Timothy Kline

My first Atari 8bit was an 800XL and, if memory serves, the 1010 recorder. I don't remember when I was finally able to get a 1050 drive (I don't think it was all that long) but moving to a disk drive was a massive upgrade compared to that 1010. O.o Oh, the many nights when I'd be working along on some Analog type-in that was all numbers, and blink, off went the power. One had to be doggedly tenacious and determined back in those days, but it sure taught me to CTRL+S every few moments once I moved to PCs-- and muscle memory STILL kicks in every few moments when I'm working on a PC. --Tim

Not sure if this will be of any assistance, but I'll link it, just in case... https://archive.org/details/Softside-Atari-Disk-Issues

I believe that BEST Electronics has secured an exclusive license involving this particular RAM upgrade, McLane, which would definitely have motivated the developer to issue a cease-and-desist. O.o http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/wizztronics%202_256.htm --Tim

^^^^^ THIS!! ^^^^^ --Tim

Seems like a reasonable recommendation, then. Thank you! --Tim

Any particular reason, Stephen? --Tim

Is there a recommended programmer I should keep on the lookout for?

WHEW-EE!! I can see what you mean about not being cheap... OR inexpensive! O.o --Tim

Thank you for the follow-up, Shoestring, although I'd be more interested in being able to do the programming myself as situations arise. Ideally, being able to program my own BASIC or OS chips. That's why I'm wondering what a person would look for in today's marketplace that could handle 8-bit (e)EPROMs-- presumably via USB? --Tim

Although I asked this in a separate topic regarding a "dead" 800XL I've been working my way through, I thought it might have better results on its own topic. In the case of my "dead" 800XL, the OS appears to have gone kaput. I put it into a known-working 800XL and *pfft*... the system stopped booting. I then placed the OS from the known-working 800XL into the "dead" one, and for the first time since it arrived, booted promptly to the BASIC prompt. Seems like a pretty solid indicator to me. Anyhow, "Shoestring" mentioned just using a programmed EPROM, which brings me to the core of this topic: The EPROM option has been one of those subjects I've become increasingly intrigued by as I've continued perusing the topics here at AtariAge; but, 30+ years on since Atari's heyday, what EPROM burners/programmers should I look into to handle ROM needs for my Atari 8-bit family? Is there a preferred/favorite model, specifically, that can handle most (if not all) of the ROMs of the Atari? And what (E)EPROM chips are used for the procedure? Thank you, in advance! --Tim

This is one of those subjects I've become increasingly intrigued by, but 30+ years on since Atari's heyday, what EPROM burners/programmers should I look into to handle ROM needs for my Atari 8-bit family? Is there a preferred/favorite model, specifically, that can handle most (if not all) of the ROMs of the Atari? --Tim

I have several more to add, but have been so caught up with work and other things that I haven't posted them. Will try to do so this weekend. Or should I wait until these next two or three arrive in the next couple weeks? --Tim

Thank you, Clint! That was just enough info for me to track down more information. I have no idea how this would play out on an Atari case, but I'm adding it to the list of "Might wanna try this" and see what happens. --Tim

Very nice! I tried finding out more on this plastidip, but could only find auto-related sites "dipping your car." Any suggestions? --Tim

Just out of curiosity, since I'm not sure what to search for to find the answer in existing posts or topics... what type of plastic is the Atari computer made from? And is it the same type of plastic across the entire Atari line? --Tim

Strange. No PM is showing. Not even the one I sent you this morning. O.o My others from previous conversations are still there, but nothing as of today. --Tim

Good afternoon, MacRorie! I had sent you a PM expressing interest in one of your standalones as well as one of the TK-II's, but neglected to include my ZIP: 48872 Thanks, in advance! --Tim

I'll be pretty OCD about my 1200XLs, lol. But I might give the R/B a go on one of the junk cases (1027s, for example), just for personal experience. I've seen the before and after pics posted by others, and find them very impressive. But I'm an infant Atarian in a well-matured community with years of experience, and I'm realistic enough to realize that my mileage will vary until I have done it enough times to get my own process down. O.o --Tim

Thanks, Clint, I've never heard of plasti-dip, but I did watch several videos where individuals were showing how to color-by-dye ABS plastic components. Up until then, I thought my only option was spray paint, but that can scratch, peel, and fleck and thus makes the whole point of it moot. At the same time, I've seen some pretty horrible results in several cases of people retro-briting that got me thinking that hey, that yellowing isn't so bad after all, lol. Having to re-retrobrite every couple years or so isn't a big deal if I were to go that route, but ending up with a striped result, or similar, would have me hating myself in unhealthy ways, lol. Approaching coloration from a dye standpoint seemed reasonable. It eliminated the hassles associated with spray paint. But at the same time, it wouldn't work (from what I can tell) on dark components-- for example, the brown of the 1200XL. And, as I mentioned in my follow-up to FJC's post, I'm not dog-determine to do it. I just liked the fresh look I was able to get in the Photoshop layering, and thought that with the additional modding, it would be a very unique, great-looking system. I recently saw where someone had gone the straight-up black route as part of their re-design and modding, and that looked sharp! If ever I do proceed, I have junked out XLs that would fall victim to my testing of coloration before I EVER dared proceed to the 1200XL with the worst yellowing. --Tim

Good morning, MacRorie! I'd be interested in one of the standalones, but also one of the TK-II's you mentioned. If you PM me a total, I'll get the funds promptly over to you via PayPal. Thank you, in advance! Tim

Wow! Thank you for your thought-provoking response, FJC. In all honesty, I'm in no rush to change the color of the 1200XL, but it was lots of fun to play with the colors in Photoshop through the layers I was able to create from the picture. And awesome that you had the highest resolution pic Google Images offered for a 1200XL!! The fact that I'm dragging my feet on not only the coloration, but the inserting of the mods just goes to show my weird reverence for the 1200XL model. If it was an 800XL I was contemplating, I'm positive I wouldn't be this reserved. Not that it stops me from re-imagining the 1200XL, lol. I really appreciate everything you discussed! --Tim

Good evening, everyone! I'm still in the planning and ideas stages of personalizing/customizing on of my 1200XLs that I'll be modding with the VBXE, dual Pokey, and U1MB mods for personal use, but thought I'd get some input on the casing contemplations I've been entertaining. It took some time, but I took a high resolution image of a 1200XL and broke it into the Photoshop layers which would allow me to manipulate the look. At this point, I'm down to these two styles included with this post. I do have some junked out XL equipment to test methods on so that I don't out-and-out ruin one of my treasured 1200XLs. After watching YouTube videos covering plastics, it looks like my options for the yellowing plastic are 1) staining; and 2) spray painting. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience they could offer after reviewing the look I'm going for? Ultimately, I'd also like to have backlit keys, too, but we can't have everything, lol My other notions are: 1. LCD display that can report available RAM, which memory bank is currently in use, current date and time, and a couple other things. 2. A read/write LED for non-1050 drives (memory r/w, for example, or flashcard r/w) 3. A hard reset button so the 1200XL doesn't have to be switched off/on. But I think the U1MB has that already as a feature, so maybe setting the push button to replicate the necessary keypresses? Not sure on this one, yet. There were a few other on my ultimate 1200XL wishlist, but I don't have it nearby to reference. Anyhow, what are my best options for achieving IRL what I can achieve in Photoshop with the style/look? Thank you, in advance! Tim

Alright, another update on this dead 800XL. I finally came across a fully-socketed, fully working 800XL and have have been swapping out chips. Swapping out the OS CO61598B-01 got me to a BASIC prompt, woo-hoo! Now to track down a replacement chip and see what happens next. O.o --Tim

I may invite you to! Thank you so much!

A stereo mod is one of the 3 mods I'll be installing in a 1200XL. If it's okay, may I ask what you did that you'd recommended *I* not do? O.o Thank you, in advance! Tim