“Being able to run RISC OS on Mac OS X would probably be the highlight of 2006 for many of the users who have picked up a Mac to sit alongside their RISC OS machines. When VirtualRiscPC for Mac OS X will arrive is best left to VirtualAcorn, although what we’ve discovered here might be the next best thing. Riding the coat tails of Apple’s switch to using Intel processors, it’s now possible to run Microsoft Windows applications on the shiny Mac OS X desktop – and this includes VirtualRiscPC.”
> (…) users who have picked up a Mac to sit alongside their RISC OS machines.
Quite an optimistic view, isn’t it
So, we are supposed to look forward to running a RISC based OS in an risc emulator on an X86 based Mac that used to be a RISC based machine. That wold be my highlight for 2006 too…err…
Surely the point is that RISC OS software can now be run on the Mac, irrespective of what the machine is running inside. For those where space is at a premium, this would be a good thing. Quite a lot of schools in the UK still have a “legacy” of Acorn software for which there is no Windows/OS X/Linux alternative.
Mind you, the target market is going to be fairly small, but that does not detract from the fact that it’s an impressive technical achievement, if it does happen.
It’s just a shame that the software is priced as it is, although I guess that this is due to including licensed copies of RISC OS. at £140 a pop, I cannot see many people trying it. Not when you can pick up an A3010 or A3020 for £40 pounds on eBay (UK)! I’d be willing to pay that fo rthe software, but not much more.
Still, good to see that the Acorn scene continues apace.
UPDATE: Just to let you know that there is a freeware RISC OS 3 emulator at:
http://homepage.mac.com/mdales/arcem/
You will however need RISC OS 3 ROM image files.
Edited 2006-04-22 12:16
I really want one of these: http://www.advantagesix.co.uk/products/A9home.html
It’s hot!
Me too
I just hope they get it out in time and at the right price. I’m not sure how they can manage that though, given the likely sale numbers, but you never know…
Official sales brochure (with prices) can be found in the PDF at
http://www.advantagesix.co.uk/docs/A9home.pdf
Thanks for the link. Given their limited resources, and the power of the OS, that’s quite a good price, although still too expensive for the curious! Ah well, I’ll stick with the emulator for now.
Incidentally, I would have included the DVD drive in the case, a la Mac Mini. Having an external drive adds mess and wires, and detracts from the overall neatness of the overall package, imo.
Still, it’s tempting, isn’t it?