Acorn is Still Education Market Leader..... Embargo Release Date 20th January 1993 Acorn Computers' position as the number one supplier of computers to schools has once again been confirmed by independent research. Figures released by RS&M show that during the period April to October 1992, 67 per cent of schools buying computer equipment bought Acorn machines. Particularly impressive was the Primary sector where 77 per cent of computers purchased were Acorn machines, up three per centage points on the previous year. Significant gains were also made in the Independent sector where brand share rose by 11 points to 41 per cent. The most popular computer in schools remained Acorn's BBC A3000 model which accounted for a quarter of all computers bought by UK schools. There were twice as many A3000s bought as its nearest competitor - RM's 386 PC. When asked who makes the best computers for curriculum use, Acorn came out on top in every sector as the leading manufacturer for curriculum solutions. Sixty five per cent of Primary, 42 per cent of Secondary and 33 per cent of Independent schools spontaneously nominated Acorn as their preferred choice. Acorn computers also come out on top in each sector in terms of the most commonly used computers in schools. Seventy eight percent in Primary, 51 per cent in Secondary and 48 per cent in the Independent sector use Acorn machines most often - all significantly higher than Acorn's nearest competitor. Over half Britain's teachers use a computer at home, of which the Acorn platform is by far and away the most popular choice. Indeed, when asked what computer they would purchase now for home use, 45% said they would most like to have an Acorn computer. Acorn's General Manager for Education, Peter Talbot said the figures confirmed his own findings. "Educationalists have to come to appreciate the fact that Acorn's solutions offer the optimum level of performance combined with the lowest cost of ownership of any platform. They know that Acorn can deliver specialised systems to give access to both educational software as well as to ordinary business packages. "Our computers offer high functionality and excellent graphics performance and on top of that they interwork well with other platforms such as PCs and networks to offer the best of all worlds to our users. Acorn systems provide performance not possible on other platforms - such as the full motion video capability being used to put the NCC IV materials on to Acorn CD ROM systems. "Another fact that often goes unnoticed is that Acorn maintains very strong links with its third party software developers. This allows us, in partnership, to develop education solutions tailor-made for specific audiences, whereas in the DOS world the UK education community cannot rely on commercial developers - who are in the main American-based - to produce the range of packages they need. The only guarantee of obtaining the full range of software they require is by following the Acorn path." Peter Talbot continued "Acorn is also the computer of choice for the majority of educational IT centres throughout the UK. The support we give to them through the Acorn in Education Centre scheme highlights Acorn's on-going commitment to supporting the education community. "The success of last year's Tesco scheme, which offered schools the opportunity to collect vouchers which could be exchanged for computers, demonstrated how popular our computers are. Many schools went to extraordinary lengths to collect the vouchers, even in areas where their installed base is primarily made up of DOS machines. " he added. "It is no accident that in a year that has just seen great turmoil for the vast majority of computer firms around the world, the Acorn Computers share price was the fifth best performer across all markets in the UK throughout 1992. " 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.