The MicroDigital Medi is something of a departure from the types of computer we have come to expect from Acorn. Glancing down the list of specifications, it appears to resemble the A7000+. However, this is a machine intended for the home, rather than education.
MicroDigital are targeting this machine at the non-technical home user. They hope to attract people who need a computer for specific, limited tasks but do not want to turn their homes into offices. The case design is intended to blend in with the home environment, making the machine just another piece of electronics like the television or hifi.
The company is relying on the Acorn platform's relative longevity to attract purchasers away from the PC market. MicroDigital's market research indicates that many current home-PC users would not have bought their machines if they had realised the cost of keeping up with the latest technology. The Medi is intended to have a service life comparable with that of a television or video - five to ten years, according to MicroDigital's David Atkins. The company believes that two expansion slots are sufficient should the user wish to add extra hardware.
The size of hard disc chosen for the Medi - 80Mbytes - is also a result of the chosen market. David Atkins expects the home user to buy only a few applications, such as a word processor and spreadsheet, with perhaps some educational software or games for a family machine. Not only is a larger drive not required, he believes, but it would also cause difficulties for backing-up data. If there is a demand, dealers could replace the supplied drive with a larger device.
Of more importance, the company believes, is the question of hard disc security. Medi's IDEFS supports password protection and control over write access, allowing important data and applications to be secured.
The main selling-point, in David Atkins' opinion, is the RISC OS user-interface. Showing how easy the Medi is to use will be central to the company's marketing strategy. They will point out that many of the features which PC users are being promised are already available under RISC OS.
David Atkins acknowledges that the Medi will not appear attractive to Acorn enthusiasts, but points out that the machine is not aimed at Acorn's current market. MicroDigital are aiming for a wider user-base, and are hoping that the enthusiast community will support them in their attempt. Feedback is also welcomed.
David Atkins may be contacted on 01274 618774, or by email.