Building a 'better' compumate

[mr. engino]

After getting some things from the basement for my computer, I gazed forlornly at my well-used 2600. I remember reading about a perhifrial called the compumate, which converted the 2600 from a video game console into a weak but useful computer. That got my wheels turning, and left me wondering, has anybody ever thought about making a homebrew compumate? And that is the question/discussion I cannot get out of my head.

[vidak]

I'd be interested in a homebrew compumate. I have a little experience in hardware design, but I have always been an amateur.

[mr. engino]

I'd be interested in a homebrew compumate. I have a little experience in hardware design, but I have always been an amateur.

good to know I'm not the only one! It could be done, perhaps with enhancements like better keyboard, sd card support, etc.

[Mr SQL]

After getting some things from the basement for my computer, I gazed forlornly at my well-used 2600. I remember reading about a perhifrial called the compumate, which converted the 2600 from a video game console into a weak but useful computer. That got my wheels turning, and left me wondering, has anybody ever thought about making a homebrew compumate? And that is the question/discussion I cannot get out of my head.

 

Great idea!

 

With BASIC in ROM, 2K of RAM, an audio cassette interface and a keyboard the Compumate allowed you to program your Atari like it was a Timex Sinclair or a Bally Astrocade.

 

The SuperCharger is a lot like the compumate with 2K of ROM, 6K of RAM and an audio cassette interface.

 

SuperCharger BASIC lets you use your computer to create compiled BASIC programs for the SuperCharger and takes maximum advantage of the enhanced graphics with a soft blitter chip like the Amiga.

 

This wouldn't be possible with an interpreted BASIC like the Compumate but the tradeoff is you create programs to run on the Atari, but don't get to create the programs on the Atari as the compumate allows you to do.

 

There is Magic Card, that allows you to program directly on the console in Assembly. would be really cool if someone had a Graduate prototype, that would be more like the Compumate too but I don't think it was ever produced.

[pacman000]

I thought the Atari History Museum had a Graduate. They have pics both inside and out.

 

 

http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/2600/a3000.html