Oxford-based Research Machines Plc has launched a new S Series of mid-range 25MHz 80386SX and 33MHz 80486 personal computers and, based on these, two MPC-compliant multimedia personal computer systems. The S Series (replacing the X Series) is described by Bob Garrett, marketing manager for Research Machines’ Further and Higher Education Division as fairly ‘low entry’ in terms of performance, but ‘highly expandable’. The machines feature up to three 16-bit slots, two 3.5 drives and space for a 5.25 CD-ROM or floppy drive. Windows 3.1, MS-DOS 5, mouse and keyboard are supplied with the machines with a choice of Taxan 14 VGA and super VGA colour monitors, or Panasonic 14 non-interlaced super VGA and 17 Multiscan colour monitors. The PC-386/25 memory is expandable to 16Mb, and a 16-bit Super VGA controller with 512Kb video memory provides onboard graphics support. The PC-486/33 memory is expandable to 32Mb and the machine also boasts 1Mb Super VGA controller. Both machines can be networked via Ethernet cards. Prices start at UKP1,120 to UKP1,250 for educational users and UKP1,540 to UKP1,700 for corporate users for the 80386SX machine; UKP1,470 to UKP1,580 (educational) and UKP1,890 to UKP2,050 (corporate) for the 80486. The company has adapted the 80386SX machine to produce what it proudly believes to be the first two British MPC standard-compliant, multimedia personal computer systems. Both run Windows 3.1, have a minimum of 4Mb RAM, a 120Mb hard disk and 1.44 Mb 3.5 drive. They also feature an internal Panasonic CD-ROM drive; audio input-output boards with FM synthesiser and stereo 8-bit digital analogue converter; Ross stereo speakers, headphones and microphone; ‘Multimedia Beethoven’ compact disk and mouse. The two configurations are the Authoring System, which includes Multimedia Toolbook software for those wanting to develop their own applications, and Playback System to run any MPC standard packages.
Authoring System
Video facilities will be made available once a standard software system has been formulated. For educational users, the Authoring System (without a monitor) costs UKP1,600 (the price includes a special deal on the Toolbook which is not available to commercial users); the Playback (with a monitor) costs UKP1,600, UKP1,850 for corporate customers. A hefty 70% to 80% of Research Machines’ business comes from the educational sector in the UK with local government and computer aided design accounting for the remainder, and the company is convinced that these new offerings will be enthusiastically received – Garrett estimates sales will be around 22,000 units (around 50% of total business) in the first year. The company has been selling the Toolbook software since May, generating much interest among its existing customers and hints that a multimedia computer was in development has already prompted several of them to place advance orders. The fact that it appears to weathering current pricing storms should also be a boost to company confidence turnover is anticipated to be around UKP65m this year, representing a steady 5% increase from last year’s figure of UKP62m.
