AtariSociety

Wondering what Jack and the boys are up to today? Obviously Jack is long retired but how about his sons? They were not that old yet to retire when Atari pooped out? Or are they rich and have no need to work elsewhere? Anyone know what they do today? tj

So, what is it about the Atari platform that excites you? Is it a particular hardware, software, user experience, games, pro apps, etc... Just curious what it is about the Atari platform that keeps folks coming back for more and keeping this rather old platform alive. Anyone here actually feel TOS, even at its old age, is still a great OS? I am getting excited about the FireBee and sure hope it sells this year to end-users like myself. I have enjoyed getting back into Atari since I dropped it from use back in the 90s and have been tinkering here and there with them, but just sticking with standard TOS for now. Great booting a computer in seconds! That is what I like about TOS! But, it is not too fun on the eyes in terms of icons or desktop appearance. Maybe one of the newer style OSes would be nice there but I like stock for now. I have been exploring Amiga this last year and must admit, the AmigaOS with multi-tasking was well ahead of TOS at that time. The nice thing is with the current AmigaOS 4.x is it looks quite modern, fast, and appears to have more going for it versus the Atari platform in terms in modern apps running on it. Even with the Amiga web browser behind those of Mac or Windows based web browsers, it seems decent still. Atari really lacks a good web browser. Other than for pure retro fun, the Atari platform seems well behind that of Amiga; at least to me. I much prefer Atari since that is what I grew up with but kind of sad the platform did not continue on to the degree the Amiga line has. They have PPC based systems where Atari does not. Maybe the FireBee will kick that into shape if software makers decide to do something great again on Atari. So, just thought I would see why you all play with Atari. tj

I paid $500 for my very clean one with 90 day warranty from B&C. I was an hour away so I picked it up also. Probably not much to ship close distance anyway. Included TT030, keyboard, mouse, owners guide, user manual, and a diskette. Only issue I had with mine is the space key was falling off and I need to pop open the keyboard case to re-attach the metal bar to the key. Other than that, it is a clean nice running unit with warranty. Of course you need a VGA monitor also. I purchased the TT VGA Color from them also + the 19" TTM195 mono so my final bill came to much more. tj

For now I have decided it is easier to just eBay my bebox and find a Atari later. Thanks tj

Have a nice running BeBox dual 133MHz system that I would be willing to trade for a nice Atari Falcon or C-Lab Computer that was Falcon based. If you have one for trade, let me know and we can exchange info on each of our systems along with pictures, etc... I am located in USA. tj *As you know, BeBoxes are rare and hard to find since only around 1800 were made so these do sell for good money on eBay but would prefer a trade if I can find one.

I purchased one from B&C this year. Not cheap but you get a decent TT030. I purchased one with keyboard and 2 monitors. I decided to get the Atari VGA and the 19" Monochrome and have them connected to TT030 with a switchbox. I have been happy so far with the limited use of it. tj

These sold in auction. Thanks for looking. tj

This did not sell in auction so if anyone is interested, I will sell here. Will sell for $19.95+ shipping. Email me your address for a postal quote. Thomas

I guess it al depends on the use of the system. I understand the Falcon has some music and video capabilities the TT and lower systems did not. Will the Firebee have the same Falcon capabilities. Since I am not into music stuff, I myself want a Firebee bad. 8-) tj

Just a heads-up this auction ends today in about 5 hours from the post of this message. 8-) tj

I would for sure but any new Atari console whether it be a computer or a new high tech video game system. In my opinion though, they would need to hot a new market that has not really kicked in yet. In my opinion, I have not seen a company product a product yet that is both a full fledged computer system that also acts as a top of the line gaming system. of course hardware wise the Xboxes and such have that capability but it is marketed as a games machine only. So for me, if a box came out that was a complete gaming system connected to a TV, a complete media system also connected to a TV and other sound devices, as well as a complete computer system to get real world business work done, I would enjoy buying something like that. I see an iPad as a possible computer, a gaming system, as well as a media device. With proper dock station plug the sucker into your work desk with a larger screen connected and use as a computer, then little johnny can plug it into the dock of the 50" TV to play video games, and later that night for family night they can use it as a media device and watch a movie or a TV show. Make sure to have a complete social networking app setup so you can also with wireless keyboard use it on the TV to do quick google searches or do some social networking stuff. I don't know of any company that has locked in a complete home media gaming and computing platform in one. Maybe Atari can do that. :lust: :lust: tj

The auctions are getting close to being over. End in a day or so. So, if interested, check out the auction. tj

Very cool. Nice song. tj

Too bad the 3.1 was not made available? This thread goes back to 2002 or something where Dave mentions maybe they can make it available someway but reading the thread that never seemed to happen. Would be sweet if someone actually had 3.1 to somehow get it online. tj

Ah, somewhat good news. I happen to have a EZ Drive 135 so can try this. So, just so I understand, in one sentence you mention the floppy drive of the TT don't work with Spectre and same as the Mega STE does not work but then later said the STe works well with Spectre GCR. Are you meaning that the drive does not like Atari mode launching the actual Spectre application in the Atari side but once in Mac mode booted from the hard drive (EZ Drive), then the floppy in the TT and MegaSTe in GCR mac mode works well? Or did you mean a non "Mega" but older STe works fine but any floppy situation using Spectre *any modes" with a TT or MegaSTE just will not work and I will have to use an external SF314 to write to floppy while in Mac mode. Thanks tj

Unless I am overlooking something, it is version 3.0 at your link provided. Is there an actual 3.1? If not, I have tried my 3.0 with the TT030 driving a TTM195 19" Mono Monitor and it does not seem to work for me. Maybe it has some other issue with my floppy drive or monitor or ?? Maybe I could connect a SF314 to the floppy port and try to boot from drive B I guess they would call that? Is there a way to tell Spectre to boot from external drive and not the internal TT030 drive. Maybe the drive is my issue? tj

Anyone here sucessfully boot a TT030 driving a TTM195 19" Monitor? I have Spectre 3.0 software that claims it will run on a TT030 but it hangs for me. After I hit return on the keyboard it switches to Mac mode and starts to read from the disk, get the happy mac icon, but then it hangs and flashes the letter A on top of screen. I tried booting System 6.05 and 6.08 with same results. So, either I have some setting wrong in Spectre 3.0 or maybe my TT030 Floppy Drive has GCR issues. This same hardware and System 6s I have boot to Mac fine with my Mega 2 driving the SM124 Monitor so I know the Spectre GCR works and reads the system 6s fine. Weird it does not on the TT030. So, if anyone had same issue but found a cure, let me know. Maybe TT030 Floppy Drives have GCR issues? Maybe there is a newer than 3.0 Spectre software or some patch I need? TJ

Where can I get Spectre 3.1? I have a TT030 and spent hours trying to boot to System 6.08. No luck. My mega 2st works fine from same System floppy. Can I get a copy from you please. 8-). My TT with 19" TTM195 would be real happy. Thanks, tj Spectre GCR 3.1 works with the Atari TT ... !

These items sold. tj

I have on eBay 2 auctions right now for a couple of working Atari items. I have a running Mega 2 ST at auction #170577903231 and a Atari SC1224 Color Monitor at auction #170577906495. I took a video showing both working this morning in case that helps the buyer know he is getting a running item. Video is found at The Mega ST 2 works and only issue I see is floppy disk drive may need to be replaced. The button on front does not act like I expect it to so afraid to stick a good floppy inside. The floppy light comes on as if it is seen by the Mega 2 and whirs and all that but I don't want to chance not getting the floppy out. My guess a return spring or something is off and that is why the button is odd. Otherwise, the system boots to TOS 1.02 I believe it is fine as seen in the video. Note the Mega 2 ST auction is for the CPU alone and includes no keyboard or mouse or power cord. You need to provide those along with a monitor. The SC1224 Monitor is pretty nice and bright. Cosmetics are also pretty nice for a 20+ year old monitor. Not all yellowed like some you see. Anyway, if you are in the market for a Mega 2ST or SC1224, check out my auctions. Link to Mega 2 ST Auction: eBay Auction -- Item Number: 170577903231 Link to SC1224 Auction: eBay Auction -- Item Number: 170577906495 I can also sell outside of eBay if there are no bids yet. Make a offer and I can consider it. Thomas

I wonder if it is a power supply issue, if the power supply from a mega 2ST is the same? I happen to have a spare Mega 2. tj

For now I said heck with it and swapped bottom trays with the guts and placed the nicer top on the one that already had the 1.04 ROMS. For whatever reason the 1.04 ROMS do not like my REV 5 PCB and neither does the other PCB like my 1.02 ROMS. Must have something on the boards that needed to be done to allow the roms. So, at least I am running 1.04 TOS now and the bottom ends on both were decent so no biggee. I just liked the cleaner top I had on my minty one so just swapped. Anyway, on to next project. If anyone knows why one Rev 5 board has no issues with the 1.04 while the other does not would be nice. tj

Hmmm... I have a problem. Removed the TOS 1.4 6 chips from the used motherboard and inserted them in the minty Mega 2ST, same Rev 5, and all I get is bombs. Put the old TOS 1.2 chips back in, worked fine. TOS 1.04 from loaner board works in that machine fine. Placed in same exact slots on my board. No go. Bombs. Is there some actual differences between Rev 5 boards that would prevent the TOS 1.04 from working on one board and not the other? Odd. All chips seated fine and in correct slots. tj

Thought I would post two pictures of the motherboards of the 2 used Mega 2s I have to choose from. One is a Rev B and the other is a Rev 5. What I find interesting is theRev B board has some small little component on top of the 68000 CPU. Maybe it supposed to be there? Anyway, do either boards, other than the TOS 1.04 I already mentioned, have anything else on them of value to move over to the clean Mega 2ST I have or better yet, maybe the motherboard as a whole if a Rev B or Rev 5 is better than what I have. I know I need to open up my clean Mega 2 so I can see what it has but it supposed to be bare stock. tj

I have posted on eBay a used non working Megafile 20 Hard Drive that was meant to be used with the Atari Mega 2ST and Atari Mega 4ST Computers. Plugged in a power cord but get no lights or sounds. Acquired in a bulk buy and was hoping it would just work but alas it did not. Could be a simple fuse for all I know but I am not familiar with testing that kind of thing so listed on eBay for $19.95 starting bid + postage. So, if you maybe need parts for yours or need the case to makeup your own drive system or know how to tinker with this kind of thing and fix it on the deap, this would be a decent drive to do it with. The case is not all yellowed like some you see and other than being a bit dirty and maybe needing a bath, the case is a 7 out of 10 in my opinion and fairly decent. If you want to make me an offer outside of eBay, feel free to email me a fair offer. tj