The 2015 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 Windows 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 2015 Awards results, the number of valid votes was 161, and while that's still only a small number, it's a significant improvement on 2014, which saw only around 100 voting/survey forms submitted - although the method of voting in the Awards Poll may have put people off last year. It also improves very slightly on the previous year, which saw around 150 votes.

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 low number of entries overall means these results may not be statistically significant, and at the same time the sharp increase in numbers since the 2014 survey - around 60% - means any change in numbers could be a result of the many different additional people taking part, rather than reflect a change in habits or useage, and so on. That said, the +/- value given in brackets reflects the increase or decrease in percentage compared with the previous survey.

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

The 2015 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 0% -
One 8% +1%
Two 13% -3%
Three 22% +3%
Four 11% -5%
Five+ 46% +4%

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 5% -
One 30% -
Two 36% +4%
Three 18% -6%
Four 7% -
Five+ 4% +2%

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 3% -1%
RISC OS 3.5 4% +1%
RISC OS 4.0 6% -1%
RISC OS 4.2 10% +2%
RISC OS 5.0 72% +4%
RISC OS 6.0 5% -5%
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 27% +7%
BeagleBoard-based 7% -6%
Pandaboard-based 8% -5%
ARMX6 (inc. 'kit' form) 14% +14%
RapidO Ig (inc. 'kit' form) 0% -
Titanium-based 1% +1%
IyonixPC 11% -7%
RiscPC 13% -1%
A7000 0% -
VirtualAcorn/RiscPC 8% -
RPCEmu 6% -3%
Other 5% -
Note: The ARMX6, RapidO Ig, and Titanium options were new this year, so the change is effectively from 0%

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
Since Acorn were around 84% -4%
Two to fifteen years 13% +2%
Less than two years 3% +2%

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 Percentage
My main job involves RISC OS 5%
Not just RISC OS, but to a large degree 7%
Only to a limited degree 22%
No, I only use it for pleasure 66%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

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 Percentage
It's increased a lot 10%
It's increased a little 30%
It hasn't really changed 41%
It's decreased a little 17%
It's decreased a lot 2%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Question 8: 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 Percentage
Regularly or fairly regularly 15%
Only occasionally 15%
I don't go to any at all 33%
There isn't a local group 37%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Question 9: 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 Percentage
Meetings aren't for me 25%
I don't know if there's a local group 22%
There isn't a local group 53%
Note: This was a new question for this year, so there are no changes to show from the previous survey.

Question 10: 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 81% +6%
No 19% -6%

Question 11: 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 49% -7%
MacOS 23% +11%
Linux-based 23% -3%
Other 5% -1%

Question 12: 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 6% +1%
Intel/AMD 93% +2%
Other 1% -3%

Question 13: 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 57% +16%
About the same 15% -14%
It varies 11% +11%
Less than RISC OS 17% -13%
Note: The 'it varies' option was new for this year, so its change is effectively from 0%

Question 14: 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 0% -
20-29 2% +1%
30-39 23% +6%
40-49 27% +4%
50-59 16% +3%
60 or over 32% -14%

Question 15: Are you male or female?

Pie chart showing the genders of RISC OS users.
Are RISC OS users male or female?
Gender PercentageChange
Male 97% -
Female 3% -