Going to purchase soon

[Inky]

I am planning on purchasing an Atari 8 bit computer for my kids soon here. What one should I get for compatibility, and what games would be fun/cheap to purchase right off the bat. Carts at first.

[DuckandCover]

I managed to snatch a boxed 800XL on Ebay six months back for right around $20. Part of that purchase was motivated by nostalgia, because the 800 XL was the computer I owned as a teen. I'm also toying around with programming, so I like the fact that BASIC is resident on the system. Still, I've started amassing a cart collection, and have been very pleased with the machine's performance. However, you might let one of the resident 8-bit experts give their recommendation, since the 800XL may not be the best choice.

 

As to carts, I've managed to get a lot of Atari releases on the cheap on Ebay, paying only 3 or 4 dollars for most. Arcade titles like Pac-Man, Centipede, and Galaxian are easy to come by. I think there were some kid-specific games made for the 8-bits too. You might look over Andrew Krieg's list for a complete listing of titles.

[Goochman]

Some folks will prob tell you to get the 130XE some the 800XL. I prefer the small footprint to eh 800XL (Though I have my 130XE hooked up here at home )

 

Things to think about:

 

For cart games the 800XL works well though some carts dont tottaly fit in the slot (a little filing can help out with that). 64K is more than enough for gaming.

 

For disk games and things requiring more than 64K the 130XE is a good choice - It works better with most carts but has a bigger footprint and the keyboard isnt as nice.

 

 

If I was just going to play cart games and had some space limitations I would get the 800XL

[tyranthraxus]

Get the XE GS. It looks fairly modern and with the detachable keyboard

you can save space too, plus missle command is built into ROM. Otherwise get the 800XL, very sturdy well built computer good for cartridge gaming. I also have an 800 which I find way too big and clunky.

I'd only reccomend it if you have a nostalgic connection.

 

John

[Heniek]

Between 65xe and 800xl there are only design difrence. I prefer 130xe... If you want to play games you "must" have a RAM-CART (512kb or 1mb). What is Ram-Cart??

Ram-carts looks like cartridges, but they have special abbilities. You can

copy to Ram-cart everything you want, and then use it! You can very fast run your favourite programs, and games!!! Whit RAM-CART you will get a special modyfided DOS and some programs to very simple copy to and from RAM-CART. I will sell Ram-Carts in nearly future!

[Thelen]

You mean all games are playable on the ram cart ? nice. 128 K bankswitched games ? - do you have a site with information ?

 

Thelen

[Heniek]

The site will be soon done....

[somePUNK]

asteroid is fun espeisally in a 400 cause you can play 4 player team

[AtariDude]

I would recommend getting the Atari 800XL and having someone send a translator disk just in case you find any games that only worked with the original Atari 800.

 

The Atari 130XE did have extra memory but it came at the end of the life cycle for the Atari 8 bit machines and I don't believe too many games came out that required the extra memory. Also the keyboard on the Atari 130XE was mushy and did not have the quality feel that the Atari 800XL had.

 

Hope that your kids have fun with the "new" computer!