FastRobPlus

Age: 3x Location: you guys call it the "Death Star"

games

Put me down for an XE or an XEGS

Well, I just can't stand it. I've owned and used several Amiga's as well as Atari computers and I feel that at least 1 representative of the 8bit line deserves to be in there, and even the ST line offered many "firsts" over other computers of the time... I don't agree with a lot of that list.... Well, look at it this way, Miner’s team did give Atari a suite of technologies that had pretty amazing potential when finalized in 1979. Atari made the 800 series of computers and eventually even made a next-gen video game system out of the Atari 8-bit chipset (several years too late.) These were all great things but to really have made a lasting impact Atari should have done a lot more with that technology early on. Miner’s team at Amiga made the next iteration of this technology in the Amiga chipset, even going as far as to prototype a computer to show off what could potentially be done with it. Officially, this team has been quoted many times as downplaying the link between the A8 chipset and the Amiga chipset, but I strongly believe that this has more to do with the lawsuit than with reality. -The Atari 8-bit chipset was an advanced suite of technologies intentioanlly designed to be used in a wide range of home computer, arcade game, and console game applications. -The Amiga chipset was an advanced suite of technologies intentioanlly designed to be used in a wide range of professional computer, home computer, arcade game, and console game applications. But look at what was done with these chipsets… Miner said he had to fight to get the edge connector and 256k RAM expander slot on the Amiga 1000. The computer delivered by Commodore in 1985 was an Amiga in spirit, if only because Commodore did not have time to cost reduce it and move it away from its roots. In my mind, Commodore could only ever do what they knew how to do: cost reduce computers. To their credit, they did release big-box expandable Amigas, but it took them time to get them right. Remember, the Lorraine had a full S100 form factor expansion bus and many other features when it was shown in ‘84. Selling Amiga to Commodore was not the beginning for Amiga, it was the beginning of the end for Amiga… Would Atari have done better? No. They had their chance a full generation prior with the 8-bit chipset and they made the same mistakes. Granted, I think Atari can be forgiven because they were devoting the lion’s share of their resources into the Atari VCS. I can’t even imagine how I would have reacted if I had come out with a videogame system in 1977, fought for 2 years to finally see it take off, and just as it’s gaining some real steam, my hardware team says they have completed their new super-chipset and are ready to replace the VCS. I probably would have sat on the technology too, not really know how to use it without taking vital energy away from the VCS. Commodore = bad (but I still remember them fondly) Atari = worse (but I still remember them fondly) Amiga = visionary (but never had a chance alone or aligned with either of the above companies) The Amiga 1000 is the ultimate expression of the Miner’s Atari technology. Just don’t evangelize this back in 1985 when there is a critical lawsuit happening and Commodore/Miner have to PROVE that Amiga technology is totally alien to Atari, or risk Amiga dying altogether.

Um... yeah... just.... yeah.... Netscape Navigator (#1) the Apple II computer (#2) TiVo (#3), Napster (#4) Lotus 123 (#5)... all in all, the cornerstones of Microsoft's vast empire... *edit* Oh, and I agree with most of the list. No Atari computer should be on there with the Apple II, the Mac, and the Amiga 1000. It's not even close.

Not rare. I'd love to know the backstory on why the name was changed.

Trogdooooooor!!!

Turns out they can pull you over now for clear license plate convers (new RCW.) Found out the hard way.

I think that's a Lynx.

Yeah. I just saw that and it was very close. At least they won the Matell Aquarius!

So I'm hearing that I can't make an Atari 800 system and still run all of my boxed software. That's unfortunate. I guess I'd assumed that the hurdles of getting an addressable 64kb that behaved as it does in an XL had already been solved. I really don't want an XL system. I started with a 1200XL back in 84 and loved it, but just don't like the look anymore. I know I'm in the minority here - I've seen the other threads. The 800 + 810 + 820 + Amdek is the look I want, but I don't want to sacrifice compatibility. My next preference is for an XEGS system with dual XF551s and matching XE style monitor. The issue here is that there are only a few matching monitors in the world. I think Atari just made a few prototypes and never went into full production. So... I could look for one I guess... or fabricate a good replica maybe.... But I hear the XF551s are not 100% compatible with very old software, so that's a little concerning. I need to get away from my current crate of Atari junk where I slap together a Frankenstein system du jour to play whatever game comes to my door. For Amiga, I do this with a specially modified Amiga 1000 that basically has a 2000 motherboard. For Commodore, I use an all in one SX64. For Apple, I use a IIc and for Atari ST, I use a Stacy and a video key for ad-hoc color. Really the Atari 8-bit is the only major system I have this odd miss-matched hardware challenge with.

So a Bravia weighs about 46lbs without stand, therefore 100 weigh 4,600lbs. So technically, they gave away 2 tons.

Or... have you used it with a really old/low end color TV and had it display only in grayscale? Thanks!

I'm thinking of replacing my 130XE system with an 800 system. The XE setup is too new-feeling for me. So I've obtained an Amdek Color I in nice shape and am starting to look for an 800 and 810 in nice shape. My question is, aside from a 32K card to give me 64KB, what upgrades do I need to keep all my games functional? Do I need an ED disk drive like a 1050? I think I do for some titles, but I don't want one (or more accurately, I have a few that I want rid of!) If I need ED for some titles, is there a (still obtainable) way to get ED out of an 810?

@ewing92 Sorry you got attacked for no reason man, this site needs moderators or something.

I enjoyed most of Frank Cohen's games. Ghost Chaser was one of my favourites back in the eighties, even if it was a little simplistic. Umm... I cannot think of anything more appropriate to say than wat Pengwin wrote so... I enjoyed most of Frank Cohen's games. Ghost Chaser was one of my favorites back in the eighties, even if it was a little simplistic. *edit* Changed favorties to the more proper American spelling

Avoid the Nyko Wireless net adapters. I don't think thay are for sale anymore but I got a set at a game store fairly cheaply a while back for use with my v1 Xbox. They did not cut it... Wireless bridges and the original wireless adapter will both work, but the wireless adapter built for the 360 has the added advantage of knowing that you already are using the built-in 802.11 radio for the wireless controllers, and is set optimally to share the 2.4ghz band with it. (may have said that wrong, I don't claim to be a networking expert)

Luckily I have a regular AdSpeed (non-IDE) and placed that in, which is how I ultimately narrowed down the issue to the AdSpeed/AdIDE device. I also have an external HDD I can use, but it's not as elegant as having all the upgrades neatly tucked under the computer's hood. So... yeah, I will be monitoring eBay from here on out.

In an odd coincidence, my Amiga's AdSpeed/AdIDE combo died today(!)

Only flaw is that it's hard to play with little kids around

If they were gonna paint flowers all over it why did they change thier name from Tulip to Commodore?

Not exactly Atari related, but very close. I had never seen one before I got this, just the flyer to order it in various Ultima III boxes.

From the manual: "This is not a good candidate for a first time soldering effort." I've installed so many AdSpeeds in Amigas that I forget the ST did not use a socketed 68K. I wonder if the ST would have invited a lot more 3rd party support if they had just socketed that one part.

That's not quite what I meant I mean, did Atari plan on improving the capabilities of the XL instead of replacing it with another system (the ST). Atari tried to buy the Amiga chips from, er, Amiga. Maybe the next generation of XL computers would have used some Amiga hardware? Neither Atari nor Commodore deserved the Amiga chipset. It should have gone into PC clones.

Cool comparison. I agree the color of the ST version if off. But the art is interesting! They could have used the same art as the other versions but they seem to have gone with art that more accurately reflects the spirit of the game. You clearly see someone sleeping on the commons floor, and you see the outside of the building from the window. I didn't know the ST was different and just assumed it looked like the Amiga version but with fewer colors, or worse still that the Amiga version was a direct graphical port of the 16-color ST version. Thanks!