ATARI 800 was the first computer in 1979 with native Y/C output

[HDTV1080P]

My first computer was the Coleco ADAM computer in October of 1983. It was a newer and more powerful computer when compared to the November 1979 ATARI 800 computer. However, I just realized that the ATARI 800 had a better video connection when compared to the Coleco ADAM. The Coleco ADAM’s best video output was composite video which combined the luminance and chrominance signal. The better quality S-Video jack with luminance and chrominance separated was not designed until 1987, however the original ATARI 800 5 pin DIN jack outputs a separate luminance and chrominance video signal for those in 1979+ that owned a special Y/C video monitor and then starting in the late 1987 new TV/Monitors started appearing on the market with S-Video. However, around the year 2010+ S-Video was dropped from all new TV/Monitors being manufactured in retail stores. It is too bad S-Video is no longer offered on new model TV/Monitors since that was the best quality video output offered for the ATARI 800 computer. I guess some people in the 21st Century might be internally modifying their ATARI 800 computers to have native HDMI, VGA, and component video output which is even better than S-Video.

Edited July 18, 2018 by HDTV1080P

[Rybags]

I wouldn't call Adam a more powerful computer. Really it's just a slightly better TI 99/4A.

 

Plenty of computers could do S-Video with modification, given that the Apple II and Compucolor II were about the only mass-market colour computers before the 800, it's probably true. Compucolor is built into a monitor so likely running 1-bit per channel RGB.

[HDTV1080P]

But the cool thing about the ATARI 800 and some later models is that it would do native Y/C which bypasses the monitors combo filter. Just about any computer can be modified for better video output, but offering native better video output to begin with out of the retail box is ideal.

Edited July 18, 2018 by HDTV1080P

[+DrVenkman]

And stupidly, Atari dropped the Chroma signal off the DIN jack for the 1200XL and NTSC 800XL, and never even included the DIN at all for NTSC 600XL’s. It wasn’t until the XE line that they made Chroma/Luma a stock feature again.

[Gunstar]

I'd comment but I'm still laughing about the Coleco Adam being more powerful than the 800...

Just because something is newer, doesn't mean more powerful necessarily, and the Coleco Adam could be the poster child for this...Ironically, the 5200, just an Atari 400 in console cloths, was released to compete with the Coleovision, Coleco in turn turns the Colecovision into a computer to compete with the Atari 8-bit and C64 lines! Both are great consoles and computers, but not a chance in hell the Adam is more powerful, spec-wise or in practice.

 

The Atari 800 was way ahead of it's time in many areas, others took years to "catch up" and even then they fell short in many areas (custom chips). The Adam is just so unique that it's a wonderful machine to collect for and have in a collection

Edited July 18, 2018 by Gunstar

[Rybags]

[Level42]

It is too bad S-Video is no longer offered on new model TV/Monitors since that was the best quality video output offered for the ATARI 800 computer. I guess some people in the 21st Century might be internally modifying their ATARI 800 computers to have native HDMI, VGA, and component video output which is even better than S-Video.

 

 

Uhh.....maybe read some threads a bit more around here....

 

Today there is SOPHIA already, which produces component or even better RGB and there's another SOPHIA version that produces DVI.

SOPHIA produces a TOTALLY amazing RGB signal and looks PERFECT on a good RGB capable CRT TV or monitor. I've never seen anything better.

 

S-video was nice BITD yes....but RGB is the closest you can get to what the CRT really needs, in fact it is the BARE signal a CRT needs.

 

If digital is your cup of tea, go with the DVI version and you'll have digital quality from source to display.

Edited July 18, 2018 by Level42

[Casey]

The Commodore 64 also had separated chroma/luma video...

[+DrVenkman]

The Commodore 64 also had separated chroma/luma video...

What year did it debut?

[Level42]

.......boom-chaka !

 

 

The funny thing is...... that the Commodore (JVC) 1702 was my first Y/C monitor for the 600XL. I didn't buy it new....in fact, I have no idea where I got it from. But it sure looked great at the time. Noticed you still have one Venk

So what did the Atari guys use to hook up the 800 with Y/C ? We all know the 400/800 were really aimed to be connected to a TV...but when launched, were there any Y/C capable monitors on the market ?

 

It's great if the Atari 8 bit machine was the first computer to feature Y/C but I would find it much more awesome if it would get the credits for being the first computer designed with an average person in my mind (instead of the Apple ][ and PET etc. which were aimed at the computer nerds of the time), being the first to boast dedicated graphic chip-set etc.

 

Oh and I'm so happy the PAL 600XL DID have Y/C BITD

Edited July 18, 2018 by Level42

[flashjazzcat]

Yeah: the 8-bit Guy asserted in one video that the C64 was the first machine to have what is effectively s-video built in. Clearly a popular fallacy.

[Level42]

You can't blame him. He's not the 8-bit guy, he's the Commodore guy....

[+Nezgar]

The Commodore 64 also had separated chroma/luma video...

...but was released 2-3 years later. There was a previous thread mentioning that the S-Video page on Wikipedia claimed the C64 was the first computer to output separated luma/chroma, and that page was subsequently updated make sure the Atari 800, released in late 1979, got it's claim to fame there.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Video

[Casey]

No, I get all that. I know the Atari 800 came out before the 64. I was responding to the OP who was touting the Coleco Adam's features - just adding the 64 to the list of computers that came out before the Adam with separated chroma/luma.

[_The Doctor__]

not the first monitor either.....sigh..... The wiki thing happens all the time with that crowd. I sometimes wonder if there is an illness called Commode-itis. I personally don't understand why the chamber pot/bread box crowd constantly does those sorts of claims and such.... a multitude of computers did many things first... The objective crowd tips their hat to the others, the commie crowd starts on with exceptions / detraction and how it's really correct to call their take on things first or best in spite of evidence to the contrary.

 

Best to get back on topic I guess...

[shoestring]

What's amusing is most folks who had a c64 ( including myself ) went straight into RF TV and couldn't afford a monitor to take advantage of the separated lines.

[ClausB]

Yeah: the 8-bit Guy asserted in one video that the C64 was the first machine to have what is effectively s-video built in. Clearly a popular fallacy.

The C64 is a popular fallacy.

[ClausB]

My first color TV was a 1702 with a VCR.

[Kyle22]

 

I couldn't resist

 

[ClausB]

The VCR only had composite out but the 800 had lovely Y/C. Still have the 1702 but the VCR is long gone. Top-loader with fake woodgrain case and matte silver plastic face. Had them all plus an ATR8000 set up on a desk. My roommate said it looked like mission control!

[Osgeld]

Yeah: the 8-bit Guy asserted in one video that the C64 was the first machine to have what is effectively s-video built in. Clearly a popular fallacy.

 

heck even the vic20 had y/c output

[flashjazzcat]

I'm concerned I misquoted him now: can't recall for sure whether he was reviewing the Vic 20 or the C64.

[ClausB]

That VCR filled 13 tapes with Star Trek episodes, cut down and full of commercials. Every episode but one (Wink of an Eye). I recorded the whole series again trying to catch that last episode! Later they came out uncut on tape and I rented the best ones along with a VHS player and dup'd them. Oh, happy days. Sorry, OT.

Edited July 18, 2018 by ClausB

[ClausB]

I'm concerned I misquoted him now: can't recall for sure whether he was reviewing the Vic 20 or the C64.

Either way, not the first.

[BillC]

And stupidly, Atari dropped the Chroma signal off the DIN jack for the 1200XL and NTSC 800XL, and never even included the DIN at all for NTSC 600XL’s. It wasn’t until the XE line that they made Chroma/Luma a stock feature again.

The PAL 600XL does have DIN monitor port, and the NTSC version was designed to have it(the footprints/traces for the components are there).