|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the IYONIX pc's processor replaceable?
Q. Does the IYONIX pc support PC cards?
Q. Does the IYONIX pc support AGP?
Q. Does the IYONIX pc support parallel printers?
Q. Is the IYONIX motherboard available for self build?
Q. How easy is it to add hardware (scanners, printers etc) to the IYONIX pc?
Q. Is there a list of software that will run on the IYONIX pc?
Q. I'm interested in using the IYONIX technology in a commercial product.
Q. Does the IYONIX pc support MP3 music?
|
| |
| Q. | Is the IYONIX pc's processor replaceable? |
| A. | There are a number of reasons why the IYONIX pc's XScale processor is not removable or replaceable.
I. To ensure reliable, high speed bus activity. The high speed of the processor and the 200MHz DDR RAM mean that very careful control has to be made over signal quality. Making the IYONIX pc's processor removeable could possibly compromise this, leading to a less reliable system. II. To ensure new product development. Castle believe that the best way to produce technology for the future is to anchor a snap-shot of technology at a given point. Second guessing future technology is difficult and new technology's performance can be "cramped" by older technology. A good example of this is Acorn's innovative RiscPC which arguably meant that a replacement (using new technology) was not needed. III. Too higher price. Sockets for this type of processor are very expensive. Often more than the processor itself. This would have meant a substantial increase in the RRP. |
|
| |
| Q. | Does the IYONIX pc support PC cards? |
| A. | I. Castle believe that RISC OS is a world class, fantastic operating system. Trying to be all things to all men potentially means that loss of focus on the key USP (Unique Selling Point) detracts from sales and market penetration. Castle's aim is to move RISC OS beyond into new arenas and to do this we have to sell our unique technology.
II. The IYONIX pc is very quiet (virtually silent) because it uses an ARM processor. Introducing a power hungry Windows compatible processor within the case, means that this USP would be lost. III. PC cards are however available and there is no reason (apart from warranty and the above issues) why they cannot be installed by users or dealers. |
|
| |
| Q. | Does the IYONIX pc support AGP? |
| A. | I. AGP is a faster version of PCI. However, because RISC OS is so efficient and the nVidia GeForce graphics processor is so well matched to RISC OS any speed increase would be very small indeed.
II. The XScale™ processor does not support AGP; this would have meant extra development work and more components on the IYONIX pc's motherboard. Thus the extra cost involved in the RRP for very little gain means that AGP is not a suitable solution for the IYONIX pc. |
|
| |
| Q. | Does the IYONIX pc support parallel printers? |
| A. | The IYONIX pc can support all legacy Parallel printers with a simple USB to parallel printer cable. Because USB has been widely adopted by printer manufacturers and parallel is no longer used, Castle opted for this, better route, for the IYONIX pc. |
|
| |
| Q. | Is the IYONIX motherboard available for self build? |
| A. | The IYONIX pc motherboard is only available to overseas dealers and commercial customers. Because of new driver support for PCI cards other than those shipped Castle will not be making the IYONIX pc motherboards available for self build. |
|
| |
| Q. | How easy is it to add hardware (scanners, printers etc) to the IYONIX pc? |
| A. | There are a number of ways to add hardware to the IYONIX pc.
I. USB. This is a new widely support protocol allowing over 100 different products to be added to a computer with USB. This fast, reliable, and well supported way of connecting different hardware is easy to use and makes this the "method of choice". Please see USB section for more details. II. PCI expansion system. The IYONIX pc includes 4 PCI slots that are available for specialist applications. The PCI expansion system opens up the way for third parties to supply new devices such as SCSI controller cards, Video cards, Modems etc. Please see the relevant press or ask your supplier for full details. III. Podule expansion system. RISC OS computers have supported the Podule system since 1986. This simple to design interface (compared to PCI) is enhanced in the IYONIX pc with 4 extra, faster options. However, DMA is now the preserve of PCI cards. A wide range of existing Podule cards will work on the IYONIX pc, providing the software on the podule card is 32-bit compatible. |
|
| |
| Q. | Is there a list of software that will run on the IYONIX pc? |
| A. | Please see the IYONIX pc web site for a comprehensive list of of software. |
|
| |
| Q. | I'm interested in using the IYONIX technology in a commercial product. |
| A. | Please contact Castle sales at:sales@iyonix.com |
|
| |
| Q. | Does the IYONIX pc support MP3 music? |
| A. | Yes |
E&OE