Users of Acorn machines need have no immediate fears about support. Acorn's bankers are standing by to stump up an extra £6 million when negotiations with the company's creditors have been completed. These talks have been given a good start by the patience of AB Electronics, Acorn's largest creditor, which has accepted a phased repayment of its debt with some conditions. No supplies are likely to dry up completely.

But when the ink has dried on the contract and the dust has settled, it's the attitude of third-party suppliers that will be critical. Wherever Olivetti positions the BBC Micro, independent suppliers will be able to rely on a large existing user base. The same can't be said of the Electron.

The vicious circle that traps all slow-selling micros will gradually overwhelm the Electron. BBC Micro users will be able to look forward to continuing developments from the likes to Watford Electronics, Cumana and Pace, but the market for Electron add-ons and software will be far less enticing for the independents.

The only positive rumours about the Electron's future hint at the possibility that Acorn might produce more sophisticated and more expensive versions - the BBC Micro might fit that description.

Ironically, the independents have generally been quicker to produce accessories for Acorn systems than Acorn itself. But Acorn admits that it spread itself too thinly. Its plan from now on is to concentrate on specific areas where it reckons it can make money - "tightly managed profit centres".

Research and development is central to these activities, and Signor Piol described its R&D potential as one of the company's greatest attractions for Olivetti: "The key point is that Acorn is the largest information technology company to come out of Cambridge University recently, and this is a technological centre where we would like to be present," he said.

Sir Clive Sinclair echoed this with a criticism of UK companies in general. "It took a foreign company to save Acorn, and it's a pretty poor reflection on British companies who couldn't see the opportunity."

The concensus in the industry last week was that Olivetti had picked Acorn up cheaply. Signor Piol clearly intends to make the most of the bargain: "On the English market, where it has a high profile, Acorn will be fully independent and will operate in parallel with British Olivetti. We shall act as an amplifier on the other markets, particularly in the education sector."

Olivetti will nomiate two board members who will "monitor programmes and results, step by step" according to Signor Piol. Chris Curry and Herman Hauser, the founders of Acorn, will stay on the board but with much less say in the running of the company. Dr. Alex Reid will act as chairman until a new group managing director is appointed.