's a show! Show happening! [updated^2]
Latest postings RSS Feeds
RSS 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.9
Atom 0.3
Misc RDF | CDF
 
View on Mastodon
@www.iconbar.com@rss-parrot.net
Site Search
 
Article archives
Acorn Arcade forums: News and features: January bits
 

January bits

Posted by Richard Goodwin on 11:28, 7/1/2002 | , , , , , , ,
 
Just a few bits and pieces to brighten up a dull Monday morning (or whenever you're reading this). AcornSearch has been updated to include a filebase. Yes there are others out there, but this one provides more categories! The RISC OS part of the Open Directory project has also been integrated into the search engine for even better search results. PalmLink, which I think was mentioned briefly some time ago, has arrived in beta form. It aims to provide a filer-type interface to Palm computers in much the same way as is already available for Psion machines. MP3 support has been given a boost by releases of ripping tool cdparanoia, another Shoutcast streaming MP3 player which works well on sub-StrongARM machines, and updates to AMPlayer. And if you're an Acorn history geek like me, Mike Cowlishaw has gathered together some interesting info on the Acorn Microcomputer (aka System 1).

Looks like someone beat me to the ArtWorks news while I was off, so I'll just finish off this infodump with a reminder that the BETT show starts Wednesday and goes on until Saturday; one of the points of interest is the Cumana Slym, which is basically an A7000+ (I'd say Riscstation but it's in association with Castle) type machine built into a flatscreen monitor. I've managed to dodge going to the show to help with work's stand, but hopefully I'll have info and photos from someone who's going by the beginning of next week.
 
  January bits
  This is a long thread. Click here to view the threaded list.
 
John Hoare Message #89762, posted at 18:16, 7/1/2002
Unregistered user The System 1 info is very interesting. Will this be continued to provide into on Systems 2-5, etc...?
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89763, posted at 18:19, 7/1/2002, in reply to message #89762
Unregistered user
Looking at the System 1 makes my StrongARM RISC PC not look quite so dated. ;)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89764, posted at 18:56, 7/1/2002, in reply to message #89763
Unregistered user Correction: cdparanoia does not encode MP3s, although it does rip CDs. At least, as far as I can tell from the press release.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89765, posted at 20:34, 7/1/2002, in reply to message #89764
Unregistered user Hmm... so how does the Slym (SLYM?) compare to the brand-new flat-panel Apple iMac? What do people think?
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89766, posted at 23:15, 7/1/2002, in reply to message #89765
Unregistered user "I'd say RiscStation but..."

... it'd be completely wrong because the RiscStation is based on the A7000+, rather than the other way around. Since nothing of the development of the RiscStation has any relation whatsoever to that machine even mentioning it in association with it seems spurious and misleading.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89767, posted at 09:21, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89766
Unregistered user The RiscStation isn't based on the A7000(+). I've been corrected on this point in the past.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89768, posted at 09:46, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89767
Unregistered user cdparanoia is a disturbingly good CD ripper - it's the only one I trust to actually get the audio off intact, and I'm also very glad that it doesn't encode, thanks :)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Richard Goodwin Message #89769, posted at 10:11, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89768
Unregistered user I said "A7000+ ... type machine", not that it was in any way an actual re-working of any other machine. It's not as fast as a StrongARM RiscPC, and it's more than likely going to be aimed at the same markets as the A7000(+) and RiscStation computers, so it's an A7000+(/RiscStation) type machine.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89770, posted at 11:25, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89769
Unregistered user Despite the ARM 7500FE being a 'computer on a chip', there are significant performance differences between the different machines. Would iconbar.com like to see some ARMSI results?

For what it's worth:

Castle/Acorn A7000+
Castle A7000 Odyssey
MicroDigital Mico
RiscStation 7500
RiscStation 7500+ (faster RAM)

(speed increases as the list progresses downwards)

Where does SLYM fit in to the above list?
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89771, posted at 12:13, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89770
Unregistered user I wrote:
>> The RiscStation isn't based on the A7000(+).
>> I've been corrected on this point in the past.

Rich wrote:
> I said "A7000+ ... type machine", not that it
> was in any way an actual re-working of any other
> machine. It's not as fast as a StrongARM RiscPC,
> and it's more than likely going to be aimed at
> the same markets as the A7000(+) and RiscStation
> computers, so it's an A7000+(/RiscStation) type
> machine.

I agree. I was correcting "Guest 23:15, 7/1/2002".

DB
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Chris Bazley Message #89772, posted at 12:14, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89771
Unregistered user I tested an RS7500 (don't remember whether or not it was '+') against my Mico using ARMsi, and the results indicated that although the RS7500 was marginally faster in certain areas, any difference was completely negligable. Far more insignificant than what would be noticeable to any human in normal usage.

In fact, any real performance advantage that the RS7500 might have had in the comparitive tests was completely wiped out by the fact that the owner generally ran it in a high bandwidth screenmode (lots of colours/high frequency). This will completely destroy the performance of any ARM7500-based machine.

My only other experience of a RiscStation was on a stand at the RISC OS southwest show - where it seemed to me to be distinctly sluggish in the desktop. Of course this may have been just because of the contrast with the various SA/Kinetic machines about.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Andrew P Harmsworth Message #89773, posted at 16:23, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89772
Unregistered user How does Slym compare to the new iMac?

The new iMac is 978 ex VAT. (1149 inc VAT).

The Slym is 300 and something as a base unit, or 600 and something with a screen. Plus VAT.

The Slym is meant for different markets, and will save you a fortune in electricity bills if you're wanting a network of them. However the new iMac has an 800 MHz Power G4 processor, and that's just the start of it!

Hmmm.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89774, posted at 19:03, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89773
Unregistered user The new imac also just looks ugly. And as I designer, I feel I'm qualified to say that.
If I'm a good designer of course, well that depends on how much people agree I guess!

Ian
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Matthew Somerville Message #89775, posted at 19:08, 8/1/2002, in reply to message #89774
Unregistered user Chris: the faster RAM in my RiscStation has made a significant difference - I can run 1024x768x32000 @ 70Hz for one thing, although that is 'sluggish' as you put it. It has sped up the whole computer though. Running at 1024x768x256 @ 75Hz is not at all sluggish, from my viewpoint anyway. My RiscStation is capable of playing up to 192kps MP3s using AMPlayer or StupidPlayer in 1024x768x256 (see my recent csa.apps posting), which I'm amazed about! :)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Lee Johnston Message #89776, posted at 09:32, 9/1/2002, in reply to message #89775
Unregistered user Try running the RiscStation with faster RAM at 1024*768 in 256 cols at 65hz on an LCD monitor - nice ;) (I would take it down to 50hz if I had the time to play with make modes)

I know some people will go "huh, only 1024*768 and only 256 colours" but then I only use mine for wordprocessing and writing code. Anything requiring more oomph is done on my PC.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89777, posted at 12:01, 9/1/2002, in reply to message #89776
Unregistered user I use my StrongARM Risc PC for word processing, some diagramming, web browsing, email/news and writing/compiling code. I use 1280x1024 in 256 colours. Anything less is just not acceptable. I'd like to be able to use 32000 colours in that res, but not so much that I can afford to buy a ViewFinder!

I'd like to try an RS7500+, cos I think the fast disc (and network?) access would be very nice, but I think that overall, it's probably significantly slower than my Risc PC.

Those of you with ARM 7500FE machines who play MP3s: can you do anything else at the same time? I like to play MP3s whilst I do other things!
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
John Duffell Message #89778, posted at 13:10, 9/1/2002, in reply to message #89777
Unregistered user Urrr no Riscstations can't play mp3s, AMPlayer 1.38 by default on FE machines only plays part of the mp3 and ignores part(half?) of the mp3 data. Don't ask me on the exact details, but it sounds ok, but certainly not as good as it should.
As for RiscStations, I'll have one going spare in about a week if anyone's interested. It's got one of those optical mice with a working wheel too.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
John Duffell Message #89779, posted at 13:11, 9/1/2002, in reply to message #89778
Unregistered user add 192kbps 44khz before "mp3s" in that posting, of course they can play lower bitrate ones and lower frequency :)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Andrew Weston Message #89780, posted at 14:04, 9/1/2002, in reply to message #89779
Unregistered user Lee - "huh, only 1024*768 and only 256 colours"

John - I'll give you my address

;-)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89781, posted at 11:44, 10/1/2002, in reply to message #89780
Unregistered user Aww... John! You're not selling your RS, are you?!

Let me guess: You've been to Universoty, looked around, and seen some proper computers? :-)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89782, posted at 12:13, 10/1/2002, in reply to message #89781
Unregistered user So they've got Risc PCs there then??
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
John Duffell Message #89783, posted at 16:03, 10/1/2002, in reply to message #89782
Unregistered user To guest 11:44 10/1/02: No I wont let you guess, seeing as your too lazy to even log in, or is it that you think you're clever making anonymous comments.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89784, posted at 18:19, 10/1/2002, in reply to message #89783
Unregistered user I don't think "Guest" is clever. I just can't be bothered to create an account. In fact, I don't want an iconbar.com account.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
John Hoare Message #89785, posted at 21:25, 10/1/2002, in reply to message #89784
Unregistered user You don't have to log in to leave a name at the bottom. Anyone with a vague amount of sense knows that.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89786, posted at 10:45, 11/1/2002, in reply to message #89785
Unregistered user But leaving a name isn't an identity, is it? Look at this post for proof of that.

John Hoare.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
John Duffell Message #89787, posted at 10:52, 11/1/2002, in reply to message #89786
Unregistered user So? You can create an account under whatever name you like, the point is that poeple usually create it with their name, or sign off with their name. The fact that you didn't bother to show who you were means that we can't attach person to comments so we can't interpret them as much. Furthermore, since they were rather rude comments, there was the possibility that you were attempting to make rude comments without people knowing who you were. Of course the real reason, so you say, is that you feel the fact that you can type whatever you like into a computer means that nothing should be taken with any surity, so, as I do, I hold little weight of opinion on unattributed postings. Putting someone else's name is impersonation, putting no name is easier, so if there's a name there, it's more likely to be valid than not.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89788, posted at 12:25, 11/1/2002, in reply to message #89787
Unregistered user To the guest posing as John Hoare: You're an ASSHOLE. Get a life.

Mike (Who is not afraid to put his name)

p.s. Any chance of having his lame posts removed?
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Richard Goodwin Message #89789, posted at 14:10, 11/1/2002, in reply to message #89788
Unregistered user C'mon guys, don't make me come in there with a big stick - or change the comments script so only registered users can post.

Leave a name, don't leave a name, I don't really mind - I'd personally prefer if you all used proper logins but I know that's not going to happen voluntarily either.
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
John Hoare Message #89790, posted at 19:32, 11/1/2002, in reply to message #89789
Unregistered user Fair enough Richard. I suppose I shouldn't let my annoyance about anonymous postings spill over into shouting at anyone who does it! :-)

Paul Middleton
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Guest Message #89791, posted at 21:32, 11/1/2002, in reply to message #89790
Unregistered user The login script doesn't work properly with Oregano. It still comes up as 'not logged in'

Robert (not the imposter)
  ^[ Log in to reply ]
 
Pages (2): 1 > >|

Acorn Arcade forums: News and features: January bits