Would you believe that the RISC OS iMX6 is 10 years old this year? 10
years before that was the Iyonix, and 10 years before *that* was the
RiscPC.

So, it is fitting that this year we introduce the N.Ex.T Box - our
successor to these venerable RISC OS computers, building on what made them beloved systems, and pushing the limits of what is possible with 32bit
RISC OS today.

You can read about our Project N.Ex.T - bringing NVMe performance to RISC
OS computers at http://www.riscoscomputers.co.uk/
N.Ex.T Boxes are enlivened by that technology, but bring with it the reliability of their iMX6 predecessor and capabilities that exceed it in
every area.

At their most basic, N.Ex.T Boxes provide high performance 32bit RISC OS 5 computers usually running at 2Ghz+ (twice that of iMX6) and enhanced by
the improved A72 CPU architecture to deliver 3-4x performance uplift.
This is really noticeable when running demanding programs like the Iris
web browser.

RAM is not only faster, but the 2GB iMX6 becomes a 4GB N.Ex.T. NVMe
unleashes SSD storage for 3-5x speed benefits - Iris loads almost indistinguishably compared with running from RAM. Speaking of RAM, if yo
use !IrisRAM, you'll barely even notice it copying the whole program in
your bootup! Sturdy metal heatsinks keep your CPU thermals under control.

Video/Graphics improve too - the iMX6 was no slouch, offering up to 4K resolutions, but at 30hz. With a N.Ex.T computer, you get double the
bandwidth allowing full 4K at 60hz with our special support for wide and super-widescreen displays.

What about networking - that's also part of the puzzle. Although still
gigabit networking, throughput is roughly double that of the iMX6 for
faster, smoother performance. Whether accessing your NAS, or enjoying the latest high speed internet, we've got you covered.

The computers build on an ITX-format motherboard, designed to unlock the potential of the platform within a standard form factor and enclosure.
This extends to the use of standard internal power supplies for
reliability and easy repair (although a smaller, external PSU case option
is available for those who prefer to keep things petit). These are
managed by a small custom board to minimise wiring and noise.

Speaking of noise, or lack thereof, the computers can run completely
fanless for silent computing.

Peripheral connectivity comes with between 4 and 12 USB ports depending on
your choices. No, we don't think you'll need 12 either, but...!

Wifi is an option - most of our customers will prefer the reliability and
speed of a wired connection, but if you need wifi, that's possible thanks
to RISC OS Developments' recent progress.

Multiple drives, CD/DVD - all possible depending on your choice of
chassis. The use of standard motherboard form factor, and PSU opens the
door to your choice of housing. You'll see some designs on our website,
but more elaborate options are available if the standard ones don't
thrill.

Better still, top quality RISC OS computers keep getting more affordable,
with the N.Ex.T Box desktop computers starting at 399ukp (considerably
cheaper than your iMX6) and the tiny mini version cheaper still.

As with all our systems, customers benefit from our dual-drive technology
which allows for easy backup and recovery. We've been building all our computers this way for many years, and it ensures that the your data can
be safe and secure, whilst recovery is simpler in case of problems. We
hope you'll never need that, but you'll be glad to have it if you do.

With the next generation of ARM(r) CPUs seemingly all 64bit only, this is likely to be the last generation of 32bit-friendly hardware. These
computers push the boundaries of the platform in pretty much every area.

Just as we didn't feel we had a true Iyonix successor until the iMX6
bested it on all fronts, so too the iMX6 has been a mainstay for us for
the last 10 years. That's not to say that computers like 4te or TiMachine haven't been fantastic, but it is only now that we can truly say that once again the baton can be passed to the N.Ex.T generation. Long live the new king!

More information at https://www.riscoscomputers.co.uk/

Best wishes,

Andrew


--
R-Comp Interactive
22 Robert Moffat, High Legh, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6PS
Tel: 01925 755043 Fax: 01925 757377 http://www.rcomp.co.uk


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