If you placed an advance order with BEEBUG for your copy of RISC OS, then the chances are that you will have it by the time you read this. It is known that Acorn are currently building up stocks of the new operating system, and at the time of writing (end of February) it is thought that they will be released around the middle of March. The upgrade kit consists of four ROMs, an installation guide, a new Welcome guide, a new User Guide, and three discs. Two of these are 'Welcome' discs, while the third contains application directories for use with commercial software. The complete system is packed in a sturdy foam-lined white cardboard sleeve. If you haven't ordered RISC OS, then you can still do so from BEEBUG. The price to members is £36.35 including VAT and postage.
It had been thought that users of Acorn equipment would have been deprived of any specialist shows this year, because Database Publications decided not to hold their traditional May and Novmember shows. However, Redwood Publishing, organisers of the Acorn User show, which was last year called off, were quick to fill the gap. They will be holding an Acorn User show at Alexandra Palace from the 21st to 23rd of July. This is a day shorter than previous AU shows, and at a venue rather more out of the way than the Barbican.
There is nothing better at ruining a keyboard than a nice hot cup of coffee. Recognising this, Kador has produced a range of Seal 'n' Type keyboard covers that protect the keyboard in every-day use. The covers are made of very thin, but highly durable, transparent PVC, which protects the keys while retaining the 'feel' of the keyboard. The Seal 'n' Type cover for the Archimedes costs £11.95 inclusive, and is available from Kador, Unit 4, Pontcynon Industrial Estate, Abercynon, Mid Glamorgan CF45 4EP, tel. (0443) 740281. Kador also produce a range of Peace 'n' Quiet noise excluders for printers.
Premier, a recently released text processor from Circle Software, is claimed to be a new concept in word processors. Documents can include so-called Dynamic Text which is text that can be updated at a later date without changing the actual file. For example, a table of values can be incorporated into a document, with the actual values being saved in a separate file. This means the table can be changed just by altering the values file. Premier costs £50 (inc. VAT), which includes any updates released this year. A demo disc is available for £5. More details from Circle Software, 33 Restrop View, Purton, Swindon, Wiltshire SN5 9DG.
Acorn has launched a special drive to encourage schools to buy the R140 UNIX system reviewed in this issue. Local Education authorities are being given the chance to purchase the R140 complete with a colour monitor and two school administration packages (SIMS and SCRIPT) for £2695 (ex. VAT). This represents a saving of nearly £1500 over the normal price.
Instead of holding a post-mortem on the budget speech this year, you can try and do better yourself with a package from Topologika. Yes Chancellor! is a complete simulation of the country's economy, including inflation, stock market fluctuations, and exchange rates, as well as unforeseen events such as strikes and election fever. Yes Chancellor! was originally released a number of years ago for the BBC model B, but the new version is for an Archimedes equipped with the PC Emulator. Yes Chancellor! costs £18 (inc. VAT) from Topologika, PO Box 39, Stilton, Peterborough PE7 3RL, tel. (0487) 831153.
Silicon Vision has launched a package to simulate the design of gate arrays - complex custom-made chips which form the heart of many computers. Real chip design systems cost many thousands of pounds, and are therefore impractical to use for teaching purposes. However, Silicon Vision's system sells for just £89.95 (inc. VAT). More details can be obtained from Silicon Vision, Signal House, Lyon Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2AG, tel. 01-422 2274.