View source for Acorn Computers

{{Short description|British computer manufacturer}}
{{About|the (now defunct) manufacturer of 8-bit microcomputers and 32-bit RISC OS personal computers|the defunct company that purchased the brand name in the early 2000s|Acorn Computers (2006)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Acorn Computers Ltd.
| logo = Acorn computers logo rendered with text.svg
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1978|12}}
| founder = {{plainlist|
*[[Hermann Hauser]]
*[[Christopher Curry (businessman)|Chris Curry]]}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|1999|6|1|df=y}}<ref name="cabot2_accounts1998"/>{{rp|pages=23}}
| fate = Bought by [[Morgan Stanley|MSDW Investment Holdings Limited]]
| successor = Element 14 Ltd.
| location = [[Cambridge]], England, United Kingdom
| key_people = {{plainlist|
*[[Christopher Curry (businessman)|Chris Curry]]
*[[Steve Furber]]
*[[Hermann Hauser]]
*[[Andy Hopper]]
*[[Sophie Wilson]]
*Nick Toop}}
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = [[Computer hardware]]
| products = {{plainlist|
*[[Acorn System 1]]
*[[Acorn System 1|Microcomputer System]]
*[[Acorn Atom|Atom]]
*[[BBC Micro]]
*[[Acorn Electron|Electron]]
*[[BBC Master|Master series]]
*[[Acorn Archimedes|Archimedes range]]
*[[Risc PC|Risc PC range]]
*[[Acorn Network Computer]]
*[[Phoebe (computer)|Phoebe]]}}
| website = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990224045720/http://www.acorn.com/acorn/|title=acorn.com}}
}}
'''Acorn Computers Ltd.''' was a British [[computer company]] established in [[Cambridge]], England in 1978 by [[Hermann Hauser]], [[Christopher Curry (businessman)|Chris Curry]] and [[Andy Hopper]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acorn co-founder on the BBC Micro and the early days of personal computing |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/acorn-co-founder-on-the-bbc-micro-and-the-early-days-of-personal-computing/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref> The company produced a number of computers during the 1980s with associated software that were highly popular in the domestic market, and they have been historically influential in the development of computer technology like [[Central processing unit|processors]].

[[File:Acorn 8-bit microcomputers.jpg|thumb|A collection of Acorn 8-bit computers including the Master, Master Compact, Electron, BBC Micro and Atom]]

The company's [[Acorn Electron]], released in 1983, and the later [[Acorn Archimedes]], were highly popular in Britain, while Acorn's {{nowrap|[[BBC Micro]]}} computer dominated the educational computer market during the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/arm/8243162/History-of-ARM-from-Acorn-to-Apple.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316092313/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/arm/8243162/History-of-ARM-from-Acorn-to-Apple.html|url-status=dead|title=History of ARM: from Acorn to Apple|date=6 January 2011|archive-date=16 March 2018|via=The Telegraph}}</ref> The company also designed the [[ARM architecture family|ARM]] architecture and the {{nowraplinks|[[RISC OS]]}} [[operating system]] for it. The architecture part of the business was spun-off as Advanced RISC Machines under a joint venture with [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] and [[VLSI Technology|VLSI]] in 1990, now known as [[Arm Holdings]], which is dominant in the [[mobile phone]] and [[personal digital assistant]] (PDA) [[microprocessor]] market today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/NEA/archive/200204/177680/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911184103/http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/NEA/archive/200204/177680/|url-status=dead|title=ARM CPU Core Dominates Mobile Market |publisher=Nikkei Electronics Asia |work=Tech-On!|archive-date=11 September 2011}}</ref>

Acorn in the 1990s released the [[Risc PC]] line and the [[Acorn Network Computer]], and also had a stint in the [[set-top box]] and educational markets. However, financial troubles led to the company closing down its workstation division in September 1998, effectively halting its home computer business and cancelling development of RISC OS and the [[Phoebe (computer)|Phoebe]] computer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chris's Acorns: RISC OS After Acorn |url=https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/AfterAcorn.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk}}</ref> The company was acquired and largely dismantled in early 1999.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Meyer |first=David |date=19 November 2010 |title=Dead IT giants: A top 10 of the fallen |url=http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/dead-it-giants-a-top-10-of-the-fallen/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103020603/http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/dead-it-giants-a-top-10-of-the-fallen/ |archive-date=3 January 2015 |access-date=7 March 2012 |work=[[ZDNet]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=1999-01-20 |title=Acorn renames to fit with design business |url=https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/archived/resources-archived/acorn-renames-to-fit-with-design-business-1999-01/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Electronics Weekly |language=en}}</ref> In retrospect, Acorn is sometimes referred to as the "British [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]"<ref>{{cite news |date=31 January 2009 |title=Acorn founder advocates moving datacentres to NZ |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/it-telcos/809498/Acorn-founder-advocates-moving-datacentres-to-NZ |access-date=4 March 2012 |work=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |quote=Acorn Computers, once regarded as the UK's equivalent of Apple Computer&nbsp;...}}</ref><ref>[http://www.schema.stir.ac.uk/Deliverables/D2.4.pdf Report on Network Computer Technology] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175532/http://www.schema.stir.ac.uk/Deliverables/D2.4.pdf|date=3 March 2016}}. Simon Booth, European Commission, 1999.</ref> and has been compared to [[Fairchild Semiconductor]] for being a catalyst for start-ups.<ref name="guardian shillingford 2001">{{cite news |last=Shillingford |first=Joia |date=2001-03-08 |title=From the BBC Micro, little Acorns grew |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/mar/08/onlinesupplement5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510093938/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/mar/08/onlinesupplement5 |archive-date=10 May 2014 |access-date=2011-06-02 |work=The Guardian |quote=Originally, Acorn planned to use Intel's 286 chip in its Archi-medes computer. But because Intel would not let it license the 286 core and adapt it, Acorn decided to design its own.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Athreye |first=Suma S. |date=18 July 2000 |title=Agglomeration and Growth: A Study of the Cambridge Hi-Tech Cluster |url=http://www-siepr.stanford.edu/papers/pdf/00-42.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021193428/http://www-siepr.stanford.edu/papers/pdf/00-42.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=18 June 2012 |work=SIEPR Discussion Paper No. 00-42 |publisher=Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research}}</ref>

==History==

===Early history===
<!--[[File:AcornComputersLtdLogo.jpg|thumb|Former acorn logo 1978–2000]]-->
On 25 July 1961, [[Clive Sinclair]] founded [[Sinclair Radionics]] to develop and sell electronic devices such as [[calculator]]s.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} The failure of the ''[[Black Watch (wristwatch)|Black Watch]]'' wristwatch and the calculator market's move from [[light-emitting diode|LEDs]] to [[Liquid-crystal display|LCDs]] led to financial problems, and Sinclair approached a government body, the [[National Enterprise Board]] (NEB), for help.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Adamson |first1=Ian |last2=Kennedy |first2=Richard |title=Sinclair and the Sunrise Technology: The Deconstruction of a Myth |date=1986 |publisher=Penguin Books LTD |location=Harmondsworth, England |isbn=978-0-14-008774-1 |pages=262 |edition=1st}}</ref> After losing control of the company to the NEB, Sinclair encouraged [[Christopher Curry (businessman)|Chris Curry]] to leave Radionics and get Science of Cambridge (SoC—an early name for [[Sinclair Research]]) up and running. In June 1978, SoC launched a microcomputer kit, the [[MK14]], that Curry wanted to develop further, but Sinclair could not be persuaded so Curry resigned.<ref name="EMTWorldWide 2008-04-15">{{cite web | url = http://www.emtworldwide.com/article/14402/UK-electronics-a-fallen-or-sleeping-giant-.aspx | title = UK electronics – a fallen or sleeping giant? | access-date = 2011-07-06 | last = Sethi | first = Anand | date = 2008-04-15 | work = EMT WorldWide | publisher = IML Group | quote = One of Sir Clive's long term employees, Chris Curry quit because of differences over the technology roadmap [...] Finding nothing readily available on the market including from the leading US chip manufacturers [...] RISC processor called ARM which basically had the design ethos of the simple 6502 but in a 32 bit RISC environment making it that much simpler to fabricate and test. | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005224457/http://www.emtworldwide.com/article/14402/UK-electronics-a-fallen-or-sleeping-giant-.aspx | archive-date = 5 October 2011}}</ref> During the development of the MK14, [[Hermann Hauser]], a friend of Curry's, had been visiting SoC's offices and had grown interested in the product.

====CPU Ltd. (1978–1983)====

Curry and Hauser decided to pursue their joint interest in microcomputers and, on 5 December 1978, they set up '''Cambridge Processor Unit Ltd.''' (CPU) as the vehicle with which to do this.<ref name = first1>{{cite journal|title=Speciation through entrepreneurial spin-off: The Acorn-ARM story|last1=Garnsey|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Lorenzoni|first2=Gianni|last3= Ferriani |first3= Simone |journal= Research Policy|volume=37|issue=2|year=2008|pages=210–224 |doi=10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.006 |s2cid=73520408 |url=http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/19249/1/Speciation%20through%20Entrepreneurial%20Spin-off.pdf}}</ref> CPU soon obtained a consultancy contract to develop a microprocessor-based controller for a [[slot machine|fruit machine]] for Ace Coin Equipment (ACE) of [[Wales]]. The ACE project was started at office space obtained at 4a Market Hill in Cambridge. Initially, the ACE controller was based on a [[National Semiconductor SC/MP]] microprocessor, but soon the switch to a [[MOS Technology 6502]] was made.

====The microcomputer systems====
{{More citations needed|section called "The microcomputer systems"|date=March 2010}}
CPU had financed the development of a SC/MP based microcomputer system using the income from its design-and-build consultancy.

This system was launched in January 1979 as the first product of '''Acorn Computer Ltd.''', a trading name used by CPU to keep the risks of the two different lines of business separate. Acorn was chosen because the microcomputer system was to be expandable and growth-oriented. It also had the attraction of appearing before "[[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]]" in a telephone directory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/cambridge-torchbearers/arm-and-man-hauser%E2%80%99s-list-legacy-stands-test-time%7Cdate=July|title=News - Business Weekly - Technology News - Business news - Cambridge and the East of England|website=businessweekly.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021446/http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/cambridge-torchbearers/arm-and-man-hauser%E2%80%99s-list-legacy-stands-test-time%7Cdate=July|archive-date=5 March 2016|access-date=12 May 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Acorn Computers price list 1979 march.png|thumb|upright|left|March 1979 price list]]
Around this time, CPU and [[Andy Hopper]] set up ''Orbis Ltd.'' to commercialise the [[Cambridge Ring (computer network)|Cambridge Ring]] networking system Hopper had worked on for his [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]], but it was soon decided to bring him into CPU as a director because he could promote CPU's interests at the [[University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory]].

CPU purchased Orbis, and Hopper's Orbis shares were exchanged for shares in CPU Ltd. CPU's role gradually changed as its Acorn brand grew, and soon CPU was simply the holding company and Acorn was responsible for development work.

At some point, Curry had a disagreement with Sinclair and formally left Science of Cambridge, but did not join the other Acorn employees at Market Hill until a little while later.

[[File:AcornSystem1.jpg|thumb|The [[Acorn System 1]], upper board; this one was shipped on 9 April 1979.]]
The Acorn Microcomputer, later renamed the [[Acorn System 1]], was designed by [[Sophie Wilson]]. It was a semi-professional system aimed at engineering and laboratory users, but its price was low enough, at around £80 ({{Inflation|UK-GDP|80|1979|r=-1|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speleotrove.com/acorn/acornPriceList.gif|title=Acorn System 1 price list|website=speleotrove.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309184119/http://www.speleotrove.com/acorn/acornPriceList.gif|archive-date=9 March 2012|access-date=22 July 2010}}</ref> to appeal to the more serious enthusiast as well. It was a very small machine built on two cards, one with an [[light-emitting diode|LED]] display, keypad, and [[Compact audio cassette|cassette interface]] (the circuitry to the left of the keypad), and the other with the rest of the computer (including the [[central processing unit|CPU]]). Almost all CPU signals were accessible via a [[Eurocard (printed circuit board)|Eurocard]] connector.

The [[Acorn System 2|System 2]] made it easier to expand the system by putting the CPU card from the System 1 in a {{convert|19|in|mm|adj=on}}<!--mm are not primary here!--> Eurocard rack that allowed a number of optional additions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System2.html|last=Whytehead|first=Chris|title=Acorn System 2|website=Chris's Acorns|publisher=The Centre for Computing History|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044709/https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System2.html|archive-date=13 June 2021|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> The System 2 typically shipped with keyboard controller, external keyboard, a text display interface, and a cassette operating system with built-in [[BASIC]] [[interpreter (computer software)|interpreter]].

The [[Acorn System 3|System 3]] moved on by adding [[floppy disk]] support,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System3.html|last=Whytehead|first=Chris|title=Acorn System 3|website=Chris's Acorns|publisher=The Centre for Computing History|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044714/https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System3.html|archive-date=13 June 2021|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> and the [[Acorn System 4|System 4]] by including a larger case with a second drive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System4.html|last=Whytehead|first=Chris|title=Acorn System 4|website=Chris's Acorns|publisher=The Centre for Computing History|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044704/https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System4.html|archive-date=13 June 2021|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> The [[Acorn System 5|System 5]] was largely similar to the System 4, but included a newer 2&nbsp;[[megahertz|MHz]] version of the [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/Computers/System5.html|last=Whytehead|first=Chris|title=Acorn System 5<!-- From the title element. Page title is "Acorn System Computers" but the page is specifically about the System 5 -->|website=Chris's Acorns|publisher=The Centre for Computing History|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044706/https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/System5.html|archive-date=13 June 2021|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref>

{{clear}}

====The Atom====
{{Main|Acorn Atom}}
{{More citations needed|section called "The Atom"|date=March 2010}}
[[File:Acorn atom zx1.jpg|thumb|The Acorn Atom]]
Development of the [[Sinclair ZX80]] started at Science of Cambridge in May 1979. Learning of this probably prompted Curry to conceive the [[Acorn Atom|Atom]] project to target the consumer market. Curry and another designer, Nick Toop, worked from Curry's home in [[the Fens]] on the development of this machine. It was at this time that Acorn Computers Ltd. was incorporated and Curry moved to Acorn full-time.

It was Curry who wanted to target the consumer market. Other factions within Acorn, including the engineers, were happy to be out of that market, considering a [[home computer]] to be a rather frivolous product for a company operating in the laboratory equipment market.

To keep costs down and not give the doubters reason to object to the Atom, Curry asked industrial designer [[Allen Boothroyd]] to design a case that could also function as an external keyboard for the microcomputer systems.

The internals of the System 3 were placed inside the keyboard, creating a quite typical set-up for an inexpensive home computer of the early 1980s: the relatively successful [[Acorn Atom]].

To facilitate software development, a proprietary local area network had been installed at Market Hill. It was decided to include this, the [[Econet]], in the Atom, and at its launch at a computer show in March 1980, eight networked Atoms were demonstrated with functions that allowed files to be shared, screens to be remotely viewed and keyboards to be remotely slaved.

====BBC Micro and the Electron====
{{Main|BBC Micro|Acorn Electron}}
[[File:BBC Micro Front Restored.jpg|thumb|The BBC micro released by Acorn in 1981]]
After the Atom had been released into the market, Acorn contemplated building modern [[16-bit computing|16-bit]] processors to replace the Atom. After a great deal of discussion, Hauser suggested a compromise—an improved 6502-based machine with far greater expansion capabilities: the Proton. Acorn's technical staff had not wanted to do the Atom and they now saw the Proton as their opportunity to "do it right".{{citation needed|date=September 2021|reason=Source was an "email from Sophie Wilson", which is not [[WP:RS|reliable or verifiable]]}}

One of the developments proposed for the Proton was the ''Tube'', a proprietary interface allowing a second processor to be added. This compromise would make for an affordable 6502 machine for the mass market which could be expanded with more sophisticated and expensive processors. The Tube enabled processing to be farmed out to the second processor leaving the 6502 to perform data [[input/output]] (I/O). The Tube would later be instrumental in the development of Acorn's [[ARM architecture family#History|ARM processor]].<ref>{{cite magazine |quote=Should Acorn abandon the 6502 processor which lay at the heart of all its machines? Should the next machine be full of the latest features or should it sacrifice advanced technology for the mass market? |title=From Atom to Arc |last=Attack |first=Carol |journal=Acorn User |date=October–December 1988}}</ref>

In early 1980, the [[BBC]] Further Education department conceived the idea of a computer literacy programme, mostly as a follow-up to an [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] [[documentary film|documentary]], ''The Mighty Micro'', in which [[Christopher Evans (computer scientist)|Dr Christopher Evans]] from the UK [[National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom)|National Physical Laboratory]] predicted the coming [[microcomputer revolution]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/?page_id=568|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128100448/http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/?page_id=568|url-status=dead|website=Off the Telly |title=Standby for a Data-Blast |first=Jack |last=Kibble-White |date=December 2005|archive-date=28 November 2011}}</ref> It was a very influential documentary—so much so that questions were asked in [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. As a result of these questions, the [[Department of Industry]] (DoI) became interested in the programme, as did [[BBC Enterprises]], which saw an opportunity to sell a machine to go with the series. BBC Engineering was instructed to draw up an objective specification for a computer to accompany the series.

Eventually, under some pressure from the DoI to choose a British system, the BBC chose the [[Grundy NewBrain|NewBrain]] from Newbury Laboratories. This selection revealed the extent of the pressure brought to bear on the supposedly independent BBC's computer literacy project—Newbury was owned by the [[National Enterprise Board]], a government agency operating in close collaboration with the DoI. The choice was also somewhat ironic given that the NewBrain started life as a Sinclair Radionics project, and it was Sinclair's preference for developing it over Science of Cambridge's MK14 that led to Curry leaving SoC to found CPU with Hauser.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} The NEB moved the NewBrain to Newbury after Sinclair left Radionics and went to SoC.

In 1980–1982, the British [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Department of Education and Science]] (DES) had begun the [[Microelectronics Education Programme]] to introduce microprocessing concepts and educational materials. In 1981, through to 1986, the DoI allocated funding to assist UK local education authorities to supply their schools with a range of computers, the {{nowrap|BBC Micro}} being one of the most popular. Schools were offered 50% of the cost of computers, providing they chose one of three models: BBC Micro, {{nowrap|ZX Spectrum}} or [[Research Machines 380Z]].<ref>{{cite news | first = Nick | last = Langley | title = Schools: the early learning curve | date = 1989-09-09 | work = [[New Scientist]] | pages = 65 | quote = In 1981 the British government launched a scheme which offered schools 50% of the cost of a computer from one of three suppliers. The computers were the Sinclair Spectrum, the BBC Micro from Acorn and the Research Machines 380Z, all 8-bit machines.}}</ref> In parallel, the DES continued to fund more materials for the computers, such as software and applied computing projects, plus teacher training.

[[File:Acorn Electron 4x3.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Acorn Electron|Electron]], Acorn's sub-£200 competitor to the [[ZX Spectrum]] ]]
Although the NewBrain was under heavy development by Newbury, it soon became clear that they were not going to be able to produce it—certainly not in time for the literacy programme nor to the BBC's specification. The BBC's programmes, initially scheduled for autumn 1981, were moved back to spring 1982. After Curry and Sinclair found out about the BBC's plans, the BBC allowed other manufacturers to submit their proposals. Hauser quickly drafted in [[Steve Furber]] (who had been working for Acorn on a voluntary basis since the ACE fruit machine project) and [[Sophie Wilson]] to help complete a revised version of the Proton which met the BBC's specifications. BBC visited Acorn and were given a demonstration of the Proton. Shortly afterwards, the literacy programme computer contract was awarded to Acorn, and the Proton was launched in December 1981 as the [[BBC Micro]]. In April 1984, Acorn won the [[Queen's Award for Technology]] for the BBC Micro. The award paid special tribute to the BBC Micro's advanced design, and it commended Acorn "for the development of a microcomputer system with many innovative features".

[[File:BBC Micro people in 2008.jpg|thumb|Principal creators of the BBC micro in 2008, some 26 years after its release]]
In April 1982, Sinclair launched the [[ZX Spectrum]]. Curry conceived of the [[Acorn Electron|Electron]] as Acorn's sub-£200 competitor. In many ways a cut-down BBC Micro, it used one Acorn-designed [[Gate array|uncommitted logic array]] (ULA) to reproduce most of the functionality. But problems in producing the ULAs led to short supply, and the Electron, although launched in August 1983, was not on the market in sufficient numbers to capitalise on the 1983 Christmas sales period. Acorn resolved to avoid this problem in 1984 and negotiated new production contracts. Acorn became more known for its {{nowrap|BBC Micro}} {{nowrap|model B}} than for its other products.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sadauskas|first=Andrew|title=BBC Micro B lives on: Strong growth for ARM after increased tablet and smartphone use|url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/information-technology/050914-bbc-micro-b-lives-on-strong-growth-for-arm-after-increased-tablet-and-smartphone-use.html|access-date=7 August 2012|newspaper=SmartCompany|date=27 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728230947/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/information-technology/050914-bbc-micro-b-lives-on-strong-growth-for-arm-after-increased-tablet-and-smartphone-use.html|archive-date=28 July 2012}}</ref>

In 2008, the [[Computer Conservation Society]] organised an event at London's [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]] to mark the legacy of the BBC Micro. A number of the BBC Micro's principal creators were present, and Sophie Wilson recounted to the BBC how Hermann Hauser tricked her and Steve Furber to agree to create the physical prototype in less than five days.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Micro ignites memories of revolution|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7307636.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|date=2008-03-21|access-date=2011-06-29|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407140141/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7307636.stm|archive-date=7 April 2008}}</ref> Also in 2008 a number of former staff organised a reunion event to mark the 30th anniversary of the company's formation.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact2200.html | title = Acorn celebs to mark 30th anniversary with reunion | access-date = 2011-07-21 | date = 2008-01-28 | website = [[Drobe]] | quote = Top Acorn Computers luminaries are planning a reunion for former company staff to mark the firm's 30th birthday, drobe.co.uk has learned. | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120210072848/http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact2200.html | archive-date = 10 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reghardware.com/2008/08/28/acorn_30_reunion/ | title = Acorn alumni to toast tech pioneer's 30th anniversary | access-date = 2011-07-21 | last = Smith | first = Tony | date = 2008-08-28 | work = RegHardware, [[The Register]] | quote = Some 400 staffers from that flag bearer of the 1980s UK home computing revolution, Acorn, are to gather next month to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the firm's foundation. | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525053906/http://www.reghardware.com/2008/08/28/acorn_30_reunion/ | archive-date = 25 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/desktop-hardware/2008/08/29/acorn-to-celebrate-30th-anniversary-39472541/ | title = Acorn to celebrate 30th anniversary | access-date = 2011-07-21 | last1 = Goodwins | first1 = Rupert | last2 = Barker | first2 = Colin | date = 2008-08-29 | work = [[ZDNet]] | quote = Thirteenth of September will see the 30th anniversary of UK technology company Acorn Computers, famous in the 1980s 8-bit boom for its 6502-based microcomputers such as the Electron, Atom and BBC Micro. Some 400 previous employees and guests are expected at a celebratory party, which will be held in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge, close to the company's old HQ. | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100701201148/http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/desktop-hardware/2008/08/29/acorn-to-celebrate-30th-anniversary-39472541/ | archive-date = 1 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/hi-tech/10127-mighty-acorn-holding-30th-anniversary-reunion-bash?date=2011-02-01 | title = Mighty Acorn holding 30th anniversary reunion bash | access-date = 2011-07-18 | date = 2008-08-28 | work = Business Weekly | quote = Around 400 ex-Acorn employees and guests are expected to attend the event in Cambridge on September 13th. It will be held in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall, close to the company's old headquarters building. | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313112915/http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/hi-tech/10127-mighty-acorn-holding-30th-anniversary-reunion-bash?date=2011-02-01 | archive-date = 13 March 2012}}</ref>
{{clear}}

===1983–1985: Acorn Computer Group===

[[File:BBC Micro creators with micro in 2012.jpg|thumb|Hermann Hauser, Andy Hopper, Christopher Curry, Sophie Wilson, David Allen, Chris Serle, David Kitson, Chris Turner, Steve Furber at the BBC Micro 30th anniversary in 2012]]

The BBC Micro sold well—so much so that Acorn's profits rose from £3000 in 1979 to £8.6 million in July 1983. In September 1983, CPU shares were liquidated and Acorn was floated on the [[Unlisted Securities Market]] as ''Acorn Computer Group plc'', with Acorn Computers Ltd. as the microcomputer division. With a minimum tender price of 120p, the group came into existence with a market capitalisation of about £135 million.<ref name="popcompweekly19831006">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-10-06/page/n2/mode/1up | title=Editorial | work=Popular Computer Weekly | date=6 October 1983 | access-date=30 December 2020 | pages=3 }}</ref> CPU founders Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry's stakes in the new company were worth £64m and £51m, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WVI/is_1998_Oct_5/ai_59214055/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711100727/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WVI/is_1998_Oct_5/ai_59214055/|url-status = dead|title=October 6 1983 - Electronics Times - Find Articles|date=11 July 2012|archive-date=11 July 2012|via=Find Articles}}</ref> Ten per cent of the equity was placed on the market, with the money raised from the flotation "mainly" directed towards establishing US and German subsidiaries (the flotation raising around £13.4 million<ref name="stoyhayward">{{ cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rCqwCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA139 | title=Acorn Computer Group PLC | work=Stoy Hayward Unlisted Securities Market Year Book 1990 | publisher=Macmillan Publishers Ltd | isbn=978-1-349-11287-6 | date=1990 | access-date=15 February 2022 | pages=139 }}</ref>), although some was directed towards research and product development.<ref name="fleck19880301" />

By the end of 1984, Acorn Computer Group was organised into several subsidiary companies. ''Acorn Computers Limited'' was responsible for the management of the microcomputer business, research and development, and UK sales and marketing, whereas ''Acorn Computer Corporation'' and ''Acorn Computers International Limited'' dealt with sales to the US and to other international markets respectively. ''Acorn Computers (Far East) Limited'' focused on component procurement and manufacturing with some distribution responsibilities in local markets. ''[[Acornsoft|Acornsoft Limited]]'' was responsible for development, production and marketing of software for Acorn's computer range. ''Vector Marketing Limited'' was established to handle distribution-related logistics and the increasing customer support burden. As part of Acorn's office automation aspirations, conducting "advanced software research and development", ''Acorn Research Center Incorporated'' was established in Palo Alto, California. ''Acorn Leasing Limited'' rounded out the portfolio.<ref name="acorn_app20">{{ cite book | url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/userdata/files/this_is_acorn_computer.pdf | title=This is Acorn Computer | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | access-date=27 March 2021 | pages=36 }}</ref>

====New RISC architecture====
{{More citations needed|section called "New RISC architecture"|date=March 2010}}
{{Main|ARM architecture family}}
<!-- the "ARM architecture family" article links to this section heading: if you change this heading, please also update that article -->

Even from the time of Acorn's earliest systems, the company was considering how to move on from the [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]] processor, introducing a [[Motorola 6809]] processor card for its System 3 and System 4 models.<ref name="acorn6809">{{ cite web | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/8bit_Upgrades/Acorn_6809_CPU.html | title=Acorn 6809 CPU | website=Chris's Acorns | date=2 May 2014 | last1=Whytehead | first1=Chris }}</ref> Several years later in 1985, the [[Acorn Communicator]] employed the [[16-bit computing|16-bit]] [[WDC 65C816|65816]] processor as a step up from the 6502.

The [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM PC]] was launched on 12 August 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa031599.htm|title=IBM's Invention of the First Personal Computer|website=[[About.com|About]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717055905/http://inventors.about.com/od/computersandinternet/a/Ibm-Pc.htm|archive-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> Although a version of that machine was aimed at the enthusiast market much like the BBC Micro, its real area of success was business. The successor to the PC, the XT (eXtended Technology) was introduced in early 1983. The success of these machines and the variety of [[Zilog Z80|Z80]]-based [[CP/M]] machines in the business sector demonstrated that it was a viable market, especially given that sector's ability to cope with premium prices. The development of a business machine looked like a good idea to Acorn. A development programme was started to create a business computer using Acorn's existing technology: the BBC Micro mainboard, the Tube and second processors to give [[CP/M]], [[MS-DOS]] and [[Unix]] ([[Xenix]]) workstations.

[[File:Acorn Cambridge Workstation advert new scientist 1986-04-24.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Cambridge Workstation advert in ''[[New Scientist]]'', 24 April 1986 issue]]
This ''[[Acorn Business Computer]]'' (ABC) plan required a number of second processors to be made to work with the BBC Micro platform. In developing these, Acorn had to implement the Tube protocols on each processor chosen, in the process finding out, during 1983, that there were no obvious candidates to replace the 6502. Because of many-cycle uninterruptible instructions, for example, the [[interrupt]] response times of the [[Motorola 68000]] were too slow to handle the communication protocol that the host 6502-based BBC Micro coped with easily. The National Semiconductor 32016-based model of the ABC range, was developed and later sold in 1985 as the Cambridge Workstation (using the [[Panos (operating system)|Panos]] operating system).<ref>{{cite news | title = Acorn re-enters the marketplace | date = 1985-08-08 | work = New Scientist | pages = 32 | quote = Acorn [...] unveiled two products last week – a cheap microprocessor chip and a range of scientific workstations. [...] called the Acorn Cambridge Workstation, was developed from Acorn's now defunct range of business micros and is compatible with the BBC Micro.}}</ref> Advertising for this machine in 1986 included an illustration of an office worker using the workstation. The advert claimed mainframe power at a price of £3,480 (excluding VAT). The main text of the advertisement referred to available mainframe languages, communication capabilities and the alternative option of upgrading a BBC Micro using a [[coprocessor]].<ref>{{Citation |title= Acorn Cambridge Workstation |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_7sirll_RDUC&q=acorn+computers+%22choice+of+experience%22+-chriswhy.co.uk+-wikipedia.org&pg=PA48 |access-date= 2011-10-17 |date= 1986-04-24 |publisher= [[New Scientist]] |quote= Happily, all the mainframe power you have been waiting for can now be found in a [[32-bit computing|32-bit]] micro – the Acorn Cambridge Workstation. }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The machine had shown [[Sophie Wilson]] and [[Steve Furber]] the value of memory bandwidth. It also showed that an 8&nbsp;MHz [[NS320xx|32016]] was completely trounced in performance terms by a 4&nbsp;MHz 6502. Furthermore, the [[Apple Lisa]] had shown the Acorn engineers that they needed to develop a windowing system; this was not going to be easy with a 2–4&nbsp;MHz 6502-based system doing the graphics. Acorn would need a new architecture.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Acorn had investigated all of the readily available processors and found them wanting<ref name="EMTWorldWide 2008-04-15" /> or unavailable to them.<ref name="guardian shillingford 2001" /> After testing all of the available processors and finding them lacking, Acorn decided that it needed a new architecture. Inspired by white papers on the [[Berkeley RISC]] project, Acorn seriously considered designing its own processor.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1620207 | title=Understanding ARM Architectures | date=2010-08-23 | access-date=2013-05-26 | author=Chisnall, David |url-status = live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703024704/http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1620207 | archive-date=3 July 2013}}</ref> A visit to the [[Western Design Center]] in the US, where the 6502 was being updated by what was effectively a single-person company, showed Acorn engineers [[Steve Furber]] and [[Sophie Wilson]] they did not need massive resources and state-of-the-art [[research and development]] facilities.<ref>{{cite book |author=Furber, Stephen B. |title=ARM system-on-chip architecture|publisher=Addison-Wesley |location=Boston |year=2000 |isbn=0-201-67519-6 |title-link=ARM system-on-chip architecture}}</ref>

Sophie Wilson set about developing the instruction set, writing a simulation of the processor in {{nowrap|[[BBC BASIC]]}} that ran on a {{nowrap|BBC Micro}} with a 6502 second processor. It convinced the Acorn engineers that they were on the right track. Before they could go any further, however, they would need more resources. It was time for Wilson to approach Hauser and explain what was afoot. Once the go-ahead had been given, a small team was put together to implement Wilson's model in hardware.

[[File:Arm evaluation system advert new scientist 1986-07-31.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Advert in ''[[New Scientist]]'', 31 July 1986 issue]]

''Acorn'' initiated its RISC research project in October 1983, and by 1987 had spent {{nowrap|£5 million}}.<ref>{{cite news | first = Ray | last = Hammond | title = 'Fastest' micro in the world | date = 1987-06-18 | work = New Scientist | pages = 41 | quote = Acorn first started working on its RISC research programme in 1983. [...] has spent £5 million developing the RISC microprocessor [...]}}</ref> [[VLSI Technology, Inc]] were chosen as silicon partner, since they already supplied Acorn with ROMs and some custom chips. VLSI produced the first ARM silicon on 26 April 1985;<ref>{{cite journal | title = Speciation through entrepreneurial spin-off: The Acorn-ARM story | journal = Research Policy | date = March 2008 | first = Elizabeth | last = Garnsey | author2= Lorenzoni, Gianni|author3= Ferriani, Simone | volume = 37 | issue = 2 | url = http://www2.sa.unibo.it/~simone.ferriani/Download/Speciation%20through%20Entrepreneurial%20Spin-off.pdf | access-date = 2011-06-02 | quote = [...] the first silicon was run on April 26th 1985. | doi=10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.006 | pages=210–224| s2cid = 73520408 }}</ref> it worked first time and came to be known as ARM1. Its first practical application was as a second processor to the BBC Micro, where it was used to develop the simulation software to finish work on the support chips (VIDC, IOC, MEMC) and to speed up the operation of the CAD software used in developing ARM2. The ARM evaluation system was promoted as a means for developers to try the system for themselves. This system was used with a BBC Micro and a [[PC compatible]] version was also planned.{{Clarify|date=May 2011}} Advertising was aimed at those with technical expertise, rather than consumers and the education market, with a number of technical specifications listed in the main text of the adverts.<ref>{{Citation |title= Acorn Risc technology |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=WUO69PwV1vgC&q=new+scientist+acorn+risc&pg=PA40 |access-date= 2011-05-26 |date= 1986-07-31 |publisher= [[New Scientist]] }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Wilson subsequently coded {{nowrap|BBC BASIC}} in ARM assembly language, and the in-depth knowledge obtained from designing the instruction set allowed the code to be very dense, making ARM BBC BASIC an extremely good test for any ARM emulator.

Such was the secrecy surrounding the ARM CPU project that when [[Olivetti]] were negotiating to take a controlling share of Acorn in 1985, they were not told about the development team until after the negotiations had been finalised. In 1992, Acorn once more won the Queen's Award for Technology for the [[ARM architecture family|ARM]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbronline.com/news/high_hopes_for_advanced_risc_machines_ltd_as_acorn_returns_to_the_black | title=High hopes for Advanced Risc Machines Ltd as Acorn returns to the black | work=[[Computergram International]] | publisher=Computer Business Review | date=26 April 1992 | access-date=2 January 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200745/http://www.cbronline.com/news/high_hopes_for_advanced_risc_machines_ltd_as_acorn_returns_to_the_black | archive-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> Acorn's development of their {{nowrap|RISC OS}} operating system required around 200 OS development staff at its peak.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.drobe.co.uk/article.php?id=990 | title = Castle, RISCOS Ltd., FinnyBank theatre report | access-date = 2011-02-04 | last = Hansen | first = Martin | date = 2004-03-01 | publisher = [[Drobe]] | quote = In Acorn's prime, 200 people worked on developing the OS [...] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718153411/http://www.drobe.co.uk/article.php?id=990 | archive-date = 18 July 2011}}</ref> [[Acorn C/C++]] was released commercially by Acorn, for developers to use to compile their own applications.

====Financial problems====
Having become a publicly traded company in 1983 during the home computer boom, Acorn's commercial performance in 1984 proved to be consequential. Many home computer manufacturers struggled to maintain customer enthusiasm, some offering unconvincing follow-up products that failed to appeal to buyers. The more successful manufacturers, like Amstrad, emphasised the bundling of computers with essential peripherals such as monitors and cassette recorders along with value for money. The collapse of the market from the manufacturers' perspective, it was argued, was due to the "neglect of the market by the manufacturers".<ref name="pcw198503" /> Market adversity had led to [[Atari]] being sold,<ref>{{Cite news |last = Sanger |first = David E. |title = Warner Sells Atari To Tramiel |newspaper = [[The New York Times]] |pages = Late City Final Edition, Section D, Page 1, Column 6, 1115 words |date = 3 July 1984 |url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B10FF395D0C708CDDAE0894DC484D81&scp=2&sq=atari+tramiel+240&st=nyt |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081206024423/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30B10FF395D0C708CDDAE0894DC484D81&scp=2&sq=atari+tramiel+240&st=nyt |archive-date = 6 December 2008}}</ref> and [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] nearly went bankrupt.

The Electron had been launched in 1983, but problems with the supply of its [[uncommitted logic array|ULA]] meant that Acorn was not able to capitalise on the 1983 Christmas selling period.<ref>[http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/Computers/ElectronComputers.html Chris's Acorns] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011011402/http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/Computers/ElectronComputers.html |date=11 October 2009}} Acorn Electron - Release and ULA supply issues.</ref> A successful advertising campaign, including TV advertisements, had led to 300,000 orders, but the Malaysian suppliers were only able to supply 30,000 machines.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} The apparently strong demand for Electrons proved to be ephemeral: rather than wait, parents bought [[Commodore 64]] or [[ZX Spectrum]] for their children's presents. [[Ferranti]] solved the production problem and in 1984, production reached its anticipated volumes, but the contracts Acorn had negotiated with its suppliers were not flexible enough to allow volumes to be reduced quickly in this unanticipated situation, and supplies of the Electron built up. At the time of the eventual financial rescue of Acorn in early 1985, it still had 100,000 unsold Electrons plus an inventory of components which had all been paid for and needed to be stored at additional expense.<ref name="acornuser198504">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser033-Apr85/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Beeb safe, but ABCs under review | work=Acorn User | date=April 1985 | access-date=31 August 2020 | pages=7 }}</ref> 40,000 BBC Micros also remained unsold.<ref name="fleck19880301" />

After a disappointing summer season in 1984, Acorn had evidently focused on making up for lost sales over the Christmas season, with the Electron being a particular focus. However, a refusal to discount the BBC Micro also appeared to inhibit sales of that machine, with some dealers expressing dissatisfaction to the point of considering abandoning the range altogether. With rumours of another, potentially cheaper, machine coming from Acorn,<ref name="pcw198503">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-03/page/94/mode/1up | title=Unfinished business | work=Personal Computer World | date=March 1985 | access-date=21 November 2020 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=94, 99 }}</ref> dealers eventually started to discount heavily after Christmas.<ref name="pcw198504">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-04/page/106/mode/1up | title=Acorn reprise | work=Personal Computer World | date=April 1985 | access-date=19 November 2020 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=106–107 }}</ref> For instance, high street retailer [[Rumbelows]] sought to clear unsold Christmas stocks of around 1500 machines priced at £299, offering a discount of around £100, also bundling them with a cassette recorder and software.<ref name="popcompweekly19850228b">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1985-02-28/page/n9/mode/1up | title=Cut price BBC B's | work=Popular Computing Weekly | date=28 February 1985 | access-date=20 November 2020 | pages=10 }}</ref> The rumoured machine turned out to be the BBC Model B+ which was a relatively conservative upgrade and more, not less, expensive than the machine it replaced.<ref name="pcw198506_acorn">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-06/page/124/mode/1up | title=Acorn anti-climax | work=Personal Computer World | date=June 1985 | access-date=28 April 2021 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=124 }}</ref> It was speculated that the perception of a more competitive machine soon to be launched might well have kept potential purchasers away from the products that Acorn needed to sell.<ref name="pcw198507_acorn">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-07/page/111/mode/1up | title=Newsprint | work=Personal Computer World | date=July 1985 | access-date=28 April 2021 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=111 }}</ref>

Acorn was also spending a large portion of its reserves on development: the BBC Master was being developed; the ARM project was underway; the Acorn Business Computer entailed a lot of development work but delivered few products, with only the 32016-based model ever being sold (as the Cambridge Workstation). The company's research and development staff had grown from around 100 in 1983 to around 150 in 1984, the latter out of a total of 450 employees. Meanwhile, Acorn's chosen method of expansion into West Germany and the United States through the establishment of subsidiaries involved a "major commitment of resources", in contrast with a less costly strategy that might have emphasised collaboration with local distributors. Localisation of the BBC Micro for the US market also involved more expenditure than it otherwise might have due to a failure to consider local market conditions and preferences, with "complex technical efforts" having been made to make the machine compatible with US television standards when local market information would have indicated that "US home computer users expect to use a dedicated personal computer monitor".<ref name="fleck19880301" /> Consequently, obtaining Federal approval for the BBC Micro in order to expand into the United States proved to be a drawn-out and expensive process that proved futile: all of the expansion devices that were intended to be sold with the BBC Micro had to be tested and radiation emissions had to be reduced. It was claimed that Acorn spent £10 million on its US operation without this localised variant of the BBC Micro establishing a significant market share.<ref name="amstradcomputeruser198505">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AmstradComputerUser06-0585/page/n97/mode/2up | title=Amstrad Education Campaign | magazine=Amstrad Computer User | last1=Littler | first1=Gareth | date=May 1985 | access-date=13 February 2023 | pages=98–99 }}</ref> The machine, however, did make an appearance in the school of ''[[Supergirl (1984 film)|Supergirl]]'' in the 1984 film ''Supergirl: The Movie''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starringthecomputer.com/feature.php?f=396|title=Starring the Computer - Supergirl|website=starringthecomputer.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716132439/http://www.starringthecomputer.com/feature.php?f=396|archive-date=16 July 2011|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>

Acorn also made or attempted various acquisitions. The Computer Education in Schools division of [[International Computers Limited|ICL]] was acquired by Acorn in late 1983 "reportedly for less than £100,000", transferring a staff of six to Acorn's Maidenhead office to form Acorn's Educational Services division and to provide "the core of education support development within Acorn".<ref name="popcompweekly19831117">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1983-11-17/mode/1up | title=Acorn shot in the arm | work=Popular Computing Weekly | date=17 November 1983 | access-date=30 December 2020 | pages=1 }}</ref> Having had a close relationship with [[Torch Computers]] in the early 1980s, Acorn sought to acquire Torch in 1984 with the intention of making Torch "effectively the business arm" of Acorn, despite a lack of clarity about competing product lines and uncertainty about the future of Acorn's still-unreleased business machine within any rationalised product range,<ref name="acornuser198406a">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser023-Jun84/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn acquires Torch | work=Acorn User | date=June 1984 | access-date=4 November 2020 | pages=7 }}</ref> although this acquisition was never completed,<ref name="popcompweekly19850214">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1985-02-14 | title=Black week for Acorn | work=Popular Computing Weekly | date=14 February 1985 | access-date=20 November 2020 | pages=1 }}</ref> with Torch having pulled out as Acorn's situation deteriorated.<ref name="pcn19850216">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/personal-computer-news-099/page/n1/mode/1up | title=Acorn searches for way out of crisis | work=Personal Computer News | date=16 February 1985 | access-date=11 November 2020 | pages=1 }}</ref>

At around the same time, Acorn also bought into Torus Systems - a company developing a "graphics-controlled local network called Icon" for the IBM PC platform - to broaden Acorn's networking expertise.<ref name="acornuser198406b">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser023-Jun84/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn's Icon | work=Acorn User | date=June 1984 | access-date=4 November 2020 | pages=7 }}</ref> Icon was a solution based on Ethernet, as opposed to the Acorn-related Econet and [[Cambridge Ring (computer network)|Cambridge Ring]] technologies,<ref name="pcw198408_torus">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1984-08/page/94/mode/1up | title=Newsprint | work=Personal Computer World | date=August 1988 | access-date=26 April 2021 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=94 }}</ref><ref name="minimicrosystems198411_torus">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_MiniMicroS_172417378/page/83/mode/1up | title=Britain's Torus Systems employs icons to help IBM PC users on local networks | magazine=Mini-Micro Systems | last1=Jones | first1=Keith | date=November 1984 | access-date=4 March 2023 | pages=83–84, 86 }}</ref> equipping appropriately specified IBM-compatible computers to participate on a network using a relatively low-cost Ethernet interface card utilising Intel's 82586 network controller chip.<ref name="mmw19841112_torus">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_micro-marketworld_1984-11-12_7_22/page/107/mode/1up | title=British Information Services Advertising Supplement | magazine=Micro Marketworld | date=12 November 1984 | access-date=12 November 2023 | pages=104–109 }}</ref>{{rp|pages=108}} Torus later released a network management solution called Tapestry,<ref name="pcw198505_torus">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-05/page/117/mode/1up | title=Newsprint | work=Personal Computer World | date=May 1985 | access-date=28 April 2021 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=117 }}</ref> based on Icon and marketed by IBM for its own networking technologies.<ref name="dataprocessing198605_torus">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_data-processing_1986-05_28_4/page/n32/mode/1up | title=Networking made simpler | magazine=Data Processing | last1=Jones | first1=Russell | date=May 1986 | access-date=5 March 2023 | pages=199–203 }}</ref> Torus also released support for the use of Novell's Advanced Netware product on its own networking hardware.<ref name="dataprocessing198610_torus">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_data-processing_1986-10_28_8/page/n57/mode/1up | title=Third party networking | magazine=Data Processing | date=October 1986 | access-date=5 March 2023 | pages=444 }}</ref> The company eventually entered receivership in 1990 with Acorn reporting a £242,000 loss associated with the investment.<ref name="acornuser199012_torus">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser101-Dec90/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Hard Times | work=Acorn User | date=December 1990 | access-date=7 April 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Such were the ambitions of Acorn's management that a joint venture company was established in Hong Kong under the name ''Optical Information Systems'', apparently engaging in the development of "digital, optical technology for computer data storage".<ref name="computerworld19840521_acorn">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld1821unse/page/118/mode/1up | title=Supershorts | magazine=Computerworld | date=21 May 1984 | access-date=3 September 2022 | pages=118 }}</ref> Involving a Hong Kong turntable manufacturer, Better Sound Reproduction Ltd., Acorn were to set up a research and development facility in Palo Alto, California, US to bring "compact laser disk drives designed as floppy disk drive replacements" to market within 18 months.<ref name="minimicrosystems198407_acorn">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_MiniMicroS_183091910/page/24/mode/1up | title=Breakpoints | magazine=Mini-Micro Systems | date=July 1984 | access-date=4 March 2023 | pages=15–16, 19–20, 23–24 }}</ref>{{rp|pages=24}}

In February 1985, speculation about the state of Acorn's finances intensified with the appointment of a temporary chief executive, Alexander Reid, to run the company, together with the announcement that Acorn had replaced its financial advisors, Lazards, and that the company's stockbrokers, Cazenove, had resigned, ultimately leading to the suspension of Acorn shares, these having fallen to a low of 23 pence per share. With these events reportedly being the result of disagreement between Acorn and Lazards over the measures needed to rescue the company, with Lazards favouring a sale or refinancing whereby the founders would lose control, Acorn and their replacement advisors, Close Brothers, were reported to be pursuing a "radical reorganisation of the company".<ref name="popcompweekly19850214" /> Lazards had sought to attract financing from [[General Electric Company|GEC]] but had failed to do so. Close Brothers also found themselves in the position of seeking a financing partner for Acorn, but in a significantly more urgent timeframe, making "financial institutions or a large computer company" the most likely candidates, these having the necessary resources and decision-making agility for a timely intervention.<ref name="fleck19880301">{{ cite journal | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/030630708801300301 | title=Managing Growth at Acorn Computers | journal=Journal of General Management | date=1 March 1988 | access-date=19 June 2021 | volume=13 | issue=3 | pages=4–23 | doi=10.1177/030630708801300301 | last1=Fleck | first1=Vivien | last2=Garnsey | first2=Elizabeth | s2cid=168090550 | url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===1985–1998: Olivetti subsidiary===
The dire financial situation was brought to a head in February 1985, when one of Acorn's creditors issued a winding-up petition.<ref name="popcompweekly19850221">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1985-02-21 | title=Troubled Acorn faces winding-up order | work=Popular Computing Weekly | date=21 February 1985 | access-date=20 November 2020 | pages=1 }}</ref> It would eventually emerge that Acorn owed £31.1 million to various creditors including manufacturers AB Electronics and Wong's Electronics.<ref name="popcompweekly19850314">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1985-03-14/page/n3/mode/1up | title=Acorn's shares re-open on USM | work=Popular Computing Weekly | date=14 March 1985 | access-date=20 November 2020 | pages=4 }}</ref> Wong's had been awarded a {{nowrap|$45 million}} contract to produce the BBC Micro for the US market.<ref name="practicalcomputing198311_wongs">{{ cite magazine | url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Practical-Computing/80s/Practical-Computing-1983-11-S-OCR.pdf | title=BBC Micro news | magazine=Practical Computing | date=November 1983 | access-date=2 October 2022 | pages=15 }}</ref> During the search for potential financing partners, an Olivetti director had approached Close Brothers, ostensibly as part of Olivetti's strategy of acquiring technologically advanced small companies.<ref name="fleck19880301"/> After a short period of negotiations, Curry and Hauser signed an agreement with [[Olivetti]] on 20 February. With the founders relinquishing control of the company and seeing their combined stake fall from 85.7% to 36.5%, the Italian computer company took a 49.3% stake in Acorn for £10.39 million, which went some way to covering Acorn's £10.9 million losses in the previous six months,<ref name="popcompweekly19850228a">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1985-02-28/mode/1up | title=Electron in doubt after rescue | work=Popular Computing Weekly | date=28 February 1985 | access-date=20 November 2020 | pages=1, 4 }}</ref> effectively valuing Acorn at around a tenth of its valuation of £216 million the year before.<ref name="popcompweekly19850214" /> Acorn's share price collapse and the suspension of its listing was attributed by some news outlets to the company's failure to establish itself in the US market, with one source citing costs of $5.5 million related to that endeavour.<ref name="computerworld19850225_acorn">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld198unse/page/n37/mode/1up | title=International Report | work=Computerworld | date=25 February 1985 | access-date=15 February 2022 | pages=38 }}</ref>

In July 1985, Olivetti acquired an additional £4 million of Acorn shares, raising its ownership stake in the company to 79.8%. Major creditors agreed to write off £7.9 million in debts, and the BBC agreed to waive 50% of outstanding royalty payments<ref name="homecompweekly19850730">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/home-computing-weekly-123 | title=Olivetti cash revives Acorn | work=Home Computing Weekly | date=30 July 1985 | access-date=25 November 2020 | pages=1 }}</ref> worth a reported £2 million. This second refinancing left the Acorn founders with less than 15% ownership of the company. Meanwhile, the financial difficulties had reduced the number of employees at Acorn from a peak of 480 to around 270.<ref name="acornuser198509">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser038-Sep85/page/n8/mode/1up | title=The saving of Acorn - part 2 | work=Acorn User | date=September 1985 | access-date=25 November 2020 | pages=7 }}</ref>

With Brian Long appointed as managing director, Acorn were set to move forward with a new OEM-focused computer named the [[Acorn Communicator|Communicator]] and the [[Acorn Business Computer#ABC 210/Acorn Cambridge Workstation|Cambridge Workstation]], whose launch had been delayed until the end of July 1985 due to the suspension of Acorn's shares. Of subsequent significance, Hermann Hauser was also expected to announce a "VLSI chip design using a reduced instruction set".<ref name="acornuser198509" /> Unveiled towards the end of 1985,<ref name="acornuser198512">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser041-Dec85/page/n12/mode/1up | work=Acorn User | title=Communicator's wide appeal | date=December 1985 | access-date=2 September 2020 | pages=11 }}</ref> the Communicator was Acorn's answer to ICL's [[One Per Desk]] initiative. This Acorn machine was based around a 16-bit 65SC816 CPU, 128&nbsp;KB RAM, expandable to 512&nbsp;KB, plus additional battery-backed RAM. It had a new multi-tasking OS, four internal ROM sockets, and shipped with a software suite based on View and ViewSheet. It also had an attached telephone, communications software and auto-answer/auto-dial modem.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Communicator.html |title=Communicator |last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044419/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Communicator.html |archive-date=13 June 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref> However, with Acorn's finances having sustained the development cost of the Archimedes, and with the custom systems division having contributed substantially to the company's losses in 1987,<ref name="acornuser198806_communicator">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser071-Jun88/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Optimism reigns despite '87 losses | work=Acorn User | date=June 1988 | accessdate=23 October 2020 | pages=9 }}</ref> a change in strategy took effect towards the end of 1987, moving away from "individual customers" and towards "volume products", resulting in 47 of Acorn's 300 staff being made redundant,<ref name="popcompweekly198712_acorn">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/NH2021_Popular_Computing_Weekly_Issue871217.pdf/page/n3/mode/1up | title=Acorn staff sacked | work=Popular Computing Weekly | date=17 December 1987 | access-date=15 October 2021 | pages=4 }}</ref> the closure of the custom systems division, and the abandonment of the Communicator.<ref name="acornuser198806_communicator" />

In February 1986, Acorn announced that it was ceasing US sales operations, and sold its remaining US BBC Microcomputers for $1.25 million to a Texas company, Basic, which was a subsidiary of Datum, the Mexican manufacturer of the Spanish version of the BBC Microcomputer (with modified Spanish keyboards for the South American market). The sales office in Woburn, Massachusetts was closed at this time.<ref name="acornuser198602">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser043-Feb86/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Acorn moves out of US | work=Acorn User | date=February 1986 | access-date=26 September 2020 | pages=9 }}</ref> Acorn was reported as having achieved "negligible U.S. sales".<ref name="computerworld19860630_foreign">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/computerworld2026unse/page/118/mode/1up | title=Centralized decision making hurts foreign firms in U.S. mart | work=Computerworld | last1=Warner | first1=Edward | date=30 June 1986 | access-date=15 February 2022 | pages=118, 94 }}</ref> In 1990, in contrast, Acorn set up a sales and marketing operation in Australia and New Zealand by seeking to acquire long-time distributor Barson Computers Australasia, with Acorn managing director Sam Wauchope noting Acorn's presence in Australia since 1983 and being "the only computer manufacturer whose products are recommended by all Australian state education authorities".<ref name="acornuser199007">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser096-Jul90/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn Enters the Land of Oz | work=Acorn User | date=July 1990 | access-date=1 November 2020 | pages=7 }}</ref>

Acorn also sought once again to expand into Germany in the 1990s, identifying the market as the largest in Europe whose technically sophisticated computer retailers were looking for opportunities to sell higher-margin products than IBM PC compatibles, with a large enthusiast community amongst existing and potential customers. Efforts were made to establish a local marketing presence and to offer localised versions of Acorn's products.<ref name="acornuser199405_germany">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser142-May94/page/n68/mode/1up | title=Acorn in Germany | work=Acorn User | date=May 1994 | access-date=9 October 2021 | last1=Ensor | first1=Philip | pages=69–71 }}</ref> Despite optimistic projections of success, and with Acorn having initially invested £700,000 in the endeavour,<ref name="acornuser199408_financial">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser145-Aug94/page/n10/mode/1up | title=Financial stakes | work=Acorn User | date=August 1994 | access-date=9 October 2021 | pages=11 }}</ref> the loss-making operation was closed in 1995 as part of broader cost-cutting and restructuring in response to a decline in revenue and difficulties experienced by various Acorn divisions.<ref name="acornuser199605_balance">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser168-May96/page/n9/mode/1up | title=Acorn's balance sheet | work=Acorn User | date=May 1996 | access-date=9 October 2021 | pages=10 }}</ref>

Ostensibly facilitated or catalysed by Olivetti's acquisition of Acorn, reports in late 1985 indicated plans for possible collaboration between Acorn, Olivetti and Thomson in the European education sector to define a standard for an educational microcomputer system analogous to the [[MSX]] computing architecture and to the established [[IBM PC compatible]] architecture.<ref name="acornuser198511_european">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser040-Nov85/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Big three go for European micro | work=Acorn User | date=November 1985 | access-date=25 September 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Deliberations continued into 1986, with Acorn proposing its own ARM processor architecture as the basis for the initiative, whereas Thomson had proposed the Motorola 68000.<ref name="acornuser198604_standard">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser045-Apr86/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn RISCs it on micro standard | work=Acorn User | date=April 1986 | access-date=25 September 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Expectations that Olivetti would actively market Acorn's machines in Europe were, however, frustrated by Olivetti's own assessment of Acorn's products as "too expensive" and the proprietary operating system offering "limited flexibility". Instead, Olivetti sought to promote its [[Olivetti M19|M19]] personal computer for the European schools market, offering it to Acorn for sale in the UK (ultimately, as the rebadged [[Acorn M19]]).<ref name="yourcomputer198604_olivetti">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/Your_Computer_Magazine_Issue_V604/page/11/mode/1up | title=Herman Hauser moves to top Olivetti post | work=Your Computer | date=April 1986 | access-date=25 September 2021 | pages=11 }}</ref> Olivetti would eventually offer both Acorn's [[BBC Master#Master Compact|Master Compact]] and the [[Thomson MO6]] to the Italian market with its Prodest branding.

Collaboration involving Acorn, Olivetti and Thomson (subsequently as SGS-Thomson) continued in the context of research projects, with a consortium of vendors including AEG, Bull, Philips and ICL participating in the Multiworks initiative to develop Unix workstations as part of the European [[European Strategic Programme on Research in Information Technology (ESPRIT)|ESPRIT]] framework.<ref name="acornuser198812_multiworks">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser077-Dec88/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn works on Unix for Europe | work=Acorn User | date=December 1988 | access-date=25 September 2021 | pages=7 }}</ref> Acorn's particular role in Multiworks concerned a low-cost workstation featuring the ARM chipset, alongside a "high-cost authoring workstation" based on Olivetti's CP486 workstation.<ref name="multiworks2105">{{cite web | url=http://research.cs.ncl.ac.uk/cabernet/www.laas.research.ec.org/esp-syn/text/2105.html | title=Multimedia Integrated Workstations | website=IST NoEs Information Service | date=December 1993 | access-date=25 September 2021 | archive-date=20 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120094408/http://research.cs.ncl.ac.uk/cabernet/www.laas.research.ec.org/esp-syn/text/2105.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[ChorusOS|Chorus system]] was to be used as the basis of the Unix operating system provided.<ref name="opensyst19910605_europe">{{ cite journal | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_world-publishing-monitor_1991-08_1_8_0/page/725/mode/1up | title=Europe United with Multimedia | journal=Open Syst. | volume=2 | issue=5 | date=5 June 1991 | access-date=13 June 2022 | last1=Davidson | first1=C. | pages=28–30 }}</ref>

Olivetti would eventually relinquish majority control of Acorn in early 1996, selling shares to US and UK investment groups to leave the company with a shareholding in Acorn of around 45%.<ref name="acornuser199604_olivetti">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser167-Apr96/page/n9/mode/1up | title=Olivetti relinquishes majority control of Acorn | work=Acorn User | date=April 1996 | access-date=28 August 2021 | pages=10 }}</ref> In July 1996, Olivetti announced that it had sold 14.7% of the group to [[Lehman Brothers]], reducing its stake at that time to 31.2%. Lehman said it planned to resell the shares to investors.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/02/business/international-briefs-olivetti-sells-shares-in-acorn-computer.html?scp=1&sq=acorn+computer&st=nyt | title=Olivetti Sells Shares in Acorn Computer | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=2 July 1996 | access-date=12 December 2011 | location=New York | quote=Olivetti S.p.A. of Italy said yesterday that it had sold 14.7 percent of Acorn Computer Group P.L.C. to Lehman Brothers Inc. on Friday. Lehman did not disclose how much it paid, but at current market prices, the sale would have brought about L33.5 million ($52 million) to Olivetti, which has been posting losses. The purchase, representing 13.25 million of the British computer company's shares, reduced Olivetti's stake in Acorn to about 31.2 percent from 78.5 percent two years ago. Lehman said it intended to resell the shares to investors. |url-status = live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518023712/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/02/business/international-briefs-olivetti-sells-shares-in-acorn-computer.html?scp=1&sq=acorn+computer&st=nyt | archive-date=18 May 2013}}</ref>

====BBC Master and Archimedes====
[[File:Acorn archimedes advert new scientist 1989-09-09.jpg|thumb|Reader reply card in ''[[New Scientist]]'', 9 September 1989 issue]]
The [[BBC Master]]<ref name="master128">{{cite web | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Master128.html | title=Master 128 |last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History | date=31 October 2008 | access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044702/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Master128.html |archive-date=13 June 2021}}</ref> was launched in February 1986 and met with considerable success. From 1986 to 1989, about 200,000 systems were sold,<ref name="acorn_news9">{{ cite news | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/NL/Acorn_NewsIss9.pdf | title=The 200,000th Master finds a good home | work=Acorn Newsletter | date=March 1989 | access-date=23 March 2021 | pages=3 }}</ref> each costing £499, mainly to UK schools and universities. A number of enhanced versions were launched, for example, the Master 512,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Master512.html |title=Master 512 |last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044430/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Master512.html |archive-date=13 June 2021}}</ref> which had 512&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KB]] of RAM and an internal [[Intel 80186|80186]] processor for [[MS-DOS]] compatibility, and the Master Turbo,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/MasterTurbo.html |title=Master Turbo |last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044711/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/MasterTurbo.html |archive-date=13 June 2021}}</ref> which had a 65C102 second processor.

The first commercial use of the [[ARM architecture family|ARM architecture]] was in the ARM Development System, a Tube-linked second processor for the BBC Master which allowed one to write [[computer program|program]]s for the new system. It sold for £4,500 and included the ARM processor, 4&nbsp;[[Mebibyte|MB]] of RAM and a set of development tools with an enhanced version of {{nowrap|BBC BASIC}}. This system did not include the three support chips (VIDC, MEMC, and IOC) which were later to form part of the Archimedes system. They made their first appearance in the A500 second processor,<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044053/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/8bit_Upgrades/Acorn_A5002ndProc.html|url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/8bit_Upgrades/Acorn_A5002ndProc.html|url-status=live|title=A500 second processor|archive-date=13 June 2021|last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History }}</ref> which was used internally within Acorn as a development platform, and had a similar form-factor to the ARM development system.

[[File:Acorn A4-computer.png|thumb|Acorn A4 laptop]]
The second ARM-based product was the [[Acorn Archimedes]] desktop-computer, released in mid-1987, some 18 months after [[IBM]] launched their RISC-based [[IBM RT PC|RT PC]].<ref>{{cite news | title = IBM's simple route to powerful computing | date = 1986-01-30 | work = New Scientist | pages = 36 | quote = ... new machine, the RT ... IBM has beaten the British computer firm Acorn in the race to incorporate RISC processors into products.}}</ref> The first RISC-based home computer, using the [[ARM architecture family#ARM2|ARM]] (Acorn RISC Machine) chip,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1987-10-rescan/1987_10_BYTE_12-11_Heuristic_Algorithms#page/n129/mode/2up | title=The Archimedes A310 | work=BYTE | date=October 1987 | access-date=4 August 2014 | author=Pountain, Dick | pages=125}}</ref> the Archimedes was popular in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australasia]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], and was considerably more powerful and advanced than most offerings of the day. The Archimedes was advertised in both printed<ref name="4corn_print">{{ cite web | url=http://www.4corn.co.uk/articles/printedvert/ | title=Acorn Print Adverts | website=4corn Computers | access-date=3 May 2021 }}</ref> and broadcast media.<ref name="youtube_learningcurve">{{ cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbc8TWNlBUk | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Cbc8TWNlBUk| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live| title=The Learning Curve | website=YouTube | date=1991 | access-date=3 May 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> One example of such advertising is a mock-up of the RISC OS 2 desktop, showing some software [[application directories]], with the advert text added within windows.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= The Archimedes 400/1 Series |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=i3LzBV8yFYMC&q=%22Reader+Reply+No.+4%22&pg=PA8 |access-date= 2011-05-26 |date= 1989-09-09 |magazine= [[New Scientist]] }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> However, the vast majority of home users opted for an [[Atari ST]] or [[Amiga]] when looking to upgrade their [[8-bit computing|8-bit]] micros. As with the BBC, the Archimedes instead flourished in schools and other educational settings but just a few years later in the early 1990s this market began stratifying into the [[IBM PC compatible|PC]]-dominated world. Acorn continued to produce updated models of the Archimedes, including a laptop (the A4), and in 1994 launched the [[Risc PC]], whose top specification would later include a 233&nbsp;MHz [[StrongARM]] processor. These were sold mainly into education, specialist and enthusiast markets, such as professional composers using [[Sibelius (scorewriter)|Sibelius 7]].

====ARM Ltd.====
Acorn's silicon partner, [[VLSI Technology, Inc|VLSI]], had been given the task of finding new applications for the ARM CPU and support chips. Hauser's Active Book company had been developing a handheld device and for this the ARM CPU developers had created a static version of their processor, the ARM2aS.

Members of [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[Apple Advanced Technology Group|Advanced Technology Group]] (ATG) had made initial contact with Acorn over use of the ARM in an experimental Apple II (2) style prototype called Möbius. Experiments done in the Möbius project proved that the ARM RISC architecture could be highly attractive for certain types of future products. The Möbius project was briefly considered as the basis for a new line of Apple computers but it was stopped for fear it would compete with the Macintosh and confuse the market. However, the Möbius project evolved awareness of the ARM processor within Apple. The Möbius Team made minor changes to the ARM registers, and used their working prototype to demonstrate a variety of impressive performance benchmarks.<ref>[http://www.advanced-risc.com/art1stor.htm "The RISC for the Rest of Us"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609091738/http://www.advanced-risc.com/art1stor.htm |date=9 June 2013}}, Art Sobel, in ''Advanced RISC Technology'' (ART), 1996. ARM Evangelist.</ref>

<!-- [[File:Mp2000.gif|thumb|left|[[Apple Newton]]s, like this MessagePad 2000/2100, were powered by ARM processors.]] -->
Later [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] was developing an entirely new computing platform for its [[Apple Newton|Newton]]. Various requirements had been set for the processor in terms of power consumption, cost and performance, and there was also a need for [[static logic (digital logic)|fully static operation]] in which the clock could be stopped at any time. Only the Acorn RISC Machine came close to meeting all these demands, but there were still deficiencies. The ARM did not, for example, have an integral memory management unit, as this function was being provided by the MEMC support chip and Acorn did not have the resources to develop one.<ref name="lowpowerhardware">M. Culbert (1994). [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=573192 "Low power hardware for a high performance PDA"]. ''Low Power Electronics''. Digest of Technical Papers. IEEE Symposium.</ref>

Apple and Acorn began to collaborate on developing the ARM, and it was decided that this would be best achieved by a separate company.<ref name="lowpowerhardware" /> The bulk of the Advanced Research and Development section of Acorn that had developed the ARM CPU formed the basis of [[Arm (company)|ARM Holdings]] when that company was spun off in November 1990. Acorn Group and Apple Computer Inc. each had a 43% shareholding in ARM (in 1996),<ref name="jointeduventure">[http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/acopress/apple.shtml Acorn Group and Apple Computer Dedicate Joint Venture to Transform IT in UK Education] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194347/http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/acopress/apple.shtml |date=3 March 2016}}, press release from Acorn Computers, 1996</ref> while VLSI was an investor and first ARM licensee.<ref>[http://www.arm.com/aboutarm/milestones.html ARM milestones] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201095242/http://www.arm.com/aboutarm/milestones.html |date=1 February 2010}}, ARM website</ref>

====Acorn Pocket Book====
[[File:acorn pocketbook 17o06.jpg|thumb|right|Acorn Pocket Book]]
In 1993, Acorn decided to offer an Acorn branded [[Psion Series 3]] PDA, badged as an [[Psion Series 3#Acorn Pocket Book|'''Acorn Pocket Book''']], with a later variant branded the '''Acorn Pocket Book II'''. Essentially a rebadged OEM version of the Series 3 with slightly different on-board software, the device was marketed as an inexpensive computer for schoolchildren, rather than as an executive tool.<ref>{{cite web |title=Acorn Pocket Book |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/PocketBook.html |last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044703/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/PocketBook.html |archive-date=13 June 2021}}</ref> The hardware was the same as the Series 3, but the integrated applications were different. For instance, the Pocket Book omitted the Agenda diary and Spell dictionary applications, which became an optional application, supplied on ROM SSD which could be inserted into either of the ROM bays underneath the device. Other programs were renamed: ''System'' became ''Desktop'', ''Word'' became ''Write'', ''Sheet'' became ''Abacus'' and ''Data'' became ''Cards''.<ref>{{cite newsgroup |title=Acorn Press Release 3 of 8 (Acorn Pocketbook) |author=Alan Glover |date=27 August 1992 |newsgroup=comp.sys.acorn.announce |message-id=<!-- Strangely not available from Google Groups --> |url=https://groups.google.com/g/comp.sys.acorn.announce/c/RCvp99PMRuk/m/1RNSFEYyKGsJ |access-date=September 2, 2021}}</ref><!-- Secondary source: --><ref>{{cite web|url=https://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/PR/Pocket_Book_launch.txt|title=Acorn Launches Pocket Book |last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613051747/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/PR/Pocket_Book_launch.txt|archive-date=13 June 2021|access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref>
{{clear}}

====Set-top boxes====
In 1994, Acorn established a new division, ''Online Media'', focusing on interactive multimedia client hardware.<ref name="acornuser199409_onlinemedia">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser146-Sep94/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn launches Online Media | work=Acorn User | date=September 1994 | access-date=11 October 2021 | pages=9–11 }}</ref> Online Media aimed to exploit the projected [[video-on-demand]] (VOD) boom, an [[interactive television]] system which would allow users to select and watch [[video]] content over a network.<ref>{{citation | first = Jonathan | last = Sapsed | contribution = Strategizing under Uncertainty and Ignorance: The influence of knowledge and technological path-dependence on corporate strategies | title = Managing Knowledge: Conversations and Critiques | publisher = [[CENTRIM]] | place = Brighton, UK | pages = 13 | date = 2001-04-10 | contribution-url = http://eprints.brighton.ac.uk/4433/1/Strategizing_under_uncertainty_and_ignorance.pdf | access-date = 2011-05-31 }}</ref> In September 1994 the Cambridge Digital Interactive Television Trial of video-on-demand services was set up by Online Media, [[Anglia Television]], [[Cambridge Cable]] (now part of [[Virgin Media]]) and [[Advanced Telecommunication Modules Ltd]] (ATML). The trial involved creating a wide area ATM network linking TV-company to subscribers' homes and delivering services such as home shopping, online education, software downloaded on-demand and the [[World Wide Web]]. The wide area network used a combination of fibre and coaxial cable, and the switches were housed in the roadside cabinets of Cambridge Cable's existing network.<ref name="lessonsinlearning">[http://www.mediation.co.uk/lessons1.html Lessons in Learning] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929160345/http://www.mediation.co.uk/lessons1.html |date=29 September 2007}}, white paper, Mediation Technology, last modified 18 June 1999</ref>
[[Olivetti Research Laboratory]] developed the technology used by the trial. An [[International Computers Limited|ICL]] video server provided the service via ATM switches manufactured by ATML, another company set up by Hauser and Hopper. The trial commenced at a speed of 2&nbsp;Mbit/s to the home, subsequently increased to 25&nbsp;Mbit/s.<ref name="camcorners">[http://www.iankitching.me.uk/articles/citv-nz.html Cambridge Corners the Future in Networking] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415092452/http://www.iankitching.me.uk/articles/citv-nz.html |date=15 April 2016}}, TUANZ Topics, Volume 05, No. 10, November 1995</ref>

Subscribers used [[Acorn Online Media Set Top Box]]es. For the first six months the trial involved 10 VOD terminals;<ref name="camcorners" /> the second phase was expanded to cover 100 homes and eight schools with a further 150 terminals in test labs. A number of other organisations gradually joined in, including the [[National Westminster Bank]] (NatWest), the [[BBC]], the [[Post Office Ltd|Post Office]], [[Tesco]], and the [[local education authority]].{{which|reason=There are many in the UK. Was it only one?|date=September 2021}} Having initially deployed set-top boxes based on Risc PC hardware, a second generation of the hardware, STB2, featured the ARM7500 system-on-a-chip,<ref name="acornuser199505_onlinemedia">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser155-May95/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Big month for Online Media | work=Acorn User | date=May 1995 | access-date=11 October 2021 | pages=9 }}</ref> this having been manufactured for Online Media by VLSI,<ref name="arm7500pr">{{ cite press release | url=http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/armpress/arm7500.shtml | date=18 October 1994 | access-date=11 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192453/http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/armpress/arm7500.shtml | archive-date=3 March 2016 |title=ARM Announces Single Chip Solution for Multimedia and Portable Applications }}</ref> and integrated MPEG video decoding hardware. (The [[C-Cube Microsystems]] CL450 part is evident on the STB20 circuit board,<ref name="chris_stb20">{{ cite web | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Pics/OM_STB20FL.html | title=Acorn Online Media STB20 circuit board (hi-res) | website=Chris's Acorns | access-date=13 June 2022 }}</ref> this product being an MPEG-1 decoder introduced in May 1992.<ref name="ccube1994">{{ cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_ccube90050alogSpring1994_8607743/page/n7/mode/1up | title=Product Catalog Spring 1994 | publisher=C-Cube Microsystems | date=Spring 1994 | access-date=13 June 2022 | pages=3 }}</ref>) Plans were announced to expand the initiative from 250 homes to 1000, to support NatWest's cable television banking and shopping services, with video on demand provision being strengthened through the deployment of a digital video server from ICL having "a maximum capacity of several hundred gigabytes of fast hard disc storage", connected via a 155&nbsp;Mbit/s link and supplementing Olivetti Research Disc Bricks already acting as smaller capacity video servers. Industry support for the Online Media platform was also announced by Oracle and Macromedia.<ref name="acornuser199505_onlinemedia" />

BBC Education tested delivery of radio-on-demand programmes to primary schools, and a new educational service, Education Online, was established to deliver material such as [[Open University]] television programmes and educational software. [[Netherhall School]] was provided with an inexpensive video server and operated as a provider of trial services, with Anglia Polytechnic University taking up a similar role some time later.<ref name="lessonsinlearning" />

It was hoped that Online Media could be floated as a separate company, and a share issue raising {{nowrap|£17.2 million}} of additional capital was announced in 1995,<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Acorn takes shares to City | magazine=Computer Shopper | date=May 1995 | pages=392 }}</ref> this to finance the division and "underpin Acorn Group finances" against a backdrop of deteriorating financial results partly caused by an increasingly uncompetitive lower-end product range.<ref name="acornuser199504_onlinemedia">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser154-Apr95/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Changes as core business posts another loss | magazine=Acorn User | date=April 1995 | access-date=11 October 2021 | pages=9 }}</ref> Having entered into a deal with Lightspan Partnership Inc. to supply set-top boxes for the US education market,<ref name="acornuser199508_update" /> the order was cancelled and put pressure on Acorn's already straitened financial situation. Various other factors ensured that the predicted video-on-demand boom never really materialised as anticipated.<ref name="ford2007">{{ cite journal | title=Failing to disrupt: the case of the Network Computer | journal=International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning | volume=3 | issue=1 | date=2007 | last1=Ford | first1=Simon | last2=Garnsey | first2=Elizabeth | page=6 | doi=10.1504/IJTIP.2007.013035 | citeseerx=10.1.1.736.4040 }}</ref>

Acorn subsequently planned to incorporate set-top box technology into its product range, launching an initiative entitled "No Limits to Learning" and previewing a range of products under the MediaRange brand, with the MediaSurfer being "essentially an Online Media STB with a World Wide Web browser built in", and with other products in the range being based on "focused applications" of established Acorn products.<ref name="acornuser199603_mediarange">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser166-Mar96/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn seeks the meaning of its existence | work=Acorn User | date=March 1996 | access-date=15 October 2021 | pages=9 }}</ref> Evolution of the technology continued with the launch of the STB22 model, described as "a cross between an NC (Network Computer) and a STB". This model combined set-top box features such as [[ATM25]] networking for interactive video with more general Internet features such as Web browsing and Java application support. Described as "the icing on the cake", MPEG2 video decoding hardware was provided by a chipset from [[LSI Corporation|LSI]]. Although Acorn were reportedly hoping for the interactive television market to "eventually take off" and initiate "mass deployment" by traditional telecoms operators, corporate intranet applications were also seen as a target market. With more conservative deployments in mind, the ATM25 interface in the product could be replaced by an Ethernet interface.<ref name="acornuser199705_stb22">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser181-May97/page/n5/mode/1up | title=Acorn reveals most advanced STB yet | work=Acorn User | date=May 1997 | access-date=15 October 2021 | pages=6 }}</ref>

====NewsPad====
[[File:RIscUser-magazine-covers-for-RiscPC-and-NewsPad-reveals.png|thumb|right|Risc User: NewsPad – covered in the October 1996 issue]]
In 1994, the EU initiated the NewsPad<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cordis.europa.eu/esprit/src/omi09252.htm|title=European Commission : CORDIS : Help : : Archives|website=cordis.europa.eu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516224341/http://cordis.europa.eu/esprit/src/omi09252.htm|archive-date=16 May 2013|access-date=16 August 2012}}</ref> programme, with the aim of developing a common mechanism to author and deliver news electronically to consumer devices. The programme's name and format were inspired by the devices described and depicted in Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]''. Acorn won a contract to develop a consumer device / receiver, and duly supplied a RISC OS-based touch-screen [[tablet computer]] for the pilot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/NC.html#NewsPAD|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613044705/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/NC.html#NewsPAD|url-status=live|title=Acorn NCs, STBs & Prototypes: NewsPAD |last=Whytehead |first=Chris |website=Chris's Acorns |publisher=The Centre for Computing History |archive-date=13 June 2021}}</ref><ref>http://adrenaline.ucsd.edu/onr/annotation%20devices.html#newspad{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Annotation devices</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bIwnzZvP2lEC&q=Acorn+NewsPad&pg=PA559|title=Technologies for the Information Society: Developments and Opportunities|first1=James-Yves|last1=Roger|first2=Jean-Yves|last2=Roger|first3=Brian|last3=Stanford-Smith|first4=Paul T.|last4=Kidd|date=12 May 1998|publisher=IOS Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9789051994506}}</ref> The device measured {{convert|8.5|xx|11|in|mm}} and was being tried in 1996 in Spain by [[Ediciones Primera Plana]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Pelline|first=Jeff|title="Daily me" device on horizon|url=http://news.cnet.com/Daily-me-device-on-horizon/2100-1023_3-244301.html|access-date=17 August 2012|newspaper=[[CNET]]|date=5 November 1996|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102021851/http://news.cnet.com/Daily-me-device-on-horizon/2100-1023_3-244301.html|archive-date=2 November 2012}}</ref> The Barcelona-based pilot ended in 1997, but the tablet format and ARM architecture may have influenced Intel's 1999 [[History of tablet computers#Early devices|WebPad / Web Tablet]] program.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/05/25/intels_newspad_from_acorn/|title=Intel's NewsPad from Acorn... the saga continues...|website=The Register|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810091418/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/05/25/intels_newspad_from_acorn/|archive-date=10 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shinsel.com/webtablet/default.aspx|title=Home - Intel Web Tablet|date=15 December 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215172819/http://www.shinsel.com/webtablet/default.aspx|archive-date=15 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cordis.europa.eu/esprit/src/results/res_area/omi/omi7.htm|title=European Commission : CORDIS : Help : : Archives|website=cordis.europa.eu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222211542/http://cordis.europa.eu/esprit/src/results/res_area/omi/omi7.htm|archive-date=22 February 2008|access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref>

====SchoolServer====
Although Acorn had largely focused on its ARM-based product range offering RISC OS (and, for a time, [[RISC iX]]), albeit with an increasing emphasis on DOS and Windows compatibility through its PC card products,<ref name="acornuser199303_aleph1pc">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser128-Mar93/page/n11/mode/1up | title=Acorns and PCs Meet | work=Acorn User | date=March 1993 | access-date=19 June 2021 | pages=10 }}</ref><ref name="acornuser199503_486copro">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser153-Mar95/page/n49/mode/2up | title=Cuckoo in the nest? | work=Acorn User | date=March 1995 | access-date=20 August 2021 | last1=Burley | first1=Ian | pages=50–51 }}</ref> the emergence of larger networks in education connecting systems based on different computing platforms—typically Acorn, PC and Apple Macintosh—motivated the introduction of the SchoolServer product range in 1995. The range consisted of server systems  manufactured by IBM running [[Windows NT Server]] (specifically [[Windows NT 3.5]]<ref name="acornuser199508_update">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser158-Aug95/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Two-page Acorn update | magazine=Acorn User | date=August 1995 | access-date=20 August 2021 | pages=9 }}</ref>), employing a single 100&nbsp;MHz [[PowerPC]] processor, with 24&nbsp;MB or 32&nbsp;MB of RAM, one or two 1&nbsp;GB hard drives, and built-in Ethernet interfaces.<ref name="acorn_app873">{{ cite tech report |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP873_SchoolServer.pdf | title=Acorn SchoolServer | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=July 1995 |via=Chris's Acorns}}</ref>

Acorn bundled ANT Limited's OmniClient software to provide the connectivity support required for Acorn's own computers to access the SchoolServer's facilities, these being based on Microsoft's own SchoolServer platform and proprietary networking technologies. The adoption of such hardware and software platforms, motivated by concerns about the capabilities of Acorn's existing products (such as the Risc PC) in the server role, even apparently led to Acorn becoming a Microsoft Solution Provider despite having been "very vocal critics" of Microsoft and its technologies in the past.<ref name="acornuser199508_update" />

Other companies in the educational market introduced similar products to the SchoolServer. For instance, Datathorn Systems introduced a solution called Super Server based on the Motorola PowerStack server system,<ref name="acorn_app914">{{cite news | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP914_ArcIss10.pdf | title=Whole school networking - impressive connectivity | work=Arc | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=Spring 1996 | access-date=22 August 2021 | issue=10 | pages=46 |via=Chris's Acorns}}</ref> which was a PowerPC-based machine capable of running Windows NT 3.51 or [[IBM AIX|AIX]] 4.1,<ref name="byte199511_nt_ppc604">{{ cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1995-11_OCR/page/n224/mode/1up | title=NT Roars on the 604 | work=Byte | date=November 1995 | access-date=22 August 2021 | last1=Rowell | first1=Dave | pages=209–212 }}</ref> with the Super Server project reportedly being "the product of research at both Oxford and Cambridge universities". Having approval from Acorn and offering interoperability between Acorn and PC platforms, the solution was deployed at several sites.<ref name="acornuser199502_datathorn">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser152-Feb95/page/n13/mode/1up | title=Datathorn lands first big Super Server contract in Scotland | magazine=Acorn User | date=February 1995 | access-date=22 August 2021 | pages=14 }}</ref>

====Xemplar Education====
In 1996, Acorn entered into a joint venture with [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer UK]] called Xemplar to provide computers and services to the UK education market.<ref>[http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/acopress/apple.shtml Acorn Press Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194347/http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/acopress/apple.shtml |date=3 March 2016}} Acorn/Apple press release on joint venture</ref> Described as "the unthinkable" and a "marriage of convenience", the alliance sought to reverse the declining fortunes of both Acorn and Apple in the sector, also prompting speculation that Apple's own strategy based on adoption of the PowerPC platform might lead Acorn along the same path, with Acorn already having expressed some interest in PowerPC and having introduced a PowerPC-based product in the form of its SchoolServer offering. The deal was regarded as benefiting Apple more strongly, with Acorn developers being encouraged to port their software to Mac OS, and with RISC OS effectively being sidelined to Acorn's set-top box and network computing products.<ref name="acornuser199604_xemplar">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser167-Apr96/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Acorn and Apple join forces | magazine=Acorn User | date=April 1996 | access-date=7 August 2022 | pages=9–10 }}</ref>

Xemplar initially resisted the demand for PC-compatible products in classrooms, limiting its PC offerings to school administration.<ref name="acornuser199609_xemplar">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser172-Sep96/page/n9/mode/1up | title=Xemplar Pentiums not for classroom | magazine=Acorn User | date=September 1996 | access-date=7 August 2022 | pages=10 }}</ref> A survey in 1998 found that Apple and Acorn systems at that time accounted for 47% and {{frac|3}} of computers in UK primary and secondary schools respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=314684 | title = Apple's bigger bite;Market Moves | access-date = 2011-06-30 | last = Cole | first = George | date = 1999-02-12 | work = [[Times Educational Supplement]] | publisher = TSL Education | quote = A survey last year, found that there were 126,000 Acorn machines and 22,000 Apple computers in primary schools; in secondaries the figures were 98,000 and 45,000 respectively. So Apple and Acorn account for 47% of computers in primary schools and a third of those in secondary – a very large proportion. |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121005093915/http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=314684 | archive-date = 5 October 2012}}</ref> However, in 1999, with Acorn undergoing restructuring, the company's remaining stake in Xemplar was sold to Apple for {{nowrap|£3 million}}.<ref name="acornuser199903_xemplar">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser205-Mar99/page/n9/mode/1up | title=Acorn sells Xemplar holding | magazine=Acorn User | date=March 1999 | access-date=7 August 2022 | pages=10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/01/11/acorn_falls_off_education_tree/ | title = Acorn falls off education tree | access-date = 2011-06-30 | date = 1999-01-11 | website = [[The Register]] | quote = Acorn ... selling its half of Xemplar. The other joint owner, Apple, now takes full charge of the educational supplier. The deal valued Xemplar at £6 million, with Acorn bagging £3 million for its share. |url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121003002924/http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/01/11/acorn_falls_off_education_tree/ | archive-date = 3 October 2012}}</ref> By this time, Xemplar had become "a significant supplier of Wintel PCs" out of commercial necessity, with Acorn's Network Computer being the only product from its former co-owner still actively marketed by Xemplar.<ref name="acornuser199903_xemplar"/> Despite Acorn's own upheavals, Xemplar remained committed to selling Acorn products in its portfolio.<ref name="xemplar19980917">{{ cite press release | url=http://www.sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=1293 | title=Xemplar Education continues to offer all three school platforms | publisher=Xemplar Education | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002001439/http://www.sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=1293 | archive-date=2 October 2011 | date=18 September 1998 }}</ref> Renamed to Apple Xemplar Education, the operation was wound up in 2014.<ref>[http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ Companies House] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629012709/http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ |date=29 June 2008}} Webcheck service, search for previous company names</ref> Acorn Education and later Xemplar Education were heavily involved in [[Tesco]]'s "[[Tesco#Corporate social responsibility|Computers for Schools]]" programme in the UK, providing hardware and software in exchange for vouchers collected from Tesco purchases.<ref name="acornuser199612_tesco">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser175-Dec96/page/n8/mode/1up | title=Tesco Computers for Schools update | magazine=Acorn User | date=December 1996 | access-date=2 October 2021 | pages=9 }}</ref>

The Welsh Office Multimedia/Portables Initiative (WOMPI), launched in 1996 to provide primary schools with computer equipment,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rctednet.net/numeracy/english/projects/projects.htm |title=Projects |publisher=Rhondda Cynon Taff Education & Children's Services |year=2001 |access-date=10 November 2011 |quote=The Welsh Office Multimedia and Portables Initiative (WOMPI), launched in 1996&nbsp;... |url-status = usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316185044/http://www.rctednet.net/numeracy/english/projects/projects.htm |archive-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> prescribed that [[Education in Wales|Welsh school]]s choosing the multimedia option received [[multimedia PC]]s exclusively supplied by [[RM plc|RM]]. This upset other suppliers such as Xemplar and members of the National Association of Advisers for Computers in Education (NAACE), with complaints including those about the imposition of an incompatible computing platform on small schools who were already committed to the RISC OS platform, these schools being potentially incapable of managing "a mix of machines", and the lack of appropriate Welsh language software for the Windows platform, this being of particular concern in schools where lessons were "conducted exclusively in Welsh" and where an "excellent working relationship with British software houses" had cultivated the availability of major RISC OS applications in Welsh. The range of multimedia software offered in the initiative was also criticised: "none of the scheme's CD-Roms" were in Welsh, and Acorn machines also needed additional software, at an estimated £300 in extra costs, to "make effective use" of the software titles.<ref name="tes nonpc">{{cite news|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/When-a-PC-is-non-PC-110421/ |title=When a PC is non-PC |work=[[Times Educational Supplement]] |date=1 March 1996 |access-date=10 November 2011 |author=Evans, Arnold |quote=But in Wales the schools that chose the multimedia option (93% of some 1,700 schools) will all receive Research Machines Pentium Multimedia PCs&nbsp;... has upset not only other suppliers, but also teachers and the professionals in charge of promoting IT in schools. A conference of the National Association of Advisers for Computers in Education (NAACE) has demanded a radical overhaul of the way decisions about Government IT schemes are made&nbsp;... |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421110909/http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/When-a-PC-is-non-PC-110421/ |archive-date=21 April 2013}}</ref>

====Network computers====
{{See also|Acorn Network Computer}}
{{Contradicts other|date=July 2011|1=Acorn Network Computer}}
[[File:Wired-uk-edition-september-1996.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''[[Wired UK]]'', September 1996 issue, "Five Go Nuts in Cambridge: Acorn's mad rush to build the world's first Network Computer"]]
When [[BBC Two|BBC2]]'s ''[[The Money Programme]]'' screened an interview with [[Larry Ellison]] in October 1995, Acorn Online Media Managing Director Malcolm Bird realised that Ellison's [[network computer]] was, basically, an Acorn set-top box.<ref name="wired209">[http://yoz.com/wired/2.09/features/acorn.html Five Go Nuts in Cambridge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518051909/http://yoz.com/wired/2.09/features/acorn.html |date=18 May 2011}}, ''Wired UK'' magazine 2.09, September 1996</ref> After initial discussions between [[Oracle Corporation]] and Olivetti, Hauser and Acorn a few weeks later, Bird was dispatched to San Francisco with Acorn's latest Set Top Box. Oracle had already talked seriously with computer manufacturers including [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] and Apple about the contract for putting together the NC blueprint machine; there were also rumours in the industry that said Oracle itself was working on the reference design. After Bird's visit to Oracle, Ellison visited Acorn and a deal was reached: Acorn would define the NC Reference Standard.

Ellison was expecting to announce the NC in February 1996. Sophie Wilson was put in charge of the NC project, and by mid-November a draft NC specification was ready. By January 1996 the formal details of the contract between Acorn and Oracle had been worked out,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.cnet.com/Oracle-signs-up-Acorn-for-Net-devices/2100-1001_3-201758.html | title = Oracle signs up Acorn for Net devices | access-date = 2011-06-10 | date = 1996-01-10 | publisher = [[CNET.com]] | quote = Oracle has signed up a small British computer design firm called Acorn Computer Group to come up with a blueprint for an inexpensive Internet access device. |url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026141921/http://news.cnet.com/Oracle-signs-up-Acorn-for-Net-devices/2100-1001_3-201758.html | archive-date = 26 October 2012}}</ref> and the PCB was designed and ready to be put into production.<ref name="wired209" /> In February 1996, Acorn Network Computing was founded.<ref name="jointeduventure" /> In August 1996 it launched the [[Acorn Network Computer]].

[[File:Acorn-Netstation.jpg|thumb|An Acorn NetStation NC]]
It was hoped that the Network Computer would create a significant new sector in which Acorn Network Computing would be a major player,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/desktop-hardware/2002/03/08/five-years-ago-acorn-fights-back-with-reduced-losses-2106207/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505113318/http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/desktop-hardware/2002/03/08/five-years-ago-acorn-fights-back-with-reduced-losses-2106207/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=5 May 2013 | title=Five years ago: Acorn fights back with reduced losses | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=8 March 2002 | access-date=15 December 2011 | quote=Developing and licensing technologies for Internet solutions and interactive TV has also lead us to markets in the US, Japan and Korea, whereas before, we were primarily involved in dealing with UK schools and colleges. }}</ref> either selling its own products or earning money from licence fees paid by other manufacturers for the right to produce their own NCs. To that end, two of Acorn's major projects were the creation of a new 'consumer device' operating system named Galileo, and, in conjunction with Digital Semiconductor and ARM, a new StrongARM chipset consisting of the SA-1500 and SA-1501. Galileo's main feature was a guarantee of a certain [[quality of service]] to each process in which the resources (CPU, memory, etc.) required to ensure reliable operation would be kept available regardless of the behaviour of other processes.<ref>[http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/acopress/97-02-10b.shtml Acorn Looks to the Stars With New Galileo Operating System] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192905/http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/news/acopress/97-02-10b.shtml |date=3 March 2016}}, Acorn Computer Group press release, 10 February 1997</ref> The SA-1500 sported higher clock rates than existing StrongARM CPUs and, more importantly, a media-focussed coprocessor (the Attached Media Processor or AMP). The SA-1500 was to be the first release target for Galileo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnd.utwente.nl/topix/texts/aw97.html|title=TopixWEB - Acorn World '97 Transcripts|website=dnd.utwente.nl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182719/http://www.dnd.utwente.nl/topix/texts/aw97.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=13 October 2005}}</ref>

After having incorporated its STB and NC business areas as separate companies, Acorn created a new wholly owned subsidiary, Acorn RISC Technologies (ART). ART focused on the development of other software and hardware technologies built on top of ARM processors.<ref name="jointeduventure" />
{{clear}}

===1998–1999: Element 14 and MSDW acquisition===
{{Further|Element 14 (company)}}
[[File:Acorn-Phoebe-Case.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The distinctive yellow case of the [[Acorn Phoebe]] ]]

During the first half of 1998 Acorn's management were heavily involved in the [[initial public offering]] of [[Arm (company)|ARM Holdings plc]] which raised £18 million for Acorn throughout 1998.<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998">{{cite web|url=http://www.marutan.net/wikiref/msdw/19990427%20-%20Acorn%20audited%20results%20for%201998.pdf|title=Acorn Group PLC - Preliminary Announcement of Audited Results for the Year Ended 31 December 1998|website=marutan.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718122337/http://www.marutan.net/wikiref/msdw/19990427%20-%20Acorn%20audited%20results%20for%201998.pdf|archive-date=18 July 2011|access-date=14 January 2011}}</ref> In June 1998, [[Stan Boland]] took over as [[CEO]] of Acorn Computers from David Lee,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.acorn.announce/msg/1d1c6c3e61f8b072?hl=en|title=Google Groups|website=groups.google.com}}</ref> initiating a review of Acorn's core business.<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998" />

The company had losses of £9 million in the first nine months of the year<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998" /> and in September 1998 the results of the review led to a significant restructuring of the company.{{r|restruct}} The Workstation division was to close,<ref name="pcw clark 1998" /> a 40% reduction in staff, and the Risc PC 2 code-named [[Phoebe (computer)|Phoebe]] that was nearing completion was cancelled.{{r|cancel2}} These actions allowed the company to reduce ongoing losses and focus on other activities.<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998" /><ref name="e14-q&a" /> Acorn concentrated on development of digital TV [[set-top box]]es and high performance media centric [[Digital signal processing|DSP]] (silicon and software). It also produced a reference design for a [[Windows NT]] [[thin client]] using a [[Cirrus Logic]] [[system on a chip]].{{r|desk1|desk2|desk3}}

====Refocusing and discontinuation of activities====
To concentrate on these two activities Acorn hired a group of former [[STMicroelectronics]] silicon-design engineers and they formed the basis of a {{nowrap|£2 million}} silicon-design centre that Acorn set up in [[Bristol]].<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998" /><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/12/15/acorn_poaches_st_microelectronics_design/ |title = Acorn poaches ST Microelectronics design team |access-date = 2011-05-09 |last = Cullen |first = Drew |date = 1998-12-15 |work = The Register |quote = Acorn Group PLC is beefing up its digital TV business by poaching a seven strong chip design team from ST Microelectronics. ... setting up a £2 million chip research centre in Bristol. |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121003001904/http://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/12/15/acorn_poaches_st_microelectronics_design/ |archive-date = 3 October 2012}}</ref> They also started to dispose of some of their interests in the former workstation market and in January 1999 sold their 50% interest in Xemplar Education to Apple Computer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/01/11/acorn_falls_off_education_tree/|title=Acorn falls off education tree|website=[[The Register]]|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003002924/http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/01/11/acorn_falls_off_education_tree/|archive-date=3 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/xemplar.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506202028/http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/xemplar.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 May 1999|title=Acorn : Acorn Sells Xemplar Stake|date=6 May 1999}}</ref>

Attempts were made to secure the rights to Acorn's desktop products including network computers and "various associated technologies", RISC OS, and the abandoned Phoebe workstation project by a consortium of Acorn market interests, and a memorandum of understanding was reportedly signed by both Stan Boland, representing Acorn, and former Acorn executive Peter Bondar, representing the consortium. However, Acorn pulled out of this tentative deal amidst accusations of attempts to sideline the consortium and to negotiate directly with its financial backers.<ref name="acornuser1998xmas">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser202-Xmas98/page/n5/mode/1up | title=Phoenix burns after Acorn snub | magazine=Acorn User | date=Christmas 1998 | access-date=18 March 2022 | pages=6 }}</ref> It was reported that [[Stephen Streater]] of [[Eidos Interactive|Eidos]] may have made a {{nowrap|£0.5 million}} bid for the rights to the PC range,<ref name="pcw great oaks 1998">{{cite news |date=26 November 1998 |title=Great oaks from little Acorns? No |url=http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1924362/great-oaks-little-acorns-no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420004311/http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1924362/great-oaks-little-acorns-no |archive-date=20 April 2013 |access-date=10 April 2012 |work=[[Personal Computer World]]}}</ref> but in October 1998 the distribution rights to the existing designs of machines were granted to [[Castle Technology]] to supply Acorn's dealer network.<ref name="e14-q&a" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/10/16/acorn_builds_castles/|title=Acorn builds Castles in the Air|website=[[The Register]]|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810091956/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/10/16/acorn_builds_castles/|archive-date=10 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/castle.html |title=Acorn Computers Press Release – Acorn announces distribution deal with Castle Technology for RISC based products |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506180305/http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/castle.html |archive-date=6 May 1999}}</ref> In March 1999, [[RISCOS Ltd]] acquired a licence to develop and release [[RISC OS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/03/06/riscos_to_continue_os/|title=RISCOS to continue OS 4 development|website=theregister.co.uk|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003003128/http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/03/06/riscos_to_continue_os/|archive-date=3 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riscos.com/news/news_items/PR050399.htm|title=RISCOS Ltd Press Release 05/03/1999|website=riscos.com}}</ref>

{{Quote box
 |quote  = [T]he future of this company lies as a leading player in the digital TV system components&nbsp;...
 |source = Chief Executive, Stan Boland, in {{nowrap|September 1998}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.acorn.com/acorn/news/restructure/ | title=Result of strategic review and implementation of fundamental restructuring programme | publisher=Element 14 | date=17 September 1998 | access-date=20 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128155842/http://www.acorn.com/acorn/news/restructure/ | archive-date=28 January 1999}}</ref>
 |width  = 30%
 |align  = right
 |qalign = right
 |quoted = 1
}}

By January 1999, Acorn Computers Limited had renamed to '''Element 14 Limited''' (though still owned by Acorn Group plc), referring to the element [[silicon]] with atomic number 14; this change was to reflect the changed nature of the business and to distance itself from the education market that Acorn Computers was most known for.<ref name="e14-q&a" /><ref>{{cite news |first = Peter |last = Clarke |title = Acorn renamed, refocused as Element 14 |date = 1999-01-14 |work = [[EE Times]] |url = http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4037045/Acorn-renamed-refocused-as-Element-14 |access-date = 2011-06-08 |quote = Acorn Computers Ltd. has changed its name to Element 14 Ltd. as part of its conversion from a computer designer and manufacturer to a developer of software and silicon intellectual property (IP). |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121003155747/http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4037045/Acorn-renamed-refocused-as-Element-14 |archive-date = 3 October 2012}}</ref> Other names had been considered by the company, but the domain name ''e-14.com'' had been registered before the official announcement.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-53518116.html | title=Acorn plans name change to reflect new ambitions | work=[[Computergram International]] | date=5 January 1999 | access-date=3 December 2013 |url-status = dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610074204/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-53518116.html | archive-date=10 June 2014|url-access=subscription|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref>

====Acquisition and asset disposal====
Ultimately, the widely anticipated issues around releasing Acorn's 24% shareholding in ARM, with a need for "minimising the massive tax burden posed by disposing the holding",<ref name="acornuser199906_artistic">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser208-Jun99/page/n5/mode/1up | title=Artistic Licence | magazine=Acorn User | date=June 1999 | access-date=18 March 2022 | pages=6 }}</ref> were resolved through "creative accounting courtesy of [[Morgan Stanley]]", with an offshore subsidiary of the bank acquiring Acorn, releasing the {{nowrap|£300 million}} shareholding "using the purchase as a tax loss and swapping Acorn investors' shares for ARM shares", and with the bank retaining an estimated {{nowrap|£40 million}} shareholding in ARM as a consequence.<ref name="acornuser199907_acornplc">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser209-Jul99/page/n6/mode/1up | title=Acorn PLC | magazine=Acorn User | date=July 1999 | access-date=18 March 2022 | pages=7 }}</ref> As part of the process leading to the acquisition of Acorn by the Morgan Stanley subsidiary, MSDW Investment Holdings Limited, with the intention to "minimise the liabilities" of the group through the disposal of assets, Pace Micro Technology agreed to acquire Acorn's set-top box division for approximately £200,000,<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998" /> also obtaining Acorn's rights and obligations with regard to [[RISC OS]].<ref name="register19990429">{{ cite news | url=https://www.theregister.com/1999/04/29/arm_denies_role_in_acorn/ | title=ARM denies role in Acorn dismemberment | work=[[The Register]] | date=24 April 1999 | access-date=31 January 2021 | last1=Cullen | first1=Drew }}</ref>

In conjunction with the acquisition of Acorn, an offer was extended to a company "owned by Stan Boland and certain senior management to purchase&nbsp;... the silicon and software design activity" for approximately £1&nbsp;million. This distinct company, known as "New Jam Inc" or "NewJam Inc", already founded in April 1999,<ref name="element14_accounts1999">{{ cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/FC022173/filing-history/MTIzMDU0NjIyYWRpcXprY3g/document?format=pdf&download=0 | title=Element 14 Inc. | website=Companies House | access-date=23 December 2024 | pages=F-7 }}</ref> eventually acquired these assets for £620,539,<ref name="cabot2_accounts1998">{{ cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01403810/filing-history/OTgxODAzMjZhZGlxemtjeA/document?format=pdf&download=0 | title=Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 1998 | website=Companies House | access-date=25 July 2021 }}</ref>{{rp|pages=24}} and effectively became the independent Element 14 venture,<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998" /> acquiring the name from the former Acorn Computers Limited in October 1999.<ref name="element14_accounts1999"/> Acorn Computers then became known as '''Cabot 2 Limited'''.<ref name="cabot2">{{ cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01403810 | title=Cabot 2 Limited | website=Companies House | access-date=25 July 2021 }}</ref> A subsequent report put the sale price of this division of Acorn at £1.5&nbsp;million, offering the prescient observation that this new business would itself be acquired for "several million pounds" by an established company in the industry.<ref name="register19990429" /> This anticipated acquisition, involving [[Broadcom]], occurred the following year.<ref name="register20001014">{{ cite news | url=https://www.theregister.com/2000/10/14/broadcom_eats_element/ | title=Broadcom eats Element 14 | work=The Register | date=14 October 2000 | access-date=31 January 2021 | last1=Cullen | first1=Drew }}</ref>

===1999–2015: Legacy operations===
Acorn Computers, in its new guise of Cabot 2, would continue to administer the remaining assets of the business and to "tidy up remaining contractual and logistical obligations", these including the servicing of product warranties. In late 1999, Reflex Electronics signed a five-year contract to perform warranty work and technical support for Acorn-manufactured products, renewing an earlier arrangement with Acorn.<ref name="acornuser1999xmas_reflex">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser215-Xmas99/page/n7/mode/1up | title=In good repair | magazine=Acorn User | date=Christmas 1999 | access-date=2 May 2022 | pages=8 }}</ref> Acorn Group – the parent company of Acorn Computers Limited – had itself been renamed from Acorn Computer Group in 1997, and the company was subsequently renamed '''Cabot 1 Limited''' and taken private by MSDW in February 2000.<ref name="cabot1_registration2000">{{ cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01708846/filing-history/NTA0NDE1MDZhZGlxemtjeA/document?format=pdf&download=0 | title=Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name and Re-Registration of a Public Company as a Private Company | website=Companies House | date=15 February 2000 | access-date=26 July 2021 }}</ref> The company remained (at least legally) active until being dissolved in December 2015.<ref name="cabot1">{{ cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01708846/filing-history | title=Cabot 1 Limited | website=Companies House | access-date=26 July 2021 }}</ref>

== Legacy ==
{{Expand section|date=December 2013}}
The legacy<ref name="pcw clark 1999" /> of the company's work is evidenced in [[corporate spin-off|spin-off]] technologies, with the company being described in 2013 as "the most influential business in the innovation cluster's history".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/hi-tech/16154-acorn-legacy-still-earning-billions | title=Acorn legacy still earning billions | work=Business Weekly | date=15 November 2013 | access-date=3 December 2013 | author=Quested, Tony | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207122656/http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/hi-tech/16154-acorn-legacy-still-earning-billions | archive-date=7 December 2013}}</ref> In 2010, the company was listed by David Meyer in ''[[ZDNet]]'' as number nine in a feature of top ten "Dead IT giants".<ref name=":0" /> Many British IT professionals gained their early experiences on Acorns, which were often more technically advanced than commercially successful US hardware.<ref name="pcw great oaks 1998" />

===Revival of the Acorn trademark===
{{See also|Acorn Computers (2006)}}
In early 2006, the dormant Acorn trademark was licensed from the [[France|French]] company Aristide & Co Antiquaire de Marques, by [[Acorn Computers (2006)|a new company]] based in [[Nottingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/DRS/2006/3682.html|title=DRS Number 03682, Acorn Computers Limited and Roy Johnson, Nominet UK Dispute Resolution Service and Companies House WebCheck|website=bailii.org}}</ref> This company was dissolved in late 2009.

On 23 February 2018 the Acorn trademark made another return when a new company Acorn Inc. Ltd announced a brand new smartphone, the Acorn Micro C5.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://everythingtech.news/historic-uk-tech-brand-acorn-back-new-smartphone-686/|title=Historic UK Tech Brand Acorn is Back With a New Smartphone|date=2018-02-23|work=Everything Tech|access-date=2018-02-23|language=en-US|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224112854/http://everythingtech.news/historic-uk-tech-brand-acorn-back-new-smartphone-686/|archive-date=24 February 2018}}</ref> The Acorn Micro C5 has since been discontinued.

==In popular culture==
In 2009, BBC4 screened ''[[Micro Men]]'', a drama based on the rivalry between Acorn Computers and Sinclair's competing machines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5b92|title=Micro Men - BBC Four|website=BBC|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125114541/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5b92|archive-date=25 January 2018}}</ref>

===TV series===
Acorn products featured prominently in a number of Educational television series, including:

* ''[[The Computer Programme]]''
* ''[[Micro Live]]''
* ''[[Making the Most of the Micro]]''
* ''Computers in Control''{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

===Magazines===
{{more citations needed section|reason=Cite issues of generalist magazines that have Acorn columns|date=September 2021}}
Acorn products spawned a series of dedicated publications, including:

* ''[[Acorn User]]'' (named ''BBC Acorn User'' while its publisher was owned by the BBC)
* ''[[The Micro User]]'' (initially ''BBC Micro User'', renamed due to a trade mark objection) / ''[[Acorn Computing]]''
* ''[[Archive (magazine)|Archive]]''
* ''[[BEEBUG]]''
* ''[[Electron User]]''

They also featured in dedicated sections of:

* ''[[Computer Shopper (UK magazine)|Computer Shopper]]''
* ''[[Personal Computer News]]''
* ''[[Personal Computer World]]''
* ''[[Computer Gamer]]''

==See also==
* [[Amber (processor core)]]
* [[List of Acorn Electron games]]
* [[List of British computers]]
* [[Microelectronics Education Programme]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="pcw clark 1999">{{cite news|url=http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1926765/acorn-dies-legacy-lives |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420003535/http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1926765/acorn-dies-legacy-lives |url-status = dead|archive-date=20 April 2013 |title=Acorn dies but legacy lives on |work=[[Personal Computer World]] |date=1 July 1999 |access-date=10 April 2012 |author=Clark, Etelka}}</ref>
<ref name="desk1">{{cite web|url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Desklite.html|title=Chris's Acorns: Acorn DeskLite|website=chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405233619/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Desklite.html|archive-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="desk2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cirrus.com/en/press/releases/P112.html|title=Cirrus Logic Enables Reference Design Targeting $199 Information Appliances for the Windows NT Environment|date=29 May 2009|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529062234/http://www.cirrus.com/en/press/releases/P112.html|archive-date=29 May 2009}}</ref>
<ref name="desk3">{{cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/36058/Acorn-DeskLite-Prototype/|title=Acorn DeskLite Prototype - Computing History|website=computinghistory.org.uk|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319054904/http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/36058/Acorn-DeskLite-Prototype/|archive-date=19 March 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="e14-q&a">{{cite web|url=http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/e14qa.html|title=Acorn : Acorn and Element 14 - Questions and Answers.|date=6 May 1999|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506183321/http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/e14qa.html|archive-date=6 May 1999}}</ref>
<ref name="cancel2">{{cite web|url=http://atterer.org/sites/atterer/files/2010-04/acorn-arm/acorn-black-thursday.txt|title=Stuart Halliday - Acorn Cybervillage Announcement - Workstation Division to close, Risc PC 2 work stopped, Acorn World Show postponed|website=atterer.org|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725022828/http://atterer.org/sites/atterer/files/2010-04/acorn-arm/acorn-black-thursday.txt |archive-date=25 July 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="pcw clark 1998">{{cite news|url=http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1925708/acorn-stops-desktop-pcs |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419212839/http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1925708/acorn-stops-desktop-pcs |url-status = dead|archive-date=19 April 2013 |title=Acorn stops making desktop PCs |work=[[Personal Computer World]] |date=4 October 1998 |access-date=10 April 2012 |author=Clark, Etelka}}</ref>
<ref name="restruct">{{cite web | url = http://www.acorn.com/acorn/news/restructure/ | title = Result of strategic review and implementation of fundamental restructuring programme | access-date = 2011-05-10 | last = Boland | first = Stan | author2 = Rollo Head, Sarah Pascoe (Shandwick Consultants) | date = 1998-09-17 | publisher = Acorn Computers | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128155842/http://www.acorn.com/acorn/news/restructure/ | archive-date = 1999-01-28 | quote = Acorn Group plc [...] today announced that following a strategic review of its operations, it is implementing a fundamental restructuring programme which will enable the Company to become more focused as a digital TV and thin-client components company.}}</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* ''Personal Computer World review of the BBC Micro'' (including details of BBC contract), December 1981 ''Personal Computer World''
* [http://atterer.org/acorn/arm.html "ARM's Way"]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120515222640/http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/29/04/1998/7242/ARM39s-way.htm backup: article "ARM's Way" April 1998, ''Electronics Weekly'', David Manners] (LISA influence, Berkeley RISC, Fabrication date), April 1998, ''Electronics Weekly''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041206071623/http://www.ot1.com/arm/armchap1.html "The history of the ARM CPU"], taken from 'The ARM RISC Chip: A Programmers' Guide' by Carol Atack and Alex van Someren, published 1993 by Addison-Wesley
* [http://www.stairwaytohell.com/articles/AU-AcornHistory.html "From Atom to ARC – The ups and downs of the development of Acorn"], from October, November and December 1988 editions of ''Acorn User''
* [http://www.realworldtech.com/page.cfm?ArticleID=RWT110900000000 "ARM's Race to Embedded World Domination"] (Motorola 68000 was considered as a replacement to 6502), Paul DeMone, 2000
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060404093907/http://www.cs.clemson.edu/~mark/admired_designs.html#wilson "Sophie Wilson's most admired CPU"] (32016 chip as example of "how to completely make a mess of things"), Sophie Wilson
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050519194536/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WVI/is_1998_Oct_5/ai_59214055 Flotation of Acorn on Unlisted Securities Market], ''Electronics Times'', 6 October 1983
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110514010917/http://www.xs4all.nl/~fjkraan/comp/atom/history/index.html The Acorn Atom pre-history]
* [http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~theom/riscos/ RISC OS and Acorn pages]
* [http://members.casema.nl/hhaydn/index-uk.html Atom Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520053205/http://members.casema.nl/hhaydn/index-uk.html |date=20 May 2011 }} documentation of the Atom and many extensions made by Dutch Atom clubs
* [http://atterer.org/acorn About Acorn computers and ARM processors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811235733/http://atterer.org/acorn |date=11 August 2011 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081121085746/http://www.retromadness.com/acorn/ Acorn information] from Retro Madness, the museum of home computing and gaming
* [http://www.riscos.com RISC OS Ltd.] develop Acorn's OS under licence from Castle
* [http://www.advantagesix.co.uk AdvantageSix] develop computers and embedded systems for RISC OS
* [http://www.castle-technology.co.uk Castle Technology] are the current owners of RISC OS
* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/sec/79/Acorn-Computers/ Acorn Computers] The collection at The Centre for Computing History
* [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/5438/Steve-Furber-Interview-17-08-2009/ Steve Furber Video Interview]—at Manchester University on 17 August 2009
<!-- [http://www.drobe.co.uk/reference/ Reference Material] of various RISC OS/Acorn Hardware (esp. scanned manuals as PDFs) at Drobe Launchpad -->

{{Acorn computers}}
{{BBC Computer Literacy Project}}
{{RISC OS}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Acorn Computers| ]]
[[Category:Technology companies based in Cambridge]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2000]]
[[Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1978]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies of England]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:History of Cambridge]]