Two models are available. The 486PC-25 Card includes a powerful 486SLC processor, while the 486PC-50 Card has a "clock doubled" 486 chip. This means that although the PC Card itself runs at 25 MHz, the 486 runs internally at twice that speed (50 MHz), providing improved performance.
In addition to PC functionality and speed far in advance of Acorn's software PC Emulator, Aleph One PC Cards offer a high degree of integration between the PC and Acorn worlds on your desktop.
Swapping text and graphics between PC and Acorn worlds is as simple as cutting and pastingŅimagine pasting text from PC-only CD-ROMs directly into your RISC OS word processor or database. You can even use your PC Card to allow your Acorn computer to connect to PC networks such as Novell Netware, Windows for Workgroups and LAN Manager.
With the addition of Aleph One's Windows driver software, supplied as standard with these cards, the 486 and the ARM processor in your computer work together to improve performance, with the ARM acting as a graphics coprocessor.
The cards work in two modes. In multi-tasking mode the PC screen appears as a window on the RISC OS desktop; in single-tasking mode the PC takes over the whole screen and runs more quickly because the ARM processor is devoted to supporting it. A keyboard short cut lets you switch between the two modes.
You can run Microsoft Windows3.1 and Windows for Workgroups on your 486 PC Card. All cards are supplied with a Windows driver which dramatically improves the performance of the cards when running Microsoft Windows. The graphics power of the ARM chip inside your Acorn computer is harnessed to perform many of Windows graphics tasks, reducing the workload of the 486 processor and improving the speed with which Windows programs are displayed. The Windows driver software supports all PC modes which can be displayed on Acorn hardware - the precise combination depends on the type of ARM platform.
Networking options are optional extras available at extra cost. Consult the current price list for details.
Our software enables you to use many of your Acorn peripherals with the PC Card. CD-ROMs and removeable discs can be accessed. You can connect printers directly to the PC Card's parallel port, or send printing output through your Acorn computer's printer port. An additional serial port can be fitted as an optional extra. Both ports permits high-speed communication at up to 113.4 Kbaud.
Although the 486PC Expansion Cards may be fitted, a range of superior Open Bus Coprocessor cards exists specifically for Risc PC.
Mini-podule PC expansion cards are also available from Acorn for the