simbalion

Thirty years? That means I am only one year younger than the Atari! I definately hope something can be done for the 30th anniversary. It's a milestone in video games.

I am hoping to get a copy of this once I get my funds back in order. For now I am going to just try and get the new holiday cart before they run out.

I only have two homebrews so far, so this is interesting. I have Skeleton+ in a clear cartridge, but my carts never see much sunlight to begin with and it is always burried in a pile. If I am understanding things right, the old Atari carts will possibly never suffer from the bit-rot that sometimes plagues classic arcade games. I need to find out more about this bit-rot thing.

The Wii is a good system, but it is definitely not the next Atari 2600. For one thing, it won't have the longevity that the 2600 had and in many ways still enjoys today. I know guys at work who have the new systems and guess what system do they want really bad? An Atari VCS! Also I have a feeling that our Atari's will still be working long after the optical drive in all the Wiis have died or wore out.

I have seen schools do this as well. What is really odd is that the guy's license number is there. I don;t think I'd want someone to know that if they stole my computer. I should Google it!

Heat etching pen? you mean a soldering iron? Something like that. It is litterally written into the case with something thin and hot. It is written on the top of the computer above the keyboard as well.

Ahh yes 2-2600s=1-5200 You know a sequel to ET on the 5200 might not be such a bad idea. That wouldn't be a bad idea at all. There is a version of ET for the 8bit and it seems a good bit different from the 2600 version. Of course I don't know how the heck to play it without a manual! It seems that you play as Elliot on the 8bit version. BTW, I also have 2-5200s. One 4 port version and one 2 port version.

Hooray! Glad to hear that we are getting close to release! With all the talk about the new FB2 portable and the keyboard attachment for the 7800, our beloved 5200 is getting overshadowed. We can't let that happen!

Never. Has anyone? I have and I like them alot. The 5200 is one of my favorite systems. Of course the 2600 is always a classic and I have two of them.

That's not just yellow grease pencil. The original owner used a heat etching pen to literally etch his name and license number into the unit. He must have used it for business somewhere. How it got from California to a second hand store here in Ohio is still a mystery.

Oops, I stand corrected. There are slots for the speakers. They are just way harder to see than the ones on my light sixer.

Just got a Sears heavy sixer, SN 91492S. It has no channel select switch and no speaker holes in the top.

I should have sensed problems when I tried three 1050 disk drives on the computer and couldn't get any to work. After the third one I thought it was cable. So, i bought a couple more cables at the flea market. After those didn't work I gave up and figured I was just finding crappy disk drives around here. Well, now one of the drives that wouldn't work with the 130xe works fine with the 1200xl. And of course the 130xe is dead. Makes a good paper weight right now.

That's exactly what I was talking about. What kind of nonsense is that? The 2600 used a 6507 processor, which is an 8-bit processor. Ok, I stand corrected. I was thinking of an article I read and a book I read years ago that based the ratings on the graphics rather than the processors.

I think the Atari VCS (2600) is considered a 4-bit system. The next generation was the 8-bit systems like the 5200 and then up and up.

New cart?

Since everyone is posting their systems, I thought I would show my system in its natural habitat. Since I do not have my own place and my room is a mess, I have to set up my computer stuff on the bed. My main Atari computer is the 1200xl since the 130xe died. In spite of the problems mentioned about it, the 1200 is a good workhorse. I have a 1050 drive attached to it and I just found a 600xl and an 810 drive yesterday. The 810 works, but I do not have enough cables to hook both drives in at once. When I type, I tend to sit on my bed facing the Tv with the computer on my lap. Anyone know where to get good floppy disks for these computers?

I am definitely a novice at soldering. Most soldering I have ever done has been a little on antique radios and I finally got a good looking joint last night. Usually my soldering looks like something from a bad dream!

I have finally ruled out the power supply. I got a 600xl computer today and it works fine on the 130xe power supply. Looks like I have some dead RAM chips. Are these worth trying to repair?

Good score! Our thrift shops around here don't seem to accept the old stuff anymore. Goodwill here refuses computer stuff older than 1999 or 2000, so no hope on finding Atari 8-bit. Also seems like they are not getting in any 2600 stuff anymore as well.

Thanks. I'll get things tested out when I get a chance. I have never had RAM problems with other Atari comps. Was the 130xe the only one to have those problems?

This is all over my head folks and I think we may be getting a bit off topic.

If that place wants a small museum, then they should clean up the games and the system, put them in a display case, and mark it as such. Instead from what was said, it sounds like the games and system were very dirty and sitting right beside stuff that was for sale. Also, I doubt I would shop at a place where the employees were busy playing MMORPGS instead of serving thier customers.

I ran into a computer store like that in Massilon, OH. People kept dumping off really old computers on them. Atari, Commodore, TI, you name it. They are now just all on display over top of the shelves. That was really irksome since our area Good Wills will no longer accept computers and other electronic stuff older than 1999 or 2000. I wonder how many Atari systems are getting pitched because of Good will?

Last night I was trying out my 130xe that I had originally intended to replace my 800 and 1200xl when I found more programs. I was trying out some BASIC commands when the computer suddenly froze and died. The screen turned green and there was no response from the keyboard at all. I tried shutting the computer down for a bit and then powering it back up, but it will only start so far and then either freeze, go to a black screen, or a green screen. Help?