An FAQ needs questions! Send us your queries, and we will seek out answers. It doesn't matter how silly your question sounds, there will doubtless be many other Acorn Users pondering the same issue.
If you spot errors in the following answers, or can offer further explanation, please let us know. Pooling our knowledge will benefit everyone.
It's a difficult comparison to make. The StrongARM is designed as an embedded processor, optimised for small size, low current consumption and low power dissipation. PC processors, such as the Intel Pentium II and the AMD K6, are intended for use in desktop computers where size and heat are not overriding issues. The latter, therefore, are designed for performance before anything else.
Some developers have reported that the StrongARM is able to give the Pentium II a good run for its money in Integer processing. However, the ARM device has no floating-point hardware, so it cannot compete in this area. More recent Intel processors also benefit from a faster external data bus, and closely-coupled level 2 cache.
That the StrongARM is able to perform as it does, given its low transistor count and low power dissipation, is a tribute to its ARM and Digital designers.
Microsoft's Windows operating systems are not the only choice for x86-based computers. The biggest contender at the moment is Linux, a free UNIX clone. Also available are a PC version of FreeBSD, another UNIX variant, and BeOS, a new operating system with its roots in the Apple world.
These alternative systems are not compatible with Microsoft's other products, but they have other advantages too. The UNIX variants are generally considered to be more stable than Windows, including NT, and allow access to a wide range of free tools and applications. BeOS is an entirely new system, written from the kernel up to be "multimedia" OS, providing good support for video, audio and networking. Needless to say, they are all multitasking, multithreaded and multiprocessor!
You have a variety of options. For one-to-one links, parallel or serial connections are an economical option. For larger networks, Acorns can share Ethernet networks with PCs, running either Windows or UNIX.
If you wish to establish a short range one-to-one link, and you have one of the more recent Acorn machines, John Kortink's ZeriLink may be your best option. This allows an Acorn, A5000 or later, to exchange files with a PC using the parallel port. Not only is this faster than using a serial connection, but John also provides full instructions!
Using a serial connection will be slower, but has its advantages in allowing longer ranges and the use of TCP/IP connections. Simple serial transfers may be achieved with terminal programs, such as Connector on the Acorn side. Those confident with TCP/IP networking can alternatively set up a PPP or SLIP link between the two machines.
For more information on Ethernet, and connecting Acorn machines to PCs via ethernet, see the comp.sys.acorn.networking FAQ.
It all depends on the file type. Most of the standard formats, such as JPEG and CSV, are supported by several applications. The proprietary PC formats are more tricky, but support is improving.
Bimal Jangra is currently covering this topic in his PC Bits Column. His survey will appear here shortly.
When looking at PC dealers' price lists, you will often see some products listed twice. One will be marked OEM, the other Retail or Boxed.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, and refers to the companies that assemble complete PC systems from individual components. An OEM part is specially packaged for these companies, and is not generally intended for sale to the public. However, many dealers make the OEM version available as a lower cost alternative to the normal Retail version.
So why are the OEM parts cheaper? Well, what you get in an OEM package varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some supply exactly the same electronics in a plain cardboard box or anti-static bag, with very little documentation or instructions. If the Retail version includes free utilities or games, these will be omitted from the OEM.
However, some manufacturers produce special versions of their hardware. In this case, by buying the OEM part you are getting an inferior product.
To make things clearer, here are a couple of examples:
An OEM Pentium 2 is usually shipped in an anti-static bag. That's it. There's no heatsink or fan - you have to buy and fit one yourself - and no instructions for fitting. If you're lucky, you'll get a three-month guarantee.
Unfortunately, the answer is often "with difficulty".
Windows 95, 98 and NT have a built-in Uninstall protocol, but this requires the cooperation of the application being removed. Some are more cooperative than others. Here's a little general guidance; if you know of a better technique, please let us know.
This one has us puzzled. Discs formatted on Windows NT cause no problems for RISC OS 3.1's DOSFS, and RISC OS' formatting is acceptable to NT. If anyone has any further evidence of this problem, please send it in.
One suggestion is that Windows 95's larger format, storing 1.7 Mbytes, might be the cause. Make sure that you format your discs to 1.44 Mbytes if you want to use on them on both an Acorn and PC.
This sounds like a Voyager problem, and not specifically related to Windows. The mail package should allow the option of saving attachments under a different filename.
If your mail package cannot extract the file, then turn to John Allen's Attacher.