geoff76

Okay folks, here is my first submission for the contest. You will note these are JPEG files. However, the real PSD file will be submitted to Ken for final tweaking and printing preparation - should this design be the winner. Some notes on this design: 1 - Taking into account the glossy black plastic the case has, all text is white (in Atari Raster font!). 2 - The Atari Fuji logo is emblazoned with a yellow/blue gradient and is stamped with the letters MIO (the only non-white text). 3 - Copyright and design credit is on the top of the image upside down (to read correctly when the printed graphic is folded over the cover of the MIO box. 4 - The black and gray areas of the design are direct from Ken's template and should be viewed as transparent for the purposes of judging this entry. (Full size version of the graphic is an attachment to this post.) My comments: - I took the liberty of calling the original 'Hard Drive' location 'SCSI 1/2' in anticipation of the new fully SCSI compatible interface Ken and Steve Carden are working on. - All border text will be adjusted to appear centered over their respective connectors before printing (should this design win). Thanks for looking! I appreciate your comments and your vote. -- Geoffrey (geoff76)

The better 800XLs (and probably 600XLs as well) were made in Hong Kong... Later versions made in Taiwan have wimpier keyboards and function keys ("Start", "Select" etc.) are often mis-aligned. Mostly cosmetic differences, due to switching of sub-contractors I would guess. But it annoys me... :!: geoff76

Sweet boards... (Yes, I will waste a few 32-bit words just to say that about our 'new' classic 8-bit hardware!) - geoff76 (JGS Enterprises)

All I've got to say about that is: Kick ass! Thanks Ken, I know it will be worth the wait... -- geoff76 (JGS Enterprises)

Greetings Starfighter! (Yes, I used that on purpose since there is an Atari 8-bit game that will run on your 'new' 130XE from the movie "The Last Starfighter" which really shows you can do a lot with 8-bits!) Although I see the utility of the SIO2PC my esteemed colleage mentioned above, I prefer to be 100% authentic. Grab a 1050 disk drive or two (from Ebay or another auction site) and get real copies of some games. I love hearing the audio over the tv or monitor of the data being transferred off a 5.25" floppy disk. Note that the 1050 is in the black & white XL series color scheme, if you want a gray drive to match your 130 XE better, see if you can find an XF551 drive. Another great example of 8-bit power is River Raid. Also the 8-bit Pac-Man looks exactly like the arcade, way better looking than the 2600 version. (Okay I admit the 'sounds' from the 2600 version are cool.) Enjoy! - geoff76