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Which 8-bit computer?


Quon

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Hi everyone!!

I want to get into an 8-bit computer to... let's say catch up on all I didn't learn about BASIC, and possibly find a sideline hobby making a game or something like that. I've had Commodores and Spectrums in 8-bit, but I never had an Atari. But, that said, the "middle generation" has always caught my eye as being very interesting computers, namely the 600XL and the 800XL, so I am aiming for one of these.

I am trying to find some information on the 600XL, as it's the one that most interests me, as I do enjoy modding too, and it seems to be the one that "needs" more modding to it, but I guess my main question is, can it be modded memory wise to beyond a factory 800XL? A lot of places talk about going up to 64K, but I can't seem to find more information beyond that, as people tend to centre solely on the 800XL from there on, but at the same time, I do like the slightly more compact form factor of the 600 too, but, of course, I don't want to get one and regret it because I can't get much out of it. I don't need to reach "as high" as an 800XL is capable of, but it would be nice to know what it can have.

So... I guess the bottom line is, is it worth getting a 600XL for getting into basic (non capital this time, no pun intended) things, and advancing from there maybe a little, but obviously not getting too deep?

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I understand... but on one hand, I don't have much room as I only have a small studio apartment, and even a couple of inches off the back of a case can help when it comes to desk size,, and on the other hand I am not intending to upgrade it to the max, so I don't be putting that much in... video upgrade (Is there an RGB mod for it? I haven't looked...) and RAM really... and on the Nintendo 64 controller other other hand, I like a challenge anyway!! :grin: :grin:

I'm not new to the Atari brand, but I certainly am to Atari's with keyboards!!

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Here you go, have a watch of this

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUYGYjfk4OQ

 

Jon will be along shortly to tell you everything else you might want to know!

 

Thanks for that!! I'll watch that in bed on the TV, a little light entertainment before I go to bed!! There are a lot of videos onYoutube, but trying to find the ones that give the right information, sometimes you end up finding contradicting ones!!

 

Yes, and get a copy of OSS' Basic XL (or a 130XE and Basic XE). It's much nicer to use than Atari BASIC.

 

I'll have a look into that!! I'm not in a rush, but obviously it's not good to get a system thinking you will be able to do something and then finding you can't because it's too limited. I mean, I know there are other things other than BASIC I need to look in to, but, that will be later on down the road.

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The Atari 8's many of them have nasty keyboards keep that in mind. I hate the keyboard on the XEGS I have (very similar to an ST) although i have fond memories of the 800XL's keyboard. Not sure about the 130XE but imagine similar being of the same vintage as the ST and XEGS. Someone else can comment on that keyboard.

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video upgrade (Is there an RGB mod for it? I haven't looked...) and RAM really...

 

 

You can add memory, faster procs, new graphics chips, stereo, dvi/rgb output, you name it. How far you want to go before you feel it's not a real Atari any more is a decision each of us makes at some point. Be aware some mods are not hugely reliable, especially if used with other mods

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The Atari 8's many of them have nasty keyboards keep that in mind. I hate the keyboard on the XEGS I have (very similar to an ST) although i have fond memories of the 800XL's keyboard. Not sure about the 130XE but imagine similar being of the same vintage as the ST and XEGS. Someone else can comment on that keyboard.

 

400 keyboard = terrible

800 = great

early XL = great

late XL = poor

XE = v.poor

 

(IMHO)

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The Atari 8's many of them have nasty keyboards keep that in mind. I hate the keyboard on the XEGS I have (very similar to an ST) although i have fond memories of the 800XL's keyboard. Not sure about the 130XE but imagine similar being of the same vintage as the ST and XEGS. Someone else can comment on that keyboard.

 

Sadly, very often, when a new model of something comes out, it's in part to make production cheaper... that's another reason I was going for the XL line rather than the XE line. Also, the XE seems larger, the cartridge port on the back seems a bit more clunky, and, to be honest, if I want a computer that looks like an Atari ST, I'll get myself an Atari ST!! I think the XL line has its own identity in that sense, and from videos I have seen (mainly 800XL videos), the keyboard doesn't seem that bad. But, I guess taking it apart, cleaning and all that might be in order, I mean, a few gallons of water have definitely passed under the bridge since they were made!!

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The Atari 8's many of them have nasty keyboards keep that in mind. I hate the keyboard on the XEGS I have (very similar to an ST) although i have fond memories of the 800XL's keyboard. Not sure about the 130XE but imagine similar being of the same vintage as the ST and XEGS. Someone else can comment on that keyboard.

 

Keep in mind that there are a number of useful kludges, such as Transkey II, that allow XEGS users to use PS/2 (or perhaps other) keyboards. I use one with mine, and it's a great improvement. I get that OP isn't necessarily going to want to mess around with obscure add-ons, but the XEGS shouldn't just be limited in thought to be "crappy keyboard" A8 model, especially as it's got lots of room in its case for mods.

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You can add memory, faster procs, new graphics chips, stereo, dvi/rgb output, you name it. How far you want to go before you feel it's not a real Atari any more is a decision each of us makes at some point. Be aware some mods are not hugely reliable, especially if used with other mods

RGB would be a "must" I guess, as I do live in Europe, and I might as well take full advantage of the SCART port we have. Graphics chips and processor, I guess I would look into those if I start to encounter problems that would justify an upgrade. Memory is something I find a little more important because of program sizes, especially if it's a cassette or disk program, so it can load in no problem, and give room for larger games if I decide to be adventurous one day in my rocking chair and I'm fed up with knitting. Stereo... I'm not bothered about it, I'm used to mono, seeing as that's what we got on the 2600 even in PAL regions anyway, and I'm not so much into the musical aspects of it, I'm not making music or anything like that... as long as it makes pretty sounds, I don't care if it's one speaker or two really, although, all that said, I imagine the stereo mod wouldn't be that big.

 

Out of the box, I would go for video output and memory... and then take it from there if I see they are needed.

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I am trying to find some information on the 600XL, as it's the one that most interests me, as I do enjoy modding too, and it seems to be the one that "needs" more modding to it, but I guess my main question is, can it be modded memory wise to beyond a factory 800XL?

 

Yes, you can get an Antonia 4MB upgrade.

 

I'm not sure where you live but If you can get your hands on a PAL 600XL then it's well worth it. NTSC version does not have a monitor port.

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Yes, you can get an Antonia 4MB upgrade.

 

I'm not sure where you live but If you can get your hands on a PAL 600XL then it's well worth it. NTSC version does not have a monitor port.

 

 

4MB?!?!?! It can really take that much?!?!?! WOW!! I wasn't expecting that much!! I was thinking 128k, maybe 256k... but 4MB!! I don't think I would ever need that much!!

 

Availability, I'm limited to what I can find on Ebay, but being in Europe, I have the PAL models readily available to choose from. I thought the 600XL didn't have monitor out, period. I didn't know the PAL versions had a monitor out!! Is it composite only or does it do RGB too?

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I have a 600XL that was previously upgraded to 64K. I had tried to fit a SOPHIA and an ANTONIA board into it but found it pretty tight. I put it aside for a while and need to get back to it but I can say that it's rather cramped inside that little case. There was a lot more space to work with inside of my 800XL when I put in my Ultimate 1MB board.

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I have a 600XL that was previously upgraded to 64K. I had tried to fit a SOPHIA and an ANTONIA board into it but found it pretty tight. I put it aside for a while and need to get back to it but I can say that it's rather cramped inside that little case. There was a lot more space to work with inside of my 800XL when I put in my Ultimate 1MB board.

 

In those aspects I like to be inventive, like, "if I can't fit it here, I'll adapt it to fit slightly to the left", or "I don't need this plastic on the case to be that thick... where did I put my dremel?"... I find inventive modding to be part of the overall fun, having a problem to solve. If it was straight forward I think I wouldn't get so much enjoyment out of it. So, in those aspects I'm not too worried, and as I said, i don't think I will be adding a lot of expansions into it, just what I need.

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4MB?!?!?! It can really take that much?!?!?! WOW!! I wasn't expecting that much!! I was thinking 128k, maybe 256k... but 4MB!! I don't think I would ever need that much!!

 

Availability, I'm limited to what I can find on Ebay, but being in Europe, I have the PAL models readily available to choose from. I thought the 600XL didn't have monitor out, period. I didn't know the PAL versions had a monitor out!! Is it composite only or does it do RGB too?

 

It is a bit tight as mentioned, with the Antonia upgrade you'll need to leave the RF shield off.

 

Here is a good demo of it.

 

 

All PAL models a monitor port but you'll need to mod it for svideo. Later models don't support svideo, the original 800 does. If you can't do this yourself there's always the UAV.

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I've put both an Antonia board and an Ultimate 1MB in 600xl's without much trouble. Both are great. Nice thing about antonia is you don't need to upgrade to 64K first. That said, there's not much you can't do with a 600xl with a U1MB and a SIDE2 cart. Build yourself an SDrive-max to go along with it and there's not much else you need.

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