News from
Castle Technology Ltd
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News from
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Castle Technology Ltd is responsible for selling enhanced versions of the Acorn-branded range of desktop computers, which continue to be developed and supported.
Castle is also responsible for the world's first XScale-based desktop computer, running the fully 32-bit RISC OS 5: the IYONIX pc. For more information, visit the product's home page at http://www.iyonix.com/.
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Contact details
RISC OS 4 Authorised InstallerCastle Technology Ltd is also a RISC OS 4 Authorised Installer. |
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The Suite is the essential product for all RISC OS developers, and allows easy software development for both 26-bit and 32-bit versions of RISC OS. Features include:
| Product name | Description | Latest version | Price |
| Acorn C/C++ Development Suite | The complete range of Acorn C/C++ tools, updated to produce 26-/32-bit code. Contains numerous new updates, additions, bug-fixes and extra resources compared with the original Acorn issue of the suite. Includes updated C99 compiler, ABC Basic Compiler and full documentation, including updated versions of the Programmer's Reference Manuals. | CD version 10 | 169.36 ex. VAT |
Oregano2 is a sophisticated and extremely fast new Web browser from Castle Technology Ltd and Oregan Networks Ltd. Notable features supported by Oregano2 include:
| Oregano2 product type | Price (£) |
| Single user licence | 84.26 ex. VAT |
| Education site licence (20) | 199 ex. VAT |
| Education/Business site licence (40) | 299 ex. VAT |
| Oregano to Oregano2 upgrades | |
| Single user upgrade | 49 ex. VAT |
| Primary to Education site licence upgrade | 100 ex. VAT |
| Secondary to Education/Business site licence upgrade | 150 ex. VAT |
A copy of the Oregano version 1 demo is provided here on the CD. For a demo copy of Oregano2, visit the Oregano2 Web Browser page.
| Product name | Description | Latest version | On this CD |
| Oregano2 | Fast 26-/32-bit compatible Web browser with support for SSL 3.0, JavaScript 1.5, Cascading Stylesheets 1.0, Flash 3 & 4, Unicode fonts and more | v2.2.18 rev.3 | N/A |
| Oregano | Fast Web browser with support for 128-bit SSL, JavaScript, Cascading Stylesheets, TrueType fonts and plug-ins | 1.10 |
Demo
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The IYONIX pc is Castle's super-fast new desktop computer. At the heart of the machine is the powerful ARM-compatible Intel XScale 80321 processor running at 600MHz. Combined with a powerful nVidia graphics card and running the RISC OS 5 operating system, the power and performance of the IYONIX pc is outstanding.
The IYONIX pc is the world's first desktop computer to be based on the Intel XScale processor. It comes with RISC OS 5 built into Flash ROM, meaning that upgrades can easily be performed via a simple software update available from the Web. In addition to RISC OS, the IYONIX pc is capable of running the popular Linux Unix-like operating system.
Hardware features include:
| IYONIX pc (Economy) | IYONIX pc (Standard) | IYONIX pc MAX | |
| Memory | 128Mb 200MHz DDR | 128Mb 200MHz DDR | 512Mb 200MHz DDR |
| Hard disc | 40Gb | 80Gb | 100Gb |
| Optical drive | 48× CD | 48×/24× CD-RW | 48×/24× CD-RW |
| Video |
Screen modes up to 2048×1536 in 256, 32K or 16M colours
provided by nVidia GeForce2 MX400 |
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| Expansion and ports |
2× 5.25" bays
3× 3.5" bays 4× PCI slots 2× RS232 serial ports 4× USB 2× IDE connectors supporting two drives each 32-bit EASI podule socket (2-slot backplane required) 10/100/1000 base twisted pair networking Audio in Mic in Audio/headphones out |
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| OS | RISC OS 5.03 | ||
| Bundled software |
Oregano2 Web browser
Writer+ word-processor (compatible with Word 6 and HTML) Fireworkz office software, combining powerful word processor and spreadsheet Messenger Lite email and newsreader application DialUp Internet connectivity software CDBurn Lite CD-authoring application and many further full applications and demos |
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| Price (£) inc. VAT | 1249 | 1299 | 1399 |
The Kinetic Risc PC is a brand new development by Castle. The best has just got a whole lot better. As part of its ongoing development programme, Castle has produced the first new StrongARM development since taking over the manufacture of Acorn products in May 1999.
| The Kinetic Risc PC comes with upgradeable fast SDRAM, providing the StrongARM processor with unrestricted fast RAM access. This ensures that the processor can access memory at the maximum design speed of 66MHz. This speed increase is more than four times the speed of the original Risc PC FPM memory that ran at only 16MHz. A maximum of 256Mb of SDRAM memory can be fitted. |
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| Kinetic ... | Ek | DVD | Risc PC | Internet | 300 | CD Writer |
| StrongARM speed | 233MHz | 300MHz | 233MHz | |||
| Memory |
32Mb SDRAM
4Mb FPM RAM 2Mb VRAM (38Mb) |
64Mb SDRAM
4Mb FPM RAM 2Mb VRAM (70Mb) |
128Mb RAM
4Mb FPM RAM 2Mb VRAM (134Mb) |
128Mb RAM
8Mb FPM RAM 2Mb VRAM (138Mb) |
64Mb SDRAM
2Mb VRAM (66Mb) |
64Mb RAM
4Mb FPM RAM 2Mb VRAM (70Mb) |
| Hard disc | 10Gb | 10Gb | 30Gb | 30Gb | 30Gb | 30Gb |
| Optical drive | 48× CD | DVD (used as CD) | CD-RW | 48× CD | 52× CD | CD-RW |
| Expansion and ports |
2-slot backplane
Network slot RS232 serial port Parallel port Monitor port (15-pin HD) Keyboard port (PS/2) Mouse port (9-pin mini DIN) Headphone jack for 8-channel 16-bit stereo digital audio |
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| Bundled hardware | N/A | 56K external modem | N/A | 17" monitor | ||
| OS | RISC OS 4.03 | |||||
| Bundled software |
Oregano2 Web browser
EasiWriter Pro word-processor (compatible with Word 6 and HTML) Resultz spreadsheet with powerful maths and financial functions |
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| Price (£) | 935.32 ex. VAT | 999 ex. VAT | 1099 ex. VAT | 1199 ex. VAT | 1199 ex. VAT | 1275.74 ex. VAT |
Upgrade your Risc PC with the Kinetic Upgrade Card! The Kinetic card incorporates a single SDRAM module, providing the StrongARM processor with unrestricted fast RAM access. The card comes supplied with a specially-produced version of RISC OS 4 which loads into SDRAM at boot-time for unparalleled performance. Castle's new SharpBUS protocols are also used to enhance and improve the processor bus timings, ensuring better compatibility with PC cards, FPM memory etc. Thus, the new Kinetic upgrade card will ensure that PC cards are much more likely to work well than with the original Acorn StrongARM upgrade.
The Kinetic Risc PC Upgrade Card is a plug-in upgrade for existing Risc PCs, and for a limited time comes with 64Mb of SDRAM for free. The price of the upgrade is £399 ex. VAT and delivery. Various trade-up schemes are also available for users who already own StrongARM cards and/or RISC OS 4. A summary of the prices is as follows:
| Product | For Risc PC systems... | Price (£) |
| Kinetic Upgrade Card | Without StrongARM; Without RISC OS 4 | 399 ex. VAT |
| Trade-up Scheme 1 | With StrongARM; With RISC OS 4 | 299 ex. VAT |
| Trade-up Scheme 2 | Without StrongARM; With RISC OS 4 | 349 ex. VAT |
| Trade-up Scheme 3 | With StrongARM; Without RISC OS 4 | 349 ex. VAT |
128Mb versions of the card are also available for an extra £69 ex. VAT.
The trade-up schemes are only available to Risc PC users who pay by credit or debit cards (or use official authorised orders). To make the schemes as simple as possible to operate, Castle has adopted the following advance replacement procedure:
All returned StrongARM cards and RISC OS 4 ROMs must be received in serviceable order.
Castle's lightning-fast Acorn Risc PC 233T sets the standard for robust, trouble-free computing. The 233MHz processor is further enhanced by the exceptionally efficient and robust RISC OS architecture. This puts the Risc PC 233T among the leaders for raw computing power.
| Risc PC 233T | Risc PC 233T | Risc PC 233T CD | Risc PC 233T DVD | Web Wizard | |
| OS | RISC OS 3.71 | RISC OS 4 | |||
| Memory | 8Mb RAM | 16Mb RAM |
16Mb RAM
2Mb VRAM |
32Mb RAM
2Mb VRAM |
32Mb RAM
2Mb VRAM |
| Hard disc | 2Gb | 4Gb | 4Gb | 8Gb | 8Gb |
| Optical drive | N/A | N/A | 48× CD drive | DVD (Used as CD) | 48× CD drive |
| Modem included | No | No | No | No | 56K external modem |
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Bundled software (all models) |
Oregano2 Web browser
EasiWriter Pro word-processor (compatible with Word 6 and HTML) Resultz spreadsheet with powerful maths and financial functions |
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| Price (£) | 749 ex. VAT | 799 ex. VAT | 879 ex. VAT | 929 ex. VAT | 999 ex. VAT |
There are six different configurations of the Odyssey designed to suit your needs. Make your choice!
| Network | HD | CD | Primary | Secondary | Surf | |
| OS | RISC OS 3.71 (RISC OS 4 optional for an extra £49 ex. VAT) | RISC OS 4 | ||||
| RAM | 16Mb | 8Mb | 16Mb | 16Mb | 16Mb | 24Mb |
| Hard disc | N/A | 1Gb | 4Gb | 4Gb | 4Gb | 4Gb |
| CD-ROM | N/A | 48× CD drive | ||||
| Modem | N/A |
56K external modem
(ISDN option available) |
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Bundled software (all models) |
Oregano2 Web browser
EasiWriter Pro word-processor (compatible with Word 6 and HTML) Resultz spreadsheet with powerful maths and financial functions |
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Bundled software (additional) |
N/A | See below | ||||
| Price (£) | 399 ex. VAT | 449 ex. VAT | 549 ex. VAT | 599 ex. VAT | 599 ex. VAT | 599 ex. VAT |
The A7000+ Odyssey Primary, Secondary and Surf models come with a range of bundled software:
| Bundled software | |
| Primary |
Darryl the Dragon: adventure story from 4Mation
Maths: one million worksheets; computation 5-7 from CCS Talking Naughty Stories: twelve Key Stage 1 stories from Sherston Software Tiny Art: junior art program from Topologika Acorn Explorer: home training course for RISC OS from Insight Training King Arthur: CD of legends of Saxon conquest from CSH Six ArgoSphere activities + offline browser and high-quality mouse mat |
| Secondary |
Rhapsody 2: music program from Clares
Pandora's Box: 3D game from the Fourth Dimension Artisan 2: acclaimed art package from Clares Micro Supplies DrawWORKS Millennium CD: iSV's drawing package with 1000 clip-art images and 2100 fonts Six ArgoSphere activities + offline browser and high-quality mouse mat |
| Surf |
Voyager Internet Suite: an introductory free service with Argo's Internet Suite that allows you to connect to Internet resources all over the world. The software includes:
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Castle's Acorn A7000+ Classic is a good investment.
| A7000+ Classic HD | A7000+ Classic CD | |
| OS | RISC OS 3.71 | RISC OS 3.71 |
| RAM | 8Mb | 16Mb |
| Hard disc | 1Gb | 2Gb |
| CD-ROM | N/A | 40× CD drive |
| Monitor | Optional extra: choose from 14", 15", 17" or LCD | |
| Price (£) | 449 ex. VAT | 499 ex. VAT |
When faced with the need for multiple workstations on your network, the Sprinter networked computer will provide an efficient, low-cost solution. It is an extremely powerful computer, able to use both RISC OS and Windows® software. Connecting the Sprinter to a Microsoft Windows NT® Server provides a low maintenance, easily manageable, thin-client solution for NGFL and other network requirements.
Price: £299 ex. VAT (excluding monitor)
Note: network infrastructure & additional server software required.
The Sprinter needs to run on a network which has:
For RISC OS use the following software is also needed:
For both RISC OS and Windows® use the following software is needed:
Software synopsis:
When used in conjunction with Microsoft® Windows NT Server, Terminal Server Edition, and Citrix MetaFrame, Acorn RISC OS computer systems can access the latest Windows 32-bit applications.