From 4WL (Martin Wilson)
To 999 (All)
Subject THE ACORN A3010
ITS A CHEAP RISC COMPUTER AVAILABLE AT
£299 BUT IS IT ANY GOOD?
FIRSTLY THE PROBLEMS.
IT COMES WITH ONE MEG OF MEMORY. IT
NEEDS TWO MEG AS STANDARD.
YOU CAN'T EASILY CONNECT A SECOND DISC
DRIVE.
EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD HAVE COST PENCE TO
INCLUDE IT THEY HAVE NOT FITTED AN
INTERNAL IDE HARD DRIVE CONNECTOR. ITS
FITTED TO THE 3020 AND ONLY OMITTED
FROM THE 3010 SO THAT THERE WOULD BE
SOME ADVANTAGE TO BUYING A DEARER
MODEL.
IT HAS LOW PRESTIGE. ITS TREATED BY THE
NEWSTAND ARCHIMEDES MAGAZINES AS A
BIT OF A UNDERDOG OR GAMES MACHINE.
DON'T EXPECT TO IMPRESS FELLOW RISC
USERS WITH IT.
NO COMPOSITE(COLOUR) OUTPUT FROM THE
MONITOR PORT.
THE FUNCTION KEYS ARE GREEN.
IT ISN'T UPGRADEBLE TO ARM3 AS ITS
ARM/GRAPHICS AND MEMORY MANAGEMENT
CHIPS ARE INTERGRATED INTO ONE I.C.
THE GOOD STUFF.
THERE ARE SOME BRILLIANT GAMES FOR IT.
CHOCKS AWAY, WOLFENSTEIN, STAR
FIGHTER 3000, CHAOS, CANNON FODDER,
ELITE, BIRDS OF WAR PLUS MANY OTHERS.
RISC 3.1 IS THE BEST WIMP ENVIRONMENT I
HAVE EVER USED. SIMPLE YET
FLEXIBLE. I'VE USED WINDOWS, GEM,
WORKBENCH AND THE MACS WIMP
ENVIRONMENT.
MULTIFORMAT SUPPORT. IT WILL READ
MANY DIFFERENT DISK FORMATS
AUTOMATICALLY. PC/ST ETC.
YOU CAN FORMAT DOUBLE DENSITY DISKS TO
HIGH DENSITY WITHOUT HAVING TO GET
THE OLD BOSCH DRILL OUT TO MAKE THE
EXTRA HOLE. IT WILL ALSO MAP OUT ANY
BAD SECTORS AUTOMATICALLY. YES I KNOW
YOU SHOULD USE HD DISKS BUT A PENNY
SAVED IS A PENNY EARNT.
IT HAS 2 MEGABYTES OF SOFTWARE BUILT
INTO ROM. BASIC, ASSEMBLER, 2D CAD,
ART PROG, CALENDER/DIARY, FONTS AND
OTHER BITS AND PIECES.
ITS THE ONLY ARC WITH A BUILT IN TV
MODULATOR.
ITS THE ONLY ARC WITH BUILT IN JOYSTICK
PORTS. STANDARD ATARI TYPE PORTS.
THE MOUSE PORT IS SEPERATE.SO IN FACT
YOU COULD HAVE FOUR PLAYER GAMES.
TWO ON JOYSTICKS, ONE ON MOUSE AND ONE
OR MORE ON KEYBOARD.
IT HAS FULL BATTERY BACKUP FOR CLOCK
AND CONFIGURATION
IT HAS A BIDIRECTIONAL PRINTER
PORT(UNLIKE EARLIER ARCS). USEFUL FOR
CONNECTING SCSI INTERFACES, SCANNERS AS
WELL AS PRINTERS.
THE MONITOR PORT IS SVGA/VGA COMPATIBLE
AND THE A3010 AUTOMATICALLY BOOTS
UP IN A SVGA/VGA MODE IF A SVGA/VGA
MONITOR IS CONNECTED. THE SAME MONITOR
PORT CAN BE USED FOR SCART TVS AND
OTHER MONITORS.
THE A3010 HAS 8 CHANNEL STEREO SOUND.
ITS EXCELLENT QUALITY BUT ITS NOT
DMA. SO THE MORE YOU USE IT THE MORE
PROCESSOR TIME IT TAKES.
THE GRAPHICS ARE EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE. IT
HAS NORMAL BBC B MODES RIGHT UP TO
256 COLOUR SVGA MODES. IT HAS A PALETTE
OF 4096. DO YOU REALLY NEED MORE
THAN 4096.
STANDARD PC LAYOUT KEYBOARD OF GOOD
QUALITY. SUPERIOR TO THE EARLIER 3000.
OVER 7MIPS OF PROCESSING POWER. AN
AMIGA 1200 HAS 1.5 MIPS, A 386 ABOUT
2-3 MIPS AND A 486 ABOUT 8 MIPS OR
MORE.
THE SERIAL INTERFACE IS FULLY WORKING
FROM DAY ONE. NO UPGRADE CHIPS TO
BUY.
ITS RELIABLE AND WELL MADE.
THE PSU IS INTERNAL. NO DANGLING BLACK
BOX.
IT COMES WITH A BBC B AND BBC TUBE
EMULATOR. WHICH HAS SOME DEGREE OF
SUCCESS.
THE MANUALS ARE GOOD AND EXTENSIVE.
EXCEPT WHERE LANGUAGES ARE CONCERNED.
YOUR EXPECTED TO BUY A SEPERATE BOOK
FOR BASIC AND ASSEMBLER.
FOOTNOTE...
REMEMBER HOW ACORN USED TO DESIGN THEIR
COMPUTERS WITH TONS OF COMPONENTS
AND LITTLE INTERGRATION WHICH MEANT
THEY WERE EXPENSIVE TO BUY BUT EASY TO
REPAIR. ITS TURNED FULL CIRCLE THE
A3010 IS AN EXAMPLE OF TOTAL
INTERGRATION. THIS HAS MEANT LOW
PRODUCTION COSTS AND HIGH RELIABILITY.
THIS IS WHY ACORN CAN PROFITABLY SELL
SUCH A BRILLIANT COMPUTER AT SUCH A
LOW PRICE. I'D LIKE TO SEE A 3010 WITH
A STANDARD 2MEG AND A BUILT IN HARD
DRIVE. IF THEY PUT THE IDE CABLE IN AND
A 3.5 HARD DRIVE CRADLE THEY COULD
USE ANY CHEAP STOCKS OF HARD DRIVES
THEY COULD OBTAIN. I MEAN 210MEG HARD
DRIVES ARE AVAILABLE FOR 95 POUNDS PLUS
VAT TO THE CONSUMER. TO A LARGE
MANUFACTURER THERE PROBABLY 70 POUNDS
OR LESS. SO WHAT WOULD THEY CHARGE
FOR A AN 80MEG OR EVEN 40MEG. 40MEG OR
80MEG IS FULLY USABLE WITH AN ARC.
I'M HAPPY WITH A 60MEG HARD DRIVE AND
THERES STILL PLENTY OF SPACE LEFT.
ANY WAY HOW ABOUT A 2MEG A3010 WITH A
40MEG HARD DRIVE FOR £399
To: 999 (all members)
From: K4V (Trevor Crapper)
Subject: GenComs
Hi Chris, Lasses and Lads,
Could get my whatsits chewed off if I
started with fellow members, hence the
frivolous bit.
I would like to wish everyone a Happy
New Year and hope that Santa delivered
the 'goods'.
Issue 39 was certainly a seasonal one
and very enjoyable. Unfortunately the
Lottery selector did not pick the
correct numbers so we are still poor!
The Snowmen were very good, one little
query - "How do they do that". Having
not had time to examine the listing,
not that it would tell me much in any
case! If you don't know it, ask.
Tim Parsons letter hits the nail right
on the head, I do hope his request
will not go unheeded. Tim seems to
spend all his time helping others so
when he needs a hand how about giving
him one - a hand of course.
I know Chris likes to put things into
the library so that they generate more
wealth for the club. My own suggestion
would be to have something like the
hints and tips supplied by the
Wakefield User Group sometime back. It
would be held ready for access on
request. Other solutions would be a
panel to answer questions sent in. A
series of articles by contributers in
serial form.
The practice of writing to each other
outside the confines of the magazines
is fine especially if people are
getting their heads together. But, in
those instances where information is
being passed that could be of value to
others this is the route it should
take. Via the editor!
Trevor Crapper K4V
To: 999 (all members)
From: K4V (Trevor Crapper)
Subject: A Winters Tale.
Just before Christmas I decided to
give my Master keyboard a thorough
cleaning. A few of the keys needed
that little extra weight which after a
while makes your finger ends numb.
Switch off the computer, shake up the
can of foam contact spray and away we
go. Its frothy man - forgot what that
advert was now, anyway it does not
matter.
Nicely cleaned and dried I switch back
on - to put it very politely - oh
deary me!
Something has gone wrong and it can
only be the keyboard. What is the
matter with it I wondered - politely!
Then panic set in, the usual questions
were asked - the loss of marbles was
one.
After calming down and completing some
work I was doing on my spare BBC B+
became resigned to the fact that I
would have to get hold of another key-
board.
As luck would have it BackByte
magazine arrived and with my salvation
someone was selling keyboards.
Contacted the gentleman and got my
letter and cheque in the post.
I was in contact with a couple members
at this time and told them of my
plight.
Martin Pickering came back with a sug-
gestion to try WD40. The keyboard was
removed from the computer and given a
really good dousing.
After cleaning drying operations the
keyboard was installed and the comp
switched back on.
What joy when I found it was working
normally once more, the relief was
tremendous.
The moral of the story is don't clean
your keyboard with foam cleaner!
Finally I would like to point out that
I do not know what long term effect
WD40 may have on keyswitches. I have
tried it in desperation and it worked
for me. However, the editor, nor
myself cannot be held responsible for
anything going wrong should you try
it.
Trevor Crapper K4V
EDITOR.... Try boiling your computer in
bleach for 2 hours. That should do it,
although throwing it against a wall
followed by jumping up and down on it
sometimes helps. Any hints for my Canon
BJ310? Later.. Don't bother, I have
slung it.
To: 999 (all members)
From: 3PM
Subject: Splash out?
Come on Beebers, Shift and Break,
K2B is all a quake
Sweaty palms and knocking knees
LOSE HIS BEEB? Oh really, please!
Let us all increase our subs
Caps lock on, and end the blubs
Afore the poor man's hair recedes
Find his wife an Archimedes!
To: 999 (all members)
From: K8L (James Crump)
Subject: Hello There!
Hello! I am a new member of the group,
so I thought I would introduce myself.
One point raised in 8BS-39 concerned
Watford Electronics and their low
standard of service. I recently
contacted WE who said "Our BBC range
is very limited". Perhaps this is no
great loss- leave them to Archimedes
owners.
Can anyone give me any details of
BEEBUG magazine?
EDITOR.... Beebug mag has died. 8BS has
the whole collection of cover discs.
See BUG 2 to 12
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2B (Colin Culpitt-Smith)
Subject: For John Ilsley's attention
If you're still out there John, I'd
very much appreciate knowing if you
ever received the hard drive I sent
you some time ago. If you can now pay
me for it, I would also appreciate this
as well.
EDITOR........ I have repeatedly
attempted to contact John and failed
miserably up to now I am afraid Colin.
I shall have another go.
To: 999 (all members)
From: 8J4 (Charles Spender)
Subject: General
The Times Crosswords, had a note
recently that hundreds of these
puzzles are available on floppy disc
for either PCs or Acorn computers, if
anyone is interested the supplier
is:-Akom Ltd., 51, Manor Lane London
SE13 5QW at a cost of `14.95. Phone
081-852 4575.
I wonder if we could put the question
of Subscriptions to bed once and for
all?
I have mentioned my views previously,
but as the subject keeps developing,
perhaps I can be excused for a repeat.
Chris is quite right I think in not
laying down hard and fast rules, we
are all a different lot in various
circumstances but all with a firm
allegiance to the Beeb.
When you consider that a monthly comp
magazine will cost up to 5 or 6 8Bit
discs allied to all the hard work put
into their presentation by the Editor
I feel that some additional financial
consideration should be given to ease
his work if not physically as many
members do but the means to reduce
all those extra costs.
Accordingly I feel that at the start
of the new year or whenever one may
join that a monetary sum should be
added suitably in line with your
feelings of what you get in return,
nuff said, may I wish you all a very
healthy and submissive year.
EDITOR....... Cheers Charles. But
please bear in mind that 8BS is
supposed to be non profit making!
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2T (Jack Tourle)
Subject: Watford Electronics
K7X asks for comments on dealings
with Watford Electronics. I have no
serious complaints with this firm. I
have bought several items from them
from time to time, including my
present 40/80 DS disk drive. The only
thing I have had to return was an
aerosol which was received damaged,
due to inadequate packing; they
replaced it without query.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K6E (ROGER LINGWOOD)
Subject: B.B.C.TO ROMANIA
As explained in issue38 OCT a
consignmet of B.B.C.Bs were sent to
ROMANIA to a school in CRAIOVA. This
was to be followed by some more
equipment in December but due to
transport problems this will now be
towards the end of February. The head
of the school has written to me and
confirmed the safe arrival of all the
equipment and it's setting up in what
they are calling their English Library
room. This room contains not only the
computers but a selection of English
books of all kinds that we were able
to obtain from some of the educational
printers over here. Also, it contains
some of the mementoes that the
teachers themselves collected when
they visited us last year. And they
use these as prop's in plays in which
the children must only speak English.
I have received some more bits and
pieces including some educational
programs, another B.B.C. B and 40 track
drive plus a large amount of software
on cassette. All of this will be sent
on the next load in February and I will
inform you again when it arrives.
my thanks again for all your help K6E
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2F (John Davis)
Subject: Radio Times
Did you notice that the anagram of
'National Lottery' lurking in the
listing of the 'Lottery' program in
issue 39 has migrated, with a little
help, to the 'And Finally...' slot of
the letters page in the Jan. 21-27
issue of the Radio Times? You didn't?
PRESS BREAK