Acorn demonstrates there is no corporate RISC in NC technology Comdex-Japan April 8-11, 1997 Hotel New Otani Makuhari 2-2 Hibino Mihama-ku Chiba 261 Japan Java Virtual Machine implementation and first NC to support Windows Comdex-Japan, Tokyo, April 8-11, 1997 - Acorn will be providing the first public demonstrations of two further new technologies at Comdex-Japan. The first is Acorn RISCaféTM, Acorn's Java Virtual Machine (VM), which will be available across a broad range of devices which contain Acorn technology. The second is aimed at the corporate market and provides UNIX and Microsoft Windows support on ARM based Network Computers. Acorn's RISCaféTM provides a best of both world's solution when combined with the Acorn RISC OS operating system. Acorn RISC OS is the highest performance operating system on the ARM processor - it is scalable and customisable and provides features which are suitable for a wide range of devices. RISCaféTM provides the benefits of Java which include platform independent code and applications. Commenting on the new technologies Mark Phillips, Marketing Manager for Acorn Risc Technologies, a division of the Acorn Computer Group said: "Devices which are able to offer high functionality at a low cost are always likely to be popular. Using these new technologies, Acorn is able to offer a high performance operating system together with access to Java and Microsoft Windows separately or in the same device. These devices will consume little power and will require a very low memory footprint. Several manufacturers have already declared an intention to use this technology." The first release of RISCaféTM is based on the Java 1.0.2 Java Development Kit (JDK) and has been developed to be based in ROM to maintain a low system memory requirement. The Acorn Java VM provides support for applets which run inside Acorn's browser environment as well as applications which are able to run outside the web browser. Acorn has already begun work on its Java 1.1 JDK implementation and intends to release a Just-In-Time compiler (JIT) which will further improve Java performance. Acorn's demonstrations will show the first Network Computers (NCs) to support Windows applications using its Acorn eXtendTM (to be confirmed) technology which is based on an implementation of XWindows. Using this technology users will be able to use familiar office based applications as well as gaining access to corporate Intranets and the Internet. OEMs will be able to provide devices which can connect to a wide range of servers, including those based on UNIX and Windows NT. Mark Phillips, added: "We have always said that PCs and NCs would co-exist - it is clear that there are many applications that do not require a PC and we are demonstrating that customers can buy NCs with confidence that they can continue to run and manage familiar applications. The benefits of Network Computers and support for established applications need not be mutually exclusive". About Acorn: Acorn Computer Group plc, head-quartered in Cambridge, UK, is one of the world's leading developers and suppliers of innovative technology designs and consultancy. Acorn is at the core of some of the world's best digital technology products. TRAMPAMPOLINE Workstations - Table of contents Acorn Group | Consultancy | Software © Acorn Computers Ltd 1998