“Ever seen some Linux application and thought: “the source is available, why can’t we have that on RISC OS?” And indeed, because of the efforts that have been made on the GCC port for RISC OS and its C library, Unixlib, this is possible for a large number of Unix applications.” Read the article at Drobe.
ChoX11 and Porting
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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That’s a relief, now all five people who use risc os can run tuxracer! Seriously, who uses risc os these days?
That’s a relief, now all five people who use risc os can run tuxracer! Seriously, who uses risc os these days?
Its popular in Europe.
I think its about 5,00 users. Generally people who still appreicate a good, well-designed GUI.
I use RISC OS, generally because it’s better than windows :p
I’m sure you mean 5,000 users ;-), however it would seeem from the serial numbers of RISC OS to be somewhat closer to 10K (in europe).
People keep saying ‘RISC OS’ ‘low usercount’ ‘dead’ (etc), but it actually isn’t true. Just do a couple of searches on the web before you make such generalisations *please*.
I hate to say this, since I have some fondness for RiscOS, but 10K users for a consumer level OS is close dead. At least for commercial pourposes. It is very hard to sell enough copies of software that would have enough mass appeal to prodouce enough revenue to stay in business. That being said there is no reason that is cannot survive and support a vibrant shareware/freeware community for quite some time, and it that regard it is far from dead.
I could understand if this was news about an x86 based OS or mabe even PPC, but where does one even get a risc based personal computer? I can honestly say that the only risc based machine I’ve ever seen in my entire life was a hp lazer jet printer. I would try risc OS out of curiosity, but I can’t exacly go to fry’s and buy a risc pc.
You can’t go to many shops and get a RiscPC, even in the UK, because they’re quite old machines, although you can find them on ebay and RISC OS dealers will certainly have them second hand.
New machines can be had from http://www.iyonix.com/ (for a price).
Alternatively, there are emulators – http://www.virtualacorn.co.uk/
I think you’ll find you’ve seen far more ARM-based machines than you think – they are in phones, PDAs, and many many devices. Of course, they don’t run RISC OS.
@ Mad Echidna..
Maybe you should read some technical docs? RISC is a processor architecture and classification, not a processor!! For example, Acorn Archimedes (where riscos started) used early ARM processors. ARM being a RISC architecture and also the processor you may well find in your smart phone or PDA. Later models used other variations (such as StrongARM) also found in embeded devices and PDA/Phones.
However, the most laughable part of your comment is, well, the fact that you completely missed that PowerPC (aka PPC) is also a RISC based architecture.. lol. So by your own hand you placed foot firmly in mouth 😉
So to answer your question “where does somebody get a risc based computer?”.. well just about anywhere. Apple make them for example.
ChoX11 promises to be a major break through for RISC OS. Well done Peter and everyone else involved in the project.
If you are in Europe and are interested in seeing RISC OS in action. The RISC OS EXPO 2004 is happening this weekend.
http://www.bigbenclub.nl/shows/2004/index.htm