Atari computer noob

[raskar42]

I was interested in getting a vintage computer for my kid.something with basic and other stuff he can play with. probably buy a refurbish from best or somewhere.

 

I don't know much about the atari computers -(i had a trs-80). What model would you recommend for a beginner? or should i look at something else.

 

 

was also considering an XE game system.

Edited November 12, 2010 by raskar42

[accousticguitar]

I would recommend the Atari 800XL.

[jaybird3rd]

I got a pair of XE Game Systems, both with internal MyIDE interfaces and CompactFlash memory cards filled with software, and I gave one to my niece and one to my nephew. They've had a lot of fun with those, and once they move in with us, I'm going to get them started with some lessons (typing exercises, simple programming in Logo, etc).

[raskar42]

I would recommend the Atari 800XL.

 

ok see now were getting somewhere.

 

any advise on software?

 

 

the xe and the 800xl both use the same carts right?

Edited November 12, 2010 by raskar42

[Goochman]

I would get a SIO2PC USB adaptor: http://www.atarimax.com/sio2pc/documentation/

 

You can then go to www.atarimania.com and find pretty much anything you want and run through your SIO2PC connection.

 

otherwise do a search - there is a listing of Top 10's on here in a few places

[Almost Rice]

I got a pair of XE Game Systems, both with internal MyIDE interfaces and memory cards filled with software, and I gave one to my niece and one to my nephew.

 

What software did you install on the CF card? I was thinking of doing the same for my nieces and nephew.

[erazmus]

I recently pulled out and hooked up some of my Atari stuff. My 10-year-old came along and showed great interest, so I pulled out my Atari BASIC book and he dove right in, typing in programs, and having a great time.

[+Philsan]

Computer:

 

800XL and 130XE are both good machines.

 

Cart port position: 800XL

Design: 800XL and 130XE are both beautiful and original, it's a matter of taste.

Keyboard: it's a matter of taste but you must consider that 5 kind of keyboards exists for 800XL (in only three years lifespan!) and, if I am not wrong, at least 2 kinds for 130XE.

Memory: 130XE has 128KB instead of 64KB, usuful for few games (but now AA user ctirad sells an external 320KB low cost memory expansion for 800XL)

Video ouput: 130XE has also s-video (but with a simple jumper 800XL can have s-video too, but with a bit lower quality)

Quality: 800XL has a better building quality. Moreover, some XL's have all ICs socketed, so they are easier to repair and upgrade.

Basic: 130XE has bug free Basic rev. C (but you can replace 800XL Basic rev. B IC with a rev. C - anyway, if you like Basic programming, nowadays everyone uses the fast, compatible and compilable Turbo-Basic XL so Basic's revision is unimportant).

 

Storage device:

 

If you have and want a PC near to your Atari you can buy or buid SIO2PC (I prefer USB version, AtariAge user classics, $60) and use it with APE Windows application:

http://www.atarimax.com/sio2pc/documentation/

(this is not only a storage device but also a virtual printer, modem...).

 

Otherwise you can buy or build independent self-powered devices like SIO2SD (the one that I prefer):

http://sio2sd-dev.gucio.pl/wiki/English

http://marcinprusisz.pl/ (AtariAge user Pigula, €40 without SIO cable/connector)

http://www.mmj.pl/~lotharek/atari/ (AtariAge user lotharek, €90 with case)

http://mega-hz.no-ip.com/Angebote/SIO2SD/SIO2SD%20rev.2.html (€80 with case)

http://afs.atari.org/sio2sd.htm ($80)

or SDrive:

http://raster.infos.cz/atari/hw/sdrive/sdriveen.htm

http://nuxx.net/wiki/SDrive_NUXX (AtariAge user c0nsumer, $150 with case)

http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/proda8/adv-eh0130.htm

 

If you care about aesthetics, AtariAge user flashjazzcat can insert SDrive or SIO2SD into an XM301 (to match XE design) or 1064 (to match XL design) case:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/161377-sio2sdxm301-case-conversion/page__view__findpost__p__2072046

 

Another independent self-powered device is SIO2USB:

http://home.arcor.de/grasel/sio2usb_e.htm

 

If you want a cartridge solution, you can buy Atarimax Maxflash Flash Cartridges

http://www.atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/ (AtariAge user classics).

 

 

[jaybird3rd]

What software did you install on the CF card? I was thinking of doing the same for my nieces and nephew.

I used a very simple configuration: I created a 16MB partition, installed MyDOS and Shawn Jefferson's MyIDE Image Manager, and reserved the rest of the CF card for the MyIDE image space (these are 1GB cards).

 

I set the Image Manager to launch on startup, and I like it because it only takes a few seconds to load and acts as a nice on-screen menu that can be controlled with the joystick. I created 90K disk images for each of the games and applications that the kids use and batch-loaded these into the image space. For those programs that don't work well from inside the Image Manager, like Logo and AtariWriter Plus, I copied them into the boot partition and showed the kids how to exit the Image Manager and load them manually from MyDOS. One "gotcha" I did discover is that the AtariLab cartridges do not seem to be compatible with the MyIDE OS, so I added a toggle switch to the machines so they can be switched to the stock OS before using AtariLab. I'll get them started on that when they're a little older.

 

Of the games I've played with them so far, both my niece and nephew like Kaboom!, Jungle Hunt, Track and Field, Q*Bert, Warlords (Castle Crisis), and BurgerTime (Beef Drop). They also like to use the Atari Light Pen to draw pictures, and I created a disk-based version of Atari's Touch Typing program for them to use for keyboard practice. My niece tends to like games that feature animals or games with cute little stories: Frogger and Frogger II, Kangaroo, Flip and Flop, and so forth. My nephew likes racing games, the Pac-Man games, and some of the other old arcade games (like Centipede, especially if we play it with a trackball!). Neither of them are really into space shooters, and they're a little young yet for the more sophisticated strategy games, although I put lots of both on their CF cards in case they want to try them someday. Late last year, I wanted to get some more ideas for girl-friendly games for my niece, so I started a topic about it. You might find some ideas there for games for your nieces.

 

As for which model of computer to get ... I found that the XEGS was a nice choice. It's inexpensive, there's plenty of space inside for the CF card, the kids like the big colorful function buttons, they can shove the keyboard out of the way when they're not using it (and it can be easily replaced if they spill something into it!), and the relative lack of upgrade options isn't much of an issue because the kids' needs are relatively simple.

[raskar42]

Computer:

 

 

That's a lot of good information, thank you. based on the responses i got - i am leaning toward the 800xl.

[svenski]

Computer:

 

 

Basic: 130XE has bug free Basic rev. C (but you can replace 800XL Basic rev. B IC with a rev. C - anyway,

 

The majority of the 800XL's shipped with rev. C , but you'll have to poke one to find out which version it has.

[+Philsan]

Computer:

 

 

Basic: 130XE has bug free Basic rev. C (but you can replace 800XL Basic rev. B IC with a rev. C - anyway,

 

The majority of the 800XL's shipped with rev. C , but you'll have to poke one to find out which version it has.

AFAIK the majority of 800XL shipped with Basic rev. B.

Can someone confirm this?

[Rybags]

I'd say almost all.

 

A good probability though that the later Freddie-equipped one might have had Rev C, but wasn't it released to a very limited market in Europe?

[+therealbountybob]

I'd agree an 800XL or 65/130XE (or XEGS with a keyboard!) plus the APE&SIO2USB.

 

The Atari FAQ is worth checking out too

[rchennau]

Personally I like the 600xl for it's compactness. Sure it takes a little work to get it up to 800xl specs (I.e. Super video mod and RAM upgrade) but after that quite a nice little machine. While MyIDE is a good option the SIO2USB is the best starter option inmo. I hooked mine up to a belkin wireless USB hub so the 600xl does not need to be next to the computer. Works awesome.

[+Stephen]

I will also recommend an SIO based solution (SDrive, SIO2SD, SIO2USB, etc.) They are much more stable and require almost zero setup to have them working reliably.

[+orpheuswaking]

Computer:

 

 

Basic: 130XE has bug free Basic rev. C (but you can replace 800XL Basic rev. B IC with a rev. C - anyway,

 

The majority of the 800XL's shipped with rev. C , but you'll have to poke one to find out which version it has.

 

I have 10 NTSC 800XL's and only one had Rev C as standard (I did upgrade two with a new Eprom)

 

On the flip side of that all three of my PAL 800XL have Rev C

[erazmus]

Personally I like the 600xl for it's compactness. Sure it takes a little work to get it up to 800xl specs (I.e. Super video mod and RAM upgrade) but after that quite a nice little machine. While MyIDE is a good option the SIO2USB is the best starter option inmo. I hooked mine up to a belkin wireless USB hub so the 600xl does not need to be next to the computer. Works awesome.

Is the wireless hub working for you? I'm currently running an obscene length of USB and serial cables to get from the 'modern' end of my office to the 'vintage' end. I never thought of wireless USB.

[rchennau]

It has been working well for me thus far. Here is my write up on three options.

 

SIO2USB over wireless (atariage forum thread)

 

Personally I like the 600xl for it's compactness. Sure it takes a little work to get it up to 800xl specs (I.e. Super video mod and RAM upgrade) but after that quite a nice little machine. While MyIDE is a good option the SIO2USB is the best starter option inmo. I hooked mine up to a belkin wireless USB hub so the 600xl does not need to be next to the computer. Works awesome.

Is the wireless hub working for you? I'm currently running an obscene length of USB and serial cables to get from the 'modern' end of my office to the 'vintage' end. I never thought of wireless USB.

[+Philsan]

SIO2USB is the best starter option inmo. I hooked mine up to a belkin wireless USB hub so the 600xl does not need to be next to the computer. Works awesome.

 

SIO2USB over wireless (atariage forum thread)

 

Not to confuse our friend raskar42, you are recommending SIO2PC (USB version), not SIO2USB.

[raskar42]

SIO2USB is the best starter option inmo. I hooked mine up to a belkin wireless USB hub so the 600xl does not need to be next to the computer. Works awesome.

 

SIO2USB over wireless (atariage forum thread)

 

Not to confuse our friend raskard42, you are recommending SIO2PC (USB version), not SIO2USB.

 

 

Thanks - this looks amazing