Editing Acorn Archimedes (section)

== History ==
Having introduced the [[BBC Micro]] in 1981, Acorn established itself as a major supplier to primary and secondary education in the United Kingdom.<ref name="pcw198402_advertising">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1984-02/1984-02/page/29/mode/1up | title=Misleading advertising | magazine=Personal Computer World | date=February 1984 | access-date=23 April 2021 | last1=Spooner | first1=Margaret | pages=29, 31}}</ref> However, attempts to replicate this dominance in other sectors, such as home computing with the BBC Micro and [[Acorn Electron]], and in other markets, including the United States and [[West Germany]],<ref name="acornuser198404_usa">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser021-Apr84/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn profits up by 156% | magazine=Acorn User | date=April 1984 | access-date=20 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref> were less successful.

As microprocessor and computing technology advanced in the early 1980s, microcomputer manufacturers had to consider evolving their product lines to offer increased capabilities and performance. Acorn's strategy for business computing and the introduction of more capable machines involved a range of "second processor" expansions,<ref name="acornuser198301">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser006-Jan83/page/n4/mode/1up | title=Second processor trials going well | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1983 |access-date=18 October 2020 | pages=3}}</ref> including a [[Z80]] second processor running the [[CP/M]] operating system, a commitment made by Acorn when securing the BBC Micro contract.<ref name="acornuser199610_history">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser173-Oct96/page/n37/mode/2up | title=From BBC to Oracle | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1996 | access-date=18 March 2021 | last1=Singleton | first1=Alex | pages=38–40}}</ref>

Meanwhile, established platforms like CP/M running on Z80 processors faced competition from the [[IBM PC]] running [[PC DOS]] and computers with a variety of operating systems on [[Intel]] processors such as the [[Intel 8088|8088]] and [[Intel 8086|8086]].<ref name="pcw198401_itv">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1984-01/page/123/mode/1up | title=No advertising, please | magazine=Personal Computer World | date=January 1984 | access-date=23 October 2021 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=123–124 }}</ref>{{rp|pages=123|quote=In Britain, it may take longer before the CP/M market is dead. I think it is good for another nine months, here.}} Systems using the Motorola 68000 and other processors running the [[Unix]] operating system also became available. Apple launched the [[Apple Lisa|Lisa]] and [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]] computers, and [[Digital Research]] introduced its own [[GEM (desktop environment)|GEM]] graphical user interface software, building on previous work by [[Xerox]].

Acorn's strategy seemingly evolved to align with [[Torch Computers]]—a company that Acorn considered acquiring<ref name="acornuser198406_takeover">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser023-Jun84/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn acquires Torch | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1984 |access-date=8 October 2020 | pages=7}}</ref>—which had already combined BBC Micro hardware with second processors (and modems) to produce their Communicator product line<ref name="pcw198301">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1983-01/page/136/mode/2up | title=The Torch | last1=Tebbutt | first1=David | magazine=Personal Computer World | date=January 1983 |access-date=6 October 2020 | pages=136–140}}</ref> and derivatives.<ref name="homecomputer19">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/The_Home_Computer_Advanced_Course_19/page/369/mode/1up | title=Leading Light | magazine=The Home Computer Advanced Course | publisher=Orbis Publishing Limited | issn=0265-2919 | issue=19 | date=1984 | access-date=8 February 2022 | pages=369–371 }}</ref> In 1984, Acorn introduced the [[Acorn Business Computer]] (ABC) range, based on the BBC Micro architecture, offering models with different second processors and capabilities to respond to computing trends at the time.<ref name="acornuser198411">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser028-Nov84/page/n31/mode/2up |title=Vertical Tack of the ABC |magazine=Acorn User |date=November 1984 |access-date=25 October 2020 |last1=Quinn |first1=Tony |last2=Van Someren |first2=Alex |pages=30–31}}</ref> These models received generally favorable reviews from the computing press.<ref name="popularcomputingweekly19840927">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1984-09-27/page/n19/mode/2up |title=The ABC trial |magazine=Popular Computing Weekly |date=27 September 1984 |access-date=18 October 2020 |last1=Naylor |first1=Jeff |pages=20–21}}</ref> However, with Acorn facing financial strain due to various endeavors, the company was rescued by [[Olivetti S.p.A.|Olivetti]] in 1985, leaving the future of the ABC range uncertain in the expected restructuring process.<ref name="acornuser198504">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser033-Apr85/page/n8/mode/1up |magazine=Acorn User |title=Beeb safe, but ABCs under review |date=April 1985 |access-date=4 September 2020 |pages=7}}</ref> Ultimately, only one of the variants—the Acorn Cambridge Workstation—would reach the market, in a somewhat different form than originally planned.<ref name="acornuser198508">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser037-Aug85/page/n8/mode/1up |magazine=Acorn User |title=Workstation puts power on desks |date=August 1985 |access-date=30 August 2020 |pages=7, 11}}</ref>

The demise of the Acorn Business Computer left Acorn purely with a range of 8-bit microcomputer products, leaving the company vulnerable to competitors introducing [[16-bit]] and 32-bit machines. The increasing dominance of [[MS-DOS]] in the business market and advocacy for the use of such software in the education sector left Acorn at risk of potential exclusion from its core market.<ref name="acornuser198507_dos">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser036-Jul85/page/n8/mode/1up | title=School DOS rule could hurt Acorn | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1985 | access-date=20 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref> Meanwhile, competing machines attempted to offer a degree of compatibility with the BBC Micro, enticing schools to upgrade to newer, more powerful non-Acorn machines while retaining access to software developed and purchased for Acorn's "aging machine".<ref name="acornuser198911_auntie">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser088-Nov89/page/n129/mode/2up | title=Aping Auntie | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1989 | access-date=18 July 2021 | last1=Futcher | first1=Dave | pages=128–129, 131 }}</ref> Acorn's ability to respond convincingly to these competitive threats was evidently constrained: the BBC Model B+ was merely a redesigned BBC Model B (with some heritage in the ABC endeavour) providing some extra memory but costing more than its predecessor, being labelled as a "stop gap" by [[Acorn User]]'s technical editor, expressing frustration at opportunities not taken for cost reduction and at a general lack of technological innovation in that "Acorn has never shown interest in anything as exciting as the 68000".<ref name="acornuser198507">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser036-Jul85/page/n161/mode/2up | title=B+ Grading | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1985 | access-date=18 October 2020 | last1=Smith | first1=Bruce | pages=160–161}}</ref> Disillusionment was sufficient for some software producers to signal a withdrawal from the Acorn market.<ref name="acornuser198512">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser041-Dec85/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Software house abandons Beeb | magazine=Acorn User | date=December 1985 | access-date=21 March 2021 | pages=9}}</ref>

Other commentators in response to the B+ suggested that Acorn pursue the second processor strategy more aggressively, leveraging the existing user base of the BBC Micro while those users were still using the machine.<ref name="acornuser198507_uncle">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser036-Jul85/page/n12/mode/1up | title=The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1985 | access-date=21 April 2021 | pages=11}}</ref> In 1986, Acorn introduced the [[BBC Master]] series, starting with the Master 128 which re-emphasised second processors in the form of internally fitted "co-processors".<ref name="acornuser198602a">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser043-Feb86/page/n12/mode/1up | title=Plug-in boards boost power | magazine=Acorn User | date=February 1986 | access-date=25 October 2020 | pages=11}}</ref> Although a modest evolution of the existing [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]]-based platform, enthusiasm for the series was somewhat greater than that for the B+ models, with dealers and software developers citing the expansion capabilities and improved compatibility over the B+.<ref name="acornuser198603_kelly">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser044-Mar86/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Master sell-out boosts market | magazine=Acorn User | last1=Kelly | first1=David | date=March 1986 |access-date=21 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref> However, the competitiveness of these co-processors proved to be constrained by hardware limitations, compatibility and pricing, with a Master 512 system featuring a Master 128 and 80186 co-processor comparing unfavourably to complete IBM PC-compatible systems.<ref name="acornuser198609">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser050-Sep86/page/n154/mode/1up | title=Master meets IBM - or does it? | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1986 | access-date=25 October 2020 | last1=Smith | first1=Bruce | pages=153–155}}</ref> The planned Master Scientific product was never launched, leaving potential customers with the existing Cambridge Co-Processor expansion as their only available option.<ref name="acornuser198611">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser052-Nov86/page/n8/mode/1up |magazine=Acorn User |title=Acorn drops Scientific |date=November 1986 |access-date=5 September 2020 |pages=7}}</ref>

Attitudes towards Acorn and its technological position changed somewhat in late 1985 as news of its [[Reduced instruction set computer|RISC]] microprocessor development effort emerged, potentially encouraging Olivetti to continue its support for the company at "a critical stage" in its refinancing of Acorn.<ref name="acornuser198510_risc">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser039-Oct85/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn beats world to super-fast chip | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1985 | access-date=21 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref> Subsequent commentary suggested the availability of this microprocessor—the Acorn RISC Machine—in future computers as well as in an evaluation board for the BBC Micro,<ref name="pcw198511">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-11/page/136/mode/2up | title=RISCy business | magazine=Personal Computer World | last1=Pountain | first1=Dick | date=November 1985 | access-date=21 April 2021 | pages=136–139}}</ref> although such a board—the ARM Evaluation System<ref name="arm_eval">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/OEM/AcornOEM_ARMSystemUG.pdf | title=ARM system user guide | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=22 July 1986 | issue=1 | access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref>—would only be announced in mid-1986 at a cost of £4500.<ref name="acornuser198607_risc">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser048-Jul86/page/n8/mode/1up | title=RISC is unveiled to select few | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1986 | access-date=21 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref> Having also developed the additional support chips required to make up a complete microcomputer, Acorn was regarded as having leapt ahead of its nearest competitors.<ref name="acornuser198706_arm">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser059-Jun87/page/n150/mode/1up | title=Acorn's RISC Leapfrog | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1987 | access-date=21 April 2021 | last1=Cockerell | first1=Peter | pages=149, 151, 153}}</ref>

On the eve of the announcement of Acorn's 32-bit ARM-based microcomputer products, prototypes designated A1 and A500 were demonstrated on the BBC television programme ''Micro Live'' exhibiting [[BASIC]] language performance ten times faster than a newly introduced [[Intel 80386|80386]]-based computer from perennial education sector rival [[RM plc|Research Machines]], with suggestions made that the machines would carry the BBC branding. Revealingly, Acorn's managing director noted, "Over the past two years we've paid the price of having no 16-bit micro."<ref name="acornuser198706_risc">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser059-Jun87/page/n8/mode/1up | title=RISC machine is next BBC micro | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1987 | access-date=21 April 2021 | pages=7}}</ref>