VidGameKing Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 well I won a buch of Atari computer stuff. But it's not at all what I would call a collection. I have a 800XL thats almost perfect. aside from one key that wont work . But I'll fix it someday. any who. what sort of cool things can one do with Atari computers? beyond just their 8-bit models. and for that matter Vic20, C64/128 ect... I wanna know whats so cool about these older computers that still sparcs the intrest of you select few! And maybe I too would like to join your ranks and have some fun with these wonderfull machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 The uses of 8-bit machines are almost limitless; you can do much of what you're doing now on a fully-loaded WinTel machine on an A8, C64, or probably even a TRS80. Seriously. As a bonus, these machines take about 2 seconds to boot and (almost never) crash. Everything will, of course, be in a much cruder form than the apps to which you're accustomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 well I won a buch of Atari computer stuff. But it's not at all what I would call a collection. I have a 800XL thats almost perfect. aside from one key that wont work . But I'll fix it someday. There's been some keyboard repair discussion in here lately: http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=40634 http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=40133 Also, if you have the soldering skills, perform a Super Video upgrade. The stock circuits in many XL's are dim and blurry. You don't actually have to do the entire upgrade to get huge improvements. I can post the "quick" version I do to most machines. any who. what sort of cool things can one do with Atari computers? Get an SIO2PC cable, and you can use a PC as a virtual disk drive. This keeps you from needing to get a bunch of stuff on 5.25" floppies. Just download and go! This site has a lot of stuff: http://www.atari8bit-software.de/ beyond just their 8-bit models. What? ST stuff? You don't need no stinking ST stuff. and for that matter Vic20, C64/128 ect... I wanna know whats so cool about these older computers that still sparcs the intrest of you select few! And maybe I too would like to join your ranks and have some fun with these wonderfull machines. Oh, it's hard to describe... but in the days of billions of CPU cycles and enormous API's, it's nice to mess with a system you can completely understand and try to squeeze every last bit of potential out of it. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIeric Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 what is ST stuff A8 is the shiznipple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidGameKing Posted January 8, 2004 Author Share Posted January 8, 2004 what is ST stuff A8 is the shiznipple huh??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 what is ST stuff A8 is the shiznipple huh??? Translation: "You don't need any Atari ST equipment, my friend, for Atari 8-bit Computers are quite dandy." -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIeric Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 shiznipple = awesome A8 is awesome!! i love the carts that are still created for them, multicarts and so on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Sauron Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Also, if you have the soldering skills, perform a Super Video upgrade. The stock circuits in many XL's are dim and blurry. You don't actually have to do the entire upgrade to get huge improvements. I can post the "quick" version I do to most machines. Please do post this. I'm needing to do the modification to my 800XL, and would be most interested in seeing this. What? ST stuff? You don't need no stinking ST stuff. I disagree. Having an ST around is also nice. Both the 8bits and the ST systems had their advantages and disadvantages, although if you're wanting to see the true successor to the A8, the Amiga would be the one to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Also' date=' if you have the soldering skills' date=' perform a Super Video upgrade. The stock circuits in many XL's are dim and blurry. You don't actually have to do the entire upgrade to get huge improvements. I can post the "quick" version I do to most machines.[/quote''] Please do post this. I'm needing to do the modification to my 800XL, and would be most interested in seeing this. I'll get to work on it. What? ST stuff? You don't need no stinking ST stuff. I disagree. Having an ST around is also nice. Both the 8bits and the ST systems had their advantages and disadvantages' date=' although if you're wanting to see the true successor to the A8, the Amiga would be the one to get.[/quote'] I'm not a big fan of the Tramiels. I was a huge Atari supporter and bought a 1040ST, MegaSTE, and Falcon030 (all new), then a friend and I became Jaguar Developers and got a devkit from Atari, but after many promises and a lot of programming, got jerked around and never saw a contract. Since then I've met a lot of people and heard their stories of dealing with the Tramiels (believe me... no matter how much you loved Atari Corp., they never had much love for you), and I decided to leave the ST behind and concentrate my retro efforts on the original (and in many ways, technically superior) Atari computer. There was some cool stuff on the ST, however. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 By the way.. Reading my last post, it sounds a little bit bitter. "We hates nasty Tramielses, my precious!" My point is that my interest in the ST was based mostly on respect for the Atari name. Once I talked to some who worked for and with Atari during those years and heard of the attitudes and dealings of those in control, that interest was greatly reduced. I don't know that Warner Communications was much better for Atari, but at least they spent too much money rather than not paying anyone at all (a common Tramiel trick was to not pay until legal action was imminent). However, the ST was a good computer for the $$ and I still have one, though it's not currently hooked up. The A8 is still the shiznipple. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Sauron Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 I don't think anyone here is a big fan of the Tramiels, myself included. However, quite a few cool and innovative products did come out under the Atari label during their watch. Their business practices in no way takes away from the coolness of Atari's hardware. I just don't like to pick and choose which "Atari era" to reminisce about, as I was one of the few who stuck with the company's products from the beginning until the bitter end. Not saying anything is wrong with your viewpoint though, and I know there's plenty of people who see things the same way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 ...I was one of the few who stuck with the company's products from the beginning until the bitter end. Me too. 800-800XL-1040ST-MegaSTE-Falcon030-Lynx-Jaguar, plus the other odds and ends I picked up after the fact. I guess deciding to do development also helped focus my attention on a single platform (though why does 2600 programming look so appealing? Just because it's so hard?) -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Sauron Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 I guess better to have a focus on one particular system and release a game rather than dabble in everything and not get anything done. I've been working on stuff for the A8 myself, but keep getting distracted by all of my other Atari systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidGameKing Posted January 9, 2004 Author Share Posted January 9, 2004 okay I found why one of the keys dont work on my 800XL. you know those little sprigs underneith the keys, the ones that acctuate the contact. well, on that key, I'm missing one. but all in all the membrane looks okay. I'm thinking of getting a new one anyways. or maybe, someone has a 800XL with the PCB that they dont want anymore? i'll buy it for parts if it doesn't work! anywho where can I get another spring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApolloBoy Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 okay I found why one of the keys dont work on my 800XL. you know those little sprigs underneith the keys, the ones that acctuate the contact. well, on that key, I'm missing one. but all in all the membrane looks okay. I'm thinking of getting a new one anyways. or maybe, someone has a 800XL with the PCB that they dont want anymore? i'll buy it for parts if it doesn't work! anywho where can I get another spring? Go and PM bryede. I think he said he had some spare XL keyboards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidGameKing Posted January 9, 2004 Author Share Posted January 9, 2004 just PM'ed him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 By the way, I meant to say, "Why does 2600 programming look appealing to me?" I messed with it a while ago (after all, my 1st Jaguar project was a 2600 emulator), and I'd like to try it again sometime. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.