Why 1200xl?

[yorgle]

Being fairly new to the Atari 8 bit scene, I'm wondering why a 1200xl appears to be worth considerably more than an 800xl. Does it have some capability the 800xl lacks or is it simply more collectable due to rarity?

[Rybags]

Rarity would account for 97% of the reason.

 

The other 3% would be the greater amount of space available inside for mods/upgrades.

[+remowilliams]

It's certainly far less common than the other A8 machines, it's got an amazing keyboard, lots of room inside for mods, lots of socketed chips. And it's cool looking.

[yorgle]

It does look cool. Does it have any disadvantages as compared to the 800xl?

[+remowilliams]

It does look cool. Does it have any disadvantages as compared to the 800xl?

An original 1200XL will have various incompatiblity issues. Those can be addressed through neat mods like memory upgrades and the Atarimax 32in1 OS module.

 

It also lacks a PBI expansion interface which is a much more difficult issue if you have need of one.

[walter_J64bit]

It's big!

[FastRobPlus]

It does look cool. Does it have any disadvantages as compared to the 800xl?

 

The keyboard is considered to be the best feeling among all Atari 8-bit computers.

[mimo]

It looks more like a "serious" computer rather than a games console/toy.

Also has great build quality

[deathtrappomegranate]

It does look cool. Does it have any disadvantages as compared to the 800xl?

 

The keyboard is considered to be the best feeling among all Atari 8-bit computers.

It does also lack the built-in BASIC of the other XL machines, if you consider that to be a disadvantage, and the positioning of the cartridge port is awkward.

 

Although I agree that the keyboards generally have a good feel, in my experience, they are more prone to failure than those of the other XL machines, and much more so than the original 400/800 models.

 

The main reason for the 1200XL fetching higher prices is that it's much less common. However, it also hints at what might have been. The same basic design was also used for the exotic and unreleased 1400XL, 1450XLD etc, and IMO the design suggested that the A8 was destined for greater things. And it could have been, had things worked out a little differently.

Edited August 30, 2007 by deathtrappomegranate

[sup8pdct]

It does look cool. Does it have any disadvantages as compared to the 800xl?

 

 

One I can name is the shape of the plastic surround on the cartridge port is different. where all other atari 8 bit cartridge ports have 2 raised type fingers on the front/top side where the cart pushes home, the 1200XL has a whole block between the 2 fingers.

This means that some 3rd party carts won't plug in unless a section is cut away between 2 slots on the front of the cart.

 

James

[yorgle]

Am I correct that the power supply for a 1200xl is different that for a 600xl or 800xl?

[+remowilliams]

Am I correct that the power supply for a 1200xl is different that for a 600xl or 800xl?

Yes, the 1200XL has a 9V barrel plug power supply. The XL/XEs have multi pin (5V) DIN plug supplies.

[+Guitarman]

Am I correct that the power supply for a 1200xl is different that for a 600xl or 800xl?

 

 

The 1200XL uses the same PS as 800, 1050, etc....