Clubbing Together

Neil Spellings, Chairman of the Association of Acorn User Groups (AAUG), introduces the User Group Database

 AAUG

A word from the Chairman

RISC OS computing has a come a long way since Acorn Computers Ltd left the scene, and, with forthcoming hardware developments, has a long way to go, too. User groups still play a crucial rôle in this: they are among the few places you can go to get advice from other users who have similar systems, software and interests as yourself.

The user group scene is still very much thriving, with several new groups having appeared over the last few months. The resources linked to this article contain details of everything relating to user groups, from the meeting places of your nearest group to some of the discounts that you can obtain by joining.

The AAUG is always looking for people who are interesting in starting new local groups; so, if you know of a few other people in your area who use Acorn or RISC OS computers, why not get together, give me your details and start up another local group!

Neil Spellings
Chairman, Association of Acorn User Groups (AAUG)

User group resources

The following article provides, or links to, the following information about AAUG services and all user groups affiliated with the AAUG:

AAUG logo

AAUG contact details

Address: Flat 5
19 Normanton Road
South Croydon
Surrey
CR2 7JU
Telephone: 07785 935497
Web: http://www.aaug.net/
Email: neil@aaug.net

AAUG.net

AAUG.net is a way of contacting both the AAUG and all the user groups that are members of it.

All user groups have an email address of the form clubname@aaug.net, and their Web site can be accessed through http://www.aaug.net/clubname/.

All of these contact details can be found in the individual user group pages in the Foundation RISC User Database, along with other means of contacting clubs directly, and similar information may of course be found on the main AAUG Web site: http://www.aaug.net/.

AAUG SmartGroup

AAUG's SmartGroup Web pages, which previously were available only to invited committee members of AAUG member groups, are now open 24 hours a day to full public access.

You can check the pages out at:

http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/aaug/

On the site, you will find a calendar of events that is supplementary to the events page on the AAUG's own Web site. There is also additional information on all of the AAUG's member groups, and the ability to take part in votes, etc.

AAUG Online

The AAUG provides its own completely free ISP (Internet Service Provider) service for RISC OS users: AAUG Online.

Why put money into pockets of fat-cat ISPs like Freeserve, who probably havnt even heard of RISC OS? AAUG Online supports fully automated sign-up online, with no obligation, so if you like us, use us!

Need more reasons? Try these...

  1. It's free. There are no sign-up fees and no monthly charges.
  2. We support online sign-up: no CD is required.
  3. We provide customised dial-up scripts for the ANT Suite and DialUp, plus full connection details for those with other software.
  4. You get 25Mb of FREE Web space.
  5. You can have an unlimited number of email addresses on your own 'sub-domain@aaugonline.net'.
  6. Full newsgroup access is available.
  7. You get local-call-rate dial-up access supporting V90 and 64K/128K ISDN.
  8. And for those who really want to, we will also provide .INS files for use on Windows PCs.
  9. Free email support is available, and telephone support if necessary via premium-rate number.
  10. Any income we receive from call charges goes into the running of the AAUG, and is not poured into corporate profits!

For more details, visit AAUG Online's home page at http://www.aaugonline.net/.

Club Database

The User Group section of the Database provides comprehensive details of all user groups affiliated with the AAUG. Whenever you see the logo to the right within the Database section, clicking on it will take you either to a specific club page (e.g. from that club's authorised installer page) or to the complete list of user groups. 		AAUG

RISC OS 4 authorised installers

Along with dealers, many user groups are authorised to install the RISC OS 4 upgrade. Contact the individual clubs for specific details. Whenever you see the logo to the right within these Database pages, clicking on it will take you either to a specific authorised installer page (e.g. the one for a particular user group) or to the complete list of authorised installers. 		RO4 AI

Events diary

Full details of forthcoming user group meetings and shows are provided in the Forthcoming Events page within Foundation RISC User's News section. Where possible, details of the speaker at each meeting have been provided, and directions to the venue may be found in the associated club page. However, for further details please contact the user group in question.

Note that, for convenience, clubs are listed by area within the table, as the location of a meeting is generally more useful than a club acronym (e.g. "Bottisham" rather than "BAUG"). However, clicking on an area reference will take you to the information page about the appropriate club.

Discount scheme

The user group discount scheme continues to grow, and now offers all user group members discounts on the products and services of many companies. To order products from any of the companies listed below at the discounted price, you must be a member of one of the groups listed in the club directory, and you must use the official AAUG order form, which is available from club committees.

Links in the following table open pages in new browser windows.

Company Discount Products Example
4Mation 15% All products
Acorn User magazine (Tau Press) Up to £1 per copy Bulk purchase available for user groups (buy in quantities of more than 5 issues at a time for a unit price of £3.20 ex. P&P)
Alternative Publishing 17.5% All products
Anglia Multimedia 25% All products plus other special offers £12.50 off many 10-user educational software titles
Apricote Studios 20% All products £10 off Personal Accounts 4
Archive magazine £10 off new subscriptions plus a free CD
ArgoNet £10 off Surf @ Speed pack
The ARM Club 10% All products DiscKnight reduced from £10 to £9
Clares Micro Supplies 10% All software products £10 off Rhapsody 4 and WimpBASIC 2
Computer Concepts 20%
10% 		All software
All hardware (excluding printers) 		£30 off Impression Publisher
£5 off ScanLight 256
Creative Curriculum Software 20% All products £12 off Langdale CD
CTA Direct 5% All RiscStation computers, and all of CTA's own products (payment by cheque or debit card only) R7500 Lite base unit reduced from £499 ex. VAT to £474.05
2½% Products as above (payment by credit card) R7500 Lite base unit reduced from £499 ex. VAT to £486.53
The Event Horizon 10% All products
H S Software 15% All products Nstore 6 reduced from £49.95 to £42.46
Icon Technology 15% All products (including upgrades from Writer) EasiWriter Pro+ reduced from £129 to £110;
TechWriter Pro+ reduced from £179 to £152
Learning Through Computing 10%
40%
50% 		All products
Any 10 mixed items
Any 10 identical items (bulk buy)
Levens Software 10% to 20% Many books and HTML Pro Get HTML Pro for £25 (fully inclusive)
5% RiscStation products Save nearly £25 on a R7500Lite
4% Castle's Acorn computer range Save nearly £50 on a Kinetic Risc PC
5% Range of monitors and hard drives 19" monitor reduced from £250 ex. VAT to £237.50 ex. VAT
Longman Logotron 10%
15%
25% 		Any single purchase
5 to 10 items
10 or more items 		£10 off Eureka spreadsheet
£££s off 10 out of 10 range
Mijas Software 17.5% All products £18 off ArcSimp Professional
Photodesk Ltd 10% All software Photodesk 3 Olympic Edition reduced from £134.75 to £121.28
Quadworks 10% All products
Quantum Software 10% All products £2 off Undelete
R-Comp & R-Comp Interactive Various special offers: ring for details on 01925 755043
The Really Good Software Company 15% All products Over £5 off Notice Board
Serious Statistical Software 10% All versions of 1st
Standard:1stL1stJr1st
Single user£65£99£189
Discounted£58£89£170
Site/Department £199 £299 £399
Discounted£179£269£359
Education:1stL1stJr1st
Single user£49£79£149
Discounted£44£71£134
Site/Department £149 £249 £349
Discounted£134£224£314
Sherston 20% All products
Surftec 10% Surftec products DigiFlash reduced from £79 ex. VAT, inc. delivery to £71.20 ex. VAT
5% Other products Epson Stylys Color 760 reduced from £118.30 ex. VAT/delivery to £112.39
Topologika 10%
20%
Free item 		Any single purchase
Two purchases
Buy three, get one free! 		Save up to £50 when making multiple purchases
Tower Electronics Free connection to Enterprise Internet
Yellowstone Electronic Solutions 10% All catalogue products £20 off RapIDE IDE interface

The AAUG Shop

In November 2000 the AAUG launched its new shopping portal, the AAUG Shop:

http://www.aaugshop.com/

We have teamed up with Amazon.co.uk to provide some useful and common products for all Acorn and RISC OS users. Whether you are a user group member or not, the AAUG Shop can help you quicky and easily find any of the following products:

In addition to computer-related goods, visitors can also search, browse and purchase from the millions of other products that Amazon offers:

Q: Why visit the AAUG shop and not Amazon directly?
A 1: We have spent time organising frequently required products into short, fast links.
A 2: We get paid! Amazon kindly donates a small percentage of every sale made via the AAUG shop to the AAUG funds, and as the AAUG is an entirely voluntary, subscription-free organisation, these extra funds come in very handy to keep the AAUG up and running!

Q: Won't Amazon just add the AAUG commission onto the cost of my goods?
A: No. The price that Amazon charges is the same regardless of whether they are paying anyone any commission or not. If you go to their site directly they just make more profit! Note that Amazon does change its prices slightly on a day-to-day basis, but this is not related to commission.

So, whether you are looking for a replacement ink cartridge, that book on ARM assembler, a gift for Christmas or the latest DVD release, think of the AAUG Shop when making your purchase!

We will expand the shop over the coming months to include more easy-to-use product links and other online retailers to give you more choice when shopping online. If any companies would like to list their products in the AAUG Shop, then please email me directly.