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PCN's Olympians Sandra Grandison, Nickie Robinson and Ralph Bancroft report

At long last, the Torch Graduate made its debut at Olympia - but with a few teething problems.

For one, the system is supposed to run all IBM PC software, but a demonstration at the show proved that the popular Lotus 1-2-3 would be restricted without the extra graphics board to slot in. And if you're thinking of playing the Flight Simulator program from Microsoft on the Torch device, forget it, it doesn't run.

The Graduate comes in four models. The largest comes with the Xchange business application packages from Psion. You can pick up a Graduate G800/2 with 256K user memory and twin disk drives for £1,086. Torch says orders taken now are given a November delivery date.

Also on show was Unicomm, a communications package for the BBC. For £185 you get three software programs and a British Telecom-approved modem.

Cumana was showing two devices that could be useful in schools.

Magnet is a network system for the Beeb capable of linking 32 BBCs to a host micro. Driven via the RS423 port, it gives two-way communication between the remote stations and host micro, but in addition gives all the systems access to any peripheral devices attached to the host. A minimum eight-way system will cost £573.

The Touch Pad is a cursor moving device that is supposed to make programming easier. At £80 it comes with a booklet and can be operated by the touch of a finger.

Plug a Sir Mode 7 Adaptor into your Electron and you'll get full teletext graphics.

Sir Computers says the device is compatible with over ninety per cent of BBC Micro Mode 7 software and compatible with all Basic and OS commands. Mode 7 should be available by Christmas.

Cheap Beebs were also up for grabs at the show. Watford Electronics' special offer included a BBC, data recorder and five software packages for a knockout £326. Sir Computers pitched in with the offer of BBCs at £359.

Computer Concepts intends producing a couple of new products that should enhance the Beeb notably. The BBC Basic Compiler will cost £75 and be supplied as two ROMs - an 8K and a 16K.

Its ESP spreadsheet ROM will supersede Beebcalc and is expected to cost £55.