The 2019 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.

As mentioned in the Awards results, the number of valid votes this year was just 102, which is one of the lowest so far.

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 102 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 2019 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% -1%
One 10% -2%
Two 18% -3%
Three 14% +2%
Four 11% -6%
Five+ 47% +10%

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% -3%
One 26% -15%
Two 41% +8%
Three 18% +5%
Four 8% +3%
Five+ 2% +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 1% -2%
RISC OS 3.5 1% -1%
RISC OS 4.0 0% -3%
RISC OS 4.2 6% -1%
RISC OS 5.0 90% +9%
RISC OS 6.0 2% -2%
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 30% -7%
BeagleBoard-based 0% -3%
Pandaboard-based 5% +2%
ARMX6 (inc. 'kit' form) 26% +6%
RapidO Ig (inc. 'kit' form) 0% -1%
Titanium-based 15% -1%
ARMBook 3% +3%
IyonixPC 6% +3%
RiscPC 2% -3%
A7000 0% -
VirtualAcorn/RiscPC 4% -1%
RPCEmu 5% -1%
Other 4% +3%
Note: ARMBook was a new option this year.

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! 19% -2%
Since Acorn were around 64% -3%
Two to fifteen years 14% +6%
Less than two years 3% -1%

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 4% +1%
Not just RISC OS, but to a large degree 11% -1%
Only to a limited degree 26% +9%
No, I only use it for pleasure 59% -9%

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% +4%
It's increased a little 27% +7%
It hasn't really changed 51% -3%
It's decreased a little 7% -4%
It's decreased a lot 0% -4%

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 PercentageChange
£0 22% -8%
£1 to £50 21% +1%
£51 to £150 25% +2%
£151 to £400 10% -5%
£401 to £1,000 20% +10%
More than £1,000 2% -

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 PercentageChange
£0 19% -7%
£1 to £50 27% -1%
£51 to £150 35% -3%
£151 to £400 17% +9%
£401 to £1,000 1% +1%
More than £1,000 1% +1%

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 PercentageChange
£0 19% -12%
£1 to £50 24% +13%
£51 to £150 24% +3%
£151 to £400 17% -5%
£401 to £1,000 13% -2%
More than £1,000 3% +3%

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 PercentageChange
£0 12% -2%
£1 to £50 26% -2%
£51 to £150 45% -4%
£151 to £400 13% +4%
£401 to £1,000 2% +2%
More than £1,000 2% +2%

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) PercentageChange
I don't have the money to spend 10% -5%
I'm saving up to buy something 19% +7%
What I have works well enough 56% +2%
Other 15% -4%

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:

  • To spend money, there must be things I want to buy.
  • Nothing worth buying that isn't free elswhere.
  • I only buy software when upgrades appear and hardware when it needs to be replaced.
  • I have other priorities.
  • I'm retired.
  • I don't use RISC OS much, so can't justify spending.
  • I build what I need.

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 18% -1%
Only occasionally 18% +10%
I don't go to any at all 25% -
There isn't a local group 39% -9%

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 6% -2%
It isn't practical for me 34% +18%
I don't know if there's a local group 9% -8%
There isn't a local group 51% -8%

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 87% +1%
No 13% -1%

Question 16: What operating system(s) do you use as well as RISC OS?

Bar chart showing the operating systems also used by RISC OS users
The range of operating systems used alongside RISC OS
OS PercentageChange
Windows 94% +10%
MacOS 19% -10%
Linux 72% +14%
Android 64% -2%
iOS 25% -2%
ChromeOS 5% +4%
Other 14% +5%
Note: While the next few questions ask about the other operating system that people use most, this one recognises that people may use multiple operating systems (for example a Windows computer and an Android phone or tablet). The percentage is based on the number of people who chose to answer, and because the question allows multiple answers, the percentages cannot be expected to add up to 100.

Question 17: Which other operating system do you use most?

Pie chart showing which other platforms
                                     are used most by RISC OS users
The other OS most used by choice.
Most used other OS PercentageChange
Windows 40% +1%
MacOS 11% -4%
Linux 25% -5%
Android 15% +3%
iOS 9% +5%
ChromeOS 0% -
Other 0% -

Question 18: 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 28% +7%
Intel/AMD 71% -4%
Other 1% -3%

Question 19: 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 44% -6%
About the same 12% -10%
It varies 20% +10%
Less than RISC OS 24% +6%

Question 20: 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 2% +1%
30-39 12% -1%
40-49 28% -3%
50-59 19% +1%
60 or over 38% +1%

Question 21: What gender are you?

Pie chart showing the genders of RISC OS users.
The genders of RISC OS users
Gender PercentageChange
Male 96% -2%
Female 4% +2%
Other 0% -