Acorn Network Computer

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Acorn Network Computer
Acorn NetStation NC
DeveloperAcorn Computers, Oracle
ManufacturerAcorn Computers
Operating systemNCOS on 4096k ROM)
CPUARM 7500FE processor at 40 MHz; approx 35.9 MIPS
Memory4096k 12 MHz RAM

The Acorn Network Computer was a network computer designed and manufactured by Acorn Computers Ltd. It was the implementation of the Network Computer Reference Profile that Oracle Corporation commissioned Acorn to specify for network computers (for more detail on the history, see Acorn_Computers_Ltd#Network_Computers). Sophie Wilson of Acorn led the effort. It was launched in August 1996.

The NCOS operating system used in this first implementation was based on RISC OS and ran on ARM hardware.[1][2] Manufacturing obligations were achieved through a contract with Fujitsu subsidiary D2D.[3]

In 1997, Acorn offered its designs at no cost to licensees of RISC OS.[4]

Hardware models

Original model

The NetStation was available in two versions, one with a modem for home use via a television, and a version with an Ethernet card for use in businesses and schools with VGA monitors and an on-site BSD Unix fileserver based on RiscBSD, an early ARM port of NetBSD. Both versions were upgradable, as the modem and Ethernet cards were replaceable "podules" (Acorn-format Eurocards).

The Home NC and Corporate NC both used the ARM 7500FE and supported PAL, NTSC and SVGA displays. They had identical specifications.[5][6] The Office NC used a StrongARM SA-110 200MHz processor.[7]

StrongARM

Acorn continued to produce ARM-based designs, demonstrating its first StrongARM prototype in May 1996,[8] and the Office NC 6 months later.[9] This evolved into the CoNCord, launched in late 1997.[10]

New markets

Further designs included the Set-top Box NC (STB NC), the ExecPhone NC, and the NC TV.[9]

Later versions

The second generation Network Computer operating system was no longer based on RISC OS, and instead consisted of NetBSD 1.2.1 code. Later NCs were produced based on the Intel Pentium architecture.

See also

References

  1. ^ Loosemore, Tom (1996-10-04). "Five Go Nuts in Cambridge". Wired UK. Guardian Media Group/Wired Ventures. pp. 44–47. Retrieved 2011-05-04. [Ellison's] proposed Network Computer needed things Acorn already possessed in spades: a cheap, powerful processor in the form of the ARM 7500; a compact ROM-based operating system, RISCOS; TV compatibility.
  2. ^ "Acorn Group spurs NC clone market by giving away nc hardware production and reference designs". PR Newswire. 1997-08-19. Retrieved 2011-06-07. A scaled down version of RISC OS was licensed to Oracle to form its NCOS(TM).
  3. ^ "Acorn announces immediate availability of Acorn NC". PR Newswire. 1996-11-05. Retrieved 2011-06-07. In England, Acorn has contracted with D2D, a division of Fujitsu/ICL to manufacture the Acorn NC.
  4. ^ "Acorn Group spurs NC clone market by giving away nc hardware production and reference designs". PR Newswire. 1997-08-19. Retrieved 2011-06-07. Acorn Group has decided to offer its Network Computer hardware production and reference designs at no cost to licensees of its information appliance operating system, RISC OS.
  5. ^ "Acorn Home NC". Acorn Computers. 1997-06-26. Archived from the original on 1998-02-02. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  6. ^ "Acorn Corporate NC". Acorn Computers. 1997-06-12. Archived from the original on 1998-02-02. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  7. ^ "Digital's StrongARM Microprocessors Take CPU Lead in Network Client Market". ARM Ltd. 1996-11-13. Archived from the original on 1998-05-12. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  8. ^ "Acorn demonstrates first ever StrongARM Network Computer". PR Newswire. 1996-05-20. Retrieved 2011-06-07. The StrongARM NC prototype [...]
  9. ^ a b "Acorn Computer Group unveils Rrange of new NC devices". PR Newswire. 1996-11-05. Retrieved 2011-06-07. today demonstrated a variety of network computing devices including the Acorn NC, the Office NC, the Set-top Box NC (STB NC), the ExecPhone NC, and the NC TV.
  10. ^ Davis, Jim (1997-10-06). "Acorn launches fast home NC". CNET.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10. [...] one of the fastest set-top boxes today, one with a with 233-MHz processor [...] new Concord network computer [...]

External links

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