The RISC OS North show now only two (count ’em) days away, and another announcement has bounced into the RISCOSitory inbox from RISCOSbits:
Visitors to the RISC OS North Show on 21st March will find the RISCOSbits stand packed with hardware options for almost every kind of RISC OS user – from powerful desktop machines to compact modular systems and flexible DIY kits. Whether you’re looking for performance, expandability, or a hands-on project, there will be plenty to explore.
Performance Systems: FAST Range
At the high-performance end of the range are the new Block Device-based FAST FIRE systems and the FAST NVMe systems. These machines are designed for users who want a fast, responsive RISC OS experience with modern storage options.
FAST FIRE focuses on speed and simplicity, providing a powerful RISC OS platform built around high-performance solid-state storage. It’s an ideal everyday RISC OS desktop for users who want reliability and speed without complication. With the new block device drivers, partitioning a drive is easy, so a large drive can be easily divided into useful smaller “discs” – and we even have a tool for hiding one or more of the partitions from prying eyes!
We’ll also have some cut down FAST Core Plus systems, ideal for those with a Compute Module 4 and official Raspberry Pi CM4IO board. This kit comprises a SATA adaptor, pre-loaded SD card, and a formatted 128GB SSD so you can test the power and speed of the new Block Device SATA drivers.
FAST NVMe takes things in a different direction by harnessing ultra-fast NVMe storage, delivering exceptional disk performance and near-instant application loading. For users who want the fastest RISC OS storage currently available, this system shows just how responsive RISC OS can be on modern hardware. Come and see us demonstrate some of the features, including namespaces, direct booting from NVMe, multi-format drives and large 4Kn drives! All for free with our FreeNVMe drivers.
Flexible and Compact Systems
For users looking for something a little different, RISCOSbits will also be showcasing some compact and versatile systems.
Chimera Lite is a streamlined single-head version of the popular Chimera platform. Designed as a straightforward yet powerful RISC OS machine, it features a 2 GHz processor, 4 GB RAM, and a 256 GB NVMe drive, all housed in a full ITX case with power supply included. While it arrives ready to run RISC OS, the platform retains Chimera’s flexibility, making it easy to add additional heads later — including Linux or even classic 26-bit RISC OS systems.
Alongside these systems will also be eNVy.Me, RISCOSbits’ compact and modern-looking NVMe solution designed for allowing users to take advantage of modern solid-state drives while maintaining the familiar RISC OS environment. It’s a small piece of hardware that can make a surprisingly big difference to system responsiveness.
PiRO Qube takes a different approach, offering a small cube-style system designed for simplicity, experimentation, and flexibility. Its compact design makes it ideal as a secondary RISC OS machine, a development platform, or a neat desktop system where space is at a premium.
Build Your Own: DIY Systems
For those who enjoy building and experimenting with their own hardware, the stand will also feature the full range of RISCOSbits DIY kits.
The DIY ONE, DIY TWO, and DIY THREE kits provide progressively more capable build-your-own systems, giving users the freedom to assemble a RISC OS computer tailored to their needs. These kits are ideal for hobbyists, educators, and anyone who enjoys understanding how their machine is put together.
Also on display will be STACKER, a cleverly designed modular system that allows multiple Raspberry Pi-based systems to be neatly stacked together. It’s perfect for multi-machine setups, experimentation, or simply creating a compact RISC OS lab on your desk.
And we’ll have a few MiniBOBs available. A VERY compact twin OS system, with two systems and two OSes that operate independently or in tandem. All contained in a package with a footprint similar to a slightly oversized modern mobile phone! Albeit quite a bit thicker!
Special Show Prices
As always, the RISC OS North Show is the perfect place to see the systems in person, ask questions, and get hands-on with the hardware. Visitors to the RISCOSbits stand can also take advantage of special show prices and additional discounts available on the day, making the event an excellent opportunity to pick up a new RISC OS system or start a new project. Whether you’re a long-time RISC OS enthusiast or simply curious about modern RISC OS hardware, there will be plenty to see, and tempt you, at the RISCOSbits stand.