Acorn's New Pocket Book II Brings 'One Per Child' Ideal Within Reach 

Acorn Computers, the leading supplier of computers to UK schools, has 
come  up with a truly practical and economical solution to ensure each 
schoolchild  in the UK has access to a 'personal' computer, with the 
introduction of its  new Acorn Pocket Book II.  Pocket Book II builds 
on the strengths of the  original Acorn Pocket Book, which allows 
cash-limited schools to have volume  access to technology supporting 
all aspects of the National Curriculum,  without compromising power or 
functionality. 

In addition to the original features of Acorn's sophisticated 
'electronic  exercise book', which is already used extensively in UK 
schools, Pocket Book  II offers a larger, higher resolution screen and 
increased power and memory.  As well as a word processor, spreadsheet, 
database, calculator, clock and  alarm, Pocket Book II has more 
built-in software including a diary,  spellchecker & thesaurus, sound 
and voice recorder, Plotter which plots  mathematical equations and 
World which shows international time zones,  dialling codes and maps. 

Because of its size and neat design, the Pocket Book is very easy and 
attractive to use, regardless of your familiarity with computers. This 
may  be one of the reasons that girls are as willing as boys to accept 
and use  Pocket Books.  It also allows pupils to have computing power 
at their  fingertips alongside text books and other readily available 
classroom  materials. 

Peter Talbot, General Manager, UK Education at Acorn Computers, 
explains:  "Children are growing up in a world which is increasingly 
technology-led; if  we are to prepare them for life in the 21st 
century, computers should be a  natural and readily available part of 
the school environment, like any other  educational resource.  We see 
the Acorn Pocket Book being used as a tool for  children of all ages 
and abilities alongside the other educational materials  teachers and 
pupils use to support learning and development across the 
curriculum." 

"Many schools are using Pocket Books on a class basis at present - 
handing  them out at the start of a lesson, collecting them back at 
the end and then  passing them on for another class to use.  In the 
future, all schoolchildren  from five to eighteen are likely to have 
their own Pocket Book, or similar  small computer, in the same way as 
calculators are now almost universal." 

Light and strong enough to be carried safely and easily from lesson to 
lesson or to and from school in a bag or blazer pocket, the Pocket 
Book can  be used for homework, in the classroom and on field trips to 
collect and  record data.  The Acorn Pocket Book is also proving to be 
an ideal tool for  teachers to record pupil progress and achievement, 
plan lessons and  timetables, draft curriculum materials and to take 
notes in meetings. 

Pocket Book II will be available in September.  The original Acorn 
Pocket  Book (256k RAM) is still available at 169.95.  The new Pocket 
Book II (256k  RAM) is priced at 229.74, while the top of the range 
model (512k RAM) is  priced at 280.81. 

Class Packs of 10 Pocket Books together with mains adaptor, desktop 
links  and parallel printer links are also available, priced at 
1,699.50 for the  original Class Pack, and 2,297.45 for a Pocket Book 
II Class Pack.  All  prices exclude VAT.  Acorn Pocket Books are 
available from all authorised  Acorn education dealers.  For details 
of your local Acorn dealer please call  0223 254254. 

The Acorn Pocket Book is one of the palmtops featured in the recent 
NCET  portables study, the results of which are to be published in 
September.  Smaller than a paper-back book, the Pocket Book has its 
own screen and  keyboard, enclosed in a strong case.  Powered by 
long-lasting batteries, the  Pocket Book comes with a word processor, 
spreadsheet, database, diary,  calculator, spellchecker, thesaurus, 
clock & alarm, sound & voice recorder,  Plotter, World and OPL 
(Organiser Programming Langauge).  It can easily be  linked to Acorn, 
PC and Apple computers and printers to support schoolsI  existing 
technology investments. 

A host of additional applications are also available, including: 
drawing &  painting, personal organiser, personal accounts & expenses, 
telephone call  coster, adventure and sports games titles, sales and 
business contact  system, bank account management, Berlitz 
interpreter, health & nutrition and  systems to calculate child 
support payments & welfare benefits. 

Founded in 1978, with 1993 revenues of 54.3m, Acorn Computers is the 
premier supplier of IT solutions to UK education and has been the 
leading  provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. 
Acorn works  closely with a strong community of industry partners, 
users and software  developers to provide innovative technology 
solutions for the education,  consumer, publishing and international 
markets. 

The Acorn Computer Group is a holding company for Acorn Computers 
Limited,  Acorn Australia, Acorn New Zealand, Acorn GmbH and Online 
Media.  Acorn  Computer Group owns 43% of ARM Ltd.  Online Media, a 
division of the Acorn  Computer Group, was launched in 1994 with the 
mission to design world class,  interactive multimedia products. 

--- end release 2