Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 20:12:07 +0100 (GMT)
From: Richard Simpson <rsimpson@ewrcsdra.demon.co.uk>
To: lwn@eklektix.com
Subject: Acorn users look to switch to Linux

Introduction for Americans:

Acorn (www.acorn.com) are (were) a UK computer company which have been
producing desktop computers since the early 1980s.  Originally these used
the 6502, but in 1989 Acorn designed the first ARM processor (originally
ARM stood for Acorn Risc Machine) and launched a personal computer to make
use of it.  This was the world's first risc based personal computer,
contrary to what Apple subsequently claimed prior to the UK courts forced
them to change their adverts.  Since then Acorn have made a series of
computers all based on ARM processors and running their own proprietory
RiscOS operating system.  These have always been most popular in the UK
and a number of other countries such as Australia.  They have long had a
strong presence in UK education (dating back to their 6502 machines). 
RiscOS has a very easy to use, stable and intuative GUI combined with
arguably the world's best font rendering technology and very fast graphics
(despite the lack of hardware acceleration).  Like the Amiga however, it
has suffered from the Wintel monopoly and has had an increasingly small
market share.  Many of the more recent Acorn computers are able to run
ARMLinux. 

News:

Last week, Acorn made the shock announcement, that after spending several
million pounds on their latest computer "Phoebe Risc PC 2" they were
cancelling the project and pulling out of desktop computing entirely in
order to concentrate on areas such as digital TV.  At the same time they
made 75 of their 175 employees redundant.  This represents the end of the
last independent UK desktop computer design company.  See
comp.sys.acorn.misc to experience a considerable amount of wailing and
gnashing of teeth!!

Why this is of interest to Linux folk:

The reason that all of the above is relevant to the Linux community is
that of all the suggestions in c.s.a.misc along the lines of "What the
hell are we going to do now?", the most common suggestion is that Acorn
enthusiasts start to move to Linux.  The primary route proposed is to
develope a C library which would allow the large amount of high quality
Acorn software currently in existance to be moved to Linux with the
minimum amount of pain together with the development of a X window
manager which would emulate the look and feel of RiscOS as closely as
possible.

Clearly, so soon after what was a completely unexpected announcement
(Acorn were accepting deposits for the new machine) the exact nature of
any move towards Linux has yet to become clear.  However, whatever route
emerges, it seems certain that a large number of computer enthusiasts and
experienced programmers will soon be joining the Linux community and
bringing with them some excellent software (particularly in areas like
DTP) and some useful technologies such as the worlds most comprehensive
drag-and-drop metaphore.  This influx can only be of benefit to the wider
Linux community.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard Simpson (Linux and Acorn user)
Farnborough, Hants, Uk                 Fax: 01252 392976
rsimpson@ewrcsdra.demon.co.uk