Atari Incognito Board Comeback?

[bratboy_y2k]

I'm wanting to get an Atari 8 bit computer and would love an original 800 for the super cool factor. I understand the incognito board made them fully compatible across the 8 bit range. Does anybody know if there will ever be another run of them? Thank you.

[+Bikerbob]

I would not hold my breath.. There was some interest a while ago... not enough.. even when financing was offered. I agree with you though.. an 800 with incognito is the shoot.

 

James

[bratboy_y2k]

I would not hold my breath.. There was some interest a while ago... not enough.. even when financing was offered. I agree with you though.. an 800 with incognito is the shoot.

 

James

I really appreciate the reply. Who do I bug to see if I can talk them into considering it?

[kogden]

I really appreciate the reply. Who do I bug to see if I can talk them into considering it?

 

Unless you plan on ordering 50-100 of them, I wouldn't bother. Small production runs of projects like this are very expensive and time consuming. The designer also has a day job and a family. I'd like to have one as well but unless there is massive interest *AND* Candle can find the time it won't happen.

 

If you want similar functionality right now, you're better off getting an 800XL, an Ultimate 1MB board and an IDEPlus (or SIDE2). The 800XL's (especially early model) are generally quite well-made and very easy to modify. There's a ton of mods available as well.

 

Also keep in mind that used original 800's can be maintenance nightmares. The square plastic posts in the keyboards get brittle with age and keys can pop off while you type and super-gluing them back on does not usually work and often results in sticking keys.... the complex 7 board design can mean a lot of corrosion issues, contact cleaner, pencil eraser rubbing.... especially with an eBayed unit after shipping if it has a full 48K board set. I wouldn't recommend it as your first Atari 8-bit machine if you're unfamiliar with the platform.

[Kyle22]

I had to give the above post a "like" because it is true. However, I would hope that doesn't discourage anyone from the original classic 800. It is a great machine when taken care of and equipped with Incognito.

[kogden]

I had to give the above post a "like" because it is true. However, I would hope that doesn't discourage anyone from the original classic 800. It is a great machine when taken care of and equipped with Incognito.

 

Hell, they are great without an Incognito. Big fun bulky tank of a machine. Just not something I'd recommend as a first machine due to their physical complexity and age.

 

I don't know, thinking about it I probably won't end up modding my 800. I like it stock. It's a museum piece and 800's are getting harder to come by in reasonable shape. XL's are a dime a dozen these days.

[917k]

I think Candle is mostly working on MiST-related stuff these days.

[CrazyChris]

Seems like it would be a good way to play some of Video 61's new games.

For those of us that have 800's.

 

Whats New At Video 61 & Atari Sales

Edited July 5, 2016 by CrazyChris

[+Bikerbob]

Just paid for my Incognito that I won. I am not bragging.. but I am really happy I will be able to use my 800 as my primary 8-bit.. I loved that machine.

 

James

[bratboy_y2k]

I appreciate the replies. The original 800 is just such a cool piece of design. Part of me really wants one while another part of me thinks I should just get a modded xbox with a ton of emulators and run off that. I just keep thinking that any computer games I want should be off the original hardware just in case the keyboard is needed. I did find a 1200 but it won't get passed the rainbow page. Does that sound dead? (For some reason a 1200 is very cool to me also).

[Brentarian]

Emulators are great and convenient, but nothing beats a real Atari. 1200XL's don't have built in Basic so there isn't much to do without a cartridge or SIO device connected. Pressing HELP should bring you to the test menu however.

[danwinslow]

I agree, I do a lot of development on emulation but I've got to have real hardware. I really love the 800's so an incognito 800 is probably my favorite machine for personal use.

[Kyle22]

I appreciate the replies. The original 800 is just such a cool piece of design. Part of me really wants one while another part of me thinks I should just get a modded xbox with a ton of emulators and run off that. I just keep thinking that any computer games I want should be off the original hardware just in case the keyboard is needed. I did find a 1200 but it won't get passed the rainbow page. Does that sound dead? (For some reason a 1200 is very cool to me also).

 

Did you try to boot the 1200 with a cart in it, or a disk drive attached (with bootable disk)? Press the help key when at the rainbow and tell us what happens.

[leech]

I have an 800 sitting in a corner (my primary one is a 130XE because I can't seem to find the power adapter for the 800, and the 130XE is the only 8-bit I have with 128kb of ram), but I don't know what this Incognito board is/was?

 

I have thought about picking up another power supply and modding the 48k boards to have more memory. I always loved the 800 and it's big bulkiness, besides it also is one of the few that have four joystick ports.

Edited July 7, 2016 by leech

[bratboy_y2k]

 

Did you try to boot the 1200 with a cart in it, or a disk drive attached (with bootable disk)? Press the help key when at the rainbow and tell us what happens.

It's very far away from me so I have no.idea. of I get them to test it then it might let the cat out of the bag and price might skyrocket. Not sure what to do.

[JoSch]

I have an 800 sitting in a corner (my primary one is a 130XE because I can't seem to find the power adapter for the 800, and the 130XE is the only 8-bit I have with 128kb of ram), but I don't know what this Incognito board is/was?

 

Essentially it is a U1MB in a personality board form factor and a builtin CF card interface.

http://spiflash.org/index.php/block/29.html has a description.

[kogden]

It's very far away from me so I have no.idea. of I get them to test it then it might let the cat out of the bag and price might skyrocket. Not sure what to do.

Chances are that if it's showing the Atari rainbow, it's perfectly fine. Unlike the later XL's, the 1200XL doesn't boot to BASIC. The 1200XL may have some compatibility issues with certain titles without an OS swap but they are good machines. Might take a little work to get the keyboard working 100% if it doesn't already.

[bratboy_y2k]

Is it worth buying and taking a risk? Is it repairable?

[BillC]

Is it worth buying and taking a risk? Is it repairable?

The very fact that the rainbow screen comes up indicates that it is probably good, except for the keyboard likely not working. Keyboard failure is virtually a certainty on all 1200XLs, if it hasn't failed yet in will in time. It's a matter of the mylar design/materials used in construction, the key switch contacts eventually oxidize and fail to conduct electricity.

[+Bikerbob]

Kind of off the topic being discussed, but was the 1200xl the only one with this keyboard?? I have never had an Atari keyboard "fail" Ive had the odd key switch ive had to clean up.. or give a spray.. but thats it.

 

James

[BillC]

Kind of off the topic being discussed, but was the 1200xl the only one with this keyboard?? I have never had an Atari keyboard "fail" Ive had the odd key switch ive had to clean up.. or give a spray.. but thats it.

 

James

There are models of other 130XE keyboards that have similar problems. The issue with the 1200XL is that the material used for the key contacts oxidize and eventually the keyboard needs to be disassembled/cleaned. A machine that is used frequently doesn't normally have an issue as this keeps prevents the oxidation from building up, but it is an issue when idle for extended periods. There are threads about the issue and how to repair them.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/249431-1200xl-keyboard-repair-options/

 

Best Electronics even had improved mylars made for the 1200XL keyboard and also for the Mitsumi version of the 130XE keyboard.

[kogden]

Is it worth buying and taking a risk? Is it repairable?

 

Just about anything on any Atari 8-bit can be repaired. Especially the 400/800 and the XL series. If the machine is the 1200XL I am seeing on ebay here, it sounds like it has keyboard problems. He says he can't get it into self-test mode which means the keyboard probably isn't working.

 

I've run into similar issues with early 600/800XL keyboards. These machines are close to 35 years old. Expect some restoration effort with just about any of them. That's part of the fun really.

 

You could always get the 1200XL and if it looks decent, send it to me and I'll send you a 600XL w/ a relatively rare external 320K RAM upgrade (RAM 320XL w/ case) which will let you run just about anything and would be ready to go out of the box with RF video. I'll even throw in a home-made USB SIO2PC interface for $20. I'd get a cool project and you would be able to hit the ground running with a more compatible machine that doesn't need any work.

Edited July 9, 2016 by kogden