RISCOSbits at the SouthWest Show 2024

RISCOSbits are pleased to announce a new range of NVMe based machines that will be available to buy at the SouthWest Show on Saturday 24th February. As the result of partnering with Stader Softwareentwicklung and RISC OS Open, these brand new devices will be the first to utilise FreeNVMe – the open source NVMe driver and filing system for RISC OS. Whilst the driver is currently in beta, it has worked very reliably on RISCOSbits’ many Compute Module 4 systems for months, and has been demonstrated working at both the MUG Show and WROCC meeting in December.

The first machine out of the trap is the brutally-titled VENOM, comprising a 32GB eMMC solid state boot device and a 256GB NVMe drive for fast disc access over the PCIe bus. VENOM is the natural successor to the now retired Pi Harder, being contained in a small NUC-style aluminium case, and rocking three USB ports (including one on the front), gigabit Ethernet, twin HDMI ports, 3.5mm audio jack and power button. Internally, the passively cooled system has a working Real Time Clock and 4GB RAM. This is a new premium RISC OS machine at a budget price of £249.

The previously released PiRO Qube has now developed into an NVMe-based system with an easy upgrade path available for previous purchasers. The diminutive powerhouse now comes with 4GB RAM but also hosts a 32GB eMMC boot drive, and a 128GB NVMe drive, all for £199. There is also another eMMC-based model available without an NVMe drive, that can be added later, at £169.

The final NVMe-based machine available to buy at the show is the mythical Chimera, which nearly debuted at the MUG Show in December, but was allegedly thwarted by Hades himself! This twin headed machine runs both RISC OS and Linux simultaneously, with both heads having 256GB of dedicated NVMe storage. Both heads connect using specific software that allows for a smooth, configurable, fenestrated experience. The base price for this behemoth is just £469, and it comes in an ultra-thin, stylish aluminium case measuring just 200mm x 200mm x 45mm, with external PSU. The RISC OS head has 2GB RAM, a 32GB eMMC boot drive, and a 256GB NVMe drive. The Linux head has 4GB RAM, and a similar sized dedicated NVMe drive. Work is progressing on adding a third head – a full x64 head running Windows (and that’s not Windows on ARM!).

The renamed ROBUST (previously eMMC4) is the slightly older sibling to the VENOM, the only difference being that it replaces the NVMe drive with a standard 2.5in SSD. This allows for a price drop to £219 for a 4GB RAM system with 32GB eMMC and a 128GB SSD for RISC OS, or RISC OS and Linux via our EDOS software.

There will be several FAST systems to buy and take away from the show, with the capability of hosting multiple FAST SSDs – we believe to be STILL the FASTest and most expandable RISC OS machine in existence. At only £349, these machines are flying – in so many ways!

We will also have stocks of our PiMini Show Special device in a custom A3020 colour scheme. With a 2GHz processor and 32GB of eMMC storage all enclosed in a tiny case, this £119 special has multiple RISC OS use cases. And we’ll have our one-off ‘Model Z’ machine – a natty Pi Zero dressed up in BBC Micro livery! At only £15, this is a pocket money bargain designed to flush RISCOSbits HQ of the last remaining stocks of Pi Zero devices. When they’re gone, they’re gone!

We will also have stocks of PiRO Noir, Desktop Docks and a range of other systems and accessories available to take away on the day.

Details of all systems can be found by visiting https://www.pihard.co.uk and https://www.riscosfast.co.uk

Come along for a chat and see the very latest developments in RISC OS storage, hot off the digital press.

After a particularly successful SouthWest Show, we’ve found ourselves in a position to be able to reduce the remaining show stocks or our PiRO Qube to £179 – the same price as our ‘early bird’ discount on the day.

For that, you get our miniscule powerhouse system with the following specification:

2GHz CPU
4GB RAM
32GB eMMC for Boot and storage
128GB ultra fast NVMe drive

Go to https://www.pihard.co.uk/piroqube.htm, to bag yourself a nippy nipper at a bargain after-show price.

We would have liked to offer a discount on remaining show stocks of VENOM our premium compact NVMe system. but we can’t – we sold out completely! Our FreeNVMe drivers seemed very popular!

Thanks to all who came by for a chat.