nd2003grad Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Hi all, I'm sure this question has been answered but...is there any reason at this point in history to have a tape drive? I don't, but I have an SIO2SD and it's fantastic. I do make my own floppies, but I'm wondering if there was anything worthwhile released only on tape. I'm guessing the answer is a resounding NO, but I'm not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 There were some cool titles I remember as a kid such as States and Caiptals, that played a cool intro while loading. That being said, I can remember the intro music, so I prefer the fast loading times of floppy or HDD. I guess that's my long winded "no". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 In truth the answer is indeed a resounding no, tape drives were too slow, had no turbo loaders until the Polish squad hacked the tape mech. Apart from the tapes that Stephen mentions there's no real need for a tape deck, 99% of us got a disk drive ASAP. Most if not all the tapes with sound have been dumped or at least the music MP3'ed so you can hear what you are missing, its not a great deal to be honest..Dodgy disco etc... The only reason to have a tape unit is collection completeness. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdslx Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 We also do not need real atari computer hardware because we have super fast emulators , if we look at the subject from that angle. Using emulated drives or emulated carts , makes me feel that my atari is running on pc emulator . For me , nothing else gives the pleasure of loading games and progs from tape , as if I am in old days 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Hi all, I'm sure this question has been answered but...is there any reason at this point in history to have a tape drive? I don't, but I have an SIO2SD and it's fantastic. I do make my own floppies, but I'm wondering if there was anything worthwhile released only on tape. I'm guessing the answer is a resounding NO, but I'm not sure. Maybe only to read tapes you already own, if you haven't converted them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 We also do not need real atari computer hardware because we have super fast emulators , if we look at the subject from that angle. Using emulated drives or emulated carts , makes me feel that my atari is running on pc emulator . For me , nothing else gives the pleasure of loading games and progs from tape , as if I am in old days Lol, I never saw tapes as "good old days". I only put up with them at all because I was too poor for a floppy drive (when they were several hundred dollars and cost more than the computer itself) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 I'd hate to think what the cost of a disk drive was in Turkey back then, it was very expensive here in the UK.. No wonder xdslx liked his tapes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+CharlieChaplin Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Hi all, I'm sure this question has been answered but...is there any reason at this point in history to have a tape drive? I don't, but I have an SIO2SD and it's fantastic. I do make my own floppies, but I'm wondering if there was anything worthwhile released only on tape. I'm guessing the answer is a resounding NO, but I'm not sure. Hmmm, I have both combined - a SIO2SD in a tape drive. But I also have full working tape drives (1010, XC-11, XC-12), which is nice e.g. when you want to convert tapes to disk yourself, when all of a sudden DOS is gone and you still have the option to save to tape, etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormtrooper of Death Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 (edited) Indeed CharlieChaplin. The tape driver is a good emergency backup device when all other options fail. And ... dont forget that there still are some hardcore Atarians, who just love to listen to the Beeps while loading Gauntlet from tape. (or another tapegame). Loading games from tape is also good to practise patience. Edited June 20, 2017 by Stormtrooper of Death 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdslx Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 I'd hate to think what the cost of a disk drive was in Turkey back then, it was very expensive here in the UK.. No wonder xdslx liked his tapes... sure they were more expensive here, than in the UK. I had no choice but to like my tape drive and I neednt be unhappy because of not having a disk drive nor a cartridge. At least they are 30 years old and still working if compared to my usb drives which usually gets broken after a few years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwilove Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 I wonder if anyone would actually create some new tape games? Just to show what could have been possible back in the day? I'm not talking about any special kind of game - it could be anything playable and fun - but that how it loads in - maybe it'll run some demo while it loads? [Like how Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus had their spectacular loading animations - so why not have a special tape demo?] Or even have a mini-game while loading? Harvey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 You mean like 1K ATASCII blaster? 45 seconds load time! http://www.phobotron.de/1KAtasciiBlaster.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwilove Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Would like to see a 2K? version in which the graphics are upgraded - the longer loading time would not be much to endure to see a classier result. Harvey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd2003grad Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 Thank you guys, you really answered my question and I'm glad it sparked some more conversation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 I still use tapes. Just bought some "new" ones last week. Then again, I still use my Walkman and have 8-track tapes (yes, they still play on a player I have that still plays). OMG, I still use real film cameras too. Wow. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd2003grad Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 I still use tapes. Just bought some "new" ones last week. Then again, I still use my Walkman and have 8-track tapes (yes, they still play on a player I have that still plays). OMG, I still use real film cameras too. Wow. I collect 8-tracks and still have a walkman as well. In fact, I'm going to make my kid a mix tape haha. Lame Dad. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 I still use tapes. Just bought some "new" ones last week. Then again, I still use my Walkman and have 8-track tapes (yes, they still play on a player I have that still plays). OMG, I still use real film cameras too. Wow. Nothing wrong with taking advantage of all technology, old or new.. And to prove it just look at Japan, the leaders of the creation of digital camera's but at this time there's a hug retro usage of good old fashioned non digital camera's, there's specialist shops that sell not just the Japanese old camera but German one etc, I've seen my old came a Zenith E on sale and its not just to own these old camera's the trend is to actually use them again, for some of the people its a tough learning / re-learning curve as you have to do all the settings. I think its great, having all the latest tech but still wanting to embrace the old tech. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 (edited) I collect 8-tracks and still have a walkman as well. In fact, I'm going to make my kid a mix tape haha. Lame Dad. Mix tape, lol, showing your age, I'm technically from before that era and had a reel to reel recorder as a kid, dunno know where my old man got it from but he gave it to me, had great fun in the early 70's recording The Big Match (Uk old football programme) with Brian Moore. Did mix tapes later, the obvious girl friend getting fodder and worked too Remember all that Martin etc etc, Saturday was kids TV then the Wrestling from Fairfield Hall , Croydon which was filled with old ladies with handbags and not afraid to use them. You got the wrestling while waiting for Football Focus and then on Sunday after a kick about you came in for The Big Match (not forgetting as I did Match of the day) Edited June 24, 2017 by Mclaneinc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd2003grad Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 Oh this is great!!! I actually picked up about 7 8-tracks yesterday, some of them were still sealed (got a Neil Young Harvest). I also found a Captain Beefheart original pressing Trout Mask Replica for about 50 cents. I wish I could find more vintage computer stuff like that in this Goodwill last chance store, but I did find a sealed pack of 3.5 floppies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 I'll gladly use tapes for music, because they excel at it. For loading games (25 minutes vs a few seconds), they suck balls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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