R-Comp Interactive’s already great ARMSX ARMX6 computer has just got better, thanks to an operating system update just released by the company.
The headline feature of the update is support for ultra-high definition monitors. UHD monitors provide a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels – sometimes (arguably incorrectly) referred to as 4K or UHD 4K – giving twice the horizontal and vertical resolutions of high definition (1920×1080) displays, and thus offering four times the overall number of pixels and, therefore, four times the amount of desktop real estate.
For those that want it, at least! For those who want the improved resolution for other purposes, but don’t need that much desktop, it’s possible to benefit from an ultra-high definition display without running the ARMX6 at that resolution: A 1920×1080 screen mode displayed on a 3840×2160 screen – which R-Comp’s Andrew Rawnsley describes as a “double-detail” mode – apparently provides “stunning detail and clarity” and “fonts look especially gorgeous.”
Suitable monitors can be found from 24″ with prices starting as low as £299, Andrew says R-Comp can provide suitable monitors on request. (You can lay odds that such monitors will be on display, showing off the capabilities of the ARMX6, on R-Comp’s stand at the London Show on 24th October!)
Sitting between 1920×1080 and 3840×2160 is an “in-between” resolution of 2560×1440 – which is increasingly found on screens of 25-27″ – and ARMX6 also accommodates this, providing considerably more desktop real estate than 1920×1080, and might be preferred by those who find UHD makes things a little too small!
Thanks to ‘special RCI software’ and the ARMX6 display technology, the computer also correctly handles ‘super widescreen’ monitors, with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (although you might see such screens advertised as being 21:9 – which is pretty much the same, allowing for a slight rounding).
The networking capabilities are improved with support for NTLM encrypted log-ins – which means it’s now possible to log-in to a password protected share on Windows 7 and 8 (and probably 10, though I’m not willing to upgrade any of my computers to Windows 10 to try that for myself), using the version of LanMan/OmniClient supplied with the system, as well as shares on many network attached storage devices, without having to revert using either FTP or third party networking tools such as SunFish.
The operating system update is completely free for those people with an ARMX6 computer – simply log-in to the ARMX6 users website (address and log-in details can be found in the manual supplied with the computer), download the update, and run the installer. When you next reboot, you will be running RISC OS 5.23, dated 10th August, 2015.
