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gozar

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Posts posted by gozar

  1. Posted

    Creating a bootable subset of SpartaDOS X is possible. It would not contain, of course, the components which reside on the cartridge (notably: the library) and would also miss the cartridge control. Thus I am reluctant to the idea, because I am afraid it would create the new lowest common denominator for the application software: SDX, sure, but no library, just kernel calls.

     

    I could see this being useful for someone who wants to distribute software that requires SDX, but doesn't want to worry about if the user has an SDX cart. For example, if I wanted to write something in Turbobasic XL to distribute as a disk image, I'm stuck with using MyDOS or Atari DOS since the disk based versions of SD require osram.

    • Like 1

  3. Posted

    Please let us know what you find out :) .

     

    - Michael

     

     

    I checked all 13 pins, and they appear to be connected straight through. I used my multimeter, which isn't very easy to do. :-)

     

    So for those looking at needing a 13 pin ST cable, at least the one I bought on eBay should work. The description was 13 Pin Guitar Synth Cable - 5 FT for Roland V-Guitar GR-33 VG-88. Also, this may be an easy way to make 13-pin to 9 pin cables by ordering longer cables and cutting them in half.

    • Like 2

  4. Posted

    I only have one ST monitor that has a detachable cable, the JVC PS3000 (the monitor with the built in disk drive). Unfortunately, I lost the cable, and when I was looking for a replacement, I found out that Roland uses the 13-pin DIN for some of their equipment. I ordered one, but haven't had a chance to test it. I'll try to get it out and see if all 13 wires are attached.

    • Like 2

  5. Posted

    To use a phone as a USB host it needs to support USB OTG mode. Plenty of phones don't, and the USB only works as client/peripheral.

     

    In the Google Play Store there's plenty of apps that can tell you if the phone supports OTG mode. Generally newer Android versions will allow you to mount USB flashdrives if they're connected (use OTG cable or a drive that has an OTG connector).

     

     

    To test, plug a mouse or keyboard in and see if you get a cursor if you can type in an app.

  6. Posted

    I just got my UNO Cart in the mail three days ago. This thing is fantastic! I held off on the Ultimate Cart because of the lack of ATR support but the UNO Cart pretty much fixes this problem. I don't necessarily need or even want the whole A8 library at my beck and call so I am focusing on loading my microSD card with only the games that I want to actually play. I am trying for the majority to be in CAR or XEX format but it's nice to have ATRs available to use when I need them. If anyone is still on the fence about which flash-cart to get, I would totally recommend the Uno Cart for good compatibility, multiple file type choices, and at a good price point to boot.

     

    The other difference is that the Uno cart is visibly slower than the Ultimate cart when selecting the game to play. But, it's also half the price. :-)

  7. Posted

    I'm going to recommend the Atari 800XL. It's the easiest to get started since you can use an FTDI breakout board and jumper wires to create a cable to use with your computer as a floppy emulator. It should cost you under $5. RespeQT is the software to run on your PC, and it runs on Windows, Linux, or macOS.

     

    The hardware is powerful enough to do neat things with, but simple enough to learn how everything works.

    • Like 1

  8. Posted

    Michael (et al),

     

    Since our webmaster will never see this message (he doesn't use AtariAge), I'd like to explain his reasoning. He has two criteria:

     

    1. It needs to be viewable on an Atari browser (that eliminates most modern website tools like WordPress and Weebly)

     

    2. It needs to be completely free of cost.

     

    Our group receives free web space from a person who wishes to benefit the retro computer community. However, that space isn't unlimited. Therefore, we use a very simple website design.

     

    If the colors were improved, it would serve its simple purpose which is to inform other Chicago area Atari fans of our existence.

     

    I realize the website design (such as it is) is very dated. You may also disagree with the criteria since everyone is going to own a modern computer. However, given the criteria, if change the color scheme, that should be enough.

     

    Bob C

     

    But the website uses tables for formatting, which makes it difficult or impossible to render on the Atari.

     

    Look at any of the static website generators such as Jekyll or Pelican, which can easily generate a website that looks good and is viewable on any device. For hosting, you can use Github for static websites. I use Pelican for https://gtia.com, hosted on Github and SSL provided through Cloudflare. All free.

    • Like 2

  9. Posted

    Does anyone know where I could buy some SIO connectors to repair cables and to make some short cables out of longer cables. I looked at Lotharek but his shipping is way to high because he will only sell in sets of 4.

     

    Whenever I order something from Lotharek I throw in a pack of 4 SIO plugs. Maybe order a few things?

  12. Posted

    https://www.cnet.com/products/atari-flashback-8-gold/preview/

     

    Nintendo's 2016 NES Classic brought retro gaming nostalgia to a fever pitch, but it wasn't the first affordable box to offer plug-and-play old school video games. AtGames has been cranking out mini game consoles full of nostalgic titles like Sonic the Hedgehog, Centipede and Pitfall for the past few years. And now the company is refreshing its Atari and Sega models for 2017.

    Due in September -- not coincidentally, the same month Nintendo's mini-SNES Classic hits -- the Atari Flashback 8 Gold packages several dozen Atari 2600 games from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but AtGames' website lists it as $79.99.

  13. Posted

    Either use that or buy a cheap refurbished business notebook. I just ordered a refurbished Lenovo X230 with a core i5, 8GB RAM, 180GB SSD, builtin UMTS modem for about 300 EUR shipped - it even has 1 year warranty. Probably have to add about 40-60EUR for a new battery but that's still not a lot of money.

     

    I've got a Nexus 7 tablet (2012 model) which I've been using to surf the web but honestly I wouldn't want to use it to do any serious work. Even writing emails or posting a forum reply is a PITA with the onscreen keyboard so I very rarely did that.

     

    so long,

     

    Hias

     

    If Windows isn't a requirement, any Chromebook running Linux via Crouton would work. The 10" Asus Flip works well with the atari800 emulator and is quite portable.

    • Like 1

  16. Posted

    Here you go:

    9cbec16453292e4f8036b05fb4da075e.jpg

     

    A PocketCHIP ($69) running atari800. The big problem is that the function keys don't want to work, so you can't do much without an external keyboard. I've been trying to figure out what's going on, and I haven't updated to the news PocketCHIP OS.

     

    Sounds like something I should work on... :)

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    • Like 2

  20. Posted

    I think you overestimate the level of brand recognition that the Atari name has. Being rather young for this hobby myself (I'm 20) I can tell you most people my age have no clue what I'm talking about when I mention Atari. It's not going to get any better as the world grows up.

     

    That's weird, I almost always have someone in their 20s or younger make a comment when I'm wearing my Atari shirt or if they notice the Atari watchface on my Pebble. I'm actually quite surprised at the brand recognition that Atari, and more importantly, the fuji, still has.

     

    Although this is all anecdotal. I found a survey from 2010 about Atari brand recognition:

     

    If the data is accurate, it seems the brands may not be so iconic anymore. Overall awareness of Atari is low for gamers age 13-24, clocking in at 34 percent. Compare that with 63 percent among gamers 25 to 54 and it would appear that Atari isn't well recognized by a key gaming demographic.

     

    Although I believe 34% is pretty impressive for a brand that hasn't released a console in over 20 years.

    • Like 1

  22. Posted

    The insanity will die down after all the retro movies and retro reference in movies/tv die down... there have been a good deal of them in theaters over the last couple years and a number of them are still to be released.... in the scheme of things it'll work out... it always does... it's a cycle when viewed from a distance it looks normal but close up omg the world is on fire!

     

    At least until Ready Play One is released next year. :-)

  25. Posted

    Alas, with 5.25DD diskettes long out of production, it is all but certain that all mechanical 8-bit drives are destined to become bricks.

     

    Every floppy will lose it's ability to retain it's oxide coating eventually, and probably sooner rather than later at this point, no matter how ideal the storage conditions or good the formulation.

     

    It's the kind of failure that happens slowly with the lowest quality disks and those improperly stored being the first to fail, but sooner or later it'll be an avalanche of bad disks as the adhesives on even the best disks reach the end of their lives.

     

    Unless of course someone manages to get some new diskettes produced, which I think would buy us another 40 years if made to a high standard. It feels like we've hit peak 8-bit nostalgia, I'm sure between us, the C64 and Apple II guys a lot of people would be in for "last call for floppies".

     

    I thought there was a company still manufacturing floppy disks? FloppyDisk.com says they have new disks, but I can't find out if they are really new or NOS.

     

    Anyway, my go to drive is my 1050 with the US Doubler. Still in use after 32 years.

    • Like 1
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