BBC Master Heads for Retirement Acorn Computers is to cease manufacture of the BBC Master 128 computer from the beginning of May 1993. For the past eleven years Acorn Computers has been satisfying the needs of education users with the very latest in leading edge technology. The appearance in 1982 of Acorn's BBC B computer, which itself was followed by the launch of the Master 128 four years later, established Acorn's 8-bit technology at the forefront of affordable computing solutions in a variety of markets. Since the introduction of Acorn's 32-bit RISC-based Archimedes computer in 1987, in excess of 250,000 32-bit RISC systems have been sold and over 2,500 software titles have been developed specifically for the Archimedes platform. Acorn manufactures the only 32-bit RISC-based computer system in the world for under #500 and recent research shows that the Archimedes is now the preferred choice of teachers at all levels across the curriculum. Accordingly, some seven years after the launch of the Master 128, Acorn has decided to cease the manufacture of this 8-bit computer from the start of May 1993. However, a further 2,000 units are planned to be built before then in order to maintain supply throughout the summer period and Acorn will continue to provide spare parts for a minimum of five more years, as well as taking orders for peripheral software and hardware products while stocks last. Acorn's Marketing Director, Mike O'Riordan explained that the decision was taken after careful consideration of a number of relevant factors, not least of which is the general move away from 8-bit technology to 32-bit computer platforms that are now found in some 80% of educational institutions throughout the UK. "The Master has contributed greatly to Acorn's success and will continue for many years to be used for key applications within the classroom. "However, Acorn has developed a policy of helping customers make the transition to the newer technology smoothly by making available its BBC Model B emulator - which allows many BBC B and Master 128 software programs to run on the Archimedes platform - free of charge to educationalists and all users of its Archimedes range." he said. "Sales of the older 8-bit computers have been declining rapidly over the past couple of years to the point where the cost of manufacturing these models is rendered uneconomic. In addition, there has also of late been great difficulty in securing the longer term supply of some of the components for their manufacture." ENDS _______________________________________________________________________________ aglo...@acorn.co.uk, moderator of comp.sys.acorn.announce. Submissions to announce-requ...@acorn.co.uk, other related mail to announ...@acorn.co.uk.