yorgle

I wonder if at least some of the thinking behind the 1200xl design was to make it resemble a typewriter, which most people were familiar with. I have weird fantasies about a 1200xl with a built-in print mechanism (like the 2027) recessed into the white space on top. That would have been an awesome combo- type up your homework in atariwriter, slip in a sheet of paper and tuk-a-tuk-a-tuk...!

Candle's solution ultimately defeated me so I gave up on it. For a while I played around with an arduino-based adapter and that sort of worked (my PC recognized all of the keypresses) but I couldn't figure out an effective de-bounce routine-- typing was either excruciatingly slowly or I got a zillion of each letter at a time. I'm sure someone with better coding skills could have easily fixed that.

Sadly, all but one of my machines (7 1200xl's, an 800xl and a pair of 600xl's) sit in a cupboard. But I do use one of my 1200xl's along with a CX85 daily as a keyboard for my PC at my office. I also have a DVD drive mounted in a 1050 case on my desk.

I still use one my 1200XLs daily as a keyboard for my office PC and another is set up at home for my son to learn programming. I like the check printing idea... might have to look into that.

Juusttt inn casssse annyone iss intterested, I haave givven uppp on my arrduiiinno baaseed Attarrri 2 usbbb pprooojectt. It ssorrt of workks, buttt obbvioussly I ccannott figgurre out a woorrrkabble debouunce rouutine

That's a good idea. I'm going to go back and change all mine.

I have a 1200xl membrane, but I'm in the USA. Let me know if you want it- no need to return it.

Is it possible for this floating condition (keyboard unconnected, computer left on) to cause damage to Pokey?

I sent you a pm. If you're interested, I have an extra motherboard you could have for shipping cost. It booted the last time I had it in a 1200xl.

I'm still here. Just haven't checked in for a while.

I've got a parts keyboard (no mylar) I'd sell for a few bucks plus shipping. Send me a PM.

For what it's worth, I see that the Ataribox facebook page has a close-up of the black grill image and the glowing Fuji. I realize that the grill is an obvious nod to the design of the 2600, but in real life it's just a dust collector.

1) the name "Ataribox" is a drastic departure from Atari's past product names 2) MicroSoft's has a PC-based console called a "box"; and 3) Atari can't afford to build hardware, but MicroSoft can. therefore....

It's not just you. It's also about a zillion potential Atari customers (like my kids) who are too young to be into the retro-gaming scene, but nevertheless recognize and even revere the Atari name and legend because they've heard their dads talk about it so much. In my opinion, that's the stuff Atari needs to tap into.

Congratulations and well done, Michael! Even without a stock keyboard connector, that thing is AWESOME!