Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models

The Acorn Archimedes was Acorn Computers Ltd's first general purpose home computer based on their own 32-bit ARM RISC CPU, and spawned a family of very capable machines with various options. Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models. The first models were released in June 1987, as the 300 and 400 series. The machines differed primarily in that the 400 series included more expansion slots (four instead of two) and a ST506 controller for an internal hard drive. Both models included the Arthur OS (later ver ...

Including:

• Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models
• Acorn Archimedes - The A3000 and A5000
• Acorn Archimedes - A new range and a laptop
• Acorn Archimedes - Significance and impact

Read more here: » Acorn Archimedes: Encyclopedia - Acorn Archimedes

The first models were released in June 1987, as the 300 and 400 series. The machines differed primarily in that the 400 series included more expansion slots (four instead of two) and a ST506 controller for an internal hard drive. Both models included the Arthur OS (later versions to be called RISC OS, see below), BBC BASIC and an emulator for Acorn's earlier BBC Micro, and were mounted in two-part cases with a small central unit, monitor on top, and a separate keyboard and three-button mouse. All models featured onboard 8 ch ...

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Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models, Acorn Archimedes - The A3000 and A5000, Acorn Archimedes - A new range and a laptop, Acorn Archimedes - Significance and impact

Read more here: » Acorn Archimedes: Encyclopedia II - Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models

The Archimedes was one of the most powerful home computers available during the late 1980s and early 1990s; its main CPU was faster than the stock 68000s found in the more popular Atari ST and Commodore Amiga machines. Despite a technical edge having been fully realised upon the release of RISC OS 2 in 1989, the Archimedes only ever met a moderate success, becoming very much a 'minority' platform outside of niche markets (not unlike the Apple Macintosh). The education markets of the UK, Ireland and Australasia were among the platform' ...

See also:

Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models, Acorn Archimedes - The A3000 and A5000, Acorn Archimedes - A new range and a laptop, Acorn Archimedes - Significance and impact

Read more here: » Acorn Archimedes: Encyclopedia II - Acorn Archimedes - Significance and impact

In 1992, a new range was produced, using the ARM250 microcontroller, an ARM2 processor with integrated memory and video controllers, performing better thanks to an increase in clock frequency, and running RISC OS 3.10. The A30x0 series had a one-piece design, similar to the A3000, while the A4000 looked like a slightly slimmer A5000. The A3010 model was intended to be a home computing machine, featuring a TV modulator and joystick ports, while the A3020 targeted the home office and educational markets, featuring a built-in 2.5" hard drive. Technically, the A4000 was almost identical to the A3020, only d ...

See also:

Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models, Acorn Archimedes - The A3000 and A5000, Acorn Archimedes - A new range and a laptop, Acorn Archimedes - Significance and impact

Read more here: » Acorn Archimedes: Encyclopedia II - Acorn Archimedes - A new range and a laptop

Work began on a successor to the Arthur OS, initially named Arthur 2, but with the release of the Hollywood movie of the same name it was renamed to RISC OS 2. Along with it, a number of new machines were introduced as well, and in May 1989 the 300 series was phased out in favor of the new Acorn A3000. The earlier models were capable of being upgraded to RISC OS 2 by replacing the ROM chips which contained the Operating System. Unlike the previous Archimedes models, the A3000 came in a single-part case similar to the Amiga 500 and Ata ...

See also:

Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Archimedes - Description; Early models, Acorn Archimedes - The A3000 and A5000, Acorn Archimedes - A new range and a laptop, Acorn Archimedes - Significance and impact

Read more here: » Acorn Archimedes: Encyclopedia II - Acorn Archimedes - The A3000 and A5000