Atari 2600 Computer

[atari5200dude]

Do the cartriges for the atari 400/800 computers work for the 2600 also can a 2600 be used as a home computer? They made a keyboard for it and the cartriges for the 2600 and 400/800 computers look alike

[Lord Thag]

Nope!

 

The 8-bits are MUCH different than the 2600. There was never really a 2600 'computer' that got beyond the prototype stage (Atari promised one but never delivered), other than a keyboard unit made by Spectravision, which is very primitive and hardly useful as a 'home computer'.

 

The cartridges do not look remotely similar. You must be getting them confused with another system. The 8-bit carts are much smaller than the 2600, roughly the same size as a C64 cart. The slots are completely different sizes.

[Brian R.]

Nope!

 

The 8-bits are MUCH different than the 2600. There was never really a 2600 'computer' that got beyond the prototype stage (Atari promised one but never delivered), other than a keyboard unit made by Spectravision, which is very primitive and hardly useful as a 'home computer'.

 

The cartridges do not look remotely similar. You must be getting them confused with another system. The 8-bit carts are much smaller than the 2600, roughly the same size as a C64 cart. The slots are completely different sizes.

 

Other than (most of) the 8 bit carts working in the various computers (400/800, XL, XE), the only Atari carts that work in more than one system are the 2600's working in the 7800.

 

Right?

[Lord Thag]

Other than (most of) the 8 bit carts working in the various computers (400/800, XL, XE), the only Atari carts that work in more than one system are the 2600's working in the 7800.

 

Right?

 

Yep, though you can get various adaptors to play VCS games on the 5200, Colecovision, Intellivision etc. The only system(s) that have a lot of cart compatibility between several different consoles is the Arcadia 2001 group that was produced worldwide.

 

No such luck with the VCS, alas!