VirtualAcorn is the brand name of several commercial emulator

Emulator

In computing, an emulator is hardware or software or both that duplicates the functions of a first computer system in a different second computer system, so that the behavior of the second system closely resembles the behavior of the first system...

s of Acorn Computers

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...

 computer hardware platforms.

Development

VirtualAcorn is developed by Graeme Barnes and Aaron Timbrell. It is a commercial version of the freeware

Freeware

Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...

 emulator Red Squirrel, developed by Barnes. In 2004, supply of the software was moved to Timbrell's company 3QD Developments.

Virtual A5000

Virtual A5000 is an emulator of Acorn Computers A5000

Acorn Archimedes

The Acorn Archimedes was Acorn Computers Ltd's first general purpose home computer to be based on their own ARM architecture.Using a RISC design with a 32-bit CPU, at its launch in June 1987, the Archimedes was stated as running at 4 MIPS, with a claim of 18 MIPS during tests.The name is commonly...

 computer. It included a copy of RISC OS 3.11

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...

. Virtual A5000 was released at BETT

BETT

BETT or The BETT show is an annual trade show in the United Kingdom that showcases the use of information technology in education. Founded in 1985, it has expanded to fill both the National and Grand Halls at the Olympia exhibition centre in London, England...

 2002 and stopped shipping in 2004.

VirtualRPC

VirtualRPC is an emulator of Acorn Computers 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The RiscPC was Acorn Computers's next generation RISC OS/Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes.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....

 computer.

Initially VirtualRPC was only available bundled with the MicroDigital Alpha range of PC laptops. But was later made available as a standalone product for sale. In 2003, the developers reached an agreement with 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...

 to license its OS.

VirtualRPC comes in four versions, support for emulating ARM7 or ARM7 and 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....

 each coming with either RISC OS 4.02 or RISC OS Adjust 4.39.

Hardware bundles

Initially VirtualRPC was included on the MicroDigital Alpha range of PC laptops, and it has also been shipped by Advantage Six on the A5 series and by R-Comp in their RISCube/SpaceCube/RiscBook range.

External links

• http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/article.php?id=1600&nc=17
• http://www.drobe.co.uk/article.php?id=799 Drobe - Virtual License