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Phoebe (computer)
Encyclopedia
The Phoebe 2100 was to be Acorn Computers
' next generation Risc PC
, slated for release in late 1998. However in September 1998 Acorn cancelled the project as part of a restructuring of the company.
design, a slow memory architecture, limited I/O capability, limited expansion, and not adhering to industry standards. To overcome these weakness a number of design objectives were created; Harness the full potential of the StrongARM
CPU, support multiple processors, add support for PCI expansion, offer the best possible graphics, run existing RISC OS applications and to provide enhanced RISC OS functionality. An additional design objective of reusing the same case as the Risc PC
was dropped due to power supply requirements and electrical interference problems.
To provide for these new capabilities Acorn had to design two new support chips for the system;
During 1997 and 1998 Acorn regularly took prototype and mock-up hardware to various Acorn computer shows, including Acorn World October 1997, Wakefield Acorn Spring Show May 1998 and the Acorn Southeast Show June 1998.
By May 1998 Acorn started to offer their 'Registered Developer' scheme members the chance to pre-order a pre-launch prototype for testing and development, these were offered at a £950 (ex VAT
) a significant discount on the public price of £1500 (ex VAT) revealed in June..
On 15 September 1998, the first Phoebe 2100 motherboards with silicon (rather than FPGA) based IOMD2 chips were powered up. They successfully ran at the full front side bus
speed of 64 MHz, and the improved performance of the video chip was also seen, however various bugs in the sound DMA were reported and general system instability was noted. As such, no shippable prototypes were yet available to send to the 'Registered Developers'.
Two days later, on 17 September 1998, the development of Phoebe 2100 was cancelled.
Development was expected to cost £2.1 million.
, Acorn had discussed using an alternative to RISC OS
as their next operating system, using TAOS
or writing their own microkernel
-based operating system "Galileo". However for the launch of Phoebe 2100 an enhanced version of RISC OS
would be developed, called RISC OS 4 (codenamed 'Ursula'). RISC OS wouldn't support the multiple processor daughter cards that had been included in the Phoebe 2100 hardware specification.
RISC OS 4 had to support the new hardware of Phoebe 2100 which wasn't present in Acorn's earlier machines;
In addition several new features were to be added to the core of RISC OS;
To prepare developers for the changes to the OS, Acorn released to its 'Registered Developer' program RISC OS 3.80, designed to load on Acorn's previous generation Risc PC
and A7000
computers. This would enable developers to test that their software would be compatible with Phoebe 2100, provided it didn't require any of the new hardware features. RISC OS 3.80 was limited, it only ran on ARM6 and ARM7 Risc PCs and not StrongARM
based ones. Testing of hardware compatibility would have to wait until an initial run of 100 or so pre-production machines was made available to Registered Developers.
' as code names for the components..
Acorn Computers CEO, Stan Boland said "There is not a big enough market for the PC (Risc PC 2), which is largely for home use and games. It's an enthusiast's product. We are going to resize the rest of the company and concentrate on becoming a digital TV and thin client company", and Computerworld Online News reported an Acorn spokesman saying "The problem was that it would have had a retail cost about twice as high as for a comparable PC.".
After cancellation it came to light that as few as 150 to 300 pre-orders had been placed.
Of these, the only successful group was the Steering Group who after initially being interested in releasing the Phoebe 2100, realised it would be financially prohibitive and set about creating a new company RISCOS Ltd
. In March 1999 RISCOS Ltd negotiated a license with Element 14, the recently renamed Acorn Computers, and set about finishing the development of RISC OS 4. In July 1999 RISCOS Ltd launched RISC OS 4 to the public, it supported Acorn's Risc PC
and A7000/+
machines.
In addition, after the cancellation, excess numbers of the Phoebe 2100 yellow NLX case were sold by CTA Direct, sometimes including an NLX compatible PC.
Acorn Computers
Acorn Computers Ltd. was a British computer company established in Cambridge, England, in 1978. The company produced a number of computers which were especially popular in the UK. These included the Acorn Electron, the BBC Micro, and the Acorn Archimedes...
' next generation Risc PC
Risc PC
The RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run....
, slated for release in late 1998. However in September 1998 Acorn cancelled the project as part of a restructuring of the company.
Specification
- 233 MHz Intel StrongARMStrongARMThe StrongARM is a family of microprocessors that implemented the ARM V4 instruction set architecture . It was developed by Digital Equipment Corporation and later sold to Intel, who continued to manufacture it before replacing it with the XScale....
SA110 Revision S CPUCentral processing unitThe central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
. Support for multiple CPUs on daughter cards available, but multiple CPU support was not available in RISC OSRISC OSRISC OS is a computer operating system originally developed by Acorn Computers Ltd in Cambridge, England for their range of desktop computers, based on their own ARM architecture. First released in 1987, under the name Arthur, the subsequent iteration was renamed as in 1988... - 64 MHz front side busFront side busA front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....
- up to 512 MiBMIBMIB may refer to any of several concepts:* Master of International Business, a postgraduate business degree* Melayu Islam Beraja, the adopted national philosophy of Brunei* Motion induced blindness, a visual illusion in peripheral vision...
of SDRAMSDRAMSynchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs... - IOMD2 I/OI/OI/O may refer to:* Input/output, a system of communication for information processing systems* Input-output model, an economic model of flow prediction between sectors...
Controller- PLX TechnologyPLX TechnologyPLX Technology is an integrated circuit company based in Sunnyvale, California.It supplies system-interconnect silicon-based semiconductors and firmware for the enterprise communications, storage, server, compute, embedded-control, and consumer storage markets...
PCI Bridge PCI9080- 4 PCI slots (33MHz)
- PC Style Joystick/Game Port
- 3 Acorn Podule expansion sockets
- SMC37672 SuperIO chip supporting
- PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse
- Two EIDE channels supporting up to four devices (6.4 GBGigabyteThe gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. The prefix giga means 109 in the International System of Units , therefore 1 gigabyte is...
unit supplied) - Two serial portSerial portIn computing, a serial port is a serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time...
s - Parallel Port
- Single Floppy drive
- PLX Technology
- VIDC20 Revision R Video controller supporting
- 4 MiBMegabyteThe megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
of EDO VRAM running at 200 MHz
- 4 MiB
- NLX form factor Tower case with a custom yellow front panel
- Slot loading CD-ROMCD-ROMA CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
drive - 5.25" drive bayDrive bayA drive bay is a standard-sized area for adding hardware to a computer. Most drive bays are fixed to the inside of a case, but some can be removed....
s - 230 W PSUPower supplyA power supply is a device that supplies electrical energy to one or more electric loads. The term is most commonly applied to devices that convert one form of electrical energy to another, though it may also refer to devices that convert another form of energy to electrical energy...
unit.
Development
In November 1996, the design of what was to become Phoebe 2100 was started. The design took into account a number of perceived weaknesses of the Risc PCRisc PC
The RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run....
design, a slow memory architecture, limited I/O capability, limited expansion, and not adhering to industry standards. To overcome these weakness a number of design objectives were created; Harness the full potential of the StrongARM
StrongARM
The StrongARM is a family of microprocessors that implemented the ARM V4 instruction set architecture . It was developed by Digital Equipment Corporation and later sold to Intel, who continued to manufacture it before replacing it with the XScale....
CPU, support multiple processors, add support for PCI expansion, offer the best possible graphics, run existing RISC OS applications and to provide enhanced RISC OS functionality. An additional design objective of reusing the same case as the Risc PC
Risc PC
The RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run....
was dropped due to power supply requirements and electrical interference problems.
To provide for these new capabilities Acorn had to design two new support chips for the system;
- VIDC20R, a new revision of the VIDC20 video chip used in the Risc PCRisc PCThe RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run....
. Using a shrink of the process to 0.6 µm600 nanometerThe 600 nm process refers to the level of semiconductor process technology that was reached in the 1994–1995 timeframe, by most leading semiconductor companies, like Intel and IBM.-Products featuring 0.6 µm manufacturing process:...
, a 100% performance increase was gained. Due to this being logically the same chip as the previous generation there would be no issues with software compatibility.
- IOMD2, the new IO chip had to support multiple processors, included message passing and multiple bus mastering, and was manufactured using a 0.35 µm process350 nanometerThe 350 nm process refers to the level of semiconductor process technology that was reached in the 1995–1996 timeframe, by most leading semiconductor companies, like Intel and IBM.-Products featuring 350 nm manufacturing process:...
. Throughout development and prototyping the IOMD2 were developed on a large FPGA.
During 1997 and 1998 Acorn regularly took prototype and mock-up hardware to various Acorn computer shows, including Acorn World October 1997, Wakefield Acorn Spring Show May 1998 and the Acorn Southeast Show June 1998.
By May 1998 Acorn started to offer their 'Registered Developer' scheme members the chance to pre-order a pre-launch prototype for testing and development, these were offered at a £950 (ex VAT
Vat
Vat or VAT may refer to:* A type of container such as a barrel, storage tank, or tub, often constructed of welded sheet stainless steel, and used for holding, storing, and processing liquids such as milk, wine, and beer...
) a significant discount on the public price of £1500 (ex VAT) revealed in June..
On 15 September 1998, the first Phoebe 2100 motherboards with silicon (rather than FPGA) based IOMD2 chips were powered up. They successfully ran at the full front side bus
Front side bus
A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....
speed of 64 MHz, and the improved performance of the video chip was also seen, however various bugs in the sound DMA were reported and general system instability was noted. As such, no shippable prototypes were yet available to send to the 'Registered Developers'.
Two days later, on 17 September 1998, the development of Phoebe 2100 was cancelled.
Development was expected to cost £2.1 million.
Operating System
During the years following the release of the Risc PCRisc PC
The RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run....
, Acorn had discussed using an alternative to RISC OS
RISC OS
RISC OS is a computer operating system originally developed by Acorn Computers Ltd in Cambridge, England for their range of desktop computers, based on their own ARM architecture. First released in 1987, under the name Arthur, the subsequent iteration was renamed as in 1988...
as their next operating system, using TAOS
Taos
Taos can meanPlaces*Taos Pueblo, a Native American pueblo, Tua-tah*Taos dialect, a dialect of the Tiwa language*Taos County, New Mexico, United States*Taos, New Mexico, a city, the county seat of Taos County, New Mexico...
or writing their own microkernel
Microkernel
In computer science, a microkernel is the near-minimum amount of software that can provide the mechanisms needed to implement an operating system . These mechanisms include low-level address space management, thread management, and inter-process communication...
-based operating system "Galileo". However for the launch of Phoebe 2100 an enhanced version of RISC OS
RISC OS
RISC OS is a computer operating system originally developed by Acorn Computers Ltd in Cambridge, England for their range of desktop computers, based on their own ARM architecture. First released in 1987, under the name Arthur, the subsequent iteration was renamed as in 1988...
would be developed, called RISC OS 4 (codenamed 'Ursula'). RISC OS wouldn't support the multiple processor daughter cards that had been included in the Phoebe 2100 hardware specification.
RISC OS 4 had to support the new hardware of Phoebe 2100 which wasn't present in Acorn's earlier machines;
- PCI expansion slots
- Support for multiple serial ports
- The PC style game portGame portThe game port is a device port found on IBM PC compatible systems throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It was the traditional connector for joystick input devices until superseded by USB in the 21st century....
, supporting joystick and MIDI
In addition several new features were to be added to the core of RISC OS;
- A better file system, increasing the number of items in directory from 77 to approx 88,000 and increasing the max length of a filename from 10 characters to 255
- A plugin based system configuration utility.
- A new screensaver API
- An enhanced window manager
- An updated interactive help application
- A redesigned set of icons
To prepare developers for the changes to the OS, Acorn released to its 'Registered Developer' program RISC OS 3.80, designed to load on Acorn's previous generation Risc PC
Risc PC
The RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run....
and A7000
Acorn A7000
The A7000 and A7000+ were Acorn Computers's entry level computer based on the Risc PC architecture. Launched in 1995, they replaced some of the models of the Acorn Archimedes range. After the breakup of Acorn Computers in 1998, Castle Technology bought the rights to continue production of the A7000+...
computers. This would enable developers to test that their software would be compatible with Phoebe 2100, provided it didn't require any of the new hardware features. RISC OS 3.80 was limited, it only ran on ARM6 and ARM7 Risc PCs and not StrongARM
StrongARM
The StrongARM is a family of microprocessors that implemented the ARM V4 instruction set architecture . It was developed by Digital Equipment Corporation and later sold to Intel, who continued to manufacture it before replacing it with the XScale....
based ones. Testing of hardware compatibility would have to wait until an initial run of 100 or so pre-production machines was made available to Registered Developers.
Code names
The Phoebe 2100 project used a series of names inspired by characters from the TV series 'FriendsFriends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
' as code names for the components..
- PhoebePhoebe BuffayPhoebe Buffay-Hannigan is a fictional character on the U.S. television sitcom Friends , portrayed by Lisa Kudrow...
- The Machine itself, name carried over to launch title Phoebe 2100 - Ursula - The operating system, RISC OS 4, that it was to run
- ChandlerChandler BingChandler Muriel Bing is a fictional character on the popular U.S. television sitcom Friends, portrayed by Matthew Perry.-Background:Chandler Muriel Bing was born on April 8, 1968, the son of an erotic novelist mother and a cross-dressing Las Vegas star and is of Scottish ancestry. Chandler was Ross...
- The IOMD2 chip - RachelRachel GreenRachel Karen Green is a fictional character on the popular U.S. television sitcom Friends, portrayed by Jennifer Aniston. Aniston received an Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe for her performances.-Background:...
- Processor card - MonicaMonica GellerMonica E. Geller Bing is a fictional character on the popular US television sitcom Friends, portrayed by Courteney Cox. Monica is known as the "Mother Hen" of the group and her Greenwich Village apartment was one of the group's main gathering places. She was also known for her obsessive personality...
- PCI Bridge
Cancellation
On 17 September 1998, Acorn finished a review of its business and decided to close the 'Workstation Division', the department developing Phoebe 2100, and all work stopped.Acorn Computers CEO, Stan Boland said "There is not a big enough market for the PC (Risc PC 2), which is largely for home use and games. It's an enthusiast's product. We are going to resize the rest of the company and concentrate on becoming a digital TV and thin client company", and Computerworld Online News reported an Acorn spokesman saying "The problem was that it would have had a retail cost about twice as high as for a comparable PC.".
After cancellation it came to light that as few as 150 to 300 pre-orders had been placed.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the cancellation of Phoebe 2100 and Acorn Computers' change in direction from general computing to Set-Top-Box development and DSP silicon design there were several attempts to resurrect some or all of the Phoebe 2100 hardware or RISC OS 4 development.Of these, the only successful group was the Steering Group who after initially being interested in releasing the Phoebe 2100, realised it would be financially prohibitive and set about creating a new company RISCOS Ltd
RISCOS Ltd
RISCOS Ltd. is a limited company engaged in computer software and IT consulting. It licensed the rights to from Element 14 and subsequently Pace Micro Technology. It continues to develop...
. In March 1999 RISCOS Ltd negotiated a license with Element 14, the recently renamed Acorn Computers, and set about finishing the development of RISC OS 4. In July 1999 RISCOS Ltd launched RISC OS 4 to the public, it supported Acorn's Risc PC
Risc PC
The RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run....
and A7000/+
Acorn A7000
The A7000 and A7000+ were Acorn Computers's entry level computer based on the Risc PC architecture. Launched in 1995, they replaced some of the models of the Acorn Archimedes range. After the breakup of Acorn Computers in 1998, Castle Technology bought the rights to continue production of the A7000+...
machines.
In addition, after the cancellation, excess numbers of the Phoebe 2100 yellow NLX case were sold by CTA Direct, sometimes including an NLX compatible PC.