For those who didn't attend BETT '96, or didn't pick up a press pack - below is the text of the main overview release at the show. Apologies for the belated circulation. Another release, also in the Acorn's press pack at BETT '96, follows. News from Acorn Education PR147 10.1.96 BETT 96, Olympia, Jan 10-13 H96 Stands: 241 and SN19 No Limits to Learning - Acorn Education launches MediaRange(TM) technology framework at BETT 96 - Acorn Education is unveiling its technology roadmap which will take educational IT forward for the next five years and beyond. The Acorn MediaRange(TM) is a complete framework of appropriate learning technologies encompassing classes of solutions which combine hardware, software, communications, service and support materials. The MediaRange links all forms of media - print, video, audio, multimedia, online services - appropriate to learning in schools, the home or anywhere in the connected community. The launch reflects the change of emphasis at Acorn Education from hardware only to creative IT solutions which deliver real educational advantage. Mike O'Riordan, director of Acorn Education, comments: "The Acorn MediaRange is not just about where you want to go today, it's about where you want to be tomorrow. Many of the products are available and in use today but the beauty of the MediaRange is that it provides a framework for incorporating future technologies, as they become available, with existing IT resources for learning. The MediaRange also provides different solutions to suit all activities, skills, locations and budgets. In fact the three educational principles - continuity, progression and differentiation - can also be applied to the MediaRange itself." The MediaRange consists of a number of classes of products and services. Examples of each class of product are being demonstrated on the Acorn stand at BETT 96 by students from Tavistock College, Devon. For further information on the Acorn MediaRange please refer to the document 'No Limits To Learning - a discussion document on the evolution of learning technologies.' Acorn's focus on solutions continues with the announcement of its first curriculum solution, the PocketLab, a complete data-logging solution for primary and secondary science work based on the Pocket Book II 256k running data logging software and spreadsheets, linked to a data-logger and sensors, for under 500 pounds. Also detailed in Acorn Education's new Spring '96 Products & Services Catalogue, the A7000 desktop range prices have been reduced across the board by up to 100 pounds, with the entry level A7000 2MB NET now starting at 675 pounds and a new model, the A7000 4MB NET, available for the first time at 749 pounds. The A7000 2MB HD425 now costs 699 pounds, the A7000 4MB HD425 is priced at 775 pounds while the A7000 4MB HD425 CD has been reduced to 875 pounds. The higher specification Risc PC x86 card range, including the Risc PC 5x86 card launched at the show, is available and being demonstrated at BETT 96. The Risc PC card range allows users to run RISC OS and Windows applications simultaneously, as well as most PC CD ROM titles including Microsoft's Encarta. The top three new Risc PC x86 Cards are upgradeable, giving users the flexibility to increase performance to meet future needs. See editors' notes for pricing details. Tesco is also on the Acorn stand this year, showing multimedia project work from winning schools in the Acorn Education and Tesco competition run during Tesco Computers for Schools '95. In addition, Tesco are announcing details of the 1996 scheme which runs from Monday 18 March to Sunday 26 May. Elsewhere at the show, Acorn Education is on the Net @ BETT stand demonstrating Online Media set top boxes showing interactive TV, Risc PCs running Acorn InterTalk Web browsers and a Risc PC with a videophone link to the main Acorn stand. Acorn is presenting its future vision for broadband communications throughout the show. In the Class Act '96 area, primary schoolchildren and teachers participating in the National Literacy Association Docklands Learning Acceleration Project are showing how they are using Acorn Pocket Books for a range of literacy activities at home and school. 450 Pocket Books are currently being used by Docklands schoolchildren as part of the project to improve standards of literacy and basic skills in the area. Acorn's focus on special education continues this year, with Acorn's stand in the special needs area at BETT 96. Notes to editors: Risc PC x86 Card pricing Product 1. With Risc PC 2. Upgrade price Risc PC x86 Card 5x86 399 299 Risc PC x86 Card DX4-100 199 199 Risc PC x86 Card DX2-66 149 149 Risc PC x86 Card SXL-33 99 99 1. This is the reduced price of the card when purchased at the same time as Risc PC effective from 10th January 1996. 2. Existing owners of the original Risc PC 486 Card can benefit from a loyalty discount when upgrading to one of the top three PC x86 Cards if they return their original Risc PC 486 Card. This upgrade route is only available through Acorn-by-Post and Acorn Centres of Technology.