Quick computer question (apple for the folks)

[Quick computer question (apple for the folks)]

I faced a similar dilemma a few years ago when my in-laws wanted to buy their first computer. They also mainly just wanted basic email, internet and to make cards--Lord how that woman loves to make cards. As a Mac user I was very tempted to steer them towards an Apple computer because it's what I'm more familiar with and figured they'd have fewer issues with it.

 

In the end that was outweighed by the fact that I knew my mother-in-law would be upset (probably at me) if she couldn't go to Wal-Mart and buy the $5 greeting card software and run it on her computer. Also their computer would have been different from their friends'. To this day I don't know if they understand that there are different platforms and not all computers have the same programs on them. They've probably had more than their share of virus and spyware trouble, but overall seem to enjoy their computer.

 

If your parents are motivated and computer-literate enough to make their way in a Windows-centric world then I think a Mac would be a great choice for them. Otherwise I wouldn't push anything on them. If they do go the Mac route, the Apple help forums are a great resource.

[Newbie Pong questions...]

That funky smell should eventually diminish on its own, but you can help it along by putting it in an air-tight bag with some baking soda and maybe some solid air freshener. Probably a week sealed up like that will make it more tolerable.

[So... What IS the deal with Air Raid??]

I'm counting 11. You might need to go back to the doctor.

[Why is my picture quality so awful?]

Another low-tech thing (which you may have already done) is to make sure your wires aren't all tangled up and causing interference. I have a pretty good rat's nest going on behind my game t.v. and every so often I have to separate something out to get a better picture.

[Games with good gameplay/lousy story or vice versa]

I've played Super Breakout 100's of times and that's the first time I've read that Was that in the instructions?

 

Yep, from the instructions.

[Games with good gameplay/lousy story or vice versa]

I guess you're right. This story really makes the game for me.

Hey wait, why's the guy on the cartridge holding some kind of tennis racquet?

Imagine you're in a one-man space shuttle travelling through the heavens at

the speed of light.  you and your tiny ship are totally engulfed in darkness,

except for the luminance of an occasional passing star.

 

Suddenly, without warning, there's a brilliant flash straight ahead.  You

check the radar screen.  Nothing.  Pretty soon there's another flash, and

another.  Next thing you know the flashes have turned into one gigantic

force field of some kind and it's dead ahead.  You check the radar screen

again, still nothing.

 

The colors in this mysterious force field are so bright, they're almost

blinding.  And they seem to be in layers.  But the stranges thing is

that nothing shows up on the radar screen.  What could that mean?  Is it

possible to travel through this mysterious force field or will you crash

and be destroyed?  And what about the layers?  If you make it through one,

can you make it through the next, and the next?  

 

It's decision time and there are only a few seconds to think about it.

Turn back or blast ahead and try to make it through the layers of the

brightly colored force field.  It's up to you.

[Games with good gameplay/lousy story or vice versa]

I never understood why they bother to rate the story in game reviews. It's a non-issue to me. It's either fun or it isn't. The only way it ever matters to me is if it becomes a nuisance, like some of you have mentioned, with all the movies thrown in.

[Atari on Miami Vice???]

Also not Miami Vice related, but Marilou Henner's character on Taxi had a 2600 in her apartment as a background prop. Don't know if it was in more than one episode though.

[What magazines were Atari ads in???]

I've found a few in old National Geographics.

[How often do you play current gen games?]

I don't even own any of the current systems. My newest are N64 and Saturn. I'm just too far backlogged on games for the systems I already have to really justify buying the newest. Maybe when the next gen. systems come out and I can buy the previous line for dirt cheap I'll get into them. Lately I've been too busy fixing up the house to play much of anything very drawn out.

[How are these supposed to work?]

Sorry man, just having a bit of sport. You've got to admit, your first post up there was kind of funny, and once in a great, great while threads devolve into foolishness.

 

Oh and I think that "2600 compatible" bit lied to you.

[How are these supposed to work?]

Crap, I forgot that it posts the pictures in the opposite order they are attached. Just reverse the order accordingly to plug and unplug them.

 

Dang CPUWIZ, I hope you hosed those off before you brought them into your house! They ought to clean up pretty good though.

[How are these supposed to work?]

Come on you guys. You could at least try to help. Bruce, you should be ashamed, only showing part of the process.

 

Here's some more steps:

[At what price would you sell your collection?]

well, i am just glad to hear that some of you are equally as crazy as me! I don't think i could even sell up if family was sick! How mean is that!!!

 

Eh, I don't think it's mean. If someone gets seriously sick, as high as medical bills are, it would likely be just a meaningless drop in the bucket. Why make a bad time worse? Especially, as someone else already said that most of the common stuff won't fetch a good price anyway.

[Owning v. Selling?]

I think it really comes down to individual personality and cash flow.

 

I do have somewhat of a packrat mentality so there is a certain satisfaction in owning a rare object. Right now probably the rarest game I have is Mr. Do's Castle for the 2600. It's not a great game, but I get more satisfaction out of owning it than the $50-$60 I could probably sell it for. Moneywise I draw the line somewhere around $100. If I had deeper pockets it would likely be more. If I happen to find a game I could get more than $100 for, I'd sell it --unless it were a really great game I couldn't play any other way.

 

Bubble Bath Babes would remain in my possession for a few months and then get sold.

 

I have surprised myself recently though. Primarily I've always collected for the 2600, with everything else running a distant 2nd. I really enjoy playing the games, but lately have been slipping slightly more to the collector side. Since I ordered a CC2 from Chad Schell's 2nd run, I haven't really had any desire to buy more 2600 games. Knowing I'll be able to play them all seems to have overpowered (at least temporarily) my drive to accumulate more carts. From now on I'll probably only acquire a few more cartridges of the games where I really like the artwork.

[BOYCOTT ULTRACADE!]

.... Steps are being taken and it's being handled by professionals now.

 

Sounds kind of ominous.

[Retro Rooms?]

I don't know what your Salvation Army stores are like there, but I usually see a few nice looking 80s console TVs every time I go. Seems like they usually have them around the $100 mark or even less. They put tags on them of when they are set out for sale, and if they don't sell for a month they go to half price.

[Systems that just arnt worth it]

Yeah, Saturn is teh suck.

 

You do realize you won't be allowed to leave this thread alive without bowing down and worshipping the almighty 2600, don't you? Don't you???

 

I can understand that someone younger might be initially put off by the 2600s rudimentary graphics and sound. Still, it has a lot of games to offer that don't depend on those to be fun.

 

Your complaints:

1) console too big

2) joystick hurts your hands

3) crude graphics and sound

 

Solutions:

1) get a junior

2) get Kaboom! and set of paddles

3) What the Hell do you want? It's the 2600 for Pete's sake!

 

There you go, even if you have Kaboom! as your only game it still makes the 2600 worthwhile. Now grovel young man.

 

Actually I don't really care if you like the 2600 or not, just giving you the obligatory crap for posting about it on an Atari website.

[Go away I smell?]

Success!!! I got in and do not smell!!! If you smelly losers are nice to me I'll let you in on my little secret.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naw, I smell too.

[noobie question]

As long as you're not trying to use the wrong controller for the game it's most likely that you're correct about it being in the wrong controller port. IIRC a lot of the CBS games and a few of the other 3rd party games use the other port. Some games require a controller in each port to work correctly.

 

Just make a note of any of the games that are unresponsive and then have a look at the

AtariAge 2600 database. Search the titles and then check out the manuals. Have fun!

[N64 or snes game name]

Did you check out gamefaqs.com? You can go to the page for each system and then narrow the list down to driving games only.

[Systems that just arnt worth it]

I can find something redeeming about almost any game system. Like I don't play my Microvision much, but it's fun to have just because it's so primitive.

 

Now that crack about the 2600.... Them's fightin' words.

[So, did I screw up?]

Now I don't know enough about this seller to be certain if he was trying to be tricky or not. Even if the BIN is a good price for the cart alone, my gut reaction says that he pictured the original instructions to help hasten the sale to someone with an itchy trigger finger. Not outright underhanded, but perhaps a little suspect.

[How to store loose manuals?]

I keep mine in a 3-ring binder in 2-pocket sleeves.

 

Regarding the 2-pocket sleeves sold at the AA store: Does anybody know the exact dimensions of the pockets? I have some similar ones that I picked up somewhere else and they are a tight fit for some of my manuals.

[Okay, I'm observant.]

....and then there's the fateful day you click on the link to his website.

 

Oh, and on the subject of being observant, has anyone seen cavelevel around lately?