Atari Basic Computing Language Cartridge

[Sean39]

Hi everyone

 

I am a old computer programer but I have now Amnesia for real. I had an accident in the military to my head,and

recently was in a very bad car wreck with another head injury. I may sound stupid for asking these questions since I am suppose to be a computer programer. I programed programs back in the late 1970-1990's. I work also for NASA at the Advance Technologies reachsearch facility. Well here my stupid question I have the old Basic Computing Language Cartridge

with two rom chips from dated on them is 1979. Now I have heard Atari came up with three Versions of this program.

Version A,B,C. Now I have a Cartridge with the silver label on it that says ATAR BASIC COMPUTING LANGUAGE-3.

Now this Cartridge has on one Chip in it. Now this may help some too

 

on the chip it has: NCR2364-30

F811420 A8409

C024947a-29

ATARI 1984

 

NOW WHAT VERSION OF BASIC PROGRAMING LANGUAGE IS THIS ONE THE A,B,OR C. NEXT QUESTION WHAT ARE

THE DIFFERENCES IN THEM?????????? DOES ONE HAVE BETTER COMMAND WORDS,MORE USE OF GRAPHICS. WELL

YOU GET WHAT I AM GETTING AT WHAT DOES THE NEWER VERSIONS HAVE THAT THE OLD ONE DOES NOT???

 

 

EMAIL ME: [email protected]

Thanks Sean39

Edited January 23, 2008 by Sean39

[accousticguitar]

Here is some info:

 

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/section-50.html

[joyfulcoder]

The following is from the Atari 8-Bit FAQ located at

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/

 

In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,

enter "? PEEK(43234)"

 

If the result is:  You have Revision:	   Atari Part#:
 162				  A				 CO12402/CO14502 
 96				   B				 CO60302A 
 234				  C				 CO24947A

 

The FAQ also has information on the differences.

[Sean39]

The following is from the Atari 8-Bit FAQ located at

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/

 

In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,

enter "? PEEK(43234)"

 

If the result is:  You have Revision:	   Atari Part#:
 162				  A				 CO12402/CO14502 
 96				   B				 CO60302A 
 234				  C				 CO24947A

 

The FAQ also has information on the differences.

[Sean39]

The following is from the Atari 8-Bit FAQ located at

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/

 

In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,

enter "? PEEK(43234)"

 

If the result is:  You have Revision:	   Atari Part#:
 162				  A				 CO12402/CO14502 
 96				   B				 CO60302A 
 234				  C				 CO24947A

 

The FAQ also has information on the differences.

 

 

Hey when I type in the following I get an error "? peek (43234)" this is a different way of using the peek command

that I am using. Is that the way I am suppose to type it in?

Hey now the CO24947A is on the chip with -29 which I am guessing that the code. Which would say this is a C version.

So what are the differences between the A version and the C version programing????

I still cannot get that peek command to work. Can you please show me what to exactly type in on the screen so it will work.

So we can make sure this is the C version. I know this version is very rare. I really need to know what am I gaining by using the C version over the A version. I love to program so that means a lot to me.

 

Thanks sean39

[+bf2k+]

The following is from the Atari 8-Bit FAQ located at

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/

 

In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,

enter "? PEEK(43234)"

 

If the result is:  You have Revision:	   Atari Part#:
 162				  A				 CO12402/CO14502 
 96				   B				 CO60302A 
 234				  C				 CO24947A

 

The FAQ also has information on the differences.

 

 

Hey when I type in the following I get an error "? peek (43234)" this is a different way of using the peek command

that I am using. Is that the way I am suppose to type it in?

Hey now the CO24947A is on the chip with -29 which I am guessing that the code. Which would say this is a C version.

So what are the differences between the A version and the C version programing????

I still cannot get that peek command to work. Can you please show me what to exactly type in on the screen so it will work.

So we can make sure this is the C version. I know this version is very rare. I really need to know what am I gaining by using the C version over the A version. I love to program so that means a lot to me.

 

Thanks sean39

 

 

 

Make sure 'PEEK' is in uppercase!

[Sean39]

The following is from the Atari 8-Bit FAQ located at

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/

 

In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,

enter "? PEEK(43234)"

 

If the result is:  You have Revision:	   Atari Part#:
 162				  A				 CO12402/CO14502 
 96				   B				 CO60302A 
 234				  C				 CO24947A

 

The FAQ also has information on the differences.

 

 

Hey when I type in the following I get an error "? peek (43234)" this is a different way of using the peek command

that I am using. Is that the way I am suppose to type it in?

Hey now the CO24947A is on the chip with -29 which I am guessing that the code. Which would say this is a C version.

So what are the differences between the A version and the C version programing????

I still cannot get that peek command to work. Can you please show me what to exactly type in on the screen so it will work.

So we can make sure this is the C version. I know this version is very rare. I really need to know what am I gaining by using the C version over the A version. I love to program so that means a lot to me.

 

Thanks sean39

 

 

Hey everyone I feel so stupid I figure out what you wanted and typed ? peek(43234) and guess what I did

get the answer 234 which means it a true version C cartridge. Now can anyone tell me what I gain from this.....

 

Email me please with the answers at [email protected]

 

I am so glad I found the version C so I don't have to use the A version anymore.

[+bf2k+]

The following is from the Atari 8-Bit FAQ located at

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/

 

In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,

enter "? PEEK(43234)"

 

If the result is:  You have Revision:	   Atari Part#:
 162				  A				 CO12402/CO14502 
 96				   B				 CO60302A 
 234				  C				 CO24947A

 

The FAQ also has information on the differences.

 

 

Hey when I type in the following I get an error "? peek (43234)" this is a different way of using the peek command

that I am using. Is that the way I am suppose to type it in?

Hey now the CO24947A is on the chip with -29 which I am guessing that the code. Which would say this is a C version.

So what are the differences between the A version and the C version programing????

I still cannot get that peek command to work. Can you please show me what to exactly type in on the screen so it will work.

So we can make sure this is the C version. I know this version is very rare. I really need to know what am I gaining by using the C version over the A version. I love to program so that means a lot to me.

 

Thanks sean39

 

 

Hey everyone I feel so stupid I figure out what you wanted and typed ? peek(43234) and guess what I did

get the answer 234 which means it a true version C cartridge. Now can anyone tell me what I gain from this.....

 

Email me please with the answers at [email protected]

 

I am so glad I found the version C so I don't have to use the A version anymore.

 

 

 

 

Basically you don't get any more commands (IIRC). What you get is less bugs. I know that C fixed the infamous "growing program" bug that was in B. Again IIRC, this bug added extra bytes to the length of your program everytime you saved it in tokenized format.

[Rybags]

In many ways, "B" was actually worse than "A".

 

"A" can be identified by 3 keystrokes. Press "I." <Return> and the machine should lock up.

 

"B" not only had the bug where a program bloated by 16 bytes or so every time it was saved, but eliminated the move memory bug in "A" only to replicate it elsewhere.

 

AFAIK, "C" is totally bug free.

 

But, when behaving properly, programs in all versions run exactly the same.

[Sean39]

In many ways, "B" was actually worse than "A".

 

"A" can be identified by 3 keystrokes. Press "I." <Return> and the machine should lock up.

 

"B" not only had the bug where a program bloated by 16 bytes or so every time it was saved, but eliminated the move memory bug in "A" only to replicate it elsewhere.

 

AFAIK, "C" is totally bug free.

 

But, when behaving properly, programs in all versions run exactly the same.

 

 

 

Thanks for the information about the bugs,and now at least I have a version that has no bugs in it.Even though I was hoping

for a stronger basic language with more command wrods and maybe high screen resolutions and more colors. I love to

program and the more we have to work woth in the language the better, but having no bugs is good too.

[Sean39]

The following is from the Atari 8-Bit FAQ located at

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq/

 

In order to find out what version you are running, at the READY prompt,

enter "? PEEK(43234)"

 

If the result is:  You have Revision:	   Atari Part#:
 162				  A				 CO12402/CO14502 
 96				   B				 CO60302A 
 234				  C				 CO24947A

 

The FAQ also has information on the differences.

 

 

Hey when I type in the following I get an error "? peek (43234)" this is a different way of using the peek command

that I am using. Is that the way I am suppose to type it in?

Hey now the CO24947A is on the chip with -29 which I am guessing that the code. Which would say this is a C version.

So what are the differences between the A version and the C version programing????

I still cannot get that peek command to work. Can you please show me what to exactly type in on the screen so it will work.

So we can make sure this is the C version. I know this version is very rare. I really need to know what am I gaining by using the C version over the A version. I love to program so that means a lot to me.

 

Thanks sean39

 

 

Hey everyone I feel so stupid I figure out what you wanted and typed ? peek(43234) and guess what I did

get the answer 234 which means it a true version C cartridge. Now can anyone tell me what I gain from this.....

 

Email me please with the answers at [email protected]

 

I am so glad I found the version C so I don't have to use the A version anymore.

 

 

 

 

Basically you don't get any more commands (IIRC). What you get is less bugs. I know that C fixed the infamous "growing program" bug that was in B. Again IIRC, this bug added extra bytes to the length of your program everytime you saved it in tokenized format.

 

 

Thank you for that information it is really a big help,but I am still dissapointed Atari never tried tp expand on their basic language with more command words, and more choices in their graphic screens, and sound.

[Allas]

In many ways, "B" was actually worse than "A".

 

"A" can be identified by 3 keystrokes. Press "I." <Return> and the machine should lock up.

 

"B" not only had the bug where a program bloated by 16 bytes or so every time it was saved, but eliminated the move memory bug in "A" only to replicate it elsewhere.

 

AFAIK, "C" is totally bug free.

 

But, when behaving properly, programs in all versions run exactly the same.

 

 

 

Thanks for the information about the bugs,and now at least I have a version that has no bugs in it.Even though I was hoping

for a stronger basic language with more command wrods and maybe high screen resolutions and more colors. I love to

program and the more we have to work woth in the language the better, but having no bugs is good too.

 

Maybe you need Frank Ostrowski Turbobasic, that's an good extension of normal BASIC, 4 times faster and with more and powerful commands. Even is included a compiler, then you can get 10 times more speed. On Atari World Turbobasic is almost a standard.

 

http://gury.atari8.info/details_software/589.htm