ATARI Microsoft Basic II Cartridge

[Sean39]

Hi does Anyone know anything about this cartridge.

 

 

Does it take any special Disk with it or another cartridge for the 800 computer?

 

I have always known microsoft basic to be a very large program that use to have to be loaded in by disk on IBM computers.

 

Has anyone ever use this program before???

 

 

thanks Sean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2012 by Sean39

[Bryan]

I've never seen anything done with MS BASIC on the A8. What's the point of developing for an expensive BASIC when there's a pretty good free one? I bet it was mainly used by people who needed to convert a program from another machine running MS BASIC.

[+Stephen]

I have a copy, but have never used it other than seeing if it booted up. If I'm using BASIC, it's Turbo BASIC XL although I might give BASIC XE a try sometime soon.

[Sean39]

I have a copy, but have never used it other than seeing if it booted up. If I'm using BASIC, it's Turbo BASIC XL although I might give BASIC XE a try sometime soon.

 

Hi does turbo Xl basic come on Cartridge or disk??

 

Also what is XE basic on? Is it a cartridge or disk?

 

I have been trying to get a copy of XE Basic for my 130XE machine.

 

Thanks

Sean

[+Stephen]

TBXL is disk, and I currently run BASIC XE on one of Steve Tucker's 1Mb flash carts.

[kheffington]

It is a combination cartridge disk. You need the disk as an extension to get all of the functions. It is also a memory pig and uses about 32k I think. There are also disk only versions of it.

 

It is not compatible with Atari basic programs.

 

I think the disk only version is Microsoft Basic I and the Cart plus disk are Microsoft Basic II.

Edited February 5, 2012 by kheffington

[Sean39]

Thanks

 

 

I really need a copy of XE basic. I have some programs that say they will only run with using XE basic,so I was hoping to get a copy of it

 

Thanks

Sean

[kheffington]

I have a copy of the manual at the link below for Microsoft Basic in PDF format. It is around 10MB. Better to right click the link and download it.

 

http://ravenlist.com/files/atari/msbasic.pdf

[MrFish]

I really need a copy of XE basic. I have some programs that say they will only run with using XE basic,so I was hoping to get a copy of it

 

Just get an Atarimax FlashCart and burn a copy of BASIC XE onto it.

[Rybags]

Not quite that simple. It's an OSS banked cart. But I beileve that patched images have been made that can be flashed to 128K Atarimax carts.

[MrFish]

Not quite that simple. It's an OSS banked cart. But I beileve that patched images have been made that can be flashed to 128K Atarimax carts.

 

That's what I meant. There is already an image on Atarimax's site: BASIC XE for 1mbit cart

[+Larry]

MSB cart requires an extension disk for several commands and functions.

 

Basic XE is bank-switching cart comes with an extension disk that includes many added functions.

 

Basic XL is a bank-switching cart that has an optional "toolkit" with extensions, examples and runtime. (There was also a different, smaller runtime that was commercially available.)

 

@Sean39: not trying to be picky, but you keep writing about "XE basic." Do you mean "BASIC XE" or are you referring to something else -- what?

 

The flash image of BASIC XL works perfectly. The flash image of BASIC XE is fine until you run the extensions. Then "it has issues."

 

-Larry

[high voltage]

Hi does Anyone know anything about this cartridge.

 

 

Does it take any special Disk with it or another cartridge for the 800 computer?

 

I have always known microsoft basic to be a very large program that use to have to be loaded in by disk on IBM computers.

 

Has anyone ever use this program before???

 

 

thanks Sean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microsoft made Basic for many computers not just IBM.

 

[Mirage]

Yeah, I have one of the Microsoft BASIC II carts. Never used it, never had any reason to.

[Gunstar]

At one time, way back in the 80's when I was taking BASIC programming in HS, I wanted to get MS BASIC on the Atari becuase we were using MS BASIC on Apple II's in class. So I could do work for class on my Atari at home. But I never ended up getting it. Later on, I intended to get BASIC XE, but my love for programming was replaced with my love for working on the hardware itself, so that never happened either. These days the easy choice is Turbo BASIC XL; it's an advanced BASIC and all you need, and runs many times faster than any other choice I know about.

 

Is that MS BASIC cart useful at all on the Atari? If you want to type in old MS BASIC programs out of magazines or books. Otherwise you can't even use it to run MS BASIC programs from other computers until you convert them to a form the Atari disk format can understand, and then I'm sure there are some issues that will arise where program changes still need to be made before it will just run on an Atari, whether you type it in or get it loaded somehow.

Edited February 5, 2012 by Gunstar

[morelenmir]

I am currently fascinated by all and anything to do with programming on the 'A8' - as the cool kids say! I don't suppose anyone could point the way for me to a copy of the "MS Basic II" extension disk? I already have the cartridge thanks to Kr0tki and http://www.atariage....ost&pid=2306680

 

I have already grabbed the manual - so many thanks Mr Fish!!!

 

Second question - is the above-mentioned Turbo BASIC XL only available as a listing?

Edited February 5, 2012 by morelenmir

[Sean39]

Hi

 

Ok first question to get out of the way is yes I am talking about Basic XE From O.S.S.

 

Yes that is the one you need the disk to get the extra extensions. Artical from Antic magazine covers how that Cart works with the disk and how fast it actually runs

Faster than the Version A basic and XL basic.

 

http://www.atarimagazines.com/v4n9/basicxe.html

 

Now on to the other issue. I need the Microsoft basic because my daughter is learning how to program in it. I already have a computer setup for her.

I figure this would work great for her. Yes you are right a IBM with Microsoft basic is not going to load up on atari computer. Now the programs she is

learning how to write will work just fine with this version of Microsoft Basic since I see all the same command words and statements.

 

Gunstar you are right this would have been a great program to have back in the day when we had to learn Microsoft basic in school.

 

At one time in the late 1990's kids were lern Q-basic,so I am guessing her teacher just likes the Microsoft Version of basic.

 

They will eventually move on to assembly language and pascal

 

Which seem to be the languages used to most in writing complex programs.

 

I do not see people programing in fortran to much more these days.

 

Anyways the Microsoft basic is for my daughter since atari basic will not work in her school work. She still is programing in Atari basic just for her self

self satisfaction of doing it.

 

I do not have a copy of Turbo basic XL and do not know where to get a copy of it.

 

I am assuming this is not the XL basic on cartridge. If it is the XL basic Cartridge then I will have a copy of that soon,but will not have the disk that supports it.

Also I will not have the disk that supports the XE basic by O S S.

 

Thanks

Sean

[kheffington]

Here is Microsoft Basic I, disk based doesn't need a utility disk.

Microsoft Basic 1.0 (1981)(Microsoft).zip

 

Here is Microsoft Basic II, not sure but think it is the utility disk.Give it a try and see.

Microsoft Basic v2.0.zip

Edited February 5, 2012 by kheffington

[+CharlieChaplin]

Well,

 

here you are TB XL + Compiler + Runtime (for compiled TB XL programs). All programs here use english language (contrary to the original release of the Compiler which used german language) and come with english instructions. There is also a TB XL guide by Ron Fetzer added...

 

-Andreas Koch.

TB_XL.zip

[AtariGeezer]

MS Basic II extension disk:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/81825-microsoft-basic-ii/page__view__findpost__p__998152

 

Jay

[morelenmir]

That was FAST guys!

 

For my own requests - MANY thanks indeed!!!

[russg]

Hi

 

Ok first question to get out of the way is yes I am talking about Basic XE From O.S.S.

 

Yes that is the one you need the disk to get the extra extensions. Artical from Antic magazine

covers how that Cart works with the disk and how fast it actually runs Faster than the Version

A basic and XL basic.

 

http://www.atarimaga...n9/basicxe.html

 

Now on to the other issue. I need the Microsoft basic because my daughter is learning how to program in it. I already have a computer setup for her.

I figure this would work great for her. Yes you are right a IBM with Microsoft basic is not going to load up on atari computer. Now the programs she is

learning how to write will work just fine with this version of Microsoft Basic since I see all the same command words and statements.

 

Gunstar you are right this would have been a great program to have back in the day when we had to learn Microsoft basic in school.

 

At one time in the late 1990's kids were lern Q-basic,so I am guessing her teacher just likes the Microsoft Version of basic.

 

They will eventually move on to assembly language and pascal

 

Which seem to be the languages used to most in writing complex programs.

 

I do not see people programing in fortran to much more these days.

 

Anyways the Microsoft basic is for my daughter since atari basic will not work in her school work. She still is programing in Atari basic just for her self

self satisfaction of doing it.

 

I do not have a copy of Turbo basic XL and do not know where to get a copy of it.

 

I am assuming this is not the XL basic on cartridge. If it is the XL basic Cartridge then I will have a copy of that soon,but will not have the disk that supports it.

Also I will not have the disk that supports the XE basic by O S S.

 

Thanks

Sean

 

Microsoft BASIC II isn't going to be very useful for understanding currently used Visual BASIC.NET (VB.NET).

I suspect your daughter is getting Visual BASIC in school, not some BASIC like MS BASIC from the 1980s.

Here's a little information about VB.NET:

 

http://en.wikipedia....sual_Basic_.NET

 

I think you mention Pascal as a current developement tool. I don't think so. C# may be fairly current, I'm not

sure if any C is currently used much. I can't program in any current PC language.

For the PC, in DOS days, GWBASIC was used, then QuickBASIC in I guess up to the 90s. I have Visual BASIC 4

which is ancient and unsupported today. Visual BASIC is curently part of the .NET framework, whatever that means.

Your daughter can get some concepts with an old time BASIC, like MS BASIC II or Atari BASIC, but not what is

taught in schools today, I suspect.

Regards

( I never get good formatting with AA editor, there's always line breaks not where I put them.)

Edited February 5, 2012 by russg

[morelenmir]

From my own experience in current languages - C++ and VB, each tied to their own .NET variants seem to be the standards of the moment.

[Sean39]

Here is Microsoft Basic I, disk based doesn't need a utility disk.

Microsoft Basic 1.0 (1981)(Microsoft).zip

 

Here is Microsoft Basic II, not sure but think it is the utility disk.Give it a try and see.

 

 

Hi I could download these files but I have no way of getting them onto the Atari 800 computer. I am borrowing this computer as it is.

I have a complete atari 800 set up with everything except the printer for now.

 

So the Zip files would do me no good.

 

So far I have the atari 800 with a 1050 drive,and the 850 serial port interface ,and a work 410 tape drive.

 

I do have 48K in the 800 computer. Anyways I have been trying to complete this for her to use. When my wife was killed in a car wreck we lost everything to pay for

funeral cost and hospital bills. We were in a car wreck a few years ago around Christmas time. it killed her grandparents and my wife,and the child my wife

was pregnant with. Which would have been my youngest daughter if they have lived.

The other driver was found at fault but had no car insurance and also only had a low paying part time job. She hit us at 60 mph head on. Left nothing

to the car. I have already represented this to the teacher. She said Microsoft Basic was fine on the Atari 800 computer. The teacher is an older teacher

and is well versed with the Atari 800 since years ago it was used in school when she taught. She taught when I went to school and I am in my mid 40's

She is going to have Microsoft basic on the school computers and said the one atari came out with is close enough to work with the programs she will

be starting out with.

 

My problem is getting the extension disk and a manual. I think I have found the manual for about $15.00 ,but I need that disk

 

I figure that you guys should know where I stand now in this mess.

 

Oh yes I did manage to get a commodore 1702 monitor,but the front lower cover is missing and the blue gun must be a little off on the right

side of the screen since I can see a slight blue line where the black boarder and main screen meet. When I change the back ground to another

color you can see that blue line barely above the color part of the screen which places it between the black boarder and

right part of the screen where text appears.(note it above,so it does not interfere with the text) . I know this means the blue gun is slightly off in the monitor.

 

Not sure if this means I will have to try and get another commodore 1702 monitor. I want to try and get the 80 collom generator for her.

This way I can get atari writer word 80 or something that will let her use a 80 collom screen for writing papers.

that bring me down to trying to get a good printer that I can hook up to the 850 serial/ parrel interface.

 

Well you guys now know why I have ask so many questions I am doing all of this for my daughter who just now turned 13 years old.

She like the atari 800 when I first had set it up just to play cartrige games at the age of 11,so she really likes computers like we

did. I have been trying to get thing for this computer over time. Hoping to complete it.

 

 

 

 

The Manual is for Microsoft basic II ,and so is the cart. So I will need to find a disk for that version. Or if someone could make me one

from those zip files.

 

 

Thanks everyone so much

 

Sean

Edited February 6, 2012 by Sean39

[kheffington]

My problem is getting the extension disk and a manual. I think I have found the manual for about $15.00 ,but I need that disk

 

I figure that you guys should know where I stand now in this mess.

 

Thanks

Sean

 

PM me the mailing address and I will write the ATR to disk and mail it to you.