The 2016 RISC OS Survey

This survey was run by RISCOSitory on the RISC OS Awards website, alongside the awards poll covering the same year. Apart from the initial receipt of the entries being on a Linux computer, all processing was carried out on an ARMX6 running RISC OS, using some internal software along with Fireworkz, PipeDream, Draw, Artworks2 and ConvImgs.

The idea of combining a survey with an annual awards poll should, in theory, provide a picture of how the RISC OS community looks, and allow developers and companies involved in the RISC OS platform to keep what they offer relevant - especially considering that it is an undeniable fact that the number of RISC OS users is low in the extreme.

With that in mind, as mentioned in the Awards results, the number of valid votes was 147, which is only marginally lower than last year, which saw 161 - both of which are considerably better than the previous year.

Not everybody who voted in the Awards Poll completed the survey part of the form - leaving the default "I'd rather not say" option ticked instead - and some people left that option selected for some questions. That means no question saw a full 161 people answer it, and some questions saw fewer answers than others. The results are based only on those who offered an answer to each question.

The third column in each table is the number of percentage points the result has changed by since the previous year.

The 2016 RISC OS Survey Results

Question 1: How many RISC OS systems do you own?

Pie chart showing typical numbers of RISC OS computers owned.
Typical numbers of RISC OS computers owned.
Number PercentageChange
None 2% +2%
One 9% +1%
Two 19% +6%
Three 17% -5%
Four 15% +4%
Five+ 38% -8%

Question 2: And of those, how many are in regular or semi-regular use?

Pie chart showing typical numbers of RISC OS computers in use.
Typical numbers of RISC OS computers in use.
Number PercentageChange
None 4% -1%
One 37% +7%
Two 32% -4%
Three 16% -2%
Four 7% -
Five+ 4% -

Question 3: Which version of RISC OS do you use most?

Pie chart showing a breakdown of which versions of RISC OS are most used.
The most used versions of RISC OS.
Version PercentageChange
RISC OS 2.0 0% -
RISC OS 3.0 0% -3%
RISC OS 3.5 3% -1%
RISC OS 4.0 6% -
RISC OS 4.2 9% -1%
RISC OS 5.0 78% +6%
RISC OS 6.0 4% -1%
Note: The options given for this question represent 'base' versions of RISC OS, and people were asked to specify the closest version below the one they use most - so people using Select and Adjust, for example, would have selected RISC OS 4.2.

Question 4: What is your main platform for using RISC OS?

Pie chart showing a breakdown of which platforms are used to run RISC OS.
The platforms used most for RISC OS.
Platform PercentageChange
Raspberry Pi-based 28% +1%
BeagleBoard-based 6% -1%
Pandaboard-based 3% -5%
ARMX6 (inc. 'kit' form) 23% +9%
RapidO Ig (inc. 'kit' form) 0% -
Titanium-based 7% +6%
IyonixPC 9% -2%
RiscPC 12% -1%
A7000 0% -
VirtualAcorn/RiscPC 7% -1%
RPCEmu 3% -3%
Other 2% -3%

Question 5: How long have you been a RISC OS user?

Pie chart showing how long people have been using RISC OS
How long people have been RISC OS users.
How long PercentageChange
I upgraded to it from Arthur! 28% +28%
Since Acorn were around 60% -24%
Two to fifteen years 8% -5%
Less than two years 4% -1%
Note: 'I upgraded to it from Arthur!' was a new option this year, so the change is effectively from 0% - and also reflects the large drop in the 'Since Acorn were around' option, due to Arthur being the first version of the operating system used by Acorn when the Archimedes range was first launched.

Question 6: Do you use RISC OS in a professional capacity in any way?

Pie chart showing whether people use RISC OS professionally
Breakdown of the use of RISC OS
in a professional capacity.
Degree of professional use PercentageChange
My main job involves RISC OS 2% -3%
Not just RISC OS, but to a large degree 9% +2%
Only to a limited degree 22% -
No, I only use it for pleasure 67% +1%

Question 7: Would you say your overall use of RISC OS has increased or decreased over the last year?

Pie chart showing whether people's use of RISC OS has increased or decreased
Breakdown of whether people's use of RISC OS has increased or decreased.
Increase/decrease in use PercentageChange
It's increased a lot 15% +5%
It's increased a little 26% -4%
It hasn't really changed 43% +2%
It's decreased a little 12% -5%
It's decreased a lot 4% +2%

Question 8: How much would you say you've spent on RISC OS hardware in the last year?

Pie chart showing how much people estimate they've spent on hardware
Breakdown of how much people think they've spent on hardware.
Estimated spend Percentage
£0 23%
£1 to £50 24%
£51 to £150 16%
£151 to £400 5%
£401 to £1,000 25%
More than £1,000 7%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Question 9: How much would you say you've spent on RISC OS software in the last year?

Pie chart showing how much people estimate they've spent on software
Breakdown of how much people think they've spent on software.
Estimated spend Percentage
£0 18%
£1 to £50 29%
£51 to £150 35%
£151 to £400 14%
£401 to £1,000 2%
More than £1,000 2%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Question 10: How much do you think you'll spend on RISC OS hardware this year?

Pie chart showing how much people think they'll spend on hardware
Breakdown of how much people think they'll spend on hardware.
Anticipated spend Percentage
£0 26%
£1 to £50 25%
£51 to £150 19%
£151 to £400 13%
£401 to £1,000 15%
More than £1,000 2%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Question 11: How much do you think you'll spend on RISC OS software this year?

Pie chart showing how much people think they'll spend on software
Breakdown of how much people think they'll spend on software.
Anticipated spend Percentage
£0 14%
£1 to £50 29%
£51 to £150 42%
£151 to £400 11%
£401 to £1,000 2%
More than £1,000 2%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Question 12: If you feel your spending is low, why would you say that is?

Pie chart showing the reasons people gave for low spending
Breakdown of why people felt their spending was low.
Reasons given (from options) Percentage
I don't have the money to spend 7%
I'm saving up to buy something 16%
What I have works well enough 61%
Other 16%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Accompanying this question was a text field for people who chose 'other' to offer a reason if none of the existing options covered (or was close enough to) their reasons. In some cases, people chose the 'other' option and didn't offer a reason, and in some cases the reason they gave was fairly close to the existing options. Those that didn't correspond closely to an existing option were variations on:

  • Lack of availability (upgrades to Easiwriter being one example given, another being new software in general).
  • No obvious route for hardware upgrades - plenty of choice, but a split market.
  • RISC OS system only used for retro purposes.
  • RISC OS isn't keeping up with alternative platforms.
  • Everything I need is covered by the open source world.
  • Low use doesn't justify any expenditure.
  • I have everything, but will buy new things if they appear.
  • The things I would otherwise have bought... I created!

Question 13: Do you attend your local user group meetings?

Pie chart showing whether people attend user group meetings
Breakdown whether people attend user group meetings.
Meeting attendance PercentageChange
Regularly or fairly regularly 20% +5%
Only occasionally 8% -7%
I don't go to any at all 28% -5%
There isn't a local group 44% +7%

Question 14: If not, do you know of a local group and if/when they meet?

Pie chart showing why people don't attend meetings
Why people don't attend local user group meetings
Reason for non-attendance PercentageChange
Meetings aren't for me 22% -3%
I don't know if there's a local group 12% -10%
There isn't a local group 66% +13%

Question 15: By choice, do you use any platforms other than RISC OS?

Pie chart showing whether people use another platform (by choice)
Whether people choose to use
another OS as well as RISC OS
Yes or no PercentageChange
Yes 85% +4%
No 15% -4%

Question 16: If so, which operating system?

Pie chart showing which other platforms are used by RISC OS users
The other OS most used by choice.
Most used other OS PercentageChange
Windows 44% -5%
MacOS 20% -3%
Linux 29% +6%
Android 5% +5%
iOS 2% +2%
ChromeOS 0% -
Other 0% -5%
Note: The Android, iOS, and ChromeOS options were new this year, so their changes are effectively from zero.

Question 17: On what processor do you use that operating system?

Pie chart showing the processor on which people use their other OS
The processors used for the other
operating system.
Processor used PercentageChange
ARM 11% +5%
Intel/AMD 88% -5%
Other 1% -

Question 18: And do you use it more than RISC OS?

Pie chart showing whether people use their other platforms more or less than RISC OS.
Is that other OS used more or less than RISC OS?
Amount used PercentageChange
More than RISC OS 50% -7%
About the same 19% +4%
It varies 11% -
Less than RISC OS 20% +3%

Question 19: In which age range do you fall?

Pie chart showing the age range of typical RISC OS users.
The age of RISC OS users.
Age range PercentageChange
Below 20 1% +1%
20-29 3% +1%
30-39 11% -12%
40-49 29% +2%
50-59 16% -
60 or over 40% +8%

Question 20: Are you male or female?

Pie chart showing the genders of RISC OS users.
Are RISC OS users male or female?
Gender PercentageChange
Male 99% +2%
Female 1% -2%