Editing RISC iX (section)

=== R140 ===

Based on the A440/1, the R140 uses the same 8&nbsp;[[Megahertz|MHz]] ARM2 processor and 4&nbsp;MB RAM, also providing a 60&nbsp;MB [[ST506]] [[hard drive]], with the option of adding a second hard drive using the same internal controller. A [[SCSI]] adaptor was available (priced at £299 plus VAT) for other storage peripherals. Since the hardware is based on the Archimedes series, Acorn's podule expansions could be added, although appropriate drivers would have needed to be written.<ref name="acornuser198912" />{{rp|pages=47|quote=All the Archimedes podules are electrically compatible but need a Unix software driver to work with the R140.}}

At the time of initial release in 1989, the cost of the R140 was £3,500 for a standalone workstation without Ethernet connectivity. For the additional cost of the Ethernet expansion (£449 plus VAT), a network-capable workstation could be configured. A floating point expansion card<ref name="chrisacorns-we32206">{{cite web |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/32bit_UpgradesA2G/Acorn_AKA20_WE32206FPCoPro.html |title=Acorn AKA20 We32206 Floating Point Co-Processor |website=Chris's Acorns |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref> based on the WE32206 could also be added (priced at £599 plus VAT).<ref name="APP221">{{cite book |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Brochures/Acorn_APP221_R140ComputerSystemsJun89.pdf |title=R140 Computer Systems |publisher=Acorn Computers Limited |edition=3 |date=June 1989 |access-date=6 September 2020}}</ref> A discount introduced at the start of 1990 offered the R140 bundled with Ethernet expansion and either a 14-inch colour monitor with PC emulation software or a 19-inch monochrome monitor for £2999 plus VAT.<ref name="acornuser199002">{{cite news |url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser091-Feb90/page/n8/mode/1up |title=Cheap Workstation |work=Acorn User |date=February 1990 |access-date=24 December 2020 |pages=7}}</ref>

Supplied with RISC&nbsp;OS&nbsp;2 in ROM, the machine would boot that OS then could either automatically boot RISC iX totally removing RISC OS from memory or continue running RISC&nbsp;OS{{snd}}optionally being rebooted into RISC&nbsp;iX at any time.<ref name="pcw198903">{{cite news |url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Mags/PCW/PCW_Mar89_R140.pdf |title= Acorn R140 |work=Personal Computer World |date=March 1989 |access-date=23 October 2020 |last1=Redfern |first1=Andy |page=128 |quote=On switching the machine on you are booted almost instantly into RISC OS. [...] Clicking on the Unix icon activates a dialogue box asking if you really want to go into Unix or not. By clicking on the middle of this box a number of parameters can be set up. For example, you can disable RISC OS completely so that next time you switch the machine on it boots straight into Unix, or you can specify a slow boot which performs all the disk and file checking.}}</ref>

An ordinary A440/1 with at least 4&nbsp;MB RAM and a suitable hard drive could also run RISC iX.<ref name="acorn_a252unix" />