Larry

Please let us know if the Amazon devices work properly with your Atari. It does say "FTDI" but the knock-offs do also.

Do you have an AVG Cart or SUB? If so, do they work (other than the cart door)?

@flashjazzcat Do you know what the issue(s) are? Or is there a new model in the works?

The Magic Dump II cart is quite rare, I believe. The 800 looks really nice! Really nice system! I'm curious who actually made the Leading Edge printer. I don't believe they were a manufacturer -- just a private branded seller. IIRC, David Small was associated with them BITD. (?)

I've wondered the same thing. I'm approaching the big "8 0", and I guarantee you that you think about such things more. Let's hope he just isn't active here anymore.

Is it possible to do some serious computing (programming, word processing, databases, etc.) on something like this? I'm presuming that a USB keyboard can be connected. And truth be told, I'm far more interested in an Amiga A500 maxi than this.

I've never seen that picture before. Is there any info on the artist that did the drawing -- B.H. 'OWL'? BTW, that's not how the desk was set up when I saw it. The operator had the first 1050 Happy Drives I'd ever seen -- probably 1985.

BITD, there was an Atari BBS in the Indy area called "The Red Desk BBS." The operator had a large red wooden desk, and running the BBS was a beautiful red 800. Really nicely done! Unfortunately, no picture.

But always good to have a backup! 😉

Now there's just one other little thing... Does anyone know if there are PC keyboards with programmable keys that can be made to function more like our Atari keys? I know that lots of people love using a PC keyboard with the Atari, but I'm not one of them. Anyone have any experience with something similar? And would such a keyboard work with the AKI adapter?

Does it work with wireless type keyboards? Just curious.

My recollection is MyDos can Read but not Write the Dos 2.5 format ED. But I believe that Sparta can read the MyDos ED, and naturally DD. I'm pretty sure that is how I used to convert Dos 2.5 ED to MyDos. It's an extra step if your goal is actual Sparta format, but it should work. I never cared much for ED, but as mentioned, there were quite a lot of disks in that format.

The OSS product rings a bell. There was a program in Analog that converted Atari Basic to Integer Basic. My recollection is that it did not speed things up very much. (Unlike ABC.) I remember sending my Analog monthly disk to Bill Wilkinson to see if he could get it to work with Basic XL. I never heard anything else about it. I never heard of this product, so I presume it was never released.

Are there any true Integer Basic Interpreters available for common 8-bits? Apple Integer Basic was one, but I don't know of any others. The limited size of integers is an issue isn't it -- generally +/- 32768 or unsigned 65536. The ABC compiler docs show how to get around some FP issues.

I had the same wish for a much faster Basic programs when ABC came out (~1983). But I was thrilled with it. I also had the Datasoft Compiler, but when you used its FP option, it reduced the speed dramatically. So I worked around ABC's lack of floating point and made some very fast Basic programs. Similar issue with Action! IIRC.

You may be correct.

This is the same company/author that did "A Basic Compiler" (ABC). Power Tools was a collection of four text processing utilities. Has anyone ever seen it? I don't believe it was ever released.

I've had several Percoms, but never really was a fan. But I think your switching PS replacement is brilliant! I've been "bitten" numerous times by the original PS's.

What are some of the common modes of failure on MIO's? From my own experience, both of my MIO's failed during their warranty periods and had to be returned for service. IIRC, they did repair my units and return them to me (rather than sending me replacement units). I can't remember -- the MIO could be powered with a regular Atari 9V adapter, couldn't it? I still have one boxed up in the garage that has the new rom. I always liked the big ramdisk, and it was nearly as fast as an internal ram expansion. AA member @1050 helped me set up a MyDos version with a couple of small patches and autorun that would check and boot from the ramdisk. Kinda neat!

Does anyone know how the AMPEL (typing) program worked? Is it a simple checksum revealing the two low-order two digits of the sum?

@kenames99 Have you built one yourself? Maybe years ago?

@130xeguy Nice project! Did you have any issues getting the IC's for the build? One other thing -- the latest MIO OS does work with SCSI-IDE adapters such as ACARD 7720. These were being reproduced in China when I last checked, and available at very good prices. I believe that I even found them on Ali Express. I also have an Azetc Monster SCSI-IDE adapter and it is even better, since a CF card plugs right into the adapter. Don't think those are available anymore.

@pirx That is awesome! Thanks so much. I've had that German PDF for at least 20 years, looking for a translation.

I may as well post the original Interpreter article. Maybe someone will see it and get ambitious... turbo-basic_xl -German.pdf

Deleted -- evidently one and the same.