News from Acorn Computers 

Acorn Raises The Educational Standard 
- Expands existing range with pace-setting new computers - 

Acorn Computers, one of the world's leading suppliers of information 
technology to schools, has today launched six new 32-bit computers, 
extending  the successful Risc PC and A-series ranges.  The new Risc PC 
models, together  with the A7000 computer in different configurations, have 
increased memory,  multimedia and networking capabilities at reduced prices. 
The Acorn range, which  starts with the A3010 at #299, now includes a second 
generation Risc PC 600,  two new Risc PC 700 models and three different 
configurations of the new A7000,  all available with optional low cost CD 
ROM drives. 

Mike O'Riordan, Sales and Marketing Director at Acorn Computers Ltd, 
comments: "The launch of these new products means Acorn can offer schools 
and individuals a comprehensive and expanded range of powerful and 
affordable computers.  The A7000 is a powerful multimedia, network-ready, 
32-bit RISC computer, which at #749 offers unbeatable value for money.  We 
expect it rapidly to become the educational standard." 

He continues:  "The new Risc PC 600 and the Risc PC 700 continue the 
tradition  of high-performance multimedia systems offering multi-processor 
capability,  running Windows as a native operating system alongside Acorn's 
intuitive RISC OS, which has been continually refined since its launch in 
1989.   We now have models with more RAM, more ROM and built-in networking 
capacity for  lower prices.  Schools have asked for this power at lower 
prices and this is  what we have delivered." 

All the new models come with increased ROM (4MB) which contains Acorn's 
ROM-based  32-bit operating system, RISC OS, freeing RAM memory for 
applications and the hard drive for storing data.  By contrast, DOS and 
Windows operating  systems reside in main memory and users have to buy more 
RAM to achieve  a similar level of performance.  Plug and play networking 
using Acorn Access is also  available in ROM on all the new Acorn models, 
making networking as simple as slotting  in a network card. 

The A7000 is the latest addition to the A-series range and provides faster 
32-bit multimedia functionality and improved networking capabilities.  All 
three new  A7000 models are available with an optional built-in CD ROM drive 
for under #100, and  faster serial and parallel ports have been included to 
enable quicker printing and  communications connections. 

The A7000 2MB Net costs #749 (REP*), #1049 inc VAT (RRP)  and is a 
hard-discless personal computer with a built-in Ethernet networking card. 
With enhanced  screen resolutions, memory and sound performance, the A7000 
2MB  Net is ideally suited to the networking needs of schools and is 
designed to be used with  any Acorn networking solution, whether peer to 
peer or fileserver technology.  The A7000 also comes in two other new 
configurations: 2MB of DRAM and a  425 MB hard disc priced at #799 (REP) or 
#1099 inc VAT (RRP), or with 4MB of DRAM  and a 425MB hard disc, priced at 
#875 (REP) or #1199 inc VAT (RRP). 

The entry-level Risc PC 600, now with the 32-bit 33 MHz ARM 610 processor, 
has  been updated to include 16-bit sound and built-in networking software, 
and has been  reduced in price to #999 (REP) or #1349 inc VAT (RRP). 
Additionally, all new  Risc PC models come with a minimum of 4MB of DRAM as 
standard and are available  with an optional low cost CD ROM drive. 

The new Risc PC 700 takes full advantage of the new 32-bit 40 MHz ARM 710 
processor, with increased execution speed. The Risc PC 700 is  available in 
two configurations:  The Risc PC 700 with 1MB of VRAM, 4MB of  DRAM and a 
425MB hard disc will cost #1199 (REP) and #1599 inc VAT (RRP); the 
top-of-the-range Risc PC 700 with 2MB of VRAM, 8MB of DRAM and an 850MB hard 
disc will cost #1499 (REP) or #1989 inc VAT (RRP). 

The Risc PC is Acorn's top-of-the-range personal computer which, through its 
innovative modular construction, allows fast and easy upgradeability.  The 
Risc PC also has an innovative second processor slot for extra processor 
cards and, by adding a PC card starting at less than #100,  can run a 
secondary operating system such as Windows natively,  rather than under 
emulation.  The new Risc PC range offers all the  traditional strengths of 
RISC processing coupled with the additional  benefits of interconnection and 
interworking with other technologies and  products. 

The Risc PC, which was originally launched in April 1994, was recently 
praised by the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Shephard, when it 
won First Place Gold in the secondary schools' category of the 1994/95 
Educational Computing and Technology Awards.  It was also chosen as  Best 
RISC Product of the Year 1994 by Chip, one of Germany's foremost computing 
publications. 

Founded in 1978, Acorn Computers Ltd designs, develops and markets 
appropriate technologies to identified markets and is one of the world's 
leading suppliers of information technology to education. The first supplier 
of low-cost 32-bit RISC based personal computers in 1987, Acorn remains one 
of the most cost-effective research and development organisations in the 
industry, renowned for technology innovation which has led to the formation 
of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd and Online Media. 

Acorn Computer Group plc is the holding company for Acorn Computers Limited, 
Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online Media.  Acorn 
Computer Group owns 43% of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.  Online Media, a 
division of the Acorn Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the 
objective to design interactive multimedia products. 

* REP: Recommended Education Price. All REPs shown are ex VAT.