Editing Acorn Archimedes (section)

=== A3010, A3020, A4000 ===
[[File:Acorn A3010.jpg|thumb|A3010]]
In 1992, several new models were introduced to complement the A3000 and to replace the low-end A400 series models: the A3010, A3020 and A4000.<ref name="acorn_app468">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP468_AcornComputers.pdf | title=Acorn Computers Vision for the Future | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=August 1992 | access-date=18 April 2021 | issue=1 }}</ref> Launched alongside the [[Acorn Pocket Book]], a distinct product based on the [[Psion Series 3]], the machines supposedly heralded "a changed company, with new direction" and the availability of Acorn products in mainstream high street stores including Dixons, John Lewis and Argos as well as mail order catalogues.<ref name="acornuser199210_fleet">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser123-Oct92/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Acorn Launches Fleet of Machines | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1992 | access-date=10 July 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Thus, a transition had begun from a range of machines of different vintages that still included the A3000 (at the low end) and the A540 (at the high end) to a range that purely featured more recently designed models including the A5000 as the high-end offering and the A4 portable.<ref name="acorn_app468"/>

These new models utilised the first ARM [[system-on-a-chip]]—the ARM250 [[microprocessor]]—a single-chip design including the functionality of an ARM2 (or ARM3 without cache), the IOC1, VIDC1a and MEMC1a chips all "integrated into a single giant chip" and fabricated using a 1 micron process. The ARM250, running at a higher 12&nbsp;MHz [[clock frequency]] and used in conjunction with faster 80ns memory chips, compared to the 8&nbsp;MHz of the ARM2 and the 125ns memory of the A3000, gave a potential 50% performance increase over such older systems,<ref name="acornuser199210_zoomingin">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser123-Oct92/page/n26/mode/1up | title=Zooming In | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1992 | access-date=7 July 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=23 }}</ref> achieving a reported 7 MIPS.<ref name="acornuser199307_a3010_ram">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser132-Jul93/page/n68/mode/1up | title=Ahead of the pack | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1993 | access-date=7 July 2021 | last1=Lawrence | first1=Dave | pages=67–68 }}</ref><ref group=note>This presumably being stated as VAX-11/750 MIPS and therefore approximately equivalent to around 4.3 [[VUPS|VAX MIPS]].</ref>

Some early units of the A3010 did not actually utilise the ARM250, instead having a "mezzanine" board carrying the four separate devices comprising the complete chipset, with this board plugged into the motherboard in place of the ARM250. An Acorn representative indicated that this solution was pursued to meet retailing deadlines, whereas an ARM representative denied that any "serious delays" had occurred in the development of the ARM250, indicating that the [[expansion card|mezzanine board]] had nevertheless been useful during the design process. Owners did not need to upgrade this board to a genuine ARM250 as it was "functionally identical" to the ARM250.<ref name="acornuser199211_mezzanine">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser124-Nov92/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Mezzanine Board in A3010 | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1992 | access-date=10 July 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> One inadvertent advantage that the mezzanine board conferred was the ability to upgrade the ARM2 on the board to an ARM3, this being a popular upgrade for previous ARM2-based models that was incompatible with the ARM250.<ref group=note>In [http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Mags/PCW/PCW_Oct92_A30x0A4000.pdf one review], it was noted that there was "no prospect of 'an ARM350'" to provide an equivalent upgrade. Subsequent system-on-a-chip products were eventually made and used in the A7000 and A7000+, albeit of a different product generation, and such products have since become commonplace.</ref> However, performing such an upgrade involves modifications to both the "Adelaide" mezzanine board and the ARM3 upgrade board employed in the upgrade.<ref name="retrokit_adelaide">{{ cite web | url=https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/page.cfm/content/Upgrading-an-Acorn-A3010-with-an-ARM3-processor/ | title=Upgrading an Adelaide A3010 to ARM3 power | website=Retro-Kit | date=26 March 2016 | access-date=10 July 2021 }}</ref> For machines fitted with an actual ARM250 processor, the closest alternative to an ARM3 upgrade in terms of performance enhancement was the Simtec "Turbo RAM" upgrade which provided 4&nbsp;MB of faster RAM and gave a 40 percent improvement in overall system performance.<ref name="acornuser199307_turbo" />

The machines were supplied with RISC OS 3.10 or 3.11.<ref name="chris_a3010">{{ cite web | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/A3010.html | title=Acorn A3010 | website=Chris's Acorns | date=2 May 2014 | access-date=10 July 2021 }}</ref> The A30x0 series had a one-piece design, similar to the A3000 but slightly more shallow, while the A4000 looked like a slightly slimmer A5000. The A3010 model was intended to be a [[home computing]] machine, featuring a [[RF modulator|TV modulator]] (for use with traditional [[Phase Alternating Line|PAL]]-standard televisions, [[SCART]] televisions already being supported by all of these models<ref name="acorn_app468" />) and standard 9-pin [[joystick]] ports, while the A3020 targeted the primary and middle school educational markets, featuring an optional built-in 2.5-inch hard drive and a dedicated network interface socket, both capabilities being provided without requiring the machine's "mini-podule" expansion slot. Meanwhile, the A4000 was aimed at the secondary education and office markets, offering a separate adjustable keyboard to comply with ergonomics regulations deemed applicable in these markets. Technically, the A4000 was almost functionally identical to the A3020, only differing in the supported hard disk size (3.5-inch in the A4000), this due to the machine's different casing. Despite the resemblance to the A5000, the A4000 along with the other models only provided a single "mini-podule" expansion slot, just as the A3000 did.<ref name="acornuser199210_everyone">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser123-Oct92/page/n22/mode/1up | title=An Acorn for Everyone | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1992 | access-date=7 July 2021 | last1=Bell | first1=Graham | pages=19–21 }}</ref> All three ARM250-based machines could be upgraded to 4&nbsp;MB with plug-in chips: though the A3010 was designed for 2&nbsp;MB, third party upgrades overcame this.<ref name="acornuser199307_a3010_ram" /> In 1996, IFEL announced a memory upgrade for the range utilising a generic 72-pin [[SIMM]] module to provide 4&nbsp;MB of RAM.<ref name="acornuser199610_ifel"/>

Pricing started at just under £500 including VAT for the Family Solution bundle: an unexpanded A3010 with no monitor (to be used with a television), combined with the EasiWord [[word processor]] and one game (initially Quest for Gold). The existing Learning Curve bundle, updated to incorporate the A3010 upgraded to 2&nbsp;MB of RAM in place of the A3000, included an Acorn colour monitor, the PC Emulator and a suite of Genesis hypermedia applications for a price of £799. The A4000 Home Office bundle combined the A4000 with Acorn colour monitor, Icon Technology's EasiWriter 2 "professional word processor" and Iota's Desktop Database application for a price of around £1175. The retail pricing of the A3010 was notable as making it the cheapest of any Archimedes machine sold. With games consoles gaining popularity, Acorn apparently attempted to target the "games machine plus" market with the A3010 by appealing to "the more knowledgeable, sophisticated and educationally concerned parents", this against a backdrop of established competing products having been heavily discounted: the Amiga 500 having been reduced to £299, for instance.<ref name="acornuser199210_everyone" /> In 1993, Commodore would subsequently offer the entry-level Amiga 600 at a price of only £199, although with Commodore "losing money on a big scale" while Acorn remained profitable, such discounting was not regarded as a threat to the A3010.<ref name="acornuser199309_oriordan">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser134-Sep93/page/n8/mode/1up | title=O'Riordan Speaks | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1993 | access-date=12 August 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>

The pricing and bundles involving these machines was updated in late 1993, introducing a new Action Pack in place of the Family Solution, featuring the game Zool plus Icon Technology's StartWrite word processor. This bundle effectively reduced the price of the A3010 to £399 including VAT, reportedly making it "the cheapest Risc machine yet". The Learning Curve was revised to feature Acorn's own Advance integrated suite, together with the PC Emulator and [[DR-DOS#DR DOS 6.0 / Competition from Microsoft|DR DOS 6]], and the bundle was also made available in conjunction with the A4000. The Home Office bundle was updated with Iota's DataPower replacing Desktop Database, and with Colton Software's PipeDream 4 and Acorn's PC Emulator being added to augment EasiWriter.<ref name="acornuser199311_revamp">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser136-Nov93/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Acorn Revamps Range | magazine=Acorn User | date=November 1993 | access-date=11 July 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref>
A variety of demonstration programs and an audio training tape were also provided with the bundles. At the time of these product revisions, the A3020 had become absent from related promotional material, even material aimed at the educational purchaser,<ref name="acorn_app599">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP599_TheEducatedChoice.pdf | title=Acorn Computers - The Educated Choice | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=August 1993 | access-date=11 July 2021 | issue=1 }}</ref> although it remained in Acorn's price list presumably for the interest of institutional purchasers.<ref name="acorn_app604">{{ cite book | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP604_AcornUKRetailPrices.pdf | title=Acorn UK Retail Prices | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=November 1993 | access-date=11 July 2021 | issue=21 }}</ref>

Acorn's marketing relationships with high street retailers were somewhat problematic. While outlets such as the John Lewis Partnership proved to be successful marketing partners, electrical retailer Dixons seemingly made relatively little effort to sell Acorn machines despite promising "greater opportunities" in 1993 after earlier criticism.<ref name="acornuser199401_dixons">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser138-Jan94/page/n13/mode/1up | title=Dampers on Dixons | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1994 | access-date=12 August 2021 | pages=14 }}</ref> In late 1994, Acorn appointed a sole distributor for the A3010 Action Pack and Learning Curve bundles, with the pricing of the former reduced to only £299. Persisting with the strategy that some purchasers might choose a product positioned between games consoles and traditional PC-compatibles, the distributor, ZCL, aimed to take advantage of the absence of Commodore during the Christmas 1994 season.<ref name="acornuser199501_zcl">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser151-Jan95/page/n13/mode/1up | title=ZCL appointed sole A3010 distributor | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1995 | access-date=17 July 2021 | pages=14 }}</ref> As the Christmas 1995 season approached, Beebug purchased Acorn's "entire remaining inventory", offering the machine for £135 including VAT together with various "value-added packs".<ref name="acornuser199510_a3010">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser160-Oct95/page/n13/mode/1up | title=Beebug brings A3010 price down to £135 | magazine=Acorn User | date=October 1995 | access-date=20 August 2021 | pages=14 }}</ref>

Production of the A3020 and A4000 ceased in 1995, with remaining stocks to be sold during 1996, due to their lack of conformance with newly introduced European Union electrical and electronics regulations. This left the [[Acorn A7000|A7000]] as Acorn's entry-level desktop system, and appropriate pricing adjustments were expected, particularly as faster versions of the A7000 were anticipated (and eventually delivered in the form of the A7000+).<ref name="acornuser199601_range">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser164-Jan96/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Acorn model range tweaked | magazine=Acorn User | date=January 1996 | access-date=21 August 2021 | pages=11 }}</ref>