ApolloBoy Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 What's your fav 8-bit? Mine's the 800XL/65XE mainly because both are good-looking, they have enough memory to run nearly all programs, and they don't have a lot of compatibility problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 Best looking: 1200XL Best built: 800 Best overall: 800XL (with the good microswitch keyboard) tricked out. Worst built IMO: XE's. -Bry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adonis_minus_20 Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 800XL for its looks, compactness, compatibility, and because it's the only 8-bit Atari I own Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Sauron Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 I can't really say. The two 8bit's that I've owned are the 800XL and then 130XE. I liked them both for several reasons...the 800XL because it's a well built system (the cartridge slot can't be beat), and the 130XE due to the extra 64kb of RAM and the good quality video output. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfnmadness Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 my 800XL beats my 600XL. If I would of had the guts to alter the 600xl with the memory mod, it would be better for it's size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trooper Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 I'd probably have to say the 130XE since that was my first one and the one I spent countless hours on. Other than that I love the tank look of the 800, it's nice to know that after the nuclear blast the cockroaches will have Atari 800's to entertain them Cheers! /Troop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atarianer2003 Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 Best 8-Bit-Atari: 800 XL / 1200 XL Best designed: 800 Worst: 130 XE, 65 XE, 800 XE Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjlazah Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 I like the XE line. I had a 800XL then when that died I got a 130XE and had that for years. I wished I had a XF551 back then instead of my 1050! I recently bought a NIB XF551 on ebay to satisfy that really bad want! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mendon Posted July 10, 2003 Share Posted July 10, 2003 For me, my favorites are the 800XL and the 800 because: A) 800 has the best keyboard B) 800 built to last C) 800XL more compact, lightweight, and a very nice keyboard. D) 800XL was very nicely set up with the top cartridge slot and easy to get at joystick ports. I did not care for the XE line of computers because: A) did not like their keyboards at all; very stiff B) the rear cartridge slot was a pain in the butt. Just my opinions. Mendon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonySoprano Posted July 11, 2003 Share Posted July 11, 2003 600XL with 64K! smallest Atari 8 bit? http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=28642 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lais Posted July 11, 2003 Share Posted July 11, 2003 What's your fav 8-bit? Mine's the 800XL/65XE mainly because both are good-looking, they have enough memory to run nearly all programs, and they don't have a lot of compatibility problems. 800XL was my first computer so is very special obviously. For sheer style and "Wow!" factor (when I first saw it, back in 1987), in my book it's the XEGS. I still love the look of that machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tifany Posted July 11, 2003 Share Posted July 11, 2003 800XL definatly! It had more style and personality than most of my boyfreinds at the time ever did! lol That 600XL with the mem upgrade is way kewl though! I always liked the slim look of that one! so, i guess that makes it a close second with the original 800 just a small step behind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari-Jess Posted July 12, 2003 Share Posted July 12, 2003 I like my XEGS (I own an 800xl as well) because the XEGS has composite video/audio and the detachable keyboard (although mushy, it lets me move it on my lap comfortably) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Smeghead Posted July 12, 2003 Share Posted July 12, 2003 My all-time favorite 8-bit is the 800, without question. I like the way it looks. To me, it is THE quintessential 70s/80s computer. It definitely defines the era well. I love the feel of the keyboard and I love the fact that it can take a spill down the stairs and still play a great game of Space Invaders. The only reason I'm not presently using it as my main 8 bit is cuz of space issues. I am using the XEGS due to its slenderless and the detachable keyboard. It simply fits where I need it to. But as soon as I can rearrange (maybe I'll get rid of that pesky PS2 ) I'll be back to the 800. Translator cart? Bah! Who needs it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaySeaver Posted July 12, 2003 Share Posted July 12, 2003 The 800XL. It was rugged and compact, every port was easily accessible, and had a cool, timeless look to it despite doing nothing to hide its cartridge slot. And it was the first computer I owned. :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Mollison Sr. Posted July 14, 2003 Share Posted July 14, 2003 My personal opinion is: Best for durability: the 1200XL has them all beat it survived my oldest boy doing his best to use it as a stepping stone as well as my daughter doing the same, and always came back working with no damage. Best for functionality: 800XL & 130 XE I place the 2 of these in this catagory because they had about the best expandability to handle running the BBS that I had and the 800 had a much better logevity since the 130XE had a lousy keyboard that kept failing on me but the 130XE computer was better starting out without having to modify for the bbs and the program that I was running needed the 130XE to run on. Best for appearance: I would have to say the 1200XL again hear becuase it had an eye apealing look to it and the additional function keys made it handy. (I like the additional function keys of the 1200XL I used them alot The Ugliest: I would have to put the 400 first then the 800 second in this class simply put they were not designed for appearance but more for just getting them out and keeping it in as small a case as they could muster for the time frame. Well I guess that is enough out of me I'm sure there are others that would like to have thier say as well. Marco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwiliteZoner Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Best looking is the 1200XL, but the size, crappy keyboard and incompatibility rule it out as the most functional. I prefer the 800XL but will always have a soft spot for the 800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Crappy keyboard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwiliteZoner Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Compared to the 800 and 800XL keyboards the 1200XL was lacking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetboot Jack Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Whilst I agree that the 800 has a awesome keybard for the time, I and about 100% of the 1200XL users would I'm sure be happy to inform you of your mistake, the erroneous statement that the 800XL keyboard is in any way the equal of these other keyboards.... In my experiene with the 800XL (and I have had many, many units) the keyboards for that system vary between cheap/plasticky/usable and horrible/unresponsive... Both the 800 and 1200 'boards are superb to use, great tactile feedback, well sculptured keytops, robust (mine are still 100% working, un-serviced since purchase) and great spring-ing -- something the later XL and XE keyboards failed to deliver... sTeVE sTeVE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwiliteZoner Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 I respect your opinion but.... My Atari 1200XL keyboard is a pile of mush!! My 800XL on the other hand, while not nearly as good as my 800 is far superior to my 1200XL. The word tactile and (at least in my case) 1200XL keyboard should never be in the same sentence. Maybe I got a bum keyboard way back when. But I seem to recall on some of the 8-Bit BBS' there were other people with mushy keyboards as well. Come to think of it, I need to look at my old Antic's and Analog's as I seem to remember a review of the 1200XL where they basically ripped the keyboard. Could be wrong on that one though.. Remember, this is my experience with the 1200XL. Maybe as I said I got a bum keyboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I loved the 1200XL (Mitsumi) keyboard (it does have a soft feel, but not mushy IMHO). The 800 had a great typewriter style keyboard, but the ones made by HiTech and Stackpole are fragile and the keys fall out easily. There's also a Mitsumi keyboard in later 800's that feels like the 1200XL keyboard. I've seen 5 distinct 800XL/600XL keyboards, and if you can get the right ones, they're not bad. Some are mylar sheet based and some are PCB/Microswitch based. My favorite has a PCB and is made by Alps. There are 2 XE keyboards, and they're both cheap, flaky, mushy "Tramiel specials." (yes, I've owned a lot of 8-bits) -Bry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Smeghead Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I've seen 5 distinct 800XL/600XL keyboards... -Bry That WAS one of the big problems with Atari, wasn't it? It seems like there was a ton of inconsistancy with their parts. I'm guessing they tended to gravitate towards the low bidder, as it were. I never imagined it was THAT bad, in respect to the keyboards. All I know is, the 800s I've owned have always had the best keyboards, for my taste and typing style. I didn't mind the XL keyboards that much, but they didn't depress as far as I'd like. The XEs and the STs were even worse in that respect. Also, they always bugged me cuz the keys were too close together; not enough space between the keys. I'm constantly hitting two keys at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Mollison Sr. Posted August 3, 2003 Share Posted August 3, 2003 I don't think there really was much difference in the keyboards between the 600, 800XL or the 1200XL I've had them all and have pulled them all apart for cleaning and they are almost all the same except for the newer 800XL's when the where the early transition to the mushy keys that soon became the norm with the XE series computers, except that they were still actual individually soldered keys still while the XE series had completely done away with the key switches and replaced the entire keyboard with the Mylar which always failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted August 3, 2003 Share Posted August 3, 2003 I don't think there really was much difference in the keyboards between the 600, 800XL or the 1200XL I've had them all and have pulled them all apart for cleaning and they are almost all the same except for the newer 800XL's when the where the early transition to the mushy keys that soon became the norm with the XE series computers, except that they were still actual individually soldered keys still while the XE series had completely done away with the key switches and replaced the entire keyboard with the Mylar which always failed. I've got several 800XL's and 600XL's here and some have circuit board based keyboards and some have mylar. The Mylar ones are basically the same inside but they don't always have the same keycaps. Some versions have smooth tops, and some have textured tops. I've got 2 distinctly different PCB based keyboards here made by 2 different companies. I've seen a third where the inverted keys (like "CONTROL") are outlined in a box rather than inverted. Anyway, the 2 PCB keyboards I have are VERY different. One has a very long travel (and the keys are quite noisy as you type) and the other has shorter, rounder keys, smaller printing on the keys, and less travel. To me there's a big difference going from one XL to another. I actually didn't mind the Mylar keyboards for the XL. They weren't anywhere near as bad as the XE models. The biggest problem is that the conductive paint reacts with air and corrodes. They're all little time bombs. -Bry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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