KLund1 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) Hi all, I was watching the video on YouTube that shows the guy building a 1400XL. But he says 1450xl and 1400xl by mistake a couple times. I'm not sure why he says that, nerves probably. But just to clarify, what would have been the difference between to two computers. We know an XLD would include 1 or 2 floppy drives. Just to mess things up a bit, there are the Tang boards too, so: 1400XL = 1400XL-Tang?= 1450XL= 1450XL-Tang= 1450XLD-Tang=? 1450XLD=Best of all. Top of the line. Holy Grail, Rarely seen (none on youtube), This user has even touched a real one many years ago. Another thought. This video, or there abouts, start a run on 1400, & 1450 mother board sales from Best Electronics. He is now sold out. But I have not seen anyone showing a working unit from all those sales. What are you all doing with them? Framed on a wall? They are useless there! Pull up your male sack, and do something with them, and show us what you have built!!! I know summer is not the best time for a rant, but this title will see some interest at any Google search. Edited July 11, 2014 by KLund1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I don't think there was a 1450XL. It went 1400XL (desktop simlar form to 1200XL) and 1450XLD (integrated raised top with 2 drive bays). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I call mine a 1450XL only because I haven't built a Drive Controller for it yet The motherboard does say 1450 @KLund1 I was the 2nd one here on AA who built one of those boards from Best Electronics and yes I have posted a video of it working in the 1450 Build thread... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Is anybody trying to replicate and build a case for these 1400's/1450's? -Thom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 There are two 14xx boards, a 1400 and a 1450. Look at the L/R corner of the board. It says either 1400 or 1450. The main difference seems to be the connector up by the PBI interface. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Ohhh... I would like one of those so much!!! However, I am a pathological colector. I did once ask Phaeron about adding 1400xl/1450xld support to Altirra as there is firmware available, but he told me the only real difference to a 800xl was the speech synthesizer which we today would find rather underwhelming. It is one of those heartbreaking 'if only' moments when you think the direction the XL-themed Warner-Atari machines would have taken, I have read the later Amiga was taken from the future plans for the XL machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I did once ask Phaeron about adding 1400xl/1450xld support to Altirra as there is firmware available, but he told me the only real difference to a 800xl was the speech synthesizer which we today would find rather underwhelming. I don't find it underwhelming. In fact I find early speech synthesis quite interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 It is strange isn't it? When you think what a big deal it was to get speech from a computer and now we not so much take it for granted as don't even think about it! I always found it odd that it should be considered such a 'hot button' feature Atari would go out of its way to build the hardware in directly. Have you any idea why they felt that way? I think the 1450 had its coms built in also, so perhaps it was supposed to enable some kind of telephone-answering functionality or some such for the home office? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I think the 1450 had its coms built in also, so perhaps it was supposed to enable some kind of telephone-answering functionality or some such for the home office? The Speech and Modem handlers do allow you to direct the speech to the modem, a telephone-answering function is one thing I have on my ToDo list to try 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 That would be cool to see working atarigeezer! Maybe you could post a video to youtube when you get it sorted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariGeezer Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 That would be cool to see working atarigeezer! Maybe you could post a video to youtube when you get it sorted? Yep, I sure will after I get it working Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Again, at one point speech really seemed to be all the rage. I seem to recall there was at least one speech synthesizer even for the unlikely ZX Spectrum. I think the 'uspeech'? As I understand it the system worked by storing pieces of broken down speech 'sounds' in ROM and then playing them back strung together to approximate whole words. What I have heard of these early systems really struggle when it comes to inflection. I suppose some of the technology and the ways to approach speech were used in a similar way for midi sampling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenjennings Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Every computer in the original Wargames movie had a voice synthesizer attached to it. I was so envious that everyone else had one. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormtrooper of Death Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Maybe , when the Software Automated Mouth (S.A.M.) came on the Atari 8bit, Atari inc deleted the modem/voice features.... I liked playing with the SAM software. Phoenetics are awesome. Even when you make SAM speak Dutch. hehe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+poobah Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Maybe , when the Software Automated Mouth (S.A.M.) came on the Atari 8bit, Atari inc deleted the modem/voice features.... I liked playing with the SAM software. Phoenetics are awesome. Even when you make SAM speak Dutch. hehe. We used to call it "Swedish Automated Mouth", due to the default resemblence to a certain muppet chef..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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