Acorn Computer Group Plc has launched its Java Virtual Machine, the RISCafe, and a new Windows application for the network computer at the Comdex show in Japan, claiming to have the first network computer to support Windows. Earlier in the year Acorn announced it would be re-writing the RISC operating system (CI No 3098) to support multiple RISC and complex instruction set processors for use in consumer applications. The Cambridge, UK- based company now claims it is the highest performance operating system on the ARM processor, and, combined with the RISCafe and the eXtend Windows and Unix application, is said to offer high functionality at a low cost. The eXtend application will enable users to operate familiar office based applications, and have access to the Internet and corporate Intranets. The first release of the Java virtual machine is based on the Java 1.0.2 development kit, providing support for applets that run inside the Acorn browser environment and applications that operate outside of it. According to the company the new technologies enable users to have access to a high performance operating system with Java and Windows, that will work either together or separately. Acorn’s technical marketing manager, Mark Phillips, said the new products come at a time when the company is witnessing growth and that the largest problem facing Acorn is that it can’t employ engineers fast enough to keep up with its expansion.
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